Shen Hanlu hadn’t wasted her identity as a transmigrator. At least after being arrogant and suffering for it, she knew to restrain herself. Once she adapted to the environment, she began using her little cleverness.
The Emperor liked to be flattered, but flattery also required technique. After much deliberation, Shen Hanlu finally came up with such a plan.
This dynasty still very much believed in superstition. When Shen Hanlu brought pastries to the Imperial Study, she said to Gu Chaobei, “Last night this concubine dreamed that Heaven bestowed upon Your Majesty a plaque reading ‘Upright and Honorable,’ suspended above Luhua Palace.”
Gu Chaobei glanced at her and said indifferently, “Concubine Shen is overthinking.”
This reaction was also within expectations. Shen Hanlu said no more, only having Xiuping spread this tale throughout the six palaces.
“Has Your Ladyship heard?” Consort Hua sat at the edge of Shen Guiyan’s bed, laughing lightly. “How interesting—dreaming of a Heaven-sent plaque and going around telling everyone about it. Isn’t she just trying to lure His Majesty to her palace? Everyone in the palace knows His Majesty doesn’t favor her and doesn’t even want to step through her palace gates. For the sake of imperial favor, Concubine Shen has truly exhausted her efforts.”
Shen Guiyan looked up at Consort Hua. In power for barely a month, the current Consort Hua and the original Baihe were already two different people. Should this be called the terror of power, or the terror of the people in this harem?
“Didn’t Sister Consort Hua have many dealings with Concubine Shen?” Shen Guiyan asked with a smile. “Looking at these past days, Sister has already become quite distant from Concubine Xi.”
Consort Hua froze, lowering her eyes with a smile. “How could it be that I willingly distance myself from Sister Concubine Xi? She herself shut herself away in Fuyin Palace, unwilling to see anyone.”
Unwilling to see you, rather. Shen Guiyan sighed lightly. “Since my miscarriage, my health has deteriorated. All day I’m drowsy and unwilling to get out of bed, with no mind to manage harem affairs. Sister, please take care of things.”
Consort Hua raised her eyebrows, her lips moving. “Doesn’t Your Ladyship care about Concubine Shen?”
Care? How could she not care? But she also didn’t want to be used as someone’s weapon. Right now, Consort Hua’s stance clearly showed she wanted to eliminate all rivals and monopolize favor. As someone who had lost her child and was currently out of favor, why should she get involved?
Consort Hua was somewhat unwilling. “Concubine Shen acts strangely. Recently she’s been very active in her schemes, sending aphrodisiacs throughout the palace, instigating consorts to bewitch His Majesty. Can Your Ladyship just sit by and ignore this?”
Aphrodisiacs? Shen Guiyan was startled, looking at Consort Hua. “Sister now has the authority to manage the harem. Since you know Concubine Shen is doing such things, how can you not inform His Majesty and convict Concubine Shen?”
Consort Hua fell silent, using her handkerchief to wipe the corners of her mouth. She naturally didn’t want to directly confront Concubine Shen. Noble Consort Yan had always had old grievances with Concubine Shen, so she thought she could use some instigation to borrow her blade. She hadn’t expected Shen Guiyan to instead push the responsibility back onto her.
“This… Your Ladyship is right. If His Majesty has time tonight, I will report this matter.”
“Good. I await your news.” Shen Guiyan smiled, then yawned again. “I’m tired again. I don’t know how long this body can hold out. Alas…”
“Your Ladyship, please recuperate well.”
Consort Hua stood and curtsied. “I won’t disturb you further.”
“Mm. Baoshan, see the guest out.”
All the way out of Yonghe Palace, Consort Hua’s expression was poor. Palace servants she passed all hurriedly paid respects and stepped aside. Just as she walked near Luhua Palace, she saw palace servants lifting their skirts and running swiftly.
“What’s happening?” Consort Hua frowned. Hongzhi behind her quickly stopped a palace servant to inquire.
“Something truly fell from the sky! Fell from the heavens—a huge celestial sphere with a plaque attached!” The palace servant stammered this out, curtsied, then continued running toward the Imperial Study.
The Emperor was alarmed, the Empress Dowager was alarmed, and even the listless Duanwen ran to watch the excitement.
Concubine Shen had used ropes to lower a huge sphere from above. Below the sphere was a bamboo basket, and suspended beneath the basket was a plaque.
The four characters “Upright and Honorable” were golden, gleaming brilliantly.
Gu Chaobei stared in a daze for a while, then looked at Shen Hanlu on the roof eaves struggling to pull down the celestial sphere. He pressed his lips together and immediately dispatched people to notify important court ministers to come observe.
Regarding strange celestial phenomena, people generally considered them manifestations of the Mandate of Heaven. Shen Hanlu had just said she dreamed of a plaque falling from the sky, and in the afternoon a plaque truly fell. She could be called a remarkable person. Moreover, Concubine Shen had a sweet tongue. Kneeling in the hall, she said, “This plaque was bestowed in my dream by the Heavenly Duke, who said it should be given to a wise ruler. I can only respectfully present it as borrowed flowers to Your Majesty.”
