Chapter 56
Jingqiu Pavilion stood far away from everything else . All year round, it gave off a gloomy atmosphere . During the winter, it was even more gloomy and cold . For this reason, when it came to the imperial concubines, that place was basically the Cold Palace¹ .
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On the day Shurong Ye had been demoted to a noble lady, she moved to Jingqiu Pavilion . She stood by the side of a window covered in dust . Although Ronghua Ye stood in front of her, Noble lady ye’s face did not reveal much of an expression . Without her jewelry, she appeared more pure and fresh than before . What a pity that there would be no one appreciating her beauty anymore .
Ronghua Ye’s gaze fell upon her, thick with mockery . She sneered . “Putting on an indifferent appearance is what you’re best at . But you’ve forgotten that we’ve been sisters for many years . Naturally, I’d know that the more serene your expression is, the more you care about something . You’re used to putting on this act . Since young, you’ve been a good daughter in Father and Mother’s eyes . After entering the palace, you wore a virtuous appearance . Even when you were scheming against me, you also had on an innocent face . For so many years, this appearance of yours has truly disgusted me . ”
The expression of Noble Lady Ye finally changed . She looked at Ronghua Ye’s face full of ridicule, anger flashing in her eyes . “Yes . I’ve been sensible and clever since young . However, Father and Mother were still biased toward you . My beauty doesn’t lose to yours, so why should I be under you?!”
“That’s why you used your miscarriage to scheme against me . You’re not only jealous of me . You’re jealous of all the favored imperial concubines . Unfortunately, although you love the emperor, the emperor doesn’t love you . ” Ronghua Ye lifted her chin and mocked, “How can you even compare to others? You always look like a block of wood . If I were a man, I wouldn’t want to spare you a second glance . Even if you frame me, get me demoted to a ronghua, too bad . Right now your status is even lower than mine, Noble Lady Ye!”
“Yes . I caused you to be demoted . However, you’re abusive to the servants, arrogant and domineering . Even if I didn’t frame you, how long do you think you could keep your position?” Noble Lady Ye no longer wore her virtuous mask, her face full of resentfulness toward Ronghua Ye . “His Majesty originally wasn’t happy about the child I carried, and I’m not favored . That child was bound to unkeepable . I exchanged a child that was destined not to be born for your demotion . I don’t see any reason not to take that exchange . ”
“You think you’re so clean?” Ronghua Ye snorted coldly . “No one knows how Imperial Concubine Wang died, but how could I be unclear? Wasn’t it because she just happened to catch sight of the moment you framed me? And why was it that she died from illness not long after? You ought to know you’re not the only one who can use the people the Ye family inserted into the palace . I can too . ”
“My hands aren’t clean, but have you ever considered that you framing me will also hurt the Ye family? You actually dared to push the crime of killing imperial princes on me . If in his rage, the emperor implicated the whole Ye family, what would you do?” Noble Lady Ye pointed a finger at Ronghua Ye . “Since young, you’ve acted arbitrarily and recklessly . After entering the palace for so many years, you’re not afraid of capital punishment?”
“When you had framed me, you did not think of the Ye family . ” Ronghua Ye sneered . “We’re the same . So what if you’re jealous of me or frame me? In the end, the winner is me . ”
Provoked by Ronghua Ye’s contemptful gaze, Noble Lady Ye raised a hand to slap her sister . But Ronghua Ye was quicker, shoving her aside . She bent down and said to Noble Lady Ye in a soft voice, “You say I act arbitrarily and recklessly, and hate that I exploited the relationship between Muyue and Xiao Ju to set you up . But do you know why Muyue admitted to this crime?
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“It’s because… she belongs to me . I’ve long since known you were scheming against me . Did you think I didn’t know the emperor no longer liked us sisters? I merely borrowed your hand to retreat for the sake of advancing . That’s why now, I’m a fifth-rank ronghua and you’re just a seventh-rank noble lady . Your position is lower than mine . ”
“You!” Noble Lady Ye’s eyes widened in a flash . As if she were seeing who Ronghua Ye was for the first time .
