The Little Consort's
Eps. 71: Come One Autumn Four
“What ghost do you mean is me?”
Li Anlan who cosplayed as a joker-style traditional people appeared from behind the door while laughing out loud. The four prostrating women turned their heads slowly, then shouted back as the ghost chasing them suddenly appeared behind the door of Hongwu Palace.
“Huang An, why are you dressed like that?” Long Ji Man asked.
“I'm playing with your four concubines. Your Majesty, you won't be angry right?”
The “play” word that Li Anlan spoke was a figure of speech that did not refer to its true meaning. Long Ji Man then stared intently at the four prostrating women before him who were terrified until their bodies trembled. His expression was colder than a moment ago.
“What have you done to Mrs Huang?”
The four women looked at each other. Gawat, the king seems to be getting suspicious. A great man seemed to have guessed that something was wrong. She would not think short, The Noble Empress always had a reason to punish people. Soon, the truth will be revealed.
Confused and afraid to mix one. If he were told, the king would be very angry. But if it is not honest, the king will know the truth from the mouth of the Noble Empress. The end of everything will be the same, all four will not be able to survive tonight.
“Y-Your Majesty, we do nothing.”
“Oh really? Then, ladies, who sent a box of dead rats to my palace?”
“I-That, we don't know. Madam, we're defamed!”
Long Ji Man was suddenly enraged. The atmosphere of Hongwu Palace is as gripping as a courtroom trialing suspected serial murders. The four prostrating women almost cried, afraid of the anger of their king. This was the first time they had seen the king he so liked being so enraged.
“Enough! Did you forget that the Grand Empress is not a person you can disturb?”
The four unnamed women were misbehaved. When acting, they had completely forgotten the decree issued by His Majesty the King which contained a prohibition against disturbing the Royal Empress. Their foolish and careless actions turned out to be very fatal.
Their happy days in the Harem Palace are likely to be over soon!
“Ampuni us Your Excellency.”
“Ampuni us Your Excellency.”
“Mrs, forgive us. We know we're guilty.”
“Mrs, please forgive us.”
Li Anlan rolled her eyes lazily. The drama cast in front of him was so disgusting. When they put a dead mouse in his palace, had they ever thought about the consequences? Oh no, Li Anlan was not a weak woman who was easily bullied. Once disturbed, he will return it dozens of times.
“Sorry, sweet ladies. I cannot break the king's orders,” Li Anlan said as she walked to Long Ji Man's side. The couple's husband and wife contrasted her appearance.
“Call the guard! Get them out of the palace!”
“Your Majesty, please do not expel us, we beg you.”.
“Go! Never go back to the palace again!”
Seeing the four women being chased away, Li Anlan waved, saying goodbye and farewell with ridicule. Let them know the rewards of their actions. Women should respect each other, not insult and hurt each other. The four women seemed to be very ignorant of position. Clearly the Noble Empress was higher than them, but still dared to do anything.
The law here says that a widow of a divorced former concubine of the king cannot marry anyone anymore. They live single to old, without offspring and without close family. Once a concubine of the king, it was better to maintain a position than to be kicked out of the palace in contempt. No wonder most of the concubines here chose to live comfortably even though they had never been touched by His Majesty the King.
Li Anlan's tired heart was slightly flowering. His mood improved after having fun by pranking the king's former concubines. Now, in the Harem Palace only thirteen concubines remained. After this incident, perhaps the others would not dare to disturb him any time soon. Li Anlan was convinced that the four women were a plot with Xu Lingshu, Duanmu Shui, and Da Lixia.
“You didn't do this yourself right?” asked Long Ji Man who was back in his chair. The night was getting late, but the drowsiness that had attacked was all gone.
“I asked the help of my waiter and friend.”
“You sucked the man into the palace?”
“He's not an outsider. Your Majesty take it easy, he has been gone since earlier.”
Long Ji Man nodded his forehead slowly. If anyone else finds out that the Grand Duchess had taken a foreign man into the palace, he could be punished for breaking the rules. However, since he did it in self-defense and taught the person who was bothering him, Long Ji Man would let go this time alone. Long Ji Man thanked secretly for indirectly, the woman had already helped him get four useless women out of his palace, he said, as well as reducing spending that swells because it pays concubines who have never been hired.
Although he was a king, he could not do many things at will, including divorcing or expelling concubines whom he never liked. Moreover, her power on women's affairs was not strong as the Harem Palace was the authority of Empress Dowager Han Yuemei and Empress Jin. Those who became concubines were also the daughters of important officials and nobles in Dongling Kingdom. Other than finding their fault, Long Ji Man could not do much.
Today, he managed to get four women out without having to intervene alone. Naturally they pointed out their mistakes through the intermediary Li Anlan. If the woman did not retaliate and herded the four people here, Long Ji Man would probably not know anything.
“Your Majesty, I didn't break the rules did I? Here, any means can be legal as long as it can sustain life.”
“Yes. You can do whatever you feel is right. I won't be angry as long as you don't cross the line I set.”
“Ah, I forgot. I don't want to interfere in the harem business. But, if the women from the palace bother me again, I will fry them and throw them into Houchi Lake. My fish must be fat!”
“Why do I feel now you're meaner than me?”
“Your Majesty, I am not cruel. I'm just smart and vengeful.”
“Terlarah. Remove your makeup, you really are like a real ghost!”
“Whatever Your Majesty has ever seen a real ghost?”
“No.”
“What if I call them?”
“Absolutely you can?”
“You don't know huh? I'm a great psychic in my time!”
“Keep bragging, Li Huang An.”
It was already midnight, but the woman did not come out of Hongwu Palace. Unexpectedly, Li Anlan instead fell asleep in his chair. Her ghost makeup was still very thick and her bloody white hanfu was extremely dirty. Long Ji Man sighed for the second time. Women who can't keep this elegance are so fond of falling asleep at a time like this.
Slowly, Long Ji Man carried Li Anlan's body, then laid her on the bed. He corrected his position so that the woman would feel comfortable. After which, Long Ji Man enveloped him quietly. Long Ji Man could never get angry at this strange woman. His heart always softened when dealing with Li Anlan. This woman is too difficult to understand.
***