20demayo Chapter 356 Naive people are long dead
Chapter 356 Naive people are long dead
In the palace.
Lady Zhaohua has been in a particularly good mood lately.
She lived in the most luxurious and exquisite Yaoguang Palace in the inner palace, located on the west side of the Imperial Garden. It was surrounded by peonies and peonies, and during the flowering season, the palace was full of flowers and fragrance, making the whole palace look like a fairyland.
The hall is paved with white marble steps, and on both sides stand gilded bronze crane incense burners, with wisps of smoke rising from the cranes' beaks, creating a serene and pleasant atmosphere.
The vermilion palace gate is carved with intricate peony scroll patterns, and a golden plaque inscribed with "Yaoguang Palace" by the emperor himself hangs above the gate, the strokes of which are vigorous and powerful, demonstrating the emperor's favor.
Lady Zhaohua leaned against a gilded chaise lounge adorned with peony scrolls, her slender fingers twirling a crystal-clear grape.
The windows were covered with luxurious moon-shadow gauze, as light and thin as mist. When sunlight shone through, it was bright but not dazzling, casting a soft halo on her delicate face.
Last year, for some unknown reason, the Chen and Jiang families encountered misfortunes one after another. Fortunately, the Emperor still loved her the most. After she subtly guided the Emperor during this period, he deployed many more people for Jun'er's sake.
She had an oval face, was extremely beautiful, with skin as smooth as cream, eyebrows like distant mountains, and a pair of affectionate eyes that exuded a touch of allure.
Today she wore her hair in double buns and adorned herself with a golden phoenix hairpin, the pearl in the phoenix's beak swaying gently as she turned her head.
“Tell me,” she began slowly, her voice like pearls falling on a jade plate, “why did His Majesty suddenly decide to have breakfast with the Crown Prince?”
She parted her red lips slightly, put a grape into her mouth, and her fingernails, stained with balsam juice, glowed a faint pink in the morning light.
Several palace maids stood with their heads bowed, not daring to utter a sound.
Lady Zhaohua's eyes darted across the tense faces of the crowd, then she chuckled softly, "What? Is my question difficult to answer?"
A palace maid dressed in a light purple dress stepped forward cautiously: "Your Majesty, this matter is indeed strange. I've heard that shortly after Lord Lu arrived, the Crown Prince also entered the palace to meet the Emperor. They discussed something, and the Emperor suddenly became interested..."
"You don't know?"
Lady Zhaohua's voice suddenly turned cold, and she lightly tapped her fingertips on the small table beside the couch.
"Over the years, I've instructed you to cultivate good relationships with those in the Imperial court, sending out money like water, and you actually tell me—you knew nothing about it?"
She sat up straight, the pearls on the hairpin clinking together with a crisp sound.
The personal maid, Zi Rui, quickly stepped forward and knelt beside the footstool to massage Lady Zhaohua's legs: "Your Majesty, please calm down. As you know, you specifically instructed that those most trusted servants in the Emperor's court must not be disturbed."
Zi Rui's voice grew softer and softer, and fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead.
Lady Zhaohua's eyes flashed, and she suddenly understood something.
She leaned back against the soft pillows, a meaningful smile playing on her lips: "I see."
She raised her hand to touch her temple, and the jade bracelet on her wrist clinked against the gold-inlaid jade nail guards, making a crisp sound.
"It seems those were the same people who served before the Emperor yesterday."
Lady Zhaohua squinted, her long eyelashes casting a faint shadow beneath her eyes.
She has thrived in the palace all these years thanks to this keen insight.
She remained silent about the three eunuchs closest to the emperor, fearing to alert them.
After all, while it might seem like there were huge gains to be made by offending the emperor's confidants, the risks were also enormous.
She can't take that risk.
After all, in the Emperor's eyes, she had always been just a simple, unassuming woman who didn't care about worldly affairs.
Ironically, the truly innocent people in the palace are long gone.
For example, the late empress.
Thinking of this, Madam Zhaohua recently let out a cold laugh.
“Zi Rui,” she suddenly spoke, her voice regaining its usual languidness, “go and fetch my pair of red coral earrings.”
