Revenge
When the concubines barged into the guards’ quarters in a showy manner, as if to announce their presence to everyone in the manor, they didn’t find even a shadow of the ‘cunning fox who committed adultery while her husband was ill’ or the ‘new recruit who betrayed his benefactor.’ Instead, they were met with the sight of a tall, muscular man covered in scars from swords and arrows, lying on the bed in a loosely worn nightshirt. His face was obscured by a silver tiger-patterned mask engraved with a crescent moon design.
This appearance matched the description given by Qi Wang perfectly. The concubines, who had been so determined to catch the pair in the act of adultery, ended up staring at their husband in a semi-nude state, faces flushing red and unsure of what to do.
“What’s all this commotion so early in the morning, disturbing my rest? Do you all want to lose your heads?” Zhao Qirong bellowed sharply. His performance in this scene was a prelude to the promise he intended to keep when he met Luxian at the Hall of Lu Yue the following week.
Before the concubines had barged in, Zhao Qirong and Chen Luxian—both no longer under the influence of the aphrodisiac that could cloud their judgment—had reached an agreement. When they met at the Hall of Lu Yue the following week, Luxian’s long-hidden secret as the Divine Doctor would be revealed to him and others. In exchange, he would provide Luxian with a secret escape route from the guards’ quarters and answer a question that had been in Luxian’s mind for a long time.
“Forgive us, Your Highness... We... we...” The concubines stammered, trembling.
What on earth was going on?
Where were the alleged adulterous lovers?
How had their plan gone so wrong? And why was Qi Wang here of all places?
“Chun Gong Gong, take them away!” Zhao Qirong ordered Chun Gong Gong, who had arrived to observe the situation. Initially, Chun Gong Gong had planned to report to Qi Wang, but upon seeing him lying here, he froze in shock, unsure of what to do.
“Yes, Your Highness,” Chun Gong Gong responded and promptly ushered the concubines out. “Please, esteemed ladies, this way.”
The second, fourth, and fifth concubine had no choice but to leave the guards’ quarters in disgrace. As they exchanged confused glances, none of them could comprehend how things had taken such a turn.
Their carefully crafted plan had fallen apart completely. Would the primary consort now hold them accountable and have them sliced to pieces?
Each of the three concubines returned to her respective quarters, racking her brain for a way to escape the calamity they had brought upon themselves.
...
“What happened, Your Highness? Yesterday, didn’t you go visit Divine Doctor Luxian? How did you end up sleeping here?” Once the consorts were out of sight, Chun Gong Gong approached to help Qi Wang sit up from the bed and assisted the man whom he had raised since he was young in dressing properly.
Zhao Qirong recounted the strange tale of how he had discovered aphrodisiac incense in his room, leaving out any details about who he had spent the night with.
“From what I can deduce, this was likely a scheme orchestrated by the three concubines, though Your Highness may not have realized it. The rivalries in the concubines’ quarters are no less intense than those in the inner palace. Even though Your Highness spread the news of your ill health, the competition among them hasn’t ceased. They continue their petty squabbles and plots daily. I believe the person who was meant to be in this room last night was likely someone they wanted to eliminate,” Chun Gong Gong speculated.
"The plan of the three concubines wasn’t particularly complex. They simply needed to place a guard and that person together, then, at dawn, gather everyone in the manor to witness the scene. Even if they jumped into the Yellow River, it would be difficult to wash away the stain on their reputation," Chun Gong Gong said, recounting his analysis of the likely events.
“Hah, those women are truly digging their own graves,” Zhao Qirong sneered coldly. “But their plan failed—the ‘guard’ in their scheme had turned out to be me.”
“Chun Tai, search the room. See if there’s anything that might provide a clue for me to investigate,” Zhao Qirong ordered, but after a moment’s thought, he changed his mind. “Forget it. Don’t bother. I’ll search for myself. Instead, summon Qi Er. His seven days are up.” The time Zhao Qirong had given Qi Er to investigate the Divine Doctor Xian had expired.
“Qi Yi, Qi Si, Qi Wu—call them as well,” Zhao Qirong added firmly. He realized he had been too passive for far too long. Now, it was time to take things more seriously.
Zhao Qirong began searching the room meticulously, from the bed and pillows to the canopy, under the bed, cabinets, and desks—every nook and cranny. It didn’t take long before he found something.
Under the pillow, he discovered a smooth, white jade ring carved with a phoenix design. Zhao Qirong turned the ring over in his hand, his thoughts wandering as he pondered its significance. Soon, the shadow guards he had summoned arrived.
