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Chapter 29: Lightning Strike (雷劈)

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“Master!” Tingzhu stood outside the net-curtains of Zhuang Laoyan’s bed. Zhuang Laoyan could not see her expression clearly, but from her voice, she could tell something bad had occurred.

“What‘s going on?” Zhuang Laoyan breathed in. She let Tinghze lift the net-curtain as she pleased, listening to the sound of rain outside the window. Lightning and thunder gave the night an even more frightening appearance.

“This slave seems to have heard a scream from the outside.” Tingzhu drew her brows together. “But this slave is ignorant of the circumstances.”

“It’s thundering and raining heavily tonight. We did not hear anything,” said Zhuang Laoyan lowly after a long while. “Tonight, no one is allowed to leave.” Whether the scream had something to do with her or not, she definitely would not go outside. Wiping the sweat from her forehead, she said, “You can go back to sleep.”

Tingzhu could not stop worrying. “But if someone deliberately—” 

“There are no idiots in the palace. His Majesty can tell what is right and wrong.” Zhuang Laoyan was very satisfied with Tingzhu’s attentiveness. She did not even light the candles. It appeared she did not want others to know she had gone to speak with Zhuang Laoyan. “In such heavy rain, who would step foot outside?”

Tingzhu nodded. She glanced out the window, where thunder rang and lightning streaked the skies. She retreated without a sound.

Lightning flashed and thunder roared throughout the night. Early the next morning, the sun finally appeared. Gao Dezhong woke up early and waited outside the emperor’s resting palace, waiting for the emperor’s order to enter. During this period, he watched as a young eunuch with a frightened expression rushed over.

“General Manager Gao, three corpses were found in Master Zhao’s peach forest. Master Zhao and her accompanying palace maids were all extremely frightened. Presently, an imperial physician is examining her.”

The moment Gao Dezhong had heard those words, he immediately furrowed his brows. What’s going on with the peach forest these past two days, that people keep dying there?

Right at this moment, a sound from the emperor’s inner chamber. Gao Dezhong said in a low voice, “This matter should be kept secret for now. Quickly inform Her Majesty, the empress.” This situation could be a small thing or a huge thing depending on how they dealt with it. It was difficult to manage. Then he led a crowd of palace maids and eunuchs within the chamber.

After the emperor was fully dressed, Gao Dezhong bent down to fix the ends of the emperor’s robes. Who would have known that at that time, the emperor would open his mouth.

“What happened outside?” Feng Jin stretched out his arms perpendicular to his body, the palace maids to his sides adjusting his sleeves.

“This slave has heard that Master Zhao suffered a scare. Presently, an imperial physician has already arrived at Taoyu Pavilion,” said Gao Dezhong, taking care with each word.

“Suffered a scare?” Feng Jin frowned. “What happened?”

“This slave has heard that early in the morning, when Master Zhao took a stroll in the peach garden, she discovered three corpses. As such, she suffered a fright and fainted.” After Gao Dezhong finished adjusting the ends of the robes, he retreated to the side.

“How could three corpses appear out of the blue in the garden?” Feng Jin smiled, cold as ice. “We will deal with this matter after court.”

“Understood.” It looked like the emperor wanted to personally put a hand in this matter. One would fear it wasn’t as simple as it had seemed.

“Your Majesty the empress, these are the three corpses.” 

The empress sat in the main chamber, sweeping her gaze through the three corpses covered by white sheets. Yet she also did not have people pull the sheets down. Covering her nose with a handkerchief, she said, “Have the identities of these three been determined?”

“Reporting to Your Majesty the empress, because the three individuals were struck by lightning, it is hard to tell their identities by their faces alone. However, after this humble official carefully examined the bodies, this humble official discovered that one of the three was an eunuch from Qianzheng Palace named Little Fangzi. The other two are palace maids from Chengtian Hall in charge of sweeping the floors. Their names were Hongzhu and Jinguo. Jinguo is the elder sister of the palace maid who was punished to death the other day.” The imperial guard belonging to the Yulin Guards¹ glanced at the three corpses, understanding what had happened. “This humble official also discovered that around Jinguo’s neck were remnants of a gauze material.”

The empress gazed at the tray an eunuch brought over. Sitting on top of a white cloth was a piece of burnt yellow cloth. Some of the edges had already turned black. However, people could still tell what it used to be.

