She Holds the World After Being Reborn
Chapter 229: Just Consider It, Providing a Home for Our Palace Outside

Chapter 229: Chapter 229: Just Consider It, Providing a Home for Our Palace Outside

Hearing Laifu say that Eunuch Zhang had already headed towards the deep palace,

Zhang Lanyi’s smile deepened at the corners of her lips.

"This Xie Qun is indeed as the Empress predicted. It is said that in the court today, Xie Qun made quite an impression, we have underestimated him in the past," Laifu said.

Zhang Lanyi stuffed a piece of preserved fruit into her lips: "If one can live with dignity, who would choose to kneel forever?"

Over the years, Xie Qun had been suppressed by Cao Man and his people, and although he appeared to be a prestigious Minister of the Ministry of Justice, only Xie Qun knew that if it had not been for Cao Man’s interference, he could have been the Prime Minister.

"But how is this matter connected to that Empress?" Laifu was genuinely puzzled.

Back then, she was just a minor Palace Maid at the Imperial Medical Bureau, busy with menial tasks. After the bureau faced a catastrophe, she narrowly escaped death which was almost certain, and subsequently, she suffered constant humiliation and bullying on the fringes, until Zhang Lanyi, who had become someone of importance, rescued her.

Laifu was clear about Zhang Lanyi’s identity.

Seeing the undisguised hatred in her master’s eyes, Laifu hesitated: "About the incident back then..."

"If it hadn’t been for that woman, how would my father and his colleagues have died! Everyone died, only she lived well," she said.

Listening, Laifu shared the secrets she had heard from others: "It’s said that in the Empress’ main hall, she is served by eunuchs, and there are pitifully few Palace Maids, everyone downstairs says—"

Laifu paused, afraid that saying more would offend Zhang Lanyi’s ears.

But Zhang Lanyi’s eyes were filled with derision: "There is no smoke without fire, let’s just wait and see," she said.

After her father had gone to the back palace, he never returned.

That very afternoon, all the people from the Imperial Medical Bureau were poisoned with a cup of wine.

No one knew why.

Everyone assumed it was the new Emperor consolidating power, removing dissidents.

But Zhang Lanyi knew there was more to it than that, and the closer she came into contact with the Emperor, the more she confirmed her suspicions.

The deaths at the Imperial Medical Bureau were definitely for other reasons.

But no matter how subtly she tried to probe, the Emperor was never willing to share anything.

She had also thought about visiting the back palace to see that woman, but every attempt had been fruitless.

"It seems I must find a way out of the Cold Palace. How can I miss seeing this grand play with my own eyes!" Zhang Lanyi narrowed her eyes, speaking slowly with deep meaning, "You go for me to the Alchemy Room and tell His Majesty that I have learned a new musical piece that I wish to play for him."

*

"It seems my Empress has finally seen the light," the Emperor, wiping the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief, said to Laifu, "There’s no need to listen to the piece, after all, she is my Empress who has reflected enough over these days."

"Summon someone to follow her and welcome the Empress back to the palace," the Emperor moved back beside the Alchemy Room: "I shall not go."

Laifu quickly knelt to express her gratitude for the Emperor’s grace.

When she was leaving, she noticed Eunuch Zhang entering with his head bowed and a bright red slap mark on his face, his walking posture also somewhat strange.

She suppressed her inner doubts and surprise as they passed each other by.

Soon, shouts of the Emperor’s anger emanated from the Alchemy Room.

*

Zhang Lanyi sat in her sedan chair, warm air wrapped around her cheeks through a thin gauze, which Laifu considerately pulled away for her.

Behind her, the gates of the Cold Palace were tightly closed.

She had come with the Emperor in a great rage, but leaving turned out to be just a matter of the Emperor’s word.

Laifu felt wistful.

Leaning back, Zhang Lanyi shaded herself from the sun with a fan: "Beating Eunuch Zhang, it seems he indeed regresses the longer he lives."

Walking beside her, Laifu lowered her voice: "When I left, His Majesty was really fuming."

"Eunuch Zhang was acting upon his orders, so it wasn’t Eunuch Zhang who was hit, but the Emperor’s face," Zhang Lanyi clucked her tongue. "I truly can’t wait any longer to see what this rumored arrogant and despotic Empress Dowager actually looks like."

The Empress Dowager is of noble status, being the Prime Minister’s elder sister.

Over the years, the Prime Minister had always been commissioned to handle matters for the Emperor outside the Capital City and hadn’t returned for several years.

Back then, it was the Prime Minister alone who had steadied the storm and firmly supported the Emperor in securing his position.

Yet, after so many years had passed, just how much loyalty a Prime Minister, not in the Capital City, still held for the Emperor was uncertain to anyone.

The example of this Duke of the State chilled the hearts of many ministers, imperceptibly.

As Zhang Lanyi pondered this, she heard Lafu talking.

The palace maids supported her off the sedan, and when she left, not a single person had seen her off, but upon her return, a whole crowd was kneeling down.

Zhang Lanyi didn’t even cast a glance at this group of servants wielding power through others and didn’t let them rise; she strode directly into the Great Hall.

Without the Empress’s command, everyone outside the hall did not dare to stand.

"Aunt Lafu, how... how long must we kneel?" the palace maids asked with mournful faces.

Lafu glanced at the maid who had spoken and remained silent.

The maid pressed again, unwilling to give up.

Finally, Lafu responded, "Kneel until the Emperor arrives, then you may stand."

"And when will the Emperor come?"

Lafu coldly glanced at her, "Why don’t you go and ask the Emperor yourself?"

The palace maids fell silent.

Lafu snorted coldly and carried a plate into the Great Hall.

"A bunch of opportunistic scoundrels; they really all should be sent to Yong Lane," Lafu couldn’t help but say.

Zhang Lanyi put down her hairbrush and looked at her askance: "If you’re willing, then send them over."

It was then that Lafu coughed.

"Do you really think I don’t know what you mean?" Zhang Lanyi chuckled lightly. "Alright, you handle it. If you feel pity for them, let them stand up."

Seeing Zhang Lanyi was not angry, Lafu breathed a sigh of relief.

"Thank you for your graciousness, my lady," Lafu approached and placed the freshly prepared fruits on the table. "The water at Huaqing Pool is ready; when would you like to bathe?"

"In a while, let it get a bit darker," Zhang Lanyi slowly remarked, watching her reflection in the mirror.

In the turmoil of these past days, wrinkles had slowly crept up around her eyes.

She pressed her fingertips against the wrinkles and after a long while, she slightly hooked her lips.

"Who would have thought, so many years have passed in a blink; at my age, I’m afraid grandchildren might be on their way," Zhang Lanyi suddenly said.

Lafu quickly stepped forward, taking the comb from her hand and gently untangled a strand of her three thousand black hairs: "My lady is still in her prime, just as in the early days."

"Lafu," Zhang Lanyi suddenly said.

"This servant is here."

"When this matter ends, how about I let you leave the palace?" Zhang Lanyi said, looking at Lafu in the mirror.

The comb in Lafu’s hand paused.

"My lady..."

"This servant will not leave the palace; this servant wishes to stay by your side forever."

Zhang Lanyi shook her head, "My life is set this way, but yours is different; you still have a chance. Find a good person to marry, have your own children and live happily...If you miss me, come to the palace; if I miss you, I will visit you. Consider it... creating a home outside for me."