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Chapter 17
Gu Han hadn't slept well last night. The matter of Xiuyi He weighed on her heart, leaving her thoughts constantly troubled.
She felt she had overlooked something, yet couldn't recall what it was at all.
At the hour of chen for morning greetings, Gu Han wore a light-colored palace gown. Someone had just died in the palace, regardless of the reason, Gu Han wouldn't draw attention to herself at this time. Yet she was born with delicately curved willow-leaf brows and clear almond eyes. The plain silk robe only made her seem more refined and gentle.
Today Consort Shu was likewise ill and didn't come. Everyone else felt puzzled. Rong Ling also couldn't control herself and asked in a low voice: "Didn't Consort Shu come to morning greetings yesterday?"
Gu Han almost imperceptibly shook her head at her. After pausing, she couldn't help but discreetly glance at the Empress. Just one glance, and Gu Han withdrew her gaze, silently sympathizing with the Empress's difficulty.
Everyone in the palace knew Consort Shu's health was already fine, yet Consort Shu insisted on not coming to morning greetings. This was purely slapping the Empress's face, but the Empress had not a single way to deal with her.
Because it was the Empress who'd personally ordered the green-headed tablet removed. Now if Consort Shu didn't request it be hung again herself, she had reason not to come to morning greetings.
Unless the Empress personally had someone hang up Consort Shu's green-headed tablet, but if the Empress did so, then the Empress would truly have fallen to the inferior position in this confrontation. How would the new consorts view the Empress then?
Faced with Consort Shu's immense favor, at this time there would likely be new consorts wanting to curry favor with her.
The Empress was already in a difficult position, caught between advancing and retreating. But the true culprit who had caused the Empress's predicament wasn't Consort Shu at all, but rather that person who was the rear palace's true master.
Morning greetings dispersed early in a stretch of silence.
Gu Han looked Rong Ling over and, seeing she was more spirited than yesterday, prepared to return to her palace. But just as she turned around, she was suddenly called by someone behind her. Gu Han paused and turned back. She saw Xiuyi He sitting high in her sedan chair, her coldly glancing gaze particularly piercing.
Gu Han's movements paused slightly. Though she didn't know what Xiuyi He wanted with her, she quickly recovered and bowed as usual.
The series of movements flowed like water. Even her lowered, slender neck seemed to add a vulnerability that made Xiuyi He increasingly irritated as she watched. Her eyes grew even colder as she said blandly:
"This palace just received a flower and wanted to invite Baolin Rong to admire it. Since Gu Cáirén and Baolin Rong are on such good terms, why not come together?"
Rong Ling recalled the torment from the other day, her face turning pale.
Gu Han imperceptibly glanced at Rong Ling and sighed inwardly. She had a hundred reasons to refuse Xiuyi He's request, but since Xiuyi He had included Rong Ling in her words, Gu Han couldn't speak a single word of refusal.
If she chose to refuse, Gu Han believed that Xiuyi He, being able to sit in the position of palace mistress, certainly wouldn't force or trouble her. But what would happen to Rong Ling who remained, who could say? At this time, if she abandoned Rong Ling alone, forget about mutual help in the future, it would be good if they didn't become enemies.
Moreover, how would others view her?
Allies were sometimes assistance, but also burdens at the same time. Yet where in this world was there a principle of only reaping without sowing?
Gu Han had long understood this principle. So she only fell silent for a moment before saying gently and softly:
"To receive Xiuyi's invitation is this concubine's honor."
Xiuyi He curled her lips in a light scoff, her gaze sweeping over both of them. She lowered the gauze curtain of the sedan chair. The next moment, the sedan was lifted and grandly led the way ahead.
Gu Han and Rong Ling could only follow.
Rong Ling wasn't stupid. Naturally she knew why Elder Sister Gu had agreed to go to Zhaoyang Palace. She bit her lip anxiously, her eyes even reddening with self-reproach: "It's all my fault. I've implicated Elder sister."
Gu Han didn't speak. She only touched the back of Rong Ling's hand as consolation.
Rong Ling pressed her lips tightly together and took a deep breath, trying hard to calm her emotions.
Behind them, Consort De's sedan chair hadn't gone far. She distantly glimpsed the commotion here and almost imperceptibly raised her eyebrows, some emotion flashing through her eyes: "Quite rare indeed. This is the first time this palace has seen Xiuyi He like this."
