Chapter 90 - 74: Summoned for Buddhist Worship
This was why Zhenqiu wasn’t as panicked as Mian Xia.
She believed her mistress would have a chance to placate the Emperor the next time they met.
It was a nice thought, and one that Jiang Xian shared.
’If the Emperor truly won’t listen to a single piece of advice, then so be it. I’ll just have to dive into the rat race of mindless flattery. No need to present any more resources that benefit the nation and its people. I’ll just focus on pleasing the Emperor, out-competing the Noble Consort, and taking her place.’
This was the margin for error she had earned through her diligent efforts.
However, things took an unexpected turn.
※
On the fifteenth of the month, the Empress led the concubines to pay their respects to the Empress Dowager, as was customary.
In Changle Palace, Jiang Xian didn’t even have a seat, and Chen Daying could only stand outside to show her filial piety.
The Empress Dowager and the Empress spoke for a while, their conversation centered on the legitimate heir. "In all the time I’ve been in seclusion praying to Buddha, the Empress’s womb has remained quiet." As she spoke, she fingered a Buddha Bead Bracelet, its beads worn to a glossy, translucent sheen from years of use. "Even on my birthday, I didn’t touch a single bite of meat. Why is there still no good news?"
This truly wasn’t the Empress’s fault.
The Emperor rarely stayed the night at Jianzhang Palace, visiting almost exclusively on the first and fifteenth of the month.
Besides, stress and overwork were not conducive to conception.
The Empress Dowager, however, would never consider such things. To her, any and all fault lay with her daughter-in-law. The Empress understood this perfectly, standing to the side with her head bowed to receive the lecture.
"This matter isn’t entirely your fault,"
The Empress Dowager changed her tune, her gaze falling upon Jiang Xian, who was standing below. "I am well aware of who in this harem receives the most imperial favor. Noble Lady Gu has been blessed with the Emperor’s grace; she must be a fortunate person."
Having been singled out, Jiang Xian had no choice but to curtsy and reply, "I dare not presume. When it comes to receiving the Emperor’s grace, I still fall short of my Sister-in-law."
In terms of the number of times their nameplates were chosen, the Noble Consort was still chosen more often than her.
Noble Princess Consort Rong, now also singled out, maintained a perfectly appropriate smile and offered some pleasantries, but she shot a death glare in Jiang Xian’s direction.
The whole scene was just like being called out by the teacher and immediately ratting someone else out to share the blame.
The Empress Dowager fingered her Buddha Beads. "The Noble Consort has also enjoyed His Majesty’s favor for many years. Have you had your wellness pulse taken recently?"
After receiving a negative reply, the Empress Dowager summoned a waiting Imperial Physician to take Noble Princess Consort Rong’s pulse.
The result of the pulse diagnosis—
Nothing.
But the Empress Dowager seemed fixated on the issue of heirs today. Like a crazed gacha gamer hoping for a miracle on a single pull, she had the Imperial Physician check the concubines one by one. The results were fruitless, and her expression grew increasingly grim, her once-benevolent smile twisting into the scowl of a wrathful god.
News had arrived from outside the palace today that Prince Xielou’s concubine was showing signs of pregnancy.
How could this not make her anxious?
’My son is wonderful in every way, so why is there no good news from his harem!’
"The Emperor is busy with matters of state, and his health is paramount, so it would not be right for him to join my vegetarian fasting. The Empress, too, is preoccupied with managing the palace and has not a moment to spare. Therefore, let Noble Lady Gu and the Noble Consort accompany me in my prayers to Buddha. They can fulfill the Emperor’s filial duty in his stead."
As soon as the Empress Dowager’s decree was issued, the entire room was stunned.
To be chosen to accompany the Empress Dowager in prayer meant they would be unable to serve the Emperor at night.
With them out of the picture, the other concubines’ chances of being chosen increased dramatically. Realizing this, numerous concubines shot grateful looks at the Empress Dowager. Guo Cairen lowered her head, concealing the malice in her eyes. ’The Noble Consort will be fine,’ she thought. ’She’s too big a fish for the Emperor to forget. But when Noble Lady Gu gets out of that prayer hall, will the Emperor—surrounded by a flock of new beauties—even remember who she is?’
Just as the Empress Dowager expected, Noble Princess Consort Rong’s face was a mask of reluctance.
The Empress Dowager’s expression turned stern. "Is the Noble Consort willing to accompany me in prayer?" she asked, her voice laced with authority.
If she dared to voice a single word of refusal, her time as a Noble Consort would be over. The charge of being disrespectful and unfilial would be enough to haunt her for life, ensuring that even if she were to bear a son, neither of them would ever be able to hold their heads high.
Noble Princess Consort Rong had no choice but to step forward and kneel. "I am willing, of course."
As for Jiang Xian, it didn’t even occur to anyone to ask if she was willing.
Even someone as proud as Noble Princess Consort Rong assumed the Empress Dowager’s main target was her; Noble Lady Gu was merely an afterthought.
And yet, this very "afterthought" rose, stepped forward, and knelt beside her. "I wish to join Lady and the Empress Dowager in fasting and prayer for a full month to pray for the good fortune of the Emperor and Empress."
At these words, Noble Princess Consort Rong whipped her head around to stare at Jiang Xian, her face a picture of shock, as if to say:
’An afterthought can bite?’
Praying with the Empress Dowager would last half a month at the absolute most. A full month of not having her nameplate chosen... Noble Princess Consort Rong couldn’t even bear to imagine how many new favorites would spring up in the harem in that time.
The Empress was also glaring at her.
’A month of prayer! She’s going to be away from me for a whole month!’
The Empress Dowager fingered her Buddha Beads and smiled.
"It is wonderful that Noble Lady Gu has such devotion."
The Empress Dowager and Jiang Xian thought this was a wonderful development. The Empress and Noble Princess Consort Rong, however, most certainly did not.
Since she was about to go spend her days with the Buddha, Jiang Xian returned to Yizhu Pavilion to pack her things before heading to Changle Palace.
On the way, she encountered Noble Princess Consort Rong’s palanquin.
Jiang Xian intended to step aside, but Noble Princess Consort Rong beckoned her over. After offering her courtesies, she had no choice but to walk alongside it.
Noble Princess Consort Rong smirked. "A whole month, just like that. Aren’t you afraid the Emperor will have forgotten you exist by the time you get out?"
"This is truly what I wished for," Jiang Xian said with a genuine smile.
※
Back in Qiankun Palace, upon hearing the news, the Emperor also felt things were not good at all.
He’d had a falling out with Jiang Xian the previous night and had planned to give her the cold shoulder for a few days. But now that his own mother had forcibly separated them, his plan to ignore her had turned into a reality where he *couldn’t* see her. His displeasure quickly morphed into longing, prompting a moment of self-reflection. ’Am I truly too demanding of the women in the harem?’
He then instructed Liang Yuyin, "Who has the Mother Empress met with in the last two days? Find out if someone has been whispering in her ear."
Then he heard that Jiang Xian had been the one to propose a full month of prayer. While he felt a pang of pity for her—so beautiful and kindhearted—he was also displeased. ’Doesn’t she realize that accompanying the Mother Empress in prayer means she won’t be able to see me?’ he grumbled. ’It seems she doesn’t miss me at all.’