Zi Rui felt as if she had been granted a pardon and quickly got up to fetch the jewelry box.
Lady Zhaohua looked at herself in the bronze mirror and lightly touched her lips with her fingertips.
The person in the mirror has exquisite features, and a beauty mark at the corner of her eye adds a touch of charm.
She is 35 years old this year, but because she takes good care of herself, she looks like she is only 27 or 28.
“Your Majesty,” Zi Rui returned carrying the brocade box, asking cautiously, “are you going to wear these earrings today?”
Lady Zhaohua shook her head and took out the earrings from the box to play with them.
The red coral shimmered with a lustrous sheen in the sunlight, making her fingertips appear even whiter.
“No, this is a reward for Little Li of the Imperial Kitchen.” She smiled slightly, her red lips curving upwards. “I heard his sister is getting married; I should at least show my appreciation.”
Although the Imperial Kitchen is not as well-informed as the Emperor's own kitchen, it is the most well-informed.
Those eunuchs would gossip about anything in order to please their masters.
Zi Rui knew that Her Majesty had a plan.
"Tell the people in the Imperial Kitchen to be more alert and send a message to Consort Liang. Don't think that just because she's under house arrest she can have some peace and quiet. There's a huge commotion outside, so she should do something about it."
Lady Zhaohua was unaware of what had transpired between Consort Liang and the Crown Prince, but she was the first person in the palace to realize that Consort Liang's affection for the Crown Prince was feigned.
Now, she's happy to watch these two groups fight, preferably to the death, which would save her a lot of trouble.
Lady Zhaohua put the earrings back into the brocade box, then suddenly seemed to remember something and asked, "By the way, has the Fifth Prince's Consort made any moves lately?"
A hint of tenderness flickered in her eyes when her beloved son was mentioned. Zi Rui quickly replied, "Your Majesty, the imperial physician examined the Crown Princess yesterday and said she is in good health."
A flash of malice crossed Madam Zhaohua's eyes: "Useless thing!"
We've been married for over half a year, and there's still no sign of pregnancy.
The Emperor was unaware of the Second Prince's affair, but Lady Zhaohua had known about it for a long time.
Having offspring is also a means to compete for the throne!
"Alright, let her try her best."
"Also, ask Mother to help find some people to enrich Jun'er's backyard."
She had done more than enough, giving the Fifth Prince's wife half a year; it was her own fault for not being good enough.
We can't let Jun'er be without children.
The Crown Prince already has three sons; Jun'er cannot lose to him.
"Go, find my lotus-colored blouse embroidered with butterflies," Lady Zhaohua suddenly ordered. "I need to deliver some freshly picked lotus seeds to the Emperor."
Zi Rui hurriedly went to prepare.
Lady Zhaohua got up and walked to the dressing table, carefully drawing her eyebrows in front of the bronze mirror.
She knew that her appearance was her greatest weapon.
The reason why the Emperor has favored her so much all these years is simply because of her beauty, isn't it?
sincere?
Lady Zhaohua simply did not believe it.
Which man in the world truly loves a woman? They're all just pretending.
Power and money are the only reliable things.
After getting ready, Lady Zhaohua stood in front of the full-length bronze mirror and twirled around.
Her deep purple dress accentuated her snow-white skin, and the butterfly pattern amidst the flowers was so lifelike that it seemed as if it might fly off the fabric at any moment.
“Let’s go.” She adjusted the hairpin at her temple. “Don’t keep the Emperor waiting.”
Zi Rui quickly stepped forward to help her up, whispering a reminder: "Your Highness, lotus seeds..."
Lady Zhaohua chuckled lightly: "I almost forgot."
From the day she entered the palace, she knew that this would be her battlefield for the rest of her life.
Even now, her gamble has never stopped.
The flowers on both sides of the palace road were in full bloom. Lady Zhaohua walked slowly, her skirt brushing against the bluestone slabs, making a soft rustling sound.
She looked up in the direction she was facing, a determined glint in her eyes.
What is the crown prince?
In the end, it will surely be her son who reigns supreme.