TPNCQ CHAPTER 26
Killed in three strikes, not a single piece of Armor remains.
When she heard Qianlong call her name, the crowd in front of her already parted to make way. Su Limo had no choice but to collect her thoughts and walk forward, her smile becoming even more gentle.
Jia Fei was holding the eighth prince and standing to the right of Qianlong. Su Limo had no choice but to step forward and stand to the left of Qianlong.
This confrontation was truly a public humiliation, a stark contrast between beauty and ugliness, a direct attack on her heart.
Although Jia Fei had just given birth three days ago, her abdomen was flat, her limbs were slender, her figure was like that of a young girl, graceful and slender, and her complexion was rosy, like a ripe peach, fresh and juicy. The set of ruby headpieces on her head was dazzling.
Su Limo had given birth more than half a year ago, and the fatigue on her face could not be covered by makeup. The lake-blue spring dress was bright in color, making her complexion look even darker and yellower. The few velvet flower hair accessories were simple and plain.
Compared to Jia Fei's slender figure, she seemed overly plump and round, and no one would believe her if she said she didn't eat four meals a day.
Unfortunately, Jia Fei had miscalculated. Su Limo was heartless, and she couldn't wait to be killed once, so she could be bothered less.
"I remember that the swaddling clothes used for the Fourth Princess were exquisitely made, with a very auspicious swastika pattern. I thought it was prepared by the Internal Affairs Department, but I asked yesterday and found out that it was embroidered by the Gufei niangniang herself. The Fourth Princess is lively and cute and well-cared for. I want to ask for a good omen and use the swaddling clothes for our Eighth Prince. I wonder if it's possible?" Jia Fei smiled, her eyes sparkling.
"Of course, I'll instruct Dong Xue to go back and get it right away, and have the Imperial Hospital take a look to see if it will harm the baby's delicate skin after being left out in the rain for several months this spring," Su Limo said, her voice soft and gentle.
Traditionally, it was said that babies were afraid of having too much fortune, which could shorten their lifespan. Therefore, it was common to pass down items like swaddling clothes from one child to another, so that the baby could wear "a hundred families' clothes" and "eat a hundred families' food". However, Su Limo had to be careful. Personal items from her palace, if leaked, could be exploited by those with ulterior motives. Having the imperial physician examine them would put everyone at ease, and if anything happened in the future, she wouldn't be blamed.
"Then I'd like to thank the Gufei niangniang on behalf of the Eighth Prince," Jia Fei smiled and coquettishly said to Qianlong, "I told you that the Gufei niangniang is always generous. Unlike Your Majesty, you promised me a pair of ruby earrings, but I haven't seen a shadow of them."
"How could I forget? Li Yu," Qianlong smiled, taking the brocade box handed to him by Li Yu, "I've prepared it a long time ago, just waiting for the ceremony to be over before giving it to you."
"I thank Your Majesty for your kindness." Jia Fei handed the Eighth Prince to the wet nurse behind her to coax him to sleep, and casually took the brocade box. It was a perfect match for the set of ruby headpieces she was wearing, and without hesitation, she put it on her ears.
She had heard a few days ago that the emperor had asked the Internal Affairs Department to find a pair of top-quality ruby earrings, and she guessed they were prepared for her, so she specially wore the set of ruby headpieces today, leaving her ears empty, just waiting for the ruby earrings.
The concubines present were all envious of Jia Fei's top-quality ruby headpiece set.
Which woman doesn't like jewelry, especially such exquisite pieces, and a complete set of thirteen at that?
Not to mention that it was specially prepared by the Emperor, what kind of favor was this that wouldn't make people's teeth itch with envy?
Nearby, Su Limo wholeheartedly played the role of a decoration, watching Jia Fei fully perform the role of the favored concubine in the harem. However, she really couldn't compare to the rubies on Jia Fei's head. When could she get a string of her own to play with?
After chatting for a while, Qianlong dismissed everyone, and the concubines left Chunxi Palace one after another.
Su Limo was also supported by Dong Xue and walked out slowly. Without thinking, she knew how the other concubines and palace maids were looking at her—pity, regret, lament, or even sighs. She deliberately slowed her pace to let everyone take a good look.
Jia Fei's performance today was truly flawless.
A stunning beauty, first strike.
A complete set of ruby headpieces, second strike.
Unique favor, third strike.
In an instant, she had left the room completely defeated, not a single piece of Armor remains.
"Niangniang, should we find the swaddling clothes and have the imperial physician examine them before sending them to Chunxi Palace?" Dong Xue couldn't help but ask, trying to suppress her anger.
"Of course." Since someone had gone to such great lengths to put on a show, how could she not follow through?
Seeing that Su Limo's expression was calm and without any other emotions, Dong Xue felt even more that she couldn't fathom the Gufei niangniang. But the Gufei niangniang was getting kinder and kinder to them. She was always grateful. Moreover, the Gufei niangniang had always taught her to be careful and cautious outside, and even if she had a lot of anger inside, she had to hold it in, otherwise, she would be causing trouble for the Gufei niangniang.
As soon as Su Limo left Chunxi Palace, she was stopped by Xian Gufei.
"Sister, you've been recuperating for so long, but why don't you seem to be getting better? Is it because the imperial physician Luo is not good enough? Should I ask the Imperial Hospital's chief physician, Song Ren, to take a look at you?" Xian Gufei had a smile on her lips, and her dimples deepened as she spoke.
