My Darling, Coax Me.

 CHAPTER 31: Bribery 

　　After leaving the Benevolent Heart Pavilion, Yun Ling didn't rush back to the Shanggong Bureau.

　　She wasn't particularly upset. The Crown Prince was simply her employer. But if this continued, if he kept finding fault with her, how could she ever manage the Six Bureaus?

　　Thinking of this, even she began to feel a little stifled.

　　She shook her head, thinking she had things to do in the afternoon, and forced herself to stop thinking about it.

　　……

　　This was Mu Lanru's first time entering the palace since she was six years old. After lunch, she didn't want to rest, so she took her two maidservants out for a walk.

　　Following the winding path beside the Wen Shui Pavilion, the maidservant Cuì Lǜ said, “Miss, when you were little, didn't you often come to the palace to play with His Highness the Crown Prince? That's why you're so familiar with these paths, isn't it?”

　　The other maidservant, Zhu Hong, said, “Once you see His Highness the Crown Prince, those snobbish young ladies who look down on others won't be able to steal your limelight.”

　　The Yongsheng Marquis's Mansion was already in decline. Before the Sixth Prince became Crown Prince, Mu Lanru was just a down-on-her-luck young lady from a marquis's family in the capital, insignificant among the capital's prominent young ladies, and constantly overlooked.

　　Until the Sixth Prince ascended to the East Palace. Although he hadn't bestowed any favors on the Yongsheng Marquis's Mansion, because her mother was the Crown Prince's aunt, their family's fortunes also rose with his.

　　Only then did people gradually begin to notice her.

　　She believed that once she became the Crown Princess, those who had once snubbed her and looked down on her would all kneel before her.

　　She believed that the memories of her childhood with her cousin, the Crown Prince, would return to him once he saw her again.

　　Thinking this, a confident smile played on Mu Lanru's lips. The three of them continued walking forward, already beyond the boundaries of the Wen Shui Pavilion.

　　Suddenly, the maidservant Zhu Hong pointed to the front right and said, “Miss, look over there.”

　　Mu Lanru followed her gaze and saw an octagonal pavilion surrounded by numerous palace servants and guards.

　　And inside the pavilion, stood a man in an expensive embroidered golden robe, his figure tall and straight. Even though she only saw his profile, Mu Lanru recognized him instantly. It was none other than His Highness, the Crown Prince.

　　Besides, only the Crown Prince would have such a grand entourage within the palace.

　　Unexpectedly bumping into the Crown Prince while out for a light meal, Mulanru was instantly delighted. “That's His Highness, the Crown Prince.”

　　Cuì Lǜ immediately said, “Then, Miss, should we go forward and pay our respects? This is a rare and good opportunity.”

　　Mu Lanru looked at the scene in the pavilion and shook her head. “Let's wait a bit. His Highness is probably still in the midst of a serious discussion.”

　　Besides the Crown Prince, there was also a woman in a female official's uniform in the pavilion. If Mu Lanru remembered correctly, the color indicated a rank of fifth-grade official.

　　The fifth-grade female officials in the inner palace were the Shanggong (Head/Chief Palace Maid) of the Six Bureaus. If that was the case, they were likely discussing important matters. She absolutely couldn't interrupt them at this time.

　　After about ¹half an incense stick's worth of time, the maidservant Zhu Hong reminded her, “Miss, that female official has left!”

　　Mu Lanru quickly straightened her clothes and, with a graceful gait, walked over.

　　Just as she reached the outside of the pavilion, she was stopped by two guards with their arms crossed.

　　Mu Lanru quickly performed a curtsy and said to those in the pavilion, “Mu Lanru, the legitimate daughter of the Yongsheng Marquis's Manor, has mistakenly wandered into this place and become lost. I come to seek an audience with my cousin, the Crown Prince.”

　　Cousin of the Crown Prince…

　　The surrounding palace servants looked at each other, exchanging glances.

　　She's actually the Crown Prince's cousin.

　　Now, even the two guards didn't know whether they should stop her or not.

　　A smile played on Mu Lanru's lips. She supposed that even after all these years, her cousin, the Crown Prince, hadn't completely forgotten her.

　　Upon hearing her name, he would surely come to see her.