“Your Highness, after returning from the market, the consort retired to the chambers early to rest,” Qi Si reported dutifully.
“Hmm.” Zhao Qirong nodded slightly. “Continue to monitor the consort closely,” he instructed before shifting his gaze to Qi Er. Without needing to be prompted, Qi Er presented the evidence he had gathered during his investigation.
“I traced the matter back to the time when the Ming Yue tavern changed ownership five months ago. Coincidentally, a major money exchange in the market received a banknote worth 10,000 taels stamped with the Chen family seal. The owner’s son remembered the face of the person who made the transaction. So, I had an artist sketch the person based on his description. Please take a look, Your Highness.”
Zhao Qirong examined the sketch immediately.
“Chun Tai, does this young woman’s face resemble the maidservant who attends to the consort?”
Chun Gong Gong hesitated. “...”
“Qi Yi, investigate the Chen family further. Find out everything about how my consort has lived over the years. Who has wronged him, who his enemies are, who his allies and benefactors are—leave no stone unturned!”
“Qi Er, find out the nature of the relationship between the Lady Bosses of the Lu Yue Restaurant and the real owner. Investigate everything!”
...
Chen Luxian discreetly exited the guards’ quarters through the secret route provided by Rongqi. He hadn’t even had the chance to explain his identity or purpose at Qi Wang Manor before he was forced to climb out of a window and make his escape.
The path that Rongqi had described led to the back of the manor, where the guard presence was sparse. Chen Luxian planned to return to the Hall of Lu Yue to handle his affairs and then re-enter the manor later in the morning, disguised as the consort who had merely gone to the market.
However, he forgot to send anyone to inform Qi Wang. This excuse might work for others, but with a husband who had his movements monitored, it would be far more difficult to conceal the truth. Regardless, maintaining his reputation was of utmost importance. The issue of suspected adultery was no trivial matter, and until he received confirmation from Rongqi, Chen Luxian resolved to bury the events of the previous night as deeply as possible.
Luxian entered the Hall of Lu Yue through the back entrance, his face contorted with discomfort. The image of himself on the bed with Rongqi the previous night kept flashing in his mind, a stark reminder of why he felt so uncomfortable.
“Young Master! What happened?” Bai Li and Li Hong, who were taking turns on duty, gasped in shock at Luxian’s disheveled appearance.
Luxian was still wearing the light blue outfit he had on yesterday when meeting his friends, but the once-fine silk was now crumpled and torn. His waist sash was ripped in two, hastily tied back together to make do. The hair ribbon that should have adorned his head was instead wrapped loosely around his neck.
“It’s nothing. Order the fifth restorative dish for me, and then go about your duties. I’ll be leaving shortly,” Luxian said flatly, his exhaustion evident.
Doing it for the first time, it was often described as wonderful in fantasy novels he had read. Wonderful? Ha, more like a nightmare!
He was so exhausted that his legs nearly gave out...
“Yes, Young Master...” Although deeply concerned and filled with questions, the two maids dared not press further, seeing his current state.
Luxian soaked in warm water for half an hour, letting the bath ease his aching body. As his gaze drifted over the marks Rongqi had left on his skin, his mind tried to recall something, some detail he felt he’d forgotten—but no matter how hard he thought, it eluded him.
“Just you wait, Rong Rong. You’ll pay for this one day!” he muttered through gritted teeth. Unable to recall what nagged at him, he finally decided to let it go.
After bathing, he changed into a white outfit embroidered with cranes that he had previously left at the pavilion. He had grabbed it hastily on his way to the bath. Not in the mood to deal with the heavy golden coronet that was part of his usual attire, he tied his hair back loosely with a simple white ribbon.
Once dressed, he sat down for a meal accompanied by fever-reducing medicine. He had begun to feel the onset of a mild fever. After eating, he diligently applied ointment to the red marks on his neck. For those hidden beneath his clothing, he managed as best he could by himself—there was no way he would let his maids see him like this.
After finishing all his tasks and resting for several hours, the sun was already setting when Chen Luxian finally called for a carriage to return to Qi Wang Manor. On the way, he stopped to buy some items to use as an excuse for his absence. The entire ride back, he pondered how he should deal with the troublesome concubines of his husband.
...
“He’s back, you say? How is he?” Zhao Qirong immediately asked for details after receiving a report that the consort had returned to the manor by carriage. At this moment, Zhao Qirong had resumed his official role as Qi Wang and was managing overdue government documents in his private study.
