Chapter 120 - 101: Just the Right Relaxation
The next day, Hui Pin left Weiyang Palace in tears.
She had fought so hard for the chance to serve the Emperor, and she didn’t want the other Concubines to laugh at her. So, she had her palace maid apply thick, heavy makeup to hide her red-rimmed eyes and the dark circles underneath. Then, with her head held high, she went to Jianzhang Palace to pay her morning respects.
Lu Ronghua, however, saw her and said with great jealousy, "It seems Hui Pin didn’t sleep well last night. To show up for morning respects with such elaborate makeup... I wonder if you’re trying to make a statement to the Empress!"
"I would never dare. I beg the Empress to see the truth."
Hui Pin looked up toward the main seat, feeling wronged.
Unfortunately, the Empress did not respond as she had hoped.
The Empress was maintaining her elegant posture, perfectly and discreetly relaxing.
In other words, she was zoning out.
She had cultivated this skill for many years and was highly proficient. Those who didn’t know her well couldn’t tell and would mistake it for a solemn, dignified expression.
"Your Majesty..."
"I merely wanted my makeup to look a little nicer, but Lu Ronghua maliciously speculates about my intentions. I am terrified!"
’There was no one left in this harem to share the burden of its management.’
’Princess Consort Zhang did nothing but pet her cats. She would’ve liked a promotion to become the second Noble Consort, and if the Empress could offer the position as bait, she’d be more than willing to help. But the Emperor, considering various factors, had no immediate plans to appoint a second Noble Consort. With no bait to offer, and with Princess Consort Zhang unwilling to make a move and incur the current Noble Consort’s wariness, she had simply decided to tune out all worldly affairs and start her retirement early.’
Pulled from her thoughts by Hui Pin’s incessant complaints, the Empress finally came to her senses.
"’You’re terrified?’ the Empress asked coolly. ’The Noble Consort isn’t even here. What are you terrified of? What matter requires me to uphold justice? Are you all here to pay your respects, or did you come to Jianzhang Palace to hold a court hearing?’"
The Empress’s three soul-crushing questions silenced all the Concubines.
Seeing this, the Empress couldn’t help but sigh inwardly—
’Rong Xueshi’s reputation as the harem’s number one tyrant really comes in handy sometimes.’
※
Meanwhile, the "very useful" Lady was awkwardly trying to relax.
The third time her head bobbed from drowsiness, the Empress Dowager finally let out a soft sigh:
"Noble Consort, if you are feeling weary, you may go back and rest. There is no need to force yourself to stay awake to accompany me."
Startled by her name, Noble Consort Rong snapped to attention, looking so dazed that it was as if her soul had yet to return to her body. The sight made the Empress Dowager sigh inwardly. For a rare moment, she looked timid. "...I... I didn’t sleep well in an unfamiliar place last night. Today, I have disturbed the Empress Dowager’s prayers. I know my mistake. Please allow me to wash my face with cold water to wake myself up."
The Empress Dowager nodded. Then, out of consideration for the Noble Consort’s dignity, she thought to have Jiang Xian go wash her face as well. "Noble Lady Gu."
Jiang Xian replied instantly, "I am here."
The Empress Dowager’s gaze fell upon her face.
’When she herself was not yet twenty, she too had boundless energy and never knew exhaustion...’
’But she had never been quite as radiant as Noble Lady Gu.’
The vitality Noble Lady Gu was exuding was so intense that it made one question her mental state.
Faced with such a glowing countenance, the Empress Dowager found it impossible to say, "You seem exhausted as well; go and rest with the Noble Consort." Instead, she had to rephrase it. "Go and keep the Noble Consort company."
"I will go accompany my Sister-in-law now."
Jiang Xian said obediently.
As the two walked out, Qiu Yun came forward, fussing over Noble Consort Rong. When the Noble Consort told her to fetch a basin of cold water for her face, Qiu Yun’s face went pale. "My Lady, how can you do something so harmful to your body? You mustn’t, My Lady! I will get a basin of warm water. It will be just as effective at waking you up."
"No need. Cold water will do. Warm water is too comfortable; I’m afraid I’ll be even sleepier after washing."
Seeing her lady’s firm resolve, Qiu Yun had no choice but to obey.
Shortly after, she returned with two basins of cold water. The one she placed before Jiang Xian had chunks of ice floating in it. The mere sight of it was enough to make one’s teeth chatter. It was clear she was taking out her anger on the smiling Noble Lady Gu.
Noble Consort Rong noticed this and frowned.
"Can’t you see she has enough energy to fight a tiger? She doesn’t need any. You’re giving her too much attention."
Just as a reluctant Qiu Yun was about to remove the icy water, Jiang Xian said there was no need. "Perfect. This will wake me up too."
With that, she stirred the water with her hand to test the temperature. After confirming it was within a tolerable range, she gathered her bangs, closed her eyes, and plunged her face into the basin. When she straightened up again, water splashed in a glittering arc, every droplet reflecting the astonished faces of Noble Consort Rong and Qiu Yun. "Feels good!"
’It reminded her of her past life, when she was too sleepy to do her homework or pay attention in class, she’d also resort to washing her face with icy water.’
’Later, a classmate told her it was bad for her health and skin.’
’But she never paid it any mind.’
’There were too many bad habits in the world that were detrimental to one’s health. She didn’t smoke or drink; she just enjoyed torturing herself sometimes.’
"Noble Lady Gu..."
Startled, Qiu Yun, at a glance from her master, offered a prepared hot towel with both hands.
"Thank you." Jiang Xian took the towel and wiped her face, feeling even more refreshed.
"Are you crazy? On a cold day like this." Noble Consort Rong was so shocked by her outrageous behavior that she was now wide awake.
"If conditions allowed, I’d even take a cold shower."
"Aren’t you afraid it will make you infertile?"
"If a single cold shower can affect a body’s ability to conceive, then any child it carries wouldn’t be healthy anyway," Jiang Xian said, offering her own brand of twisted logic. "Besides, haven’t I told you? I’m full of hot-blooded passion. The cold water hits my shoulders and evaporates before it even reaches my knees."
Noble Consort Rong had originally been disgusted by her "hot-blood theory."
But in that moment, she realized she could just treat anything Noble Lady Gu said as hot air.
"Speaking of which, My Lady, your technique for faking concentration is a little too poor. That’s why the Empress Dowager so easily noticed you were zoning out."
"How is that my fault? When I pay my respects at Jianzhang Palace, if I’m not feeling energetic, I just take a nap. Or I don’t go at all. I don’t need to put on a fake act like the Empress, forcing herself to stay awake when she’s about to pass out from sleepiness, just to listen to that bunch of women say stupid things!"
Noble Consort Rong sneered.
Evidently, she didn’t consider herself part of the "bunch of women saying stupid things."
Jiang Xian asked curiously, "Who, in your opinion, My Lady, is the best at saying stupid things?"
Noble Consort Rong had been about to say Ma Wan Yi.
But the words that came out of her mouth were:
"Who else could it be but you?"
There was no objectivity, only a personal grudge.
And so, the "very good at saying stupid things" Noble Lady Gu, over the following days of Buddhist prayer, gave the Lady a vivid lesson in what was meant by "open-book merit."