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Translator's note: Finally there is advance chapters availaible on Kofi
Chapter 69
Gu Han didn't yet know what the Emperor had done. She'd only heard the news from Cining Palace, but it made her breathe an almost imperceptible sigh of relief.
Regarding the incident at Taihe Hall, if you really got into it, it should have been Beauty Zhou who offended Concubine Yang. Yet the Empress Dowager had both Concubine Yang and Concubine Chen copy Buddhist scriptures together. She'd already given Gu Han the answer she wanted, veiled though it was.
Beneath the surface, the palace seethed with undercurrents. But the doors of Changchun Pavilion remained tightly shut.
Nanny Zhao consulted with the Imperial Medical Bureau about medicinal cuisine, meticulously planning Gu Han's supplementary meals each day. Gu Han let her do as she pleased. Inside the chamber, Jiu nian was adjusting the incense burner. Gu Han lay sprawled on the soft couch, after meals, she was terribly drowsy these days.
A light, delicate fragrance drifted through the chamber, rousing Gu Han slightly. She suddenly lifted her eyes to glance at the incense burner and interrupted Jiu nian's movements:
"Put the incense burner away."
Jiunian turned back, puzzled. "Why?"
Gu Han met her gaze. That one look was enough, Jiunian asked nothing more. She extinguished what was inside and instructed the palace servants to swiftly remove the incense burner. Only after the windows were opened to air out the chamber did Gu Han let her eyelids droop again, sinking into drowsiness.
Truth be told, calming incenses and such all had soothing properties. But judging others by herself, incense was far too easy to tamper with. Gu Han didn't want to be careless about such details.
No one knew of this small precaution within Changchun Pavilion. But outside it, certain hearts had long been restless.
These past few days during the morning greetings, Yu Cáirén had worn quite the cold expression. Someone found her attitude insufferable, and after the greetings dispersed, couldn't help but mock:
"People really can't be compared, can they? Once there's a comparison, the difference becomes all too clear."
If Gu Han were here, she'd recognize that voice instantly, it was Yuan Cáirén. The Empress's punishment the other day had been nothing to her, barely a scratch. Still, Yuan Cáirén inevitably harbored a secret resentment toward Yu Cáirén for causing her to be punished.
Yu Cáirén shot her an icy glance but didn't deign to respond, simply turning to leave.
Yuan Cáirén raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised she could keep her composure today. She pursed her lips, finding it boring, and muttered under her breath:
"Leaving so easily, that's really not like her at all."
Concubine Chen caught those words as she passed by. Her eyes flickered briefly, and she glanced inconspicuously in the direction Yu Cáirén had gone.
Yuan Cáirén dared to be rude to Yu Cáirén, but toward Concubine Chen, who also had a prince, she showed more restraint. This was the result of three years of wariness toward Concubine Chen. Still, Concubine Chen wasn't what she used to be. Yuan Cáirén cast an uncomfortable glance her way before briskly departing with her attendants.
On another path, near the Imperial Garden.
At some point, Yu Cáirén and Rong Bǎolín had begun walking together. Few had noticed before that Chonghui Palace and Chaoyang Palace were on the same route.
When Yu Cáirén stopped beside her, Rong Bǎolín was rather surprised. After paying her respects with lowered brows and obedient eyes, Yu Cáirén didn't leave. Instead, she suddenly grasped Rong's chin, forcing her to lift her head.
After the incident with Zhou Měirén, Rong Bǎolín had developed an aversion to being touched by others. Instinctively, she tried to turn her face away. But Yu Cáirén's words made her freeze:
"There really is some resemblance."
Yu Cáirén's gaze lingered between Rong's brows and eyes. After a moment, she released her hand.
Pity, only a superficial likeness. The spirit and bearing were quite lacking.
Actually, after the Longevity Festival that day, Rong Bǎolín had known she was nothing but a joke in the palace. She only wanted to pretend she didn't understand Yu Cáirén's words:
"What is Cáirén saying? This concubine doesn't understand."
Yu Cáirén let out a cold laugh, looking her up and down with a thorough assessment before mocking: "After the Longevity Festival, you stopped deliberately imitating her dress and adornment. But do you really think that means you can act as if nothing ever happened?"
