Chapter 158 - 138
Jianzhang Palace.
Inside the main hall, a warm fire crackled in a brazier.
This was the first time the concubines were allowed out for some fresh air since the palace lockdown. Everyone was eager to see the other concubines at Jianzhang Palace and catch up on the latest gossip.
Especially about Gu Pin... oh, no, Gu Wanyi.
Yes, she had been promoted again.
The very thought made the harem concubines grind their teeth in frustration.
The current Emperor was not one to hand out promotions generously. Before Gu Wanyi entered the palace, rewards followed a set system. Promotions were typically granted during major festivals for well-behaved concubines with enough seniority, or after one’s first night with the Emperor. Individual promotions outside of these occasions were rare. The only other path to advancement was the great merit of giving birth to an imperial son.
But Gu Wanyi’s promotion speed made everyone else look like mere foils.
Yet, each of her promotions, when examined individually, was perfectly justified. It was as if all the opportunities in the entire harem had fallen into her lap, so how could anyone not be jealous?
"Greetings, Lady Xianfei."
On the way to Jianzhang Palace, Lu Ronghua encountered Princess Consort Zhang. The long path was just wide enough for their two palanquins to travel side-by-side. Princess Consort Zhang spoke first. "It rained a little this morning. There’s no need for you to get down to greet me, little sister."
Lu Ronghua graciously accepted and thanked her.
The two were not close, but today Lu Ronghua couldn’t help but complain, "In the blink of an eye, she’s been promoted half a rank again. I’m afraid that by the time summer arrives, I’ll have to start calling her ’elder sister.’"
"When she gets promoted again, perhaps you’ll get a promotion too. There’s no need to be so pessimistic."
"Sigh."
Lu Ronghua found talking to Princess Consort Zhang to be pointless.
She never offended anyone. At most, she would take the opportunity to muddy the waters and find a way to profit from the chaos. Trying to persuade her to deal with Jiang Xian... that was probably impossible. After all, Princess Consort Zhang had tolerated Noble Consort Rong’s tyranny for years. If she could put up with the Noble Consort, she could certainly put up with one more Jiang Xian.
As long as Jiang Xian couldn’t reach the rank of concubine, Princess Consort Zhang naturally wouldn’t worry. Her pretty words were just empty platitudes, easy for her to say. Lu Ronghua wrung her smooth, well-manicured fingers, genuinely concerned.
When the two of them arrived at Jianzhang Palace, most of the Six Palace Concubines were already there, much earlier than usual. It was clear they had all been bored stiff in their own palaces.
They all, as if by unspoken agreement, kept looking toward the entrance.
Feng Liangyuan was the first to speak up, unable to hold back. "Is Gu Wanyi not coming to pay her respects today?"
"Perhaps she’ll arrive with the Noble Consort," Consort Guo said softly.
Everyone’s gaze then fell upon Ma Wan Yi, once the Noble Consort’s number one confidante. The look on her face was ugly, to say the least. She pretended to be deaf and blind to their stares, picking up a pastry to hide her embarrassment.
Ever since returning from Jingxin Temple, the Noble Consort had not treated her with the same closeness as before.
Lu Ronghua sighed. "There are already so few sisters who can sit at the front. Now there’s one less. What a muddle-head. She wasn’t like this before..."
Before she could finish, a little eunuch’s voice announced from outside, "Lady has arrived!"
"..."
Her words were cut off again. She was destined to clash with the Noble Consort!
"Well, I wondered who it was. To think someone is claiming sisterhood with Ms. Zhang. Lu Ronghua, since you know Ms. Zhang’s former temperament so well, does that mean you also know the full details of her plot to harm an imperial heir? Or should I say, you’re cut from the same cloth?"
Noble Consort Rong’s voice preceded her, flinging a bowl of dirty water right on Lu Ronghua’s head. The accusation made Lu Ronghua’s face turn green. Stunned, she scrambled to explain herself, rushing to distance herself from the criminal, Ms. Zhang. When she finished, Noble Consort Rong sneered, "Lu Ronghua, you should really talk less! We wouldn’t want the number of sisters who can remain seated to shrink by one more."
Qiu Yun and Qiu Tang carefully supported the Noble Consort.
Looking closely, one could see that the Noble Consort’s gait was still a bit unnatural.
The Empress smiled. "Didn’t I excuse you from today’s morning greetings? You could have waited until your leg was fully healed before coming."
"I thank the Empress for her concern, but if I hadn’t come, I would have missed such a spectacle. To think someone in the harem would actually defend a criminal. It’s truly been an eye-opener." Noble Consort Rong didn’t stop talking from the moment she walked in until she was helped to her seat. "If you’d repeat those words in front of the Emperor, I’m sure Ms. Zhang would be very grateful to you!"