“From start to finish, the person who couldn’t see clearly was you . Not me . ” Ronghua Ye stood up straight . Fixed the silver hairpin in her hair . “It’s getting late . Younger Sister will take one’s leave, Elder Sister . ”
Once Ronghua Ye had stepped foot outside the front doors of the side hall, her ears caught the sound of porcelain shattering on the ground . Smiling, she turned her head . Gazed at the dark front doors . She touched her jadeite earrings . Elder Sister, since young, you haven’t been my match . So why did you delude yourself into thinking you can win in the imperial harem?
How could the emperor actually love someone? Elder Sister, you’re foolish enough to love the emperor, so you’re destined for a crushing defeat .
“Master,” said a palace maid waiting outside the residence’s doors the moment she saw Ronghua Ye exit . She approached to support her master by holding her hand .
“Let’s return . ” With long strides, Ronghua Ye left the gloomy and cold residence, not once glancing back .
In Xihe Palace, Zhuang Laoyan took small sips of a bowl of a soup made from black-boned chicken and white-tailed phoenix mushroom . She allowed Tingzhu to angrily guess why Noble Lady Ye would harm her .
“This Noble Lady Ye truly has a vicious heart . Unable to protect her own child, she then schemes to harm Master . ” Concerned, Tingzhu looked at her pale master . “Saying that a palace maid was resentful? It was obviously she who was inciting this in the background . Fortunately, His Majesty is fair and demoted her . Such a vicious person is unsuitable for a high position . ”
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Zhuang Laoyan set down the bowl . Received a handkerchief from Yunxi and wiped the corners of her mouth . “Who in the harem doesn’t have a vicious heart? In the future, we will have to be more careful . ”
“Master is right . ” Yunxi glanced at Tingzhu . “The cooks in the personal kitchen are preparing a tonic . Go see if it’s done . ”
After Tingzhu had left, Yunxi looked at Zhuang Laoyan, her gaze somewhat doubtful . “Master, why are you keeping this a secret from Tingzhu?”
“For this kind of matter, the less people know of it, the better . ” Zhuang Laoyan gazed at the bowl of soup before her, steam rising from its surface . “Furthermore, the more realistic the expressions of my personal first-rank palace maids, the easier outsiders would believe them . And the most realistic expression is one that is natural . That’s why it’s better not to tell her . ” Although Tingzhu served her very attentively and was never disloyal, recently she had grown fickle and impatient . For this reason, it was better not to tell her the truth of what had transpired .
“However, Tingzhu was right about something . Never had it crossed my mind that it was Noble Lady Ye who schemed against Master . ” Yunxi sighed . “This slave has worked in the imperial palace for many years, yet had never noticed Noble Lady Ye was this kind of person . ”
“I’m not sure what kind of person she is . But this matter isn’t that simple . ” Zhuang Laoyan lazily held the handheld brazier against her abdomen . “Still, I’m satisfied with the outcome . ”
As soon as Yunxi had heard those words, she smiled . “It’s been about a year since Master entered the palace, and Master has already been promoted to a xiuyi . It’s already hard to come by, evident that His Majesty cares about you . ”
For an ambitious emperor to care about a woman would only be a joke . Zhuang Laoyan understood clearly, yet revealed an expression that spoke of secret delight . “Yunxi, don’t say this . His Majesty attends to many matters every day . There are countless imperial concubines . How could I dare to harbor excessive hope?”
Yunxi added, “Master, you don’t know this, but even Noble Consort Shu didn’t rise in the ranks as quickly your honored self did . ” She understood clearly that although every time her master was promoted, it wasn’t especially conspicuous, done in small steps, the frequency of the promotions and the title the emperor had bestowed her master was enough to prove his care . “Master, although you cannot serve the emperor this month, His Majesty has never forgotten you . He also keeps on bestowing things to your honored self . Isn’t this proof that His Majesty places importance on you?”
Before the master and servant could finish their conversation, Fu Bao arrived . “Master, Virtuous Imperial Concubine Jiang and Cairen Kong have come to pay respects . ”
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“Quickly allow them entry . ” Zhuang Laoyan rose to her feet . As she took a few steps toward the door, she caught sight of Virtuous Imperial Concubine Jiang and Cairen Kong rushing in .
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She reached out to stop them from paying respects . Once the two had sat down, Zhuang Laoyan smiled . “It’s cold today . Why have you two come?”
