This was the first time the emperor came to Taoyu Pavilion without indulging in the matters of the flesh . Whether it was because of pity toward her injured knees or because of impotence due to indulging too often was anyone’s guess . In Zhuang Luoyan’s opinion, it was more likely to be the latter . After all, men were, at times, more of an animal than true animals . Such a small injury on her knees shouldn’t have been enough to turn an animal into a gentleman . Of course, in this world there indeed was a type of men known as “Liu Xiahui¹ . ” However, the emperor did not fall under that cla.s.sification .

Last night, under the candlelight, the bruises had seemed frightening . When Zhuang Luoyan woke up in the morning, they did not look as serious as before . That said, two large patches of green were still upon skin pale as snow . No matter how one looked at it, it was unpleasant . 　　

Zhuang Luoyan herself found it ugly . One would fear that as the emperor personally rolled up the legs of her inner-garment pants, he would find it even harder to look it . She carefully sneaked a peek at him . Saw that his gaze did not hold disgust . So she let him look as he pleased . 　　

“We have ointment that dispels bruises . In a little while, We will tell Gao Dezhong to send some to you . ” Feng Jin let go of the legs of her pants . He rose to his feet . “It’s no longer early . We will attend court . ”

“This concubine sends off Your Majesty . ”

The moment Feng Jin walked to the door, he turned his head around . And he just caught the love in Imperial Concubine Zhao’s eyes . However, it was only a flash . When he had wanted to see it clearer, he could only see Imperial Concubine Zhao’s courteous manner in sending him off . His mood grew slightly excited . “In a few days, We will promote…” Recalling the previous look in her eyes, Feng Jin paused . Then he calmly said, “Remember to apply the ointment on time . If anything strange occurs, inform the Central Province . “ 

Once he stepped out of Taoyu Pavilion, Feng Jin glanced at Gao Dezhong . Although his tone was calm, he still asked, “Who caused Imperial Concubine Zhao’s injury?” His att.i.tude was composed, as though he were certain Gao Dezhong knew the culprit . 　　

He was the head eunuch of Ganzheng Palace . What he should know, he would know . Since the emperor had asked him, as the emperor’s servant he naturally would speak . “Reporting to Your Majesty, this slave has heard that Consort Yuan and Imperial Concubine Zhao met in the garden . This slave is unsure why Consort Yuan punished Imperial Concubine Zhao to kneel for a while . It didn’t end until Consort Rou arrived and told Master Imperial Concubine Zhao to leave . ”　　

“When did this happen?” Feng Jin said on top his palanquin as strong eunuchs lifted it up, tone neutral .

“Ten days ago,” said Gao Dezhong carefully .

A cold smile slid across his lips . “After ten days, Imperial Concubine Zhao’s knees still had not healed?”　　

Gao Dezhong hesitated before saying, “Originally, it should have healed . However, two days ago Consort Yuan and Imperial Concubine Zhao met again . What occurred then this slave does not know . ”

Consort Yuan’s activities in the imperial palace were not things he had access to . However, what occurred in the garden was fair game for him . Regarding the matters of the imperial concubines, even if he were privy to them, he must act as if he were not .

Once Feng Jin heard those words, he did not speak . He also did not ask for more information . Even so, Gao Dezhong was very clear in his heart that the emperor was not in a good mood .

Zhuang Luoyan had watched the shrinking figure of Feng Jin . Then she lay down on her bed and looked at the servants in her room . “You can all leave . Just Yunxi and Tingzhe are enough to attend to me . ” 

Back then, in the Imperial Garden, Consort Yuan had forced her to kneel . Her knees had not been so injured at the time . Yet never had she thought Consort Yuan would be so daring to invite her to her palace .

Before her eyes, Consort Yuan removed her jade hairpin and tossed it to the floor, splitting it in half . Then she punished Zhuang Luoyan to kneel on the pieces for four hours . And she endured this . As one day, she would get revenge . 　　

She climbed down the bed . Let Yunxi and Tingzhe help her freshen up . She opened a box of lip dye, picked some up with a finger, and dabbed it on her lips . After she applied it, the result was breathtaking .

The corners of her lips tilted upward . She closed the box . Then Zhuang Luoyan lazily said, “Apply the rest of my makeup . ”

Afterward, she arrived at Jingyang Palace to pay respects to the empress . As usual, the empress was graceful, poised, and n.o.ble . The way she looked at Zhuang Luoyan seemed as though she were an intimate older sister of hers . But the way in which n.o.ble Imperial Concubine Yan had smiled at Zhuang Luoyan was too bright .

Although Consort Yuan disliked her, she recalled that the emperor stayed overnight at Taoyu Pavilion yesterday . She did not know if he had seen the bruises on Imperial Concubine Zhao’s knees . If he had…

The entire imperial harem had been searched after the death of two palace maids², but these women here seemed to have forgotten this fact . Instead, they were just talking a bunch of nonsense . They did not mention the two palace maids at all . 　　

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The empress was calm . Even when the imperial concubines stood to leave, she did not mention this topic . They did not know what the empress was thinking .

Zhuang Luoyan used Tingzhe’s hand as support as she walked . She smiled as she left with Imperial Concubine w.a.n.g and Virtuous Imperial Concubine Jiang . Not too far ahead was Consort Yuan . Yet this time, Consort Yuan did not cause trouble for her . Once Consort Yuan was outside of Jingyang Palace, she boarded a sedan³ back to her palace .

