Volume 1, Chapter 8: Medicine Shelves (1/2)

What’s the deal with this?

He crossed his arms, willowy brows knitted in gloominess.

It was said that Jinshi could cause the downfall of countries if he was a different gender, but if the person himself want to do it, the question of gender wouldn’t even matter.

Today as well, he had been consecutively called out by a middle-ranking consort and two low-ranking consorts from the inner palace, and a military official and a civil official from the Palace. As the military official had gone as far as giving him a dim sum spiked with a tonic, Jinshi will return to his own room in the palace and won’t be attending his night shift today. It was for the sake of self-defence; he was not skipping out on work.

He wrote the names on the scroll on the desk.

The names were the consorts who called him out today. Their cases were severe, like seducing another man into their room and saying that it was because the emperor didn’t visit. Although there was no formal report, their sentence will be handed down hereafter.

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Was his own beauty being ;the touchstone for the palace ladies noticed by several small caged birds?

A consort’s rank is chosen, while taking her parent’s pedigree in consideration first, according to standards of intelligence and beauty. Intelligence is harder to determine compared to looks and pedigree. They are required to possess the appropriate culture to become an empress. Additionally, they must also have a sense of virtue.

His unkind emperor decided to use Jinshi for the selection criteria.

It was also Jinshi who had recommended Consort Gyokuyou and Consort Rifa. Consort Gyokuyou was prudent and deeply modest. Consort Rifa may have an emotional personality, but she also possessed the appropriate spirit of one who bowed down to no one.

Both were loyal to the emperor and held no wicked sentiment towards him.

Consort Rifa, in particular, adored him with her whole heart.

Jinshi’s master is a cruel person.

The emperor arranged for consorts convenient to the country to produce children for him, and if they didn’t have that ability, he cast them away.

From now on, it will be Consort Gyokuyou who will continue to receive his favour.

The last time he visited Consort Rifa, who is now emaciated like a ghost, was when the crown prince had passed away.

Aside from Consort Rifa, there were also several other consorts who had become unnecessary. Those, he returned to their family when he saw the chance and had them bestowed.

Jinshi extracted one sheet from the pile of documents.

Her name was Fuyou. She had a rank of Primary Fourth Class, which is equivalent to a middle-ranking consort.

The other day, this consort had been bestowed to a military official who was merited with the repelling of a foreign tribe.

“Well then, would it turn out smoothly?” There shouldn’t be any problems if it was carried out according to the plan in his head. For that, maybe he could get some corporation from that unsociable doctor.

Though there were no shared feelings between them, it was the first time someone looked at him as though he was a pest.

The person had probably planned to conceal it, but she wasn’t able to completely mask that faint contempt in her eyes.

He burst out laughing. Like nectar that fell from the heaven, his laughter also contained a hint of evil.

It wasn’t like he’s a masochist, but it’s strangely amusing. It felt like he got a new toy.

“What shall I do after this?” Jinshi, after leaving the documents under the ink stone, decided to sleep.

He firmly locked the door so there will be no issues about visitors coming in at the dead of the night.

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