Chapter 129 - 110: The Schadenfreude Convention
While the two of them walked together, a veritable festival of schadenfreude was underway in the perfumed and glamorous Jianzhang Palace.
The one enjoying it the most was Lu Ronghua.
Today, she held a fan that half-covered her lips, but her smile still couldn’t be contained, spilling out from behind it. "What goes around, comes around. It’s finally her turn." Back in the imperial mansion, the Noble Consort had stolen the Emperor’s attention from her numerous times, a grudge she had held ever since.
Ma Wanyi shot her a glance.
"I don’t seem to understand what Lu Ronghua is saying. Why don’t you speak a little more clearly, so we can all have a laugh?"
Hui Pin chimed in, "I’d like to have a laugh, too."
Both women wanted to see some drama, but their allegiances differed.
Ma Wanyi was openly on the Noble Consort’s side. Hui Pin, on the other hand, simply couldn’t stand the Noble Consort and wanted Lu Ronghua to fire the first shot in mocking her. Lu Ronghua opened her mouth, huffed, but ultimately didn’t dare to name the Noble Consort. She silently hoped Jiang Xian would arrive soon. ’One has high status, the other is currently in favor. If they fight, it would be perfect for taking the Noble Consort down a peg.’
The harem had suffered under the Noble Consort for far too long!
Consort Xian was growing bored. She glanced at the Empress in the seat of honor, who looked like she was about to fall asleep. The Empress certainly wouldn’t intervene, so she let them have their war of words. It wasn’t like it would lead to anything serious anyway.
Just as Consort Xian thought the matter was over, Hui Pin leaned forward slightly and asked, "Lady, a palace maid on night duty yesterday told me that she saw the Emperor’s sedan chair heading toward Yizhu Pavilion in the middle of the night. What sort of major event could have troubled the Emperor to go out so late? As you know, the Emperor’s health is already taxed from dealing with the rebels. If a concubine summons the Emperor back and forth simply to vie for favor, it could interfere with state affairs. I hope Your Ladyship can mete out a small punishment to uphold palace discipline."
Consort Xian was taken aback. ’She’s firing shots at Noble Lady Gu!’
The others found it strange, too. It sounded as if she were defending the Noble Consort, but the one Hui Pin had a feud with was the Noble Consort herself.
What the women of the harem didn’t know was that on the night the Emperor had yielded to the Empress Dowager and chosen Hui Pin’s tablet, he had told Hui Pin in the middle of the night that she was not as good as Noble Lady Gu.
Such a profound humiliation was something the proud and arrogant Hui Pin would never forget.
Upon hearing this, Ma Wanyi immediately chimed in with her support.
The Empress did not respond.
Consort Xian sighed inwardly. ’They just don’t know the rules!’
When speaking to the Empress, if you wanted a response, you had to add "Empress" before "Lady."
Consort Xian smiled faintly. "Empress, what are your thoughts?"
The Empress abruptly snapped to attention, like an NPC whose trigger had been activated, and said slowly:
"The Noble Consort was frightened on her return to the palace, and Noble Lady Gu is grievously injured, so I excused them both from today’s morning greetings. Yizhu Pavilion did send someone to Zhaoyang Palace last night, but they also summoned the Imperial Physician twice. Perhaps her condition took a turn for the worse, leaving them no choice but to request the Emperor’s presence. Noble Lady Gu performed a great service by being injured while saving the Empress Dowager. Her reward has not yet been announced. This is a minor matter, and in the end, the Emperor was not late for his morning court. If there is to be punishment or investigation, it should wait until Noble Lady Gu has recovered and can defend herself."
Hui Pin wanted to say more, but a sudden thought made her close her mouth.
’The fact that Noble Lady Gu had summoned the Imperial Physician twice was a key piece of information.’
’If her condition had truly worsened to the point of death, then asking the Emperor to see her one last time would be entirely reasonable. If I keep pressing the issue, I’ll seem neither gentle nor demure.’ "Her Ladyship is right," she said. "It is I who was flustered out of concern for the Emperor’s health. I was not as thoughtful as you, Your Ladyship."
’Whatever. I’ll just wait for the Noble Consort to tear into Noble Lady Gu.’
’After all, the Noble Consort had her time with the Emperor stolen. She won’t care if Noble Lady Gu is on her deathbed.’
’When she gets angry, she’d dig you out of your grave and flog your corpse even after you’re buried.’