　　After waiting below for quite some time, a eunuch in a high-ranking official's attire came down.

　　This is Grand Eunuch An Zhong, a senior official in the Crown Prince's service. (T/N: Finally we got his full name.)

　　Mu Lanru displayed a confident smile. “Is it my cousin who wishes to see me?”

　　Grand Eunuch An's brows furrowed. “Miss Mu, His Highness will not see you.”

　　Sigh, in this Benevolent Heart Pavilion, everyone knows that after Yun Shanggong's departure, His Highness was furious. This cousin is quite tactless to come and disturb him at this time.

　　This will only further anger His Highness, and those serving him will suffer the consequences.

　　That's why he quickly came out to send her away.

　　The smile faltered on Mu Lanru's lips. In disbelief, she said, “How is that possible… Did the palace servants not relay the message clearly? I am from the Yongsheng Marquis's Mansion—”

　　Grand Eunuch An smiled, but he interrupted directly, “Miss Mu, please! Don't disturb His Highness's peace.”

　　The Crown Prince didn't fail to hear; he heard perfectly clearly but didn't even bother to look up.

　　Mu Lanru's face was unsightly; she almost bit her lip until it bled.

　　Her cousin, the Crown Prince, was just talking to that female official a moment ago. Why won't he see her now?

　　Glancing sideways, she noticed the eunuch holding a copy of Guanyan Lu (Records of Observing Words and Expressions).

　　That female official must have been the one who delivered this book, then?

　　A myriad of complex thoughts flashed through her mind. Mu Lanru forced a gentle smile back onto her face. “Then I will visit His Highness again another time.”

　　She turned and left in a fluster.

　　Only after they were far from the Benevolent Heart Pavilion did her maid, Cuì Lǜ, worriedly say, “Miss… why wouldn't the Crown Prince see you? Didn't you say…”

　　Mu Lanru's knuckles turned white. “Be quiet! What do you know?

　　When His Highness was in trouble, the Yongsheng Marquis's Mansion avoided involvement and never offered any help. Naturally, His Highness would bear a grudge. It's only right that he wouldn't see me.”

　　But even so, he still chose her to enter the palace. Doesn't that mean that although he holds a grudge against the Yongsheng Marquis's Mansion, he still has feelings for her?

　　Zhu Hong exclaimed, “Then what should we do?”

　　Mu Lanru unconsciously wrung her hands, pondering a solution.

　　She tried to steady her nerves. “It's alright. As long as His Highness sees me, everything will be fine.”

　　The Guanyan Lu flashed through her mind. If she wasn't mistaken, that book was written by the Shanggong, recording their every word and action in the Imperial Garden.

　　A woman's intuition told her that Shanggong held a significant position in the Crown Prince's heart. Otherwise, he wouldn't have entrusted such an important matter as the selection of concubines to a female official.

　　Her cousin summoned the Shanggong, yet she was kept out. Could she really be less important than a lowly Shanggong?

　　Just then, several palace servants passed by, their hushed voices murmuring the words “Yun Gugu.”

　　“Yun Gugu brought me a plate of green cakes yesterday, they were especially delicious.”

　　“Really that delicious? I want to eat some too!”

　　“If they're so good, just ask Yun Gugu for some. She's so easygoing, why are you afraid to ask?”

　　The two of them laughed and played.

　　“If you ask me, only Yun Gugu has such delicious things.”

　　“Of course they're delicious! They're all gifts from His Highness the Crown Prince!”

　　After the few palace maids left, Mu Lanru asked, “This Yun Shanggong, what's her background?” 

　　Before Zhu Hong arrived, she was specifically instructed by the Marchioness of Yongsheng to give Mu Lanru some guidance, and she knew a bit about Yun Shanggong.

　　“She was originally a lowly maid who cleaned and swept, but now she's the only female official in the East Palace who enjoys the Prince's favor.”

　　“The Marchioness specifically instructed me not to offend her and to be sure to win her over.”

　　Mu Lanru turned her head and glared fiercely at Zhu Hong. “My mother wants me to win over a palace maid?”

　　She could bow and scrape to those young ladies from prominent families, that was fine, but now she was supposed to win over a female official?

　　Furthermore, although she is now a female official, since she is so favored by the Crown Prince, she probably won't be satisfied with the mere position of a Shanggong.

