Chapter 9: Anger

As soon as his court session ended, Li Zhan rushed toward Longyan Palace. Halfway there, he saw Auntie Yun, the head maid of Longyan Palace, running toward him in a frantic hurry. Upon hearing Auntie Yun's report that Xueji and the other two had trespassed into Longyan Palace without permission, seen the young girl who was still unconscious and recovering, and caused quite a commotion, Li Zhan grew so angry that he flicked his sleeve, his expression uncharacteristically harsh. "Nonsense!"

Auntie Yun had served Li Zhan for many years, having followed him since Changge was still Princess Pingyang; she understood seventy to eighty percent of his temperament. Last night, when she first saw the Emperor bring a woman back to his own sleeping quarters, she was also extremely surprised. When she saw the young girl's face, she was startled first, but then a sense of realization flashed through her heart.

Over all these years, she had witnessed the bond between the two young masters. The sudden passing of the Empress had also left her deeply grieved. Now, this woman who was still in a coma looked no different from the late Empress, bearing a ninety-percent resemblance. Immediately, many thoughts raced through her mind: this girl, relying solely on this face, would win the extraordinary favor of this emperor who appeared heartless but was actually devoted.

The Emperor's current display of anger served as even better proof of her suspicion. He likely intended to protect that girl properly, keeping her away from the scheming and infighting of the concubines in the inner palace. However, in the inner palace, no woman could ever truly remain isolated and far from the struggles. It seemed that the Emperor's sparse inner palace was about to be stirred into a great upheaval.

When Li Zhan returned to Longyan Palace, his anger clearly visible on his face, Xiao Yuzi saw his master—who usually never showed his emotions—in such a state and felt a chill in his heart. He tactfully knelt down to admit his fault. "Your Majesty, this servant is incompetent. I failed to stop the several Ladies, allowing them to enter and see the girl's true face, which caused a disturbance... Please, Your Majesty, punish me!"

Li Zhan gave him a faint glance, his eyes as cold as ice, and asked in a chilling voice, "How is the girl? What did the imperial physicians say?" He did not mention the boy's "incompetence."

Xiao Yuzi lowered his head, his eyes darting around. He knew that while his master wouldn't impose a heavy punishment, he wouldn't let him off easily either. "Reporting to Your Majesty, the physicians said the girl suffered from excessive grief, and her heart is burdened with unresolved sorrow. Her coma is due to exhaustion and fright... Additionally, after the three Ladies entered, the girl... woke up."

He measured his words very well; he didn't state it explicitly, but he didn't deceive the Emperor either. As soon as Li Zhan heard this, he knew that the three women going in and causing a commotion had woken the sleeping young girl.

However—"What happened after the girl woke up?" When asking about Changge, Li Zhan's tone noticeably softened.

Xiao Yuzi inconspicuously observed his master's expression, then lowered his head and reported everything in detail. "Upon waking, the girl found herself in the Imperial Palace. The three Ladies, seeing her, some fainted from shock and others were startled... The girl's current state is not very good."

After speaking, Xiao Yuzi clearly felt a chilling aura and pressure from above. He thought to himself: *This time, those ladies in there are going to pay dearly.*

Sure enough, Li Zhan's brows furrowed deeply, and he spoke coldly, "Someone, convey my decree: Consort Guo showed contempt for the Imperial Will by trespassing into Longyan Palace; she is demoted to Talent and is forbidden from stepping out of her palace for three months. Consort Xue failed to properly instruct the two noble ladies and joined in their nonsense; her power to assist in managing the Six Palaces is revoked. As for Noble Consort Yu—she has failed to reform despite repeated instruction; she is sentenced to one month of confinement... Now, escort the three Ladies back to their respective palaces!" As his words fell, his cold eyes swept over the crowd kneeling on the floor, and he strode into Longyan Palace.

Changge had actually woken up long ago; she just wanted to see how those women would react upon seeing her, and she hadn't expected them all to be scared half to death. She sneered inwardly; it seemed everyone in this inner palace was acting with a guilty conscience!

