Chapter 143 - 123: Heirless?
At the next day’s morning greeting, Chen Daying, who was following behind Jiang Xian, was met with countless sharp glares.
Hui Pin toyed with the Buddha Bead Bracelet in her hand, one of the items gifted to her by the Empress Dowager. "Yesterday, the Emperor went to Yizhu Pavilion, but not to visit Gu Pin. He went to see Chen Daying instead. How very rare."
Her gaze fell upon Chen Daying.
Unfortunately, Chen Daying’s rank was low, and it had been a long time since she had spoken during the morning greetings. She didn’t realize Hui Pin was addressing her and remained silent with her eyes lowered. Lu Ronghua said languidly, "I heard the Emperor only stayed for a short while before leaving. It seems that even though you live in the same pavilion, Chen Daying is not as skilled as Gu Pin at winning the Emperor’s favor!"
Noble Princess Consort Rong was quite pleased to hear that.
This time, Chen Daying reacted.
She first stole a glance at Jiang Xian. Seeing that Jiang Xian had no intention of speaking, she also pretended not to have heard.
’They didn’t say my name, anyway!’
A mere Daying like her was not supposed to speak without permission during the morning greetings in Jianzhang Palace.
Hui Pin’s gaze shot toward her like a sharp arrow, landing on Chen Daying. "Chen Daying, you’re not saying a word. Others might think Lu Ronghua and I are bullying you!"
This was forcing her to take a stance.
Chen Daying had a carefree attitude. She was just a Daying, after all, with no high-rank baggage. If others called her timid and unfavored, she could simply laugh and agree. ’That’s right! If I were favored, would I still be just a Daying?’ she’d say. Contentment brings happiness.
Chen Daying curtsied. "In response to Your Highness Hui Pin, when Your Highnesses are speaking, how could a lowly Daying like myself have any right to interrupt? I was just wondering what Your Highness wishes to ask me. I will surely answer to the best of my ability, holding nothing back."
’Ignorance is bliss.’ Chen Daying just felt that these high-society people were all acting like lunatics.
Yesterday, it was the Emperor who came to ask her questions.
Today, it was Hui Pin.
’Sigh. No wonder Mom and Dad always said I was smart growing up. It turns out I didn’t come to the palace to win favor, but to be an answer key for everyone’s questions. Hui Pin loves asking me questions so much, she clearly lacks the ’wisdom’ her title implies. She might as well be called ’Stupid Pin’ and give the ’wise’ part of her name to me.’
Hui Pin looked displeased. "This is just some sisterly chitchat during morning greetings, and you’ve made it all serious. You really can’t take a joke! We’re just curious. You and Gu Pin have always been so close, why hasn’t she taught you her methods for winning the Emperor’s favor?"
She thought she could hit Chen Daying where it hurt.
But Chen Daying said, "Your Highness Hui Pin is mistaken. The Emperor likes me very much."
"...If he likes you, why didn’t he stay?"
Chen Daying was puzzled. "Why does liking someone mean you have to stay?"
"Then tell us, what does the Emperor like about you?"
’Your mediocre looks? Your scrawny figure? Or your humble origins?’
Hui Pin was left speechless and fuming by her simple retorts. Her internal insults were full of prejudice. In reality, any woman chosen for the palace had to be beautiful. While Chen Daying might not have been a peerless stunner, she was still a delicate and lovely young woman. In fact, she was a fair bit more beautiful than Hui Pin, who owed her high position to her aunt, the Empress Dowager.
Speaking of which, a confident expression appeared on Chen Daying’s face.
"The Emperor admires my intelligence and my ability to resolve his doubts."
As soon as she said this, even the previously distracted Jiang Xian sat up straight and looked back at her. The others weren’t familiar with Chen Daying and couldn’t see past her confident smile to her true nature, leaving them momentarily perplexed.
That’s right. Although the Emperor hadn’t stayed the night in the side hall of Yizhu Pavilion, he had sent a gift of fabrics, which showed he wasn’t displeased.
Furthermore, Chen Daying wasn’t as beautiful as Gu Pin, yet Gu Pin kept her by her side and treated her exceptionally well. They weren’t related by blood or marriage, so could it be...
Could it be that Chen Daying was the master strategist advising Gu Pin from behind the scenes?!
