Chapter 38: Banished to the Cold Palace
After finishing her looting spree, Jiang Lili returned to the guest room where everyone had gathered earlier.
Xin Cheng and the Marquis, acting on Madam Yuan’s confession, had already captured the village’s three other accomplices.
Most of the villagers in Lanyang Village had been coerced into their deeds. Now that the culprits had been brought to justice, they could finally sleep peacefully at night, free from the guilt of participating in such immoral acts.
Liao Ji had already brought his mother, who had been hiding in the woodshed, back to safety. Yin Zhen clutched her Dabao tightly, tears streaming down her face. “Oh my heavens! My child, how did you get so clever? You scared your mother to death!”
The earlier danger had left everyone on edge, and now Sister-in-law Chen couldn’t hold back her amazement. “Sister Yin, your child is so bold and smart! Is this really a one-and-a-half-year-old? What on earth are you feeding him?”
Standing behind Sister-in-law Chen, Xin Yan curiously peeked at his little brother, who was a full head shorter than him. His eyes were brimming with undisguised admiration.
The Marquis stroked his beard and declared, “This boy is exceptionally gifted—truly a talent destined for leadership!”
When Jiang Lili returned, she was met with the sight of Master Liao basking in the endless praise of being called a “prodigy.”
How infuriating! Using the guise of a child to crush everyone on a lower playing field—what a show-off!
“My boy wasn’t always this amazing,” Yin Zhen said humbly. “He used to just babble and play in the mud.”
Upon seeing Jiang Lili, Yin Zhen’s gratitude overflowed. “It’s all thanks to Miss Jiang’s medicine! After taking it, Dabao’s cold improved tonight, and he became so much smarter!”
Yin Zhen excitedly bowed to Jiang Lili. “Miss Jiang, you’re truly a miracle doctor!”
Even Sister-in-law Chen, Xin Cheng, and the others looked at Jiang Lili in a new light. “Sister-in-law, if you’re this skilled, why didn’t you say so earlier?”
Receiving their awestruck gazes, Jiang Lili panicked internally. Oh no! They all think I’m some sort of genius now!
The misunderstanding was growing out of control!
It was getting late, and people in the room began to disperse one by one.
Jiang Lili gave instructions to Master Liao: “Dabao, you’re the most informed here. Send a message to Li Sicong about the situation in Lanyang Village and have him go to the city school to bring the village children back, alright?”
Afterward, she planned to cozy up under her blanket and count her wealth one more time!
Liao Ji shook his head slightly, feeling that his small frame was bearing far too many responsibilities.
…
Xin Che escorted his parents back to their room. As he was about to leave, Madam Yang grabbed his hand. “Che’er, have you heard any news about your aunt?”
The Marquis also looked at Xin Che with a face full of eager anticipation.
Unable to bear lying to his parents any longer, Xin Che relayed the news truthfully.
His aunt, Xin Yingshu, had been the childhood sweetheart of Emperor Qingning. At the age of 15, she entered the palace and rose to the rank of Imperial Consort, enjoying unmatched favor.
The Marquis had served Emperor Qingning loyally, asking for nothing but for his sister to live a carefree and happy life in the palace. Who could have predicted the current situation?
The previous evening, Cheng Jiayu had gone out with Guan Yue and Jiang Lili, secretly meeting with the very allies they had been searching for. From them, they learned that Imperial Consort Ying was still alive but had fallen out of favor for the time being.
Hearing this, the Marquis and Madam Yang felt somewhat relieved.
Xin Che, however, lowered his gaze. There had been many other upheavals in the capital, but he saw no benefit in burdening his parents with those details—it would only bring them unnecessary worry.
*
The Next Day, Imperial Palace
Emperor Qingning sat on his dragon throne, holding a graceful beauty in his arms. This woman was none other than the newly favored Consort Rou, who was already one month pregnant.
The emperor’s voice was cold as he asked Chief Eunuch Zhou Jushan, “Has Consort Ying admitted her mistake yet?”
Zhou Jushan replied, “There is still no news from Yixia Palace.”
This Zhou Jushan happened to be none other than the deputy monitor of Class 447.
In his past life, Zhou Jushan had been a notorious player, leaving a trail of broken hearts behind. Perhaps karma had caught up with him—this time, he was reborn straight into the palace, with no pain but plenty of intrigue.
Emperor Qingning let out a cold snort. “It has been uncovered that the Yang family is involved in embezzling disaster relief funds, and somehow, this is tied to the Marquis of Zhaoping Mansion. Her brother and nephew certainly have impressive skills!”
