TPNCQ CHAPTER 32
Sorry for the late update. I have been suffering form fever since last week, so you guys have to bear it for some days. After that release will be upto date~~
Officially going VIP with a 10,000-word chapter.
"I dare not decline the Empress Dowager's reward," Su Limo was eating steamed pearl fish. Upon hearing this, she replied, putting down her chopsticks and raising her wine cup to drink with the other. She then sat up straight, picked up her chopsticks again, and continued eating her fish while watching the dance.
Hearing the words "Empress Dowager," no matter how well-mannered Jia Fei was or how hard she tried to conceal it, her expression couldn't help but turn ugly. With the Empress Dowager's backing, it was clear that Su Limo was going to make things difficult for her. Seeing that Su Limo had no intention of continuing the conversation and was as silent as a clam, Jia Fei realized that saying more would be pointless. She could only sit up straight and look up at the Emperor and Empress, who were whispering to each other and looking at each other affectionately. She felt increasingly bored.
On the fifteenth day of the month, Qianlong would naturally spend the night at Changchun Palace. After the banquet and watching two performances, he dismissed everyone.
Hearing the signal to disperse and seeing the Emperor and Empress leave their seats, Su Limo, without waiting for anyone else to approach her, got up with the support of Shuangjiang and left, not giving anyone else a chance to talk to her.
Returning to Jingren Palace, Su Limo changed into her nightgown, washed up, and reclined on the couch. Shuangjiang sat beside the brocade couch and massaged her legs.
"Jia Fei's words were really rude. She wasn't afraid of offending the Empress. It's fortunate that the Empress is kind and didn't hold it against her," Shuangjiang said, her hands applying firm pressure.
"Jia Fei must be bored. Instead of wasting her breath, she should have watched the dance performance. Speaking of which, the steamed pearl fish slices today were quite good. I'll ask the Imperial Kitchen to make another dish for me to try sometime." When it came to delicacies, Su Limo couldn't get enough. Each person was only served a palm-sized piece, which wasn't even enough to fill her teeth. The other concubines had hardly touched it, such a waste.
So many things in the palace were caused by gossip. It was also quite tiring to speak politely all the time. She had to speak to the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, but she didn't need to speak to the others. Her public image was that of someone who was taciturn, well-behaved, and simply gentle, kind, and uninteresting.
*
A few days after the Mid-Autumn banquet, Qianlong flipped the name card of Jia Fei's palace, Chunxi Palace.
Jia Fei put in a lot of effort to dress up, playing the qin and singing songs, appearing very cultured and elegant. The beautiful woman was extremely charming and graceful. Even if she couldn't sleep with the Emperor yet, she still exuded a spring-like atmosphere.
The emperor was a man of many desires, and naturally, he would not refuse a woman who was willing to give her heart to him. However, although Chunxi Palace was good, the tea and snacks were not as good as Jingren Palace.
Listening to Jia Fei playing the qin, Qianlong didn't expect to be distracted, and he didn't expect to think about the tea and snacks.
When it came to food, he was always very restrained. According to the ancestral rules, one should not eat more that three portions a day, and one should not have preferences in order to maintain a long and healthy life. More importantly, one should not let others easily guess their preferences.
Qianlong refocused his attention on Jia Fei's music, and the melodious tunes quickly drove away his distracting thoughts.
After two pieces, Jia Fei spun around and threw herself into Qianlong's arms, hugged his waist and said coquettishly, "The Shu brocade that Sister Chun Guifei wore a few days ago was truly beautiful. I want one too."
Having just managed to remove the thoughts of Jingren Palace's tea and snacks from his mind, Qianlong frowned slightly upon hearing her mention it. He had lost all interest and his voice turned colder. "If you like it, I'll have the Imperial Household Department send you two bolts tomorrow. It's getting late. I'll return to the Yangxin Hall first. You should get some rest."
After saying this, Qianlong got up and walked straight out. Li Yu, who was resting in the corridor, heard the sound and saw that it was the Emperor who had come out, so he called out, "Your Majesty is leaving."
Qianlong's expression changed instantly. Jia Fei remained leaning against the brocade couch, looking completely incredulous. She murmured, "Your Majesty is leaving already?"
Seeing the Emperor leaving, Lamei, who was serving in the corridor, quickly entered the bedroom and came forward to support Jia Fei, asking, "Niangniang, what's wrong?"
Jia Fei grabbed Lamei's arm and looked puzzled. "How was His Majesty's expression when he left? Was he angry with me? That shouldn't be the case. I didn't say anything wrong, I just mentioned the Shu brocade."
Usually, no matter what she requested, as long as it wasn't excessive or against the rules, the Emperor always agreed. He had never been angry with her because of this. Moreover, he knew that she liked luxurious things, and he usually indulged her. Even if he scolded her occasionally, she could coax him into changing his mind. This was the first time he had left so abruptly.
Moreover, this was the first time she had been summoned after her pregnancy. Although her body had not fully recovered and she was not suitable for her to sleep with the emperor, in the past, even if she was not suitable for bed on the days when she was summoned, the Emperor would always stay with her. He had never left so quickly like today.
