Chapter 22 Re-encountering the Favored Concubine

  "I don't understand."

  "I don't understand! Don't you really understand? The path I'm on now, wasn't it arranged by you people? What kind of damn agreement is this, what's with the disturbance to the imperial court..."

  "Master, there are some things that cannot be said here."

  "How dare you! Wanjie Cheng, do you think I'm your master? Do you have the heart to treat me as your master? Don't you hate me? It was I who let your master's whole family perish, and yet you don't even think of killing me?"

  "Don't worry about it!"

  "You're really loyal, then take off that black mourning attire of yours, it's getting on my nerves!"

  I snatched the cotton-padded jacket off and threw it to him, I walked out of the yard, with a belly full of grievances, I didn't know who to tell, no one was trustworthy, alas, I'm really unlucky.

  But where is this place now? Although the demon has allowed me to leave the hospital, this is my first time walking out of "Jingju" by myself. I was in a huff and threw my cloak to Wanday Cheng earlier, but now I regret it so much. It's freezing cold here, enough to kill someone. But where is this place? And what about the house that can be seen outside the yard, it looks so luxurious.

  "How could Chunai Shilang come to the King's mansion?" Someone said, "Ah, hide, hide, behind the fake mountain, that's good, quickly run over and hide behind it."

  "Representing the Emperor to ask, Lord Wang, how is the matter proceeding?" A young and pleasant voice, could this be the guest they spoke of, who can represent the Emperor in handling matters, seems like a big shot.

  "Then trouble Akane to convey it for me, everything is going smoothly."

  "That's good, then the emperor can rest assured, Prince..." The voice grew fainter and fainter. I poked my head out, but there was no one left. What a close call! But why did I have to hide? It made me look like a thief."

  "Sister? Is it sister?" Scared me to death!

  "Qing'er little sister?"

  "Sister, why did you run here, and wearing so little?"

  "Not afraid of sister's teasing, I thought it out and decided to take a walk, but didn't expect to get lost."

  "Is Xiaoyue not attending to you by your side?"

  "Hehe, sent King Wang away, you should know about King Wang's affairs now, little sister."

  "Hmm... if sister doesn't mind, let's go sit at younger sister's place first, have a sip of hot tea and warm up."

  "Well, okay, I'll bother sister to rest then."

  "Oh, sister, don't say that."

  As Qing'er walked into her courtyard, in front of the Moon Gate, I saw the three characters "Four Seasons Pavilion" engraved above it. Entering the courtyard was like entering heaven, with many unknown flowers, grasses and trees planted inside, filling the entire yard, leaving only a narrow stone path leading to the house in the middle. Although it's the depths of winter now, there wasn't a single withered plant or tree here; instead, various colorful flowers bloomed together, extremely beautiful, and the entire courtyard was filled with the fragrance of flowers. As I walked up to the house, I looked up to see that there was no plaque above the door.

  "What a lovely courtyard my sister has!"

  "Thanks for the compliment, sister. I don't have any other hobbies usually, just like these flowers and grasses. Over time, there are more and more planted in the yard, almost no space left to plant."

  "No wonder it's called 'Four Seasons Pavilion'! I've never seen so many flowers that can bloom in winter before!"

  "The king knows that your lady likes these things and has someone bring them from all over every season!"

  "Xiang Yu, you chatterbox, hurry up and prepare some hot tea."

  "Yes."

  "Sister, don't listen to her nonsense. It's all because I've spoiled her too much. Hurry up and go inside, it's really cold outside."

  "Good."

  Pushing open the cotton curtain, I entered the house and was immediately enveloped in warmth. This is basically differential treatment! My place doesn't even have a ordinary curtain, just a small heater inside, it's freezing to death, especially at night, adding two more quilts still doesn't feel much warmer.

  "Sister, sit on the couch, I see you like sleeping on the couch, come and sit here."

  "Good."

  "My sister's house is really nice, elegant and cozy."

  "This was personally prepared by the prince for your lady."

  "Xiang Yu, go out."

  "Madam."

  "Get out."

  "Yes."

  "I'll make my sister laugh, and then I'll punish her afterwards."

  "It's all right, Xiangyu is also telling the truth."

  "Sister, have some tea to warm yourself up."

  "Good."

  "Sister, do you still want to leave the Wang Manor?" I stopped what I was doing because of her words and put the teacup back on the low table, finally getting to the point.

  "My sister said last time she had a way, I don't know what it is? You know that the king will move to my place today."

  "Sister, did you know that there's a place in the mansion called 'Reflecting on One's Crimes Tower'?"

  "Think of Si Zu Lou! I've heard people mention it before."

  "That's the place with the loosest guard in the mansion. As long as sister enters that place, I'll have a way to let sister leave."

  "Sister means I should go in like Yao Ru did? But I heard Yao Ru died there later."

  "It's Ruan Yong, I suppose she must have told her sister."

  "No, I just happened to overhear the maids chatting and got a rough idea of what's going on."

  "People in the government only know one side of it, but they don't know there are other reasons."

  "What did you mean by that, little sister?"

  "As for Jiaoruo, the surface of things is just as my sister knows. Jiaoruo collided with the prince due to a misunderstanding between us, and she indeed died there too. But in fact, Jiaoruo secretly asked me for help, which nobody else knew about. Jiaoruo was originally unwilling to enter the mansion, but due to some matters, she had no choice but to enter. I'm not clear on the specific reasons either. All I know is that she has a man outside the mansion who knows her, so she came to ask me for help getting out of the mansion, and that's why I set up this plan with her to get her out."

  "It's really romantic to be able to spend a lifetime with someone who loves you!"

  "What a pity."

  "How could this be? Did something go wrong in between?"

  "No, everything was carefully planned, but unfortunately the man who knew Rourou from outside died of illness. When Rourou found out, she used a curtain... Alas!"

  "What a lovesick woman!"

  "No! Sister's heart is just like the delicate one from the beginning, although I don't know why sister wants to give up the current glory and wealth, but sister's that heart, I, little sister, can still see it."

  "Why would his sister be willing to take risks for this?"

  "It doesn't harm me at all if you share Wang Ye with me, does it, sister?"

  "My sister is really straightforward."

  "Sister is afraid? I just think it's better to talk things out."

  "Sister, you're worrying too much. I just don't understand, since you already have the king's complete favor, why do you need to make this risky move?"

  "A woman will always grow old, when her youth is no longer there, will there be a future?"

  "I'm not really sure about this, but I just feel that if a couple can't even take care of each other, is there really any true love between them?"

  "Sister's words are really profound!"

  "Heh heh, if this method can really get rid of the palace, it's a good choice for both you and me."

  "So, have you decided, sister?"

  "Let me think about this again."

  "Madam, Zhongsheng has arrived." Xiangyu knocked gently on the door outside.

  "Let him in."

  "I'll step aside for now." Tadafumi? A familiar name, seems like I've heard it somewhere before.

  "No need, Zhong Sheng is the young master's personal attendant." The door was pushed open, and it turned out to be him, the young man who led me and Wan Ri Cheng into the mansion that day.

  "Madam is well, Fourth Madam is well."

  "Zhōng shēng, shén me shì?"

  Translation: "Zhong Sheng, what's up?"