Chapter 139 - 119
The Emperor establishing a study outside Qiankun Palace should have been a matter for the court officials to ponder, but it was completely overshadowed by Gu Pin’s stunning performance.
People are always more interested in scandalous rumors, especially when they involve the Royal Family.
The Emperor intentionally indulged the gossip. Consequently, by the end of the day, no one was paying attention to the true purpose of Qingliu Hall; they were all gossiping about just how breathtakingly beautiful Gu Pin was. The five Hanlin Officials had received the Emperor’s private instructions, permitting them to discuss Gu Pin... The order wasn’t explicit, just that if anyone asked, they needn’t be deliberately secretive. Sure enough, the moment they left the palace and returned to the Hanlin Academy, their colleagues surrounded them, bombarding them with questions about what they’d learned after being personally summoned to Qingliu Hall by the Emperor.
One of them answered, "It was nothing special. We just saw Lady Gu."
"Lady Gu? You didn’t go to the harem, so how did you see a concubine? Did she come to bring the Emperor soup?"
"The Emperor summoned her to sing."
Singing? What kind of stunt is that?
His colleagues’ interest was piqued, and the others pressed for more details. Someone with a sly grin asked what kind of little love song she sang, but the official shook his head. "No," he said. "Qingliu Hall is a place for study. Singing common ditties would be inappropriate."
"It’s not like she was singing about profound truths, was she?"
"Lady Gu sang the *Comprehensive Mirror of Politics*."
"...Huh?"
The scholars of the Hanlin Academy were flabbergasted.
The situation was strange. If the Emperor had simply summoned his favored concubine to sing for pleasure, it would be easy to categorize it as the whim of a libertine ruler. But what she sang was so serious that it left everyone unsure how to interpret the event.
Where there is controversy, there is room for discussion.
However, what truly captured everyone’s attention was Gu Pin’s beauty.
She had enjoyed a smooth rise to the rank of concubine after entering the palace. Rumor had it that even Noble Princess Consort Rong had been punished by the Emperor on her account, prompting General Yun Hui to hastily submit a petition begging for leniency. Such was the extent of her favor.
’To receive such treatment, just how beautiful must she be?’
Speaking of Gu Pin, the official tried to restrain himself, but an entranced look still crept onto his face. "Her Ladyship’s status is noble. How could I, a humble scholar, dare to comment? ...Let’s just say, two words: devastatingly beautiful. Her rank of concubine is an injustice to her. You can imagine the rest."
’She was made a concubine without even bearing a son, and that’s considered an injustice?!’
"I don’t care! Don’t just give us two words. Describe her beauty! She has two eyes, one nose, and one mouth, same as anyone. What could she possibly look like to earn that kind of praise from you?"
The crowd jeered, egging him on.
But he just shook his head. "That’s Her Ladyship we’re talking about! How could I have been allowed to see her full face? If you want to know what her nose and mouth look like, go ask the officials who were lucky enough to attend the Longevity Festival. She was wearing a veil; I only saw her eyes."
With his hands clasped behind his back, the official shook his head and proceeded to wax lyrical about the beauty of Gu Pin’s eyes.
What was rare was the clarity and directness of her gaze. It was enchanting without being vulgar.
Even more praiseworthy was her voice. It was beyond comparison to any ordinary singer. Not only did it instantly mesmerize the listener, but it also produced a sound so profound it was like an awakening, seeming to emanate from all directions at once. If she used that voice to preach, it would be astonishing—people would probably achieve salvation on the spot.
After listening to his ravings, his colleagues’ first instinct was, ’That can’t be right.’
’Based on his description, is Gu Pin even human?’
Forget her unparalleled beauty and talent for a moment—the ability to make her voice sound like it’s coming from every direction... she’d have to be a living goddess. They didn’t quite believe him, suspecting exaggeration. So, they went to ask the other four officials who had been there. The evaluations they received were even more glowing, each more outlandish than the last.
Excluding the possibility that all four were lying in concert, the only remaining conclusion was that Gu Pin was truly that magnificent.
"So according to you all, Gu Pin is really an Immortal Concubine with no flaws?"
One of the Hanlin Officials thought for a moment, then said, "Not exactly. She’s beautiful, yes, but her temperament isn’t as pleasant as the rumors say. She’s quite petulant and melodramatic. She pestered Mr. Li so relentlessly he couldn’t stop sighing. He said a few words to her, and she declared she never wanted to see him in Qingliu Hall again. She has quite a temper."
