TPNCQ CHAPTER 7.2
To Show favor without cause, either wicked or thievish 7.2
Xian Gufei's imposing presence had indeed silenced many of the palace servants, who no longer dared to openly gossip about Chun Gufei's figure or speculate about the emperor's favor towards Jingren Palace.
When Dongxue went to the Imperial Kitchen to fetch dinner, the attendants there greeted her with excessive smiles, a stark contrast to their sarcastic behavior at lunchtime. They had overly concerned themselves with Chun Gufei's plumpness, suggesting changes to her diet and worrying about the unhealthiness of fatty pork for her maintenance.
The Internal Affairs Department, too, with great caution, sought to schedule a time with Shuangjiang to take new measurements for Chun Gufei's clothes, only to be politely refused. Usually, there was no need to prepare for the emperor's visit, and Chun Gufei, being simple and unassuming, often spent her free time doing needlework with a few young maidservants, without requiring others' labor or the Internal Affairs Department's fawning. They had never been so eager before; who knew what their true intentions were now?
To Show favor without cause, either wicked or thievish.
*
That evening, in Chunxi Palace, a long-awaited relief arrived.
During the first month of the new year, Emperor Qianlong had visited the harem frequently, mostly staying overnight at Changchun Palace, only dining twice at Chunxi Palace without staying the night. After the commotion during the Dragon Head Raising Day in the second month, Jia Fei had not seen the emperor until today.
Despite her considerable displeasure, Noble Consort Jia could only display a hint of her feelings before the emperor, careful not to go too far and make herself distasteful to him, yet not so little that he wouldn't feel his importance and the satisfaction of being needed.
"Your Majesty hasn't visited in many days; our little prince in my belly almost doesn't recognize his father and won't greet you properly. Feel for yourself," said Jia Fei, Jin Wuyun, placing the emperor's hand on her belly. "See if I'm right."
"You are the most adept at being coquettish in the entire harem. How do you like the red ruby and gilded headpiece I gave you a few days ago?" Qianlong asked.
"My favorite is always rubies. Such a fine piece, Your Majesty is so considerate. If only there were matching ruby earrings, it would be perfect. Thank you in advance for the ruby earrings, Your Majesty," Jia Fei leaned softly against Qianlong, her black, lustrous hair held in place by a single Hetian jade hairpin, making her appear pitiful, lovable, and endearing.
"You..." Qianlong suddenly felt the movement under his hand, smiling with slight excitement. "It's moving, it's moving."
"Your Majesty~"
...
In the eastern wing of Chunxi Palace, Chen Guiren, aware that the emperor would visit Jia Fei that night, ordered the palace servants to extinguish the candles early, pretending to be already asleep to avoid any trouble.
The spring's vibrant atmosphere always belonged to the main hall, never reaching her eastern wing.