TPNCQ CHAPTER 27
To Support
The Empress Dowager was happy, and as a result, even though Jingren Palace wasn't the most favored, no one dared to slight it in their daily provisions. Even the head eunuch of the Imperial Household Department, notorious for his sycophancy, greeted Su Limo people with the utmost respect, never once uttering a disrespectful word. That fellow is a master at flattering the powerful and bullying the weak.
"Alright, alright, I know you're doing this for my own good," Su Li'er said, poking Dong Xue's forehead playfully. "Don't worry about the swaddling clothes. Just let Shuangjiang take care of that. Why don't you go to the Imperial Kitchen and see what's for lunch today? Pick a couple of good dishes and bring them back. If there is your favorite fresh-steamed shredded vegetables, make sure to get you a serving of that, Maybe it will finally quiet you down."
Shuangjiang carefully selected the swaddling clothes and took it to the Imperial Hospital to have several imperial physicians examine it. Only after ensuring that it was without any problem did she send it to Chunxi Palace.
The next day, when the sun was less harsh, Su Limo had wet nurse carry Jingshun as they headed to the Cining Palace, shielded by a parasol.
It was a particularly hot and humid day, so Su Limo had dressed Jing Shun in a thin, silver-red gauze gown that the Empress Dowager had gifted her. It was truly a wonderful piece – comfortable and breathable, perfect for summer. She also put on the gold locket that the Empress Dowager had given her personally. The little bundle of joy was so happy and playful that she couldn't help but smile. Just looking at her makes people feel open and bright.
Inside the hall, the Empress Dowager was seated on her couch, overseeing Ruhua gugu and several maids as they sorting things out. When she saw Jingshun coming, her afternoon drowsiness vanished instantly, Not to mention Jingshun called out, "lai, lai, bao," (T/N: bao - to hug) the Empress Dowager's eyebrows and eyes full of joy. She scooped Jingshun up into her arms and showered her with affection, even ordering someone to bring Jingshun her favorite milk slices that can easily melt in mouth.
After greeting the Empress Dowager, Su Limo sat on a round stool at the bottom. Before her were five or six large brocade boxes, overflowing with treasures.
One brocade box was filled with at least twenty or thirty jade bracelets, another brocade box contained various kinds of hairpins and hair ornaments, a third brocade box held jewellery made by pearls of different colors, a fourth brocade box contained uncut gemstones, and the most remarkable was the fifth box, which held several fist-sized pigeon's blood rubies – truly a rare find.
"I've been idle lately, so I had Ruhua bring out a few boxes from the treasury to look for something. You've come just in time. Help me take a look," the Empress Dowager said.
Su Limo knew this was just a polite remark of formality and replied with a smile, "Your highness's possessions are all exquisite. I'm not very good at dressing up or understanding these gemstones, so I'm afraid I can't be of much help. Why don't you try this dessert I've brought? I'm quite good at making these."
Su Limo spoke as she waved her hand. Shuangjiang opened the food box and handed over a small container of ice. Su Limo took out a small bowl of snow-white icy pearls from the chilled container and presented it to the Empress Dowager. "The ice is finely crushed and blended with milk that has been chilled with ice for a while. I've added a few small tapioca pearls for decoration. Please, Your highness, taste this bowl of snow-white icy pearls and see if it suits your palate," she said.
The wet nurse, seeing this, quickly took Jingshun and sat on the round stool next to Su Limo, feeding her milk slices. The little girl was so happy that she squinted her eyes and waved her little hands, the silver bells on her wrists tinkling crisply and melodiously.
“You’ve gone to a lot of trouble. I was just feeling a bit bored and craving a sweet treat.” The Empress Dowager took the small bowl and enjoyed the cool sensation against her skin. She scooped up a spoonful and placed it in her mouth. The sweet milk and fine ice, combined with the chewy little balls, were incredibly delicious.
“The Empress Dowager is so kind to Jingshun. I don’t have anything else to offer. Lately, I’ve just been enjoying making food. As long as Empress Dowager doesn’t mind and enjoys it, I’m satisfied.” Su Limo said with a smile.