　　In the future, perhaps she will be her greatest rival; she cannot afford to underestimate her.

　　If she hadn't been mistaken at the Benevolent Heart Pavilion earlier, Yun Shanggong's expression was also unpleasant when she left, perhaps she had been reprimanded.

　　If that's the case, then she must seize this opportunity.

　　——

　　That afternoon, Yun Ling, accompanied by Shangyi Wu and two female officials from the Shangyi Bu (Department of Ceremonies), appeared at the Wen Shui Pavilion.

　　The young ladies had already finished resting and were seated on either side of the hall.

　　Yun Ling, wearing a crimson female official's robe, appeared at the entrance, and the palace servants on both sides respectfully bowed.

　　Even the young ladies seated below quickly stood up and said in unison, “Yun Gugu.”

　　One of them secretly glanced up, and upon seeing Yun Ling, thought to herself, “So this is Yun Shanggong who is here to assess us?”

　　Although she was wearing a dignified official's robe and hadn't deliberately dressed up, she didn't look very old, and her appearance was stunning. Compared to the noble young ladies present, she was in no way inferior.

　　The East Palace actually has such a beautiful female official.

　　The young ladies present couldn't help but perk up.

　　Yun Ling instructed the two female officials behind her to distribute the examination papers. Then, in a gentle voice, she said, “This servant, by order of His Highness, has brought a potted peach blossom bonsai. I ask that you ladies compose a poem of appreciation for the peach blossoms, using this as your theme.”

　　After the assessment, Yun Ling gathered the answer sheets and bowed to the young ladies. “Dinner has been prepared. I hope you all rest well tonight.”

　　Although it was called an appreciation of flowers banquet, it was in fact nothing more than a selection banquet for the Crown Prince's consort.

　　Yet they had been in the palace for a whole day, and still hadn't caught a glimpse of the Crown Prince.

　　Among them, Anfu Junzhu was the first to ask, “May I ask, Yun Gugu, when will His Highness the Crown Prince summon us? We would like to prepare ourselves.”

　　Yun Ling shook her head with a smile. “I don't know about that. I wouldn't dare to question His Highness's arrangements.”

　　Having said that, she bowed and left; there was still work to be done at the Shanggong Bureau.

　　Being the only female official in the entire palace, it was inevitable that several young ladies would rush after her, seizing the opportunity to curry favor.

　　Zhou Xiangjun looked down upon their behavior, sneering, “Such a grand display from a mere female official! She's so arrogant that even Anfu Junzhu has to watch her face. If you didn't know better, you'd think she was the mistress of this Eastern Palace.”

　　“That's right, I just can't stand her behavior of a mean person. Could it be that after entering the East Palace, a noble girl from a noble family will have to look at the face of a lowly palace maid like her?”

　　“With a face like that, who knows what she's really like in private? Perhaps she's a vixen, seducing the Prince—”

　　Mu Lanru quickly stopped them, “Alright, Xiangjun, don't say anymore... After all, she's the Shanggong; we can't afford to offend her. We need to watch our step with her if we want to have a place in this Eastern Palace. Otherwise, if we offend her, who knows how she'll twist things to the Prince?”

　　……

　　Jiang Qingwan, daughter of the Minister of War, and Lin Yuanzhi, daughter of the Minister of Works, stopped Yun Ling, “Yun Gugu, please wait.”

　　Yun Ling turned around. “Miss Jiang, Miss Lin, what can I do for you?”

　　Jiang Qingwan gestured to her maidservant behind her to present a gift. “I met you, Yun Gugu, during the last hunt and was completely captivated. Today, your simple attire is still stunning. This is a new rouge from the capital's perfume shop—it's quite lovely. It's a small token of my admiration.”

　　Lin Yuanzhi quickly added, “Me too, me too. This is a pastry from the Su Xiang pastry shop, Yun Gugu. No other meaning, just a small token of our esteem. Please accept it.”

　　Yun Ling was about to politely decline. She wouldn't accept even a single coin, let alone a box of rouge.

　　Just then, a group of people emerged, led by Anfu Junzhu, Murong Xue, who approached quickly.

