Chapter 66 - 2#
Shen Zikun did not regret helping along the way.
But Emperor Jingyuan sitting on the throne, was he merely acting willfully? Many times, Shen Zikun even felt that what he disregarded was not just other people’s lives.
He didn’t even care about his own life.
Shen Zikun was afraid that one day, Emperor Jingyuan would treat himself as an interesting bargaining chip and eventually play himself to death.
Madam Wu smiled upon hearing this.
Shen Zikun looked at her, only to hear her say helplessly, “Husband, if others knew about your words, they might think you were talking nonsense.”
Shen Zikun knew Madam Wu didn’t believe it, shook his head, and said no more.
Indeed, Emperor Jingyuan was already the Emperor, what could he be unhappy about?
Such great power, such a luxurious environment, almost the entire world was in his hands. He could have whatever he wanted.
What could be unhappy about this!
But Shen Zikun knew that Emperor Jingyuan had always, always been unhappy, from the day Empress Dowager Cisheng died, and even before that, he had never been happy.
…
Tick-tock, tick-tock—
The water dripping to count time sounded like one death warrant after another.
This was an ancient method, and also the way commonly used in the palace in the past, but later, after Emperor Jingyuan ascended the throne, it was all abolished and never used again.
Ning Hongru wiped his sweat, as if still in a dream.
Just now, as soon as he heard the sound of water, he woke up with a start, like a nightmare not seen for many years.
As soon as he woke up, there was movement outside.
Soon, a young eunuch came in and whispered, “There’s no movement inside the hall.”
Ning Hongru nodded expressionlessly.
Every night, no movement was the best news.
“Manager, this servant will brew some tea for you.” The young eunuch said alertly and retreated to do his work.
Ning Hongru couldn’t fall back asleep after waking up with a start just now, so he simply got up.
He looked around, only to realize that it had started to sleet outside. Damn it, no wonder he thought it was the sound of dripping water in his dream.
Ning Hongru sighed.
Actually, whether it was Emperor Jingyuan or those serving him, they all disliked rain quite a bit. The last time the Emperor went missing in the rainstorm at Shangyu Garden made Ning Hongru’s heart skip a beat.
When he was young, Emperor Jingyuan had been locked in a water dungeon for a few days.
If Shen Zikun hadn’t received the news and rushed over, the person might really have been gone.
This was the first time Ning Hongru saw furious anger on that gentleman Shen Zikun’s face.
The tick-tock sound of rain, in this palace, was like a death warrant.
Passing through the rain curtain, Shi Lijun quietly appeared outside the door with her people.
Ning Hongru: “The commotion was so loud it even woke you up?”
Shi Lijun: “Hard to sleep on rainy days, it’s not just me.”
Ning Hongru sighed softly and pushed the hot tea just served to Shi Lijun’s hand, “Then drink a couple of mouthfuls.”
Shi Lijun sat down opposite Ning Hongru.
Time passed bit by bit, yet these two were very awake.
“Ning Hongru, when do you think this rain will stop?”
Shi Lijun said somewhat annoyedly.
Ning Hongru glanced at her and smiled: “Who can say for sure? This depends on the temper of the Heavens.”
“The Heavens, hmph.” Shi Lijun said indifferently, “If we all relied on the Heavens’ pity, we wouldn’t survive ourselves.”
The closer it got to winter, the worse Shi Lijun’s temper became.
Ning Hongru knew the crux of her problem.
Empress Dowager Cisheng’s death anniversary was in winter.
Ning Hongru said calmly, “Don’t always care so much. The more you dwell on it, the more unhappy you’ll be.”
Shi Lijun gave a fake smile: “When have you ever been happy?”
The two fell silent together, and for a moment, neither spoke.
Slowly, Shi Lijun said again: “That spy died not long ago, and already people are eager for action. Consort De can’t quite suppress it anymore.”
Since Consort De’s prestige in the harem was damaged, her actions had been somewhat constrained.
After the incident with Consort Kang, it was revealed that the poisoning in the Imperial Garden back then was her doing, a diversionary tactic to send news out smoothly.
Thus, the truth came out, but it also caused Consort De’s prestige to plummet.
This undoubtedly showed that the two unlucky imperial concubines in the poisoning case were all framed by Consort De.
