Setting aside whether Gu Chaodong actually resembled a jujube or not, his brain being stuffed full of jujubes was certainly true.
Previously, during the struggle for position at the Prime Minister’s residence, Gu Chaodong’s strategic planning wasn’t bad. He knew to marry the pregnant Shen Guiya to consolidate the Eastern Courtyard’s position, and he knew to secretly use Shen Guiya’s hand to harm Xu Mengdie’s child, leaving Gu Chaonan powerless to compete with him for their father’s favor.
However, ever since he began wanting both status and regretting losing Shen Guiyan, his entire brain stopped working properly. Clearly not a romantic saint, yet he insisted on playing the part, moving heaven and earth to touch himself while bringing endless trouble to others.
Rumors of “Shen Guiyan not adhering to the three obediences and four virtues” had already begun spreading among the common people, and the court officials inevitably exchanged meaningful glances, looking at Gu Chaodong with knowing smiles.
Prime Minister Gu punished him by making him kneel in the ancestral hall.
“This father told you long ago—what isn’t yours, stop coveting it. It seems you haven’t taken this father’s words to heart at all!” Prime Minister Gu raged furiously. “Now you and Consort Yan have gone your separate ways for so long, and you’ve married a new principal wife. Why do you still cause trouble for Consort Yan and His Majesty?”
Gu Chaodong was also quite bewildered. He couldn’t remember whom he’d given that portrait to, much less how it had spread.
However, some of what people outside were saying wasn’t wrong—he still harbored feelings for Shen Guiyan, still thought that perhaps one day she could leave the palace, and then he could abandon this foreign beauty and wander the world with her, whatever she wished.
That foreign beauty thrust upon him—she was unwilling, and he was unwilling. They’d barely shared a bed a few times and were like strangers. He now held a substantial official position with opportunities to fulfill his ambitions. The only thing he lacked was someone who would genuinely stay by his side.
Only after all this time did he realize that the one he most wanted to spend his life with was still Yan’er.
If this round of rumors angered His Majesty enough to consign Yan’er to the Cold Palace, then he would have just the right opportunity to take Yan’er away.
Kneeling in the ancestral hall, Gu Chaodong felt not the slightest bit ashamed. Instead, he rather welcomed the prospect.
Looking at this momentum, Shen Guiyan’s chances of being selected were gone. The common people began buying up votes again.
“Everything is under control,” Shen Guiwu wrote in his letter to National Uncle Wen.
National Uncle Wen wrote back asking: “Shen Guiyan is your own sister. Do you not wish her to become empress?”
Shen Guiwu replied: “This subordinate is loyal only to National Uncle’s affairs. My sister Shen is also not truly devoted to the Emperor. Once National Uncle succeeds and avenges my mother for this subordinate, my sibling and I wish to retreat to the mountains and forests to live peaceful days.”
National Uncle Wen, campaigning in Zhengzhou, saw this letter and laughed heartily.
Shen Guiwu was a talent indeed, and one who could resist temptation—a fine support to rely on.
Though he should have reached the capital by now, National Uncle Wen stopped at Zhengzhou, stationing his troops and waiting, his intentions unknown.
Imperial Concubine Fu was in excellent spirits. She went to Consort Hua’s palace, smiling as she said: “Has elder sister heard the rumors outside?”
Consort Hua nodded. “Younger sister has excellent methods. But where did that construction portrait that caused such an uproar come from?”
Imperial Concubine Fu snorted coldly. Glancing around to ensure no one was nearby, she whispered: “Someone obtained it by chance and presented it to this concubine. Now the person with the most votes must surely be this concubine. This concubine hopes elder sister will also support younger sister. Once ascending to that position, younger sister won’t treat elder sister poorly.”
Consort Hua sighed. “This palace understands. This palace has also given up hope. In terms of family background, this palace could never compare to anyone in this palace. But younger sister, don’t blame elder sister for not warning you—look at Consort Yan’s position in His Majesty’s heart. Even though what’s being said outside is unbearable to hear, His Majesty hasn’t blamed Consort Yan in the slightest. Elder sister only fears that even if you sit on the empress’s throne, you’ll still be constrained by Consort Yan.”
Imperial Concubine Fu frowned. How could she not know this? That’s precisely why she wanted to grow closer to Consort Hua. Since Consort Hua had no possibility of seizing the position, she could serve as her assistant.
Shen Guiyan had been far too comfortable for far too long in that Yonghe Palace.
On this end, Consort Hua’s thoughts weren’t pure; on that end, Imperial Concubine Fu was the same. Both wanted to use the other, and both feared being used by the other.
“The weather has been nice lately. Why don’t we invite Consort Yan to go boating on the lake?” Consort Hua said softly. “It would help ease the palace’s recent tense atmosphere.”
“Good.” Imperial Concubine Fu agreed. “This concubine will go invite Consort Yan right away.”
A pleasure boat—Taiye Lake wasn’t large, so the boat could surely only seat four people. When Imperial Concubine Fu went to Yonghe Palace to respectfully invite Shen Guiyan, Shen Guiyan readily agreed.
“Your Ladyship,” Baoshan frowned. “This is a tense time. With your condition, why would you agree to go?”
Shen Guiyan sorted through the basket on her belly, removing all the cotton and placing an inflated cowhide bladder inside. “If we don’t go out, they’ll still have other methods to embroil this palace in their affairs. We’re all competing for the position anyway. Rather than being passive, better to take initiative.”
“But…” Baoshan frowned. “This slave cannot accompany you on the boat. How will Your Ladyship handle things alone?”
Two against one—and both Consort Hua and Imperial Concubine Fu were no easy marks. Shen Guiyan frowned slightly. This was indeed a problem. The palace’s pleasure boats all had four seats. Who else could she bring?
