Chapter 133 - 114: Worse Than a Beast
Upon learning that Gu Pin’s wound had reopened, the Empress issued an order exempting her from the next seven days of morning greetings. She was to rest and recuperate peacefully at Yizhu Pavilion. It would not be too late for her to resume the custom of paying respects at Jianzhang Palace once she had fully recovered.
Now, even the palace maids of Yizhu Pavilion didn’t want their mistress to move about freely.
If Jiang Xian so wished, she could have all her daily needs met without ever leaving her bed.
"Zhenqiu, go to Jianzhang Palace and ask the Empress if there are any tasks I can help with from Yizhu Pavilion."
Jiang Xian was applying to work from home.
Zhenqiu looked at her mistress with complete disapproval. "Your Ladyship, tasks that strain the eyes and mind should wait until you’ve recovered!"
"My shoulder is injured, not my eyes or my head."
"The Imperial Physician told you not to overexert your mind. You were injured for the Empress Dowager’s sake, and both the Emperor and the Empress Dowager pity you. Why not take this opportunity to recover your strength? It will help you regain the Emperor’s favor."
Unable to refuse her mistress’s insistence, Zhenqiu had no choice but to go to Jianzhang Palace and ask.
Fortunately, the Empress was kind and generous. Although she truly wanted to unload all the work on her plate onto Gu Pin, she suppressed the thought, remembering her injury. "Have your Gu Pin rest well. Fu Jin, fetch some medicinal herbs from my storeroom for the palace maid from Yizhu Pavilion to take back."
Zhenqiu was overcome with gratitude.
...
Jiang Xian was lazing about on her couch like a salted fish.
She waited for a while, but no new work arrived. Instead, she received a reward of medicinal herbs from her boss.
Chen Daying was nibbling on a pastry nearby.
"Your Ladyship, the life you’re living now is the divine existence I’ve always dreamed of."
"A Pin is the mistress of her own palace. Even when new girls arrive in the next selection, you’ll already have a firm foothold. If you’re missing anything, it’s a son, but since none of us have one, there’s no rush for you."
Zhenqiu chuckled and opened the box gifted by the Empress. Inside were several rare, high-quality medicinal herbs, the most conspicuous of which was a thick old ginseng root. Chen Daying peered at it curiously. "Like it?" Jiang Xian asked listlessly. "If you do, I can cut off a piece for you to try."
Chen Daying shook her head. "You should keep it. My mother told me that holding a ginseng slice in your mouth during childbirth is very helpful. Your Ladyship will have use for it sooner or later."
But what truly astonished Chen Daying was yet to come.
Because of Jiang Xian’s injury, her formal investiture ceremony was postponed, but the congratulatory gifts from the Six Palace Concubines arrived at Yizhu Pavilion right on time. The most lavish giver was Noble Princess Consort Rong, who sent a box of exquisite, top-grade pearls—Yan Chi Pearls are divided into nine grades, with "top-grade" being the highest—and a set of head ornaments that was the most magnificent and luxurious allowed for the rank of Pin.
The Empress Dowager sent a Multi-child Guanyin statue, a gift with a particularly special meaning.
Jiang Xian had Zhenqiu help her sit up. She took inventory of the gifts on the table, recording each one in a loose-leaf ledger before having them moved into the storeroom.
Furthermore, the rank of Pin came with many more servants than that of a Noble Lady.
Thus, in addition to the gifts, the Imperial Household assigned her four new palace maids and two eunuchs.
Jiang Xian memorized their faces and explained the rules of service in Yizhu Pavilion. She then instructed that Zhenqiu would be responsible for them, assigning their posts. The new arrivals would not be tasked with personal service for the time being. "Although the Imperial Household has assigned you to Yizhu Pavilion, in my eyes, you are still on a probationary period and have not yet been made permanent staff. For the next month, Zhenqiu will score you on your words, your conduct, and every task you perform. Those who pass will stay. Those who fail will be sent back to the Imperial Household, and I will have them send someone more clever and well-behaved."
The other Concubines mostly sent safe gifts, such as bolts of fabric and decorative items.
As for Chen Daying, she had prepared a sincere blessing to give Jiang Xian.
