Chapter 130 - 111: Promotion to Concubine
Everyone held their breath and waited, but all they got was a comment about old tea.
’That’s it?’
’Such a weak attack?’
The crucial part was that the attack wasn’t even aimed at Noble Lady Gu, but at the Empress.
But the Empress was accustomed to being gentle and virtuous and wouldn’t bicker with the Noble Consort over a comment about old tea. Jianzhang Palace actually had good tea, and in no small quantity. After all, the Empress was merely out of favor, not out of respect in the Emperor’s eyes. He made sure she was never short on fine things, and she loved to drink tea.
However, she had noticed that during the morning greetings, everyone was a bit afraid she might tamper with the refreshments. They would only wet their lips with the tea, never truly drinking it. So the Empress saw no point in wasting good tea leaves. She simply served some old tea instead, saving the good stuff to enjoy by herself.
"How could I dare lecture you, My Lady? Your rank is far above mine. Even if you were to hit me, all I could do is take it."
Jiang Xian had already changed the subject, but Lu Ronghua couldn’t let it go. With tears welling in her eyes, she played the victim before the Noble Consort.
’This is bad,’ Princess Consort Zhang thought.
Sure enough, the Noble Consort raised an eyebrow, looking as if she were about to give Lu Ronghua a demonstration of her ample martial prowess.
But doing so would truly be beneath her.
Just then, Noble Lady Gu unexpectedly gave a light cough. "I... my shoulder hurts."
Noble Princess Consort Rong, who had already raised her hand, actually lowered it. She turned to look at her. "I told you that you weren’t well enough. But no, you wouldn’t listen, insisting on coming to pay respects, so eager to suck up to the Empress. Well, are you happy now? This is what you get for ignoring my words."
"I know my mistake."
Noble Lady Gu pursed her lips, her delivery imbuing those four simple words with a thousand twists and turns.
The Emperor wasn’t present, and the room was filled with women. ’Who is she trying to charm?’ Hui Pin thought, completely unimpressed. ’Who would fall for an act like that?’ But just then, the Noble Consort’s tone softened considerably. "It’s getting late. If there is nothing else, Noble Lady Gu and I will take our leave."
Hui Pin couldn’t hold back.
"Noble Lady Gu has only just arrived. How can it be late? If the Noble Consort is tired, she needn’t drag Noble Lady Gu into it. I, for one, would still like to hear Noble Lady Gu explain how she used her injury to win the Emperor’s favor last night."
For some reason, Noble Princess Consort Rong was in a strange mood today, actually showing favor to Noble Lady Gu.
’Once the Noble Consort leaves, I’m going to have some fun mocking Noble Lady Gu!’
"Noble Lady Gu just said her shoulder was hurting, but Hui Pin seems to have conveniently ignored it."
Princess Consort Zhang said with a hint of impatience.
Ever since Jiang Xian had entered Jianzhang Palace, she had been followed by the aroma of food. Princess Consort Zhang caught a faint scent that reminded her of tomato hot pot... She had only eaten a single bowl of congee before coming to pay respects this morning, and now the smell was making her unbearably hungry. She was eager for the morning greetings to end, so she certainly didn’t want Hui Pin to prolong the squabble.
With the Empress Dowager’s support, Hui Pin was usually quite assertive. She hadn’t expected to be shut down by Lady Xianfei, and a look of displeasure crossed her face.
Just as she was about to defend herself, Jiang Xian began her own passive-aggressive performance. "My rank is low, so it’s natural for Sister Hui Pin to not heed my words. But did you also fail to hear what the Lady said? Sigh. I’m not like you, Sister. I take every word my elder sisters say to heart, unlike some who can just ignore them."
Jiang Xian paused before adding, "Both the Noble Consort and the Emperor are very concerned about my injury. You aren’t angry about that, are you, Sister?"
The mention of the Emperor struck a nerve with Hui Pin.
She flew into a rage. "You, a mere Noble Lady, think you’re worthy of making me angry...?"
Before Hui Pin could finish, a voice announced from outside, "A decree from the Empress Dowager—"
’One act ends, another begins. What new drama is this?’
