The Treacherous Concubine’s Guide To Whitewashing

Chapter 6, Pt 2 - Serving

Sikong Lin, it was simply not possible.

Was it because he was so young and his mind was foolish that he still didn’t understand these things, or was it because of a physical reason. It should be the latter. After all, Sikong Lin was sixteen years old now and there were a lot of teachings on sex and desire in the deep palace.

In the original story, after another six or seven years the male protagonists liberated the country and it was rumored at that time that Sikong Lin, who was well into his twenties, still didn’t have an heir.

However, Liu Xiu Chun’s actions made it clear that he didn't want the truth of Sikong Lin's failure to leak out. After all, in addition to presiding over a country’s government affairs, the Emperor also had another important responsibility, which was to produce an heir. Sikong Lin was mentally incapable and in this aspect would be unable to do so. Very likely the majority of the court officials all would be inclined toward abolishing the establishment. Deliberately convening actors for amusement and creating such an obscene scene was also to conceal that issue.

The warm room was spacious and beautiful. Every household utensil was on display to imitate her bedroom in Zichen Palace. Si Xi, as part of her daily routine, took off Yuan Luo’s outer skirt and removed her make-up.

Yuan Luo laid on the bed in the side palace hall’s warm room and worried.

A dimwitted Emperor didn’t even have the ability to produce an heir. Would he be qualified to continue to bear the title of Emperor?

More importantly, right now Sikong Lin’s throne was under a major threat, namely, Sikong Yan, the East China Sea king.

He was also the biggest obstruction to Yuan Luo’s second mission, because, according to the original story, among the several significant reasons why Tianyu Dynasty’s national power declined, the rebellion of the East China Sea king was the primary cause.

After arriving in the capital and discovering that he had narrowly missed becoming the Emperor, the East China Sea king did not immediately return to his fief. Rather, he stayed in the capital to stir up the wind and rain.

Once a person’s desire was aroused, it would be difficult to suppress it. If originally either the Crown Prince or the wise Third Prince had succeeded to the throne as the former Emperor’s orthodox heir, the East China Sea king would not likely have desired this position. However, as he was but one step away from the throne and that throne was snatched by a fool, the East China Sea king naturally was unwilling to leave the matter alone.

And the noble class of the court was also very dissatisfied with the child Emperor held up by the remnants of Emperor Xianning in the palace.

The reforms of Emperor Xianning that year went against the interests of the majority of the aristocratic families, so they had taken a risk out of desperation and supported the Crown Prince's rebellion. Unfortunately, the Crown Prince was defeated.

There were now distinct factions in the court. In days prior, Emperor Xianning had reformed the imperial court and promoted the imperial examinations. He fought against the influence of the rich and powerful families for a lifetime, promoted many poor students, and his party was called the Han Dang in the court. The Han Dang naturally supported Sikong Lin, the orthodox bloodline of Emperor Xianning and the aristocratic families, who wanted change, desired that East China Sea king, Sikong Yan, would fill the seat of honor instead.

In the original story, the East China Sea king fought with Yuan Luo, the treacherous concubine, several times in the capital, mutually winning and losing. Finally, after they had thoroughly torn into each other, he escaped to his fief and raised an army to rebel.

Compared with the foolish and dimwitted Sikong Lin, the East China Sea king carried a lot of influence within the dynasty. Additionally, his vassal state was prosperous, his forces were well-prepared and they had ample provisions. At its peak, he once invaded the capital and ascended the throne as Emperor. Sikong Lin fled to Pingcheng in the west with his concubines and there was a confrontation between the two Emperors in the Central Plains.

Although it was finally pacified to withdraw, the armed rebellion had continued for nearly three years. It engulfed half of the country, harmed hundreds of thousands of elite, and caused the deaths of countless civilians. Tianyu’s abundant power suffered a devastating decline. In various local vassal states, kings and peasant uprisings gradually emerged. Beirong and other tribes in the North took advantage of the situation and went south to attack the capital.

