Chapter 88 - 73: Chen Daying, the Master of Palace Intrigue
The palace maids and eunuchs serving outside the main hall knelt in silence, covering the ground. Not one of them dared to make a sound to warn their mistresses—if a mistress misspoke, she would at most incur the Emperor’s displeasure. But if a servant so much as moved, their head would be on the line.
He was in the throes of his pursuit of "naturalness" and wanted to see what Jiang Xian was like in private. He never expected to overhear the truth about the mutton soup.
The Emperor wasn’t angry; he just found it a bit amusing.
Then, he heard Chen Daying continue ordering food. "I’ve ordered a whole pile of spicy dishes without even realizing it. Now I want something sweet. Quick, have the Imperial Kitchen do their filial duty and bring two more plates of dessert."
The Emperor’s brow twitched.
’Is that how one uses the term ’filial duty’? Mrs. Chen is so uncouth.’
He strode inside, and a eunuch immediately lifted the curtain for him. "So, the mutton soup isn’t your favorite after all. It seems my praise for them was in vain."
The Palace Attendants serving in the inner chamber jumped in fright and fell to their knees.
Chen Daying and Jiang Xian knelt to greet him as well. The Emperor stepped forward to help Jiang Xian up, listening as she said, "I usually let Chen Daying order the food. The mutton soup is indeed delicious, so Your Majesty’s praise was not misplaced."
Chen Daying jumped. As the Emperor’s gaze swept over her, she blurted out, "This concubine greets Your Majesty. This concubine will now take her leave." She had skipped right past the part where she was supposed to be told to rise.
Chen Daying was firmly convinced that her comfortable life in the harem was entirely thanks to Jiang Xian.
Trying to steal Jiang Xian’s favor would be like smashing her own rice bowl.
It was best not to give the Emperor any reason to be suspicious.
The Emperor said with amusement, "I haven’t told you to rise yet."
He figured that since it was mealtime and the two were friends, she might as well stay and eat with them. He wasn’t that unreasonable of an Emperor, after all.
Chen Daying froze.
Her brain could only process one thing at a time. She wanted to leave, but the Emperor’s "I haven’t told you to rise" command had short-circuited her plan. So, she maintained a furtive, half-kneeling posture and began shuffling backward toward the door in tiny steps, like a panicked creature scuttling through the shadows.
And she thought she was being quite clever and adaptable.
’I’m being respectful while also avoiding any suspicion. Is there any other concubine in the harem as socially adept as I am?!’
The Emperor was so stunned by the spectacle that he was speechless.
’The feng shui of the Imperial Palace certainly nurtures all kinds of people,’ he thought. ’It’s even produced an oddball like this!’
It was Jiang Xian who finally cleared her throat, smoothing things over. "Your Majesty, all the dishes ordered today are Chen Daying’s favorites. Why not let her stay and dine with us? We can just order a couple more dishes that you like."
The Emperor nodded, then addressed Chen Daying with exasperation. "I’m not going to eat you, so there’s no need to be so terrified. Since Noble Lady Gu has spoken, you may sit down!"
After thanking him, Chen Daying scurried to the most inconspicuous seat she could find, trying to make herself as small as possible.
The Emperor had come to Yizhu Pavilion today hoping to see his favorite concubine’s daily life, so he said, "Don’t mind me. Act as you normally would. It’s just a casual meal."
’The boss is spouting bullshit again,’ Jiang Xian thought.
She understood, but Chen Daying didn’t. Chen Daying shot Jiang Xian a furtive glance, desperate for rescue. She saw Jiang Xian give her a barely perceptible nod, which put her at ease.
Jiang Xian mused to herself,
’Given Chen Daying’s lack of emotional intelligence and scheming ability, her best bet is to just be utterly sincere. She might even get a good review from the Emperor for having the pure heart of a child.’
He Xiang, who was standing behind them to serve, saw the silent exchange between the two young mistresses and was horrified. ’How could Noble Lady Gu tell my mistress to just relax? The moment my mistress relaxes, her mouth runs like she’s had a laxative—it’s unstoppable! My lady, you must not believe her! Stay on your guard!’
"As you command," she said.
Then she watched as Chen Daying cheerfully asked for a flatbread, broke it into pieces, and dunked them in her mutton soup...
