Chapter 10: A Word to the Wise

On the way back from Consort Liang’s tent, Ning Zhaorou did her best to keep herself composed, not letting anyone notice something was wrong. But her knees hurt terribly. Supported by Shuangwu, she had to stop and rest after only walking a short while.

Today was the autumn hunt. As they made their way back, they passed a few men on horseback, carrying bows. Ning Zhaorou glanced through the crowd but didn’t spot Chu Changfeng.

“Let’s head back,” she said softly.

“Yes, miss.”

Normally, whatever happened in Consort Liang’s tent wouldn’t make its way to His Majesty’s ears. However, that day, Zhou Lu had misunderstood the Emperor’s words, assuming His Majesty had taken an interest in Ning Zhaorou. So he told a few junior eunuchs to keep an extra eye on her.

That day, His Majesty was attending to court matters—dry and tedious affairs. Zhou Lu had instructed everyone serving him to be extra cautious. A junior eunuch had been sent to deliver items to several consorts, and upon returning, shared what he had learned with Zhou Lu.

“Master,” he reported, “I saw Ning girl’s maid waiting outside Consort Liang’s tent. Looked like she was waiting for someone.”

Zhou Lu lifted his eyelids and stared at him. “Are you sure?”

“Positive, Master. I watched for a good while—it was definitely her.”

“You didn’t go find out more?”

The eunuch shook his head. Zhou Lu gave him a swift kick. “Useless! Running back with only half a tale.”

The eunuch stood still, accepting the scolding, and Zhou Lu barked, “Go back and find out the rest.”

“Yes, Master, right away.”

Not long after, the eunuch returned.

“Consort Liang summoned Ning girl first thing this morning, said she wanted to have a chat. When I got there, I saw Ning girl coming out. Looked like she’d been kneeling a long time—she could barely walk straight.”

Zhou Lu clicked his tongue in disapproval.

Consorts in the palace—always full of tricks. That Ning girl must’ve offended Consort Liang. What good could come of that? But what did His Majesty really think of her? Should this matter even be mentioned to him?

Seeing Zhou Lu stay silent, the eunuch couldn’t help asking, “Master, should we report this to His Majesty?”

Zhou Lu shot him a look and sneered. “Keep it to yourself. Whether it gets brought up or not is none of your concern.”

Inside the imperial tent, Yin Mingyu was going through memorials. He reached for his tea only to find it lukewarm. He frowned, lifted his gaze, and lightly tossed aside the memorial in his hand. “New tea.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” The palace maid responded quickly and took the cup away, returning shortly with fresh tea.

Zhou Lu entered alongside her.

Yin Mingyu rested a moment. Noticing Zhou Lu’s hesitant expression, he lazily said, “Spit it out.”

Zhou Lu took the cue. “Forgive me, Your Majesty. Just now, Xiao Dezi went to deliver items to the consorts. He happened to see Ning girl’s maid waiting outside Consort Liang’s tent. Got curious and stayed to investigate.”

He watched the Emperor’s expression closely, and when there was no change, he continued, “It’s said Consort Liang summoned her early this morning. No one knows what was said, but when she came out, she could barely walk straight.”

Just yesterday, Yin Mingyu had crushed Ning Zhaorou’s tiny hopes—a lesson in itself. He had no time or patience to fuss over a pitiful little girl. But just because he didn’t care didn’t mean others wouldn’t shove her in front of him.

The scent of tea slowly spread in the air, growing fainter.

It wasn’t long before the Emperor finally spoke.

He rubbed his temples, trying to ease his weariness. “Send a bottle of wound salve. And… give her a word of advice.”

A word of advice?

Zhou Lu immediately understood. If it was merely a “word,” then it wasn’t something to be openly addressed. And the medicine too—it was to be delivered discreetly. The Emperor wanted her to figure things out herself.

“Yes, Your Majesty. I’ll see to it right away.”

After leaving Consort Liang’s tent, Ning Zhaorou had still managed not to cry. But once she lifted her skirt and rolled up her pant leg, revealing the dark bruises on her knees, she gasped.

Shuangwu bit her lip as she fetched the medicine. She muttered angrily, “This is too cruel. You’re still a marquis’ legitimate daughter—how could Consort Liang do this to you…”

Ning Zhaorou didn’t mention the part where the palace maid had kicked her.

“She just needed to vent her anger,” she said faintly. “Now that she’s gotten it out of her system, maybe she won’t bother me again…”

Even as she said this, Ning Zhaorou wasn’t sure she believed it. The best-case scenario in her mind was that Consort Liang would consider things settled after this punishment. Unless, of course, she was still holding a grudge.

But if her knees looked like this and she still wasn’t satisfied—what would come next? Beatings? Whipping? She’d heard of palace punishments—ones that left no marks on the surface, but inside, a person would be torn to pieces.

Fear fluttered in her chest—until someone came to the door.

She recognized the person: someone she’d seen before at His Majesty’s side.

Zhuyue entered, stepping around the screen. Seeing Shuangwu applying medicine, she gave a curt bow and handed over a small bottle. “Miss, this was sent by His Majesty.”

Startled, Ning Zhaorou immediately dropped her pant leg and tried to sit up and bow.

Zhuyue stepped back, gently stopping her. “His Majesty said that since you are injured, you needn’t bow or offer thanks.”

Ning Zhaorou stared at the bottle of medicine, confused. Her long lashes dipped, then fluttered up again like butterfly wings. A question ran through her mind again and again, and finally, she dared to ask in a soft voice:

“How… did His Majesty know?”

It seemed safe to ask—Zhuyue replied calmly, “Someone at His Majesty’s side saw your maid outside Consort Liang’s tent. By the time they reported it, you had already left.”

For some reason, those words made Ning Zhaorou feel a little relief.

It wasn’t that the Emperor had deliberately allowed her to be humiliated. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have sent medicine at all.

Zhuyue handed over the bottle and prepared to leave. But just before she stepped out, she added a line with subtle meaning:

“Miss Ning, do take care to heal well. Don’t miss out on the fine scenery atop Mount Eming.”