TPNCQ CHAPTER 31
To obtain a phased project bonus
Lamei, while cleaning up broken pieces on the floor, looked up and said to Jia Fei, "Niangniang, please be careful of your hand." She continued, "The Empress Dowager intends to elevate Chun Guifei, and the Emperor has always been filial. That's why he has visited Jingren Palace consecutively. Besides, the Emperor only stayed for a short while and didn't summon Chun Guifei to sleep with him. It's just a formality. How could he truly favor Chun Guifei? If he really liked her, he would usually send many precious gifts. I haven't heard of Jingren Palace receiving any good rewards. I suppose the Emperor is too lazy to bother."
Jia Fei snorted, her anger subsiding a little. "With her plump figure, how could the Emperor find her attractive? The money I've spent is meant to make her look like this. No matter who she has backing her, if she doesn't have a good appearance, it's all in vain."
"Exactly," Lamei flattered. "The Emperor has always preferred slender figures. Niangniang's soft, supple waist is what the Emperor desires most. No one else in the palace can compare to niangniang."
Hearing this, Jia Fei touched her waist and abdomen, satisfied. "The nourishing lotion from the Imperial Department is indeed effective. My waist has become firmer these past few days. Go, get some more from the Imperial Department. Bring as much as you can."
"Yes, I'll go get it myself," Lamei said, leaving the bedroom.
*
The news that the Emperor had visited Jingren Palace twice in a row was known throughout the palace, and the Empress Dowager was naturally aware of it. Unexpectedly, Chun Guifei had exceeded her expectations and she asked Ruhua to selecte two new rolls of Shu brocade from Shu to send to Jingren Palace.
"The Empress Dowager sees that these two rolls of Shu brocade are the perfect color for Guifei niangniang and specially ordered me to bring them to Your Highness to make into clothes," Ruhua personally held the two bolt of Shu brocade in her hand, said softly and politely.
"Thank you for the Empress Dowager's reward. I'm overjoyed," Su Limo stood up to thank her and signaled to Dong Xue to receive the brocade. She also asked Shuangjiang to send Ruhua out properly.
Su Limo sat on the brocade couch and looked at the two rolls of Shu brocade. One of them was the pear blossom pattern she liked. The feise Shu brocade was dotted with large patches of snow-white pear blossoms, which was truly beautiful. The Empress Dowager was rewarding her for being sensible and doing a good job, giving her a stage-by-stage bonus.
Since the Empress Dowager had elevated her, and the gifts were so good, she naturally had to make them into clothes and wear them.
Su Limo instructed Shuangjiang and Dong Xue to hurry up and cut out a set in the next two days. At this point, there was nowhere to hide and nowhere to escape. If she wanted a long-term and reliable backer, she had to exchange something for it, which was fair.
She just wanted to be a salted fish, but the situation forced her hand, and she was not afraid.
She didn't cause trouble, but she was not afraid of trouble either.
She didn't want to compete for the Emperor's favor, but as a worker, she could just treat the Emperor as a partner. It was also good to do projects together, get bonuses, and get commissions.
"Jingren Palace has been quiet for so long. Now that the Empress Dowager favors it so much and the Emperor has come twice in a row, I'm really happy for niangniang," Dong Xue wiped her hands on her clothes before daring to touch the tray of Shu brocade with her hands. Such a good thing used to only be available in the palaces of the Empress Dowager, the Empress, Jia Fei, and Ling Pin. Now that her mistress also had it, it was truly a cause for celebration. It was clear that Jingren Palace was getting better and better, and they, as servants, were also feeling proud.
"Niangniang should also be prepared. Maybe one day the Emperor will flip Your Highness's green token..." Shuangjiang reminded her.
"Oh..." Su Limo waved her hand in refusal upon hearing this. No, no, no. Please take good care of her with delicious food and drink, and let's work overtime and clock in together. Just don't ask me to sleep with the Emperor.
The next day, the third prince, Yongzhang, recovered and went back to the study hall. The afternoon archery practice at the martial arts field was delayed by an hour to avoid the hottest part of the day.