“A few days ago, His Majesty decreed that we cannot disturb you . That’s why we couldn’t visit you recently . ” Virtuous Imperial Concubine Jiang glanced at Zhuang Laoyan’s expression . It had already been half a month since the miscarriage . The other party’s face started to have some life in it, and she also seemed more energetic . However, her smile still carried a trace of loneliness and difficulty .
Virtuous Imperial Concubine Jiang understood how important a child was to women . She said consolingly, “Your complexion seems a lot better than before . Take your time recovering . This concubine heard that His Majesty asks about your health daily . So don’t squander the emperor’s concern . ”
“I’ve troubled Older Sister to worry about me . ” Zhuang Laoyan had yet to put on makeup, so her expression seemed more sincere . However, she didn’t appear as energetic as before .
Virtuous Imperial Concubine Jiang smiled bitterly in her heart . At present, she wasn’t favored . Xiuyi Zhao’s miscarriage inspired pity from others, but the women who did not even hold a trace of favor were the truly pitiful ones . She herself didn’t know what to feel as she came to visit Xiuyi Zhao . However, once the other party was before her eyes, she realized every woman in the harem was pitiful . It’s merely that some people seemed more blessed at present .
“May the two masters have a taste of the new pastries made by the newly-arrived older female servants . See if they are to your honored selves’ taste,” said Tingzhu as she brought pastries and tea into the room . After she saluted the two, she placed the items on the table .
“Are these made from the older female servants His Majesty specially transferred to Xiuyi Zhao, who are skilled in culinary delicacies?” After a taste, Virtuous Imperial Concubine Jiang nodded and praised, “It melts in the mouth, sweet but not greasy, and even carries the scent of jasmine . Truly skillful hands . ”
“This concubine is benefiting from Xiuyi Zhao,” praised Cairen Kong as well . “Since His Majesty cares about Xiuyi Zhao’s heath in this manner, Xiuyi must recover quickly . If women harm their bodies after a miscarriage, they would have a hard time recovering their bodies to their original states . ”
Zhuang Laoyan also ate a piece of pastry . “Younger Sister understands that you elder sisters are concerned about my health . I just still have trouble accepting what happened . I originally thought…” She paused . Revealed a bitter smile . “Nevermind . I shouldn’t think about this anymore . It’s just that I still can’t accept it yet . ”
“We’ve said before that you will have a child for us again . Why must you hurt your body by suffering from pent-up frustrations?”
The deep voice had come from outside the door . The three imperial concubines rushed to stand . “Greetings to Your Majesty . ”
“No need to stand on ceremony . ” Feng Jin reached out to support Zhuang Laoyan to her feet . “Why is your complexion still so poor? Did you not have a proper meal recently?”
Zhuang Laoyan borrowed his strength to stand straight . “The skills of the older female servants are impeccable . Your Majesty worries about this concubine too much . ”
“Since you also know that We worry about you, you ought to properly recover . Do not think about past matters . ” Feng Jin pulled Zhuang Laoyan by the hand to sit . His gaze fell upon Virtuous Imperial Concubine Jiang and Cairen Kong . “You two should also sit . Have you come to visit Xiuyi Zhao?”
“Reporting to Your Majesty, just now this concubine and Cairen Kong met while admiring the snow . Then we decided to visit Xiuyi Zhao together,” replied Virtuous Imperial Concubine Jiang carefully .
“Mm . She has recovered a bit recently . It’s good for you to come chat with her . ” Feng Jin nodded . Then he turned to Zhuang Laoyan again . “Today is the first day of the Lunar New Year holidays . In two days, it will be New Year’s day . At that time, there will be a feast . We will be busy . One would fear We will not have time to look after you . You will have to be more careful yourself . Don’t catch a cold . ”
“Is Your Majesty treating this concubine like a child?” Zhuang Laoyan clasped hands with Feng Jin . A smile blossomed on her lips as she said, “Yunxi and Tingzhu are very attentive . How could I catch a cold? Actually, Your Majesty is the one who should not forget to eat and rest due to being busy . Recently, your honored self seems to have gotten thinner . ”
“As long as you start to accept what transpired, We won’t grow thinner from worry . ” Feng Jin pinched her cheek, his face full of the intention to pamper .
Zhuang Laoyan glanced at Virtuous Imperial Concubine Jiang and Cairen Kong from her peripheral vision, who were sitting across from her . Emperor, do you think it’s okay to take liberties with a concubine in front of two other concubines of yours?