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Translator's note: Finally there are advance chapters availaible on Kofi
Chapter 80
Since Gu Han roughly knew who was behind this incident, she stopped paying attention to what came after.
Nanny Zhao kept her resting on the bed for many days. It wasn't until early June that Gu Han was allowed to get up. The moment she was permitted to leave her palace gates, Gu Han breathed a direct sigh of relief.
Jiu Nian covered her mouth and laughed quietly: "That's what my lady gets for scaring Nanny Zhao."
Gu Han was helpless.
That day she'd pretended to have abdominal pain just to make the Emperor take that matter seriously. As a result, she'd momentarily forgotten about Nanny Zhao. For the past half month, she'd barely gotten out of bed, drinking who knows how much medicinal food.
Gu Han gathered her collar before taking Jiu Nian's hand to board the sedan chair, mumbling:
"Let's go quickly. It's my first day paying respects, we mustn't be late."
The physician had already registered her condition. Her pregnancy had reached three months, there was no reason not to go to Kunning Palace for morning greetings anymore. Yesterday, Gu Han had instructed Jiu Nian to definitely wake her, but when the time came, she had still nearly overslept.
During this period, she'd lived too comfortably and lazily. It had been ages since she had seen the morning sun.
Kunning Palace was lively as usual. No matter how major an incident, it would quickly be covered over. At least on Gu Han's journey here, she hadn't heard half a word about Lady Yu or the Cold Palace, it had all been replaced by current gossip.
"Noble Lady Zhao arrives…"
With this announcement, Gu Han had just reached the palace entrance when she heard the inside go quiet. Gu Han lightly raised an eyebrow. Today she wore loose palace robes in a rather bright rouge color that made her face comparable to delicate flowers. Her three-month belly wasn't obvious, covered completely by the palace dress, her slender waist still visible and graceful.
The moment she stepped inside, everyone's gazes fixed on her face. Whether it was because Noble Lady Zhao was growing into her looks or because she was pregnant, why did she seem increasingly beautiful?
After Gu Han took her seat, everyone came to their senses and looked at her lower abdomen. They couldn't see anything at all, only that her complexion was rosy, showing no pregnancy troubles whatsoever. Their hearts couldn't help feeling somewhat sour.
Gu Han had just sat down when she heard Yuan Cáirén asking eagerly:
"During pregnancy, Noble Lady Zhao doesn't feel uncomfortable?"
No wonder Yuan Cáirén asked. Few in the harem were pregnant. The most recent one had been Lady Yu, and how tormented had Lady Yu been during pregnancy? Even if they hadn't witnessed it themselves, they had heard about it.
Seeing it was her asking, Gu Han didn't feel impatient. This wasn't any secret, so she smiled frankly:
"The baby is well-behaved and hasn't troubled me."
One hand rested on her lower abdomen, gently stroking. The tender movement made everyone's eyes turn red with envy.
Even Yuan Cáirén, who'd always thought her mentality was quite stable, couldn't help feeling envious of Gu Han at this moment. How could some people have such good luck?
When Consort Shu entered, she happened to hear this. She covered her lips and laughed:
"During Noble Lady Zhao's pregnancy, His Majesty often visits her. With His Majesty's protection, naturally this pregnancy is very stable."
One sentence pulled all the hatred toward her.
Under others' envious and resentful gazes, Gu Han looked up and met Consort Shu's eyes. Consort Shu curved her eyes, as if she hadn't thought at all about what consequences her words might bring. Gu Han looked away.
Since she was pregnant, the people at Kunning Palace were careful, they didn't serve her tea but instead brought sweet plum soup. Gu Han had just reached out to pick it up when touching the cup wall, coolness transmitted from her fingertips. She paused and released it again.
After the oil incident, she didn't trust the Empress that much either and didn't dare eat things casually at Kunning Palace anymore.
Though the Empress couldn't possibly tamper with things at Kunning Palace, one always had to guard against that one-in-ten-thousand chance.
The Empress arrived late. The moment Gu Han saw her, surprise flashed through her eyes.
The exhaustion on the Empress's face was barely concealed. After sitting down, she raised her hand to rub her forehead. Her gaze fell on Gu Han and she nodded with satisfaction: "Seeing you're well, my heart is at ease."
Gu Han didn't know what to say to her for a moment, so she lowered her brows and eyes, appearing bashful.
After showing concern for Gu Han, the Empress looked at everyone: "You should all be like Noble Lady Zhao and help the imperial family flourish."
Neat responses echoed through the hall.
The Empress seemed lacking in energy. She rubbed her forehead wearily: "I'm tired. Today's greetings end here. While it's not too hot yet, you should all return early."
After leaving Kunning Palace, Zhou Měirén caught up from who knows where, examining Gu Han from all sides and saying in wonder:
"Looking at you from behind, I can't tell you're pregnant at all."
Gu Han wouldn't banter with her. She'd been bored in the palace recently and didn't want to return so early, so she sat down with Zhou Měirén in a pavilion in the Imperial Garden. Gu Han glanced around before asking casually:
"What's wrong with the Empress?"
That state was clearly somewhat off.
Zhou Měirén peeled lychees, pinching the flesh and tossing it into her mouth, saying indistinctly: "I forgot you haven't been out in a long time and aren't clear on some palace matters."
After swallowing the fruit, just as she was about to speak, she choked. Gu Han looked at her helplessly and pushed the teacup closer:
"Eat slowly. There's plenty of time, why the rush?"
Zhou Měirén took the cup. Feeling better, she leaned close to Gu Han and lowered her voice: "After Lady Lin died, the Empress fell ill. But the harem's trivial matters can't do without her. You don't know, some time ago, as soon as you entered Kunning Palace you could smell medicinal odor."
