Taichang Ming Dynasty

Chapter 716 Showing Pity and Mercy

The emperor departed from Kaixiang Palace in his imperial carriage, proceeding smoothly through the palace alleys as dusk fell. The chief eunuch of Qianqing Palace, Shi Fuming, and the eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, Yang Songquan, followed closely behind, one on each side.

Shi Fuming tilted his head slightly and lowered his voice to ask Yang Songquan beside him, "Eunuch Yang, didn't the master originally say he would rest at Qixiang Palace? Why did he change his mind and go to Chuxiu Palace?"

Yang Songquan stared straight ahead, his voice equally low: "I'm not entirely sure either. But it should be related to the memorial you sent in."

"What did it say in that memorial..." Shi Fuming couldn't help but ask.
“I don’t know.” Yang Songquan slowly shook his head, his eyes open and honest. “Without the master’s orders, how could I dare to open and read the secret memorials of foreign officials? However,” he paused, then guessed, “since the master went to Chuxiu Palace to ‘discuss important matters’ after reading the memorials, it was most likely because of the situation in Korea.”

Shi Fuming nodded thoughtfully: "Eunuch Yang is right. Then... will Your Majesty be spending the night at Chuxiu Palace?" If the Emperor were to change his residence to another palace, many things would have to be changed accordingly.

"It should be," Yang Songquan replied. "Before leaving, the master personally told Consort Ke, 'Come to Qixiang Palace again tomorrow.'"

"Come again tomorrow?" Shi Fuming frowned almost imperceptibly. "Eunuch Yang, you must have heard me right. According to the schedule arranged a few days ago, the master was planning to visit Consort Kang at Yikun Palace tomorrow."

“Yes.” Yang Songquan sighed softly, casually tossing the problem back to Shi Fuming: “That was indeed the arrangement before. But the master did say that he would come to Qixiang Palace again tomorrow. Perhaps… Eunuch Shi, could you go and ask the master if things are still the same at Yikun Palace?”

"Ah, yes, it's my turn." Shi Fuming hesitated for a moment, then chuckled softly. He took two quick steps, approaching the curtain of the imperial carriage, carefully considering his words before asking for permission—

But the emperor's voice came from inside the carriage: "The Yikun Palace meeting will be rescheduled. We will come to Qixiang Palace tomorrow instead."

"Yes! This servant obeys!" Shi Fuming immediately bowed and replied. Then, he took the initiative to ask, "Your Majesty, the cabinet ministers are still waiting in their offices. What do you think..."

After a moment of silence, the emperor said, "Send someone to the cabinet to tell them that I have seen the document. Have them disperse for now and go back to rest. The imperial decree will be issued another day."

"Yes! This servant will arrange it immediately!" Shi Fuming respectfully accepted the order and quickly took two steps back. Then he turned around and waved to Shi Fangda, who was following not far behind.

"What are your orders, Godfather?" Shi Fangda immediately jogged forward.

“Go to the cabinet and let the gentlemen go back and rest,” Shi Fuming said. “If they ask any further questions, just say that the master has already seen the document and that the decree will be issued another day.”

"Yes, son, I'll go right away." Shi Fangda immediately turned around and ran quickly along the palace path.

Having given his orders, Shi Fuming rejoined the imperial carriage. At this moment, Yang Songquan approached again, his face showing a hint of consideration, his voice still light and clear as before: "Eunuch Shi, just now at Qixiang Palace… that little palace maid who accidentally spilled water… the master seemed… to have been exceptionally lenient with her."

Shi Fuming looked at Yang Songquan with a puzzled expression, wondering what he was talking about. But Shi Fuming didn't ask any questions and just waited quietly for him to continue.

Yang Songquan continued in a low voice, "That girl may look young, but she's quite pretty. What do you think, after things are settled in Chuxiu Palace tonight, should we arrange for her to come and serve us?"

Shi Fuming understood; Yang Songquan was subtly trying to put a new concubine in the emperor's bed.

Shi Fuming did not answer, but quietly gazed at the dragon carriage not far ahead.

A few breaths later, the emperor's voice drifted over again, containing only five simple words: "You're overthinking it."

Yang Songquan and Shi Fuming exchanged a silent glance and said nothing more.

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Inside the easternmost room of the rear hall of Chuxiu Palace, the air was stifling. To combat the heat, Consort Xiang, Park Cheon, and Consort Ding, Park Cheon, were both dressed only in light, plain gauze undergarments and silk skirts.

Park Chan leaned against the low couch by the window, holding a newly engraved copy of "Illustrated Explanation of Women's Conduct" in her hands. Her expression, which was not very focused due to the heat, carried a hint of girlish composure.

She and her younger sister, Park Hye-soo, looked almost identical, with flowing black hair, flawless skin, and exquisitely beautiful features, exuding the gentle grace unique to Korean women. However, Park Hye-soo's eyes were more serene, and although she was also petite, she possessed the dignified air of an elder sister.

