Chapter 57
The current situation was somewhat complicated . Zhuang Laoyan, Cairen Kong, and Virtuous Imperial Concubine Jiang weren’t very close . So much so that none of them knew what the others were thinking .
Let’s not talk about the fact that this was the imperial harem . If some benefit was involved, there would be fighting and scheming . She did not believe that there were such things as sisterly affection in the harem . The Ye family sisters were an example of this .
It seemed Feng Jin did not care about Cairen Kong and Virtuous Imperial Concubine Jiang . Once he saw how shy Zhuang Laoyan appeared, he smiled as he played with her fair hand . “Don’t say that We are not concerned about you . After the new year, We will promote the harem greatly . How could you participate in the event with such an appearance?”
Did the emperor mean he would promote Xiuyi Zhao again after the new year? Virtuous Imperial Concubine Jiang was astonished . Xiuyi Zhao’s speed of promotion this year already shocked others . It went to show how much the emperor favored her . Now, she would even be promoted after the new year . Such a thing truly was a miracle in the imperial harem .
After Cairen Kong had heard those words, her eyes glowed with a strange brilliance . She looked down, hiding her determination .
Zhuang Laoyan herself found this surprising . She had expected that the emperor would promote her because of her miscarriage, but never had she expected to be included in the huge promotion ceremony after the new year .
Gradually, she came to a possibility . Perhaps she was the emperor’s secret weapon in this battlefield that was the harem . Noble Consort Shu was used to go against the empress . And she and Noble Imperial Concubine Yan were used to go against Noble Consort Shu . If it weren’t for the fact that she was a great actress and showed up often in front of him, perhaps she wouldn’t even have the chance to be a secret weapon .
Sometimes, she would think, what would happen if the emperor fell in love with someone? But as soon as she remembered this was the imperial harem and not a romantic drama on TV, she recalled an important fact: even if women were nosy, they must learn not to be excessive .
“Your Majesty, this concubine does not have the qualifications…” Zhuang Laoyan’s eyes were red . The hand in the emperor’s grasp trembled slightly .
“Just set your mind at rest and recover . We cherish you dearly . There’s no other reason, so don’t think too much . ” Feng Jin patted the back of her hand, wanting her to understand that he wasn’t just compensating her .
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Emperors weren’t familiar with something like consoling others . This act of trying to hide something yet having it exposed in the end . These things that should not be said but still were purposely said . Just how dishonest was this person?
As soon as Virtuous Imperial Concubine Jiang caught sight of Zhuang Laoyan’s smiling-through-tears appearance, she felt that Zhuang Laoyan’s promotion wasn’t something she should be envious about . At the very least, for an imperial concubine who had just miscarried and loved the emperor wholeheartedly, such a compensation was hurtful .
All of a sudden, she lost interest in looking at this scene, a scene of a woman loving a man but the man being heartless . Virtuous Imperial Concubine Jiang rose to her feet and saluted . “It seems Your Majesty and Xiuyi Zhao have more matters to discuss . This concubine remembers there are still things to attend to, and will return first . ”
Cairen Kong also stood and asked to be dismissed . Feng Jin did not urge them to stay . After the two had left, he said to Gao Dezhong, who was by his side, “We will stay overnight at Xiuyi Zhao’s residence . ”
Gao Dezhong wanted to remind the emperor that he had already flipped Xiuyi Su’s nametag today, but after seeing the emperor’s attitude, he knew he should stay quiet . And he retreated, allowing the other servants to prepare .
Just as Virtuous Imperial Concubine Jiang and Cairen Kong had arrived at the gates of Xihe Palace, they saw two eunuchs rush in holding branches of plum blossoms . Virtuous Imperial Concubine Jiang recognized those two . They were eunuchs that waited on the emperor and were trusted by him .
“Greetings to the two masters . ” The two eunuchs’ etiquette was perfect . They did not slight the two imperial concubines just because they were not favored .