"No, Your Majesty didn't show any emotion on his face. I didn't see him angry with niangniang, or any other emotion." Lamei thought hard but couldn't find anything wrong. "Did niangniang say something to His Majesty?"
Jia Fei recalled what had happened tonight. Initially, everything had been going well. The Emperor had been kind and gentle towards her. As she played the qin and sang, he had sat on the brocade couch listening, and had even tapped the table with his left hand to keep the rhythm of the music. There was nothing unusual. Then she had simply mentioned the Shu brocade, and that wasn't a big deal either. The Emperor had even said that he would have the Imperial Household Department send two bolts over tomorrow.
Jia Fei couldn't figure out what had gone wrong. Thinking about the Shu brocade again, she wondered if she had mentioned "Chun Guifei"and upset the Emperor?
"I just mentioned the Shu brocade that Chun Guifei was wearing..." Jia Fei pondered.
"Could it be that the Emperor has grown tired of Chun Guifei, and that's why he was displeased when niangniang mentioned her?" Lamei also made this guess. "Could it be that the Empress Dowager has been favoring Chun Guifei too much lately, which has upset the Emperor?"
"Hmph, if he's truly displeased because of Chun Guifei, then even if Chun Guifei has the Empress Dowager backing her, she won't be able to do anything. The master of this palace has always been only one person, the Emperor. Chun Guifei has bitten off more than she can chew. It's truly satisfying." Jia Fei's gloominess vanished, and she smiled happily, her eyebrows and eyes filled with satisfaction.
"As long as the Emperor isn't angry because of niangniang, it doesn't matter if he didn't stay tonight. Just don't mention other people during your intimate moments in the future, so as not to ruin the Emperor's mood," Lamei reminded her, her heart finally at ease.
"Thanks to you for always helping me with these matters. Here, take this," Jia Fei said, taking off the pearl pendant from her ear and giving it to Lamei.
Lamei respectfully took it with both hands, her smile almost reaching her ears.
*
The next afternoon After finishing the last memorial, Qianlong put down his writing brush, picked up a teacup, and took a small sip. "Bring me some rain-after Longjing tea."
Li Yu was startled for a moment after hearing this, the he reacted. He gestured to his apprentice, Xiao Hezi behind him, who immediately served a cup of rain-after Longjing tea.
Qianlong took a sip and shook his head. No matter how he drank it, it tasted bland. However, he was really thirsty, so he gulped it down in one go.
"Have the Imperial Household Department select some fine Shu brocade and send it to the various palaces. Four bolts for the Empress, two bolts for Xian Guifei and Jia Fei, and one bolt for Ling Pin, and one bolt for Shu Pin... hmm, and one bolt for Yu Fei as well," Qianlong mused.
"Yes, I will arrange for it right away," Li Yu replied, then paused and said, "And for Chun Guifei...."
"Enough noise," Qianlong said, waving his sleeve and leaving. Li Yu hurriedly followed. The Emperor's mood had been changing a lot lately, making him difficult to serve.
Shortly after, the Imperial Household Department prepared the Shu brocade and assigned several groups of people to deliver it to the various palaces.
For a time, the various corridors became bustling with activity, and the palace maids and eunuchs who passed by were discussing it. This was the first time the Emperor had bestowed such a large amount of Shu brocade. It was natural for the Empress to receive the most, as she was the most important person in the Emperor's heart. Xian Guifei had her rank, and Jia fei and Ling Pin were favored, so they were bound to receive some. What surprised the palace maids and eunuchs was that Shu Pin and Yu Fei also received some.
"Shu Pin has served the Empress Dowager for many years. The Emperor has always been filial, so he must be giving Shu Pin face because of the Empress Dowager."
"That's right. Shu Pin never fights for favor and is the easiest to get along with. She never mistreats the palace servants. Although the Emperor is cold towards her, he still respects her."
"I didn't expect Yu Fei to receive one as well. I saw two little eunuchs going to Yonghe Palace just now."
"It's all because of the Fifth Prince. The Fifth Prince has grown up now and started his studies with a tutor a few days ago. Its better to look at the face of the Buddha instead of the Monk. If the Fifth Prince becomes successful one day, Yu Fei's good days will come. So, in this palace, it's best to have a child by your side."
"Have you finished all your work for today? Dare you gossip about your masters here? If you continue, you'll be punished." The eunuch in charge of cleaning the corridor saw the young palace maids gossiping and scolded them.
The young palace maids scattered and went back to their work.
Inside Chunxi Palace, after the eunuch who delivered the gifts left, Jia Fei looked at the Shu brocade on the table and glared, furious. "What do Yu Fei and Shu Pin think they are, daring to share my Shu brocade with me? And that lowly bitch Ling Pin."
After hearing from the eunuch who delivered the gifts, Jia Fei had suppressed her anger, but now she couldn't help but explode.
"Niangniang, please calm down. Not all Shu brocades are the same. These two bolts have your favorite butterfly and flower pattern. The Haitang red color looks best on niangniang. No one else in the entire palace can wear such a bright color as beautifully as niangniang." Lamei held one of the bolts and opened it for Jia Fei, praising her with a smile. "I'm sure the eunuchs in the Imperial Household Department were specifically instructed by His Majesty to give them to Your Majesty first."
