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Translator's note: Finally there are advance chapters availaible on Kofi
Chapter 95
The vacation palace scenery was elegant. Yuan Cáirén had a bad temper, but she was on good terms with several consorts in the palace she could talk to. They sat on stone benches in the osmanthus grove, chatting idly, when they suddenly heard laughter, causing them all to look over.
A beauty in tender green palace robes withdrew her gaze, her emotions complex:
"It's Noble Lady Zhao."
They had stayed at the vacation palace for nearly a month and had witnessed Noble Lady Zhao's abdomen gradually swelling. Now all the palace people treated Noble Lady Zhao with extreme care, and upon hearing any commotion from afar, would quickly avoid the area.
The servants of Yuqing Court watched them closely, as if afraid they might harm Noble Lady Zhao.
But these weren't the reasons for Wu Bǎolín's complex emotions. She was a consort who had been promoted from the Emperor's former residence. Having entered the palace four years ago and still holding the rank of Bǎolín showed her position in the Emperor's heart.
She wasn't from the capital. Counting carefully, she hadn't seen her maternal family for nearly seven or eight years.
Yet Noble Lady Zhao, after just one summer retreat at the vacation palace , got to be with her birth mother daily. Who in the harem didn't envy Noble Lady Zhao?
Coming to her senses, Wu Bǎolín couldn't help feeling downcast.
Whether the others noticed her emotions or not, they all passed over the matter. Someone craned her neck to look, curious: "What are they doing now?"
Yuan Cáirén actually knew some news. She shrugged:
"Noble Lady Zhao is having difficulty eating. The kitchen is trying to figure out what to make for her."
At noon, when her palace servants went to collect meals, they inadvertently heard the kitchen staff worrying about this matter. The physician said that since Noble Lady Zhao was pregnant, eating fish and meat in moderation would benefit the fetus, but Noble Lady Zhao seemed to have developed an aversion to fish and meat. No matter how the kitchen prepared it, she wouldn't touch a bite.
How could the kitchen not worry?
On the path, servants carrying food boxes hurried past. From afar, they heard the servants mention something about Taihu Lake silverfish. Wu Bǎolín and the others clicked their tongues, saying softly: "What extravagance."
In the pavilion by the stream, servants set out the meal on a stone table, a bowl of chilled sour plum soup, finely steamed rice, and several side dishes, including a plate of steamed Taihu Lake silverfish.
The Marchioness shook her head: "Yesterday I asked you to eat, and you said the room was stuffy and you couldn't eat anything. Now we're here where it's well-ventilated on all sides, surely it's not stuffy anymore."
Gu Han felt somewhat sheepish. The so-called stuffiness was just an excuse she had found.
But now, seeing her mother's disapproving eyes, Gu Han pursed her lips and picked up a piece of fish with her chopsticks. The fish had been cleaned very thoroughly. She didn't know how the imperial chef had handled it, but the fishy smell was very faint, almost unnoticeable. Gu Han tentatively took a bite.
Whether she truly couldn't accept it or it was psychological, as soon as it entered her mouth, Gu Han's face paled and something seemed to churn in her stomach. She directly dropped her chopsticks, covered her mouth, and dry heaved several times.
Gu Han hid in Jiu Nian's embrace, waving her hands repeatedly:
"...Quick—take it away!"
Jiu Nian held her sympathetically and looked at the Marchioness: "Madam, if my lady can't eat it, please don't force her."
The Marchioness fell silent. It wasn't that she wanted to force Noble Consort, she just wanted her to eat some for the good of the child in her womb.
The Marchioness shook her head wordlessly. She didn't know if it was her imagination, but she felt her daughter had become much more delicate since entering the palace.
Gu Han had no idea what her mother was thinking. From afar, she heard three claps. Gu Han immediately stood up, lifted her skirt, and descended from the pavilion. Just as she landed, she saw the Emperor and Consort Shu approaching arm in arm.
The Emperor was handsome and talented, Consort Shu was beautiful as a flower. Standing together, they were extraordinarily well-matched.
Gu Han paused, then bowed to greet them both. Lu Yu stepped forward and supported her arm, firmly helping her up:
"Didn't I say that with your condition, you don't need to bow in the future?"
Consort Shu's gaze fell on her. Gu Han lowered her eyes as if somewhat embarrassed: "I just forgot for a moment."
Lu Yu looked up at the pavilion, raising his eyebrows curiously:
"What's going on here?"
Consort Shu also glimpsed the scene in the pavilion. It was only shortly after noon, yet Noble Lady Zhao had set up another table in the pavilion. The ingredients used were all expensive, clearly an extravagant display.
Consort Shu moved her lips, as if to say something, but Gu Han didn't give her the chance. She pulled on Lu Yu's sleeve and complained first:
"Your Majesty, please help me."
The Marchioness couldn't help but raise her hand to her forehead.