As everyone was harboring their own schemes, they heard the little eunuch outside announce the arrivals:
"Noble Princess Consort Rong, arriving! Noble Lady Gu, arriving! Chen Daying, arriving—"
’The three of them came together?’
Just as they were thinking this, Noble Princess Consort Rong stormed in first. She wore a large cloak over her clothes today and walked so quickly that the heavy garment billowed out in waves behind her, a clear sign of her foul mood.
The Noble Consort’s unhappiness was a source of joy for everyone else.
Noble Princess Consort Rong gave a cursory greeting to the Empress, who quickly bade them be seated. "Noble Lady Gu is injured; you are exempt from the formalities. I saw you summoned the Imperial Physician twice last night. Are you feeling any better? Didn’t I excuse the two of you from the morning greetings? There’s no need to stand on ceremony with me," she said with concern.
After all, given their prior friendship, there was no need for them to force themselves to come for the morning greetings.
"In response to Your Ladyship, I developed a fever in the middle of the night, which is why I summoned the Imperial Physician. I’m much better this morning and can even stay a while to chat with you. We haven’t seen each other in so many days, I’ve truly missed you, Your Ladyship." Jiang Xian’s subtext was that not only was she perfectly fine, but she could also stick around and help the Empress with her duties.
At this, Noble Princess Consort Rong let out a cold laugh. "Noble Lady Gu is certainly enthusiastic toward the Empress! You just took a sword for her yesterday, and today you’re already eager to reminisce. You really can’t wait a single moment, can you!"
’Ooh.’
’It’s starting. Let the drama begin! Make it a good one.’
Lu Ronghua again hid her face with her fan, concealing her delighted smile.
Ma Wanyi chimed in, "Isn’t that the truth? If this continues, I fear your friendship will affect the Empress’s impartial judgment."
But Noble Princess Consort Rong shot her a sideways glare.
"Friendship? What kind of friendship could there be between a mere Noble Lady and the Empress?"
This remark left Ma Wanyi stunned.
’Having her night with the Emperor cut short must have muddled the Lady’s mind with rage. She’s attacking everyone indiscriminately, friend and foe alike.’
Ma Wanyi said sheepishly, "I was merely agreeing with Sister-in-law..."
Lu Ronghua teased, "Don’t be upset, Ma Wanyi. The Lady didn’t rest well last night, so it’s natural for her to be a bit irritable." When your bedmate is snatched away in the middle of the night, of course you can’t sleep well.
"And how would you know I slept poorly, Lu Ronghua? Were you hiding under my bed listening last night?"
Lu Ronghua was stunned. "I was only speaking up for you, My Lady. How can you speak to me like that?"
"How audacious! Do I, a Noble Consort, need you to teach me how to speak? What is your status, and what is mine? Do I need to remind you?"
This time, even Consort Xian showed a flicker of surprise.
The Noble Consort was known to be hot-tempered, but this was the first time she had been so aggressive.
Everyone had only guessed half of the story.
The Noble Consort was indeed in a bad mood—she had lived a pampered life and had never pulled an all-nighter before. Having slept poorly, she was so irritable that a passing dog would have gotten two slaps from her.
"Noble Consort, Noble Consort..."
So thoroughly humiliated, Lu Ronghua began to sob.
At this moment, Jiang Xian, who had been silent all this time, finally spoke up:
"My Lady has been speaking for so long. You must be tired. Have some tea."
The entire hall fell silent in shock at her words.
Based on what the old-timers from the imperial mansion knew of the Noble Consort, that cup of tea would soon be splashed across Noble Lady Gu’s face.
There was precedent for this assumption.
Back in the imperial mansion, there had been a Princess, placed in the residence by the Empress Dowager. After receiving the Emperor’s favor for two nights, she recklessly provoked the Noble Consort one morning, thinking the latter would be too afraid of her newfound favor to do anything but endure it. Instead, the Noble Consort poured a cup of hot tea right over her head, leaving the girl completely stunned.
The Empress was soft-hearted, so ever since that incident, the tea served to Noble Princess Consort Rong during the morning greetings has always been lukewarm.
Everyone stared intently at the Noble Consort’s hand.
The Noble Consort reached for the teacup.
The Noble Consort lifted the cup.
The Noble Consort actually took a sip!
Noble Princess Consort Rong commented, "Hah. Stale tea."