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Translator's note: Finally there is advance chapters availaible on Kofi
Chapter 70
Little Fangzi had always been the one to collect Changchun Pavilion's monthly allotment, but this time, Jiu si volunteered to take over the task. She was obviously going to watch the show, though she dressed it up in high-sounding words. Neither Gu Han nor Jiunian exposed her, simply letting her go.
The moment Jiu si entered Zhongsheng Hall, she was spotted by the junior servants there. Noble Lady Zhao was favored in the palace, and even the servants attending Changchun Pavilion were treated with respect outside. A young servant hurried forward with a broad smile:
"Oh my! Why has Sister Jiu si come in person today? It's hot outside, Sister, please come in quickly."
As he spoke, the little servant lifted the embroidered curtain at the hall entrance, and a burst of cool air rushed out.
Little Jiu was caught in an awkward dilemma when she heard these words. Her expression shifted slightly, showing veiled discomfort. She turned toward the hall entrance just as Jiu si was ushered inside, surrounded by attentive servants. Their situations weren't worlds apart, but the difference in treatment was glaringly obvious.
Noble Consort Zhao was pregnant and beloved by His Majesty. Her own mistress's position was awkward, these disparities were inevitable.
Little Jiu understood this clearly, so her heart held no resentment.
She only lowered her head to avoid Jiu si's gaze before their eyes could meet. She knew what her mistress intended to do, which made her all the more uncomfortable. She remembered how she used to run into Jiu si often, always when Jiu si was carrying out Noble Lady Zhao's orders to deliver things to Wanxi Hall.
The more she thought about it, the less Little Jiu dared face anyone from Changchun Pavilion.
But just because she wanted to avoid them didn't mean Jiu si was willing to let her off easily. Jiu si glanced in Little Jiu's direction and asked the eunuch beside her: "Gonggong, what's going on there?"
She seemed to be speaking quietly just to the eunuch, but in reality, everyone in the hall could hear her clearly. The young eunuch followed her gaze and immediately laughed awkwardly:
"A few days ago, Noble Lady Zhao sent someone to tell us to provide Rong Bǎolín with silks and garments suited to her age. But this Little Jiu seems rather hesitant, which is why she's been standing there so long."
After he spoke, the eunuch, unaware of the underlying tensions, couldn't help thinking that Wanxi Hall was being rather ungrateful. He glanced over, those silk fabrics were far more vibrant and youthful than what Little Jiu had been selecting. Such rare, fine materials, if Noble Lady Zhao hadn't given advance instructions, how would it be Little Jiu's turn to be picky?
Little did he know, those words brought Little Jiu utter shock. The color drained completely from her face. She barely managed to lift her head, meeting Jiu si's gaze directly. Jiu si's eyes were cold, tinged with resentment. Little Jiu turned away in extreme embarrassment.
In that instant, Little Jiu could no longer deceive herself. She understood with absolute clarity, Noble Lady Zhao knew.
Little Jiu hastily selected two bolts of silk, not daring to meet Jiu si's eyes, and fled Zhongsheng Hall as if escaping.
Jiu si watched her retreating figure and snorted coldly in her heart. With that kind of backbone, she still wanted to imitate her mistress?
Jiu si silently spat in contempt. Changchun Pavilion's supplies and allotment didn't require Jiu si to personally select, Zhongsheng Hall had already prepared everything. She only needed to take them back directly. Jiusi was about to turn and leave when she inadvertently caught sight of a figure flashing past the covered corridor and suddenly froze.
The young eunuch called: "Sister Jiusi?"
Jiusi immediately snapped back to attention. The eunuch looked at her with confusion. She barely suppressed the emotions in her heart, maintaining a normal attitude with a smile:
"It's nothing."
But before leaving Zhongsheng Hall, Jiusi couldn't help glancing toward the end of the corridor again. Yet this time, she saw no trace of that figure.
In her heart, Jiusi silently recited the name: Second Young Master Xie, Xie Chang'an. Suddenly, her eyelids drooped somewhat listlessly.
