The Treacherous Concubine’s Guide To Whitewashing

Chapter 9, Pt 2 - Lian Yan Qui

This person was exquisite and transcended worldliness, which made it difficult for her to reconcile the sinister and cunning henchman in the book with the man before her. However, she sized up the man in his ochre red eunuch apparel. Lian Yan Qiu, who was able to climb up to his current position by the age of thirty, give or take, was absolutely a capable person.

Previously, she had asked why there was no trace of Lian Yan Qiu. Si Xi had said he went to the north to inspect military affairs. On account of Gu Liang Yong’s big defeat, reinforcement troops and horses were urgently deployed to the front lines. Originally, he was supposed to have returned after a year, so she hadn't expected him to return so soon.

"The local commander has worked hard. How is the situation at the northern border?"

"Rest assured, Empress, the front line officers and soldiers are loyal and brave. Soon there will be a report of victory." Lian Yan Qiu smiled and said, "Your servant will go to the front hall and wait. Please, Empress, freshen up and change clothes first, then your servant will report very carefully."

After speaking, he went out and several female officials entered, walking in a straight line. They simultaneously attended to her clothing, dressing her in a neat and orderly fashion.

Yuan Luo went to the palace front hall and, as expected, Lian Yan Qiu was waiting there for her.

Seeing Yuan Luo appeared with her hair loose around her shoulders, Lian Yan Qiu frowned. "How can the Empress come out with her hair wet? Not afraid of catching a cold?"

"Not yet, instead I wanted to avoid the local commander waiting for too long."

"Empress, indeed that is more than your servant deserves." Lian Yan Qiu gave a low laugh. He took a dry towel from a female official’s hand, walked behind Yuan Luo, and, taking the official’s place, he dried her hair.

Yuan Luo was somewhat embarrassed to have him attend on her in the manner of a personal servant, but she was momentarily unclear about how the two of them normally interacted, so she didn’t refuse him.

Yuan Luo asked a few questions about military matters pertaining to the border of northern Xinjiang. Lian Yan Qiu answered them one by one. He also explained about recent political affairs, which were nothing more than some social climbing officials who gave precious gifts to show loyalty and also a somewhat disobedient scoundrel who was demoted to a rough and desolate, regional territory.

Once her jet-black hair was rubbed dry, Lian Yan Qiu put down the bath towel and poured Yuan Luo a cup of hot tea.

The two were discussing important political affairs, so Si Xi left the hall early with the palace maids.

Yuan Luo took the small tea cup and remembered another matter. "That Shen Dong Liu, he is still locked up in the Division of Punishment, right?"

Lian Yan Qiu nodded: "Empress, be at ease, the Division of Punishment will deal with him impartially and there will not be any hidden danger."

"Let the person go free. I have already spoken with the Emperor."

Lian Yan Qiu frowned: "Empress, if you wish to keep this person alive, you could have the Division of Punishment report that this person had been tortured to death. He simply cannot remain inside the palace any longer. One of the manor residences inside the inner city may be arranged. Then the Empress may occasionally go there to relieve boredom."

Yuan Luo: ...

This guy, what was he thinking? Could it be that he believed she didn’t want to kill him, because she still longed for the beautiful boy? To her surprise, he appeared to be suggesting her own Jinwi Cangjiao[1]. That kind of thinking was being excessively considerate, no?

This dark court!

Yuan Luo responded with a serious expression: "This palace said to release him, that is precisely what was meant. The person should be released from the palace directly and this palace wishes to see him no more."

Lian Yan Qiu raised his head in astonishment and stared at Yuan Luo: "What the Empress means is..."

"The literal meaning. Sir Lian is usually intelligent, can it be that what was said was unclear?"

Lian Yan Qiu understood, smiled, and nodded, "It is your servant who is slow-witted. The Empress’ command will be followed accordingly."

With Shen Dong Liu’s trouble resolved, Yuan Luo finally changed the topic to the East China Sea king.

They were both of same mind, because he was a great enemy putting pressure on their heads.

"The Empress means that the East China Sea king will likely sabotage this particular sacrifices ceremony using resources from within the ministry." Lian Yan Qiu looked grave.

"This palace heard that recently the East China Sea king has repeatedly summoned several officials of the Ministry of Works. If it was simply for the purpose of arranging the altar, then those visits are really too frequent. Therefore, this palace suspects that there is some trick prepared to make use of the altar," Yuan Luo insinuated.

Lian Yan Qiu appeared to be in deep thought.

Yuan Luo could only provide these clues, because it wasn’t specifically written in the original book how the East China Sea king arranged the altar. Worst comes to worst, secretly send someone out to rearrange the whole altar again.

To be honest, Lian Yan Qiu’s subordinates were much easier to use than people like Miao Zi Fang and Lu Bing Zhong. There were countless masters inside the Division of Intelligence, who were proficient at lurking and investigating these affairs.

This matter was of such great importance that Lian Yan Wiu did not delay and soon left to handle it.

Yuan Luo called Si Xi and asked, "Previously, was this palace often with Sir Lian... together? Also, before when this palace took a bath, did he usually go into the hot spring to serve me?"

Si Xi promptly shook her head and said: "Although he serves the Empress respectfully, Sir Lian is normally busy with work-related matters and, for the most part, is rarely seen, especially in the past year. Every time he comes it’s to report on the Capital’s official business."

Yuan Luo sighed deeply in relief. If she had to stare at that cold, lingering gaze all day long, it would be really stressful.

Thinking again about Lian Yan Qia’s expression when his eyes had hovered on her chest while carrying her, she vaguely understood how something like that could have offended him. Indeed, this guy was cautious and mistrustful.

Suddenly she remembered something about Lian Yan Qiu, which was mentioned in the original book. She remembered that he entered the palace in the final years of Emperor Xianning reign. Soon after entering the palace, he became the Emperor's close trusted aide. After that, he was rapidly promoted as the local commander of the Division of Intelligence, becoming a very powerful court eunuch. This man was innately intelligent, vicious, and merciless with an ability to handle affairs that was first-class. He was a force to be reckoned with. However, his rapid ascent to a high position was not without rumor. It had been said in the palace that he was a special servant and was the male favorite of Emperor Xianning in his later years.

She didn’t know whether the rumor was true or false.

----
TN:
[1] Jinwu Cangjiao (金屋藏嬌) is an idiom meaning ‘a golden house to keep one's mistress’. It is a metaphor for a man who has a mistress or has an affair. It is generally used when expressing ‘marriage infidelity.’ It originated with Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty when he was made King of Jiaodong at a young age.