Zhou Jushan, well-versed in psychology, remained silent. He understood the wisdom of letting silence speak volumes.
The emperor turned his attention back to Zhou Jushan. “Is Consort Ying still refusing to eat or drink?”
Before Zhou Jushan could answer, Consort Rou interjected with a soft, measured tone.
“Your Majesty, I’ve heard that the meals served to Consort Ying have gone stale because she refuses to eat.”
She sighed delicately, her expression one of feigned concern. “I wonder how many people out there in the world are starving and yet have no choice but to endure.”
Zhou Jushan internally rolled his eyes so hard they might have fallen out. This lady is a master manipulator! He thought bitterly, Does she not realize that Consort Ying’s family is exiled, their survival uncertain? How could she possibly eat?
And speaking of the so-called meals from the imperial kitchen, they weren’t merely stale—they were outright scraps that even the servants wouldn’t touch. Yet, Consort Rou managed to spin it as though they were simply “left to spoil.”
Zhou Jushan prided himself on being a keen judge of character, and this was a textbook case of a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
While Zhou Jushan fumed internally, Consort Rou continued her performance. “Although my own background cannot compare to Consort Ying’s noble lineage, I have always valued frugality. These past days, everyone in Yanxi Palace has been tightening their belts to pray for the little prince in my womb and for the well-being of the people.”
Zhou Jushan almost applauded her audacity. Bringing up Consort Ying’s prestigious family background? That was a sly way to remind the emperor of the Xin family’s treachery.
As for the so-called “belt-tightening”? It was the maids who had fewer clothes and the eunuchs who ate less. Who would dare mistreat a pregnant consort carrying the emperor’s child? Meanwhile, her prayers and incense offerings had already cost over two thousand taels of silver.
Her manipulative rhetoric was truly something to behold.
“No wonder my beloved consort has grown so thin,” the emperor remarked, a trace of pity in his voice.
Emperor Qingning toyed with Consort Rou’s delicate hand, his gaze growing colder by the second. “It seems that Consort Ying is still living far too comfortably.”
“Eunuch Zhou!” he suddenly barked.
The address startled Zhou Jushan, pulling him out of his musings. It had been ten days since his transmigration, and he still wasn’t fully adjusted to his new role. Forcing a smile, he replied, “At your service, Your Majesty.”
“Issue my decree: from this day forward, Consort Ying is to be relocated to the Cold Palace. No one is to visit her.”
Though Zhou Jushan had plenty of internal commentary, he obediently left to relay the decree. Meanwhile, Consort Rou, her mission accomplished, gracefully excused herself.
At the palace gates, Consort Rou paused to chat with Zhou Jushan. She had recently grown quite fond of him, noting his sharp eye for women’s needs. Not only was his taste impeccable when selecting items for the imperial concubines, but his compliments always hit just the right note.
“Eunuch Zhou, how do you find my outfit today?” she asked, a sweet smile on her lips.
Zhou Jushan tilted his head thoughtfully. “Your Grace, there’s something odd about it.”
The sudden shift in her expression was unmistakable. She had spent hours perfecting her look for the emperor, and for Zhou Jushan, of all people, to criticize it was jarring. “What’s odd about it?” she demanded.
“It’s oddly beautiful,” Zhou Jushan replied, his tone steady and sincere, with just the right hint of warmth.
For a moment, Consort Rou was stunned. Then she broke into peals of laughter. “Eunuch Zhou, you’re quite the charmer! I’m tempted to steal you away from His Majesty.”
The thought horrified Zhou Jushan. His sweet talk was mass-produced and barely sustainable; being tethered to Consort Rou would quickly deplete his arsenal. Besides, serving the emperor gave him access to all the court’s beauties under the guise of loyalty.
“Your Grace, you’re both stunning and imaginative,” Zhou Jushan quipped with a grin. “I’ve been trained to serve the crown prince since childhood.”
As he spoke, his gaze flickered ever so briefly toward Consort Rou’s growing belly. The subtle glance carried a wealth of unspoken meaning—a look only those in the know would understand.
Consort Rou, clearly pleased, caressed her belly and laughed exuberantly. With a grand wave of her hand, she ordered her chief palace maid to reward Zhou Jushan with a bag of gold leaves.
Zhou Jushan accepted the reward with polite gratitude and took his leave.
As she watched him walk away, Consort Rou silently wondered why she always felt so willing to spend lavishly on this eunuch every time they met.
…
On his way to Consort Ying’s palace, Zhou Jushan wasted no time and quickly sent a message to Jiang Lili.
[Vice Monitor: Lili, I have some bad news—Xing Che’s aunt has been sent to the Cold Palace.]