In the evening, Qianlong went to the martial arts field to test the archery skills of the third and fourth princes. They had already shown initial results. In particular, the fourth prince, Yongcheng, could hit the target seven out of ten times, even if it was on the outer edge of the ring. For such a young age, he had great potential. Although the third prince, Yongzhang, was older and stronger, he could only hit the target two or three times out of ten, and he felt a little frustrated. Usually, he could hit three or four times out of ten, but today, in front of the Emperor, his performance was worse.
"Come here, I'll teach you," Qianlong stepped out of the shade and went to Yongzhang's side, putting his arm around him. "Your horse stance needs to be wider, and your lower body needs to be stable before you can exert force on your upper body. Like this, draw the bow, aim, don't rush. After aiming, and then raise the angle slightly. Yes, like that, shoot."
Whoosh! The arrow hit the bullseye.
Yongzhang was overjoyed and turned to look at Qianlong. He saw a smile on Qianlong's face, unlike his usual stern expression. He also had a side of him that was a loving father. Yongzhang felt very satisfied.
It seemed that what his mother said was right, a dragon begets nine sons, each one is a good son, and each one is valued.
"What are you standing there for? Come on, practice more," Qianlong patted Yongzhang's head.
"Yes," having received the order, Yongzhang took the bow and arrow himself, thinking about what the Emperor had taught him, he took it step by step, standing firm, drawing the bow, aiming, raising the angle, and shooting.
Bang! The arrow hit the target, although it was on the edge, but the feeling of hitting the target with one shot was really good.
The fourth prince, Yongcheng, originally thought that since he shot better than the third prince, he would be praised by the Emperor. Unexpectedly, the Emperor personally taught the third prince step by step, and he felt a little unhappy.
A seven or eight-year-old child with worries would try to hide them, but it could still be seen on his face. Moreover, Qianlong himself had not been favored by his father when he was young and had been sent to the Old Summer Palace until he grew up and started his education before being brought back to the palace for upbringing. He knew best the feeling of being neglected.
"Yongcheng, you've done well. Your goal is to hit the bullseye. You need to improve your accuracy. In half a month, I will test you again. If you can hit the red heart five times out of ten, I will let the Imperial Stable select a good horse for you and let your master start teaching you to ride and shoot," Qianlong said.
Hearing the words "riding and shooting," Yongcheng's eyes lit up instantly. Could he choose his own pony? He vowed, "Yes, Father, I will definitely do it."
Hearing this, Yongzhang scratched his neck and gritted his teeth secretly. As the older brother, he must not fall behind.
Qianlong gave a few more instructions before returning to the Yangxin Hall to review documents.
Yongzhang and Yongcheng continued to practice shooting targets on the martial arts field. The two brothers encouraged each other and practiced even more diligently, neither willing to fall behind the other.
*
On the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month, the Mid-Autumn Festival, a night banquet was held by the lake. All the concubines attended, and even Jia Fei, who was still in her confinement period for the last day, arrived in a grand procession, making a grand entrance.
“Chenqie is late. I greet Your Majesty and the Empress. I should not have arrived late, but just before I left, it was time for me to drink my tonic. I was afraid of missing the right time for the medicine to take effect, so I was late.” Jia Fei saluted according to etiquette.
“Quickly help your Niangniang up and give her a seat. It's windy at night, why don't you put on another layer of clothing?” Qianlong asked with concern.
“It’s nothing, Your Majesty. I will be out of confinement tomorrow, and the imperial physician also said that my body has fully recovered. And as you can see from my complexion, Your Majesty need not worry.” Jia Fei sat down and joined the banquet, her movements graceful and elegant. Dressed in a rose-colored palace gown, she looked radiant and charming. The tassels on the red gold phoenix hairpin in her hair swayed slightly, very eye-catching.
“Sister Chun Guifei, you look well.” Jia Fei's expression changed slightly when she saw Su Limo wearing a feise Shu brocade palace gown. Then she smiled even more brightly.
According to her rank, Jia Fei's seat could be next to Xian Guifei or next to Su Limo. Coincidentally, Jia Fei's seat was right next to Su Limo today.