No matter how many times she had heard that Second Young Master Xie had been sent into the palace, nothing compared to the shock of seeing him with her own eyes. How could such a person truly be mutilated and humiliated?
Three years ago, Second Young Master Xie had been kind and pleasant even to servants like them. Anyone fortunate enough to witness his grace found it hard to forget him.
Jiusi's mood instantly soured. Clutching the allotment, she ran back toward Changchun Pavilion.
Inside Changchun Pavilion, when they heard the rapid footsteps, Gu Han and Jiu nian exchanged glances, both somewhat surprised. Gu Han raised an eyebrow:
"She's back rather quickly."
The double curtain was pushed open from outside, revealing Jiusi's gloomy face. Gu Han couldn't help frowning: "Did someone bully you?"
Otherwise, how could someone who'd left in such high spirits return looking so deflated after just one trip?
Jiusi's lips moved. From the corner of her eye, she noticed Nanny Zhao was still there and suddenly swallowed her words. She lowered her head and mumbled:
"This servant is fine."
She forced herself to perk up and chattered away to Gu Han about Little Jiu's reaction. By the end, she'd genuinely worked herself up, laughing heartily before snorting: "Harboring such disgusting intentions, and yet they still feel shame?!"
Nanny Zhao kept her eyes on her nose and her nose on her heart, as if deaf to everything in the chamber.
Gu Han and Jiu nian exchanged an imperceptible glance. That Jiusi would mention this matter so openly in front of Nanny Zhao was naturally because Gu Han had instructed her beforehand not to be too concerned about Nanny Zhao.
Her message to Zhongsheng Hall couldn't be hidden from those with watchful eyes. As it happened, she needed to test Nanny Zhao's attitude.
Hence this current scene.
The answer she received was neither good nor bad. Nanny Zhao's silence represented that she had no particular opinion about what Gu Han had done. Gu Han wouldn't try to force Nanny Zhao to take her side, after all, she was His Majesty's person. Gu Han didn't think she had that kind of ability.
On the other hand, what exactly had Jiusi encountered on this trip that produced such a reaction when she returned?
With Nanny Zhao present, Jiusi hadn't told the truth. Gu Han didn't continue asking, only waiting until they were alone to question Jiusi properly.
****
Not far away at Wanxi Hall, Little Jiu returned with the allotment, her steps hurried, clearly troubled inside.
Precious Lady Rong sensed something was wrong. The moment she turned around, her gaze fell on the batch of tender pink silks in Little Jiu's arms. Before she could ask what was wrong, she immediately frowned:
"Have you forgotten my instructions?"
Little Jiu seemed nailed to the doorway by those words. After a long, hoarse silence, she barely managed to choke out an answer:
"She knows."
Rong Bǎolín didn't understand. Little Jiu raised her voice slightly: "Noble Lady Zhao knows! She knows Your Ladyship's intentions. Noble Lady Zhao instructed Zhongsheng Hall not to let our palace choose allotments freely anymore, telling Zhongsheng Hall to provide Your Ladyship with more garments suited to Your Ladyship's age!"
After Little Jiu's emotions spiraled somewhat out of control and she'd shouted these words, she came back to herself and dropped to her knees with a thud. She said dejectedly:
"This servant lost composure. Please punish this servant, Your Ladyship."
But Rong Bǎolín couldn't hear Little Jiu's words. She stood frozen in place, her mind filled with Little Jiu's phrase, Noble Lady Zhao knows.
Before Rong Bǎolín could feel sorrow, she suddenly shivered with cold.
Little Jiu asked, puzzled: "Your Ladyship?"
Rong Bǎolín sank to her knees, murmuring continuously: "It's over..."
Little Jiu frowned and stepped forward to support her, not understanding why she'd suddenly become like this. She said urgently: "What's wrong, Your Ladyship?!"
Rong Bǎolín suddenly grabbed her, tears streaming down her face. She said in panic:
"She knows. She must be disgusted with me. She won't let me go!"