Park Kuo, on the other hand, was much more relaxed. Barefoot, she sat sideways on a bamboo mat, her small, delicate feet dangling in mid-air, swinging unconsciously. Her ankles were slender, and her toes were rounded, like pearls. She held a copy of "The Peony Pavilion" in her hand, and her youthful face was flushed with a hint of pink.

“Sister,” Park Kuo put down her book, her smooth toes curling slightly, “isn’t it time to eat?”

"Eat, eat, eat, all you ever do is talk about food all day long." Park Chan turned her head, but before she could finish her scolding, she heard—"The Emperor has arrived!"

Outside the palace, a sharp and urgent announcement, like a pebble thrown into calm water, stirred up huge waves in the hearts of the two sisters.

The two sisters were startled at the same time, followed by a huge surge of joy! Park Kuo reacted the fastest, letting out a soft "Ah!" and jumping up barefoot from the ground like a happy little deer, rushing out to greet them without a care in the world.

"Gu'er! No!" Pu Chuan hurriedly put down her book, grabbed her sister's arm quickly, and said in a low voice, "You are dressed so disheveled, barefoot and with your hair down, what kind of behavior is this! Hurry up and tidy yourself up!" After saying that, she also hurriedly lowered her head to straighten her slightly open clothes.

Pu Ku was pulled back, and only then did she realize her rudeness. Her face flushed red, and she panicked: "Someone! Quickly! Help me change!"

The emperor clearly had no patience and no need to wait for them to leisurely do their hair and makeup. Just as Park Chan was frantically trying to tie the silk sash around her waist and anxiously searching for the embroidered shoe that had been kicked somewhere, the curtain of the side room was gently lifted.

The emperor appeared at the doorway. His gaze swept across the room, landing on two beauties inside, their clothes disheveled and flustered, along with several palace maids who, equally startled by his sudden arrival, hastily knelt. Park Chun and Park Kuang froze, their faces flushing crimson with embarrassment. They wore only thin outer garments, their belts loose, their hair disheveled, and not a single piece of jewelry.

The two sisters exchanged a glance, both seeing embarrassment in each other's eyes. But since the emperor had already arrived, they could only wrap their outer garments tighter, blushing, and with a hint of reproach and shyness, curtsy to the emperor: "This humble concubine greets Your Majesty. Why, why didn't Your Majesty send someone to inform us beforehand?"

"If I had notified them, wouldn't we be able to see you all like this now?" The emperor had a clear smile on his face, seemingly quite pleased to see their natural, unadorned appearance. He waved his hand and said to the kneeling palace maids, "Get out, this is none of your business."

The palace maids immediately put down their work and quietly withdrew. The last maid to leave even thoughtfully closed the door behind her.

The emperor walked to the center of the room, his gaze lingering on the two sisters' flushed faces for a moment before finally settling on their hastily put-on outer garments. He raised an eyebrow and said, "Why are you wearing such thick clothes in this heat? Aren't you feeling stuffy? Throw them away."

Upon hearing this, Park Chan and Park Gu blushed even more deeply. But the emperor's words were an order. The two had no choice but to obediently remove their superfluous outer garments under the emperor's gaze, revealing their cool, plain gauze undergarments and skirts underneath. The usually bold and lively Park Gu even kicked off her newly put-on embroidered shoes, stepping barefoot onto the slightly cool floor.

The Emperor casually walked to the low couch where Park Hyeon had been sitting and sat down, his gaze never leaving the two sisters. Their youthful and beautiful bodies were faintly visible beneath the thin veil, their smooth skin and slender waists, especially Park Hyeon's restless bare feet, which seemed to exude an innocent charm that momentarily captivated him. It wasn't until Park Hyeon, feeling slightly embarrassed by his gaze, shyly turned slightly to the side and whispered, "Your Majesty...why did you suddenly come today?"

The emperor snapped out of his reverie and beckoned to them: "What else could it be? Of course, it's because I missed you all. Come here."

The two sisters exchanged a glance, their faces beaming with joy, and followed the instructions to the low couch. Park Chan sat down next to the emperor, while Park Kuang habitually knelt on the ground in front of the couch, resting her small chin on the emperor's knees like a docile kitten.

Remembering her earlier doubts, Park Chan cautiously asked, "Your Majesty, weren't you going to Qixiang Palace today?"

"Oh?" The emperor's eyes flickered slightly, his gaze falling on Park Chan's eyes: "How did you know I was going to Qixiang Palace?"

Park Chan's heart skipped a beat when he looked at her, and she quickly explained, "Qixiang Palace is not far from Chuxiu Palace. It's just one street away. The palace servants walk back and forth, so they naturally see it. There are quite a few people making arrangements."

The emperor suddenly reached out and pulled Park Chan into his arms, hooking her chin with his fingers and asking with a smile, "What's wrong? Are you unhappy that I came to Chuxiu Palace?"

