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Translator's note: Finally there are advance chapters availaible on Kofi
Chapter 119
Gu Han also looked over following her gaze.
Noble Lady Yao had somehow obtained a civet cat, its fur snow-white, meowing chaotically, but at least it was docile, obediently allowing Noble Lady Yao to hold it. The scene was somewhat familiar. Gu Han couldn't help looking at Zhou Bin.
At some point, Zhou Bin had raised her hand to touch her cheek. Coming to her senses, she spat softly:
"What's wrong with the people of Yi'an Palace? Why does everyone love raising cats?"
Zhou Bin hadn't disliked cats before—she had even been quite fond of them. Only after that injury had she kept her distance from such creatures. She already disliked Noble Lady Yao, and with Noble Lady Yao now being from Yi'an Palace, this scene inevitably reminded her of something. Her words carried some displaced anger.
Noble Lady Yao also noticed them and found it quite inauspicious. She imperceptibly frowned before reluctantly coming forward to bow in greeting.
Gu Han's emotions were normal, as if the slapping incident had never occurred:
"Has Noble Lady Yao's injury fully healed?"
Noble Lady Yao paused, feeling Gu Han was mocking her. After all, injuring herself by falling out of bed looked ridiculous no matter how one viewed it. If staying in the palace to recover from injuries wasn't so boring, she wouldn't have thought to raise a small creature for amusement.
Out of sight, out of mind, she lowered her head and reluctantly replied: "Thank you for Xiūróng’s concern. I've long since recovered."
Gu Han nodded lightly, telling her to rise. Noble Lady Yao hurriedly left with the civet cat, completely unwilling to stay with Gu Han.
But Gu Han watched her retreating figure, her gaze imperceptibly deepening.
Perhaps because she'd looked too long, Zhou Bin elbowed her, somewhat dissatisfied: "Why do you keep looking at her?"
Gu Han shook her head. Zhou Bin looked at her suspiciously, but seeing she didn't want to talk, didn't ask.
Snow had fallen yesterday, so it was still somewhat cold. Gu Han pulled her cloak collar tighter, wrapping herself snugly. The two walked a circle around the imperial garden before palace servants came looking for them to return for the noon meal.
At Yihe Palace, Gu Han placed her hands by the charcoal brazier to warm them. Only after warming them until they were red did she withdraw them. She raised her hand to pinch her earlobes before saying:
"Who told Noble Lady Yao to raise a cat?"
Jiu Nian had stayed in the palace to look after the two young imperial children today and hadn't accompanied Her Ladyship out. Hearing this, she immediately blurted out in surprise: "It can't be?!"
Few people in this palace raised cats. The only one who had, her cat had injured Zhou Bin, and the Empress Dowager herself had personally expelled the cat from the imperial palace.
Consort Shu's feelings for that civet cat had been extraordinary. Nearly a year had passed, perhaps she had forgotten about it. But for Noble Lady Yao to bring back a cat to raise at this time, would it really not provoke Consort Shu?
Gu Han drank a cup of butter tea. Only then did her body fully warm. She pulled her lips lightly:
"I saw that cat resembled the one Consort Shu previously raised. I just don't know if the matter of raising a cat… did Noble Lady Yao suddenly think of it herself, or did someone else suggest it?"
If someone else suggested it, Gu Han was very curious, what did that person want to do?
At Yi'an Palace, Consort Shu had already received news when Noble Lady Yao brought the cat back. She was somewhat stunned. Ya Luo carefully watched her expression. Consort Shu came to her senses and lowered her eyelids:
"I'm fine."
Ya Luo didn't believe her. She wanted to say something but didn't know what she could say.
After quite a while, Ya Luo heard Her Ladyship seem to say: "...Best if she raises it for a while longer..."
Ya Luo was startled, thinking she'd heard wrong. She looked up at Her Ladyship. Her Ladyship still gently lowered her eyelids, but somehow, unease surged in Ya Luo's heart.
The lanterns at Yihe Palace stayed lit for three consecutive days before quieting down. But before the other consorts could wait for the Emperor to flip another tablet, the Emperor stopped entering the harem again.