“Take this concubine along.” Lady Gao stuck half her head out from behind the partition, smiling cheerfully. “If this concubine accompanies Your Ladyship, whatever happens, this concubine will shield you.”
“Jinxiu!” Shen Guiyan was startled. “How did you get here?”
Gao Jinxiu stepped forward. “Recently the rumors in and out of the palace have been fierce. This concubine was worried about Your Ladyship. Originally I didn’t want to be too conspicuous, constantly running to Your Ladyship’s palace. But now that Your Ladyship is isolated and helpless, this concubine naturally should come.”
Seeing Gao Jinxiu, Shen Guiyan truly felt much more at ease. Because Gao Jinxiu had protected her since childhood, now that she was pregnant and inconvenienced, having Lady Gao along made things much better.
After thinking it over, Shen Guiyan nodded. “Good, come with me.”
Lady Gao clenched her fists. She would definitely protect Yan’er well!
When going, Shen Guiyan made thorough arrangements. Four eunuchs were stationed at the east, west, south, and north shores respectively. Following the pleasure boat was a small one-person boat carrying a eunuch specially trained in water rescue.
She had already considered it—these women’s methods were nothing more than those few types: either push her into the water, or fall in themselves. Whichever it was, she’d prepared countermeasures.
If possible, she still didn’t want to go into the water.
As it turned out, when they reached the edge of Taiye Lake, both Consort Hua and Imperial Concubine Fu were there. But Consort Hua claimed to suffer from seasickness and would wait for them on shore.
Imperial Concubine Fu looked at Consort Hua for a moment, then boarded. Shen Guiyan brought Gao Jinxiu aboard as well. The remaining seat was simply given to Wanqing, the maid at Imperial Concubine Fu’s side.
The boat cruised over Taiye Lake. Only when they could no longer clearly hear sounds from shore did Imperial Concubine Fu speak: “Does Your Ladyship think this concubine has ill intentions?”
Shen Guiyan gazed at the shimmering lake light, in excellent spirits. “No.”
As if!
Imperial Concubine Fu sighed and glanced at Gao Jinxiu. “If it were only this concubine and Your Ladyship alone, there are some things this concubine could speak plainly.”
“You may speak plainly now,” Shen Guiyan said. “Lady Gao isn’t one to gossip.”
After another glance at Gao Jinxiu, Imperial Concubine Fu pressed her lips together and spoke: “Some time ago when Herong died, this concubine went to ask elder sister Consort Hua what happened. Elder sister Consort Hua said His Majesty intentionally shielded you, so the deaths of Herong and Qingzhu were never properly investigated.”
Shen Guiyan was slightly surprised. What an excellent way to sell out an ally! Hadn’t Imperial Concubine Fu been quite close with Consort Hua before? Why was she now saying such things?
“But after this concubine returned and thought carefully, Noble Consort isn’t such a vicious person. Most likely elder sister Consort Hua wanted you and me to destroy each other while she reaped the benefits.” Imperial Concubine Fu straightened her back, saying softly: “Now the empress’s position is about to be decided. Elder sister Consort Hua cannot share in the rewards, so she observes from shore. Your Ladyship and this concubine are the ones on this water. If we truly fight each other, we’ll only please those on shore. What does Your Ladyship think?”
So these two had turned on each other, each wanting to use her to bring down the other. She shouldn’t be called Shen Guiyan—she should change her name to Shen the Wrench.
“On such a beautiful day with fine scenery, younger sister can still think of other matters. How rare,” Shen Guiyan didn’t respond to her, only saying: “Better to let nature take its course.”
One must never reveal one’s desires and intentions before a competitor—this was the way of survival, the same everywhere.
Imperial Concubine Fu froze, frowning slightly, and glanced at Wanqing beside her.
Wanqing nodded, turned her head out and instructed the boatman: “Head more toward the center of the lake.”
Shen Guiyan looked in the direction the boat was heading. The palace pavilions and towers all came into view, row upon row—truly magnificent indeed. The lake water, having been warmed by a day’s sun, wasn’t too icy cold either.
When the boat reached the lake’s center, Shen Guiyan was ready. But she hadn’t expected this to be quite so thrilling—the boatman directly jumped into the lake and removed a plank from the boat’s bottom.
Excellent technique!
Imperial Concubine Fu showed no panic. Feeling the boat gradually sinking, she looked levelly at her. “Your Ladyship, this concubine hopes today’s events can help you and me eliminate a common rival. This isn’t bad at all, as long as Your Ladyship is willing to cooperate.”
Everyone on shore saw the boatman jump into the water and sabotage the boat before diving underwater to escape. The several ladies were still sitting on the boat. The lake’s center was too far from shore—everyone was somewhat at a loss. Baoshan ran fastest, immediately going to report to His Majesty.
Beside the sinking boat was a small wooden raft that could only hold one person. Just as Shen Guiyan was about to board it, Imperial Concubine Fu held her back. “Let Lady Gao board instead.”
A self-inflicted injury scheme—without inflicting injury on oneself, how could one make others fall for it?
Under normal circumstances, Shen Guiyan falling into the water would be one thing, but she had a child in her belly and didn’t want to take any risks. If she could avoid falling in, couldn’t she just not fall in?
No—Imperial Concubine Fu grabbed her and jumped into the mild waters of Taiye Lake.
Gu Chaobei was in the midst of discussing important matters with Yuwen Changqing when Baoshan’s urgent voice nearly scared the soul out of him: “Your Majesty! Noble Consort was taken by them to go boating on the lake. The boat broke and is visibly sinking!”
Gu Chaobei shot up to his feet, but Yuwen Changqing ran even faster than him.