CH 99.1

At the same time, Lady Yulan was also talking to her daughter in another yard of Duke Xuguo Manor that was as gorgeous as the main courtyard.

As Duke Xuguo’s most favoured concubine for decades, Lady Yulan had her own charm. Even though she was now in her forties, she still resembled a young woman in her twenties,

Unlike Consort Jin who chose to conceal everything, Side Consort Xu was much more candid. She had no other choice. She chose this path herself, so even if she encountered mishaps, she couldn’t blame others. This was why as soon as she returned to the capital, she hurried to her dear mother for advice. In Xu Yueru’s eyes, her mother was invincible. There was nothing she couldn’t do.

“Why are you so stubborn? Since you already have a goal, how did you end up fighting with someone insignificant? Have you forgotten what your mother taught you? When others are in the limelight, don’t even think about stealing it. You will only end up harming yourself. For someone to be in the limelight, there must be a reason for it. Take your father as an example. Whenever he goes to the main courtyard, mother doesn’t interfere. Since he’s going there, he must have a reason for it. If you were to go against him, you’d only be seeking death.”

“You know what men like most about women? Looks, body? Both! But what men like the most are a woman’s sensibility and meekness, which fulfills their sense of accomplishment and vanity. Of course, I’m not saying that you shouldn’t do anything, but you must choose the right time to act. Once you zero in on your opponent’s gap, strike the target with one shot! And you stupid thing, not only did you not join hands with the other party, you even fought with her! You forgot about Xu Yanru, that drowning dog! Since you can’t even hit a drowning dog, if you’re not stupid then what are you?!”

Side Consort Xu was scolded by Lady Yulan until she couldn’t even lift her head. Her mother had a gentle as water appearance on the outside when fawning upon her father, but she was completely different in private.

She whispered, “Daughter was anxious…”

“What are you anxious for? Xu Yanru’s not anxious, so why are you anxious? What did your mother tell you before you left? Jin Wang isn’t someone that indulges in women! Now that you understand this, you must learn to be patient. Since someone has already poked a hole, you only need to wait. Sit back and enjoy the fruits of other’s labour. What’s there to be anxious about?”

“I…” Vexed, Side Consort Xu knew she had made the wrong move. “What should daughter do now?”

“Wait!” After finishing speaking, Lady Yulan said again, “When everybody adds wood, the flames rise high, so give her more wood. Some people can’t bear to be put on a pedestal. If you flatter her enough, she’ll even forget her own surname. Once you do it a few more times, the man would naturally abandon her like a pair of old shoes.”

This was true from Lady Yulan’s experience. She had been with Duke Xuguo for many years, and Duke Xuguo didn’t just favour her alone. Over the years, his concubines and tongfangs¹ were countless, but the number of people who died from this trick was also endless.

“You must remember to follow the current. When the current is powerful, your path will also be smooth. Once the current weakens, that’s when you can step on her. Either you don’t step on her at all or you trample her to death.”

Qianqing Palace, imperial study.

Emperor Hongjing looked at his tall and handsome son in front of him, and said, “You entered the palace this many times, just to give your concubine a title?”

Jin Wang stood there, steady as a mountain, but also calm and reserved. Despite his cold temperament, the due respect was still there.

“Back when she was still in her boudoir, she had a private relationship with erchen. At that time, when erchen received news of the barbarians raiding, erchen rushed to the border fortress and neglected her. Afterwards, erchen tried to look for her, but she was already gone. When we met again, she had already given birth to erchen’s child but was kicked out by her family. She could only enter the manor as a servant to support herself and her child. Although her background is low, her family is clean. It’s just that back then, erchen neglected to give her status for a moment of glory.”

Emperor Hongjing pondered for a while then glanced at Jin Wang. “For you to have a son, Zhen is very pleased. But you must still remember that time when the imperial censor impeached you. Don’t make the same mistake again. Bring the child into the palace for Zhen to take a look.”

“Yes.”

Jin Wang walked out of Qianqing Palace and went towards the palace exit. When he reached Jingyun gate, a few people approached him.

The person in the lead was wearing a crimson qinwang uniform. Tall and strong, his steps were powerful and his bearing was valiant. Two small eunuchs followed behind him. It was Lu Wang.

Lu Wang was impatient by nature and had a violent temper. While he was at his fief, it was reported from time to time that he killed for money and treated the citizens according to his whims, arousing people’s grievances. Emperor Hongjing also issued a decree to reprimand from time to time, but a few days later, he would revert to his old habits. What people didn’t expect was that he would act the same way he did in Luzhou while visiting the capital, lashing at imperial court officials wantonly.

It was true that no one dared to tattle on Lu Wang, but the two injured officials both asked for leave. Now that the Court of State Ceremonial² was short of manpower, this matter naturally spread to Emperor Hongjing’s ears.

Emperor Hongjing was so furious that he bestowed him with ten lashes without even considering his face. Seeing Lu Wang like this, there seemed to be nothing wrong with him. He was likely here to beg for an audience with His Majesty.

Jin Wang was the fifth prince while Lu Wang was the sixth. Even if he wanted to pretend not to see him, he couldn’t avoid this greeting.

“Fifth brother.” Lu Wang stopped, cupping his hands in a perfunctory gesture.

Jin Wang wasn’t willing to say much either, so he only nodded before continuing on his way.

Lu Wang snorted and continued forward, while talking to the little eunuch beside him, “I heard that my fifth brother seems to have a son?”

“This… How would this servant know about this kind of thing.”

Lu Wang kicked him. “Look at you! What use do I have for imbeciles like you?”

The eunuch was kicked onto his back with his legs up in the air while Lu Wang walked away. The little eunuch pretended to lie there for a while, rubbing his stomach. He only got up when Lu Wang was far away, before spitting out, “Tsk, you think I want to serve you? It was all because I didn’t check the almanac³ before leaving the house that I bumped into someone like you!”

As he muttered these words, he scurried away along the palace walls.