In an instant, countless meaningful glances fell upon the two of them.
※
Later that day, the Emperor, who still kept a close eye on harem affairs, heard the story of how Chen Daying had supposedly "enlightened" him. His face darkened. Seeing this, Liang Yuyin asked tentatively, "If Your Majesty dislikes her, how dare she boast outside? A mere Daying dares to claim she can resolve the Emperor’s doubts? She could be given a good caning for that."
But the Emperor shook his head. "No matter how foolish she is, she was still properly selected as a concubine for the palace. She’s young and delicate; she wouldn’t survive a caning. Forget it. I’ll just visit her less from now on. Chen Chongguang isn’t very bright, and the daughter he raised is a blockhead, too."
Liang Yuyin bowed his head. "Your Majesty is magnanimous and merciful."
The Emperor smiled without a word.
When it came to people the Emperor wanted to kill, there were plenty in the court and beyond. The first on his list was the rebel leader, still at large and constantly stirring up trouble. Second were the old codgers who had been feigning compliance while acting in defiance ever since he began his personal rule... When ranked by priority, bullying a simple, straightforward girl didn’t even feature. ’Forget it.’
The Emperor was willing to let it go, but others were not.
The New Year celebrations passed peacefully within the palace, but outside, incidents occurred one after another.
Someone submitted a memorial, stating that since the Emperor had no son, he should be more diligent in "sowing his seed" in the harem. If that didn’t work, adopting a son would also be an option. After all, wasn’t Prince Xie still alive?
The Emperor was absolutely furious.
The one who submitted the memorial was from Li Mingyu’s faction, which also took orders from the Lu Family. Their real intention wasn’t to replace the Emperor, but to use this matter as leverage against him—’The harem is full of beauties. Wouldn’t it be better to linger in their gentle company? Must you attend to every matter of state personally? And you’d better not forget your throne is unstable, with no heir to your name.’
Then came an even more malicious suggestion: the Emperor summoned Gu Pin to Qingliu Hall daily, yet despite monopolizing his favor, she had not fulfilled her duty of producing heirs. Therefore, she should be executed to uphold the discipline of the harem. The Emperor flew into a rage and immediately sentenced the man to twenty strokes of the imperial cane. By the time he was sent back to his residence, he was barely breathing.
This time, the Emperor was truly displeased.
He believed that those who passed the imperial examinations and worked hard for the court were his officials. He should treat those who served him with magnanimity, reasoning with them instead of resorting to execution. But then this man had come forward with a memorial demanding he kill one of his closest concubines.
’What is the meaning of this? I haven’t even gone all-in, and you’re already trying to flip the table?’
His anger surging like a mountain, the Emperor had the man dragged out for his caning. Then, in a flat voice, he said, "The affairs of my harem are managed in perfect order by the Empress. Yet with your first words, you demand the execution of Gu Pin, who rendered a great service by saving the Empress Dowager. Do you truly think I have no temper? That I am unwilling to punish you for your crimes? Or are you trying to brand me as an unfilial son? Song Shi’an, the wound on Gu Pin’s shoulder has not even fully healed!"
Seeing the Emperor’s genuine fury, a large number of officials in the hall dropped to their knees.
They cried out, "May Your Majesty quell your anger!" and "Your Majesty, please forgive us!"
The place of punishment was far away, so they couldn’t hear Song Shi’an’s tormented screams, but their hearts still trembled. They were much more restrained during the subsequent discussions. However, if violence could solve all problems, the Emperor would have no more worries. In the days that followed, the clamor about Gu Pin monopolizing the Emperor’s favor without bearing any children grew louder and louder, threatening to paint her as an Evil Concubine who would bring ruin to the nation.
For one, Gu Pin had taken a slice of the pie belonging to the many women from aristocratic families in the harem.
For another, they knew the Emperor treasured Gu Pin and were deliberately trying to cause him pain.
That day, Noble Princess Consort Rong summoned Jiang Xian. On the table sat a large, ocean-sized bowl of pitch-black medicinal soup.
The freshly boiled medicine hadn’t had a chance to cool, and bubbles were still gurgling to the surface.
Jiang Xian asked, "Are you finally going to force-feed me red flower medicine?"