“I find it quite delicious. I’ll have the Emperor come to your palace to try it sometime.” After finishing half of the bowl and put it down, the Empress Dowager looked at Su Limo and said, “You’re always thinking of me. I know you’re filial, but you should also spend some time dressing up and showing yourself to the Emperor. The Empress is so focused on the Seventh Prince that she doesn’t have time for anything else. Jia Fei has just given birth and isn’t able to attend to the Emperor, and Xian Gufei is busy with the affairs of the palace. There aren’t many other people in the palace who can properly serve the Emperor. The few young ones left are all indulging him without restraint. There should be someone more fitting to attend to him.”
The Empress Dowager’s meaning was clear. Su Limo was pondering how to respond when Ruhua spoke up.
“Empress Dowager, I think this pair of jade bracelets is quite beautiful. The color is excellent, and it would be difficult to find such a fine piece even among the tribute offerings.” Ruhua took a pair of jade bracelets from the brocade box and presented them on a small tray.
“Indeed, they are quite nice,” the Empress Dowager said as she examined them. She then handed them to Su Limo. “This color suits you well. Go back and dress up nicely for the Emperor. If the cosmetics in the palace are of poor quality and dull, have the Imperial Household Department select some better ones.”
"..." Hearing the words "cosmetics" and "dull," Su Limo was startled. Could it be that the Empress Dowager had noticed her "depressed" makeup?
Su Limo reached up and touched her face. It was late autumn.
It had been particularly hot that day, and she had worked up a sweat on her way over. The Empress Dowager’s sleeping quarters were quite cool due to the ice used to lower the temperature. The thin layer of powder on her face had dried and caked, creating a patchy appearance. She was sure that her face must have looked blotchy, with some areas dark and others revealing her natural rosy complexion.
She had messed up big time in front of the reigning champion of palace intrigues.
“Thank you for your gift, Empress Dowager,” Su Limo suppressed her emotions and looked up with a gentle and obedient expression. She took the brocade box and forced herself to say, “I will be sure to have the Imperial Household Department select some good cosmetics when I get back.”
“Give that large pigeon's blood ruby to Chun Gufei. Have it carved and set into a crown, or made into a set of head ornaments. You could even have it carved into beads.” The Empress Dowager pointed to the fist-sized ruby.
This pigeon blood ruby, about the size of a fist, could be carved and polished into a full set of head ornaments. It would be even more precious and rare than the ruby set Jia Fei wore yesterday.
The color of the pigeon blood ruby is superior, but that's only part of it. What makes it truly exceptional is the raw stone itself. You can design whatever kind of jewelry you want, have someone sketch the designs to your liking, and even have it custom-made. Now, this is what top-tier jewelry is all about, Jiumin.
As expected, the Empress Dowager must have found out about what happened at the Eighth Prince’s full-moon banquet yesterday. Knowing she would be bringing Jingshun today, she prepared these gifts in advance. First, It was a way to reward and reassure her, second, to support and warn Jia Fei against being too arrogant, and third, to remind the Emperor to share his favor equally so that the palace could remain harmonious.
Su Limo had expected the Empress Dowager to react. And indeed…
“it is too precious. I really can’t accept them. This pair of jade bracelets is already wonderful, how can I possibly take this gemstone as well?” Su Limo quickly stood up to decline.
Yesterday, after seeing Jia Fei’s dazzling red ruby head ornament, she had casually mentioned wanting a string of red rubies. And now... she was being offered an even better gemstone, a pigeon's blood ruby.
“You won’t come across such a rare find every day. I happened to think of cleaning out the small treasury today, so just take it. Have it made into a piece of jewelry,” the Empress Dowager said, then pointed to another thumb-sized carved red agate. “This is for Jingshun. It would be perfect for her hat in the autumn. Our little Jingshun is so fair and delicate, and red agate would suit her perfectly.”
After politely declining a few times and seeing that she couldn’t refuse, Su Limo gratefully accepted the gifts. The Empress Dowager’s move was both a show of favor and a warning, not only for her but also for everyone in the harem. It was clear that she had to accept the gifts, no matter what.
Well, these gemstones were truly wonderful.
