His gaze weighed heavily upon her.
Sang Yan knew the Emperor was not pleased, yet she did not seek to flatter him. Instead, she responded with a dignity that was neither servile nor overbearing, "If the Emperor does not like it, then choose what he likes. The Imperial Palace is full of vibrant colors; there must be something to the Emperor's liking."
She was rejecting him.
He Ying could tell, his face stern, he spoke in an annoyed tone, "You seem more confident than I am."
If there really were suitable heirs in the Imperial Palace, would he still be without one to this day?
Sang Yan felt this topic should not be pursued further, and so she changed the subject, "Your Majesty, I came here today also bringing words from Princess Consort Sang. With your protection, her illness has significantly improved. She wishes to hold a banquet tonight and invites the Emperor to bestow his presence."
He Ying knew the purpose behind the banquet invitation. Initially, he had intended to indulge it, but hearing it from her now annoyed him.
She was scheming with Princess Consort Sang against him.
She was pushing him toward another woman.
All of these indicated one thing—she had no interest in him.
Perhaps her heart still held onto that dead man.
How preposterous!
Was he, the Emperor of the realm, inferior to a dead man?
"Princess Consort Sang is considerate."
He suppressed his jealousy, his smile more a grimace than a sign of happiness, "However, as you have just mentioned, I am occupied with state affairs. There is no need for the banquet."
Sang Yan, unaware of the Emperor's true feelings, still urged him, "Even if the Emperor is busy, he must look after his health. Rest is necessary for more effective work."
"That does make some sense."
"Your Majesty is wise."
"Since you made such a gracious invitation, for your sake, I shall attend."
"...I shall thank the Emperor on behalf of Princess Consort Sang."
Seeing her goal accomplished, Sang Yan stood up, bid her farewell, "I shall return now to convey this good news to Princess Consort Sang."
He Ying nodded, his gaze following her graceful exit.
Before long.
Pei Muyang entered, "Your Majesty—"
He Ying glanced at him, "What is it?"
Pei Muyang replied, "A messenger from Youlan Pavilion has come with an invitation; Noble Princess Consort Lan has acquired a piece of Master Xiu Ming's calligraphy and requests your presence to admire it."
Master Xiu Ming was a calligrapher famed in his day.
He was a man whose life revolved around alcohol, never writing unless inebriated, thus his reputation for drunken calligraphy.
His drunken writing, wild and unrestrained like a galloping steed, ethereal like clouds and flowing water, had set the trend of the times.
He Ying had a fondness for collecting his works.
Noble Princess Consort Lan, catering to his interests, made it hard for him to decline.
Of course, his main reason for not declining was to see what the Noble Consort was planning.
Sang Yan had just invited him to a banquet, and now Noble Princess Consort Lan was inviting him to appreciate a treasure.
How amusing.
"Your Majesty, will you attend?"
Pei Muyang, seeing the Emperor silent, inquired once more.
Upon hearing this, He Ying nodded, "Let's make a stop along the way."
"Yes."
Pei Muyang turned to arrange for the sedan chair.
*
The sun dipped low in the west.
Darkness fell.
Lamps were lit in Youlan Pavilion.
The lamplight was soft and dim.
It was a very gentle and comfortable atmosphere.
When He Ying arrived, the palace attendants were busy serving dishes and wine.
"Greetings to the Emperor—"
They knelt down one after another to pay their respects.
He Ying waved his hand, "I am not dining here. You all may leave."
Noble Princess Consort Lan, Zhou Jinglan, with a beaming smile, approached, "Even if Your Majesty does not dine, please have some wine. To be slightly tipsy while admiring the drunken calligraphy, isn't that the best way to appreciate its beauty?"
She made a good point.
He Ying found himself unable to refuse at the moment.
Zhou Jinglan, seeing that he had nothing more to say, personally poured the wine.
The wine was not a strong liquor but a fruit wine.
Rich and fragrant.
Poured into a crystal cup, its orange-yellow hue was very pretty.
"This is lychee wine."
Zhou Jinglan picked up a cup, smiled deeply, and said softly, "I heard that many of the lychees sent from Min State were damaged on the way, and the Emperor probably didn't get to taste many. Hence, I had someone make this lychee wine, hoping the Emperor would enjoy tasting it."
"You are thoughtful, my consort," he said.
He Ying looked at the wine, staring at it for a long while, but did not take it.
Zhou Jinglan felt guilty, her hand holding the wine cup trembled faintly under his seemingly all-perceiving gaze.
