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Chapter 15
Yuan Cáirén had always acted flamboyantly. She had long known that once she fell from grace, someone would certainly kick her while she was down, but she'd never imagined this retribution would come so quickly!
Noble Lady Lin's rank had always been higher than hers. In the past, seeing she had some favor, she had always yielded to her.
T/L : Lín Guì Pín is also called Noble Lady Lin
Now her rank had been demoted by His Majesty's personal decree, so Noble Lady Lin naturally had no more concerns. Yuan Cáirén's heart burned with fury, yet she had no recourse whatsoever. She knelt on the ground, her fingernails digging into the mud between the pebbles.
Noble Concubine Lin looked coldly at Yuan Cáirén. In the past when Yuan Cáirén relied on favor to bully her, making her endure mockery and ridicule from others in the palace, had she ever imagined there would be today?
She certainly hadn't, otherwise how would she have dared be so presumptuous!
"Concubine Yuan" Noble Lady Lin had just begun when she paused, raised her hand to slap her forehead in a pretense, and said seemingly apologetically: "Look at my memory. I should call you Yuan Cáirén now."
Gu Han and Rong Ling stood at the edge of the crowd, choosing a pavilion where they wouldn't be exposed to the sun yet could clearly see what was happening inside. She observed coldly, unmoved by the fact that Yuan Cáirén had fallen into misfortune because of her. She focused her attention on observing Noble Lady Lin.
When others held high positions, she held back and didn't strike. Then when their势weakened, she immediately stepped on them, such conduct. Gu Han lowered her eyelids, not knowing how to evaluate it.
Gu Han didn't wish to join this spectacle. Just as she was about to pull Rong Ling away together, she turned and saw a bright yellow figure. He had been standing there for who knows how long, a grove of pine and cypress perfectly concealing his form.
Gu Han immediately froze, only coming back to herself after a moment. Rong Ling likewise saw His Majesty and in surprise was about to bow when Lu Yu cast a bland glance their way. Gu Han immediately tugged at Rong Ling's sleeve.
His Majesty was standing here without speaking because he didn't want people to know. If they bowed in greeting, wouldn't that expose him?
Lu Yu observed Gu Han's action, imperceptibly taking another look at her.
Fortunately Rong Ling wasn't stupid. She immediately understood Gu Han's meaning, fell silent, and stood properly. Only knowing His Majesty was nearby, Rong Ling's entire body was tense, afraid that one improper move would make His Majesty displeased.
The farce over there continued. Noble Lady Lin's voice seemed gentle but actually concealed light mockery:
"Yuan Cáirén has just been demoted and probably hasn't adapted yet, which is why she shouted at me rudely as in the past, not knowing proper etiquette. Her Majesty the Empress manages the Six Palaces with countless matters to attend to, such a small matter need not trouble Her Majesty."
"Yuan Cáirén has always enjoyed making people kneel in punishment. You kneel here for two hours, and I won't hold today's disrespect against you."
Gu Han raised her head to glance at the sun. The hour of chen was nearly past, approaching noon, precisely when the sun was fiercest during the day. Yuan Cáirén had enjoyed some favor since entering the palace and was probably quite pampered. Kneeling for two hours would literally strip a layer of skin from her.
Gu Han secretly glanced at His Majesty, wanting to know what he would do.
Just as this thought flashed through Gu Han's mind, she suddenly saw His Majesty also looking her way. Seeming to misunderstand the meaning of her glance, he moved, stepping toward her. Gu Han started in alarm and quickly bent to bow:
"This concubine greets Your Majesty."
Rong Ling followed suit.
The sound from the pavilion finally carried outward. The people over there all started in surprise. From the corner of her eye, Gu Han glimpsed Noble Lady Lin hastily descending from her sedan chair. Yuan Cáirén's eyes lit up as if finding a savior, aggrieved tears immediately rolling down.
Those consorts quickly walked over from her peripheral vision.
But soon Gu Han couldn't concern herself with these things, because His Majesty had already walked before her. Just like their first encounter in the Imperial Garden, he calmly extended his hand to help her up, his voice revealing no emotion:
"Come, let's dine at your place."
Gu Han's surprise appeared clearly in her eyes and brows, impossible to conceal.
She couldn't help inwardly criticizing, His Majesty was far too willful. The consorts coming to pay respects hadn't yet drawn near, yet His Majesty acted as if he didn't see them at all.
Rong Ling was somewhat envious. She imperceptibly nudged Gu Han. Gu Han immediately came back to her senses, her cheeks flushing slightly. She lowered her eyes showing some bashfulness, somewhat at a loss yet still trying her best to speak gently:
"This concubine will have someone send for the meal immediately."
Declining was impossible.
Lu Yu didn't release her. He glanced at Rong Ling and said blandly: "You should also return early."
They were all his consorts. Favoritism was inevitable, but to say one sentence, Lu Yu wasn't so stingy.