Jiang Xian replied, "I appreciate the sentiment. The best blessing you could give me is to talk a little less."
Seeing Chen Daying’s pitiful expression, she smiled and had Zhenqiu cut two slices from the old ginseng for her. "Here, suck on these for fun. They’re good for clearing heat and promoting salivation. Take a look at the fabrics and jewelry. If you see anything you like, take it. The rest will be put into storage."
The palace maids were quick and efficient. In no time, the mountain of congratulatory gifts was all packed away.
Jiang Xian flipped through the ledger for a while.
’Compared to her past life, she was already very wealthy, yet she still wasn’t satisfied.’
"Your Ladyship, the Emperor’s procession is headed for Yizhu Pavilion tonight."
A eunuch from Qiankun Palace came to announce the visit, and everyone in Yizhu Pavilion began to prepare. As Jiang Xian was injured, she only needed to dress up lightly. With the "big boss" coming for an inspection, Jiang Xian groomed herself carefully. Zhenqiu smiled and said, "The Emperor’s timing is perfect. The head ornaments gifted by the Lady can finally be put to use. When you wear them, Your Ladyship, you will surely look magnificent and Unrivaled."
But Jiang Xian said that wouldn’t be necessary.
"I just took a blade for the Empress Dowager. This is the perfect time to play the pitiful victim and angle for rewards."
She changed into a pale-colored dress and applied some "no-makeup" makeup with a calculated effect.
A faint blush was swept at the corners of her eyes, making her look both pitifully lovely and enchantingly cute.
The only imperfection was Jiang Xian’s placid expression; she lacked a certain seductive allure and wasn’t quite delicate or frail enough.
Jiang Xian opened the System Mall and searched through the Blame Template section. After finding and loading the [Xi Shi Template], the coolly indifferent, pretty face in the bronze mirror finally came to life, as if the finishing touch had been added. Relying on her own personality, she had never possessed the soul-stirring charisma to captivate a man in either of her two lives.
A moment later, the Emperor arrived at Yizhu Pavilion, and Jiang Xian went out to receive him.
Her robes seemed a little loose on her, accentuating her slender frame. As she gracefully bowed, the Emperor personally helped her up. Seeing the redness at the corners of her eyes, he assumed she had been crying and frowned. "Did I not have someone inform you in advance that you needn’t come out to receive me? You should have just waited for me inside."
The Emperor shot a glance at Liang Yuyin, who stood beside him.
Jiang Xian quickly said, "I was aware, Your Majesty, but I wanted to come out to greet you. I wanted to see you sooner."
Only then did the Emperor retract his gaze. He hurriedly led her back to the main hall and settled her onto the bed.
The moment she touched the bed, Jiang Xian hooked her arms around his neck.
Seeing him remain perfectly still, Jiang Xian asked with an innocent look, "Your Majesty?"
’Didn’t you come here to get down to business?’
That one glance, that one question, was enough to thoroughly exasperate the Emperor. "Your wound has not yet healed! What kind of man, worse than a beast, would demand you serve him in bed at a time like this! I just wanted you to rest properly. It would be enough for me to sit beside you and talk for a while. If you want me to stay the night, I will accompany you. If you wish to rest alone and not be bothered, I will return to Weiyang Palace."
Medical conditions were poor in ancient times, and the common understanding of recovering from an injury was simply to spend more time lying in bed, drinking medicine, and resting quietly.
But in Jiang Xian’s mind, there was no such thing as sick leave.
Hearing her "big boss" say he was only there to visit a patient, she was stunned for a moment and subconsciously replied, "I am not sick, Your Majesty."
"I know you no longer have a fever," the Emperor said, "but your wound has not healed."
Jiang Xian turned to look at her shoulder, then thought for a moment. "It’s fine. I’m not afraid of the pain."
The Emperor was a suspicious man. Amidst his amusement and annoyance, a thought quickly occurred to him. "Tell me the truth. Were you treated poorly by your family? Did they force you to enter the palace and compete for my favor?"
A shocking, enormous pot of blame had just fallen from the sky and landed squarely on her family back in Meize County.