The Prime Minister's White Moonlight - Chapter 12
Chapter 12: Discussion
Discussion
“Did the eunuch take a wrong turn?” Liu Jiran asked.
The eunuch was still young and merely said, “No mistake. Someone wants to see you.”
In the pavilion, before Liu Jiran arrived, he first heard laughter. Upon approaching, he realized it was the person who had shaken her head at him on the viewing platform. Looking at her face, which was as bright as a peach blossom, Liu Jiran first performed a respectful greeting. “Greetings, Niangniang.” This was a clever way of speaking; he didn’t recognize which palace concubine this was.
Hanbi smiled. “Liu Jiran, did you intend to speak to His Majesty about Zhao Pei’s matter in the hall just now?” Liu Jiran remained silent. Even though the other person was warning him, he wouldn’t completely trust her.
“I understand you better than you think. If you had brought up Zhao Pei’s matter in the hall, you would have become a target in the eyes of others,” Hanbi stared at him unblinkingly.
Liu Jiran felt a sense of dread upon hearing this. He had indeed been impulsive. However, Zhao Pei was a good friend, and he had thought of gambling his own future in a desperate move.
“Who is the person behind this?” Liu Jiran’s voice trembled slightly without his realizing it. Perhaps he had been too naive. Even if Zhao Yan believed him, in the eyes of others, he would become the target of all criticism.
Having understood the key points, Liu Jiran finally trusted the person in front of him a little, but he knew her motives would not be pure.
“What does Niangniang want?” His voice was hesitant, but he wasn’t worried that he had no utilitarian value.
“I want you to be at my service,” Hanbi rose. Her voice was extremely soft. She extended her slender finger, adorned with gold and colored powder on her fingernails. Hanbi played with it and said, “I will do my best regarding Zhao Pei’s matter. But in the future, I need you to become a dagger for me in the court, to eliminate the Grand Commandant’s faction entirely.”
This was indeed a clever calculation: one Zhao Pei for Liu Jiran. Upon hearing this, Liu Jiran looked at her and bowed. “I ask for Niangniang’s effort regarding Zhao Pei’s matter.”
When Hanbi returned to the viewing platform, Hua Wu and Ningzhi were a little anxious. “Where did Zhaoyi go?”
“I was just feeling a little stuffy in my chest, so I took a short walk,” Hanbi casually explained. Princess Xuancheng was also nearby and said, “Zhaoyi is probably still not fully recovered from her injury.”
Hanbi looked at Zhao Xuan. She probably had some interest in Liu Jiran, but this was only beneficial to Hanbi and not detrimental. It would be even better if Liu Jiran could marry her.
So Hanbi agreed. “That’s right.” She then changed the subject. “The Palace Examination is almost over. Who will be this year’s Tanhua (Third Place Scholar)?”
Princess Xuancheng replied with a smile, “Zhaoyi doesn’t care about the Zhuangyuan (First Place Scholar) but cares about the Tanhua?”
“The Tanhua is going to parade in the streets,” Hanbi said lazily. Seeing that the Palace Examination was nearly over and it was no longer interesting, she prepared to return to Zhaoyue Palace.
Seeing her about to leave, Princess Xuancheng said, “We’ve had a pleasant conversation today. I will visit Zhaoyue Palace to see Zhaoyi another day.”
Hanbi understood this was a sign of goodwill and couldn’t help but find it amusing. Had Princess Xuancheng truly taken a fancy to Liu Jiran? Hanbi had pointed Liu Jiran out to her, and she was now returning the favor.
So she replied with a smile and exchanged a few more irrelevant words with Princess Xuancheng before rising to leave.
After Hanbi left, Zhu Zi, the maidservant beside Princess Xuancheng, said, “Princess, why are you being so polite to a Zhaoyi?” In her eyes, her Princess was in the limelight when the late Emperor was alive, and she didn’t need to curry favor with anyone back then.
Zhao Xuan sighed. If the late Emperor were still alive, she naturally wouldn’t try to befriend Hanbi. Although the fiefdom the late Emperor bestowed upon her as a Princess was still there, she was, unfortunately, not from the same mother as Zhao Yan, who remained distant to her.
Zhao Yan wanted her to choose her own husband. A new noble was unlikely, but if someone among these scholars married her, she could live well with the status of a Princess. Thus, she was quite proactive. Besides, who didn’t like good-looking people? Liu Jiran was at least passable in appearance.
Princess Xuancheng composed herself and said to Zhu Zi, “Don’t speak like that again in the future.” Zhu Zi also came to her senses, knowing her Princess’s current situation, and said, “This servant spoke out of turn. I beg the Princess to forgive me.”
With that matter settled, the Palace Examination was already over. Princess Xuancheng slightly lifted her skirt and descended from the viewing platform. Princess Xuancheng first performed a bow. Zhao Yan, who was on the platform, saw her and said indifferently, “Is Xuancheng interested in that Liu Jiran?”
She said with a slight shyness, “He is handsome, and his speech in the hall was excellent…” She did not finish her sentence. Zhao Yan said, “I have also read Liu Jiran’s policy essay. It is indeed good, but time reveals a person’s heart. There is no need to rush.”
Xuancheng agreed. She really had nothing much to say to Zhao Yan. After forcing out a few more words, she withdrew.
Hanbi returned to Zhaoyue Palace and sat in a folding chair. Hua Wu gently massaged her shoulders. After watching the ceremony all morning, she was quite fatigued.
Ningzhi prepared to get lunch ready and asked Hanbi, “What would Zhaoyi like for lunch?” Hanbi closed her eyes, feigning sleep. “Don’t have too much meat. Just stir-fry a few seasonal vegetables.”