Little Jiu couldn't make sense of it. She even felt her mistress was frightening herself. She used a bit more force to steady her mistress, hoping she'd calm down:
"Your Ladyship, what are you saying?! Noble Lady Zhao has a gentle temperament. Even if she feels uncomfortable, she won't do anything to Your Ladyship."
It's just that things between Changchun Pavilion and Wanxi Hall could never return to what they were.
Rong Bǎolín suddenly raised her hands to cover her face. Under Little Jiu's bewildered gaze, she shook her head with suppressed emotion:
"No, you're wrong."
Gu Han was indeed gentle. Everyone thought her temperament was soft. But was that really true?
Looking back at those in the rear palace who had targeted Gu Han, had even one of them met a good end?
Rong Bǎolín called Gu Han "Sister" over and over, but she never underestimated her for a moment. When she first entered the palace, He Xiuyi had targeted Gu Han so viciously, why had Rong chosen to stand with Gu Han? It was nothing but instinct.
She was very clear that Gu Han wasn't as gentle as she appeared on the surface. What were Gu Han's methods truly like?
Rong Bǎolín instinctively thought of Lady Liu. The last time she'd seen Liu was at Kunning Palace, her body had been soaked until it was pale and bloated all over, completely unrecognizable.
Who had truly harmed Lady Liu? At the time, Yuan Cáirén had shouldered the blame.
But Rong had lived in the same palace with Gu Han for quite some time. Even without evidence, after all this time, she had long harbored suspicions and guesses.
Yet when Gu Han mentioned Lady Liu, her emotions never wavered even slightly. In fact, Rong remembered that on the final day of the selection process, when Gu Han had returned, she had been properly dressed, unhurried and unruffled.
Rong Bǎolín had to admit, in her heart, she was somewhat afraid of Gu Han.
Imitating Gu Han in every way stemmed from her admiration of her beauty, and also from Gu Han's favor. It was also Rong Bǎolín harboring a thread of hope, even after that day at Taihe Hall, when Rong guessed that Gu Han knew something, she still buried her head like a quail, nursing that bit of wishful thinking.
What if? What if Sister hadn't noticed?
But now this matter has been laid bare. Rong Bǎolín dared not deceive herself any longer. And she finally felt fear, fear even more intense than when Zhou Měirén had grabbed her hair and held her underwater.
She trembled so violently that Little Jiu had to hold her tightly, calling to her continuously, trying to bring back her senses.
Suddenly, Precious Lady Rong lifted her head, staring intently at Little Jiu with stubborn eyes that made Little Jiu's breathing grow shallow. Little Jiu said very softly: "...Your Ladyship?"
Precious Lady Rong closed her eyes and murmured:
"It can't be like this. I can't just sit and wait for death!"
Little Jiu frowned tightly, listening in confusion as her mistress told her to summon Xingchun. When Xingchun entered, Rong Bǎolín had already returned to sit on the soft couch. Xingchun's eyes flickered slightly as she performed her obeisance:
"This servant greets Your Ladyship. What are Your Ladyship's instructions for summoning this servant?"
All the doors and windows around them were shut tight. Rong Bǎolín stared expressionlessly at Xingchun, making Xingchun's heart skip a beat. Especially Rong's next words made Xingchun's expression change:
"I know whose person you are. I want you to take a message to Her Ladyship, tell her I have a way to help her."
As her words fell, the chamber went silent for a moment. Little Jiu looked at Xingchun with shock and suspicion, but what disturbed her most was still her mistress's statement.
Xingchun wanted to offer some defense of her identity, but meeting Rong Bǎolín's gaze, she suddenly understood clearly, Rong Bǎolín wasn't testing her. Rong Bǎolín had truly discovered her identity.
Xingchun's expression changed several times. Finally, she lowered her head: "This servant understands."
After Xingchun left, Little Jiu asked: "What does Your Ladyship intend to do? Whose person is Xingchun exactly?"
Rong Bǎolín hugged her knees, her gaze falling through the latticed window onto the gradually sinking sunset outside. She remained motionless, her fingertips somewhat pale. She said:
"You'll know soon enough.”
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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