"Of course, His Majesty loves it when I wear Haitang red. He even praised me, saying that my smile is more radiant than stars," mentioning the past, Jia Fei's anger gradually subsided, and the anger on her face turned into a blush. But when she thought about how she had begged and acted like a spoiled child for a reward and yet the entire palace had received Shu brocade, she was still unhappy.
Lamei knew her master's thoughts and quickly said with a smile, "His Majesty has bestowed such a large amount of Shu brocade, so he must be trying to humiliate Chun Guifei. Let's just watch the show. Moreover, these two bolts of Shu brocade of niangniang are truly beautiful. I will immediately instruct the eunuchs in the Imperial Household Department to tailor new clothes according to niangniang's measurements. We'll rush the work so that niangniang can wear them soon. The Empress invited everyone from the palace to admire the chrysanthemums in Changchun Palace three days from now. Your Majesty will definitely be the most beautiful one there."
"If that's the case, then go ahead and do it." Jia Fei smoothed her hair and smiled.
*
Three days later, the entire palace went to Changchun Palace to admire the chrysanthemums.
After breakfast and another round of grooming, Su Limo sat in front of her dressing table and carefully applied makeup. The box of inferior face powder that Dong Xue had given her was almost empty. She had gradually reduced the amount she used in recent days, allowing her natural skin tone to show through. It was time to change to a new box of powder.
Su Limo opened a box of high-quality jasmine-scented face powder and applied a small amount to her face. She carefully drew her eyebrows and used an eyebrow pencil to slightly darken the middle of her eyeliner, making her eyes look brighter. She then applied some lipstick. Her makeup was simple yet exquisite.
"Do a swallowtail bun with two small hairpins. Put this chrysanthemum flower hair accessory on the left side, and a smaller one on the right. Then, put on this gold-plated pearl tassel colorful hair ornament," Su Limo looked at the hair accessories on the dressing table and chose a few for Shuangjiang to put on her.
"Niangniang finally decided to dress up carefully. But it still seems too plain in my opinion. Why don't we add a gold hairpiece with a mutton fat jade to the back?" Shuangjiang suggested, holding the hairpiece behind Su Limo's head and comparing it.
"It's beautiful, but it's too heavy. Forget it," Su Limo shook her head and picked up a pair of delicate pearl earrings, trying them on.
"Ling Pin is just a concubine, but she's always covered in jewels, as if she wants everyone to know she's the apple of the Emperor's eye," Dongxue said, holding up a hand mirror to match the copper mirror on the dressing table.
"She's young, charming, and favored, so she should dress up well. Moreover, she hasn't exceeded her rank. You must be extra respectful and polite when you see Ling Pin in the future, and don't make any mistakes," Su Limo said softly. Ling Pin's days of favor would be long, and she would even give birth to the future emperor. Even if she had offended Jia Fei, Su Limo didn't want to cross paths with Ling Pin under normal circumstances. Moreover, since Jia Fei disliked her, an enemy of her enemy was a friend. The situation in the palace was constantly changing. She didn't want to be proactive, but since she had to do this, she might as well do it selectively. A worker is a worker after all.
"Are you still going to wear that feise embroidered pear blossom Shu brocade?" Shuangjiang finished combing her hair and went to choose a palace gown.
"This is the first time the Empress has summoned the entire palace for a gathering since her childbirth half a year ago. There's no need to be too flashy. Just wear that light blue satin palace gown," Su Limo pointed to the gown that was between a light blue and green color, which was both elegant and dignified.
Everyone in the palace knew that the Emperor had recently gifted Shu brocade to all the concubines, and Su Limo was no exception. She didn't mind about the others, but she guessed that Jia Fei would wear it on such an occasion.
After changing into her palace gown, Su Limo looked at herself in the dressing mirror. She was elegant, understated, and there was nothing inappropriate about her attire. She then had Shuangjiang and Dong Xue help her to Changchun Palace.
When Su Limo arrived, several concubines were already standing in groups in the courtyard. Except for the lowest-ranking palace women, all the other concubines had received invitations. Moreover, since this was the first time they had been summoned in half a year, they had all come to Changchun Palace early and were waiting.
It was the season for admiring chrysanthemums, and the Imperial Household Department had cultivated some excellent chrysanthemums. Several pots of rare green chrysanthemums were particularly eye-catching, and there was also a precious variety that had been grafted to bloom with red, yellow, and purple flowers on the same plant.
When the other concubines saw Su Limo, they stepped forward and greeted her according to the rules. Su Limo greeted them warmly one by one. Apart from the familiar concubines, there were two or three unfamiliar faces. Su Limo couldn't remember their names. They must be of lower rank and were usually not allowed to attend the Empress Dowager's greetings. She had sat at the back during the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet and had no impression of them. She smiled and nodded in acknowledgment.
Shortly after, Xian Guifei arrived. She greeted Su Limo as an equal, and the other concubines also stepped forward to greet her.
"Younger sister's dress is too plain today, but your complexion looks much better, and your skin is becoming whiter and smoother," Xian Guifei said with a smile, revealing her dimples.
