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Translator's note: Finally there are advance chapters availaible on Kofi
Chapter 123
As the Empress's due date drew nearer, the harem appeared calm on the surface, but underneath lurked unsettling undercurrents.
After the eldest prince's incident, Gu Han had Xiao Fangzi keep a close watch on the people serving around the imperial children. She rarely left the palace anymore. The atmosphere in the palace right now made it uncomfortable to stay—even Beauty Zhou only went back and forth between Cining Palace and Changning Courtyard.
By the time April arrived, the weather grew sweltering. The consorts also couldn't stand staying in the palace. The imperial garden finally saw some people, but few dared go near Kunning Palace.
Beauty Zhou hurried back from Cining Palace. A You held an oiled paper umbrella for her as she glanced toward a pavilion, her steps suddenly halting.
A You nearly bumped into her:
"What's wrong, my lady?"
Beauty Zhou thought she'd seen wrong and looked toward the pavilion again. When she clearly saw who was sitting there, she frowned: "Noble Consort Shu claimed illness and stayed indoors just days ago—today she has the leisure and mood for this?"
A You didn't know what to say, stammering:
"Perhaps her illness has recovered."
Beauty Zhou felt something wasn't right. Seeing Noble Consort Shu talking with Noble Brilliant Lady Lin, appearing harmonious, that feeling grew even stronger. Suddenly, she changed direction and walked toward Yihe Palace.
Actually, the atmosphere in the pavilion wasn't as pleasant as Beauty Zhou had seen.
Noble Brilliant Lady Lin twisted her handkerchief, the smile on her face somewhat stiff. She imperceptibly looked toward Noble Consort Shu across from her, not knowing why the other had stopped her or what she wanted.
Noble Brilliant Lady Lin thought of what she'd been doing recently and felt somewhat guilty, not daring to speak.
Noble Consort Shu seemed a bit tired, one hand against her temple, saying unhurriedly and lazily:
"Why haven't I seen you at Yi'an Palace these past few days?"
Noble Brilliant Lady Lin was someone who curried favor with the powerful. Especially after attaching herself to her, she'd wished she could visit Yi'an Palace daily. It seemed respectful, but really she just wanted the harem to be wary of her.
Those in the harem with slightly higher rank than Noble Brilliant Lady Lin would sometimes, out of consideration for Yi'an Palace, be polite to her.
If it were before, when Noble Consort Shu claimed illness, Noble Brilliant Lady Lin would certainly have bustled about, letting Noble Consort Shu see her complete loyalty. But these past few days were strange—Noble Consort Shu had stayed at Yi'an Palace for several days without seeing Noble Brilliant Lady Lin's shadow.
Today Ya Luo feared she'd be stifled staying in the palace and insisted she come out for fresh air. As a result, she encountered Noble Brilliant Lady Lin just after parting from Noble Consort Yao, which led to the current scene.
Noble Brilliant Lady Lin felt guilty and didn't dare meet Noble Consort Shu's half-smiling gaze. She lowered her eyelids with an awkward laugh:
"Your Ladyship claimed illness to recuperate. I feared disturbing your peace and quiet."
This excuse was obvious, so Noble Consort Shu looked up at Noble Brilliant Lady Lin. Seeing her eyes darting about evasively, she suddenly found it boring. When her imperial favor hadn't waned, many in the harem wanted to attach themselves to her.
Noble Brilliant Lady Lin was merely one of them. Without her, with Noble Brilliant Lady Lin's mediocre favor, how could she have risen to the rank of Noble Brilliant Lady?
Now, seeing just a hint of her decline, all sorts of schemes were emerging.
Noble Consort Shu's interest faded, which showed on her face. She didn't give Noble Brilliant Lady Lin any face:
"You're right. I prefer quiet. Noble Brilliant Lady Lin had better visit Yi'an Palace less in the future."
Noble Brilliant Lady Lin's expression immediately turned extremely uncomfortable. After a long while, she rose to take her leave.
After she left, Ya Luo's expression was poor:
"After Your Ladyship treated her so well—ungrateful wretch!"
Noble Consort Shu waved her hand dismissively, her expression indifferent: "Let her be. Where's A Liu?"
Ya Luo paused, subconsciously about to look around. Quickly coming to her senses, she lowered her head:
"A Liu went to the flower house."
Noble Consort Shu looked in Kunning Palace's direction, her gaze deepening. After a long while, she raised her hand to her temple, seeming extremely tired:
"Let's return."
When Beauty Zhou entered Yihe Palace, before she could speak, she saw the young princess grasping Cultivated Beauty Zhao's dark hair and refusing to let go. Cultivated Beauty Zhao had a helpless, amused expression as she tilted her head to the side. Palace servants were coaxing the princess to release her grip.
Beauty Zhou raised an eyebrow: "What happened here?"
Seeing the smile at Beauty Zhou's raised brow, Gu Han shot her a reproachful glance. At that moment, palace servants finally coaxed the young princess into releasing her grip. Gu Han placed the young princess into Beauty Zhou's arms:
"You hold her for a while, since all you know how to do is watch the show."
Beauty Zhou came frequently and was skilled at holding the young princess. She adjusted the princess's position, and seeing she was comfortable and well-behaved, Beauty Zhou stated her purpose for coming:
"Noble Consort Shu's illness just recovered, and she's already meeting with Noble Brilliant Lady Lin. I feel uneasy about it."
Noble Consort Shu was one thing, but Noble Brilliant Lady Lin had been making quite a few small moves recently. That Noble Consort Yao had somehow been coaxed by Noble Brilliant Lady Lin into becoming friendly with her, wandering daily through the imperial garden holding that cat.