With Her Majesty the Empress confined, the consorts had grievances but didn't know whom to seek justice from. On this day, barely past the hour of chen, Yi'an Palace welcomed a visitor.
Ya Luo arranged Her Ladyship's clothing:
"Your Ladyship, Noble Lady Lin requests an audience."
Consort Shu raised her eyebrows unhurriedly: "What is she here for?"
Without much thought, Consort Shu had Ya Luo bring Noble Lady Lin in. Noble Lady Lin's delicate face seemed to carry some worry. Consort Shu sat before her vanity table, glancing at her through the bronze mirror, saying somewhat impatiently:
"You came to Yi'an Palace just to let me hear you sighing here?"
Scolded, Noble Lady Lin didn't dare continue pretending. Concealing that trace of embarrassment, she said: "I didn't want to disturb Your Ladyship, but His Majesty hasn't entered the harem in so long. The harem sisters have long been complaining. Now that Your Ladyship manages the harem, I fear they've developed resentment toward you."
When the Empress managed the six palaces, such situations never occurred.
Though they knew this matter couldn't be blamed on Consort Shu, people never wanted to find reasons within themselves, they had to find a scapegoat to bear their resentment.
As Noble Lady Lin's words fell, before Consort Shu could respond, Ya Luo's face turned cold first:
"The mistresses are incompetent themselves, unable to attract His Majesty, and they still have the face to blame Her Ladyship?"
These mocking words made Noble Lady Lin somewhat embarrassed. She smiled awkwardly without refuting, but privately, she'd long since gripped her handkerchief tightly. Ya Luo's words were originally aimed at the harem consorts, but Noble Lady Lin also hadn't received imperial favor during this time—these words included her in the scolding as well.
Noble Lady Lin felt somewhat resentful in her heart. That day the Emperor had clearly summoned her to his bedchamber, but then Her Ladyship had intercepted the favor.
She relied on Consort Shu, usually helping her with tasks. If Consort Shu didn't seek benefits for her, that was one thing, but she'd even taken away her only chance to attend the Emperor's bedchamber. Ever since that favor interception, she'd harbored dissatisfaction toward Consort Shu.
Now hearing Ya Luo's words, Noble Lady Lin suppressed her anger and continued with a servile expression:
"Though that's true, human hearts are difficult to predict."
Consort Shu suddenly glanced at her coldly, making Noble Lady Lin somewhat anxious. Just as Noble Lady Lin grew nervous, Consort Shu said indifferently:
"I understand. You may go back."
Noble Lady Lin didn't understand what this meant, but didn't dare continue pestering. After leaving Yi'an Palace, Noble Lady Lin's face completely turned cold. A palace maid beside her tugged on her sleeve. Only then did Noble Lady Lin restrain her emotions.
After walking out of Yi'an Palace's sphere of influence, when no one was around, Noble Lady Lin finally couldn't hold back:
"A mere servant maid dares scold me to my face. Just wait, there will come a day when she begs me through tears!"
A trace of mockery flashed across Noble Lady Lin's brows. Did Consort Shu think she was still that greatly favored Noble Consort Shu from before?
Since Zhao Xiūróng entered the palace, the situation in this palace had long changed. Now countless people wanted to attach themselves to Zhao Xiūróng. She had kindly come to give Consort Shu a warning, only to be casually mocked by a palace maid. Clearly Consort Shu hadn't taken her seriously either.
Noble Lady Lin thought about something, a flash of malice in her eyes. She asked: "Has Noble Lady Yao recently raised a civet cat?"
The palace maid hurriedly nodded. After a moment, Noble Brilliant Lady Lin curved her lips in a smile:
"Noble Lady Yao has been in the palace for some time, yet I've never heard of her being on good terms with anyone. She's a foreigner, it makes us seem like we're ganging up to exclude her."
The palace maid didn't understand Noble Lady Lin's words. Noble Lady Lin had no intention of explaining and quickly returned to her palace with the palace servants.
