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Translator's note: I would like to give a big shoutout to Stephnora and Anxiousempathx for supporting me. you made me so happy guys. A big thank you to all my dear readers who stayed even with the caotic posting schedule. you all have my heart.
Chapter 133: Diverting the Trouble
Yuan Cáirén left very quickly, but after she departed, the atmosphere inside Yihe Palace was not exactly good.
"I heard there is a little eunuch in the Flower Room who tends to the magnolias; these past few days, he has been sneaking around, being the last one to leave the Flower Room. That palace maid thought it was strange, so she kept an eye on him for a while, only to discover that the little eunuch often placed the flower pots of magnolias into water to soak them."
Before Yuan Cáirén left, she left behind one last meaningful sentence:
"As for what is in that water, this concubine doesn't have much ability, so I wouldn't know."
Only the mistress and her three servants remained in Yihe Palace. Gu Han lowered her eyes, looking calm; no one could see her expression clearly, so naturally, there was no way to know what she was thinking. Jiu Nian and Xiao Fangzi exchanged a look, and Jiu Nian stepped forward to say:
"What Yuan Cáirén said was vague and unclear; it might not necessarily be targeted at Your Ladyship."
Gu Han toyed with the jade Ruyi in her hand and said with lowered eyes: "Ever since the Emperor knew I liked orchids, he specifically ordered the Flower Room to cultivate them. How very 'coincidental' that it happens to be the little eunuch tending to the magnolias who is acting foolish."
Jiu Nian went silent. She had spoken up to offer comfort because she was worried the Ladyship would overthink, but now she didn't dare to persuade her further. If the Ladyship really became negligent because of her words and a grave mistake was made in the end, she couldn't shoulder that responsibility.
One wave settles, another rises. A flash of annoyance crossed Gu Han’s eyes, and she whispered:
"There isn't a single day of peace."
The hall became as silent as a cicada in winter.
Gu Han couldn't help but think: if this truly was targeted at her, who would be the person striking out?
Gu Han went through everyone in her mind but didn't find an answer.
To put it bluntly, with the Empress's position currently vacant, there were few concubines in this harem who didn't want to climb into that spot. She held the Emperor’s deep favor and managed the six palaces; she was like a massive stumbling block that the other consorts wanted to get rid of as quickly as possible.
Furthermore, the Flower Room wasn't some high-security area. For anyone with a bit of status, asking the Flower Room for a pot of flowers wasn't a difficult task at all.
Pulling her thoughts back, Gu Han couldn't help but knit her slender brows. At this moment, Xiao Fangzi said: "Does Your Ladyship feel Yuan Cáirén is at all trustworthy?"
Gu Han paused and looked at Xiao Fangzi with surprise.
Xiao Fang-zi shrugged and said respectfully: "Yuan Cáirén keeps saying she had no choice but to seek help from Your Ladyship because Noble Lady Lin was pressing her too hard. But as everyone knows, Noble Lady Lin and Her Ladyship Consort Shu had a falling out long ago. Noble Lady Lin can barely take care of herself; how could she have the spare hand to make things difficult for her?"
In the past, when Noble Lady Lin’s power was at its peak, Yuan Cáirén hadn't sought refuge with anyone. Now that Noble Lady Lin can't even save her own skin, Yuan Cáirén has come to seek refuge with the Ladyship?
The more Xiao Fangzi thought about it, the more he felt there was a trick involved.
A hint of a smile appeared in Gu Han’s eyes, and she covered her lips, saying:
"Have you considered that 'Noble Lady Lin' is merely her excuse?"
The Yuan Cáirén of the past might have wanted to seek refuge with others, but she had no bargaining chips. Now, Yuan Cáirén had the confidence, but she still had to attach a reason to her "bowing her head"; she couldn't simply state that she was a person who follows the trend of power.
"And, what reason would she have to lie to me?"
Xiao Fang-zi couldn't say.