Gu Chaobei smiled, examining the golden paint above and sniffing the plaque’s scent.
The smell of ordinary wood, nothing special. The only special thing was that it fell from the sky.
The Emperor said little more. Seeing the surprised and amazed expressions on the ministers’ faces, he was satisfied. There were still those in court who didn’t submit to him. Being able to use this to intimidate them somewhat, he thought it excellent.
The rumors in the palace became increasingly outrageous—there were even those saying Shen Hanlu was an immortal. But the plaque was genuine. The Emperor bathed and changed clothes, reverently welcoming it to be hung in the court hall.
“Heaven probably knows that some in our court still harbor disloyal intentions, so it uses this plaque as a warning, letting those with improper thoughts receive divine punishment.” Censorate Official Ye Wendao was truly eloquent. Coming out to say this sentence frightened officials with small courage until they nearly turned to leave the court.
Although Shen Hanlu was foolish, she had truly done well with this matter. The Emperor also bestowed many things to her palace, but still never spent the night.
“No wonder Concubine Shen knows so many things we don’t know—she’s half an immortal!” Concubine Fu said with a smile. “To make His Majesty so happy, surely in the future Her Ladyship’s favor will be abundant.”
Shen Hanlu smiled as she looked at the items on the table, very satisfied in her heart.
Now her life was tied to that plaque in the court hall. Who could touch her? If anyone dared convict her of crimes or harm her in the slightest, that plaque in the court hall would lose its efficacy and deterrent power. His Majesty certainly wouldn’t be willing for that.
She had used one hot air balloon and one broken plaque to link her life with the fate of the nation. How clever she was!
Consort Hua stood in the back with a faint smile on her face. She also went to offer congratulations but didn’t stay long before leaving, heading to Yonghe Palace.
“This truly cannot be blamed on me.” Consort Hua said to Shen Guiyan with great grievance. “Now Concubine Shen is the half-immortal of the palace. Even with evidence of the aphrodisiac crime, I’m afraid she cannot be touched in the slightest. Your Ladyship, please consider…”
Shen Guiyan lay on the bed. Hearing this, she seemed very angry. She turned her head and spat out stagnant blood, quickly wiping it away with a handkerchief. Weakly she said, “Heaven truly wants to help her.”
Then she fainted.
Baoshan rushed over and called for quite a while without being able to wake Shen Guiyan. Consort Hua frowned, helping to summon an imperial physician and also notifying the Emperor.
But the Emperor said he had gone to Concubine Shen’s palace and wouldn’t come.
Consort Hua was stunned. Could it be that Shen Guiyan had truly fallen from power? Had she found the wrong person?
Baoshan said urgently, “Consort Hua, please quickly go request Director Guo. We small palace maids cannot move that venerable one.”
“I’ll have someone go immediately.” Consort Hua agreed, but after leaving the door only instructed a young palace maid, showing no intention of going herself. Finally, she looked back at Yonghe Palace once before leaving.
Shen Guiyan opened her eyes, continuing to chew the mulberries in her mouth, her mouth full of “stagnant blood” as she said, “She really has nerve.”
Baoshan also dropped her anxious expression, propping her chin as she said, “What a pity that His Majesty originally thought so highly of Consort Hua. Now in this state, how is she different from the other women in the palace?”
Shen Guiyan was somewhat worried. “Liveliness in the palace is a good thing. I don’t want to stop them from loving to make trouble and tear into each other. But Shen Guiya is about to become an immortal—how can we stop her in the future?”
Baoshan said, “This servant thinks Consort Hua won’t stay idle.”
Thinking about it, that made sense. Putting several aggressive crickets in one jar—only one could survive in the end.
Over there, whoever gained favor, whoever lost favor—Shen Guiyan didn’t care at all. Staying in this excellent place called Yonghe Palace never got tiresome. Every few days, Gu Chaobei would always climb the wall to find her. Sometimes grinning playfully, sometimes with furrowed brows. When leaving, he would hang up several silk cords—one cord meant coming in one day, three cords meant coming in three days.
“These are the days I owe you, all considered my failures,” he said.
She and he had a quiet life unknown to others. Unrelated to favor, exploitation, or court affairs—simply because he wanted to come, so she waited. Shen Guiyan covered her belly and thought, that was quite good, wasn’t it?
Duanwen was returning to Huainan. Her relationship with Yuwen Changqing seemed to have made no progress at all. When departing, Shen Guiyan received imperial permission to disguise herself and leave the palace to see her off.
“After spending so much time together, it still doesn’t work?” Shen Guiyan’s eyes were somewhat red. “If you married General Yuwen, at least you could stay in the capital.”
Duanwen smiled with a calm face. These past two months, she hadn’t sought out Shen Guiyan much, nor told her about many things that happened. From anticipation to hope to disappointment—she clearly had never obtained anything, yet it felt like losing everything. So awkward she only wanted to leave.
