TPNCQ CHAPTER 11
The champion of palace intrigue delivers a speech, exuding an aura of authority without anger
It seemed like casual chit-chat, but in reality, the conversation was being steered towards Yanxi Palace. Each remark was exaggerated to irritate the Empress, but Shaoqin was not one to put up with it. She bluntly said, "The Empress is struggling with her pregnancy. If Jia Fei cannot serve her properly, then she should stay in Chunxi Palace to take care of herself and avoid the fatigue of moving back and forth. We cannot afford to risk the health of the imperial offspring."
Jia Fei, momentarily struck dumb, couldn't respond. Before she could react, the doors of Changchun Palace closed with a thud, leaving her fuming and dusted.
"Niangniang, the wind is cold. Let’s return," said Lamei and Moli, hastily supporting her back to Chunxi Palace.
Still seething from her earlier frustration at Yanxi Palace, Jia Fei found herself infuriated once more outside Changchun Palace. She sat in her chamber, fuming with laughter.
"Niangniang, the Empress is of an age where childbirth is particularly difficult. This pregnancy must be extremely taxing for her. If something were to happen, and it were to be blamed on Chunxi Palace, it would be a disaster. Niangniang, please calm down," Lamei advised. She had not supported her mistress’s decision to disturb the Empress but understood that Jia Fei would not be satisfied without trying.
As a servant, she had to cater to her mistress’s whims, anticipating her thoughts and give her reminder for preventing missteps. The principle of shared glory and disgrace was a crucial lesson for any favored maid.
"Am I supposed to watch those two vixens in Yanxi Palace rise above and bully me in future?" Jia Fei’s anger flared at the mention of the two women.
"Xiu Guiren has only been pregnant for a little over a month. Whether she can hold her pregnancy is still uncertain..." Lamei whispered in her ear.
"I fear she might carry the child but not be able to give birth. She’s been causing trouble since she got pregnant, acting spoiled. Her pregnancy looks inauspicious," Jia Fei said coldly.
"Indeed, niangniang. The most important thing now is to take care of your own pregnancy," Lamei coaxed, seeing her mistress’s mood improve.
"Yes, taking care of my pregnancy is the most important thing. I’ve been too angry these past days, neglecting your good advice. Take this jade ring as a reward," Jia Fei said, removing the ring from her left ring finger and handing it to Lamei.
It was a fine piece of jade, translucent and bright.
Lamei accepted the ring with both hands and suggested softly, "Since we can't rely on the Empress, perhaps the Empress Dowager..."
*
The first day of March, the grass was growing, the birds were singing, and the wind was gentle. It was the day for the entire palace to pay their respects to the Empress Dowager.
Recently, the Empress Dowager had caught a cold and had been recovering intermittently for two to three months, during which the consorts were excused from their visits. During this time, it was mainly Shu Pin who attended to the Empress Dowager’s illness. Despite her busy schedule managing the Six Palaces, Xian Guifei made sure to visit Cining Palace every five days to personally deliver soup and meals. Other Feipin (imperial concubines) were not required to visit unless summoned.
Now that the Empress Dowager was well, all the Feipin (imperial concubines) put in extra effort, arriving early outside Cining Palace to wait.
Su Limo also got up early, dressing herself up. She put on a blue palace outfit, but it was not warm enough to wear alone, so she wore a vest over it. After a bit of dressing up, she hurried to Cining Palace.
From a distance, she saw a bustling crowd in the courtyard, a sea of red and green. The concubines of the Six Palaces were lined up according to their ranks. Su Limo quickly took her place in the first row, standing next to Xian Guifei. On such occasions, it was best not to stand out or make mistakes—being a well-behaved decoration was the safest bet.
Everyone stood solemnly, and before long, Ruhua gugu announced their entrance. They entered in a line, where they paid their respects according to etiquette and took their seats in order.
The Empress Dowager spoke slowly, her tone carrying both the authority of her position and the kindness of a matriarch. "I am old, and a mere cold has dragged on for two to three months. I didn’t call you to attend to me because, first, you need to serve the Emperor, and a cold is contagious. If you were to fall ill, who would serve the Emperor? Second, the Empress and Jia Fei are pregnant and should not be exerting themselves by attending to the sick. The imperial offspring are paramount."
