The Han Dynasty Empress is a Ghost | Chapter 90 | A Bitter Revelation | Novela.app

The Chuyuan Palace was home to those who were pregnant, favored, or held high rank—women like Lady Jieyu Jiang or Lady Ronghua Xing. Within its walls lay the Heart-Binding Hall. *To bind the heart of the monarch.* Ah Jiao found the name quite intriguing. Lady Yan was somewhat surprised by Ah Jiao’s visit. Unsure of her guest's intentions, she could only play the gracious hostess, making polite conversation. They spoke of the scenery outside the palace, then moved on to the topic of hairpins and jewelry. When Lady Yan mentioned how she had loved playing in the Eastern and Western Markets as a child, Ah Jiao couldn't help but ask, "Is my Lady also a native of the capital? I wonder where your family home is? Mine was in Guanshang Ward; perhaps we weren't far apart!" Lady Yan smiled. "What a coincidence. My family lived in Huangji Ward, not far at all." Huangji Ward. The estates of the Grand Princess of Guantao, the Marquis of Tangyi, the Marquis of Longlü, and the Princess of Longlü were all located in the prestigious Beique district, far removed from Huangji Ward... Ah Jiao smiled again and said, "I remember there used to be a pottery shop in the Western Market called the Chime Pavilion. The small, colorful bowls they fired with leopard-cat patterns were quite beautiful." Of her four dowry maids from years ago, Guanmo had married into the Song family, who ran a medical clinic and herb business; Guanyan had married her childhood sweetheart, the owner of the Chime Pavilion; Jishu had married a member of the Tiger Brave Guard; and Xizhu, if she recalled correctly, had married a minor official in the capital. Thinking of this, a wave of melancholy washed over Ah Jiao. But then she heard Lady Yan laugh. "It is wonderful that you like them, My Lady. The Chime Pavilion is my family's shop." Ah Jiao froze for a moment. "Is your mother’s name Guanyan?" she asked woodenly. Lady Yan shook her head with a light laugh. "You must have misremembered. My mother’s surname is Shen." *Misremembered? Surname Shen?* Ah Jiao was confused. Taking a sip of honey water, Ah Jiao suddenly slammed her hand on the table. "You... you... is your mother’s name... Shen... Shen... Shen Xu’er?" Guanyan had been a young girl bought from the outside on a flexible contract. Her original name had been Shen Xu’er; "Guanyan" was the name given to her after she entered Ah Jiao's service. Lady Yan was astonished. "How did you know?" She looked up, only to see the woman before her suddenly stand, stagger back a few steps, and collapse in a dead faint. "My Lady! Someone, come quickly!" Lady Yan cried out in alarm. *** It was the second day of the Autumn Hunt. Early that morning, Liu Che had used the excuse of accompanying Lady Yan to hand over all official matters to the Crown Prince. He was in the Jade Hall, reviewing documents regarding the winter inspection tour, when an unfamiliar young eunuch followed Huang Yu inside. The moment the eunuch saw him, he threw himself to the ground. "Your Majesty! Lady Chen has fainted in the Heart-Binding Hall of Chuyuan Palace!" Liu Che was struck with shock and immediately hurried out. Upon entering the Heart-Binding Hall, he saw the room crowded with women who should have been at the hunting stands. Wei Zifu was already there. Lady Yan, looking pale and distressed, stood to the side, supported by Jin Yu, a female official in the Empress’s service. "How is she?" Liu Che strode to the bedside. He saw Ah Jiao lying there, her eyes staring blankly at the canopy above. Wei Zifu had only sent the eunuch to inform the Emperor as a matter of protocol; she hadn't expected him to arrive so quickly. She sighed. "Physician Song has examined her. He says she fainted due to a sudden, great shock and agitation." "Great shock and agitation?" Liu Che glared at Lady Yan. Remembering she was pregnant, he softened his tone slightly. "Lady Yan, what happened?" "It’s nothing!" Ah Jiao snapped back to her senses, speaking before Yan Zheng could. "I just walked too long this afternoon and got tired." Her smile was strained. Years ago, to ensure her four maids wouldn't be defiled by Liu Che, she had gone to great lengths to see them all properly married off. And the result? They hadn't been defiled, but their daughter had been? And by an aging Liu Che, no less! He wasn't even as good as he had been in his youth. Seeing her state, Liu Che wondered if Lady Yan had used her pregnancy as leverage to say something spiteful to Ah Jiao. After all, Ah Jiao had always been temperamental and easily provoked. He remembered how, years ago, Ah Jiao had fainted upon hearing Wei Zifu was pregnant, leading the Grand Princess of Guantao to kidnap Wei Qing out of pity for her daughter. Liu Che patted Ah Jiao’s hand and barked at Yan Zheng, "Come here. What exactly did you say?" Yan Zheng felt both wronged and terrified. Forcing herself forward, she said, "I was only telling her stories of the capital from years ago..." Seeing Yan Zheng on the verge of tears and remembering she was Guanyan’s daughter, Ah Jiao felt a sudden, overwhelming pang of affection for her. She quickly pulled at Liu Che’s sleeve. "That’s right. Hearing so much about the capital all at once made me feel sentimental. Your Majesty, please stop asking, or I shall only become more upset!" With that, she pulled up the quilt and wiped away tears that hadn't actually fallen. Though Yan Zheng was bewildered—wondering why this Lady Chen, who had entered the palace later than her, seemed to know less about the capital than she did—she was clever enough to nod in agreement. Only then did Liu Che believe them. Ah Jiao hadn't been to the capital in over twenty years; it wasn't impossible for her to faint from the rush of memories. Seeing that Liu Che’s expression was still grim, Ah Jiao propped herself up and tugged at his sleeve