THE IMPERIAL CONSORT'S RISE TO POWER - CHAPTER 81

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Translator's note: Finally there are advance chapters availaible on Kofi

Chapter 81

June was scorching hot. Jiu nian had to hold an oiled paper umbrella over Gu Han, shading most of her body in shadow. Gu Han glanced past His Majesty toward An Cáirén and said softly:

"Your Majesty coming over like this, aren't you afraid of breaking the Beauty's heart?"

Lu Yu followed her gaze and immediately understood her meaning. Rather irritably, he gave her a look: "After just a few days apart, you've learned to be sharp-tongued from Zhou Měirén."

Zhou Měirén's eyes widened:

"Cousin always wrongs people, what does this have to do with me?"

Gu Han shot His Majesty a reproachful glance, not expecting him to drag Zhou Měirén into this. Zhou wouldn't say anything to him, but after he left, she would certainly nag endlessly in her presence.

Lu Yu glanced at Zhou Měirén dismissively:

"Han'er has always been gentle. Such unforgiving words, if not from you, where else would they come from her mouth?"

His words imperceptibly praised Gu Han while thoroughly vexing Zhou Měirén. Lu Yu looked toward Gu Han unobtrusively, not quite knowing what he was testing.

That day at Changchun Pavilion, the woman had seemed to be sulking at him, not speaking a single word to him from beginning to end.

For the past half month, perhaps out of stubbornness, he hadn't visited Changchun Pavilion to see her. If not for his instructions to Liu An that servants must not neglect Changchun Pavilion, rumors of her falling out of favor might have already spread.

Just now, when Lu Yu saw Gu Han, he couldn't help feeling somewhat surprised. By the time he came to his senses, he had already instinctively walked over to help her up.

Lu Yu couldn't very well leave her in the cold with her right before his eyes. Fortunately, after exchanging a few words, most of that awkwardness in his heart had dissipated. Concealing that trace of discomfort, he asked as if nothing had happened:

"Is the child troubling you?"

As he spoke, he reached out to grasp the woman's wrist. Gu Han looked up at him and answered indirectly:

"Is Your Majesty no longer angry with this concubine?"

Zhou Měirén looked up in surprise. Thinking back, it seemed Cousin truly hadn't visited Changchun Pavilion for nearly half a month.

Lu Yu uncomfortably pinched her wrist. Under the woman's reproachful glare, he felt somewhat novel about experiencing guilt. He defended himself: "There have been many court matters. I simply haven't had time to visit you."

Gu Han didn't believe a single word of this. She said unhurriedly:

"Your Majesty has no time to see this concubine, yet has time to favor others. Everyone says one only hears the new person's laughter, never sees the old person's tears. It seems this concubine must rely on the imperial heir in her belly to receive even a shred of Your Majesty's Favour."

There was some sourness in her words, but more teasing, making Lu Yu helplessly shake his head, though a smile played at his brows.

An Cáirén stood not far away. Seeing His Majesty and Noble Lady Zhao conversing warmly while forgetting about her entirely, she felt somewhat embarrassed and pursed her lips. Having been favored recently, she'd grown rather full of herself. Just as she moved closer, she heard this remark. She knew it was about her and felt somewhat pleased, but with His Majesty present, she lowered her eyes with a bashful expression:

"Noble Lady Zhao jests. His Majesty merely pities this concubine, which is why he stayed at this concubine's palace a few extra days. In terms of favor, how could this concubine compare to Noble Lady Zhao?"

She said she couldn't compare, but the subtle boasting in her words was practically overflowing.

Zhou Měirén immediately rolled her eyes. Just as she was about to say something, Gu Han imperceptibly held her back. Zhou Měirén paused and swallowed her words as if nothing had happened.

Gu Han glanced at Lu Yu before laughing lightly: "So this is An Cáirén."

An Cáirén shyly glanced at His Majesty before responding:

"Yes, this is this concubine."

She stood ramrod straight, as if wanting to move closer to His Majesty. At this, even Jiu nian couldn't help frowning. This An Cairen had no manners, her mistress had already acknowledged her identity, yet she still didn't know to bow.

Gu Han wasn't particularly surprised, but that didn't mean she would indulge An. Gu Han suddenly raised her hand. An Cáirén covered her head and stepped back, looking fearfully at Gu Han as if afraid she would do something to her.

Gu Han paused before saying with amusement: "His Majesty is right here, what are you afraid of?"

Lu Yu frowned and glanced at her, also finding her rather unseemly.

Seeing His Majesty hadn't stopped Noble Lady Zhao's movement, An Cáirén felt aggrieved and forced a smile, lowering her head to explain: "This concubine is timid and misunderstood Noble Lady Zhao."