"I've been taking good care of myself for quite some time now, and I've finally recovered. I must thank you, Sister, for the several boxes of Dong'ejiao you sent. It's truly a wonderful tonic." Su Limo smiled softly, her voice gentle and soothing.
"Indeed, Chun Gufei niangniang's complexion has improved a lot. You look even more radiant than before your delivery," Ling Pin said with a smile.
Su Limo turned to look at Ling Pin in front of her. Whose upturned eyes and slightly upturned lips carried a natural smile. If Jia Fei's beauty was striking and eye-catching, then Ling Pin's was more charming and alluring. The mole at the corner of her eye added a touch of coquettishness.
Such a beautiful woman was truly a sight to behold. This was the first time she had interacted with Ling Pin so closely, and Su Limo couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration. Her appearance was almost dancing to her aesthetic. She couldn't help but feel a little attracted.
"Sister Ling Pin, you truly are someone who looks stunning in both heavy makeup and light." Su Limo had a hundred compliments in her heart, but she chose to express herself with a subtle remark, not wanting to make it too obvious. This appearance was not only to the Emperor's liking—he, being a typical straightforward man—but Su Limo herself was also fond of it. For the first time, someone perfectly matched her aesthetic preferences. The harem was indeed filled with hidden talents and beautiful women. The Qianlong seemed to have a penchant for collecting them, with almost every type of beauty represented. However, he hadn't yet gone to the extreme of including frail and emaciated young girls in his collection.
However, the pink and purple Shu brocade that Ling Pin was wearing was intriguing.
"Jia Fei is here," the eunuch guarding at the gate announced loudly.
Everyone turned to look at the door, and they saw Jia Fei walking in, dressed in a Haitang red Shu brocade gown. She swayed gracefully and exuded a strong aura. She was adorned with a complete set of red golden headpieces, shining brightly and exuding unparalleled wealth.
Jia Fei walked forward proudly and greeted Xian Guifei and Su Limo. After receiving greetings from the others, she looked around and her gaze fell on Ling Pin. She said coldly, "Ling Pin's Shu brocade is not bad, but it's a pity that you only used velvet flowers as accessories. It's too simple. Didn't the Emperor give you a set of gold-plated jade headpieces?"
"How can a set of gold-plated jade headpieces compare to niangniang's set of red golden headpieces? I'm just a lowly person, how can I compare to Jia Fei niangniang?" Ling Pin replied with a smile, showing no sign of anger on her face.
"You're from a humble background, so you're used to being simple. But now that you're the mistress of a palace, you should change your frugal habits. Don't embarrass the Emperor." Jia Fei sneered.
"Empress always advocates for frugality, and we should all follow her example and be more frugal," Ling Pin replied calmly, with a smile in her eyes. She hated it most when people mentioned her background, but she had heard such remarks countless times over the past two or three years and had long since gotten used to it. Moreover, heroes were not defined by their origins, and she would have her chance to turn the tables one day.
As soon as Ling Pin finished speaking, they heard the eunuch announcing, "Empress has arrived."
Everyone bowed according to etiquette in greeting.
"Please rise, my dear sisters. It has been many days since we last met, and you all remain as beautiful as ever. The chrysanthemums in the palace are in full bloom these past few days, so I thought to invite you all to enjoy them together," Empress Fucha said with a warm smile.
In the past few days, with the Seventh Prince's health improving, she felt much more relaxed. Due to her pregnancy, childbirth, and taking care of the Seventh Prince, she had not been able to fulfill her duties as the empress for the past half a year. Now that things were looking up, she invited everyone over, both to enjoy the flowers and to inform them that they could come to Changchun Palace for their monthly greetings on the first and fifteenth of each month.
"Yuan Zhen once wrote, 'It's not that I particularly favor the chrysanthemum; it's just that when this flower blooms, there are no other flowers.' Today, I'm also being a bit poetic. I've had the palace maids prepare three type of chrysanthemum pastries. Please try them," Empress Fucha gestured for Yan'er to serve the pastries.
"The pastries from the Empress's palace are certainly delicious. We are truly fortunate," Shu Pin said with a gentle smile, being the first to take a piece of chrysmanthemum pastry and put it in her mouth.
The three pastries were all made with chrysanthemums and had a faint floral scent, making them quite appetizing. Su Limo also took a piece and put it in her mouth. It was quite unique, she thought. She would have to try making it herself later.
"Yuan Zhen's poem is good, but it's a bit too melancholy. I prefer the line 'When my flower blooms, a hundred flowers die, and the whole city is adorned with golden armor,'" Jia Fei smiled radiantly, holding a flower in her hand.
Hearing this, the other concubines felt a shiver down their spines. The meaning behind Jia Fei's words was obvious, and even the Empress was momentarily speechless. However, since they were discussing flowers, it was inappropriate to say anything.
"Being too rigid is easy to break and may not last long. In the end, when the west wind blows through the curtains, people will be thinner than yellow flowers. It's not a good thing. I prefer the chrysanthemum's tranquility and indifference to the world. 'Picking chrysanthemums under the eastern fence, leisurely seeing the southern mountains,'" Su Limo smiled, her face as bright as a silver plate and her eyes like water apricots. She was well-prepared for this question; she had memorized at least three to four hundred poems when she participated in a poetry competition in elementary school.