Gu Han imperceptibly furrowed her brows. After a moment, she said:
"It seems the Empress and that Lady Lin truly had deep sisterly affection."
After these words fell, Zhou Měirén pursed her lips: "So many years without meeting, how much affection could there be?"
Gu Han raised her eyebrows in surprise. If not for deep sisterly affection, how could the Empress have fallen ill over this?
"I heard after Lady Lin died, the Duke's wife wept daily, with some blame in her words. After it reached the palace, the Empress's health deteriorated."
Beauty Zhou didn't specify who the Duke household's blame was directed at, but how could Gu Han not guess?
Gu Han was momentarily speechless.
The Empress was the legitimate eldest daughter of the Duke of Dingguo's household. Lady Lin was the opposite, precisely the youngest daughter of the household. After the Empress entered the prince's residence, the one who'd remained at the elders' knees all along was this youngest daughter. One was an eldest daughter unseen for years, one was a youngest daughter who accompanied them daily.
Though both palms and backs of hands were flesh, people's hearts inevitably leaned one way.
Gu Han observed coldly, the Empress's feelings toward Lady Lin weren't completely absent. First losing her legitimate younger sister, then being blamed by her mother, anyone in this situation would find it hard not to care. Yet she was in the palace where, apart from servants, she had no one close to pour her heart out to.
Gu Han didn't know what to say about this. She skipped this topic and instead brought up another matter that had the palace in an uproar:
"I heard An Cáirén danced in the Imperial Garden and had His Majesty stay at her palace for three consecutive nights. Why didn't I see this An Cairen today?"
After Gu Han spoke, she watched Zhou Měirén purse her lips, that disdain and disgust nearly overflowing, making Gu Han curious:
"What exactly happened?"
Beauty Zhou said irritably: "I've been in the palace this long and never seen anyone so arrogant from favor!"
"How favored is Consort Shu? At least before doing things or punishing people, she still finds a reason."
"The second day after this An Cairen attended bed, she sent word to the Empress saying her body was exhausted, that His Majesty told her to rest more, so she wouldn't come to morning greetings."
"Saying her body was exhausted, after that greeting session, I clearly saw her playing in the Imperial Garden. When people couldn't stand it and jabbed at her, if they outranked her, she'd directly lie down on the ground being shameless until no one could do anything about her. If they were lower ranked, she'd have people slap them. She's made the entire harem a complete mess!"
Speaking of this, Zhou Měirén said with bad luck: "It's also that the Empress has too many worries lately and can't spare the effort to deal with her!"
Gu Han had only heard from Little Fang Zi that an incredible figure had recently appeared in the palace. As for how incredible, Little Fang Zi feared troubling her and hadn't elaborated.
Now hearing Zhou Měirén's words, Gu Han was almost dumbfounded.
There really was such a person in the harem?
Perhaps to prove it to her, Gu Han heard a delicate shout from behind the pavilion: "Do you know how to hold an umbrella? On such a hot day, if you let my delicate skin get sunburned, when His Majesty asks about it, can you bear the responsibility?!"
Zhou Měirén rolled her eyes: "Here she comes. See for yourself whether what I said is true or false."
Gu Han looked toward the voice and saw a woman in pink gossamer robes standing there. She raised her hand daintily to shield her eyes, her waist cinched very thin by her belt, delicately scolding the servant holding the umbrella.
Looking carefully, Gu Han pulled this An Cairen from memory. In the past before she'd attended bed, she'd seemed quite proper. How had one night of attendance made her so brash?
Whether palace servants or consorts, upon seeing her, everyone stayed far away, as if afraid of inviting trouble.
An Cáirén wasn't worried but delighted. She held her head high, seeming to greatly enjoy her current state. She reached up to pluck a flower, asked her servants a few questions, then pinned the flower in her hair.
An Cáirén wasn't far from the pavilion. Gu Han saw clearly, she'd picked a child-face flower. Whatever the alternate name, it couldn't hide that the flower was a peony.
Gu Han ate a piece of pastry to calm her shock.
Zhou Měirén watched with a headache: "What kind of taste does cousin have now?"
As soon as the words fell, Gu Han heard three claps coming from afar. Gu Han couldn't help glancing at An Cáirén. She'd also heard the clapping and grabbed her skirts to run toward the path, not fearing at all that the sun would damage her delicate skin.
The imperial procession quickly approached. Gu Han and Zhou Měirén had just risen to descend from the pavilion when they heard a saccharine voice:
"This Concubine greets Your Majesty."
Though it was summer, Gu Han saw Zhou Měirén shiver. Gu Han couldn't help covering her lips and laughing, glancing at her reproachfully and spitting out: "Mischievous."
Zhou Měirén muttered quietly:
"I've got goosebumps all over. I really don't know how Cousin can stand it."
Gu Han didn't know either. When she and Zhou Měirén descended from the pavilion, they happened to see Liu An lift the curtain. The two exchanged glances and also bowed toward the procession.
Lu Yu had just been about to tell An Cáirén to rise when from the corner of his eye he caught sight of people bowing in the distance. He raised an eyebrow in surprise, bypassed An Cáirén, and walked straight toward Gu Han, helping her up from behind:
"How did you come out today?"
An Cáirén had been waiting joyfully for the Emperor, her hand already halfway extended, when she watched the Emperor bypass her.
She looked back and saw Noble Lady Zhao standing gracefully shoulder to shoulder with the Emperor. Whatever the Emperor said, she suddenly smiled with lowered brows, the charm of it immediately making everyone around pale in comparison.
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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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