Jiu Nian, on the contrary, saw the logic: "Today is not like the past. It looks like the harem is about to fall into chaos, so Yuan Cáirén naturally wants to seek a peaceful existence."
Everyone wants to climb up, and those low-ranking concubines who are powerless have no choice but to suffer.
Yuan Cáirén carries the guilt of having caused the death of a candidate girl; it is absolutely impossible for her to have another chance to rise. At this time, she needs to fight for a way out for herself.
And the Ladyship is the way out Yuan Cáirén chose for herself.
Xiao Fangzi was speechless. After a long while, he shook his head and said: "It was this servant’s lack of consideration."
Gu Han slowly took a sip of tea, interrupting the conversation between the two:
"None of that is important; keeping an eye on the Flower Room is the priority."
Why not directly expose that little eunuch? Naturally, it was because Gu Han wanted to know who wanted to strike at her. Breaking the plot was easy, but it was easy to leave behind hidden dangers. Just thinking that someone in this harem was lurking in the shadows, waiting for a chance to strike like a poisonous snake, made Gu Han unable to sleep soundly.
After a pause, Gu Han glanced at Xiao Fangzi: "If you don't trust Yuan Cáirén, then send someone to watch her. Being cautious in everything won't lead to mistakes."
Xiao Fang-zi bowed his head respectfully. The thing he admired most about the Ladyship was that no matter when, she would never lower her guard.
In the blink of an eye, it was June. The white lanterns in the palace had long been removed. Occasionally, concubines would go out in groups to play. Just by standing in the Imperial Garden, one could see from afar the palace servants carrying ice blocks, shuttling back and forth through the various paths.
Today's Imperial Garden was not peaceful.
A circle of concubines sat in the pavilion, craning their necks to look at an open space not far from the pavilion. In the late June weather, the scorching sun hung high; walking for half an hour in this kind of weather could make a person faint from the heat.
Noble Lady Lin was kneeling on the ground, her lips so dry the skin was shriveled. Beads of sweat dropped one by one; she was soaked in sweat, and her proper palace attire was mostly drenched, making her look utterly wretched. She had been kneeling for nearly half an hour, and her vision was turning white.
Her body swayed uncontrollably. In an instant, the bowl balanced on her head fell to the ground. The water in the bowl had long been warmed by the sun; it splashed all over her face, finally making her snap awake. A palace servant stepped forward with an iron face, brought another bowl of water, and forced Noble Lady Lin to balance it on her head.
After this happened three times, Noble Lady Lin broke down and wailed from the humiliation; her crying could be heard from a hundred meters away.
This method of tormenting people made everyone in the pavilion cover their mouths in fear.
When the news reached Yihe Palace, Gu Han only paused for a moment:
"The Emperor once ordered that Consort Shu has the power to assist in managing the six palaces. Noble Lady Lin collided with her entourage and broke a jade hairpin bestowed by the Emperor. It's no wonder she is this angry. I cannot interfere."
She said she "cannot interfere," but in truth, she simply didn't want to.
As for the word "collided" in her speech, it sounded slightly mocking to the listener.
But no one in the hall refuted her. Even Zhou Bin tacitly accepted Gu Han's words. It would have been better if Noble Lady Lin simply avoided Consort Shu; why would she go and collide with Consort Shu’s entourage at a time like this?
It was clearly just finding an excuse to punish Noble Lady Lin.
The servant who had been constantly kowtowing just now instantly fell into despair. She was crying so hard she could barely breathe. Gu Han glanced at her, appearing somewhat unable to bear it, and said with pity:
"I cannot interfere, but there is one person who can."
Noble Lady Lin’s servant’s eyes lit up. She guessed who Consort Zhao was talking about and didn't dare waste any more time. After scrambling up and taking her leave, she ran away in a desperate hurry.
Yuan Cáirén had already gone to the Imperial Garden to join the excitement; only Gu Han and Zhou Bin were in Yihe Palace. Zhou Bin peeled a grape and tossed it into her mouth. Ice basins were placed in the hall, and servants waved round fans; a thread of cool breeze blew in, making one feel refreshed to the bone.
