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Translator's note: Finally there is advance chapters availaible on Kofi
Chapter 68
In the afternoon, an edict was issued from Cining Palace: the Empress Dowager was unwell and commanded Concubine Yang and Concubine Chen to hand-copy Buddhist scriptures to pray for the Empress Dowager's wellbeing.
This edict, anyone with eyes could see Cining Palace was taking Beauty Zhou's side. But the phrase "praying for the Empress Dowager" sounded so proper that no one could speak a word against the Empress Dowager or Beauty Zhou. As for Concubine Yang and Concubine Chen, regardless of what they thought in their hearts, they could only obediently copy Buddhist scriptures.
At the imperial quarters, Yangxin Hall.
Lu Yu bent over his desk handling government affairs. Upon learning the news, he raised an eyebrow slightly:
"She usually says nothing. I thought she truly wasn't worried at all."
Liu An looked up at him, thinking his Emperor really stood and talked without back pain. He had so brazenly promoted Noble Lady Zhao, and she was pregnant for the first time, unable to fathom His Majesty's thoughts, of course she would use this to test the Empress Dowager's attitude.
Standing in Noble Lady Zhao's position, how could she not harbor even a trace of worry?
Liu An smiled sheepishly, going along with his words: "Noble Lady Zhao has a sensitive nature. It's quite normal for her to have many concerns."
Normal my foot.
When Yu Cáirén was pregnant, wasn't she worried?
But did she dare test the Empress Dowager?
From the moment her pregnancy was discovered until she delivered the imperial heir, Yu Cáirén had only left Rongcui Palace once, spending the entire time in her palace. Only this way could she barely protect the imperial heir's safety. If this were applied to Noble Lady Zhao, would His Majesty bear it?
No wonder they say hearts are biased, His Majesty's favoritism truly knew no bounds.
Lu Yu was completely unaware of Liu An's internal complaints. Hearing this, he nodded lightly:
"You're right."
Lu Yu set down his brush, his fingers tapping unhurriedly on the imperial desk as he said:
"She's just been promoted to Noble Lady. More personnel should be added to her palace. You personally arrange this matter."
As soon as the words fell, he lifted his eyelids and glanced at Liu An. Liu An's heart immediately tightened. He understood His Majesty's meaning clearly, this was to prevent unclean people from infiltrating Changchun Pavilion.
It sounded easy but would be difficult to accomplish. Yet Liu An could only accept:
"This servant will arrange it."
Lu Yu stopped him. The jade incense burner on the imperial desk burned fragrant smoke that rose in wisps, making it impossible for Liu An to see His Majesty's expression clearly. He only heard His Majesty say unhurriedly:
"No rush. Go to Kunning Palace first."
Liu An froze. Go to Kunning Palace for what?
"Just say that Noble Lady Zhao is carrying a child. Tell her to have the Zhongsheng Hall pay more attention in the future."
Liu An was completely confused. Even if His Majesty didn't send someone to say this, the Empress would know it, right?
Then why make him personally make this trip?
Liu An couldn't figure it out. He looked up to steal a glance at His Majesty, but His Majesty had already picked up his brush again to handle government affairs. Liu An's mind full of confusion, he withdrew with light footsteps.
Liu An delivered the message to Kunning Palace.
After he left, Muqiu looked at the Empress with incomprehension: "Your Majesty, why did His Majesty send Eunuch Liu to say such things?"
It was clearly superfluous.
The Empress only stared blankly at the bronze mirror. She raised her hand to stroke the barely visible fine lines at the corners of her eyes. Despite taking care of harem matters for His Majesty, no matter how well she maintained herself, the mental and emotional exhaustion made her appear somewhat older than those newly selected consorts.
Hearing this, after a long while she tugged at the corner of her lips and laughed lowly:
"Naturally His Majesty has his reasons."
Muqiu didn't understand. She only heard Her Majesty say: "He's warning this Palace not to harm Noble Lady Zhao's pregnancy."
Muqiu's breathing hitched. She looked around in alarm. Only after confirming no one was around did she lower her voice, forcing a smile with some difficulty:
"Has Your Majesty perhaps misunderstood? You've never harmed an imperial heir. How could His Majesty suddenly warn you?!"
The atmosphere in the hall grew somewhat frozen. The Empress's face still wore a smile, but the smile didn't reach her eyes. She casually removed her finger guards and said lightly:
"How could people be the same?"
"Presumably, after His Majesty returned, he also realized that yesterday's promotion of Noble Lady Zhao was somewhat too impulsive. Fearing this Palace might lose its usual composure, he deliberately made this trip."
Muqiu listened in confusion, her eyes complex as she looked at Her Majesty, only wondering, was it really like this?
If His Majesty himself felt he'd been impulsive, yet still came to warn Her Majesty like this, wouldn't that only draw more hatred toward Noble Lady Zhao?
The Empress suddenly moved. Muqiu quickly went to support her. They walked a few steps, stopping only when they had nearly reached the palace entrance. At a glance, one could clearly see the movements of palace servants. Muqiu heard Her Majesty say:
"Look. How many people serve in this palace? In all the coming and going, who can notice everyone's actions?"
Just as the Empress's words fell, not far away a young eunuch failed to watch his step and fell flat on his face. The Empress laughed lightly:
"Who knows when—one careless moment, and this happens."
