Chapter Thirty-Two: Tear Up This Wretched Floor

With the matter finally settled, Concubine Wan was sentenced to death without warning, and even her personal maidservants were not spared.

Sitting in the courtyard, Huarong ate grapes, her heart filled with emotion. “Say, the Emperor knows it was Concubine Wan’s mistake—why involve the innocent?”

At this, Suxin wasn’t convinced. She pursed her lips and replied, “My lady, have you really not considered adding a few more people to our service?”

“Aren’t we doing just fine as we are?” Huarong mused. One more person means an extra pair of chopsticks—wouldn’t a few of them gathered around a hotpot make for a delightful meal? Outsiders would only increase the danger to her own life.

At the thought, Huarong couldn’t help but shudder. “Life is truly precious. Only those I trust remain by my side. You should feel honored!”

“But…” Suxin was at a loss for words, a sorrow brimming with unshed tears welling inside her. Even being trusted, did it have to come at such a cost? There were only four maids to begin with, and now, with Cuiyu’s betrayal, only three remained…

This vast palace was enough to take their lives just to keep it clean—how could they possibly enjoy life?

“My lady, I beg you, please request a few more maids from the steward. We really can’t manage all this work ourselves!”

Tending the vegetable garden and cleaning the palace—with just three people, it was an impossible task.

Hearing this, Huarong nodded thoughtfully. “Now that the crisis has passed, your suggestion isn’t without reason. But after I so decisively sent people away before, now you want me to go back and ask for more? Wouldn’t that be awfully humiliating?”

She pouted, her face full of grievance. She had guarded against everything, yet still, a traitor from within nearly cost her life.

Now, Huarong simply lacked the courage, yet she also pitied her maids. After much internal debate, she finally spoke, “How about this—you go to my family’s estate and find a few maids to bring here. I trust people from outside the palace far more than those within.”

The palace maids were all adept at currying favor, so used to seeking their own advantage that they’d run off with someone else at the first opportunity. She couldn’t bear to be at their mercy.

At this, Suxin nearly burst into tears. “Please, my lady, don’t make things harder for me. That’s against the rules. If word gets out, who knows what people will say?”

To put it kindly, Huarong missed her family and wanted a few familiar faces nearby. But to put it bluntly, it would seem the palace lacked attendants—how would that reflect on the Emperor?

Neither option seemed feasible, and Huarong felt utterly at a loss. “Then what can be done? Should I just move somewhere else?”

Wait a moment—move somewhere else!

It seemed Huarong had stumbled upon an idea. After all, this wretched courtyard was far too big for just one person; the empty rooms needed time and effort to clean, which was terribly inconvenient.

Seeing Huarong’s look of delight, Suxin felt a sense of foreboding. Forcing a smile, she tentatively asked, “My lady, you’re not actually considering moving, are you? You’re a consort, after all…”

If she let her mistress act on such whims, there’d be no explaining it to the Emperor.

Huarong paid her no mind. “I’ll go talk to His Majesty. Whether it works or not, we’ll give it a try!”

Elated, Huarong made straight for Jun Yeli’s temporary palace.

When the eunuch at the door saw who it was, he looked flustered and ventured, “His Majesty is not available at the moment. Please, my lady, wait a while.”

“How unavailable could he be? Surely he’s not busy with bridal night affairs in broad daylight?” Huarong waved her hand, her words laced with jest.

With her bold and forthright manner, she waited for the eunuch to explain.

But the eunuch’s eyes darted, thoughts swirling. His Majesty talked of Consort Rong daily, longing for her but too reserved to act. If I help him this time, perhaps there’ll be rewards in the future!

He quickly smiled and said, “There’s nothing inconvenient—please, my lady, go in and attend to His Majesty!”

The remark was rather cryptic, but Huarong paid it no mind, focused solely on her purpose. “Many thanks, then.”

Without so much as a by-your-leave, she pushed the door open and strode in, missing the eunuch stifling laughter behind her.

“Your Majesty, this is as much as I can do—may you seize the chance this time and set aside your bashfulness!”

Jun Yeli might present a cold and dignified front, but when it came to certain matters, he was as hesitant as a maiden. Especially when it involved Huarong—he was as clueless as a young monk.

As Huarong entered, a humid haze filled the air, as if she’d stepped into a misty rain, tinged with warmth and the faint scent of flowers.

She frowned. “What’s going on here? The room looks absurdly gaudy.”

She took a tentative step forward and saw someone sitting in the pool, hair hanging loose. The long, slender back was adorned with a rose petal from the water, a sight both alluring and beautiful.

Huarong froze. “Why is there a woman here? Could it be that, in broad daylight, His Majesty is truly so audacious…”

She swallowed, unable to identify which consort it was, but judging by that flawless figure, she was surely a rare beauty, captivating even in troubled times.

“Good heavens—the eunuch must have set me up! His Majesty is up to this, and he sent me in to witness it? What was he thinking?”

Trapped, Huarong’s mind raced with a thousand ways to excuse herself.

“Forget it, I’d best slip out before I’m caught. If the Emperor is displeased, it’d be the end of me!”

On tiptoe, she crept away like a thief, bent low to avoid making a sound.

But fortune did not favor her. The wet floor, slippery against her shoes, betrayed her. She lost her footing and fell flat on her back with a startled cry.

Outside, the eunuch heard the commotion and was overjoyed. “It seems His Majesty is about to succeed!”

Never before had he seen an emperor go to such lengths or employ such roundabout means to favor a consort.

Huarong, however, was terrified. “I’m doomed!”

Panic-stricken, she scrambled to get up and flee. But the floor seemed determined to thwart her. With her smooth-soled shoes, it was like skating—no matter how she tried, she couldn’t get her footing. After several falls, she remained sprawled in the same undignified position.

“Damn this floor! I swear I’ll tear it up!”

As she vented her frustration, a sudden, teasing voice sounded beside her. “You’d destroy a fine nanmu wood floor?”