Seeing Su Limo step in to smooth things over, Empress Fucha's eyes softened instantly.
Su Limo smiled. After her childbirth, Empress Fucha had secretly sent her some nourishing ointment. Although she hadn't used it, she remembered the gesture.
"You..." Jia Fei glared at her, about to lash out, but heard a eunuch announce, "His Majesty has arrived," and could only hold her tongue.
"Tao Yuanming's poem," the Qianlong Emperor said as he stepped into Changchun Palace, hearing Su Limo's words. He strode over to Empress Fucha and said, "How could you hold a flower-viewing banquet without inviting me, Empress? If I hadn't come to Changchun Palace to see you, I would have missed such a beautiful moment."
"If I had known that Your Majesty would come to appreciate the flowers, I would have asked the Internal Affairs Department to bring more," Empress Fucha replied, holding the Qianlong Emperor's hand, displaying a deep affection between husband and wife.
The scene was truly irritating. Jia Fei's eyes flickered as she turned to look at the flowers elsewhere. All these years, no matter how much the Emperor favored her, as long as Empress Fucha was present, all the other concubines became mere background figures, and she was no exception. Could youthful affection really be so unbreakable? No matter what methods she had tried over the years, she still couldn't change it. But if she couldn't change it, neither could others, like the foxy Ling Pin, or the deceased Hui Guifei, Gao Shi, who had once been favored.
With the Emperor's arrival, the flower-viewing banquet truly became a flower-viewing banquet. The concubines gathered in groups of three or five to admire the flowers and chat.
Su Limo wasn't particularly interested in admiring flowers, but the chrysanthemum pastries were quite to her liking. She had to say, the pastries in the palace were truly exquisite, and they were all natural and unprocessed, far superior to modern pastries. She had tried making them herself a few days ago and found it quite difficult. It would take years of practice to master the skill.
Among the pastries prepared by the Empress today, one plate had no visible flower petals, but even the crumbs of the pastry had a faint scent of chrysanthemums. It smelled good and tasted sweet in the mouth. Unconsciously, she ate three pieces in a row.
The Qianlong Emperor sat with Empress Fucha on the corridor and chatted for a while. Casually turning his head, he saw Su Limo a few meters away, eating one pastry after another. At the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet, while others were chatting happily, she was the only one stuffing her face, tasting every dish, and even finishing some plates.
If anyone didn't know better, they might think that he, the Emperor, was mistreating the concubines in the palace by not giving them enough food. This woman ate four meals a day and acted like she had never seen the world before. It was truly...
The Qianlong Emperor frowned slightly.
Empress Fucha followed the Qianlong Emperor's gaze and tightened her grip on his hand, "It is not easy to recover Chun Guifei's health, so it's good that she can eat. I see that she likes these pastries very much. I'll have the palace maids send some to her later."
"Just indulge her. She's been becoming less and less disciplined lately," the Qianlong Emperor said with a hint of disdain.
"She barely survived giving birth to Jingshun. Let her be. It's not like she's doing anything too outrageous. Besides, Jingshun is quite favored by the Empress Dowager, and Chun Guifei has received a lot of favors because of her. Even the Empress Dowager hasn't said anything," Empress Fucha shook her head with a smile, telling the Qianlong Emperor not to be too harsh. "As mothers, we understand the hardships of giving birth and raising children."
Hearing this, the Qianlong Emperor held Empress Fucha's hand tightly, and his gaze no longer lingered on Su Limo. He then talked to Empress Fucha about how the Seventh Prince had gained weight and grown taller these days.
After admiring the flowers for a while longer, Empress Fucha had the palace maids pack three plates of pastries and send them to Jingren Palace. She also bestowed newly made velvet flower hairpieces on the concubines.
Since it was the Empress herself who had bestowed the gifts in front of the Emperor, everyone thanked her. Even Jia Fei had no choice but to accept it happily, but when she returned, she had the palace maids put it away so that she wouldn't have to see it.
"The Empress is always frugal, which pleases me greatly. The saved money can be accumulated and sent to the frontlines to support the troops. If you can't serve the Empress well and relieve her of her worries, but instead cause her any distress, don't blame me for not considering our relationship," the Qianlong Emperor held Empress Fucha's hand and said solemnly to all the concubines, his smile not reaching his eyes.
Upon hearing this, the concubines all expressed their willingness to follow the Empress's example, and so on.
After Empress Fucha dismissed them, the concubines left Changchun Palace one by one.
The low-ranking concubines, having received a gift from the Empress and seen the Emperor, were all overjoyed. The Emperor's visits to the harem were limited each month, and low-ranking concubines, especially those who were not favored, had very few opportunities to see him each year. As the saying goes, every meeting brings a little closer. Perhaps they would be remembered.
The other primary concubines of the various palaces were all fine, but Jia Fei was not. She had just mocked Ling Pin's velvet flower hairpiece, and yet, in the end, the Empress had given one to everyone, and the Emperor had even spoken up for the Empress. It was such a spoilsport. In a fit of pique, she haughtily returned to her palace.
