RPAGF Chapter 313 The Woman in the Cold Palace
Chapter 313 The Woman in the Cold Palace
Wei Jianning also let out a long sigh, tightened his arms around her, and shook his head helplessly.
"Who would have thought that she would propose to marry into the Tianwu Kingdom in front of Huo Jinzhou? It's too late to back out now. Well, the matter is settled, there's no room for maneuver. My lady, please stop speculating."
Lan Zhi knew, of course, that once a decision was made, it was too late to back out. But she always felt that Yu Jie had only agreed to marry into the Tianwu Kingdom out of spite. It was just a pity that the two lovers would be separated forever.
"My lord, there is something else I would like to discuss with you."
"You are now the Empress, so you can make your own decisions about the affairs of the harem."
"Really? I can make all the decisions regarding the harem?"
“Of course, I will take care of the important matters in the palace, and you will take care of the minor matters in the harem. With our hearts as one, we will definitely govern the Northern Wei Kingdom well.”
When he spoke his last words, his voice was very soft, and by the last word, it was inaudible.
He fell asleep...
He was exhausted during this period. If he hadn't been away from Lan Zhi for many days and missed her so much, he wouldn't have had the energy to spend so much time with her.
The next day, Lan Zhi took Xiang Xiu and A Qi and headed straight for the Cold Palace.
Since the Emperor has entrusted her with deciding matters concerning the harem, she wants to see what the women in the Cold Palace are like now, and whether they really want to leave, so that she can make a decision.
The Cold Palace was located in the most remote part of the palace. It consisted of several courtyards. After the head maid of the Cold Palace bowed to her, she asked the maid to take her straight to Ling Lanhua's bedroom.
It's autumn now, and the cold palace is a bit chilly, but not cold, or rather, the temperature is basically the same as outside.
The head maid led her to a small courtyard without a plaque and reported:
"Your Highness, this is Consort Lan's residence. This old servant will open the door for you. Please wait a moment."
Lan Zhi nodded, and then saw the head maid take out a bunch of keys, search through them, and then go forward to unlock the gate.
The moment the door opened, Lan Zhi stepped inside and saw that the courtyard was overgrown with weeds, as if no one had lived there for a long time.
She frowned slightly and asked:
Does she eat normally every day?
"Yes, she comes to the door every day to take the food back, and then brings out the bowls and chopsticks from the previous meal. She's very punctual."
"So what does she do every day?"
The old woman paused for a moment, then stammered:
"Your Majesty, please forgive me. There are dozens of concubines in this Cold Palace, and this old servant cannot know the preferences of each one."
That makes sense. These small courtyards are all next to each other and locked up tight. How could the head maid possibly know what they were doing in the courtyards?
"I understand, go down!"
The head maid curtsied, took two steps back, and turned to leave.
Lan Zhi stepped inside, passed through a moon gate, and pushed open the door in front of her. Ling Lanhua heard the sound and rushed out at that moment.
"The Emperor has arrived? Your Majesty, you've come!"
The moment she looked up, Lan Zhi's brows furrowed tightly.
At this moment, Ling Lanhua's eyes had lost their former color, replaced by disheveled hair and a dirty appearance.
When she saw Lan Zhi, she was taken aback at first, then grinned.
"It's not the Emperor! I thought the Emperor had arrived. Who are you? Are you also a woman who has been banished to the Cold Palace?"
As she spoke, she flicked the tattered handkerchief in her hand, murmuring:
"The Emperor isn't coming anymore, the Emperor doesn't like me anymore, the Emperor doesn't like me anymore..."
Lan Zhi frowned slightly, took two steps forward, and asked in a cold voice:
"Ling Lan Hua, don't you remember who I am?"
Judging from her appearance, she doesn't seem to be faking it. Could she really be insane?
Ling Lanhua looked up at her, grinned, and chuckled.
"You look so beautiful, you must be the Emperor's newest concubine. But let me warn you, don't try to take the Empress's position from me. The Emperor has promised to make me Empress."
At this point, she stood up, waving the handkerchief in her hand, and began to dance in circles on the spot, muttering words that Lan Zhi couldn't understand.
Lan Zhi sighed softly, then turned and left.
Although she disliked Ling Lanhua, she still felt a little sorry for her seeing her in this state at such a young age.
She went outside the courtyard, and the head maid locked the lock again, then asked:
"Does Your Highness wish to visit other courtyards?"
Lan Zhi shook her head.
"I won't go. You can compile a list later and see how many people are in the same situation as Ling Lanhua, and how many are willing to leave the palace. Then compile the list and submit it to me."
"Yes, the old slave understands."
When Lan Zhi led A Qi and Xiang Xiu out of the Cold Palace, she felt an indescribable sense of oppression as she basked in the sunlight outside.
Throughout history, countless women have died in this cold palace.
From a noble empress to a lowly concubine.
From teenage girls to women in their fifties and sixties.
Without exception, anyone who had served the emperor or made a mistake in the harem would be banished to the cold palace.
The fate of women is so tragic it's infuriating, but what can be done?
Women outside the palace are still desperately trying to enter, but it's unknown how many women inside the palace actually want to leave.
Within a day, the head maid of the Cold Palace handed a list to Lan Zhi.
Eight of the women were in a similar state to Ling Lanhua, all acting erratically.
More than thirty women strongly requested to leave the palace, and more than ten older women were willing to die in the cold palace, because they had nowhere else to go even if they left the palace.
Holding the list, Lan Zhi instructed A Qi:
"Have the Ministry of Revenue notify the families of these eight insane women and ask if they are willing to take them out of the palace. Also, notify the families of the thirty-odd women who want to leave the palace to come and pick them up. As for the dozen or so women who do not want to leave the palace, then let them stay in the Cold Palace as they wish. Also, tell them what they should and should not say after leaving the palace, so that our good intentions do not cause trouble."
Ah Qi held the list she handed him, asking in confusion,
"Your Majesty, since ancient times, women in the Cold Palace have been allowed to die there and are not permitted to leave. If you do this, what will the Emperor and his ministers think?"
"His Majesty has granted me permission to manage the affairs of the harem, so I have the right to make decisions. Besides, some of these women are only seventeen or eighteen years old. It would be cruel to let them die in the cold palace like this. This rule should be broken."
“Master, you are truly kind-hearted. These women will remember your kindness.”
"It's not that I need them to remember my kindness; I just feel that, as a woman myself, I sympathize with women the most and understand them the most."
In the afternoon, Ling Jiawei arrived with Cui Shi. When she led them to the courtyard where Ling Lanhua lived in the Cold Palace, they saw Ling Lanhua squatting on the ground, wolfing down her food.
Cui rushed over, snatched the rice bowl from her hands, and pulled up the disheveled woman, tears streaming down her face.
"Orchid, what...what happened to you?"