The look in Sister Gu's eyes that day surfaced in her mind. Rong Bǎolín 's face went deathly pale. After a long moment, she looked up at Yu Cáirén with wariness:
"What are you trying to say?!"
Yu Cáirén wouldn't be telling her all this without a purpose.
The words had barely left her lips when Yu Cáirén said airily: "What can I do? I'm only trying to remind you, His Majesty does indeed favor Noble Lady Zhao. But unfortunately, Noble Lady Zhao is now with a child. She won't be able to attend to His Majesty's bedchamber for nearly ten months."
She leaned closer to Rong Bǎolín , lowering her voice. But for Rong, the implication was nothing short of temptation:
"You must understand, this is your only chance."
Rong Bǎolín 's heart pounded violently several times. Her eyes changed, but soon she lowered them again, her voice hoarse: "This concubine doesn't know what Yu Cáirén is talking about."
Don't understand?
Yu Cáirén gave Rong an almost imperceptible sidelong glance. Not likely.
If Rong Bǎolín truly had any sense of boundaries regarding Noble Lady Zhao, she never would have chosen such a disgusting method to compete for favor in the first place. Since she had already done it, how could she possibly pass up this opportunity now laid before her?
Yu Cáirén didn't take Rong's duplicity seriously at all. She said casually:
"Then just pretend I said nothing."
Push Rong Bǎolín to gain favor?
That wasn't Yu Cáirén's goal at all. She was simply indignant!
During her own pregnancy, His Majesty had used protecting the imperial heir as justification to elevate Gu Han's rank. Yet she, the one actually carrying an imperial heir, was ignored and cast aside by His Majesty.
Now, Gu Han was pregnant, and the moment the news arrived, His Majesty couldn't wait to elevate her rank again.
There were so few pregnant concubines in the palace. It just happened to be her and Gu Han, before and after, standing like a stark comparison before all the consorts' eyes. How could it not draw judgmental looks her way?
Yu Cáirén wanted to ask His Majesty: why did he treat her so unfairly?!
She couldn't find an answer, nor could she blame His Majesty. She could only heap all her resentment and dissatisfaction onto Gu Han. A flash of mockery crossed Yu Cáirén's eyes.
Who knew what Noble Lady Zhao would think when she discovered that while she labored to raise His Majesty's heir, a substitute for her had appeared in the rear palace?
Yu Cáirén admitted it, she just wanted to disgust Noble Lady Zhao.
Rong Bǎolín was only the first piece on the board. In this rear palace, someone who truly resembled Gu Han, that person was far from being Rong Bǎolín .
Yu Cáirén lifted her head to stare straight ahead, her eyes filled with unconcealed malice.
******
At dusk, lotus lanterns glowed at all four corners of Changchun Pavilion's palace walls. The lanterns were somewhat dim, but still bright enough for the servants to see their path.
Little Fangzi stood at the entrance to the covered corridor, scraping his shoe soles to remove most of the dust before stepping onto the walkway. He lifted the curtain and entered the chamber. Inside, with the incense burner ornaments removed, the space felt more open. After learning of this, His Majesty had sent over a six-panel folding screen embroidered with bamboo groves standing beside flowing water—just looking at it lifted one's spirits.
Nanny Zhao was getting on in years, so after the evening meal, Gu Han sent her to rest. Nanny Zhao knew her place and didn't refuse.
When Little Fangzi entered, only Jiu si was inside, chattering away with her mistress. As soon as he entered, he signaled with his eyes to the surrounding servants. Gu Han raised an eyebrow almost imperceptibly. Once the servants had withdrawn, she sat up straight:
"What is it?"
Little Fangzi reported in a low voice: "After the morning greetings today, it seems Yu Cáirén deliberately tried to get Rong Bǎolín to continue imitating Your Ladyship to compete for favor."
He relayed Yu Cáirén's words in complete detail, as if he had heard them himself.
Gu Han couldn't help but be surprised:
"How do you know all this so clearly?"