"I didn't expect the Chun Guifei niangniang, to also appreciate Tao Yuanming's poetry," Shu Pin walked forward a few steps and said after paying her respects.
"I wouldn't say I particularly like it, but these two lines are quite to my taste," Su Limo smiled.
"Since it's still early, if niangniang doesn't mind, may I invite you to my palace for a cup of tea and a game of Go?" Shu Pin smiled.
"I'm not very good at playing Go, but we could play a few rounds of mahjong," Su Limo said. She definitely didn't want to play Go. She didn't understand Go, but she was quite skilled at mahjong.
"We are short of two people, and I've invited Chen Guiren and Ling Pin. What do you think, niangniang?" Shu Pin suggested.
"That sounds good," Su Limo said excitedly. Finally, she could enjoy the life of a harem concubine who didn't care about vying for favor and could gather together to eat melon seeds and play mahjong. Meeh...It's just that Chen Guiren...
Shu Pin sent her personal maid to invite Chen Guiren and Ling Pin, while she followed Su Limo to Jingren Palace.
Upon arriving at the main hall, Su Limo dismissed Dong Xue to prepare tea and snacks: two plates of iced honeydew melon, four bowls of green bean lily soup, and four types of dried fruits. She also had the three plates of chrysanthemum pastries brought from Changchun Palace arranged for guests.
After everything was prepared, Chen Guiren and Ling Pin, arrived one after the other.
"Niangniang has a really good idea, using gauze to cover the windows. The room is bright and airy, and it makes one feel cheerful," Ling Pin is beautiful and sweet-spoken, her voice as melodious as a nightingale.
Gauze was commonly used, but it was mostly made into clothing. It was rare to see it used to cover windows like Su Limo had done. Although it didn't cost much to cover the windows of the main hall, two bolts was still a considerable amount.
"I still have some in the storeroom. If you don't mind, Sister, you can take two bolts back to cover your windows," Su Limo said with a smile, gesturing to Shuangjiang to prepare. She disliked dark rooms, so she had tried many different materials before. Only this gauze was both transparent and durable, better than paper or ordinary gauze for covering windows.
Shi Pin and Ling Pin were fine but Chen Guiren's rank is low and she's not favored. She hasn't even seen gauze like this in years. If it's not bestowed by the higher-ups, it's not something you'd find in your monthly allowance.
"Thank you very much, Chun Guifei Sister," Ling Pin said as she sat down to shuffle the tiles.
With a flurry of tiles, the mahjong game began. Chen Guiren said little, and Shu Pin was also gentle and spoke little. Su Limo was focused entirely on the game, so Ling Pin didn't say much either, and was fully focused on playing.
Chen Guiren was the first to stop, and Su Limo looked at the discarded tiles on the table. She guessed that Chen Guiren and she were probably forming a hand with bamboo tiles, so she paid special attention to the tiles she discarded, "Two bamboos."
"Three bamboos," Ling Pin played.
"Mahjong!"
"Mahjong!"
Su Limo and Chen Guiren called mahjong almost simultaneously, and they couldn't help but laugh.
"Oh dear, I knew this tile would cause me to lose. Sure enough, both of you called mahjong. With my luck, it seems like I'm going to lose all the money in my purse today," Ling Pin said, taking the money pouch handed to her by the palace maid and counting out two handfuls, which she placed in front of Chen Guiren and Su Limo respectively.
"Let's play again, I don't believe it," Ling Pin pushed the cards and shuffle them.
After a while, Ling Pin lost the most, Chen Guiren won some, Shu Pin neither won nor lost, and Su Limo won the most, and most of it was from the tiles that Ling Pin had discarded.
After playing mahjong, they washed their hands and ate some fruits and pastries before dispersing.
Su Limo gave Ling Pin and Shu Pin two bolts of gauze each, but she didn't give any to Chen Guiren to avoid unnecessary trouble.
Sitting on the brocade couch, Su Limo looked at the silver on the table and smiled.
Shuangjiang, along with two other palace maids, quickly cleaned up and then brought in a cup of chrysanthemum tea, "Niangniang Ling Pin's luck, I don't know if it's too good or too bad."
"You noticed it too," Su Limo took a sip of the chrysanthemum tea. Her mouth was dry from eating melon seeds, and she wanted to moisten it.
"There were a few times when Ling Pin was about to win, but she refused to call it win and kept playing, feeding you tiles," Shuangjiang was observant and had noticed everything.
"Could it be that Ling Pin is deliberately trying to get closer to our niangniang? If it happened once, it could be a coincidence, but three or four times, it's impossible to say that it wasn't intentional. I don't believe it," Dong Xue grabbed a handful of incense and tossed it into the incense burner, saying.
“Let's just keep playing mahjong and see what happens. There's no need to jump to conclusions,” Su Limo put down her teacup and stretched. "It's getting late. Let's have dinner served."
"Ah, at noon, little Dengzi from the Imperial Kitchen told me earlier that he specially made a pearl fish dish for niangniang tonight as a token of respect. I'll go and have it served," Dong Xue lit a lamp and took a young palace maid to fetch the meal.