Rong Ling hadn't expected His Majesty to remember her. Somewhat overwhelmed with favor, she quickly assented.
When she raised her head again, His Majesty had already led Elder Sister Gu away. Noble Lady Lin and those people were about to step into the pavilion, their expressions all unclear. Rong Ling's whole body shivered. Not wanting to guess their thoughts, she performed the proper courtesies and before they could react, hurriedly made her escape.
On the other side, Lu Yu and Gu Han returned to Changchun Pavilion without taking sedan chairs. This small path was neither long nor short. Gu Han had walked it several times and long since memorized it, but at present, Gu Han felt this small path seemed somewhat long.
Only because, she should have walked half a step behind His Majesty, but with His Majesty holding her hand, she had no choice but to walk shoulder to shoulder with him. Gu Han felt somewhat anxious, only wanting to quickly return to Changchun Pavilion.
As if hearing her inner voice, the end of the small path appeared before them. In the distance she could already see the palace gate of Yihe Palace.
The woman discreetly glanced at their joined hands, then nervously and anxiously looked frequently toward the end of the small path. Those thoughts were completely unconcealed on her face, one glance was enough to guess the woman's thinking. Finding it amusing, throughout this journey Lu Yu had deliberately not released her hand, wanting to know what she would do.
After passing the small path, the woman clearly breathed a sigh of relief. Lu Yu turned his head to the side, imperceptibly curving the corner of his lips.
Little did she know, behind them, Liu An stared at their joined hands, his eyeballs nearly falling from their sockets.
Suddenly, Lu Yu asked blandly: "Didn't sleep well last night?"
The woman must have applied powder, wanting to conceal the dark circles under her eyes. But her skin was too fair, so traces still showed. That face was pure white and flawless, and when she curved her lips in a shallow smile, a pair of dimples appeared and disappeared. Now with a trace of blueness at the corners of her eyes, it was like a flaw on beautiful jade, evoking pity.
Lu Yu didn't know how to describe it. In terms of appearance alone, even in a place like the rear palace teeming with beauties, Gu Cáirén stood out. But Consort Shu was actually also outstanding. Yet the feelings the two gave were entirely different.
Consort Shu was clever, but also indulged, her little temper increasingly wearing. Lu Yu occasionally grew impatient.
Gu Cáirén, even without doing anything, just curving her eyes in a smile made people feel comfortable.
Lu Yu thought somewhat indifferently, perhaps it wasn't that he found Consort Shu's little temper tiresome at all, but simply that time had passed too long and he had grown weary of it. A beauty's initial delight, even for Gu Cáirén who knew how long this so-called comfort could last?
Gu Han instinctively raised her hand to touch the corner of her eye. She lightly bit her lip, as if fearing His Majesty would misunderstand, and quickly explained softly:
"This concubine returned late from Kunning Palace yesterday. The lamps in Changchun Pavilion burned all night before this concubine dared to fall asleep. This concubine is timid, Your Majesty must find it laughable."
Speaking these words, she raised her eyes, carefully observing His Majesty's expression. She twisted her handkerchief, vaguely somewhat uneasy.
Lu Yu paused before reacting to why she would say this. Yesterday had been her turn for bedchamber service, but after the Kunning Palace matter, he'd directly followed Consort Shu to Yi'an Palace. She feared he thought she couldn't sleep because of this, so deliberately explained the reason.
Lu Yu imperceptibly shifted his gaze. Consort Shu intercepting favor had long been routine. Over time, even Lu Yu had grown accustomed to it.
But being looked at by the woman like this, Lu Yu suddenly felt a trace of discomfort. Clearly she had done nothing wrong, in a sense, she had even been wronged. Yet now she was nervous and anxious, deeply afraid he would be angry with her over this matter.
Lu Yu said nothing more. He truly did as he had said, accompanying Gu Han for the midday meal, and even took a brief rest at Changchun Pavilion.
Mainly because he found the dark circles under Gu Han's eyes displeasing to the eye. He pulled Gu Han to sleep with him for a while. When Liu An woke him, the woman lay on her side in his embrace, her breath lightly spraying against his neck, ticklish. Lu Yu's eyes darkened slightly.
The woman's sleeping face was serene, her delicate brows relaxed, her pink lips tender and red, making one unconsciously linger in this gentle haven.
Lu Yu's hand resting on the woman's waist moved slightly, but ultimately, he only lowered his eyes to look at the woman once.
Lu Yu didn't wake Gu Han. Like that previous day, he allowed Liu An to attend his washing. Only after leaving Yihe Palace did he speak indifferently:
"I recall there are still several bags of snail-shell black and congealed rouge in the storehouse."
Liu An had already guessed what His Majesty wanted to do and said impassively:
"Your Majesty's memory is correct."
Lu Yu suddenly raised his eyebrows slightly, glancing at him sideways. Liu An smiled awkwardly: "This slave will send them to Lady Gu shortly.”
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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