Shen Guiyan’s steps didn’t stop, nor did she turn her head back. “You’re alive—this palace has already done a good deed. Other matters—this palace need not be the first to know.”

Someone had dared to harm the currently popular Consort Shen of the rear palace. Tomorrow it would surely spread like wildfire—why should she ask more?

“You!” Shen Hanlu was soaked through, shivering slightly. “At least send me back!”

Shen Guiyan waved her hand. Two eunuchs remained behind, supporting her from both sides and directly escorting her back to Luhua Palace.

“Your Majesty! Imperial Concubine Fu’s heart is so vicious—she tried to take this concubine’s life!”

Hearing that the palace’s celestial being had fallen into the water, and thinking of tomorrow’s ancestral worship ceremony, Gu Chaobei came without a word. As it turned out, Shen Hanlu had only choked on a few mouthfuls of water, but was clutching his sleeve crying earth-shatteringly.

“Imperial Concubine Fu knew this concubine would be invested tomorrow, so she deliberately pushed this concubine into the water. If Her Highness Noble Consort Yan hadn’t passed by, this concubine cannot swim—she would certainly have drowned in that Taiye Lake!”

Gu Chaobei looked at her for a while. “How do you know it was Imperial Concubine Fu trying to harm you? She just came to my Imperial Study to pay respects. When you fell in the water, she shouldn’t have been there.”

“She wasn’t there, but it was her personal maid who came to trick this concubine. Otherwise, why would this concubine go to Taiye Lake at dusk?” Shen Hanlu said hatefully. “That palace maid named Herong said Imperial Concubine Fu had urgent matters to tell this concubine, asking this concubine to go alone to Taiye Lake at dusk. But when this concubine went, there was only one palace maid by Taiye Lake. When this concubine approached to inquire, that palace maid pushed this concubine into Taiye Lake without a word.”

Remembering that suffocating feeling, tears nearly fell from Shen Hanlu’s eyes. But looking up at the Emperor, she saw him looking at her like she was an idiot.

“A palace maid summoned you, a dignified consort, to go somewhere alone, at dusk when guards are most lax—and you actually went?”

Shen Hanlu’s face fell. Didn’t television dramas always show it like this—two big bosses meeting at dusk, saying some profound and mysterious words that sounded very impressive?

Who knew it was a trap!

“This concubine was too naive,” she said.

Gu Chaobei seriously shook his head. “This isn’t naivety—this is stupidity. Fortunately nothing happened. I’ll go to Yonghe Palace shortly to thank Noble Consort Yan. You rest first—tomorrow there’s still the grand ceremony.”

“Your Majesty…” Shen Hanlu frowned. “Won’t you stay to keep this concubine company?”

She had nearly died, and he was still going to Shen Guiyan’s place?

Gu Chaobei stood up. “You’re now a celestial being revered by all—how can I stay here? Sleep.”

So what if she was a celestial being? Wasn’t she still his consort? Shen Hanlu’s expression darkened as she thought bitterly: Once tomorrow’s investiture is done, she’d absolutely create some heavenly will to make Gu Chaobei share her bed—let’s see if he complies then!

The phoenix robe lay to one side. Shen Hanlu was still in shock, taking quite a while to slowly fall asleep. Just as she was sleeping groggily, somewhere in the palace another scream rang out, rather shrill. But Shen Hanlu was too tired—she turned over and fell asleep.

The next day, the ancestral worship ceremony.

All civil and military officials from court, all consorts from the rear palace, His Majesty, and the Empress Dowager went to the Temple of Heaven. During this recent period, quite a few people had died—and those who died, though inconspicuous, had played important roles in forces opposing the Emperor.

Outsiders didn’t know why it was they who died, but those with treasonous hearts knew, and were terrified: Those who oppose the sovereign shall repay with blood.

All civil and military officials had arrived. Empress Dowager Nian came first, but the Emperor and Shen Hanlu were delayed.