Zhou Bin spat out the seed and complained along the way:
"Killing someone is nothing more than a nod of the head; by humiliating Noble Lady Lin like this, isn't Consort Shu afraid that even a cornered rabbit will bite?"
Gu Han was reading through the dossiers sent from the Palace Administration Department. Hearing this, she didn't even lift her head: "Why do you care about her?"
Zhou Bin rolled her eyes and muttered softly:
"If you don't want to care, then why did you let that servant go find my Cousin?"
If that servant went directly to find her Cousin, he might not necessarily see her. But if that servant was clever and said it was Consort Zhao who sent her to find the Emperor, Liu An would definitely have to announce it.
The servant might not see through it, but did Zhou Bin not understand Gu Han’s little schemes?
Gu Han’s movements paused. She shot an annoyed sideways glance at her and slowly put down the brush in her hand. Jiu Nian stepped forward to wash her hands for her before Gu Han said:
"I let her find the Emperor because I don't want the palace to be this noisy all the time."
Regardless, she was the one in charge of the six palaces now. if word got out, it would only make people feel she was managing poorly.
Furthermore, with Consort Shu acting this way, the concubines of the harem all felt a bit more fear toward her; her arrogance was too great. If Gu Han truly stayed indifferent, she would inevitably be seen as being suppressed by the other in the eyes of others.
The twists and turns within this were incredibly annoying. It just so happened that Consort Shu was targeting Noble Lady Lin, and Gu Han had just received a favor from Yuan Cáirén, so she could only resolve it in this roundabout way.
Zhou Bin curled her lip, not saying whether she believed it or not—but instead changed the subject:
"I heard Lady Yao got the cold shoulder from the Emperor again yesterday?"
The Empress’s mourning period was long over, and the Emperor had entered the harem; the place he visited most often was Yihe Palace. During this time, Lady Yao hadn't been called to serve even once, so naturally, she was anxious and was always finding ways to seek an audience with the Emperor at the Imperial Study.
But the Emperor hadn't seen her even once.
And because Lady Yao’s status was special, even if the Emperor was impatient with her, he wouldn't punish her for it.
This had made this phenomenon a common sight in the palace; some concubines couldn't help but say a few sour words. Even Zhou Bin found it a bit hard to watch:
"Cousin is busy with government affairs; where would he have the time to pay attention to her? She really has no shame."
Gu Han had no particular feelings toward Lady Yao, only feeling that her brain didn't seem very bright. But as long as she didn't harbor bad intentions, no one could do anything to her. Gu Han had simply let her be, but Zhou Bin was right—Lady Yao constantly going to the Imperial Study wasn't a solution either.
Gu Han’s eyes flashed slightly. She asked, "The Emperor hasn't been to Yi’an Palace for a while, right?"
Jiu Nian answered:
"It has been nearly ten days."
Although the Empress had fallen and Consort Shu’s role had diminished, Consort Shu was, after all, raising the little Princess. The Emperor always had to visit a few times a month. Gu Han estimated that the reason the Emperor was unwilling to go to Yi’an Palace lately was because Consort Shu was being too restless.
But it would only be these few days. Gu Han said unhurriedly:
"Make Lady Yao be a bit quieter."
Zhou Bin didn't understand the connection: "If Lady Yao were someone who could listen to advice, how could she have become the joke of the palace?"
Gu Han raised her eyebrows and only said to Jiu Nian:
"Tell her that the Emperor will be going to Yi’an Palace in the next few days, so tell her not to go to the imperial study to disturb the Emperor anymore."
As for who the Emperor was going to Yi’an Palace to see, that was a matter of opinion.
After she spoke, Zhou Bin finally understood. Her mouth twitched:
"This move of yours is diverting the trouble to the east."
Author's Note:
Consort Shu: I thank you so much!
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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