She had wanted to be a salted fish, keeping her head down and being gentle and obedient. But some people just couldn’t stand to see her doing well and would try to bring her down to make themselves look better, like Jia Fei yesterday.
It seemed that even her superior, the Empress Dowager, thought she was getting paid too much, had too many benefits, and that she have great potential but was slacking off. She didn’t want her to be lazy and wanted to give her more projects to work on and gain experience.
As an employee, one just had to do their job. At least her current boss was motivating her with luxury jewelry, unlike in the modern world where they would just give empty words and make big promises or if that does not work, then make you engaged in toxic behavior.
After spending some more time watching the Empress Dowager play with Jingshun, Su Limo guessed that the Empress Dowager was tired and Jingshun was probably hungry, so she took her leave from the Cining Palace.
When she returned to Jingren Palace and watched the wet nurse feed Jingshun until she was full and asleep, Su Limo went back to her own chambers. She had Shuangjiang record the large pigeon’s blood ruby in the small treasury and store it carefully. Then, she took off the jade bracelet she usually wore and put the pair of jade bracelets gifted by the Empress Dowager on her wrists.
She had to admit, they were truly beautiful. The jade was a vibrant green and had an excellent luster. It was rare to find a pair with such matching colors almost no difference in appearance. They must have been cut from the same piece of high-quality jade.
“I’ve never even seen anything so beautiful before. It’s clear that the Empress Dowager really likes niangniang and the Fourth Princess,” Dong Xue said with a smile, feeling very happy for her Gufei niangniang. Yesterday, she had been worried, but today, her niangniang had received such wonderful gifts from the Empress Dowager.
With every glance at these bracelets, Su Limo was reminded of the Empress Dowager's expectations.
While it was true that the Empress Dowager liked the Fourth Princess, it was uncertain whether she truly liked Su Limo herself. The Empress Dowager was a master at maintaining a delicate balance, and her methods were more about control than genuine affection.
With Jia Fei and her twins rising in prominence, and Ling Pin, though favored, lacking a strong family background and a child, her position was precarious. All she has is the imperial favor. Even she knows that it was the most unreliable thing. The Empress Dowager, the ultimate palace intrigue champion, knew this even better.
Having given the authority to manage the palace to Xian Gufei, the Empress Dowager had maintained a balance between Jia Fei and Ling Pin, preventing either from becoming too powerful. Now, she wanted to use Su Limo to counterbalance Jia Fei in terms of offspring and ensure the survival of her lineage. It seemed that the Empress Dowager had given up on the Seventh Prince, who was often sickly and knew that he would have a difficult future.
It seemed that the Empress Dowager had been planning this for some time, carefully considering her options. The incident at the Eighth Prince’s banquet yesterday, where Jia Fei caused such a scene, only prompted the Empress Dowager to act sooner. And today, on what turned out to be the hottest day of the summer, her makeup melted, exposing her true appearance, and the Empress Dowager caught her in the act. Even if the Empress Dowager had only three parts expectation for Su Limo before, now that expectation had grown to five. She realized that Su Limo's recent behavior—appearing to be merely gentle and accommodating—was actually a strategy to protect herself, not a sign of weakness.
Moreover, the recent incident involving Xiu Guiren must have made the Empress Dowager suspicious of Jia Fei.
The only ones with enough influence to manipulate the Imperial Kitchen and the Internal Affairs Office were Xian Gufei, who managed the affairs of the six palaces, and the favored and proud Jia Fei. Ling Pin was focused solely on gaining the Emperor's favor, while the other concubines were either resting on their laurels or on their way to doing so. If Su Limo could see all this clearly, there was no way the Empress Dowager didn’t.
The Empress, known for her kindness, was not particularly skilled at managing the harem. With her hands full caring for herself and the Seventh Prince, the everyday affairs of the harem, though managed by Xian Gufei, required the Empress Dowager to step in personally when it came to handling the concubines.
Su Limo stared blankly at the emerald bracelets on her wrists, lost in thought. It took her a moment to snap out of it.
Since it was impossible to remain unnoticed...
At the end of the path, when there's no way forward, just sit and watch the clouds rise.