“What’s happened?” Scholar Fu asked curiously around him.

A eunuch holding ceremonial implements said quietly, “Something happened in the palace yesterday. Someone tried to harm Consort Shen’s life but was discovered by Noble Consort Yan. Consort Shen was saved, but the palace maid who tried to harm her received heavenly punishment and died in the lake.”

Everyone had reached the point where they changed color at the mere mention of heavenly punishment. Scholar Fu’s eyes darted around for a while before he lowered his head.

Herong was dead, dead in Taiye Lake at the same place Consort Shen had fallen in. Early in the morning the palace was in chaos, but because of the grand ceremony, this matter was postponed for later handling. The Emperor supported Shen Hanlu, who had changed into ceremonial garments, as they slowly approached the Temple of Heaven.

That’s right—the Emperor personally supported Shen Hanlu.

Consort Shen wore bright red ceremonial robes with gold trim, phoenixes spreading their wings across the underskirt. After putting it on, the effect wasn’t as magnificent as imagined—rather, it looked somewhat strange.

Even stranger was that she, a rear palace consort, didn’t wear a hair bun but instead wore a black hat with white ribbons hanging down both sides. No matter how you looked at it, something seemed off.

Was this the style for empresses in this place?

Shen Hanlu really wanted to turn and ask Gu Chaobei, but Gu Chaobei had said from the beginning: “You have a great responsibility today. Just cooperate with me to complete the ceremony. You cannot speak on your own during it, nor move randomly. Otherwise, if you offend our ancestors, even I cannot save you.”

Countless questions could only be suppressed.

Reaching the Temple of Heaven, the Emperor released Shen Hanlu and ascended first himself.

“The Emperor receives ancestral blessing and carries it out below…” The ritual official began reciting the sacrificial text. The Emperor just needed to stand imposingly on the platform.

After the sacrificial text was recited, it was time for the ancestral worship. Gu Chaobei lit incense, burned paper, and raised his voice: “I, Ming Ye, twenty-third generation descendant of the Ming house, having recently ascended the throne with no achievements, have angered my ancestors to the point that they govern the realm in my stead. Ming Ye feels deeply ashamed. Many in the capital have died violent deaths, violating our ancestors’ name of benevolence and virtue. I specially perform this ancestral worship to quell our ancestors’ anger. For remaining court matters, I ask our ancestors to return them to Ming Ye’s hands.”

Saying all this was nothing more than pushing all responsibility onto his ancestors. Who knew if thunder would truly fall from the heavens to strike down this unfilial descendant?

However… Shen Guiyan quietly observed the assembly below. The court ministers seemed to have truly become much more obedient. Matters that were previously difficult to resolve now proceeded very swiftly through channels. Scholar Fu, who used to oppose the Emperor frequently, was said to have never acted arrogantly in court again after returning from the palace that time. Even when raising objections, he was extremely cautious, afraid that plaque in the court hall would fall on him.

Though Gu Chaobei used this unorthodox tactic, it was unexpectedly effective. But having Shen Hanlu dressed like that and standing there—what exactly was he investing her as?

The ceremony took a full hour to complete. The Emperor turned to face the court ministers and rear palace consorts, saying formally: “承receiving Heaven’s great favor, in the rear palace, Consort Shen can reach Heaven’s listening and convey Heaven’s will, having already achieved celestial form. I deeply feel her residing at the consort rank is most inappropriate and insults Heaven’s great kindness.”

Here it comes! Shen Hanlu straightened her back, held her hands properly, her eyes full of joy as she gazed at Gu Chaobei.

Consort Hua’s cold gaze swept over. Imperial Concubine Fu’s eyes were also full of unwillingness. This was exactly the feeling she wanted!

“Shen Shi Hanlu.” The Emperor called her name.

Shen Hanlu hurriedly walked forward step by step, dragging her long ceremonial gown. Everyone’s eyes were on her. A thousand autumns of glory—all in this moment!