　　Zhou Xiangjun, seeing the scene before her, covered her mouth with a handkerchief and chuckled softly. “Oh my, I wondered who it was. It's Jiang Qingwan and Lin Yuanzhi. Secretly flattering Yun Shanggong here, are you? Hoping she'll give you a good grade?”

　　Jiang Qingwan and Lin Yuanzhi quickly waved their hands. “No, no, absolutely not!”

　　Murong Xue approached with a cold face, stopping before Yun Ling. “Although you are a Shanggong, favored by His Highness the Crown Prince and thus arranged for this flower viewing banquet, you are ultimately just a lowly female official. How dare you betray the Crown Prince's trust and secretly accept bribes?”

　　“A lowly female official, wielding a chicken feather as if it were a decree, truly believing herself to be extraordinary and destined for greatness?”

　　Seeing this, Jiang Qingwan and Lin Yuanzhi were so frightened they couldn't speak.

　　Yun Ling didn't understand why Anfu Junzhu had suddenly attacked her, and with such a harsh tone.

　　However, having spent so many years in the palace, she had experienced much worse.

　　This kind of blunt and condescending verbal abuse couldn't stir her emotions.

　　She calmly replied, “Your Highness has mistaken me. The so-called bribes you mentioned, I was just about to refuse. Furthermore, although I am in charge of the flower viewing banquet, all matters are ultimately decided by His Highness. I am merely responsible for the arrangements.”

　　She calmly and clearly explained away all the misunderstandings.

　　At that moment, Anfu Junzhu's maid whispered to her, “Indeed, she's just a lowly cleaning maid. Even when humiliated, she doesn't dare say anything, only meekly explaining herself.”

　　After hearing this, Anfu Junzhu became even more smug. “So, Yun Shanggong has absolutely no intention of accepting bribes?”

　　Yun Ling: “No.”

　　“Okay, let's put it this way,” Murong Xue tossed her handkerchief into the dirty water, saying spitefully, “Yun Gugu, take off your shoes and socks and go to the water to pick up my handkerchief yourself, and I will believe you, how about that?”

　　Her maid, Xiao Liu, chimed in, “Of course! She's just a servant girl, used to doing such things.”

　　Zhou Xiangjun also looked at Yun Ling, her words expressing concern while secretly enjoying the spectacle. “Quickly go pick it up, Shanggong. It's not a big deal that Anfu Junzhu is asking you to do.”

　　“Surely Anfu Junzhu isn't making such a simple request impossible?”

　　“Exactly.”

　　All eyes were on Yun Ling.

　　Anfu Junzhu held her chin high, looking down from above.

　　In broad daylight, she was clearly intending to humiliate Yun Ling.

　　The female officials behind Yun Ling dared not speak out, though filled with anger.

　　Seeing Yun Ling remain motionless, Anfu Junzhu, imperiously and loudly commanded, “Pick it up!”

　　Everyone looked at her with a joking expression, waiting to see her embarrassedly going into the water to pick up things.

　　Glancing at the several people behind Anfu Junzhu, Yun Ling slowly curved her lips into a faint, calm smile, and said neither humbly nor arrogantly, “I'm afraid I cannot comply.”

　　Murong Xue was instantly enraged. “You—”

　　Yun Ling continued, “If Your Highness had truly dropped something by accident, I would be more than happy to help. But Your Highness is clearly—”

　　“Trying to humiliate me.”

　　Murong Xue no longer bothered to hide her intentions, her smile malicious. “So what if I am humiliating you? You, a lowly—”

　　“Although I am a lowly female official, I am also the highest-ranking female official in the East Palace, tasked by His Highness the Crown Prince to organize the flower viewing banquet. Yet, Your Highness dares to humiliate me in front of everyone. This is no different from,” Yun Ling's voice was calm, her eyes level with Murong Xue's as she spoke each word clearly, “humiliating the East Palace, humiliating His Highness the Crown Prince. Doesn't Your Highness know that?”

　　Murong Xue's face instantly paled. “I... I didn't mean that… You're lying! I just wanted to teach you a lesson, I didn't mean to humiliate the East Palace…”

　　Yun Ling: “His Highness shows consideration for the Duke of Qing, and therefore I also give Your Highness some face. But Your Highness, having just entered the palace, already reprimands the female officials, gaining a reputation for being harsh. If this gets out, wouldn't it damage Your Highness's reputation? Your Highness shouldn't ruin your future prospects for a moment of anger. If you publicly humiliate the East Palace, how much face will the Duke of Qing's mansion have left?”