"Recently, I heard that Xiu Guiren is pregnant. This news has lifted my spirits and helped me recover."
Upon hearing her name, Xiu Guiren quickly stepped forward according to etiquette and kowtowed deeply again, saying, "Xiu Guiren of Yanxi Palace greets the Empress Dowager. May the Empress Dowager enjoy boundless blessings and longevity."
"Women in the palace without children will inevitably face a bleak future in their later years. You are all at a blooming age; you should take extra care to present yourselves well." The Empress Dowager’s gaze swept the room and settled on Jia Fei. "Jia Fei, your attire is too plain. As someone who has been through this, I must say that pregnancy can cause swelling. If you don’t dress up a bit, you may find it difficult to serve the Emperor properly."
"Yes, I am grateful for Empress Dowager's advice," Jia Fei said gratefully, though her mood quickly dampened. "I am clumsy and inadequate in my service. It is only because the Emperor does not despise my shortcomings."
The Empress Dowager continued her conversation with Jia Fei, not calling for Xiu Guiren to rise. Xiu Guiren, not daring to move, remained kneeling on the ground, her heart gradually filling with anxiety. The Empress Dowager had clearly stated that the news of her pregnancy had lifted her spirits considerably, so why was she not being asked to stand up? Xiu Guiren couldn’t make sense of it.
As a low-ranking concubine, she could not enter Cining Palace to pay respect without being summoned. Today, she was called because of her pregnancy.
"Nonsense, come here," the Empress Dowager said, removing a gold and ruby hairpin from her own hair. "The emperor gave this to me as a tribute some time ago. It's young and gorgeous in style. I think it would look perfect on you. Dress up nicely another day and show it to the emperor."
Jia Fei hurriedly stepped forward and half-kneeled to make it easier for the Empress Dowager to place the hairpin in her hair.
Su Limo, who had been trying to remain inconspicuous since entering Cining Palace, finally noticed Jia Fei.
No wonder the Empress Dowager said she was plain. Jia Fei, who had applied a light touch of makeup, appeared fatigued. She wore only two velvet flower hair accessories, and her palace attire was a simple style that was neither new nor old. While her appearance was not improper, it was not what one would expect of a pregnant and favored imperial concubine.
Su Limo smirked and looked away. Jia Fei had not succeeded in her previous scheme and was now trying another approach. Having failed to gain favor with the Empress, she was now seeking justice from the Empress Dowager.
Throughout the palace, it was well-known that Jia Fei had fallen out of favor with the Emperor recently due to the incident involving the Hundred Blessings brocade. She had also been denied entry to Changchun Palace. Although the Empress Dowager was ill and rarely saw visitors, she was well-informed about the goings-on in the harem. Nothing escaped her ears.
"Thank you, Empress Dowager, for your kindness. I am most grateful," Jia Fei said, touching the hairpin in her hair with a hint of pride as she returned to her seat.
"Rise," the Empress Dowager said, the smile gradually fading from her face. Her voice was deep, commanding authority without raising her voice.
"Chenqie thanks Your Majesty's grace," Xiu Guiren replied, relieved to be called up. She quickly rose to her feet, ignoring the ache in her knees, and stood straight and still, not daring to break any rules.
'The imperial offspring are important, but the Emperor is even more so. The Emperor is not just your Emperor; he is the Emperor of all the consorts of the Six Palaces and the Emperor of the entire Qing Dynasty. Since the Emperor cannot sleep well in your quarters and it affects your ability to nurture the fetus, you shall rest and focus on your pregnancy for the next two months. You are excused from bedchamber duties."
Though the Empress Dowager’s words were not harsh, their meaning was clear."
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Gugu - Aunt, This term is a respectful way to address an older woman, particularly one who is not related by blood but is held in high esteem. It conveys a sense of affection and deference.
Feipin - Imperial concubines.
Chenqie - A humble way for a concubine to refer to herself when addressing the Empress Dowager