Expression neutral, Zhuang Luoyan glanced in the direction of Consort Yuan . As if Consort Yuan had not bullied her in the past . Everyone else knew that Consort Yuan and Imperial Concubine Zhao did not see eye to eye . But due to the former’s high position, and the fact that the latter received the emperor’s favor, the other imperial concubines acted as if they were unaware of their circ.u.mstances .

However, after they witnessed Consort Yuan’s actions today, they thought perhaps she would not make trouble for Imperial Concubine Zhao for now .

Zhuang Wanqing eyed Zhuang Luoyan’s unchanging expression . Her own lips twisted into a sneer . She turned around and left .

When everyone had thought the emperor would punish Consort Yuan for purposefully making things difficult for Imperial Concubine Zhao, surprising news spread . The emperor had flipped Consort Yuan’s name tag . All of a sudden, the entire imperial harem was watching to see how Imperial Concubine Zhao would make a fool of herself .

Once Zhuang Luoyan heard the news, her expression stayed neutral . She only played with a jade hairpin . If Consort Yuan’s servants saw her now, they would feel shocked . That jade hairpin looked exactly the same as the one Consort Rou had shattered .

The palace in the middle of the night was silent to the point of frightening . While everyone was halfway into their dreams, Consort Yuan’s palace was still bright . The eunuchs in charge of night duty seemed to hear from inside the palace the sound of things cras.h.i.+ng onto the floor . Then they saw the emperor leave Consort Yuan’s palace, his expression frigid .  

It didn’t even take one day for news of this event to spread . In fact, the news had spread the same night through the entire harem . The moment Zhuang Luoyan learned of it, she had just sat down on her bed, Tingzhe ma.s.saging her knees .

“What did that Consort Yuan do to make His Majesty so angry?” Yunxi lit another light, her expression nervous . 　　

“How should I know? She must have done something wrong . ” Zhuang Luoyan yawned . She squinted her eyes in exhaustion . “It’s the middle of the night . It’s about time to go to bed . The two of you go sleep . ” As soon as she finished speaking, she closed her eyes . 　　

Yunxi and Tingzhe shared a look . They went forward to let down their master’s net curtains . After blowing out all the candles, they retreated from the room . Their hearts felt a.s.suaged of anger, yet not completely experiencing peace of mind .

The next day, an imperial edict came from Ganzheng Palace, informing the whole imperial harem .

“Consort Yuan, Maiden Name Lin, has not given an imperial child after so many years . Her personality is narrow-minded, and she lacks the qualification to be a consort . We feel distressed, and will now remove her rank . However, since she has served Us for so many years, she will be given the position of a lesser fourth-rank Imperial Concubine . ”

The emperor had denounced a woman with the rank of consort for not having what it took to be one . One would fear that she would never rise to that rank again .

As the head eunuch Gao Dezhong announced this imperial edict, the imperial concubines considered to be high-ranked were sitting in Jingyang Palace . The moment this imperial edit had arrived, Consort Yuan collapsed to the ground .

Once Gao Dezhong left, the imperial concubines turned their gazes at Consort Yuan and Zhuang Luoyan, deep in consideration . 　　

That was how the harem was like . Always chaotic . It wasn’t until the end that one would know who the winner was . The past few days, Consort Yuan could still punish Imperial Concubine Zhao whenever she wanted . Today, she was of the same rank as Imperial Concubine Zhao . What a pity that the latter had a t.i.tle . As such, when both were compared, Imperial Concubine Zhao was a bit more n.o.ble in ident.i.ty .

The empress looked at the kneeling Imperial Concubine Lin . Her gaze was free of sentiment . From the start, the emperor had not been satisfied with the Lin family . Consort Yuan had recently made trouble for Imperial Concubine Zhao because the latter’s father tried to impeach the former’s father . This Imperial Concubine Lin was really stupid . That she had reached this end should not be considered wronging her .

In the span of one day, she went from a mid-tier first-rank Consort Yuan to a lesser fourth-rank Imperial Concubine Lin . She was demoted so many ranks, and was now even less n.o.ble in ident.i.ty than Imperial Concubine Zhao . This move of the emperor could be considered heartless and ruthless .

The empress watched the imperial concubines in the room . And she studied Imperial Concubine Zhao, whose expression was still neutral . “Since the imperial edict has already been pa.s.sed down, this palace is tired . You all are dismissed . ”　　　　

The imperial concubines did so in an honest manner . Even the pale Imperial Concubine Lin performed the full ceremony before taking her leave .

Once they left Jingyang Palace, Imperial Concubine Lin could feel the sting of mocking gazes all around her . As soon as she lifted her head, the gentle and smiling face of Imperial Concubine Zhao came into view . When her gaze landed on the other’s hair, her originally pale face turned green . 　　

Inserted into Imperial Concubine Zhao’s hair was a jade hairpin in full view . And the top end of the hairpin was a simplistic shape of an auspicious cloud . It added to her appearance . Made her seem even more beautiful .

Imperial Concubine Lin felt that the gentle smile on the other woman’s face was cold enough to pierce bone .

Bwahaha . This is what you guys have all been waiting for . Consort Yuan’s fall from grace . And did Feng Jin let it slip that he was going to promote ZL again?

Next regular release: Sat.u.r.day October 5, 2019 at 12 pm EST .

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