“In this mortal world, feelings are most unobtainable. Even if forcibly kept in one’s embrace, they’re ultimately fleeting fireflies that will soon scatter.” Duanwen said. “His heart has someone. Blame him for being too stubborn, and blame me for arriving too late.”
Yuwen Changqing’s heart had someone? Shen Guiyan frowned. That truly was difficult to force.
The carriage left the city gates. Outside were sounds of hoofbeats. Shen Guiyan lifted the curtain to look. Yuwen Changqing was riding beside the carriage. Turning to see it was her, he froze.
“Your Ladyship?”
Shen Guiyan wore men’s clothing, loose enough not to show her belly. She raised her somewhat long sleeves and waved at him. “General Yuwen has also come to see off the Princess?”
Yuwen Changqing nodded with a smile. “Yes. The Princess is approachable—this humble subject greatly admires her. As friends, naturally I must come see her off.”
Duanwen closed her eyes, then opened them. She moved beside Shen Guiyan and smiled at Yuwen Changqing. “Thank you, General.”
Polite yet distant, Duanwen said, “When I return to Huainan this time, perhaps the Prince of Huainan will have a marriage match waiting for me. If it works out, I’ll certainly bring my husband back for you all to see.”
Yuwen Changqing’s smile was brilliant. “Haha, naturally! We must see what kind of man dares marry Princess Duanwen.”
Duanwen smiled along with him, then lowered the curtain.
Once the curtain fell, her eyes reddened.
Shen Guiyan understood. Duanwen must have feelings for General Yuwen, but Yuwen Changqing didn’t seem to appreciate them, so she still had to leave.
“The court’s military forces are mostly still in the Wen family’s hands. Imperial Brother is under great pressure. You’re by his side—keep him company more.” When leaving, Duanwen looked back at Shen Guiyan. “If one day he commands universal obedience and all under heaven bow before him, then you’ll be qualified to stand by his side and share joy with him.”
Shen Guiyan nodded, only leaning half her body out of the carriage to watch Duanwen change vehicles and continue forward.
Yuwen Changqing stood quietly beside her until he could no longer see Duanwen’s carriage, then turned his head. “This humble subject will escort Your Ladyship back to the palace.”
Shen Guiyan couldn’t help asking him, “General, does your heart have someone?”
Slightly startled, Yuwen Changqing looked at her in surprise, frowning.
After a long silence—so long that both Baoshan and Zhuiyun beside them felt awkward—Yuwen Changqing finally said, “Once, this subject very much liked the bright moon at a certain place. I would skip banquets just to go see it. Actually, I didn’t know at all whether it was because the bright moon was beautiful or because I was curious. Later, someone recklessly drank with me many times while drunk, saying as long as I was happy, it was fine. I felt my heart had no person—what it had was the moon. She laughed that I couldn’t see clearly.”
“Your Ladyship, do you think my heart has the moon or has a person?”
Fortunately Shen Guiyan understood. She smiled. “One’s heart should naturally hold people. The moon cannot be touched. Better to cherish the person before your eyes, General.”
“But…” Yuwen Changqing’s feelings were complex. He had caused Shen Guiyan to lose a child. His heart always felt uncomfortable, as if bearing the shackles of guilt, vexed endlessly, not knowing how to break free. The person beside him kept pulling him, wanting him to play happily together. How could he not be annoyed?
With this annoyance, he drove her away. With this departure, heaven was high and waters far—who knew when they could meet again.
“General doesn’t quite understand matters of the heart,” Shen Guiyan shook her head. “Just like His Majesty.”
Zhuiyun finally moved his gaze from Baoshan’s face, saying seriously, “Your Ladyship, General, it’s time to return to the palace.”
“Let’s go.” Shen Guiyan lowered the carriage curtain.
Yuwen Changqing rode behind the whole way. Did he not understand matters of the heart? Love and affection—wasn’t it just that sort of thing? What was there not to understand?
With a cold snort, after walking a while, Yuwen Changqing couldn’t help thinking seriously:
…What sort of thing was it again?
Returning to the palace and changing into loose palace dress, Shen Guiyan came out to sun herself. Today the sunshine was excellent—many people came out to move about. The palace’s half-immortal Concubine Shen also held something, saying she came to present it to her.
“I’ve been quiet in this Yonghe Palace for so long now. It’s touching you can still think of me.” Shen Guiyan looked at Shen Hanlu with a smile.
“This younger sister obtained a treasure from His Majesty and wants to give it to Your Ladyship.” Shen Hanlu smiled with a gentle, harmless expression. “Your Ladyship, please look. This is currently our dynasty’s largest piece of glass.”
A crystal-clear object the size of a washbasin, polished very smooth, looking somewhat flat, bulging in the middle, with thinner edges.
“It looks very beautiful under sunlight, so I wanted to bring it to Your Ladyship. This is also something that can change one’s fortune.” Shen Hanlu said earnestly.