　　She spoke calmly, clearly, and with a composed expression.

　　Murong Xue never imagined things would become this serious. Her face turned deathly pale, and she almost stumbled.

　　“I……”

　　Her maid, Xiao Liu, quickly supported her. “Your Highness, you were merely finding fault with a female official, and besides, she was the one who wanted to accept bribes first! She even dared to threaten you!”

　　Xiao Liu spoke indignantly, looking disdainfully at Yun Ling. “You should just humiliate her today and see what she can do!”

　　Yun Ling didn't bother to look at her, directly signaling two female officials behind her to step forward and subdue her.

　　The two female officials immediately stepped forward, seizing Xiao Liu and preventing her from moving.

　　Yun Ling's expression didn't change. “Slap her.”

　　Xiao Liu struggled violently on the ground, shouting, “How dare you! I am Anfu Junzhu's personal maid! Why would you dare hit me—”

　　Before she could finish speaking, a female official delivered a resounding slap, causing her to cry out in pain.

　　Before Anfu Junzhu could speak, Yun Ling said, “A maid who deceives her superiors and betrays her mistress. Today, I, a lowly servant, will take the liberty of disciplining her for you.”

　　With that, a female official searched Xiao Liu's clothes and found a packet of silver.

　　Although it was only a single day, Yun Ling had already realized that Anfu Junzhu lacked such cunning; this sudden attack on her was out of the ordinary.

　　And this maid by her side, her words were strange, constantly stirring up trouble.

　　Anfu Junzhu's eyes widened, and she reacted, pointing at Xiao Liu. “Whose silver did you take? Daring to betray this Junzhu, I will make you pay!”

　　Xiao Liu cried and shook her head, then fainted from fright.

　　Yun Ling turned around. “Every word and action at this flower viewing banquet will be reported to His Highness. Even if you ladies will become noble and prominent in the future, right now, you are not allowed to act recklessly in the East Palace.

　　If any of you present do not wish to participate in this flower viewing banquet, submit a letter of withdrawal. I will not stop you.”

　　Zhou Xiangjun and her companions had turned pale with fright.

　　“Shanggong, please forgive us.”

　　They had been accustomed to acting arrogantly and domineeringly at home, and seeing that Yun Ling seemed mild-mannered, they had become complacent and reckless. Only now did they suddenly realize the true status of the Shanggong of the East Palace and the methods she possessed to reach such a position.

　　Let alone a maid, even if it were they who had made a mistake today, the Shanggong's punishment was justified.

　　Murong Xue looked at the unconscious Xiao Liu, her lips trembling slightly, unsure of what to do.

　　Even in her foolishness, she understood that she had been used as a pawn in someone's scheme today. But as a Junzhu, there was no reason for her to lower her head and apologize to a female official.

　　She stiffened her neck, neither yielding nor apologizing.

　　Yun Ling never intended for Anfu Junzhu to apologize to her. However, if her actions were condoned today, the upcoming flower viewing banquet would be thrown into chaos.

　　By punishing her maid, the matter was considered settled.

　　She had no intention of making enemies with these young ladies from prominent families, but as the Shanggong of the Six Bureaus, if she didn't even possess these means of control, would they really think she was a spineless pushover?

________________

Glossary:

¹Half an incense stick’s worth of time is a traditional and vague measure, since incense sticks burn at different rates depending on their size and composition.

However, in general:

• One full incense stick = about 30 minutes (sometimes 20–45 minutes).

• Half an incense stick ≈ 10–15 minutes.

So when the text says “half an incense stick’s worth of time,” it usually means a short period of about 10–15 minutes.

….

T/N: (Sat,Dec 14) Last time, I mistakenly referred 安福郡主 (Ānfú Jùnzhu), or Anfu County Princess, as ‘Lady of Anfu.’ I apologize for this mistake. I have already corrected it in the previous chapter and added a brief glossary as a footnote. 😅

OMG, this chapter is so infuriating! Each of those women deserves punishment! I'd happily throw them to the piranhas! 🤣

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