A close palace maid raised her head for a look and also felt puzzled:
"Xiuyi He is usually like a gourd with its mouth sawed shut. How has she gotten into conflict with Gu Cáirén?"
Consort De glanced at her lightly and reprimanded without much weight: "Speaking without restraint."
Jiachun covered her lips and smiled. Clearly the mistress and servant pair hadn't taken that statement to heart. Xiuyi He was indeed a palace mistress, but she received absolutely no favor from His Majesty. This position as palace mistress was only obtained when His Majesty extensively enfeoffed the rear palace during the New Year's banquet.
She was usually quiet, no one noticed her or cared about her. But today her actions caught Consort De's attention.
Xiuyi He avoided the rear palace consorts whenever possible, rather than saying she was afraid, it was more that she had no patience to deal with them. Among the newly selected consorts, Gu Cáirén enjoyed considerable favor. Her usual conduct also appeared to be someone unwilling to cause trouble. How would these two become entangled?
Consort De suddenly recalled that day at Kunning Palace when Xiuyi He had targeted Gu Cáirén with that remark. At the time, Consort De hadn't paid attention. Thinking carefully now, at that time Gu Cáirén also seemed puzzled by Xiuyi He's interjection.
Xiuyi He's party gradually departed. Consort De's gaze fell on that woman in the light-colored palace gown. Even standing in the crowd, she was particularly eye-catching. Consort De suddenly smiled and ordered:
"Investigate."
Gu Cáirén.
The sedan was lifted. Consort De sat within, not knowing what she was thinking. Suddenly she curved her lips with ambiguous meaning.
**
What Xiuyi He said about receiving a flower wasn't false. It had been sent from the flower house this morning. To call it a flower wasn't quite accurate, it was a small potted oleander. Clusters bloomed gorgeously, pink-white petals wrapping tender red stamens, sharp and fine, resembling peach blossoms in form.
When she clearly saw the flower, Gu Han imperceptibly furrowed her delicate brows.
Would there truly be consorts in this palace raising oleander? Oleander itself was poisonous, ingestion could be fatal. Even accidentally touching the sap inside the plant could cause poisoning. In mild cases, it produced itchy skin.
In this rear palace, all consorts cared especially about their faces. Itching would lead to uncontrollable scratching—one careless moment could easily disfigure them.
Women all loved flowers and had heard somewhat about this oleander. Gu Han could sense Rong Ling quietly tightening her grip on her sleeve. Gu Han didn't know what Xiuyi He intended to do and could only raise her vigilance to the highest in her heart.
But some things couldn't be avoided simply by wanting to avoid them.
Xiuyi He only glanced lightly at Gu Han, even ignoring Rong Ling, and said unhurriedly:
"This palace received this flower today and grew fond of it. But the palace servants are all clumsy and can't even tend to a flower. Before entering the palace, Gu Cáirén was a daughter of a prestigious family. Presumably, for such refined matters, you should be quite skilled?"
The emotion in Gu Han's eyes cooled slightly, gone in a flash.
Setting aside the malice in Xiuyi He's words, just mentioning that the palace servants were clumsy and couldn't tend to flowers, yet having Gu Han do this task, even emphasizing that before entering the palace she was a daughter of a prestigious family, every word was insulting.
Jiu Nian, who followed Gu Han today, was always calm, but now even she couldn't quite control her emotions.
Her mistress was a precious daughter worth thousands in gold. At the manor, learning to prune potted plants was only for aesthetic appreciation. Madam cherished their mistress, how could she let her touch dangerous items like scissors?
Xiuyi He's words equated their mistress with servants, far too humiliating!
Gu Han grabbed Jiu Nian's sleeve, afraid she would do something irrational. She was just about to say something to refuse when Xiuyi He didn't give her this opportunity. Palace servants quickly brought the oleander before her, even preparing the pruning tools.
This was clearly premeditated!
Gu Han lowered her head, the expression in her eyes growing colder and colder, finally returning to calm. She still said softly:
"At home, this concubine received parents' affection. They couldn't bear to have this concubine do such work. But if Your Ladyship doesn't disdain it, this concubine is willing to try."
Women especially valued face, but Gu Han only wanted practical benefits. She exposed Xiuyi He's intention, one word "work" encompassed Xiuyi He's vicious scheming.
Since Xiuyi He had brought her back, she didn't care about palace gossip.