Pu Chan was held in his arms, her cheek pressed against his chest. She could hear his steady heartbeat, and smelled the masculine energy unique to a respectable man, along with a faint scent of ambergris. Pu Chan's face flushed even more. "It's not that I'm unhappy! I just... I just feel that Sister Li and the others at Qixiang Palace are... quite pitiful."

"Pity them?" The emperor raised an eyebrow, his tone revealing neither joy nor anger, but he loosened his grip slightly. "Since you pity them, then I will grant your wish and take you back to Qixiang Palace." With that, he made a move to get up.

"No!" Park Gu immediately panicked, grabbing the emperor's arm tightly and pressing her whole body against him. She tilted her head up and said coquettishly, "Your Majesty has come, how can you leave now! You haven't come to see us for days! I've missed you so much!" As she spoke, she turned and glared at Park Gu, scolding, "If you really feel so sorry for Qixiang Palace, you can go and keep them company yourself!"

Looking at her younger sister's charmingly willful demeanor, Park Chan felt a mix of emotions and couldn't help but smile bitterly. She not only pitied the former retainers of the Prince's residence in Qixiang Palace, but also worried that they might resent the Emperor for his sudden change of plans. However, her greatest fear was that this would displease the Emperor. Park Chan stood on tiptoe, raised her waist, and kissed the Emperor's cheek as if to pledge her loyalty.

"Your Majesty, please don't leave." Rulan's breath brushed against the emperor's earlobe.

"Don't you feel sorry for them now?" the emperor asked calmly.

"I still feel sorry for Sister Li and the others," Park Chan quickly considered, "but if His Majesty goes to pity them now, then we will be the ones who are pitiful."

"You have such a silver tongue," the emperor said, pressing his thumb lightly against Park Chan's lips before sliding it across her face. "You're getting better and better at talking."

Just when Park Chan thought the emperor would take advantage of her as he always had, he released the two sisters at the same time.

"Let's get down to business first." The emperor took two steps and sat down in the chair opposite the Park sisters. He then casually took out a memorial and tossed it onto the tea table beside him. "The reason I changed my route at the last minute is mainly because a Korean scribe named Lee Kyung-cheon submitted a memorial to the emperor to file a complaint."

"To file a complaint with the Emperor?!" Park Chan and Park Kuang exclaimed almost simultaneously.

Park Chun's face, which had been flushed pink, instantly turned deathly pale. Her heart pounded, her body went limp, and she instinctively tried to slide off the low couch and kneel on the floor. However, Park Chun reacted faster, grabbing her sister's arm and pressing her firmly back onto the couch.

Park Chan took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the surging fear, and forced a smile onto her face. Her voice trembled slightly, almost imperceptibly: "May I ask Your Majesty, what kind of lawsuit did that Master Li file?" In her fear, a thought flashed through her still relatively clear mind: if he were really accusing them of their identities, the Emperor would not be sitting here so calmly talking to them.

The emperor did not reply, but instead pushed the memorial on the tea table to the edge. His gaze followed the movement of the memorial, and he saw that Park Hyuk's bare feet, which had been swaying slightly, suddenly tensed. Her rounded toes curled tightly together, like a startled shellfish.

Park Chan's heart leaped into her throat. She slowly rose, not touching the memorial, but instead walked to the emperor's feet and gently knelt down. Park Chan raised her face, trying her best to maintain a gentle smile: "Your Majesty, according to ancestral rules, the empress's harem is not allowed to interfere in politics. This memorial... if I were to read it, I'm afraid it would be somewhat against the rules."

Seeing her cautious yet feigned composure, the emperor's eyes flashed with a barely perceptible hint of satisfaction. He took the memorial and handed it directly to Park Chan: "Whether it's interference in politics or not is not for you to decide. I'm showing it to you, so take a look."

Park Chan's heart sank, then she forced herself to lift it again. She dared not refuse any longer, and could only raise her cold hands high, accepting the memorial that seemed to weigh a thousand pounds with an extremely respectful posture.

Park Chan trembled as she opened the memorial and forced herself to read it calmly. The first few lines caused her pupils to contract sharply, her shock evident on her face! But quickly, that shock was replaced by a tremendous sense of relief, as if she had survived a catastrophe—the memorial did not reveal their identities! Her tense nerves instantly relaxed considerably, almost to the point of exhaustion.

Park Hyeon originally intended to use the excuse that women should not concern themselves with politics or discuss the emperor, as she had done before. However, at this moment, she noticed out of the corner of her eye that the emperor's gaze was not on her, but rather on Park Hyeon, who was curling up her toes on the low couch.

Park Chan's heart pounded with alarm, fearing that a single question from the emperor would scare away the unspeakable secrets. She wanted to reassure her sister, but dared not directly hand her the memorial. Her mind raced, and she deliberately let out a soft gasp of shock: "Ah? This...this matter...is it really true?"

Sure enough, the emperor's attention was drawn to her soft exclamation. His gaze shifted from Park Chan's feet to her face. "What is it?"

(End of this chapter)