CHAPTER 95: CHAPTER 94 THE BED COLLAPSED

Xia Ruqing rubbed her eyes and looked again, but it still seemed strange. "Emperor, I wasn’t lying crookedly!" she exclaimed, getting up.

In half a Shi Chen, she would have to go and pay her respects. Even if I were to indulge in lying in bed, I could only continue after returning, right?

As she was thinking this, she heard a CREAK. The bed shook a bit, and Zhao Junyao instantly opened his eyes.

This time, Xia Ruqing didn’t pay much attention. While getting out of bed, she said, "This bed is a bit shaky..."

Before she could finish her sentence, she suddenly felt light, and then she was swiftly lifted from behind. By the time she regained her senses, Xia Ruqing was already several feet away.

Then, with loud CREAKS AND GROANS, the bed wobbled and collapsed.

Zi Yue and Xiao Xizi heard the commotion and ran in, their faces pale. "Emperor! Honored Lady! Are you alright?"

Xia Ruqing was so frightened she couldn’t speak; her mouth hung agape, her face ashen.

Zhao Junyao’s expression was also grim.

Ancient step-up beds were quite large, like small houses within a room. When women married, their dowries often included a step-up bed meant to last a lifetime. Even ordinary step-up beds were expected to last that long. The beds in the palace were made from superior fir wood; who could have imagined one collapsing?

But it had indeed collapsed.

If the Emperor hadn’t reacted quickly, I might have been crushed to a pulp by now! Xia Ruqing thought, terrified.

"What... what’s going on?" she stammered.

Zhao Junyao frowned. "Li Shengan..."

Eunuch Li was so scared he almost wet his pants. Good heavens! I’ve offered you no small amount of incense, so how could... How could such a rare and bizarre misfortune befall me? A collapsed bed—such a thing was unheard of in all these years!

"Go to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and summon a craftsman!" Zhao Junyao ordered, his face dark. Since he wasn’t holding court today, he was determined to investigate thoroughly.

If it were merely a coincidence, so be it. But if not... Zhao Junyao narrowed his eyes. He usually turned a blind eye to trivial squabbles and scuffles. But if someone dares to attempt murder, and I catch them, they won’t get off lightly!

Li Shengan hurriedly dispatched someone. When the Emperor summoned, who would dare delay?

The steward from the Ministry of Internal Affairs responsible for structural matters in the palace, a man named Zhou Quan, arrived promptly. Zhao Junyao waived his salutations and simply ordered, "Go take a look at this bed and find out what’s wrong with it!"

Although Zhou Quan was a eunuch, and it was somewhat inappropriate for him to enter a Palace Consort’s chamber, he was, after all, just a eunuch. Besides, the Emperor was present; who would dare to comment?

Zhou Quan acknowledged the command and respectfully went in. The bedding had already been removed, revealing the shockingly splintered wood beneath. Zhou Quan stepped forward. He first carefully examined the broken section of wood. Then, using a small saw, he cut off a small piece from an intact part of the frame for comparison before speaking.

"Emperor, this bed is made of paulownia wood. Paulownia wood is hollow and exceedingly weak; it absolutely should not be used as material for beds..."

Xia Ruqing’s face turned even paler, and a cold sweat broke out on her brow. "Paulownia wood? Did you say this bed is made of paulownia wood?"

Paulownia wood is hollow in the center. It wouldn’t last ten years, let alone a lifetime!

Zhao Junyao’s eyes narrowed. Although he was the Emperor, he wasn’t the kind of oblivious ruler who would ask, "Why don’t they eat meat porridge?" He could still recognize a few common types of wood.

"All the beds in the palace are made of fir wood. Why is this one made of paulownia wood?"

Zhou Quan was drenched in cold sweat. "Emperor, although this servant manages all construction work in the palace, procurement is not my responsibility!" So, he truly knew nothing about this.

Zhao Junyao thought for a moment, then ordered, "Summon Hai Dasheng."

Hai Dasheng was the Chief Steward of the Ministry of Internal Affairs; procurement, construction—all matters of the Ministry fell under his purview. Let’s see if Hai Dasheng also claims ignorance! Hmph!

When Zhou Quan heard his superior was coming, he finally breathed a sigh of relief. Even if corners were cut, I was only following orders from my superiors. Anxious? How could I not be? If there’s a thorough investigation, who in the Ministry of Internal Affairs is truly clean?

Soon, Hai Dasheng arrived as well. He understood the situation at a glance. When he saw the broken paulownia wood, his heart skipped a beat, and he inwardly cursed his bad luck. His knees buckled, and he knelt.

"Your Majesty, forgive me!"

Hai Dasheng knew the inside story. Such matters could be hidden from others, but not from him! This time, whether the Emperor was harmed or not, my black gauze cap is surely lost.

"Speak," Zhao Junyao said, his eyes still narrowed.

Hai Dasheng was in agony, but he had to tell the truth; otherwise, he might not even save his own life. "Your Majesty, this... this was Her Majesty the Empress’s idea!"

Hai Dasheng neither denied it nor tried to shift the blame; he spoke only the truth. Originally, to please the Emperor and make the ledgers look good by saving silver, the Empress had all the beds for these junior consorts changed to paulownia wood. The reasoning was that they were, after all, just Honored Ladies and Ladies. Even if they were favored, they would merely be summoned to Zhaochen Palace to receive His Majesty’s attention. Who among them could possibly be important enough to host the Emperor in their own quarters? A paulownia wood bed would be perfectly adequate for one person to sleep in. Of course, the primary reason was that paulownia wood was much cheaper than fir wood.

Hai Dasheng recounted everything he knew, then added, "Your Majesty, this servant disagreed at the time, but Her Majesty the Empress insisted, and this servant had no choice but to comply! Besides, these junior consorts are all light and delicate; a well-made paulownia bed would be quite sturdy for them!"

As Hai Dasheng spoke, he tilted his head up slightly, his eyes conveying a look of ’I understand completely.’

Zhao Junyao was about to explode with rage. What do you mean by that look? he fumed, wanting to roar. This bed collapsed on its own! It wasn’t because My actions were too vigorous and shook it apart! Hmph!

Yet he couldn’t say it aloud; to do so would be a clear admission of guilt.

Zhao Junyao waved his hand dismissively. "Go and call the Empress over..."

「In Jiaofang Hall.」

The Empress was preparing items for the Silkworm Ceremony. Upon hearing that the Emperor had summoned her, she quickly put aside her work and hurried over.

Arriving at Zhaohua Pavilion, the Empress entered and immediately saw the widespread mess on the floor. And... the Emperor, his face a mask of fury.

The Empress instantly suppressed her smile and approached cautiously to pay her respects. "Greetings, Your Majesty!"

Zhao Junyao asked with a sneer, "Empress, was this your idea?"

The Empress glanced around, still not quite comprehending. "Your servant does not understand what Your Majesty is referring to."

Zhao Junyao gave a cold laugh, picked up a piece of broken wood, and threw it at the Empress’s feet. "Unaware, are you? Empress... your audacity grows by the day! Skimping on materials!"

"I, the sovereign of this nation, have to resort to skimping on a woman’s bed! If word of this gets out, what face will I have left? Am I, the Emperor, unable to afford a few decent beds?"

Secrets like this never stay hidden for long. The Empress knew, the Chief Steward of the Ministry of Internal Affairs knew, and the carpenters who built the beds also knew. It was bound to get out.

Such Royal Family scandals can never be contained; in fact, they’ll only become more exaggerated as they spread!