Seeing this, He Ying was certain she was up to something, and his smile grew gentler, "My consort, why do you seem so afraid of me today?"
Zhou Jinglan, her face paling, took two steps back, lowered her head, and said, "Your Majesty, forgive me. Seeing you, I was overly excited, I lost my composure for a moment and forgot that you should not be close to feminine charm."
She placed the cup on the table and looked to Pei Muyang, "Would Mr. Pei please present it to the Emperor."
Pei Muyang took the wine cup and offered it before the Emperor.
He Ying looked at the wine before him but still just looked, not taking it.
Zhou Jinglan watched anxiously and swallowed hard, "Your Majesty—"
Hearing her voice, He Ying finally took it.
He held the wine, wafted it under his nose, and sniffed lightly. He did not drink it but said to her instead, "My consort, are you so eager for me to drink this?"
He was still giving her a chance.
For a moment, Zhou Jinglan thought of backing down, but facing his kindly gaze and thinking of the imminent favor, of being his first woman, of bearing his heirs, she mustered her courage again, "On such a beautiful night, with fine wine and the company of a beautiful woman, doesn't it please Your Majesty?"
Seeing her persist, He Ying said no more, his face immediately turned cold, and he slammed the wine cup onto the table, barking, "Call the Imperial Physician!"
Hearing this, Zhou Jinglan's eyes were full of disbelief, "Your Majesty!"
She knelt down, tears falling, "What wrong has your servant done?"
"Are you sure you want me to spell it out?"
He Ying's voice was icy, and disgust was apparent in his eyes.
He recognized the scent of the aphrodisiac at once.
The former Emperor, his brother, had been ruined by such despicable things.
"Zhou Jinglan, your father is the Assistant Minister of Rites, a man who values propriety above all. Is this the kind of daughter he brought up?"
His words were like a death sentence.
Zhou Jinglan cried out in agony, "Is it wrong for your servant to adore Your Majesty? Is it wrong for your servant to desire to bear Your Majesty's sons and daughters?"
"Your heart is not wrong, but your actions are a grave mistake. Zhou Jinglan, I have already given you a chance."
He Ying did not wish to say too much, turned his head away from her, and said indifferently, "Issue the decree, for misconduct after drinking, for insubordination, Noble Consort Lan is demoted to Lan, confined to Youlan Pavilion, never to leave again."
This was nearly as severe as being sent to the Cold Palace.
Noble Consort Lan, now demoted to Lan, never expected that her brief favor was merely a fleeting dream.
It was over.
Everything was over.
She collapsed to the ground, her hairpin from her head and her long dark hair spread out.
"Your Majesty, please reconsider—"
Her closest palace maid, Mingtao, rushed in, knelt down, and started kowtowing desperately, "Your Majesty, the consort did this out of desperation. It is the Sang sisters! Yes, it's their doing—"
"Silence!"
He Ying barked angrily, not wishing to involve Sang Yan in this matter.
But Mingtao, for the sake of her mistress, disregarded everything else and continued, "They intended to intoxicate Your Majesty to commit indecent acts. The consort, upon hearing this, acted impulsively in a moment of indignation—"
"Shut up!"
He Ying was utterly furious, grabbing the wine cup and smashing it to the ground, he commanded, "You vile slave, stirring up trouble! Guards, drag her away, beat her to death!"
When an Emperor is enraged, death is sure to follow.
The eunuchs immediately obeyed, dragging her out.
Mingtao, knowing there would be no good end after what she had said, prepared to face death, so she did not beg for mercy. As she was being dragged away, she still shouted loudly, "Your Majesty, it's the Sang sisters who are the real culprits! Should anyone be punished, it should be them! Your Majesty, your consort is innocent, your consort is innocent—"
In no time.
The sound of the execution could be heard outside.
The dull thuds of the sticks on flesh, each hit grating.
Zhou Jinglan was as if awakened by the blows, seeing the Emperor about to leave, she burst forward in a rush of urgency, threw herself at him, grabbed his legs, pleading, "Your Majesty, stop! Please stop!"
He Ying hadn't expected Zhou Jinglan to dare touch him, caught off guard, she held him firmly, and he immediately began to itch and hurt.
Burning sensations rapidly crept up his legs to his torso, arms, and neck—
Large patches of red welts made him feel disgusted and irritable, "Let go! Zhou Jinglan, if you do not let go, I will have the entire Youlan Pavilion buried with you for your foolishness! Guards!"