"The people in the Imperial Kitchen are quite clever," Su Limo smiled.
"That's right, these people are the best at flattering those in power and looking down on the weak. They observed people's expressions. They can see that niangniang has risen in status recently, so they're eager to curry favor," Shuangjiang sat on a footstool and massaged Su Limo legs.
"By the way, later on, secretly send that piece of light yellow plain silk to the east side hall of Chunxi Palace for Chen Guiren. I noticed that the hem of her palace dress is frayed. The gray plain silk I gave her a few days ago, she only wears it during palace gatherings. She usually wears this old one, and it's quite worn out. She dresses like this when she goes out, so I don't know how frugal she is in her own palace," Su Limo sighed inwardly. This Chen Guiren was truly steadfast and patient, it was not something that just anyone could do.
"Niangniang is so kind, always looking out for Chen Guiren. But Chen Guiren is truly worthy of respect. Today, when the other two niangniang received the gauze, she didn't show any emotion on her face and even spoke kindly to everyone. She has such composure. I admire her, and it's no wonder niangniang thinks highly of her. When Dong Xue comes back with the meal, I'll personally deliver it," Shuangjiang said with a calm expression, her massaging technique was very skillful.
Su Limo's monthly allowance was at least sixty-two taels, but she often felt it wasn't enough. She had to save where she could and spend every tael wisely. Moreover, Chen Guiren's monthly allowance was only four taels, and she spent more than that amount each month just on tipping the Imperial Kitchen.
Not long after, Dong Xue returned with the dinner. Shuangjiang, as usual, took a piece of plain satin and went to the side door of the east side hall of Chunxi Palace. Unexpectedly, when she looked from a distance, the courtyard of the east side hall was brightly lit. Shuangjiang had to extinguish the lamp in her hand and stood outside the side door looking in.
It turned out that Jia Fei had moved a chair to sit on the corridor, with four palace maids lined up behind her and six eunuchs standing below, quite a grand display.
Chen Guiren and the three palace maids and two young eunuchs who served her were all kneeling neatly on the ground. Moli, with sharp words, had not said a few words before slapping Yingchun three times in the face. Still not venting her anger, she continued to berate: "Don't you even look in a mirror? A lowly person like you is also worthy of living in such a good side hall of the palace. If it weren't for the niangniang's mercy, you would have long been frozen to death in the hall without anyone to take care of you. Now, how dare you, you've grown so capable, you're always trying to climb the social ladder. If one day you become so capable that you fly out of this Chunxi Palace, that would be fine, but unfortunately, you don't have that ability, and it's disgusting."
"Whenever the niangniang has something for you, you shirk your responsibilities. How come, when Jingren Palace is short of one person, you rush to volunteer? Is it that the niangniang treats you badly? Or is it that you, as a servant, are disloyal and have incited the Guiren to be alienated from the niangniang?" Moli said, slapping Yingchun two more times, left and right, and Yingchun's face immediately swelled up like a peach.
“I wouldn’t dare, Jia Fei niangniang. Please calm down. Today, Shu Pin niangniang sent someone to invite Chen Guiren out. I only found out after serving the Guiren. Jia Fei niangniang has always been kind and considerate to her servants. How dare we?” Yingchun pleaded, weeping. She knew Jia Fei’s temper well; the more one argued, the worse the consequences.
Hearing this, Chen Guiren understood why Jia Fei was doing this and quickly pleaded, “Jia Fei niangniang, please calm down. It was my fault. I will remember this lesson in future.”
Seeing Chen Guiren kneeling on the ground, curled up in a pitiful ball, pleading and crying, Jia Fei finally felt a little better. She had been inexplicably angered at the flower viewing banquet earlier. In the past, only Ling Pin had dared to be so arrogant, but now they were all getting bolder.
Even Chen Guiren dared to be so presumptuous. If she didn’t teach her a lesson, wouldn’t she become even more arrogant in the future?
“Since you know you’ve made a mistake, kneel here all night and think about your actions,” Jia Fei said angrily. “I’m tired. I’m going back.” With that, she got up, and the senior palace maid, La Mei, quickly stepped forward to support her and walked towards the main hall.
In an instant, the courtyard was dark and quiet.
Chen Guiren hugged Yingchun’s shoulders and said with pity, “Does it hurt?”
“I’m not in pain. It’s fortunate that it was I who was hit. Otherwise, how would the Guiren go out tomorrow? I’m thick-skinned, so it doesn’t matter. Now that she has vented her anger, it’s over.” Yingchun said with a crying voice, sniffing as she spoke.
...
Seeing this, Shuangjiang took her things and returned the same way, relaying everything she saw to Su Limo.
Su Limo had just finished dinner and was rinsing her mouth when she heard this and paused.
“According to palace rules, palace maids who make mistakes should be punished by the head palace maid in charge. Besides, slapping someone in the face is taboo. Is Jia Fei trying to make an example of Yingchun to warn Chen Guiren? Why didn’t Chen Guiren argue back? She just watched Yingchun being beaten.” Dong Xue said anxiously.