But not long after, Gu Han heard that Noble Lady Lin had recently been getting quite close to Noble Lady Yao. She frowned lightly, quite puzzled:
"How did these two come together?"
At that time, Zhou Bin was also present. She pursed her lips: "Noble Lady Lin is Consort Shu's person. Noble Lady Yao now resides in Yi'an Palace's side hall. It's not strange for them to come together."
She made sense. Even though Gu Han still felt something was off, she didn't refute her.
Gu Han reached out to play with An'er. After a moment, she said softly:
"Right now the entire harem is watching that person."
Zhou Bin picked up a pastry. The pastries from Yihe Palace's small kitchen all suited her taste, but recently Gu Han didn't like eating these things, so all the pastries went into Zhou Bin's stomach. She glanced at Gu Han, her hand movements slowing somewhat.
She couldn't say any comforting words and could only say: "Cousin treats you differently after all."
Zhou Bin spoke sincerely, but Gu Han didn't believe it at all. She lowered her eyes and smiled shyly. After a long while, she said meaningfully:
"I hope the harem can be peaceful during this time."
Zhou Bin suddenly felt the pastry in her mouth was a bit cloying. She picked up her tea and took a sip before turning to look at the hourglass: "It's getting late. I need to go to Cining Palace to dine with my aunt. I'll leave first."
Gu Han didn't stop her, having Jiu Nian pack some pastries for her to take back. Zhou Bin personally carried those pastries. Walking nearly to the second curtain, her steps paused. She said vaguely:
"...Don't do anything rash."
Having said this, Zhou Bin didn't linger further and quickly left.
After Zhou Bin left, Gu Han didn't move for a long time. Jiu Nian glanced at her before saying softly:
"Zhou Bin is worried about Your Ladyship."
Gu Han came to her senses. She lowered her brows: "I know."
She just couldn't help pondering Zhou Bin's words. Was Zhou Bin simply worried about her, or afraid she'd do something to hurt the Empress Dowager's feelings?
After a long while, Gu Han lightly pulled at the corners of her lips. She took a deep breath.
Not only the Emperor, the Empress Dowager must also be very much looking forward to this legitimate grandson.
Precisely because of this, she increasingly didn't want a legitimate son to appear in the palace.
Perhaps because she'd been silent too long, Jiu Nian couldn't help calling out worriedly: "Your Ladyship?"
Gu Han came to her senses. She raised her hand to press her brow:
"What has Consort Chen been doing recently?"
Jiu Nian shook her head uncomprehendingly: "This servant hasn't heard of any recent movements from Consort Chen."
Gu Han exhaled and laughed coldly:
"She used to be so unable to sit still. Now she can actually hold her seat."
Gu Han suddenly relaxed her mindset. With the legitimate son's birth, she shouldn't be the one with the most sense of urgency. She would just quietly wait for the show.
If she rashly made a move and wasn't discovered, that would be fine. But once detected, if she provoked the Emperor's and Empress Dowager's displeasure, the loss would outweigh the gain.
Gu Han forced herself to set this matter aside, but soon, an incident in the palace shocked her greatly.
The eldest prince, while in riding and archery class, accidentally fell from horseback. If not for palace servants protecting him in time, the consequences would have been unthinkable.
The eldest prince was sent to Chonghui Palace. When Gu Han rushed over, she only heard Consort Chen's heart-wrenching cries of grief. Gu Han glanced at the Emperor's grim face and imperceptibly frowned.
Consort Chen's head struck the ground. Beyond grief, she said through gritted teeth:
"Your Majesty! Someone must be trying to harm the eldest prince! The eldest prince has been taking riding and archery classes for some time and never had an accident. Instead, at this time, he nearly lost his life under horse hooves. This is clearly someone deliberately trying to harm the eldest prince! Your Majesty!"
Gu Han's eyes flickered slightly. The "at this time" in Consort Chen's words clearly had implications.
Even though Gu Han now disliked the Empress, she didn't think today's incident was the Empress's doing. The Empress wasn't mad enough to make enemies for herself on the eve of childbirth.
This instead seemed like someone was sowing discord, deliberately making Consort Chen hate the Empress.
---
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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