THE IMPERIAL CONSORT'S RISE TO POWER - CHAPTER 107

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

Chapter 107

The next day, Gu Han waited for a long time without hearing any commotion from next door before learning that the Emperor had someone change Noble Lady Yao's residence.

Jiu Nian styled Gu Han's hair:

"This is better. That Noble Lady Yao looks like trouble. Better to avoid her offending Your Ladyship."

But one could avoid the first day, not the fifteenth. No one expected that the first thing Noble Lady Yao would do after entering the palace was visit Gu Han.

When she heard Noble Lady Yao was requesting an audience, Gu Han was stunned, confused:

"What is she here for?"

The master and servants exchanged glances. Gu Han had someone invite Noble Lady Yao in. She still wore Yaomo clothing, which was much bolder than palace robes. Through that layer of gauze, Gu Han could vaguely see her slender waist.

Perhaps because Yaomo had the character for "desert," that place was wind and sun-battered. Even though she was a princess, she wasn't raised particularly delicately, yet she had a unique charm.

When led in, she surveyed the surroundings. Her first question was:

"As a third-rank Xiūróng, why is Your Ladyship still residing in a side hall?"

The palace had just lost an imperial heir yesterday. The joy of moving residences naturally had to be delayed a few days.

Gu Han didn't want to answer Noble Lady Yao's opening question. She seemed very interested in Gu Han's pregnancy. After sitting, she kept looking at Gu Han's abdomen and even wanted to reach out and touch it.

Gu Han turned sideways to avoid her hand. Noble Lady Yao was stunned and explained:

"I meant no harm. I'm just curious."

Gu Han smiled: "My apologies. I'm not accustomed to physical contact with strangers."

Seemingly still gentle, but the word "strangers" directly expressed her distance. Yet Noble Lady Yao didn't seem to notice, only disappointedly withdrawing her hand.

But soon, Noble Lady Yao perked up again:

"May I visit you often in the future?"

Gu Han looked at her strangely. Was the person Yaomo sent for a marriage alliance this naive?

Gu Han declined imperceptibly: "I prefer quiet in my daily life."

After being refused several times in succession, Noble Lady Yao also became annoyed. She looked up at Gu Han, frowning with displeasure:

"Since Your Ladyship doesn't like me, I simply won't come."

Having said this, she stood and swept her sleeve, leaving.

Gu Han stared at her retreating figure, speechlessly pulling at her lips. Jiu Nian was also dumbfounded: "Before sending her, didn't Yaomo tell her about palace rules?"

What kind of princess tantrum was this?

Gu Han was almost amused to anger:

"Check everything she touched."

Soon someone got wind of this. After the noon meal, Changchun Hall welcomed a second wave of visitors. Zhou Měirén was much more comfortable than Noble Lady Yao. After bowing, she sat directly, puzzled:

"What did she come to find Your Ladyship for?"

Gu Han was too lazy to explain. It was Jiu Nian who recounted the scene in detail. Zhou Měirén's mouth twitched: "There really are all kinds of people."

"Oh right, after leaving Your Ladyship's place, she went to Yangxin Hall, but she got the door slammed in her face. Cousin didn't see her at all."

By the end, Zhou Měirén was somewhat gleeful.

Gu Han wasn't surprised by the Emperor's action: "These days, His Majesty probably has no mood for the harem."

Zhou Měirén's eyes lit up:

"This should be quite a show."

Gu Han looked at her with some surprise. Ding Cáirén's miscarriage seemed not to have caused any ripples in the palace. Even Zhou Měirén watched the show as usual, not mentioning Ding Cáirén at all.

Presumably, others' attitudes were no exception.

Lingyan Pavilion.

Noble Lady Yao sat on the soft couch, stroking the jade ruyi placed beside it, humming: "Things from the Central Plains are truly exquisite."

She thought of Changchun Hall she'd visited today. Though both were side halls, Changchun Hall was clearly more elegant and precious than Lingyan Pavilion. She pursed her lips, recalling the rumors she'd heard. Her palace was originally supposed to be Quling Palace beside Yihe Palace.

But yesterday the Emperor issued an edict changing her palace.

Yesterday the Emperor had only gone to Changchun Hall. This sudden decision was clearly related to Zhao Xiūróng.

She'd deliberately gone to Changchun Hall today to test, and indeed, Zhao Xiūróng disliked her.

Noble Lady Yao snorted coldly:

"She's just relying on being pregnant."

She had seen plenty of such arrogant people who rarely came to good ends.

Seeing it was getting late, Noble Lady Yao summoned palace servants to attend her washing. Entering the bathtub, she was still calling out instructions:

"I heard when newcomers enter the palace, His Majesty summons them to his bedchamber. You must all attend carefully."

Noble Lady Yao was naturally bright and striking, with more pronounced features than capital women. After palace maids styled and dressed her in palace robes, standing in the hall, she immediately made the nearby palace servants seem dull by comparison, making it impossible to look away from her.

Even palace maids who'd served in the palace for a long time couldn't help being somewhat dazzled.

Unfortunately, Noble Lady Yao waited until the imperial kitchen delivered the evening meal without hearing news from the imperial presence. As time passed, Noble Lady Yao no longer had her initial energy. She yawned, asking the palace maid in confusion:

"Why hasn't His Majesty come yet?"

The palace maids exchanged glances, somewhat afraid to respond.

When the sound of palace gates locking came, a palace maid's expression changed slightly. She said reluctantly: "Perhaps my lady should dine first. His Majesty probably won't enter the harem tonight."

Noble Lady Yao was stunned. From the maids' caution and care, she tasted embarrassment. Suddenly, the sound of a baby crying came from outside, hitting her sore spot. She frowned:

"Where is that sound coming from? So annoying!"