Lu Ronghua thought the Noble Consort was going to report her to the Emperor and immediately grew anxious. "I am not an eloquent speaker and misspoke just now. It is my fault. There is no need to embarrass myself in front of His Majesty."
"I can’t be bothered to earn the Emperor’s displeasure by repeating your nonsense!"
Noble Consort Rong sighed. "Ever since the Emperor stopped visiting your palace, Lu Ronghua, your words and actions have become more and more improper. Don’t think you can just show your true colors because you’ve fallen out of favor."
This was probably the harem’s version of ’acting recklessly because you’re unpopular’.
Lu Ronghua’s face turned alternating shades of green and white at the remark.
Noble Consort Rong made it clear: she was celebrating Hui Pin’s punishment, and anyone who sympathized with Hui Pin would face her wrath.
Noble Consort Rong said, "Everyone’s here. What are you all still looking outside for?"
Feng Liangyuan replied, "Isn’t Gu Wanyi still missing?"
"Oh, how terrible. She was just harmed by a villain yesterday, which disturbed her pregnancy. Even the Empress has excused her from morning greetings. But look at you all, one by one, hoping she’ll come to Jianzhang Palace to chat with you. What, have you never seen a pregnant concubine before? How about I have the Imperial Household craft a Child-Giving Guanyin statue for each of you to look at? It’s just that jade and jadeite are expensive. With your rank, Feng Liangyuan, you’d probably get a wooden one at best. Better than nothing, I suppose."
The Six Palaces fell silent.
’How could a woman from an aristocratic family be so sharp-tongued!’
It actually wasn’t that surprising. Noble Consort Rong came from an aristocratic family, but it was a family of generals. An important part of the prelude to a battle between two armies is the "battle cry," also known as trash talk or taunting. The famous insults "three-surnamed house slave" and "ring-eyed thief" both originated from such pre-battle taunts.
The purpose of these taunts was to disrupt the enemy general’s state of mind, so naturally, they were both crude and vicious.
Having been immersed in this environment, Noble Consort Rong didn’t use profanity, but she had certainly learned every kind of cutting remark.
Princess Consort Zhang took a sip of tea to hide the upward curve of her lips. ’It seems the Noble Consort’s sprained ankle is quite severe. She must be in a lot of pain to be this irritable with everyone.’
Consort Guo couldn’t resist asking, "I heard that Gu Wanyi is pregnant. Is it true?"
She had entered the palace at the same time as Jiang Xian. It was bad enough that her favor had been stolen, but now Jiang Xian had even managed to get pregnant first.
However, no one paid her any attention.
She looked at the Noble Consort, who sneered, "Why are you looking at me? Do you think I can make Gu Wanyi pregnant?"
This morning, they had learned nothing about Gu Wanyi’s situation and instead gotten a thorough mocking from Noble Consort Rong.
It was so infuriating!
When it was time to leave, the sprained-ankled Noble Consort Rong still had to be supported by two palace maids, yet her retreating figure seemed to stand two-point-eight meters tall.
Qiu Yun asked softly, "Your Ladyship, your leg hasn’t fully healed. Shouldn’t we return to Zhaoyang Palace to rest?"
"I want to go to Bihua Palace first."
Once the Noble Consort made a decision, no one could change it.
Upon arriving at Bihua Palace, the Noble Consort learned that the side hall was unoccupied, which put her in a much better mood. She said to Jiang Xian, "With more people come more gossip. It’s most comfortable to have a palace to yourself; it’s easier to manage too... You’re already pregnant, so why don’t you have a private kitchen built here in Bihua Palace? Qiu Yun, go mention it to the Emperor, then find someone from the Imperial Household to get it built."
Building a private kitchen was a very expensive affair that cost a lot of silver.
But for Noble Consort Rong, it was a simple matter of saying the word.
The Noble Consort’s gaze fell on Jiang Xian’s heavily bandaged arm, and her expression darkened. "Ms. Zhang actually dared to fracture your arm. Don’t worry. I have people in Yongshan. Even if the Zhang family has connections that reach the heavens, they won’t be able to protect her."
Jiang Xian: "..."
’But... this arm really has nothing to do with Ms. Zhang.’
She covered her lips and coughed lightly. "I’m afraid she’s already been cast aside as a disposable pawn. Let’s not talk about that. Noble Consort, you’ve come at the perfect time. Weren’t we supposed to practice a new dance before the trip to Jingxin Temple? Your timing is perfect."
The Noble Consort said, "I sprained my leg."
Jiang Xian replied, "What does a sprained leg have to do with practicing a dance?"
Meeting Gu Wanyi’s sincere gaze, the Noble Consort felt an immense amount of pressure.