Muqiu's heart panicked, and she couldn't help but call out softly: "Your Majesty?"
The Empress glanced at her, finding it rather amusing:
"Why so nervous? She's just pregnant. What would this Palace do to her?"
"All the imperial heirs in this entire harem must call this Palace Mother Empress, the one in her womb is no exception. This Palace has never harmed imperial heirs before. Now that His Majesty has deliberately sent Liu An here, would this Palace knowingly violate this?"
Muqiu fell silent, not daring to answer.
The Empress's expression suddenly turned cold, without warning, startling Muqiu. She only heard the Empress say coolly:
"Look. Even you don't believe this Palace. How could His Majesty possibly believe?"
Cold sweat broke out on Muqiu's forehead. She knelt down with a thud. The Empress seemed not to hear at all. She only looked impassively at the young eunuch in the distance getting up, grimacing as he continued his duties, before withdrawing her gaze and saying calmly:
"Get up."
Muqiu wiped the cold sweat from her forehead and rose. Just as she was about to support Her Majesty, the Empress waved her hand and turned back to the inner chambers herself, dropping a line:
"This Palace can see the road ahead clearly."
So regardless of what others thought, or even what others did, none could sway her thinking. She would certainly walk steadily along this road. No one could stop her.
A mocking gleam flashed through the Empress's eyes, unclear whom she was mocking.
****
At Yi'an Palace, Ya Luo had just finished giving instructions to a young palace maid. Taking the tray from the maid's hands, she said:
"I'll handle it."
She carried the tray into the inner chambers. As expected, she found Her Ladyship lost in thought before the bronze mirror. Ya Luo sighed quietly. When lifting the second curtain, she deliberately made some noise. Only after Her Ladyship noticed and came back to herself did she walk in as if nothing had happened:
"Your Ladyship, the imperial kitchens just made fresh milk and fruit, specially presented to honor Your Ladyship. Would you care to try some?"
Fresh milk drizzled over fruit, deliberately chilled. Just listing the many varieties of fruit alone, these weren't things ordinary families could afford.
Consort Shu only glanced at it before withdrawing her gaze with no interest whatsoever: "You have it."
Ya Luo choked. After a long while, she barely managed to say:
"Your Ladyship, you should eat some. You haven't eaten anything today. How can that be acceptable?"
The hall fell silent for a moment. Only then did Ya Luo hear Consort Shu's soft murmur: "The imperial kitchens probably wouldn't send this to Noble Lady Zhao."
Ya Luo was confused, not knowing why Her Ladyship would say such a thing.
Consort Shu's lips twisted as she sneered lightly:
"That person is meticulous. No matter how much this fresh milk is processed and prepared, it retains a fishy smell. She's pregnant now, how could she stand it?"
Ya Luo remained silent for a long while. In the end, it was all trouble caused by Noble Lady Zhao's pregnancy.
After a long time, Ya Luo finally broke the frozen atmosphere in the hall: "Your Ladyship, this servant doesn't understand. So Noble Lady Zhao is pregnant, in the past, the harem hasn't lacked pregnant consorts. Why do you pay such particular attention to Noble Lady Zhao alone?"
After a long while, Consort Shu closed her eyes and said:
"It's different."
Ya Luo's heart burned with anxiety. She just didn't understand, what exactly was different?!
Speaking of favor, no matter how pleased Noble Lady Zhao might be, she couldn't compare to her own mistress. Besides, what kind of person was His Majesty? Didn't Her Ladyship understand?
Making such a grand display of rewarding Noble Lady Zhao, His Majesty must have his reasons. What exactly was Her Ladyship worried about?
Consort Shu said quietly: "Even when Concubine Chen was pregnant back then, His Majesty never sent Nanny Zhao to her. Now Noble Lady Zhao has only just had her pregnancy discovered, yet His Majesty makes such a fuss in every way, as if afraid others won't see how much he cares about Noble Lady Zhao."
Ya Luo blurted out:
"But precisely because of this, Your Ladyship needn't worry about her at all!"
Consort Shu knew what she was thinking. After a moment, just as she was about to say something, sounds came from outside the hall. Ya Luo went out and returned, saying:
"Just now His Majesty sent Eunuch Liu to Kunning Palace."
She recounted everything Liu An had said in detail to Her Ladyship.
After hearing this, Consort Shu found all the words she'd been about to say stuck in her throat. She couldn't help but doubt her own thoughts. If His Majesty truly cared about Noble Lady Zhao, how could he bear to push her into the spotlight like this?
Could it be that she had really been mistaken?
Translator's note: guys please i am looking for a volunteer editor, chat me up on dis cord if you are interested. Discord: d_ladypresident
Author's Note:
Kunning Palace: Empress
Yi'an Palace: Consort Shu
Xianleng Palace: Imperial Consort De
Zhaoyang Palace → Main Hall: Xiuyi He
Zhaoyang Palace → Side Hall: Rong Baolin
Yihe Palace → Changchun Pavilion: Female Lead
Rongcui Hall: Beauty Miao
Cuizhu Pavilion: Beauty Lin
Changning Courtyard: Zhou Meiren
Hanleng Palace → (Main Hall transferred to Side Hall): Talented Lady Yuan
Also appearing: Noble Lady Lin, Liu Baolin
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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