“This is in fact interesting. Could it be that this Jinguo died because of her younger sister? That she went to the peach forest to hang herself? But why did she have to bring two companions with her?” The empress waved her hand, signifying for the eunuch to retreat with the tray. On her face was a look of ridicule. All of a sudden, she turned to the other imperial concubines in the chamber. “Listen up everyone. Could there be such an interesting thing?”  

Consort Xian covered her mouth. “How could there be such a strange thing? One would fear that some people are merely trying to cause trouble.”

If, during last night, Jinguo hanged herself alone in the peach forest, no matter in whose eyes, it would seem like this Jinguo would not let go of Chongyi Zhao even as a ghost. However, the person who had thought up this plan did not account for lightning to strike them for such an evil deed. 

The captain of the Yulin Guards had people carry the corpses away. He met his fist with his palm² and said, “Your Majesty the empress, the bones in Jinguo’s neck are snapped. If this humble official is not wrong, before she was struck by lightning, Jinguo had already been dead.”

Once the corpses had been carried out, the empress actually seemed even more at ease. Noble Consort Shu snickered. “What more can be investigated? It’s merely that the one who wanted to frame someone did not succeed.”

“Of course more investigation is needed. We still need to know who the framer is and their motive.” The empress sighed. “Poor Chongyi Zhao, having to experience such a fright so early in the morning. I wonder how she is right now.”

“Reporting to Your Majesty the empress, Chongyi Zhao has taken medicine and will regain consciousness after a while,” said the imperial physician who was standing at the side. “But Chongyi Zhao should not experience a scare for the near future. It would not do well to harm the mind.”

The empress nodded and instructed the imperial physician to take good care of Chongyi Zhao.

The imperial concubines in the chamber all had looks of concern on their faces. But which of them were actually worried? In fact, they thought it was such a pity that Chongyi Zhao was too lucky, the heavens helping her even when she was being framed. Lightning could have struck at any time, yet it just had to have struck when the two people were carrying the corpse to hang on the tree.

“His Majesty has arrived.”

The empress and the other imperial concubines immediately rose to their feet, performing the full ceremony of greeting. Noticing that the emperor’s expression wasn’t good, the empress knew that the emperor did not like having the harem in such a disarray. For a moment, she did not know what to say.

“How is Chongyi Zhao?” As he had traveled here, Feng Jin already pieced together most of the situation. Face dark, he said, “This palace has become more and more lively. Today something has happened; tomorrow another person would die somewhere else. There’s never a peaceful day!”

“May Your Majesty cease the anger. The imperial physician has already treated Chongyi Zhao, and has said Chongyi Zhao only suffered a fright. As long as during this period, she rests quietly to recuperate, she would be back to normal,” said the empress in a careful manner.

Once Gao Dezhong heard these words, his heart leaped in his chest. In this imperial harem, those imperial concubines that needed to quietly recuperate needed to do so for the rest of their lives. Did the empress inadvertently say this, or was it something else entirely?

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“How could she quietly recuperate in a place like this?” Feng Jin sat in the seat of honor. He lifted a teacup, glancing at the captain of the Yulin Guards who stood at the center of the chamber. “Investigate this matter well for Us. We want to see how many people harbor ill intentions in this harem.” He swept his gaze through the people in the room.

Although the imperial concubines had not seen a lot of different people in their lives, they at least could hide their own emotions and thoughts. But after the emperor looked their way, no one dared to look at him. Even the empress averted her gaze.

“Empress, you should sort out this harem.” Feng Jin retracted his gaze, setting his teacup strongly on the table. He rose to his feet. “We will visit Chongyi Zhao.”

“Understood,” said the empress, quickly rising. As she watched the emperor leave with a cold expression, she turned to the imperial concubines. “You have all heard the emperor’s words today. If there are people with dirty hands and feet, get rid of them.” Telling them to dismiss their servants was a warning to dispel their evil thoughts. However, she did not bring up Chongyu Zhao’s quiet recuperation again. As if she had not mentioned it in the first place.  

Once Feng Jin entered the inner chamber, he saw the two maidservants who usually attend to Zhuang Laoyan standing by the bedside in worry. The corners of their eyes were somewhat red and swollen. Seemed like they had cried earlier.

Once Tingzhu caught sight of the emperor, she wiped away her tears and knelt.

“Rise.” Feng Jin approached the bed and sat at the bedside. He looked at the woman on the bed who had a pale complexion. “When did the imperial physician say your master will awake?” 