“The two gongongs¹ need not be so ceremonious . ” Virtuous Imperial Concubine Jiang took in the plum blossoms they held . “These plum blossoms are beautiful . What are the two gongongs doing with them?”
“Reporting to Master Jiang, the thought that due to her miscarriage, Master Zhao could not go outside to appreciate the plum blossoms, had plagued His Majesty’s mind . As such, he told us slaves to pick a few beautiful branches to place in Master Zhao’s palace . So that she would feel like she’s outside . ” The little eunuch saluted . “Us slaves must report on our completion of the task . May the masters forgive us for slighting your honored selves . ”
“If the two gongongs have important matters to attend to, then do not inconvenience yourselves . ” Virtuous Imperial Concubine Jiang watched as the two eunuchs rushed into Xihe Palace . No wonder Xiuyi Zhao was so moved by the emperor . This kind of favor was unique to her .
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She used a palace maid’s hand for support as she walked into the snow . The crunch of snow filled the air, giving off a lonely impression that could not be put into words . Cairen Kong sighed heavily . “It seems Elder Sister Jiang has a good relationship with Xiuyi Zhao . ”
“How could there be good or bad relationships in the harem?” In her hands was a handheld brazier that was growing cold . “Although Xiuyi Zhao is favored, unfortunately her schemes leave things to be desired . ”
“Those in the harem who can’t scheme are either dead or not favored . Like Elder Sister and I, women who aren’t favored and don’t have much status . ” Expressionless, Cairen Kong stared at the low-ranked palace maids far away, who were expending much effort in shoveling snow . “In less than a year, Zhuang Laoyan went from a lesser fifth-rank wanyi² to a proper third-rank xiuyi . How could a stupid woman achieve this?”
“Although she has a bit of intelligence, unfortunately she has a fatal weakness . And it’s that she wholeheartedly loves the emperor . There is no way she can shake up the empress and Consort Xian . ” Virtuous Imperial Concubine Jiang sighed . “When I had first entered the palace, because your elder sister helped me, I did not die a dubious death . That’s why I don’t want you to lose your life³ due to impulsiveness . ”
“Ever since my sister and me were sent to His Majesty, my life has been over,” said Cairen Kong with a gloomy expression . “I cannot let Elder Sister die in vain . And Elder Sister’s child too . Although I cannot shake up the empress and Consort Xian, if I can take a huge bite out of them, I’ll be satisfied . You and Elder Sister had a good relationship . Ever since Elder Sister left the world, you have taken care of me quite well . I will not forget this . However, there are times in which revenge must be taken . ”
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“But why are you targeting Zhuang Laoyan?” Virtuous Imperial Concubine Jiang furrowed her brows . “Her weakness is too obvious . In this imperial harem, such a weakness is very dangerous . ”
“Has Elder Sister Jiang forgotten? Sometimes, love can make a woman even more ruthless . ” A complicated smile spread across Cairen Kong’s face . “What’s more, dogs that don’t bark bite the hardest . ”
Virtuous Imperial Concubine Jiang’s gaze fell upon Cairen Kong . She opened her mouth, but did not know how to advise her from doing this .
Twenty days had passed since Zhuang Laoyan’s miscarriage, but the emperor wasn’t as much of a beast to touch her during this time . For this reason, they merely cuddled in bed, chatted, then slept .
Feng Jing hugged Zhuang Laoyan’s waist . Her warmth made him feel at ease . “Do you like the plum blossoms We had people send to you?”
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“Your Majesty, you’ve forgotten that this concubine is a common person . This concubine does not know how to appreciate plum blossoms . However, this concubine does like the fragrance . ” Zhuang Laoyan snuggled closer to the emperor’s chest . On such a cold winter day, it was nice to have a human heater . “But this concubine heard that Your Majesty is fond of plum blossoms, and often goes to the plum blossom garden to admire them . ”
“We and beloved concubine both enjoy the scent of plum blossoms . ” Feng Jin coughed dryly once . “As for its appearance, there’s nothing special about it . ”
“Then Your Majesty and this concubine are both common people,” said Zhuang Laoyan, her tone carrying surprise that they were a similar type . “So this concubine isn’t the only one who won’t admire the plum blossom’s cold elegance . ”
Her tone was not polite, but Feng Jin found the woman in his arms to be the best . Her recent sorrowful appearance caused him panic .