"After all, I've suffered a great loss, and it won't be easy to fully recover. Physician Luo is very good; it's just that my body is weak." Su Limo sighed involuntarily. "The slimming balm that Sister gave me has also been used. I've used almost half a jar. If it weren't for these balms, I don't know what I would do."
"Sister, just use it. If you run out, just come to my palace and get some." Xian Gufei patted Su Limo's hand, appearing very intimate. After a pause, she spoke again, "Jia Fei is truly blessed to have a son. Now in this palace, only Jia Fei and you have two princes. Others can't help but envy you."
"Each prince is different. My Third and Sixth Princes cannot be compared to Jia Fei's Fourth and Eighth Princes. However, the Emperor has always been very fond of my sister, and it's only a matter of time before she becomes pregnant. She will surely have both sons and daughters in the future." Su Limo picked up on the words that Xian Gufei wanted to hear.
Xian Gufei's words were a subtle dig, striking at the heart of concubines with children. Unfortunately, Su Limo was heartless, let alone the desire to compete.
In the harem, the most taboo thing was comparison. Greed would lead people down a dead end. For example, Xiu Guiren.
"Thank you for your kind words, sister. I still need to go back to the Empress's palace to report. I'll go first." Xian Gufei said and left with her palace maid.
Su Limo nodded, feeling that it was enough, and with Dong Xue's support, she returned to Jingren Palace. She removed her flower-pot high-heeled shoes and changed into comfortable embroidered slippers, put on casual clothes, washed her face and removed her makeup, and relaxed her muscles before sitting down to drink a bowl of bird's nest soup.
"Niangniang, what happened in Chunxi Palace today? I saw that Dong Xue didn't look good," Shuangjiang took the bird's nest bowl and asked as she helped Su Limo rinse her mouth.
Before Su Limo could speak, Dong Xue blurted out everything.
"Shuangjiang, you didn't go to Chunxi Palace today, so you don't know. Jia Fei is so arrogant, as if she's never seen a ruby headpiece before. She wore a whole set on her head, so dazzling, how come her neck didn't break? It's okey for her show off, but she's so proud of herself, and she even made our niangniang stand beside her as a foil. How could someone be so evil!" Dong Xue said as she rummaged through the cabinet for the swastika-patterned swaddling clothes, "She even had the audacity to ask for the Fourth Princess's used swaddling clothes..."
In the bedroom, with only Su Limo, Shuangjiang, and Dong Xue, Dong Xue finally dared to speak freely.
"And then there is Xian Gufei, I don't think she has good intentions either. She hinted to our niangniang, both overtly and covertly, that Jia Fei is so powerful that she will ride on our niangniang and the Third and Sixth Princes' heads one day. What's the point of all this? There are so many trivial matters in the six palaces, and she still can't be bothered... It's infuriating." Dong Xue said, and couldn't help but slam the cabinet lid shut with a bang.
Seeing this, Su Limo leaned back on the couch and chuckled, shaking her head. She said to Shuangjiang, "Look at this sharp tongue. I didn't know that Jingren Palace was now ruled by you."
"Dong Xue, the niangniang likes you, but don't be reckless. You must never act recklessly outside, or you will leave a handle for others..." Before Shuangjiang could finish her sentence, Dong Xue interrupted her.
"I know, I just can't stand Jia Fei's arrogant and smug look. Even if I suffer a hundred times myself, I can endure it, but I can't stand it when they insult our niangniang openly and secretly. I'm so angry." Dong Xue sighed deeply, and simply stopped looking for things. She walked forward and sat down on the footrest next to Su Limo with a plop, her nostrils flaring with anger.
"Whether it's Jia Fei or Xian Gufei, all they want is for me to get angry like you, and hopefully do something foolish to satisfy their desires. If I can't see through such a petty trick, how can I survive in this palace for long?" Su Limo patted Dong Xue's head and continued, "Sometimes, not fighting is more blessed than being able to fight."
Fighting for what? Ultimately, it's for the Emperor's favor. However, throughout history, how many favored concubines have lived to see the end? There can only be one champion in palace intrigues. Others are merely cannon fodder in history books.
Moreover, favor is the most unreliable and untrustworthy thing. You may be favored today, out of favor tomorrow, and if you lose too much, you might lose your life as well.
Human hearts are hard to fathom, and the Emperor's heart is even harder to fathom.
Rather than wasting time and energy fighting for this fleeting and unpredictable imperial favor, it's better to take good care of your health and be a carefree person. Try to protect yourself and your children for the future.
Besides, while Emperor Qianlong is deeply in love with the Empress 'Bai Yueguang', there was previously favored Fei Gao shi, and now there is favored concubine Jia Fei Jin shi and Ling Pin Wei shi. There will be many more favored concubines in the future. Should Su Limo also fight with these concubines, vying for supremacy, to the death?
Is she crazy?
"But niangniang, you can't just not fight at all and let these people ride roughshod over you..." Dong Xue said, then realized she had spoken too rudely and stopped, sticking out her tongue.
"The Emperor's favor? It's fine if I don't fight for it. As for the rest..." Su Limo said with a smile, calm as a lake, "Why don't we think about what to wear when I take Jingshun to pay our respects to the Empress Dowager tomorrow?"
"Niangniang," Dong Xue pursed her lips, wanting to say something but swallowing it back. In recent months, the niangniang hadn't been favored at all, and she had been going to the Empress Dowager's palace all the time. Although she had urged her twice, seeing that the niangniang was indifferent each time, she could only give up. Perhaps serving the Empress Dowager was also a good path?