For the moment, Gu Han couldn't figure out why Noble Consort Shu would meet with Noble Brilliant Lady Lin at this time. She wiped the young princess's mouth with a handkerchief, saying softly:
"Whatever they want to do, be careful to stay far away from them."
Beauty Zhou nodded: "Don't worry. They can't scheme against me."
Rather, Gu Han was in more danger. That's why when Beauty Zhou sensed something amiss, she'd immediately rushed to tell Gu Han.
Gu Han kept Beauty Zhou for the noon meal, thinking the matter with Noble Consort Shu had passed. Who knew, just after noon, a commotion arose in the palace—Noble Consort Yao's cat was lost and she was searching everywhere for it.
After Jiu Si finished reporting this, her face was full of amazement:
"Noble Consort Yao even wanted to search the palaces. She just went to Hanxi Palace and was immediately thrown out by Luminous Lady Ye."
Gu Han and Beauty Zhou exchanged glances, both seeing speechlessness in the other's eyes. Beauty Zhou felt a headache coming:
"She's merely a Noble Consort—who gave her the audacity to search palaces?"
Gu Han was also at a loss for words. After a moment, she instructed Jiu Nian: "Keep watch over the palace. Don't let that cat slip in, especially near the young prince and princess."
Seeing her so cautious, Beauty Zhou said:
"Fine, I'll also return to my palace, lest that cat enters Changning Courtyard."
Gu Han didn't stop her and even advised: "At this critical juncture, nothing can be overlooked. Not to mention a cat—even a flower of unknown origin is the same."
On the other side, Noble Consort Yao returned to Yi'an Palace in a fury. A palace maid offered tea. She'd just picked up the teacup intending to smash it when from the corner of her eye she inadvertently glimpsed the wooden shelf looking bare, remembering the jade items she'd previously smashed. Zhongsheng Hall simply wouldn't provide replacements.
Noble Consort Yao paused, then angrily set the teacup back down, nearly crying from anger:
"Everyone's bullying me!"
The palace maid hurriedly soothed her. Noble Consort Yao wiped her tears before feeling somewhat better, but her heart still held some resentment:
"It's all Noble Brilliant Lady Lin's fault. If she hadn't had me bring A Ya to her palace and insisted on holding A Ya herself, how would A Ya have gone missing?"
Since she'd brought A Ya back, aside from the palace servants who fed her, the cat only warmed up to her and was especially shy with strangers.
Having raised her this long, Noble Consort Yao had developed some real affection for A Ya. For the moment, she worried the cat had run off and lost, and also worried something might happen to her. She couldn't help ordering irritably:
"Have all the palace servants go out and search! We must find A Ya!"
In the main hall, Noble Consort Shu heard the commotion and glanced sideways slightly. Ya Luo said softly:
"It's the cat Noble Consort Yao raised that's gone missing."
Ya Luo spoke very carefully. Noble Consort Shu knew why she was being so cautious. She shook her head inwardly. She'd been good to A Li because she'd always raised A Li—it wasn't that any cat could earn her pity.
Noble Consort Shu didn't care at all and only asked: "Has A Liu returned yet?"
Ya Luo knew she wasn't upset and secretly breathed a sigh of relief. She glanced at the hourglass and said:
"Soon."
After Gu Han had Jiu Nian watch the palace, she put the matter out of her mind. It wasn't her fault for doing so—she'd finally coaxed the young prince to sleep and had just released him to the nanny when he seemed to sense something was wrong. His nose twitched and he began wailing at the top of his lungs.
Compared to when he'd just been born, the young prince had gained some flesh and his strength had increased, making even his crying louder than before.
Helpless, Gu Han took the young prince back into her arms and gently patted him a few times. Only then did he stop crying with little hiccups. Gu Han tapped his forehead, both exasperated and amused:
"Little debt collector."
Not giving her a moment's peace.
Jiu Nian smiled beside her: "The young prince is showing closeness to Your Ladyship."
Yihe Palace was harmonious and happy, but this peace didn't last long. A panicked set of footsteps broke the laughter. Xiao Fangzi lifted the embroidered curtain and hurried in. He'd run too hastily and stumbled directly to the ground. He scrambled up regardless and knelt, urgent and anxious:
"Your Ladyship! Something's happened at Kunning Palace!!"
The smile on Gu Han's face immediately vanished. She said in a grave voice:
"What happened?"
"This servant isn't clear either. It seems the Empress was startled by a cat and has now been sent into the delivery room!"
A cat?
Thinking of something, Gu Han's breathing immediately tightened. She exchanged a glance with Xiao Fangzi and immediately knew her guess was correct. She had Jiu Si stay in the palace to watch over the prince and princess, then hurriedly left with Xiao Fangzi and Jiu Nian.
On the way, Xiao Fangzi told Gu Han everything he knew:
"I heard Her Majesty the Empress's condition was very bad at the time. Kunning Palace's people immediately summoned physicians. This servant is worried..."
Xiao Fangzi didn't finish his words, but Gu Han knew what he was worried about. The Empress was startled into premature labor by the cat Noble Consort Yao raised. That cat had been lost for several hours—why could no one find it, yet it specifically went to Kunning Palace to startle the Empress?
To say there was nothing fishy about this—who would believe it?
Gu Han gripped her handkerchief tightly, the expression in her eyes obscure and difficult to read. As soon as she entered Kunning Palace, Beauty Zhou pulled her aside, frowning and saying in a low voice: "You came over now—can Ze'er do without you?"
Having said this, Beauty Zhou felt she'd said something pointless. Ze'er couldn't do without Gu Han—what else could she do?
The Empress had an incident. Could Gu Han not come?
Gu Han shook her head without saying more. She imperceptibly swept a glance around the hall, not seeing anyone from Chonghui Palace. She lowered her eyes slightly, only her heartbeat deafeningly loud in her chest.
---
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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