“Reporting to Your Majesty, the imperial physician said in at least one hour. However, two hours have already passed,” said Tingzhu amidst her sobs. “Originally, when Master woke up today, she had had a headache. This slave encouraged master to take a stroll outside. Who would have known such a thing would happen? May Your Majesty give punishment.” 

Feng Jin stared at the person lying on the bed. He did not so much as glance at Tingzhu. “Rise. Summon an imperial physician.”

Tingzhu kowtowed, wiping the tears from her face before retreating. Once she had reached the sill, she glanced back. And she saw the emperor adjust the covers for her master. Then she lowered her head and left.

Her skin felt cold to the touch. Feng Jin stared at her face. It was quite beautiful but could not compare to those of Noble Consort Shu and Noble Imperial Concubine Yan. Her beautiful and vivacious eyes were closed, making him find it a pity. Such a pair of eyes should be open and vibrant, not hidden by pale eyelids.  

It was during this period when the person on the bed suddenly opened her eyes. Dazed eyes seemed to contain fear. Once she saw him, she rushed to grab his sleeve, forgetting all propriety. “Your Majesty, Your Majesty!”

“Beloved concubine is already fine.” Feng Jin softly sighed.  He pulled her into his chest, feeling tender and protective over her. He lightly patted her back, and even felt that the person in his chest was shaking.

When Tingzhu, who had already passed through the doorway after returning, saw the scene in the inner chamber, she and the imperial physician following her wasted no time in retreating. Even Yunxi left without a sound.

Shortly after, they heard low sobs from the inner chamber. There also seemed to be the low voice of the emperor speaking.

Once the imperial physician heard the sounds, he continued to retreat a few more steps, his head lowering more and more. He hoped not to hear what was going on in the inner chamber, that the emperor was gently reassuring someone.

Tingzheus heart hid her fear. Thank goodness they did not go outside last night, or else things would have gotten more serious. Thank goodness the heavens were protecting them, and killed such crooked-hearted servants with a lightning strike. Or else they would not be able to fight against the many mouths of the imperial harem.

In the main chamber, the empress and the group of imperial concubines drank tea. As if nothing had happened today.

The empress glanced at the bright sun from the outside. Lazily, she set down the teacup. Wiped the corners of her mouth. “Right now, the sun is bright and high in the sky. We should take our leave. With His Majesty around, Chongyi Zhao should be fine.”

“Your Majesty, the empress, is correct.” Noble Consort Shu rose to her feet. “I remember that there are some good calming medicine in my palace. Once I return, I’ll have a servant send some to Chongyi Zhao.”

Consort Xian also stood. “I as well. I shall take a look. After such a fright today, I wonder how long Younger Sister Chongyi Zhao must recuperate before she is able to meet with us again.” 

Gao Dezhong entered the inner chamber and said to the emperor in a soft voice, “Your Majesty, Her Majesty the empress and the other masters are preparing to leave. Does your honored self have any other orders?”

“Let them return.” Feng Jin hugged Zhuang Laoyan, not looking back as he had spoken. “Villains in the imperial harem had tried to frame Chongyi Zhao. Thankfully, the heavens had protected her. This could be considered fate. Have someone donate 5 kg of gold’s worth of incense to Zhonghua Temple. Consider this as Us thanking the gods for protecting Chongyi Zhao.”

“Yes.” Gao Dezhong found it strange. Could it be that the heavens truly were protecting Chongyi Zhao? She could actually change her fate in the face of such dirty things. Although she did suffer a fright, it was still better than being splashed with ink and unable to wash it off.

Zhuang Laoyan, who was leaning against the emperor’s chest, sighed deeply. When it rained with lightning and thunder abound outside, do not hide beneath a tree. Or else, you might be struck by lightning.

Lol I love ZL’s two cents at the last line of this chapter. Anyway, the plot just keeps thickening. Why were the two palace maids and eunuch in the peach forest? Who sent them there?

I’ll be changing the “Your Majestys” for the higher-ranked to “Your Highness” since as a lovely commenter said before, “Your Majesty” should only be used for the emperor, empress dowager, and empress. Once I have some time, I’ll do an overhaul.

If you want a max of 4 advanced chapters to TJOAIC for January, make sure to pledge the “Empress Zhao” or “Dead Inside” tiers between January 1st and January 3rd. Please refer to the chapter release schedule on my Patreon “about/overview.”

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