Ning Hongru: “You reap what you sow. She was too impatient, so naturally she would have such an outcome.”
No one could be blamed.
“There are quite a few who follow suit.”
“His Majesty likes to watch these things, it’s better if they fight.”
Hearing Ning Hongru’s words, Shi Lijun gave him a meaningful look: “Could it be that His Majesty still likes it now?”
Their Majesty, when he was interested before, would occasionally visit.
But now, he hadn’t been to the harem for a long time.
Before that, Emperor Jingyuan was like a fragrant piece of meat, very conspicuous wherever he went.
Ning Hongru laughed: “That’s impossible.”
At present, Emperor Jingyuan was wholeheartedly concerned with Jingzhe, how could he have any spare energy to care about those things?
Ning Hongru had complicated feelings towards Jingzhe.
If it weren’t for him, Ning Hongru might not have been able to return to his current position. It was truly a miracle; he easily shook Emperor Jingyuan’s deep-rooted concepts.
Thinking of his terrifying influence on Emperor Jingyuan, Ning Hongru was both happy and alarmed.
Happy that Jingzhe was a rare good person. Many of his views and persistence looked kind, innocent, and soft to be bullied, but countering Emperor Jingyuan’s unscrupulousness, it was precisely a good thing.
Alarmed that what Jingzhe liked and accepted had always been the fake identity of Rong Jiu, not Emperor Jingyuan. Even he himself didn’t like Qianming Palace much, let alone getting close to His Majesty the Emperor.
…Given Emperor Jingyuan’s terrifying paranoia, plus his disposal of Jingzhe’s family, Ning Hongru couldn’t help but sigh.
If this were discovered one day, wouldn’t it be lamentable?
He was afraid His Majesty would become increasingly unrestrained.
…
Tongzhou was also snowing.
It just wasn’t as terrifying as the capital, and pedestrians could occasionally be seen on the road.
Madam Liu and Cen Liang returned to Tongzhou with the Lu family’s merchant caravan. On the second day after settling down, Cen Liang took the handwritten letter from the master to the local shop and successfully connected with the shopkeeper. Now he was working in the shop.
They rented a small house to settle down. When Cen Liang went out, Madam Liu sorted out those things at home. After finally tidying up, her depressed mood finally lifted.
She still had Cen Liang.
Madam Liu thought she had to pull herself together for the child.
After staying in Tongzhou for some time, Madam Liu finally held an umbrella and went out in the snow, firstly to find work, and secondly to familiarize herself with the way.
Madam Liu had lived in Tongzhou with Cen Liang for many years, but mostly in a place called Dongyin County under Tongzhou.
The place they settled now was the prefecture city. They had only stayed for one night when traveling to the capital.
Madam Liu was unfamiliar with the prefecture city, remembering the way as she walked. On the way, she also looked at a few restaurants and asked if they were hiring.
Some did need people, but upon seeing a woman, most refused.
Only one or two were a bit interested, but the wages offered were not high.
Madam Liu didn’t lose heart, just taking it slowly.
Holding the umbrella, she walked across the bridge.
Under the bridge, a group of armed escorts who had just passed suddenly stopped because their leader abruptly halted, causing them to brake one after another.
“Boss, what are you looking at?”
“Did you take a fancy to some girl? Sister-in-law will definitely kick you out when we get back.”
Several escorts joked. Originally just teasing, they didn’t expect the boss to really throw down the goods and rush straight towards the bridge.
Caught off guard, a few escorts watched the goods, while the rest hurriedly chased after the middle-aged man.
Hey hey, they were just joking just now!
If the boss really took a fancy to some girl, Sister-in-law would definitely skin them alive. Everyone knew the boss was henpecked, and his wife was a tigress with immense strength!
The middle-aged man chased all the way up the bridge but didn’t catch anyone. Pedestrians came and went, where was the figure from just now?
He slapped his thigh in annoyance, the anxiety on his face not looking like he saw a crush, but more like he saw someone unexpected.
“Boss, who are you looking for?”
The escorts caught up and asked repeatedly.
The middle-aged big man wiped his face and murmured, “Am I still dreaming, or did I really see Sister-in-law Cen?”
