The Treacherous Concubine’s Guide To Whitewashing

Chapter 7, Pt 2 - Loyalty

Was this considered to be a tactful plea for leniency? He was worried. Would he still have to punish these failed imperial bodyguards?

Yuan Luo smiled bitterly. She turned her head to instruct a palace maid, "Go to the storeroom and fetch cinnabar and hundred year ginseng as a reward for the imperial bodyguards who were wounded tonight. Tell them it was granted to them by the Emperor."

Miao Zi Fang’s shining eyes flashed with a hint of surprise. Both of the medicines that Yuan Luo referred to were very valuable and used almost exclusively by persons of high rank. It was difficult to find the money to purchase them, yet, unexpectedly, she was willing to bestow them as a reward on a few low-rank imperial bodyguards and in the name of the Emperor.

He knelt down to thank the imperial concubine for her favor: "Your servant thanks the Empress for her grace on behalf of these subordinates."

Yuan Luo’s voice deepened: "Previously, this palace considered that these tournaments, where participants could easily kill or cut down their opponents, reeked of too much blood and were not a good thing. This palace will look for an opportunity to persuade the Emperor to stop this kind of play."

"... Empress." Miao Zifang couldn't help raising his head.

Yuan Luo continued, saying: "The Emperor is young, his temperament is unstable, and there are many crafty people around him. He still needs more persuasion and restraint. In the future, this palace will do our utmost to guide him in the right direction and hope that some of those in command can cooperate more."

"For the Empress to have this way of thinking, it is a blessing for the subjects and the dynasty." Miao Zi Fang’s voice was finally touched with emotion. The former Emperor was a wise ruler, who had  promoted him from humble origins. Long ago, he had come to understand that he would willing pledge his life and render service to repay that kindness toward the blood of the former Emperor. However, the title of Emperor was inherited by Sikong Lin who had not become a person worthy of respect, but was instead stubborn and stupid and absolutely would not listen to any advice.

He was also anxious as he helplessly watched as the East China Sea king infected the court and enticed the will of the people. Now, even if it may only be a small change, he was sufficiently grateful enough for Yuan Luo, the only person who could incite Sikong Lin’s desire to undertake his responsibility.

Yuan Luo had Lu Bing Zhong follow after Si Xi to accept the medicinal ingredients.

Miao Zi Fang remained standing at Yuan Luo’s side. If his superior does not speak to release him, he cannot withdraw without permission.

Yuan Luo stared at the palaces one after the other in the serene darkness. She was silent for a long time. Abruptly, she said: "Commander Miao, what do you think of the current situation in this palace?"

Miao Zi Fang was stumped for words. This question was too broad and, in spite of everything, he didn’t know how to answer it.

"Then this palace will put it another way. For what reason is Commander Miao willing to work for this palace?"

Stunned Miao Zi Fang raised his head and met those clear, watery eyes. His state of mind was slightly moved, so he dropped his head and spoke: "The Empress is deeply favored, intelligent and resolute. Naturally, people will gather and respond."

Yuan Luo wanted to laugh. Miao Zi Fang was being deliberate, yet in the same way so foolish. These sentences at first sound like nothing, but after careful consideration, they were basically referring to the fox that exploits the tiger’s might and implying that she was the fox, no?

She gave a low smile: "This palace also thinks that the so-called deep sacred favor and the gathering of the people who respond to it are all in vain. This palace looks extremely incomparable, but it is very dangerous."

Miao Zi Fang's face changed slightly, "Empress..."

Yuan Luo raised her hand to stop what Miao Zi Fang was about to say. She could roughly guess how much loyalty this person had for her. Though rather than loyalty, it would be better to say he was unwilling to see fearless blood.[1]

"Commander Miao only needs to know that the most unlikely person in the world to harm the Emperor is this palace."

Miao Zi Fang frowned.

Yuan Luo keenly grasped the subtle ridicule in his expression and continued: "This palace understands that prior actions, which were numerous and frequent, taken as a whole appear no different from causing harm. Now consider this carefully, to blindly pursue one’s own power, but instead greatly compromise the Emperor’s prestige? Indeed, it is not I. General Gu Liang Yong presumably was also a bit apprehensive of this and cannot but insist on eliminating this palace."

"Empress." Miao Zi Fang was in a cold sweat. He absolutely didn’t expect the situation to have gotten to this point.

He raised his head in shock. White light had already begun to appear on the horizon and the Empress Concubine of the Quanqing harem stood under a plum tree with a purple-red cloak draped around her shoulders, displaying a calm bearing that was completely different from previously.

It was a bizarre feeling that was difficult to put into words, but she really seemed different.

"I also hope that Commander Miao can work with this palace to assist the Emperor to stabilize the imperial court and clean up the younger generation," Yuan Luo continued.

As the backbone of the military commanders in the Han Party, this guy was a hardcore royalist and was not as rigid as Gu Liang Yong. Relying on this, he can still be trusted.

Miao Zi Fang knelt down once more: "These words of the Empress are exactly as your servant desires. Your servant is willing to offer this life in sacrifice and render service to the Emperor."

Yuan Luo was pleased with this answer and waved to permit him to retire.

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TN:
[1] I simply couldn’t determine what the author was trying to convey with Miao Zi Fang’s loyalty in this sentence, so I’m afraid I left it as it appeared.