"Mr. Li is a man of immense learning. How could he lose an argument to a woman?"
"He says a few words, and she bursts into tears in the Emperor’s arms. No matter how learned you are, you can’t be seen bullying a delicate woman!"
Scholars are all concerned with their dignity.
The old saying, "A gentleman does not argue with a lady," acted like a binding spell, leaving Li Mingyu completely constrained.
By the time he realized what had happened, it was too late.
And so, Gu Pin’s reputation as a beautiful "femme fatale" spread, completely overshadowing the news about the Emperor’s new Qingliu Hall.
※
The story soon spread throughout the harem.
As the matter involved the Outer Court, the Empress Dowager chose to remain silent to avoid any appearance of interference. Hui Pin, however, upon hearing the news, went straight to Changle Palace with a long face and began to cry. The Empress Dowager listened patiently to her niece’s weeping for some time. When she saw that the Empress Dowager offered no comfort, proposed no solution, and made no mention of punishing Gu Pin, Hui Pin stopped crying and said resentfully, "Aunt, are you also partial to Gu Pin now? Do you no longer care for Ya’er?"
"If I were to interfere," the Empress Dowager replied, "and the Emperor stopped going to Yizhu Pavilion, do you think he would come and summon you instead?"
...
’The words were like a dagger to her heart.’
The Empress Dowager said coolly, "I am your aunt, but I am also the Emperor’s Mother Empress. Go back and reflect on your own. Don’t always come crying to me!"
Thoroughly chastised, Hui Pin retreated in embarrassment, her face flushed red.
As a nanny escorted her out, she offered a quiet piece of advice. "Your Ladyship, do you recall that the Empress Dowager only recently survived an assassination attempt? Next time you visit, you should show more concern for her health. Perhaps then you can mend your relationship." ’She shouldn’t always be thinking about how to get her aunt to tie the Emperor to her bed.’
The crestfallen Hui Pin did not take this advice to heart.
※
「Zhaoyang Palace.」
When Noble Princess Consort Rong heard the rumors, she summoned Jiang Xian to ask her about their authenticity.
Jiang Xian arrived as requested, but she had a drab "freebie" trailing behind her. Noble Princess Consort Rong’s gaze toward Chen Daying was filled with disdain. "I recall summoning only you."
Jiang Xian smiled. "She was bored all by herself at Yizhu Pavilion. Surely the Noble Consort won’t deny her a bite to eat!"
Noble Princess Consort Rong could not stand it when others suspected she was poor.
Since it was mealtime, she immediately had a table laden with fine dishes brought out for Chen Daying. The Noble Consort had only one condition: "She may not dine at my table. You will eat with me."
In other words, a separate table was set up just for Chen Daying.
The meals at Zhaoyang Palace were based on a Noble Consort’s allowance, and with Noble Princess Consort Rong’s personal wealth added on top, the spread was naturally extravagant. Chen Daying, seated at her solitary table, rinsed her mouth with bird’s nest soup served by a palace maid. She felt she was being slighted, yet at the same time, she wasn’t.
"I heard about what happened with you at Qingliu Hall."
Just as Noble Princess Consort Rong was about to speak, a Palace Attendant outside Zhaoyang Palace announced the Emperor’s arrival.
Everyone went to greet him. Once the Emperor entered and took a seat, they simply added another pair of chopsticks for him.
He glanced, puzzled, at Chen Daying at her separate table in the corner. "Why not have her get up and serve?"
A concubine of her rank was far too low, only a step above an official woman. Before two high-ranking concubines, it would have been perfectly reasonable to have her serve them like a palace maid; the sight of her enjoying her own private table was bizarre. Cheeks stuffed with food, Chen Daying scrambled to her feet in a panic. The Emperor felt a headache coming on just looking at her. "Oh, never mind. Sit down and keep eating. It’s rare for the Noble Consort to be so... accommodating."
Noble Princess Consort Rong pursed her lips. "When have I ever not been accommodating? It’s the others who lack the skill to earn my favor."
’Chen Daying heard this and was secretly overjoyed.’
’Too bad I didn’t bring He Xiang with me.’
’Otherwise, I’d have let her hear Noble Princess Consort Rong complimenting me on my skills.’