with a smile. "Alright, Your Majesty, don't worry. I am fine. Look, you’ve frightened Lady Yan!" Liu Che looked up at Yan Zheng. Seeing her still trembling with fear, he beckoned her forward. He took her hand, sat her on the edge of the bed, and said, "I was only... anxious because the Lady fainted. I didn't mean to scare you." Ah Jiao glanced at Liu Che’s hand, pried it away from Yan Zheng, and said, "Your Majesty has wronged her and yet offers no compensation... Why not promote her rank? Make her a Lady Ronghua. Both Lady Yan and the imperial heir in her womb have suffered a fright today!" Yan Zheng was even more stunned now. She looked up to see Lady Chen gazing at her with a look full of reassurance and... maternal tenderness. She looked just like her own mother. Yan Zheng felt a wave of inexplicable discomfort. Everyone in the hall turned to look at Wei Zifu. After all, the promotion of concubines was the Empress's prerogative. Lady Ronghua Xing instinctively touched her own four-month-old belly. Wei Zifu remained composed, smiling as she said, "While Lady Yan has indeed been wronged, she was only titled a Lady Meiren yesterday. If she is promoted again today..." She trailed off, looking toward the Emperor. The Emperor nodded, but then Ah Jiao gave his hand a sharp pinch. Seeing her displeased gaze, he sighed. "The formal promotion can wait, but let Lady Yan’s stipends and privileges be raised to the level of a Lady Ronghua for now." Yan Zheng hadn't expected a promotion at all; this news was an unexpected joy. She hastily bowed in gratitude. Ah Jiao unhappily pulled her hand back and tucked it under the covers. Seeing Song Zhen standing silently nearby, she said, "Physician Song arrived so quickly and worked so hard. Perhaps Your Majesty should think of a way to thank him as well?" Song Zhen quickly replied, "Treating the Lady is my duty." Liu Che, thinking Ah Jiao was being temperamental again and not wanting to cross her, said, "In that case, let him be granted a hundred thousand coins!" *How stingy!* Ah Jiao pursed her lips but accepted it. At least it was several years' worth of salary. After comforting Yan Zheng for a while longer, Liu Che finally led Ah Jiao back to the Jade Hall. *** Upon reaching the entrance of the Jade Hall, Ah Jiao had a sudden thought. Pretending to rub her head, she hurried toward Liu Che’s private bedchamber. Regardless of what kind of ghost or demon Liu Che thought she was, it was better to dispel those dangerous ideas as soon as possible. Otherwise, if anything happened in the future, she, the "non-human," would be the first person he suspected. Liu Che couldn't stop her in time. "Stop her!" he roared. Blocked by the guards at the door, Ah Jiao felt discouraged. She turned and wrapped her arms around Liu Che’s waist, beginning to wheedle. "Your Majesty~ let’s go in! Just for a little while!" Liu Che refused, steering her toward the side hall instead. Ah Jiao pouted, unhappy. Taking advantage of the moment the guards returned to their posts and bowed, she suddenly broke away from the Emperor and ran into the bedchamber, secretly invoking a Shield Seal to momentarily hinder the others. Ah Jiao threw herself onto the imperial bed and rolled over, beaming at Liu Che. She had touched the curtains, and nothing had happened! Liu Che was both shocked and suspicious. He walked over and took Ah Jiao’s hand. It was fair and flawless. Ah Jiao gripped his hand back with a triumphant look. Huan Jun had stated clearly that if a ghost touched these curtains, their body would be scorched—even those reborn through possession or soul-snatching would not be spared. Could he have been wrong? Liu Che took a corner of the curtain and wrapped it around Ah Jiao’s hand, whispering, "Does it hurt?" *Perhaps the ghost’s new body is thick-skinned,* he thought. Ah Jiao shook her head, her eyes twinkling. "It doesn't hurt at all! As expected of Your Majesty’s bedchamber, the embroidery on these curtains is truly exquisite." Huan Jun had only said that the red pearl would grow hot in this woman's presence, which proved ten to one that she was the pearl's owner—but he never said she was definitely Chen Ah Jiao! Ah Jiao herself had said back then that she didn't know where the red pearl came from. He had only been certain she was Chen Ah Jiao because, that day at the Chen family estate when they were intimate, he had hallucinated her as Ah Jiao, and her behavior had been so similar. *Had he been mistaken?* Liu Che let go of her hand. Or perhaps... behavior could be mimicked. It wasn't that Wei Buyi disliked the Chen family; perhaps the Chen and Wei families had joined forces to put on a play. She really didn't resemble Ah Jiao! The real Ah Jiao would never speak kindly to Wei Zifu, would never ask him to promote other concubines, would never call herself "your servant" in a way that made his heart soften, and certainly wouldn't feign compliance when she clearly didn't want to serve him! Liu Che felt a stifling sensation in his chest. This pain was even more intense than when he had learned of Chen Ah Jiao’s death in the Longmen Palace. One moment Ah Jiao was smiling happily; the next, she was shoved away. She stared at Liu Che in anger, her voice low. "Your Majesty, what are you doing?" "Get out!" When Lady Wang, who had been with him for over a decade, passed away, he might have felt a flicker of this pain. Now, he didn't want to look at this calculating woman for another second. Princess Yangxin must have trained this woman before sending her into the palace, teaching her to mimic Ah Jiao’s old ways! "What madness has gripped Your Majesty now?" Ah Jiao stood up, looking down at the man sitting on the edge of the bed, her voice cold. "Get out! Yang De-yi, seize this woman immediately." Liu Che gritted his teeth. "For deceiving the sovereign and defying the throne, imprison her at once!" ??? Ah Jiao was stunned. ***