After the events of the previous night, Zhao Qirong had adjusted his plans. He intended to confront the consort in his capacity as Qi Wang soon—though not before Rongqi and Luxian met to clear up everything between them.
Zhao Qirong could not predict how their relationship would progress after they had laid all their cards on the table. However, he could not bear to idle in the guards’ quarters any longer. It was more productive to return to the study and tackle the mountain of work that had piled up over the months. Find the original chapter at novelping(.)com.
“Your Highness, the consort mentioned that he had to pick up an item he ordered from the market yesterday and had to leave in a hurry, which is why he forgot to inform Your Highness. When the consort returned to the manor, I caught a glimpse of the item—it was a piece of jade carved with a tiger motif,” the guard at the gate reported in detail.
“The consort has also expressed his apologies to Your Highness for leaving without informing you,” the guard added.
“I see. You may leave,” Zhao Qirong nodded, waving the guard away.
Lowering his gaze to the stack of memorials on his desk, Zhao Qirong sighed deeply. Eventually, he decided to send Qi Si to check on the consort instead.
At times, Zhao Qirong couldn’t fathom why the Emperor continued to send him work, despite the rumors he himself had circulated, which claimed that Qi Wang’s condition was so severe he was bedridden.
The mountain of unfinished tasks was one thing, but just yesterday, the Emperor had sent Yang Gong Gong, the senior eunuch of the Qianqing Palace, to deliver even more memorials to review.
Was it possible that the Emperor had learned something...?
...
When Luxian finally returned to his residence, Lu Lu and Qing Hai, his maids, were visibly relieved. The young master had been gone since the previous night, and their concern had only grown in his absence.
The two maids had picked up on the gossip circulating throughout the entire Qi Wang Manor about the dramatic events involving the concubines creating a ruckus outside the guards’ quarters. Through some discreet probing, they pieced together a general idea of what had transpired and relayed the details to their master upon his return.
Luxian leaned back comfortably in a cushioned chair, sipping tea and nibbling on snacks his maids had prepared. His mind churned as he contemplated a fitting punishment for those who had wronged him and left him with a stain on his honor.
As someone who once held sway in the underworld, Luxian believed no grudge should go unpaid—and it must be repaid in kind. Killing them outright would be too easy. No, making them live a fate worse than death would be far more satisfying.
“Lu Lu, Qing Hai, what is the punishment for placing a green hat upon a member of the imperial family in the Da Qi Kingdom?” Luxian suddenly asked, shattering the heavy silence in the room.
“That... depends on the circumstances, Your Highness,” Qing Hai hesitated but answered. “If it’s a consort of the Emperor, they are usually granted poisoned wine. For other members of the royal family, the household decides—sometimes they are flogged to death, sold as slaves, or sent to brothels.”
Though unsure why their master was asking this, the two maids could easily guess it had something to do with the events of the previous night.
“Good. Very good,” Luxian murmured, a sinister smile spreading across his face—one that resembled a demon emerging from the depths of hell. The maids, despite years of serving him, had never seen such a terrifying expression on their master before.
...
The following morning, as the servants began their daily cleaning routines, an unexpected incident threw the entire Qi Wang Manor into chaos. News of what had occurred spread faster than wildfire, and soon it was known throughout the capital:
The previous night, a skilled intruder had slipped into Qi Wang Manor unnoticed, like a ghost in the night. The target was the three concubines.
The intruder had not only shaved all the hair off their heads but had also branded their foreheads with the seal of a prominent brothel in the capital. Where once flower marks adorned their foreheads, now lay a mark of unerasable humiliation that would scar them for life.
The three consorts awoke to find themselves in this state, their maids unconscious on the floor. The realization made them scream hysterically, their wails echoing throughout the manor.
With three women driven mad, their cries caused such a commotion that Zhao Qirong, dressed as a guard, went to investigate the source of the chaos himself.
Upon witnessing the scene, he instantly understood what had transpired.
“My consort truly is the perfect match to stand by my side for a lifetime,” Zhao Qirong muttered to himself, a faint smirk playing on his lips as he turned to head back to his study.
He had planned to deal with the concubines himself but hadn’t anticipated that his peculiar consort would act first. What’s more, the job was executed flawlessly, leaving no trace behind—a revenge so sharp and fitting that it was nothing short of brilliant.
If their original scheme had succeeded, Luxian would have faced consequences far worse than this.