Lu Yu raised his eyebrows with amusement, waiting for her to continue. He saw the woman looking aggrieved, her almond eyes drooping listlessly: "Mother listened to the physician and insists I eat fish and meat. These past days she's been tormenting me endlessly, but I clearly can't keep it down. Your Majesty, please persuade Mother."
The Marchioness bowed, somewhat helpless:
"I've made Your Majesty laugh."
Lu Yu shook his head at the Marchioness. He was about to say something to Gu Han, but then met the woman's listless, drooping almond eyes. Realizing she was truly suffering, the words about to leave his mouth stuck in his throat. After a moment, he said impassively:
"There are countless things good for the body. Madam Marchioness need not be too strict with her."
The Marchioness was stunned, not expecting the Emperor to indulge the Noble lady so much. For a moment, she wanted to speak but hesitated.
Consort Shu had long since grown accustomed to averting her gaze. Compared to the imperial heir in Noble Lady Zhao's womb, setting up one more table of food in the pavilion hardly counted as extravagant in the Emperor's eyes.
With the Emperor's words, Gu Han knew her mother wouldn't force her to eat fish anymore. She breathed a sigh of relief, her almond eyes curving as she looked at Lu Yu:
"Where are Your Majesty and Consort Shu heading?"
"Ding Cáirén is unwell today. I was about to visit her with Consort Shu." Lu Yu said this, and seeing Gu Han's puzzled expression, simply asked: "Would you like to come along?"
With the Emperor's invitation, Gu Han naturally wouldn't refuse. Even though Consort Shu's gaze kept falling on her, she didn't back down. This was harem business. The Marchioness couldn't get involved and tactfully took her leave.
The group went to Ding Cáirén's courtyard.
Gu Han knew very little about Ding Cáirén and approached this visit with an indifferent attitude.
But the physician's words left Gu Han stunned:
"Congratulations, Your Majesty. Ding Cáirén shows signs of pregnancy, but because she's weak in constitution, she feels unwell."
As soon as the physician's words fell, the hall fell silent. Gu Han barely lowered her eyes. Lu Yu seemed to glance at her, or perhaps didn't, and asked in a deep voice: "How long?"
"Your Majesty, Talented Lady Ding's pregnancy signs are faint. It should only be about half a month. The specific time can only be confirmed after we wait a bit longer."
Even Ding Cáirén herself was surprised by the physician's words. She said hesitantly: "But I had my monthly courses just a few days ago."
On this point, the physician shook his head with relief:
"That wasn't your monthly courses, but signs of a threatened miscarriage due to Ding Cáirén's weak constitution. Fortunately, the imperial heir is fine now."
Ding Cáirén touched her lower abdomen with lingering fear. The physician's words left her both shocked and delighted, but ultimately, her eyes harbored hidden expectation as she looked up at the Emperor.
Gu Han knew what she was expecting. When she herself had just been found to be pregnant, the Emperor had been greatly pleased and promoted her rank on the spot.
Unfortunately, Talented Lady Ding's expectations were destined to be disappointed. The Emperor seemed not to notice her thoughts at all and merely instructed blandly:
"Since you're with child, take good care of yourself. Physician Li, you shall attend Ding Cáirén from now on."
Physician Li respectfully acknowledged.
Ding lowered her head with considerable disappointment.
Gu Han didn't know how to feel. Ding Cáirén's pregnancy at this time was neither good nor bad for her. Good because it would draw some attention away. Bad for the same reason.
She was no longer the only pregnant consort, so naturally she wouldn't be as special as before.
Consort Shu seemed not to notice the strange atmosphere in the hall. She covered her mouth and smiled:
"Ding Cáirén's pregnancy is wonderful news. Your Majesty should reward her generously."
Perhaps because he no longer lacked imperial heirs, Lu Yu was somewhat surprised by Ding Cáirén's pregnancy but didn't show the same joy as when he first learned of Gu Han's pregnancy. He nodded slightly and agreed with Noble Consort Shu's words:
"Naturally."
But in the end, Lu Yu didn't mention promoting Ding Cáirén's rank at all.
Gu Han returned to Yuqing Court. Jiu Nian carefully observed her expression. Seeing no one else in the room, Jiu Nian said softly: "My lady, even if Ding Cáirén is pregnant, in His Majesty's heart she can't compare to the young master."
Gu Han shook her head, knowing Jiu Nian had misunderstood.
If asked which imperial heir was most important in the Emperor's heart, Gu Han didn't even need to think to give the answer, it must be the eldest imperial son.
Gu Han lowered her eyelids and said softly:
"Do you remember when Eunuch Liu interrogated Xiao Jiu? She didn't say a single word about that medicine."
Even when asked why Rong Bǎolín wanted to harm Song Baolin, the reason Xiao Jiu gave was different from what Jiang Zi had told her. If Jiang Zi hadn't lied to her, then what was Xiao Jiu hiding?
---
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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