Chapter 111 - Allies Or Enemies 6
Chapter 111 – Allies Or Enemies 6
MANY DAYS EARLIER, AT THE IMPERIAL PALACE OF NORTHERN WEI.
It was a typical summer night, hot and long like any other summer night. The Emperor sat on a chair while imperial consort Shi massaged his stiff shoulders. She was very good at giving massages, she had picked it up when she found herself as an imperial concubine at the Imperial Palace.
When you are the daughter of a sixth-ranked minister, in a haram filled with more qualified and exquisite beauties, you needed a good edge. She had picked it up to give herself an edge after an impromptu visit from the Emperor on the night. It was her third week in the palace and she was chosen for bed service by the palace household department.
(the Empress together with the astronomy department and the head of the household department led by the Emperor's Chief Eunuch makes the timetable scheduling the Emperor's bed service. This a done to offer equal services to the Imperial concubines and is done by studying the astronomical signs and determining the most favourable time per consort birthdays. Since the most decision was made by checking the stars and picking lucky days. However, a favoured consort could spend multiple days in a month. Apart from a favoured concubine the Empress and Emperor are offered three fixed days in a month.)
It was her second time spending the night with the Emperor and she was so nervous. The Emperor came over from a banquet, his most have noticed her stiffen expression, because instead of resuming the bed service after ordering the servants to leave. He asked her to give him a massage, this was her first giving someone a massage.
She was a little rough but after remembering how her Lady's maid use to rub her down, she decided to employ those tactics. She loosened her grim and made her action firm but light. The Emperor must have enjoyed the massage because he returned to her room two days later and asked for a massage.
After a few more visits by the Emperor, she decided to read a few books on the act and invite someone to instruct her on the act. Thanks to that wise decision, she caught the Emperor's attention but it was her father's advice that put her completely in favour.
Many years later and She was still the Emperor's go-to for relaxation, even the perfect Empress or the new concubines can not hold a candle to her. The Emperor called her over to his study, minutes earlier and as usual, she came with her ouls and the rest but made sure to dress more appealing than usual.
After the Opium incident, the Emperor had all but ignored her existence. Even after she had offered him a good solution to his problem concerning Lu Yaozhu's marriage. Emperor Zhong only visited her for a few weeks but thanks to the dirty move the Empress used to get the crown Prince engaged to commandery Princess Xia, she once again lost favour.
He had begun to frequent the palace of the newly conferred concubines. While she preferred that he favoured the new concubines when compared to the Empress but she still ran the risk of going out of favour. Which she couldn't afford to happen, her plan depended on her staying in favour.
Imperial consort Shi hoped to win back the favour she had lost with her secret weapon and after just a few minutes, she had begun getting the desired response from him. She was so happy, she could fly to the moon. The reemergence of the Emperor's chief Eunuch Caihong annoyed her since it would delay her plan but the message he reported gladdened her heart immensely.
"Your majesty, Minister Sheng sent a letter from Ningzhuo's Deputy Sun".
Emperor Zhong who initially had his eye closed opened them wide at the mention of Ningzhuo. Wasn't that where he had sent that foolish nephew of his, was the seed of discord he had sown at Ningzhuo finally reaping fruits. "Bring it" he instructed, stretching out his hand and waiting patiently for the sealed letter to be handed over.
He unsealed the letter as soon as Caihong passed it to him and read through, his lips spread out wide as he read through. Chief Eunuch Caihong left after handing the letter over to the Emperor so they were now alone. Imperial Consort Shi noticed the change in his attitude and smiled.
"You seem to be in a good mood, Your majesty. The letter from Ningzhuo must have gotten you some good news, you are no longer even paying this little one any attention. I am jealous", she said acting coy. Imperial consort Shi bent and rested her cheeks on his shoulder. This had never failed to get the Emperor to loosen up around her, like most men out there he couldn't fall for her trick.
The Emperor chuckled and patted her hand gently then pulled her to walk around him and seat on his lap. "silly girl, you are now a grandmother. Don't you want to grow up?" He said smiling and taping her nose twice with his index finger.
"No!" She hooked her all-around his shoulder, brought her mouth to his ear and whispered seductively, "I don't want to grow up just yet because you like me this way".
Emperor Zhong laughed, "I guess I do" he folded the letter, rose the lamp cover and brought the latter to the open flame once it caught fire, he threw the latter into the ashtray beside the table. "I instructed minister Sheng to sow a few seeds it the north for me before Yaozhu arrived and it has grown fruits. Deputy Sun from Ningzhuo just reached out to him with a way to take care of Yaozhu and the entire Lu family".
"Congratulations on finally resolving this pressing issue your Majesty. I know that you have been worried about that for year's, with the Lu family out of the way you can finally rest easy".
"Yes, you of all people understand what I went through with that family of wolves. I initially tolerated them because of my the Empress dowager and then the Empress but they are starting to grow wings of late"
Imperial consort Shi nodded, "I understand your Majesty, you have suffered thanks to them. It is only right that you are allowed a few moments of enjoyment. If there is any way the Shi family can help you please do not hesitate to contact my father. The quicker we get rid of the Ku family the better for us".
Who doesn't like someone that told them what they want to hear, Imperial consort shi's words left the Emperor, please. He immediately forgot all the misunderstanding they both had, this was where imperial consort Shi and the Empress diverted.
Imperial consort Shi got her wish and received the Emperor's favour, the next day the Emperor sent over a lot of gifts to her palace. Imperial consort Shi didn't dwell on the Emperor's favour for long, she quickly sent word to her father Prime Minister Shi inviting him to pay her a visit
********
The Next Day at imperial consort Shi's palace.
Prime Minister Shi arrived at his daughter's palace after morning court the next day. Imperial Consort Shi ordered the maids to leave after snacks and tea was served. She ordered her lady's maid to keep watch by the door and ensure that no one eavesdropped on their discussion before recounting the full details of her discussion with the Emperor last night.
They were both seated on the top seat in the centre room of the main hall, with only a low table between them. She preferred this position since they were much closer which accommodated the need to whisper and would keep anyone from overheating them.
"Even the heavens seem to be on our side father, the Emperor received a missive from Ningzhuo last night. It was sent by that snake minister Sheng he has been in touch with a Deputy Sun at Ningzhuo. Father do we have any reliable men in Ningzhuo?"
Prime Minister Shi sat up straighter as heard his daughter mention Ningzhuo, like the Emperor he was invested in finding out anything concerning that upstart Lu Yaozhu. He nodded, "Yes I do I have been in touch with the Deputy in question".
"Good, Father we will be getting our big break soon. The deputy in Ningzhuo has cooked up quite a dish for Lu Yaozhu and the Lu Family. We will soon have them completely out of our way father, that old fool is about to have the entire Lu family arrested and executed on charges of treason!" she laughed softly.
"Oh, how did that happen. I have been trying to get rid of those noisy bunch".
"There is evidence that the Lu family has been growing an army to rebel and are in league with the Bongju bandits at the north"
Prime Minister Shi chuckled and whispered "evidence? Who do we have to thank for this good news?"
"Who else…. The deputy of course. The Emperor is very confident in his plan.. I think we should make use of it father".