To avoid suspicion, after Auntie Yun had run to fetch Li Zhan and Xiao Yuzi had rushed into the inner hall, she pretended to be startled awake. She feigned panic and helplessness at the sudden realization that she had entered the Imperial Palace and was sleeping on the Emperor's dragon bed.

When Li Zhan entered, what he saw was her long hair scattered across the bright yellow silk quilt. Dressed in white undergarments, she sat on the bed with her arms wrapped around her knees, her body trembling slightly like a young animal, looking heart-wrenchingly pitiful.

Li Zhan couldn't help but lighten his footsteps. He walked to her side and asked as gently as possible, "Are you awake?"

Hearing the voice, the girl's body instinctively stiffened. She slowly raised her head, her eyes clear and innocent as she looked directly into his eyes. Pouting her pink lips, she murmured somewhat reluctantly, "Thank you, Young Master—no, Your Majesty, for saving my life... I, this commoner, this commoner wish to go back." As she spoke, she prepared to get off the bed.

Li Zhan blocked her with his arm to stop her. "Where else can you go? Stay. I will ensure your safety." His gaze held a softness that even he himself was unaware of.

Such a pair of eyes, which gave an impression of outward restraint and inner elegance, struck Changge's heart like a sharp blade. Once upon a time, she too had been immersed in these eyes, but now, she no longer was.

"Yes... I have nowhere else to go..." The girl lowered her head sorrowfully, her fragile expression causing a pang of pain in Li Zhan's heart.

"Although the Imperial Palace is not as free as the world outside, it is truly dangerous for a defenseless girl like you to be out there... By the way, I still do not know your name?" Halfway through his sentence, Li Zhan suddenly asked her name with a hint of being caught between laughter and tears.

Changge mocked him inwardly, but her face remained desolate. Her lips moved, "Zhou Fusheng. 'Fu' as in fragrant, and 'Sheng' as in flute. My name is Zhou Fusheng."

Li Zhan couldn't help but repeat her name under his breath, "Fusheng, Fusheng. A good name." Yet, a strange sensation flashed through his heart.

However, during his moment of distraction, the girl opposite him curled her lips into a strange smirk, her eyes filled with icy disdain. *Rebirth, of course, is a good name.*

"I grew up in the deep mountains with my foster father and do not understand the rules of the palace. Your Majesty, what is the treatment like for a palace maid?" Fusheng seemed to have resigned herself to her fate, knowing she had nowhere to go. Her innocent, large eyes gazed at Li Zhan as she asked him somewhat hesitantly.

Seeming to find Fusheng's question somewhat irrelevant, Li Zhan was stunned at first. But after meeting her clear eyes and realizing her intent, he couldn't help but laugh loudly, "Hahaha! Do you think I am letting you stay in the palace to be a maid?"

He was naturally handsome, and this laugh added a brightness to him that was absent on ordinary days. Fusheng froze for a moment, then inconspicuously turned her eyes away, putting on a look of confusion. "Is that not how it is in the plays?"

Li Zhan looked teasingly at the girl's beautiful eyes. "Then do the plays mention what a monarch usually does when he meets a peerless beauty?"

The girl seemed to only just understand his meaning. Her face froze at first, then turned bright red. She lowered her head shyly and mumbled, "But my father, he..."

Li Zhan's smile vanished. "Rest assured, I have already made arrangements. You slept in my sleeping quarters for a night, which harms your reputation; being titled a Consort is certain. But do not worry, I will not force anything else upon you, provided you promise me one thing."

Seeing Li Zhan become serious, Fusheng did not dare to be negligent and nodded to signal him to continue.

"No matter what others say, you must suppress your curiosity. Do not ask what should not be asked, and do not meddle in what you dare not meddle in. Can you do that?"

"Why should I agree?" The girl seemed to truly not understand.

Li Zhan's gaze turned cold, and his voice carried a sense of intimidation. "In the Imperial Palace, if you want to keep your life, you must agree."

Fusheng:...

A note to the readers Watch how the Goddess of Revenge, Changge, deals with those wicked concubines!