Before her words had faded, Ji Yi, Zhao Yan’s personal eunuch, came to Zhaoyue Palace. Ningzhi put on a smile. “Why is Eunuch Ji here?”
Hanbi also opened her eyes. Ji Yi said, “His Majesty commanded me to inform you that he will come to Zhaoyue Palace to have lunch with Zhaoyi Niangniang.”
After sending Ji Yi off, Hanbi instructed Ningzhi to prepare a few dishes that Zhao Yan liked. The subordinates would naturally take care of these things, but she still changed her clothes and hairpins.
When Zhao Yan arrived at Zhaoyue Palace, Hanbi personally greeted him outside the palace. After a morning of work, there was a hint of exhaustion between his eyebrows. So Hanbi personally brewed him a cup of tea. After he drank the tea, the two began to eat.
After the meal, Zhao Yan and Hanbi chatted casually. Talking about Xuancheng’s marriage, Zhao Yan said, “Xuancheng is a Princess after all. Her marriage naturally cannot disgrace the royal family. Fortunately, there are already a few candidates.”
Hanbi said, “That is natural. Princess Xuancheng is, after all, the late Emperor’s most beloved daughter. But it should also be in line with the Princess’s wishes. Otherwise, it would be bad if they became a couple who resent each other.”
Since returning from the hunt, Zhao Yan had indeed started to talk more to Hanbi. He had always disliked that he couldn’t find common ground with Ning Changyi. Ning Changyi would only bother him by obliquely asking him to promote the Ning family or by bringing up trivial matters of the harem.
Hanbi was different. She was not only understanding, but she always went along with Zhao Yan’s wishes. Although concubines could not interfere in politics, Zhao Yan would occasionally chat with her about frustrating matters in court, and this was exactly what Hanbi had hoped for.
“Did Princess Xuancheng take a liking to one of the scholars in the hall today? The Mid-Autumn Festival feast is in a few days. Why not invite them to the banquet for further consideration?” Hanbi offered Zhao Yan a suggestion, as she always did.
“Mm, let’s do that. Since the Empress is organizing this matter anyway, it’s just a matter of sending out one more invitation,” Zhao Yan and Xuancheng didn’t have much affection for each other. It was merely to make her willingly marry grandly and with a generous dowry.
Zhao Yan was in a good mood. There were quite a few talented people at the Palace Examination today, which at least indicated that Shen Zhuo was conscientious enough. The court was in need of talent now, especially since he was ambitious to remove the Grand Commandant’s influence.
Zhao Yan soon returned to the Golden Hall to work. Hanbi watched him leave and then summoned Linglong. “Bring a message to Shen Zhuo for me.”
The autumn sunlight outside the window was somewhat warm. Hanbi looked out the window, feeling a little drowsy. She fell asleep on the couch at some point. When she woke up, Linglong had already returned.
“The message has been delivered,” Linglong said with a straight face. Hanbi looked at her. “You go and send people to keep an eye on Liu Jiran. If anyone tries to harm him, tell me immediately.”
“Good.” Linglong was still expressionless, but she hesitated and then said, “You are using Shen Zhuo like this. Aren’t you afraid he will hate you when he knows the truth?”
Hanbi gave a bitter smile. “I can use anyone, including myself. If he knows I am just using him, I will accept whatever way he chooses to treat me then.”
Linglong said no more. She was also one of Hanbi’s tools. If not her, someone else would willingly serve.
“Don’t regret it,” she only said that one sentence before turning and leaving.
On the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival feast, Zhao Yan and Ning Changyi hosted a banquet in the Penglai Palace. Ning Changxue did not attend. Below the Emperor and Empress were Consort Shu, and then the seats of the remaining three Consorts, followed by Hanbi’s seat.
Hua Wu and Ningzhi stood behind her. Palace maids filed in, serving a stream of fruits and delicacies on everyone’s dining tables.
Across from the palace concubines were the seats for the princes and officials. Zhao Yan was always very good at maintaining appearances in such matters. In front of others, he and Ning Changyi looked like a harmonious couple, which made Consort Shu feel a bit unhappy.
Shen Zhuo sat at the table. The scent of sweet olives in Penglai Palace was very strong. He only focused on drinking wine. Xi Wuming, on the other hand, was in his element, chatting merrily with the people next to him.
“Lord Shen, I toast you,” Xi Wuming raised his wine vessel toward him. The people at the table wondered when these two had become so familiar.
Shen Zhuo also raised his wine vessel and drank it all. When the banquet dispersed, Shen Zhuo used the excuse of being drunk to go to the Taiye Pool for a breather. Someone approached with a palace lantern, illuminating the tear mole on her face, like a scene from a dream.
Perhaps having drunk too much, Shen Zhuo mumbled, “Liuniang.”
Just as he reached out his hand, Hanbi subtly avoided him. “Lord Shen, you are drunk.” The breeze from the Taiye Pool made Shen Zhuo sober up a little.
“You should know about Zhao Pei’s matter. Time is urgent. I hope you can find out who is responsible for this matter and, preferably, tell His Majesty about it.” The candlelight flickered slightly, casting half her face in light and half in shadow.
“Alright.” It was almost without hesitation. Hanbi was a little surprised. “What if the investigation reveals that the matter is related to the Grand Commandant?” she asked in return. Shen Zhuo looked at her. “When I was young and studying, I really liked a saying, ‘Though there are ten thousand people, I will go forth.'”
Hanbi sighed softly. Sometimes, she truly didn’t know what to do with him. He was clearly stepping into the trap she had woven step by step, yet he was like a butterfly struggling on a spiderweb, beautiful and captivating.