Su Limei nodded and smiled in response, without saying much. She knew that the Emperor had visited her palace twice, and Jia Fei would definitely be restless. She just didn't expect Jia Fei to be so restless that she couldn't even endure a day and came to the Mid-Autumn banquet in such a grand manner.
The late autumn evening breeze already carried a hint of coolness, and the banquet was held by the lake. Catching a cold was no joke. It seemed that Jia Fei's impetuous nature couldn't be changed for a while.
"Indeed, Heaven is especially kind to Jia Fei, sister. Your figure is as slender as a young girl's, and you don't look like you've just given birth. It's enviable." Xian Guifei said with a smile, her dimples charming.
"Oh, I envy Sister Chun Guifei's good appetite. They say that being able to eat is a blessing, but in this aspect, this sister is too unfortunate. Otherwise, the eighth prince wouldn't be so frail, unlike the fourth princess who is so robust, lively, and lovable." Jia Fei waved her hand as if lamenting, but the pride on her face couldn't be hidden.
These words immediately made Empress Fucha change color. It was like stabbing her in the heart. During her pregnancy, she had lost her appetite and had a difficult pregnancy, which led to the seventh prince being weak and catching two colds in the hot summer. Now that autumn was approaching, she couldn't afford to be careless. Thinking of these, Empress Fucha felt like a thousand arrows were piercing her heart. If she could, she would willingly shorten her life by ten years, as long as she could exchange it for the seventh prince's healthy physique.
Seeing the Empress's embarrassment, Jia Fei pretended not to notice and picked up the cup on the table, "On this beautiful night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, I would like to offer a toast to Your Majesty and the Empress, wishing you a long and happy life and a happy reunion."
Seeing this, the other concubines also picked up their cups and offered their congratulations together.
One doesn't hit a smiling person, and besides, Jia Fei didn't mention anyone by name. Empress Fucha, no matter how unhappy she was, could only raise her cup with the Emperor and accept the congratulations of all the concubines, and then clinked glasses with the Emperor again. After two cups of wine, her sorrow deepened.
"Begin the banquet," Qianlong raised his hand and signaled. Li Yu instructed the little eunuch beside him, and the banquet officially began.
The sound of stringed instruments gradually rose, and the dancing girls entered in a line, performing a newly choreographed dance.
Su Limo picked up a glass of wine and took a sip, focusing on the performance. She had to admit, the Emperor knew how to enjoy himself. The sound of stringed instruments by the lake was particularly pleasant, and the cool breeze of early autumn was truly comfortable. The dancers were all graceful and pleasing to the eye. This was the first time she had attended such a grand banquet. Apart from the noise of the people around her, everything else seemed pretty good. The various delicious dishes were a feast for the eyes and taste buds, making Su Limo's appetite whetted.
The food at the banquet was prepared according to a special menu, and it was impossible to eat these dishes in daily meals. Such a lavish feast was only available at large palace banquets or during the New Year and festivals.
Su Limo didn't pay too much attention to what the people around her were saying. She was focused on watching the performance and enjoying the food.
Jia Fei had originally thought that after her verbal provocation, Chun Guifei would react in some way. Who would have thought that from beginning to end, there was only gentleness and compliance on her face. She didn't even retort, and then she started to drink, watch the dance, and eat on her own. She had thrown a small stone into the water, but it seemed to have sunk straight to the bottom without even rippling the surface, and was simply ignored. It was infuriating. She had expected a counterattack, but the other party simply didn't take the bait, leaving Jia Fei at a loss for what to do.
"Sister Chun Guifei, this Shu brocade is truly gorgeous. Shu brocade is already worth its weight in gold, and it's even more precious because silver threads were woven into it. It's truly valuable," Jia Fei picked up her cup and said again, unwilling to give up.
[Author's Note: Thanks to the reader, Bu Jinxin, for the two rewards! Woof woof!
Tomorrow will be the official VIP chapter release, with a 10,000-word update at 0:00. I'll be waiting for you!]
T/N : I will try to translate this long chapter in one go. Cheer for me~~
Feise - A specific shade of light pink, often used to describe the color of a concubine's robes.