Volume One, Chapter 13: Bathing (Part 1)

Phoenix Perch Palace.

“His Majesty previously sent guards to deliver the head and tongue of a dog slave as a reward, frightening me into fainting on the spot.”

“Now that I am unwell, he not only refuses to come see me, he has even reprimanded my father—and forbidden Father from visiting me as well. What exactly does he mean by this?”

The imperial physician had only just left, yet Liu Ruyi’s expression had already darkened. She truly could not understand why Shen Ran’s attitude had changed so drastically overnight.

Ru Hua stood to one side with her head lowered, not daring to say a word.

Liu Ruyi appeared gentle and delicate on the surface, but in truth she was a ruthless woman.

Earlier, Ru Hua had misread Shen Ran’s intentions and frightened Liu Ruyi terribly. Once Liu Ruyi awoke, she immediately ordered someone to prick Ru Hua’s arm with needles as punishment. Her arm was now covered in countless tiny puncture marks. How could she possibly dare speak carelessly?

Yet remaining silent was clearly not an option either.

Liu Ruyi shot her a cold glare. “I’m asking you a question. Have you gone mute?”

Ru Hua trembled and hurriedly replied, “This servant thinks that perhaps someone has whispered something into His Majesty’s ear, causing him to harbor resentment.”

Liu Ruyi paused. Recalling everything that had happened over the past two days, a sinister glint flashed through her beautiful eyes.

“You mean… that fool Xue Wu?”

Ru Hua answered timidly, “Yes, Your Highness. Think about it. In the past, whenever His Majesty saw her, he avoided her as though she were a venomous snake. Yet this time, he actually went out of his way to approach her. She must have used some method to bewitch His Majesty, then incited him to distance himself from you.”

“Hmph. She acts so aloof and pure every day, but now she has revealed herself to be nothing more than a vixen seducing a man!”

“And she even seeks to sow discord between His Majesty and me!”

The more Liu Ruyi thought about it, the more convincing it seemed. She slammed her hand against the headboard and said coldly, “Just wait. The years of affection between His Majesty and me cannot possibly be matched by what she has accomplished in these few days. Besides, I still have what happened back then…”

At that point, Liu Ruyi paused and did not continue. Instead, she said furiously, “Sooner or later, I will make that fool spend the rest of her life in the Cold Palace!”

Ru Hua murmured her agreement from the side.

After venting for another few moments, Liu Ruyi’s mood finally settled somewhat. “Has Father sent anyone with a message for me?”

Ru Hua said, “The Left Chancellor merely instructed you to serve His Majesty attentively and pay close attention to his movements. If you notice anything unusual, send him word. As for matters of court, he said you should stop offering counsel for the next few days. He has his own plans. However…”

Ru Hua paused.

Liu Ruyi frowned. “However what?”

“The Left Chancellor said that if you could cultivate someone beside His Majesty whom you absolutely trusted and who was capable of gathering information, it would be even better. That way, we would not be caught off guard should His Majesty begin to suspect us.”

Liu Ruyi knitted her brows. “All these years, I have been trying to cultivate such a person at His Majesty’s side, but it is far too difficult. There may be a great many palace maids and eunuchs in the Weiyang Palace, but the only ones who can truly get close to him are Wen Xi and Yuanbao. Wen Xi needs no explanation. She spends all day inside the Weiyang Palace, never venturing beyond its gates, and even when she does leave, she merely follows His Majesty around. We can scarcely see her at all. As for Yuanbao…”

Liu Ruyi pondered for a moment. “He may be greedy for money, but whenever I try to ask him about His Majesty, he refuses to say a word. As for everyone else, bribing them would be useless.”

Ru Hua said, “The Left Chancellor also said that if you truly cannot find a way in through His Majesty, you might try starting with the Empress and see exactly what method she used to make His Majesty change his mind.”

Liu Ruyi: “…”

* * *

After meeting Liu Shizhuang, Shen Ran proceeded to the Clear Dew Pool to bathe. It was a natural hot spring within the imperial palace, screened by layer upon layer of artificial rockeries. Mist hung thickly in every direction, and from even a short distance away, everything appeared hazy and indistinct, like a paradise on earth.

Even while bathing, Shen Ran forbade anyone from attending him at close range.