Gu Han directly removed the child-face peony ornament from An Cáirén's hair. An Cáirén's face was struck by her sleeve. Just as she was about to say something aggrieved, she heard Noble Lady Zhao say:

"This flower doesn't suit you. Don't wear it incorrectly again in the future."

Lu Yu hadn't looked closely at An Cáirén. Only when Gu Han pointed it out did he notice what An was wearing, and his expression darkened considerably.

An Cáirén was indeed thoughtless, but in His Majesty's presence, she maintained good appearances, and the palace's small squabbles never reached Lu Yu's ears. So regarding An's behavior, Lu Yu truly wasn't very aware.

Seeing Gu Han casually discard the flower, An Cáirén felt as if she'd been slapped across the face. The seemingly gentle yet instructive words made her extremely uncomfortable. She bit her lip aggrievedly:

"This concubine doesn't understand, it's just a flower. Why can't this concubine wear it?"

Her eyes reddened as she glanced at His Majesty, tears nearly falling: "Does Noble Lady Zhao also think, like others, that because this concubine is of lowly birth, she's unworthy?"

As she spoke, An dabbed at her tears with a handkerchief, looking pitifully as if she'd been terribly bullied.

Regarding An's pretense, Gu Han felt not a shred of pity. Instead, she frowned slightly, seeming somewhat puzzled:

"Since you could enter the palace, no matter how humble your birth, you shouldn't be unable to recognize peonies. Peonies symbolize nobility and have always been reserved for the Empress alone. I had your best interests at heart, yet now I'm blamed for it."

Gu Han also grew temperamental and immediately cooled her expression: "Very well, it was I who meddled. Since you like it, wear it every day from now on."

Seeing Gu Han silence An Cáirén with just a few words, Zhou Měirén covered her mouth and giggled.

After becoming pregnant, Gu Han wore no powder or rouge. She'd always been gentle, with almond eyes and a delicate nose that inspired pity. Now with her expression cooled, she gained an ethereal quality. When her fine brows drew together, it made one desperately want to smooth them immediately.

Lu Yu frowned: "You speak well enough. If she doesn't listen, so be it. Is it worth getting angry over?"

That time when her emotions destabilized and she nearly had a pregnancy scare, Lu Yu had taken it to heart, afraid she might become unhappy and cause herself harm.

As for her temper seeming worse than before, Lu Yu wasn't unsympathetic. Pregnant women were always more sensitive, and slight personality changes were perfectly normal.

Besides, in private, especially in bed, Gu Han's temper with him had never been particularly good. It was usually only normal after he coaxed her gently. If she was like this even with him, why should others deserve her gentle consideration?

An Cáirén's eyes were still red when His Majesty's single remark made her face flush and pale alternately.

Just as she was about to say something, Lu Yu looked at her impatiently:

"Making a fool of yourself, go back now."

Gu Han found it strange. His Majesty's attitude toward An wasn't one of deep favor. If so, why had the consorts been so tolerant of An recently?

Curious, Gu Han voiced her question:

"I heard Your Majesty stayed consecutively at An Cáirén's palace for three days. This concubine thought Your Majesty held some affection for An."

Lu Yu gave her an irritated look, as if her words made him seem heartless and callous. After a pause, Lu Yu said indifferently:

"Her singing of folk songs is quite good."

Gu Han's eyes flickered slightly. For His Majesty to call something "quite good," An must indeed have some skill.

Gu Han gently stroked her belly and said casually: "This concubine has heard that while the fetus is still in the womb, if someone frequently sings and tells stories to the pregnant woman, the child can also learn somewhat."

Having just discussed An, her bringing this up now made Lu Yu inevitably think more deeply. He looked at Gu Han more carefully and frowned slightly.

Seeing him like this, Gu Han guessed what he was thinking and smiled faintly:

"Does Your Majesty think this concubine wants to humiliate An Cáirén?"

Since she'd put it that way, it definitely wasn't the case. Lu Yu's eyes flickered as he immediately denied it: "No."

Gu Han didn't believe him one bit, and her mood immediately deflated. Unable to bear seeing her like this, and with Zhou Měirén having tactfully withdrawn, Lu Yu pulled her into his arms without reservation and explained in a low voice:

"I was only thinking, if you bear a prince, teaching him singing and storytelling might be somewhat inappropriate."

Who knew that at these words, the woman's mood seemed to worsen further. Biting her lip lightly, she asked:

"Does Your Majesty only want a prince and not like little princesses?"

Lu Yu was momentarily speechless. They were all his imperial heirs, what was there not to like?

But just as these words reached his lips, Lu Yu's gaze fell on the woman's face. After a pause, what came out instead was:

"I want you to bear me a prince.”

---

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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