At this, Little Fangzi couldn't help feeling a bit proud. He lowered his voice and explained briefly: "Before new consorts enter the palace, the rosters for all palace chambers are sent to Zhongsheng Hall for them to arrange personnel assignments to each palace."
Those palaces with established mistresses weren't easy to plant people in, but among the chambers of consorts who entered later, there were always a few people he was acquainted with.
Especially Yu Cáirén, the servants at Rongcui Hall had been replaced several times over. Aside from Xia Qiao, Yu had virtually no other confidants. At least today, among those who accompanied Yu Cáirén to the morning greetings was someone Little Fangzi could speak with.
With her curiosity satisfied, Gu Han finally turned her attention to the news Little Fangzi had brought. The emotions on her face grew sparse, all her good mood thoroughly ruined.
Jiu si cursed outright:
"These people truly have no shame at all!"
Gu Han waved her hand irritably, cutting her off. After a moment, she lowered her eyelids slightly and said coolly:
"Send word to Zhongsheng Hall: since entering the palace, Rong Bǎolín 's wardrobe has been far too plain. From now on, when sending allotments to Wanxi Hall, choose colors more suited to her current age."
A girl who'd just come of age, Zhongsheng Hall would certainly know what colors suited her.
Just thinking about someone wanting to borrow her appearance to compete for favor made Gu Han's stomach turn. She had no patience to wait for Rong Bǎolín 's choice. She'd simply cut off Rong's path to imitating her. After all, even a clever cook can't make a meal without rice.
Rong Bǎolín 's matter was easily resolved. Jiu nian frowned and asked quietly:
"Yu Cáirén has hatched such a disgusting scheme, are we really helpless against her?"
As the words fell, Jiunian saw her mistress pull a cold smile: "How is Yè Xiūróng's health?"
At the Longevity Festival, Yu Cáirén and Yè Xiūróng had collided. Yu came away unscathed, but Ye had fallen from the ceremonial platform and had been confined to her palace ever since, unable to emerge.
Gu Han didn't believe Yè Xiūróng harbored no suspicions about Yu Cáirén.
Gu Han looked toward Little Fangzi, emotions unreadable in her eyes. She said calmly: "I hear Yè Xiūróng has been taking medicine constantly these days. No matter what it takes, I want you to obtain her prescription without leaving a trace."
Little Fangzi started, exchanging a glance with Jiunian. Both were rather puzzled, they'd been talking about Yu Cáirén, so why bring up Yè Xiūróng?
But neither questioned her. Little Fangzi nodded solemnly:
"Your Ladyship, rest assured. This servant will handle it."
Jiu si, ever straightforward, voiced their confusion: "Why does Your Ladyship want Yè Xiūróng's prescription?"
Who knew, the moment she spoke, her mistress turned her gaze directly on her, tapping her forehead with a smile:
"What I can do depends on how much you learned from Jiu'er back at the estate."
Jiusi was utterly bewildered. Jiu nian, on the other hand, showed a flash of understanding.
In early May, each palace was to collect their monthly allotments. Little Jiu went to Zhongsheng Hall as usual, feeling conflicted. But she remembered her mistress's instructions. May counted as summer, so each palace could receive two bolts of silk. Just as she was about to select a bolt of light-colored silk, she was stopped by someone from Zhongsheng Hall:
"Miss Little Jiu, I'm afraid you can't choose from these silks."
Little Jiu looked over, puzzled. "Haven't we always been able to choose freely?"
Even though these silks and fabrics couldn't be bought outside the palace, they were the finest materials, within the palace, there were still distinctions. Each rank differed, and those especially favored received extra consideration from Zhongsheng Hall. Still, among fabrics of equal quality, letting each palace choose their colors was permissible.
The young eunuch smiled neither humbly nor arrogantly, pointing directly at several bolts of fabric:
"This servant doesn't know the specifics, but the Senior Eunuch instructed that if Miss Little Jiu came, this month's silk allotment should be chosen from these."
Little Jiu glanced over. Those fabrics were all in shades of blue and purple, pink and yellow, tender green, all very suitable for someone her mistress's age.
But decidedly not what her mistress wanted.
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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