Apart from Wen Xi, who stood some distance away with two maids bearing trays, everyone else had to wait beyond the overlapping rockeries.

This bath lasted far longer than usual. Only after more than an hour did Shen Ran slowly emerge from the pool.

Wen Xi took the tray of clothing from one of the maids and ordered both of them to remain where they were. She herself handed the garments to Shen Ran. Throughout the entire process, she kept her eyes lowered, looking neither left nor right.

As he dressed, Shen Ran asked, “What was Liu Shizhuang’s expression like when he left?”

“The Left Chancellor never reveals his emotions.”

Shen Ran gave a quiet hum and said indifferently, “That old fox.”

Wen Xi frowned. “The Left Chancellor now commands the allegiance of most of the civil officials in court. His Majesty’s sudden attack on him, together with such severe words, may cause resentment and stir unrest throughout the court.”

“Nothing can be established without first destroying what came before.” Shen Ran gave a soft laugh. “The civil and military officials of the court are a mixed lot. They should have been purged long ago. I am not afraid of them making a move now. What I fear is that they will hide like tortoises, only to emerge at a critical moment and stab you in the back.”

“Do not worry. I know where to draw the line.”

Wen Xi nodded. “This servant merely wished to remind Your Majesty. Since you already have matters under control, this servant is relieved.”

Shen Ran smiled. “Thank you for your concern.”

His manner was exceedingly courteous.

From childhood onward, Wen Xi had devoted herself entirely to serving him. She never concerned herself with anything else and had never opposed one of his decisions, whether he was right or wrong. Unfortunately, in his previous life, after Liu Ruyi drugged him, Wen Xi had suffered as well, dying amid the chaos of war.

At the thought, a cold gleam flashed through Shen Ran’s eyes. He lowered his voice and said to Wen Xi, “By the way, Wen Xi, there is one more matter I would like you to handle.”

Wen Xi was slightly startled, then said, “Please instruct me, Your Majesty.”

“In the first box on the left-hand side of my writing desk, there is a jade pendant. You have seen it before. Quietly investigate its owner for me.”

Wen Xi was somewhat surprised. “Is that not the Noble Consort’s jade pendant?”

At this, Shen Ran curved his lips without the slightest trace of amusement. “The jade pendant is not hers. She snatched it from someone else. As for who that person is, I do not know.”

“This…”

Wen Xi said, “No wonder Your Majesty’s attitude toward the Noble Consort changed so suddenly. But how did Your Majesty find out?”

Naturally, Liu Ruyi herself had revealed it.

After a moment of silence, Shen Ran lowered his eyes lazily and said expressionlessly, “That is inconvenient to discuss for now. You need only know that I have not wronged her.”

“Understood.”

Wen Xi said, “This servant will do everything in her power to find the jade pendant’s true owner for Your Majesty.”

Shen Ran had finished dressing by then.

According to custom, the maidservants should now have presented him with a cup of Glazed Drunkenness.

It was a treasured wine of the Great Zhou imperial palace. A cup after bathing could ward off chills and illness even in the depths of winter.

Yet Shen Ran had finished dressing, and the wine had still not been brought over.

Such a thing had never happened before.

The palace maids knew Shen Ran’s temperament well. How would they dare neglect him so blatantly?

Wen Xi frowned and called out to the other maid carrying a tray. “What are you dawdling for? Hurry and bring His Majesty his wine!”

The maid appeared to have been lost in thought. Wen Xi’s sharp voice made her flinch slightly.

She hurriedly acknowledged the order, then began walking toward Shen Ran one step at a time, secretly imagining what this supreme ruler might look like.

She had heard countless rumors about the young emperor within the palace, yet she had never seen him in person.

The imperial palace held no shortage of beautiful women, all of them entering in the bloom of youth. Some, though they never won the emperor’s favor and endured long, lonely nights, were at least granted a single night of fortune. More would never have the chance to behold the sovereign’s face in their entire lives, wasting away until old age overtook them.

Now, as the distance between them steadily narrowed, the maid first saw a figure through the veiled mist.

The young emperor had turned his head to speak with Wen Xi.

His damp black hair cascaded down like a waterfall. His features were as pure and refined as ice and jade, his spirit clear and his bones delicately formed. Yet when a few strands of dark hair brushed across his cheek with the movement, they lent him an indescribable, bewitching allure.