The palace maid's face turned white with fright: "My lady, watch your words!"

Noble Lady Yao looked at her with frustration. The palace maid said:

"Yè Xiūróng lives in the main hall of Hanxi Palace. This is the young prince at Luminous Lady Ye's knees crying. My lady must never speak ill of the young prince. If it spreads, it will be bad for you."

Noble Lady Yao simply didn't understand palace circumstances, but she wasn't a fool either. Once the palace maid spoke, she understood the implication.

She hastily finished her evening meal and lay on the bed, but because crying occasionally came from next door, she didn't sleep well all night.

Gu Han paid Noble Lady Yao no mind, but news of her kept coming. The most noteworthy point was that Noble Lady Yao went to Yangxin Hall daily like clockwork.

When Zhou Měirén came to accompany Gu Han on a walk, she rolled her eyes:

"I've never seen such an unrestrained young lady. Are all Yaomo people this thick-skinned?"

Gu Han glanced at her, saying with amusement: "Persistent pestering may invite ridicule, but it's also a good method."

Yesterday Noble Lady Yao had pestered the Emperor into accompanying her to tour the imperial garden. In the eyes of harem consorts, this earned much envy and jealousy.

Zhou Měirén pursed her lips, too lazy to mention the spoilsport. Looking at Gu Han's abdomen, she was somewhat worried:

"I remember when Lady Yu gave birth, her belly didn't seem as large as Your Ladyship's."

Gu Han couldn't help raising her hand to touch her lower abdomen. Since showing, her belly had grown visibly larger day by day. Yet her limbs remained slender, making one wonder how her small frame could support this belly.

Recently when Nanny Zhao looked at her, her eyes often held vague worry.

Seeing this, Gu Han also felt heavy-hearted.

"Has the physician said when Your Ladyship's due date is?"

Gu Han raised her eyes, saying softly: "The physician said it will be before the new year."

Less than two months remained.

Gu Han and Zhou Měirén weren't watching the path and inadvertently walked far. Faintly they seemed to hear a woman's laughter in the distance. Gu Han and Zhou Měirén exchanged glances. Zhou Měirén muttered quietly:

"Please don't let it be that Noble Lady Yao."

Unfortunately, the more one didn't want to see someone, the more they appeared. A kite shaped like a wild goose floated in the air. Perhaps flying too high, the string tangled in tree branches and broke.

Gu Han seemed to hear a woman's annoyed "Oh my." Footsteps gradually approached from afar.

As their eyes met, Noble Lady Yao also paused, not expecting to encounter them here. In the month-plus since entering the palace, at first she had often hit walls, taught lessons by palace consorts. Now she knew palace rules. At least seeing Gu Han, after recovering, she bowed:

"This consort greets Zhao Xiūróng."

After rising, she glanced at Zhou Měirén before placing her gaze back on Gu Han: "Rarely do I see Xiūróng with such leisure, actually appearing in the imperial garden. Would Your Ladyship like to fly kites with me?"

Gu Han smiled and shook her head:

"My condition is inconvenient. I'll leave the pleasure of kite-flying to Noble Lady Yao to enjoy alone."

Noble Lady Yao seemed to have been waiting for this answer. Her eyes curved in a smile. After palace servants retrieved the kite, she bowed again to Gu Han:

"In that case, I'll take my leave first. Can't keep His Majesty waiting for me too long."

After she left, Zhou Měirén said incredulously:

"Who doesn't know His Majesty's feelings for Your Ladyship? What is she showing off about?"

Gu Han wasn't as emotionally agitated as her, but her eyes and brows also cooled somewhat. She said: "Regardless, today His Majesty is accompanying her. She naturally has the right to show off."

Zhou Měirén was furious.

Seeing her like this, Gu Han instead had no emotions. Noble Lady Yao indeed harbored thoughts of showing off to her. She had shallow thoughts, with her ideas written almost entirely on her face.

Gu Han glanced in the direction Noble Lady Yao had left.

No wonder the longer the time passed, the more the Emperor's attitude toward Noble Lady Yao softened. Too many incidents had occurred in the palace recently. The Emperor's heart was probably also weary. Being with someone simple-minded, his mood would naturally be more relaxed.

Gu Han withdrew her gaze, saying: "I'm tired. Let's go back."

Zhou Měirén had no intention of having Gu Han catch up. Those jealous squabbles, how could they compare to Gu Han's health? Zhou Měirén always knew priorities.

On the other side, Noble Lady Yao returned with the kite. Lu Yu sat in the pavilion, unhurriedly reading through documents. Hearing movement, he lifted his eyelids, casually asking:

"Why were you gone so long?"

"I encountered Zhao Xiūróng, which delayed some time."

In her momentary triumph, Noble Lady Yao made no attempt to hide it. She also didn't notice that the instant her words left her mouth, the Emperor almost imperceptibly paused.

Lu Yu imperceptibly glanced toward Yihe Palace, especially at the small path Noble Lady Yao had returned from. It remained completely calm, with not a trace of footsteps.

Lu Yu lowered his eyelids. Noble Lady Yao, not noticing anything wrong, brought the kite over, leaned close to the Emperor, pulled on his sleeve and wheedled:

"This kite broke. Will Your Majesty have Zhongsheng Hall make me a new one?"

Lu Yu absentmindedly agreed. Noble Lady Yao sensed something amiss. Seeing his gaze remained fixed on the documents, she relaxed, pouting resentfully:

"His Majesty clearly came out to play with me. Why do you keep staring at documents?"

Lu Yu was disturbed enough that he couldn't continue reading. He put down the document he hadn't turned a page of in ages:

"There are still matters at the Court. I'll return first."

Noble Lady Yao looked at his retreating figure in shock, stamping her feet with displeasure.

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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