He Xiang knew then that her mistress had taken Noble Lady Gu’s advice to heart. She was really no longer treating the Emperor as a formal guest.
"I see you two are wearing makeup even here in Yizhu Pavilion," the Emperor remarked. "Do you only take it off right before bed?"
A thought sparked in Jiang Xian’s mind.
She had no spy network in the harem, so she didn’t know which palace the Emperor had just come from. However, given how fixated he was on her bare face yesterday, and knowing his personality, she suspected he had just been discussing this very topic with another of his concubines. He must have come here to get her take on it. "We must rise each day to dress and apply our makeup," she explained. "To appear at Jianzhang Palace to pay our respects without doing so would be a breach of etiquette."
’For five thousand years, people have been saying it’s rude not to wear makeup.’
’Of course, that doesn’t really hold up in the modern world.’
’Wear it if you want, don’t if you don’t. It’s a personal choice.’
Chen Daying chimed in, "If I didn’t have to go pay my respects, I wouldn’t wear makeup in Yizhu Pavilion."
Curious, the Emperor asked her why.
"Rouge and powder all cost money," she answered seriously. "The allowance we’re given isn’t enough, so I try to use them sparingly."
Chen Daying’s earnest reply made the Emperor choke. Was she implying he was being stingy with his concubines?
Not wanting to be seen as a miser, the Emperor immediately ordered Liang Yuyin to reward Chen Daying with a supply of cosmetics and told her to use them freely. At the same time, he took Jiang Xian’s hand and said, "You too. If you’re lacking anything, just ask the Imperial Household. It would be a terrible waste to let such a beautiful face go unadorned."
Jiang Xian smiled and agreed. "Then on behalf of Chen Daying, I thank you for your grace, Your Majesty."
Halfway through the meal, the Emperor spoke up again. "Noble Lady Gu is gorgeous even without a trace of powder. The difference between how some women look with and without makeup is truly astonishing. Not like Noble Lady Gu, who is naturally blessed." He was mindful of the Noble Consort’s reputation, so he didn’t name names, but Liang Yuyin, standing beside him, understood instantly.
Jiang Xian was still trying to figure out which concubine in the harem he was using to praise her at their expense when Chen Daying piped up, "Isn’t that a good thing?"
"Why would it be a good thing?"
"If there’s no difference between wearing makeup and not wearing it, then you’ve just put it on for nothing. What a waste of silver."
Chen Daying’s philosophy on makeup took the Emperor by surprise. He sighed. "But when they look like a completely different person with makeup on, the contrast is just too jarring. I find it difficult to accept."
"I sometimes think so too. Isn’t wearing makeup just letting your face tell a lie? If the difference is huge, then that face is guilty of deceiving the Emperor."
Jiang Xian: ...
She was still trying to parse the Emperor’s deeper meaning, and someone had already taken the conversation a million miles off course.
The Emperor replied, "Well, it’s not that serious."
But even as he said it, the Emperor found himself swayed by Chen Daying’s argument.
After all, it was far more palatable to believe that Noble Princess Consort Rong wore heavy makeup with the intent to deceive him than to admit he was just shallow. People are naturally prone to double standards, and the Venerable Emperor was no exception.
Hearing this, Jiang Xian finally cut in. "The two cannot be equated. A woman beautifies herself for the one who appreciates her. If there is anyone in the harem whose appearance changes greatly with makeup, it is only because she holds a deep affection for Your Majesty and wants you to see her at her most beautiful. There is nothing improper about that."
’Competing in the system was one thing,’ she thought. ’But Jiang Xian never actively tried to bring others down.’
Her words made the Emperor fall into thought once again.
He left after finishing his meal, not staying the night at Yizhu Pavilion.
After he was gone, news belatedly reached Yizhu Pavilion: the Emperor had come directly from Zhaoyang Palace. The woman whose appearance changed so dramatically with makeup had to be Noble Princess Consort Rong.
Jiang Xian shot her a look. "I’m nothing compared to you. You really did a number on the Noble Consort."
Chen Daying looked shocked and confused.
A moment later, she turned to He Xiang and said, "See? I told you your mistress is a master of palace intrigue, and you didn’t believe me."
He Xiang: ... ’If it weren’t for Noble Lady Gu,’ she thought, ’my mistress would get herself killed in these schemes sooner or later.’