Indeed, he liked vivacious women . And all the women in the imperial harem were lacking vivaciousness . Fortunately, Zhuang Laoyan did not .
Of course, if Zhuang Laoyan knew what the emperor was thinking, she could only say that men had genes that made them masochists . When other women treated him very well, he would say they were not vivacious enough, inflexible . When women occasionally acted coquettishly and willful in front of him, he would actually consider that as vivacious .
Wasn’t this… some kind of mental disorder?
After lying in the warm bed as she had watched the emperor leave with a face full of content, she asked Tingzhu who just came in, “Tingzhu, whose name tag did the emperor flip last night?”
“Master, it was Xiuyi Su’s . ”
All of a sudden, realization struck Zhuang Laoyan . Indeed, it was someone from Noble Consort Shu’s clique . Did the emperor do this on purpose?
For the women of the imperial harem, there were some things that were incredibly shameful . For example, when the emperor had clearly flipped one’s nametag but went to see another woman instead .
Xiuyi Su wasn’t extremely favored, but because of her beauty, the emperor still favored her . Moreover, she was Noble Consort Shu’s cousin from the father’s side . For this reason, no one in the imperial harem dared to embarrass her . Who would have known she would lose so much face last night? The emperor would rather visit Zhuang Laoyan who had miscarried than go to her own palace . Once this news spread, only the heavens would know how many people were laughing behind Xiuyi Su’s back .
Moreover, although at the moment she and Zhuang Laoyan were both of the xiuyi rank, Zhuang Laoyan had a title . On the other hand, she only had her last name as a “title . ” When the two were compared, Zhuang Laoyan was more honorable .
For this reason, when Xiuyi Su encountered Zhuang Laoyan, who was coming to pay respects for the first time after miscarrying, on the path right outside the empress palace, her expression was unsightly . “Isn’t this Younger Sister Xiuyi Zhao?” asked the always bad-tempered Xiuyi Su with a fake smile . “Younger Sister has miscarried, so why don’t you stay in your palace to recuperate? Why did you come out?”
“Hello Elder Sister,” said Zhuang Laoyan, lightly curtsying . “It’s nearly the new year . Younger Sister noticed that it hasn’t snowed today, so came to pay respects to Her Majesty the empress . ”
“Younger Sister is agreeable . When it comes to this, I can’t compare . No wonder His Majesty is fond of you . ” Xiuyi Su lifted her chin, giving off the impression she looked down on Zhuang Laoyan . “Now, Younger Sister will be learning more etiquette from Her Majesty the empress . Younger Sister’s etiquette sure is good . ”
“Elder Sister is praising me too much . ” Zhuang Laoyan smiled a shade . “Her Majesty the empress is the master of the harem . Naturally, we must pay respects to her . ”
Not knowing who had caused the empress to be forced into dividing her authority, Xiuyi Su rolled her eyes . She walked away using her palace maid’s hand for support, not sparing Zhuang Laoyan another glance . “Caixiu, let’s go . Your master, I, am not an agreeable person . Naturally, I can’t understand those things . ”
Zhuang Laoyan watched with a tranquil expression as Xiuyi Su entered Jingyang Palace a step ahead of her . Smiling as she used Yunxi’s hand for support, she said, “Let’s go . ”
She didn’t believe that with the emperor’s lust for control, the things that occurred today would not enter his ears .
Xiuyi Su was correct . Sometimes, acting agreeably would make others fond of one . Otherwise, why would there be the saying “to curry favor by sowing obeisance?”