Gu Han's heart sank. Being in Chaoyang Palace, she knew she simply couldn't refuse Xiuyi He. At her side, Rong Ling couldn't stand listening anymore and said:
"This concubine will do it together with Elder Sister Gu."
Xiuyi He only wanted to make a fool of Gu Han, how could she let her interfere? "One person is enough."
Rong Ling's face paled as she looked anxiously toward Gu Han.
Gu Han discreetly shook her head at her. It was merely pruning a potted plant, as long as she was careful, it should be fine. Moreover, Xiuyi He didn't have the audacity to harm her in Zhaoyang Palace.
Gu Han rolled up her sleeves and removed the pair of longevity plum mutton-fat jade bracelets from her wrists. These were rewards His Majesty had bestowed after her first bedchamber service. What woman didn't love beauty? Gu Han was the same. This pair of jade bracelets was exceptionally beautiful. Unable to stop her fondness, she had been wearing them all along.
Xiuyi He also saw her movements. She merely glanced at that pair of jade bracelets without paying attention.
Gu Han almost imperceptibly looked at that pair of jade bracelets. As she lowered her eyes, a trace of coolness flashed through them. Xiuyi He had targeted her repeatedly, even if her rank was low, she couldn't possibly always go along with Xiuyi He's wishes.
She picked up the scissors and earnestly began pruning the oleander. Pollen scattered, and Gu Han carefully avoided it. But to prune a potted plant well, one inevitably had to spread the branches to see if there were any flaws inside.
Under Xiuyi He's gaze, Gu Han had no choice but to reach out and touch it. Her fingers trembled once before quickly returning to normal. After the time it takes to burn one incense stick, Gu Han finally stopped her movements, lowered her eyes, and stepped back:
"This concubine has finished pruning. Please, Your Ladyship, examine it carefully."
Xiuyi He rose from her seat and walked unhurriedly toward Gu Han. Having tormented Gu Han somewhat, Xiuyi He was in rather good spirits. This oleander was something Xiuyi He had deliberately prepared. After Gu Han returned today, she would inevitably suffer for some days.
Xiuyi He only planned to glance twice and dismiss Gu Han. But just as she walked beside the oleander, she suddenly heard a crisp shattering sound.
Xiuyi He froze and turned to look. She saw that her sleeve had inadvertently swept down the jade bracelet Talented Lady Gu had placed on the table.
Of the pair of jade bracelets, only one remained. The other lay on the ground, shattered into several pieces.
It was merely a pair of jade bracelets, Xiuyi He didn't care at all. But when she turned back, she saw Gu Han frozen in place, staring blankly at the fragments on the ground, all color draining from her cheeks in an instant.
An ominous premonition suddenly rose in Xiuyi He's heart.
---
Author's Note:
Lu Yu: Fine. It's just the first gift I gave her.
---
Here are the ranks of imperial consorts:
- Empress (皇后 Huánghoù) — Head of the Imperial Harem
- Imperial Noble Consort (皇贵妃 Huáng Guìfēi) — Rank 1
- Noble Consort, Pure Consort, Virtuous Consort, Worthy Consort (贵妃、淑妃、德妃、贤妃 Guìfēi, Shūfēi, Défēi, Xiánfēi)** — Senior Rank 1 (The Four Consorts, with Noble Consort as the highest)
- Consort (妃 Fēi) — Junior Rank 2
- Bright Deportment, Bright Countenance (昭仪、昭容 Zhāoyí, Zhāoróng) — Senior Rank 3
- Cultivated Deportment, Cultivated Countenance (修仪、修容 Xiūyí, Xiūróng) — Junior Rank 3
- Noble Lady (贵嫔 Guìpín) — Senior Rank 4
- Imperial Concubine (嫔 Pín) — Junior Rank 4
- Beauty (美人 Měirén) — Senior Rank 5
- Talented Lady (才人 Cáirén) — Junior Rank 5
- Precious Grove (宝林 Bǎolín) — Senior Rank 6
- Imperial Woman (御女 Yùnǚ) — Junior Rank 6
- Palace Maid (宫女子 Gōngnǚzǐ) — Senior Rank 7
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TRANSLATOR
Hi guys, i hope that you are enjoying this novel because i am, i am already in chapter 74, i had so many sleepless nights because i just wanted to know what happens next all the time😁 if you have any questions about a character or i made a mistake somewhere, please do let me know in the comment section. i currently have no editor.
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