Palace Fighting Naive Concubines’ Ascent to Power
Chapter 146: Going to Receive Punishment

Chapter 146: Chapter 146: Going to Receive Punishment

After everything was packed up, Master Lian was ready to lead her entourage back to the estate, brimming with joy.

Zhang Qing blocked their path with a bow and asked her smilingly, "Master Lian, I’m not sure if His Majesty will come for lunch today. Perhaps we should send Xiao Linzi to inquire?"

Master Lian found the suggestion extremely sensible and nodded in agreement, "Chief steward, you always consider things so thoroughly. Xiao Linzi, off you go quickly."

It had slipped her mind, but usually, His Majesty rarely came for lunch. It wouldn’t hurt to ask, and it would help in planning the meal better.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Linzi emerged from the crowd. Before he left, Chief Steward Zhang, still smiling, told him to explain to His Majesty in great detail about how Master Lian caught fish for the meal, the more details, the better.

Xiao Linzi accepted the task, but he always felt that Chief Steward Zhang’s gaze was chilly and unsettling.

Master Lian was delighted, leading her people back to Canglan Court while chatting and laughing along the way.

On the road, everyone was extremely happy, especially the young eunuchs from the Star Palace. Fishing was a novel experience for them, and they spent the journey enthusiastically discussing and bragging about their insights.

Zhang Qing followed the group unobtrusively without reprimanding anyone, quietly contemplating how to discipline these mischievous boys in a manner that was painful yet left no visible injury.

After today, Master Lian noticed that the people from the Star Palace walked in a strange manner, occasionally grimacing, and Xiao Linzi seemed particularly distressed, occasionally touching his head. She asked curiously what was wrong, and the group merely chuckled sheepishly, saying it was nothing—of course, that would be a tale for another time.

As Master Lian and her group cheerfully returned to Canglan Court, quiet changes were unfolding in Canglan Court...

Star Palace.

The Emperor had just returned to Star Palace from the morning court and found Xiao Linzi standing at the doorway. Just as he called him in, wanting to inquire if he had something to report, he was interrupted by an old senior official who had followed him from court seeking an audience. He had to suppress his questions and summon this official first.

This official was long-winded given his age, chatting away, and it took the Emperor some time to understand that it was about revising the drafts related to ceremonial documents.

This venerable senior official took advantage of his age to lecture, and was also notoriously weepy, not easily dismissed; if pushed, he would cling to a pillar and weep, citing examples from great Emperors down to ordinary citizens, with principles and lessons that could educate non-stop.

The Emperor had no choice but to listen patiently, commend him warmly a few times, then had the young eunuchs gently escort him out.

After the official had left, the Emperor turned to look at Xiao Linzi, who stood in a corner of the hall with a silly smile, seemingly savoring some thought and appearing quite foolish no matter how one looked at him.

The Emperor wondered if it had been wise to assign this young eunuch to Canglan Court; well, no matter, though foolish, he was still usable.

He patiently asked Xiao Linzi if Beauty Lian needed something.

Xiao Linzi shook his head and said, "No, Your Majesty, Chief Steward Zhang asked this servant to inquire if you wish to have lunch at Canglan Court, as Master Lian has caught some fish to prepare your meal."

So that was the matter. The Emperor glanced outside at the sky. The senior official had delayed him somewhat, and it was nearly lunchtime. He decided not to bother Little Concubine today, especially since there were many affairs to attend to. He was just about to tell Xiao Linzi when he suddenly felt something was amiss.

He abruptly stood up and asked, "Who caught the fish?" This servant’s way of speaking lacked focus, making it initially hard to detect anything amiss.

Xiao Linzi, recalling the fishing scene, couldn’t help but wear a sheepish smile as he replied, "Replying to Your Majesty, it was Master Lian who caught the fish, quite a lot indeed..."

The Emperor interrupted him sharply, "What! How is she now?"

Isn’t she alright, didn’t she drop the idea two days ago? Why did she go again? Fishing by the shore requires getting close to the edge, which sounds dangerous. How could Zhang Qing be so careless with people?

The Emperor couldn’t help but feel his anger rise.

Xiao Linzi sensed something was amiss and, swallowing hard, said, "Replying to His Majesty, Master is doing very well now, and is particularly happy. When this servant left, Master was laughing and chatting with everyone on her way back to Canglan Court."

This trip of the Master’s wasn’t to command everyone to fish, she was simply very happy, barely closing her mouth from all the smiling.

The Emperor sighed in relief and sat back down. It was good that she was fine, yet his eyes narrowed dangerously as he asked, "Everyone?"

And there was laughing and chatting? What was this about, wasn’t it supposed to be Zhang Qing and his men desperately trying to stop her, yet failing to do so?

Xiao Linzi, completely unaware, nodded naively and betrayed further, "Yes, Chief steward Zhang and Da Zhuang were all there."

The Emperor let out a silent, cold laugh. This bunch of servants, ordered to watch over someone, were actually fooling around with his Little Concubine. Alright then, if he couldn’t punish his Little Concubine now, couldn’t he still punish them? Punishment increased by one degree!

The Emperor’s fingers tapped on the imperial desk as he commanded, "Now, report to me the details thoroughly."

Once Xiao Linzi had recounted the entire incident in detail, the Emperor felt both annoyed and amused, immensely helpless, yet deeply moved.

Unable to resist, he fondled the jade pendant given by his Little Concubine. He had simply catered to her desires by exchanging some Ingots for her, guessing that his Little Concubine’s reaction would surely be one of great joy. His little miser loved Silver so much, how could she not be delighted?

Yet he had not expected that his Little Concubine would want to reciprocate. She didn’t take it for granted; she wanted to return his kindness, which touched and comforted him greatly.

Although the direction of her reciprocation was a bit off, making him feel a bit helpless, joy still outweighed the helplessness—his Little Concubine had the heart.

The fish from Huaqing Pool had been eaten, but let them be. While rare, keeping them was of no great use, merely a waste of fish feed.

His Little Concubine deserved a generous reward. He had been busy these past few days and hadn’t yet ordered the Weaving Bureau to make clothes for her. He would have someone select some fabrics and take measurements later. They would need to make them a bit larger, to accommodate her body growing heavier in the future, ensuring she remained comfortable.

His Little Concubine had enjoyed herself today, which was very good, but this bunch of servants, though their death sentence could be commuted, couldn’t escape a living punishment, nor could this Xiao Linzi in front of him!

He just knew his Little Concubine was so well-behaved. She just said the other day she couldn’t fish, so how could her mind change so quickly? Surely, this Young Eunuch had instigated it. So that was it.

The Emperor gave Xiao Linzi a cool look and said, "Go back and see Zhang Qing for your punishment, but do not let your master know."

"Ah? Oh, yes, Your Majesty..." Xiao Linzi was initially startled, then obediently agreed, though he didn’t know why His Majesty was punishing him. However, it must have been his fault, deserving of punishment. Whatever His Majesty said was right.

"You may leave."

"Yes." Xiao Linzi bowed and backed away, exited the Star Palace and walked towards Canglan Court.

Once he had left, the Emperor’s heart warmed, and caressing the jade pendant Nannan had given him, his gaze was very tender.