At that time, Yuan Luo in the original story also fell into the hands of the invading barbarians and became their plaything.

Afterward, the male protagonist, Gu Yi, commanded military troops to return to the capital, expelled the Tartars, supported the puppet child Emperor to the throne, and used corporal punishment on Yuan Luo, the former imperial concubine who was no longer chaste.

Now, to break away from the tragedy of national weakness, the rebellion of the East China Sea king must first be eliminated.

How do you nip this rebellion in the bud? The simplest way was to kill the East China Sea king directly.

The East China Sea king’s identity was too well respected to openly kill him without fear. Furthermore, his had high authority, countless masters by his side, and the defense around him was vigilant. Remembering the middle and later stages of the book, both sides were equally ineffectual. Yuan Luo had also sent killers several times, all of whom failed miserably.

Yuan Luo was contemplating in a daze, but someone’s shadow came to the door.

She recognized Liu Xiu Chun, sat up, and asked, "What's the matter?"

Liu Xiu Chun entered, knelt down, and asked, "Empress, were you wanting someone to serve?"

Yuan Luo was astonished, but then she noticed that Liu Xiu Chun was leading two slender figures. They appeared to be very beautiful boys, who were silently following behind him.

Yuan Luo suddenly woke up to what the so-called "serving" meant. She was shocked. She was an imperial concubine. Even if the Emperor was incapable, it didn’t mean that she could openly sleep with wild men in Qianqing Palace, right?

Just like the original owner was interested in that qin master before, it was also in the name of appreciating qin art. It really was impossible to openly tear the fig leaf of palace rules and etiquette.

Sleeping around in the Palace of Qianqing, as the sleeping man's pampered favorite, was a ‘dying without a burial site’ conclusion!

Yuan Luo watched as Liu Xiu Chen’s expression slightly changed. This guy was unlikely wanting to kill himself.

His back feeling chilled to the bone, Liu Xiu Chun promptly bowed his head and said:  "It is the wish of the Empress Dowager. The elder lady said that the Empress need have no apprehensions about doing anything in Qianqing Palace."

Empress Dowager?

Yuan Luo was stunned for a moment. Concerning the former Concubine De and present Empress Dowager, Yuan Luo understood much also.

Since returning to the palace with her son, naturally Concubine De was conferred the title Empress Dowager. In the past few years, this elder lady displayed a warm and virtuous morality. Every day she abstained from eating meat while praying to Buddha and rarely interfered with the harem or matters of the previous dynasty. In the eyes of the group of state officials she was a model Empress Dowager.

Owing to their shared trials and tribulations in the temple for more than ten years, the Empress Dowager relied heavily on her trust with Yuan Luo, which was also an important reason why Yuan Luo was able to run amok in the palace without fear, suppressing the noble aristocratic ladies. These two palace heads, the Emperor and the Empress Dowager, were her hard-line behind-the-scenes.

However, the mother-in-law was hinting that the daughter-in-law was cheating.

Yuan Luo considered the situation and realized that the Empress Dowager had gradually become aware of the crisis. Sikong Lin was incapable of performing his own duty and would be unable to hide it for too many more years. He pampered Yuan Luo only and if Yuan Luo was unable to get pregnant, sooner or later the chancellor will have doubts.

The Empress Dowager had no alternative but to make this move. The unadulterated royal bloodline can’t compare with the significance of his high position and great wealth. If the East China Sea king were to make a significant push for the throne, both the elder lady and her son could not guarantee their lives.

After more than ten years in exile, the Empress Dowager has long since become a complete realist.

Yuan Luo’s face was cold: "No need. Let them withdraw."

Liu Xiu Chun wiped his cold sweat and quickly led the people to withdraw.

After his interruption, Yuan Luo was wide awake. So she got up, draped a her cloak on her shoulders, and went outside the palace hall.