A eunuch entered, bowing deeply. He saluted the Empress and waited for her nod. The assembled concubines then rose and knelt once more. The eunuch took a shallow breath and began to read: "Noble Lady Mrs. Jiang, being of outstanding virtue and gentle character, has conducted herself with reverence and prudence. Working tirelessly day and night, she has rendered meritorious service in protecting Our person and has thus won Our deepest affection. We hereby confer upon you the title of Gu Pin. You shall promote the rites, be a model of virtue, serve your superiors with diligence, and extend the imperial line. Respect this decree."
Jianzhang Palace fell completely silent.
Hui Pin’s face went from flushed to pale, then slowly turned crimson again.
It took every ounce of her composure for Hui Pin to refrain from objecting during the proclamation of the decree. She waited until Noble Lady Gu—no, Gu Pin now—had expressed her gratitude and the eunuch had departed. Only then, her eyes red, did she speak. "Your Majesty the Empress, I suddenly feel unwell. I request permission to take my leave."
Hui Pin now had only one thought in her mind:
’I must see the Empress Dowager!’
The Empress gave a noncommittal nod.
As a red-eyed Hui Pin was about to depart, she heard Noble Princess Consort Rong speak in a languid voice. "Hold on. Since you’re feeling unwell, you’re certainly in no condition to serve the Emperor. Let’s have Hui Pin’s nameplate removed. We’ll have an Imperial Physician take a good look at her. Once she has made a full recovery, her nameplate can be displayed again."
"Noble Consort!"
Hui Pin stared at Noble Princess Consort Rong in disbelief.
’How could she dare?’
’She may hold power over the harem, but how dare she bully me right here in Jianzhang Palace?’
"You three,"
Noble Princess Consort Rong, however, acted as if she hadn’t heard a thing, pointing to Hui Pin’s two palace maids and the concubine standing behind her.
"Hui Pin is unwell. Don’t you know enough to support her?"
Watching Hui Pin being half-persuaded, half-forced from the room, Princess Consort Zhang set down her teacup and secretly shook her head.
’Seeing this, she felt the Noble Consort had finally seen the light. She didn’t believe the Noble Consort was trying to protect Gu Pin. Rather, she had probably realized that Gu Pin couldn’t be touched for now. The more pressing issue was establishing her dominance among the high-ranking concubines, which explained this morning’s indiscriminate sweep of everyone present.’
’Although Mrs. Jiang’s promotion to concubine was issued by the Empress Dowager’s decree, it was undoubtedly the Emperor’s handiwork.’
’Gu Pin had earned tremendous merit by taking a blow for the Empress Dowager. The Noble Consort, having nearly died from the shock of the attack, would also be receiving the Emperor’s greatest pity. Rong Xueshi always had a keen sense of the Emperor’s feelings, and she knew this was the perfect time to draw her sword and assert her dominance.’
’Even if she had actually struck Lu Ronghua, the Emperor wouldn’t have punished her severely.’
For Princess Consort Zhang, the worst-case scenario was the Noble Consort and Gu Pin forming a genuine alliance.
While Princess Consort Zhang’s mind was racing, the Empress, seated at the head of the room, spoke calmly. "Since Gu Pin’s shoulder is in pain, it’s not advisable for her to be moving around. The rest of you may go back. Gu Pin will stay here in Jianzhang Palace. I will call for an Imperial Physician to take another look at her injury."
Noble Princess Consort Rong looked up at the Empress.
The Empress met her gaze, the look in her eyes clear: ’When you dealt with Hui Pin just now, I did not interfere. This time, I am keeping someone. You should go.’
The two locked eyes for a moment, and the standoff ended with Noble Princess Consort Rong departing with a look of thunderous displeasure.
The Empress had kept Gu Pin behind, but not because she was cruel enough to make an injured person work.
She genuinely wanted to know the true condition of Gu Pin’s injury.
However, once everyone else had departed, Jiang Xian eagerly plopped herself down at the table in the main hall. "Your Majesty the Empress, how much palace business has piled up? Did you keep me behind because you have a use for me?"
The Empress said, "I heard you needed to rest quietly."
Jiang Xian replied with an air of righteous gravity, "Your Majesty, you must have heard wrong. He said I need to recuperate, not vegetate. I need to do some proper work to feel better."
Outside the hall, Doctor Sun, who was just about to have a eunuch announce his arrival, heard every last word crystal clear.