Just now, when he was escorting goods and passing under the bridge, he just inadvertently looked up and seemed to see a lady holding an umbrella walking by in the snow.
That appearance was terrifyingly familiar, as if he had seen a ghost.
If only he hadn’t zoned out!
He gritted his teeth in anger but refused to admit he might have been mistaken.
No, impossible to be mistaken.
He had been to the Cen family several times before and had met that Sister-in-law Cen. It was exactly this appearance, only a bit more haggard.
Could it be that Sister-in-law Cen didn’t die?
…
Inside the Directorate of Palace Maintenance, coughing was constant.
“Cough cough, cough cough cough—”
Jiang Jinming coughed badly.
Jingzhe: “Manager, this is wild honey sent by Yun Kui, eat a few more mouthfuls.”
What he held in his hand was brewed wild honey water.
Jiang Jinming frowned. He always disliked this sticky taste, but his throat felt terrible, so he ate it after all.
He leaned back in the chair and raised his hand to pinch his forehead.
“Really killing me.” Jiang Jinming said with a hoarse voice, “Stay away from me. If you catch it, it won’t be a small matter.”
Jingzhe smiled and said, “Manager, I’m young and strong, it’s nothing.”
Recently, Jingzhe could feel his body indeed getting better day by day.
Zong Yuanxin’s medicine still had some effect.
These few days were too cold. Jiang Jinming just forgot to close the window one night, and when he woke up, he was already like this.
Fortunately, it wasn’t serious, just that this cough lingered, sounding heart-wrenching.
Jiang Jinming shook his head: “Have you heard about the General Affairs Department?”
Jingzhe nodded: “Is it Manager Jiang?”
Jiang Jinming: “It’s confirmed that he’s leaving.”
Jingzhe asked around; it wasn’t to the Directorate of Ceremonial, but it was still a good place.
The position of Manager had always been one radish, one pit. With Manager Jiang transferred, the remaining position was quite eye-catching.
Jiang Jinming: “The Palm Print Eunuch intends to select from within the Directorate of Palace Maintenance.”
Jingzhe paused slightly: “Not planning to transfer?”
Jiang Jinming chuckled: “Transfer or not, is this something we can decide?”
Even if they chose someone, if the higher-ups decided to switch someone else in, how would they dare say anything?
Jingzhe: “That’s good then. Inside the Directorate of Palace Maintenance, it’s going to be lively for a while.”
Jiang Jinming’s gaze, however, stayed on Jingzhe. At first, he didn’t react, but after realizing it, Jingzhe raised his eyebrows.
He held up a finger, then pointed at himself, almost suspecting if he misunderstood.
Jiang Jinming nodded slowly.
Jingzhe choked: “At my age, I’m afraid I can’t convince the masses.”
He didn’t expect Jiang Jinming to have such expectations for him, actually wanting him to fight for this Manager position.
Jiang Jinming said faintly: “You have an advantage over them. They are just second-rank eunuchs, but you are already treated equal to a Grand Eunuch. Now, you just lack a title.”
A Manager must be a Grand Eunuch, but a Grand Eunuch might not necessarily be a Manager.
Becoming a Manager, Director, etc., was definitely much more glorious than an ordinary Grand Eunuch.
Carrying Jiang Jinming’s expectations back, Jingzhe urgently grabbed Shi’en for remedial lessons.
“Recently in the Directorate of Palace Maintenance, besides Manager Jiang leaving, are there any other lively events?”
The matter of Manager Jiang leaving was already known. Jingzhe bringing it up here didn’t seem abrupt.
Shi’en mentioned a few, and Jingzhe shook his head at all of them, telling him this matter.
Shi’en raised his eyebrows: “There are quite a few second-rank eunuchs in the Directorate of Palace Maintenance. Listening to your meaning, if there’s a possibility of transfer within the Directorate, then everyone will really show their special abilities.”
Speaking of this, Shi’en laughed again.
“You don’t know, every time this happens, it’s like the Eight Immortals crossing the sea, each showing their magical powers. It all depends on who has the means and connections. It’s very lively.”
They could only tease a sentence or two while these second-rank eunuchs hadn’t climbed up yet. Once one of them became a Manager, they wouldn’t dare say such words.
Jiang Jinming might have been stimulated.