“Jia Fei has a quick temper. If she gets angry, she might do even worse things. Arguing would be useless and would only make Yingchun suffer more. Jia Fei is a concubine, just like Chen Guiren. She can’t punish Chen Guiren directly, so she can only take her anger out on Yingchun. I was wondering why Shu Pin invited Chen Guiren to play mahjong this afternoon. I thought that with so many people, there wouldn't be any problems, but it turned out there was trouble after all.” Su Limo sighed. However, it seemed like this wasn’t the first time Jia Fei had punished her servants like this. As the main lady of the palace, she had the right to manage the palace maids, but it was truly hateful of her to reprimand and punish people without any reason or evidence.
It seemed that she had to find a way to help Chen Guiren. If she could leave Chunxi Palace, that would be the best. She had made a mental note to play mahjong with Chen Guiren after retiring.
"Just pretend you don't know about this. Don't mention a word tonight, and everyone just go about your business. Shuangjiang, put away that plain satin. Don't send it over for now, we'll talk about it later." Su Limo instructed, a plan forming in her mind.
*
The next day, Su Limo had Dongxue inquire about the emperor's breakfast at Chunxi Palace and confirmed that Xian Guifei was serving breakfast in Changchun Palace as usual. Then, she reported the previous day's palace affairs to the Empress for judgment and brought Princess Jingshun to Changchun Palace.
Jingshun was over ten months old, and her speech was quite clear. She could already say simple words. When she saw the Empress, she called out sweetly, "Eniang, Eniang" in a baby voice.
Su Limo greeted the Empress and exchanged polite greetings with Xian Guifei. She led Jingshun and said, "You should call her 'Huang Eniang'. And this one is Xian Niangniang."
Jingshun was very obedient. She took small steps, her legs still unsteady, and tried to run with her short legs. She jumped to Empress Fucha side and hugged her robe, giggling, "Huang... Huang Eniang."
"Jingshun is so sweet, lively and healthy, and she loves to laugh. She has a sweet mouth. No wonder the Emperor and the Empress Dowager like her so much. I find her very endearing as well," Empress Fucha said, holding Jingshun on her lap.
"Indeed, the Fourth Princess is so lively and adorable. I feel envious every time I see her. Unfortunately, I am not blessed with such good fortune. I know my own body, and I think my fate with children is thin," Xian Guifei said, looking slightly melancholy. Then she smiled again, "But Empress, Chun Guifei sister, and Jia Fei sister have many children, and I am happy for them. I treat them as my own children from bottom of my heart."
"In that case, since Xian Guifei likes Jingshun so much, why don't we make her Jingshun's foster mother? That way, Jingshun will have another mother to love her." Su Limo suggested with a smile, her voice soft and gentle, as if the proposal was nothing out of the ordinary.
Upon hearing this, Xian Guifei was stunned for a moment. She hadn't expected Su Limo to suddenly make such a suggestion. Then she realized what Su Limo meant and smiled deeply, her dimples appearing and disappearing. She couldn't hide her smile. "I am honored by Chun Guifei sister's trust. I would love to have Jingshun as my foster daughter. I will have someone to keep me company in the future. I wonder what Empress thinks?"
"Very well, very well. Yesterday, I was saying that Xian Guifei is lonely without children and that she should spend more time with the Emperor so that she could have a son or daughter soon. I didn't expect this child fate to come so quickly, and today You've gained a foster daughter." Empress Fucha smiled. Xian Guifei had served her for many years and was very diligent. How could she refuse such a good thing?
With the Empress' approval, Xian Guifei took off the mutton fat white jade bangle from her wrist and placed it in Su Limo's hand. "I don't have a good gift ready. This jade bangle was given to me as a dowry, and I've worn it close to my body for many years. Today, I give it to Jingshun."
"Saoqin, bring the two rolls of silver red silk that the Emperor rewarded yesterday to make a dress for Jingshun. I remember she looks good in silver red," Empress Fucha ordered.
“I’m truly delighted that Jingshun is so loved by the Empress and Xian Guifei,” Su Limo said, reaching out to take Jingshun from the Empress to express her gratitude. Unfortunately, her hand was in the wrong place, and with a rip, a one-inch tear appeared in Jingshun’s pants.
“Oh dear, I’ve made a mistake. I didn’t expect Jingshun’s pants to tear. What should I do?” Su Limo panicked. “Jingshun is growing so fast that her clothes need to be remade every month. The other pair was washed this morning, and this is the only one she can wear now.”
Shuangjiang quickly stepped forward, covered the lower part of Jingshun’s body with a handkerchief, and frowned. “The princess’s pants are the most important. My skills are poor, and the princess doesn’t like the clothes I make because they are uncomfortable. Last time, we asked Yingchun, a palace maid from Chen Guiren’s side, to help sew them. Now…”
“We’ll talk about sewing other clothes later. How can we go out like this? How can we be so disrespectful in front of the Empress?” Su Limo said, looking at Empress Fucha with a helpless expression.
“Since Chen Guiren’s maid has the best skills, I’ll have someone invite her to come and just say she’s here for needlework. We won’t let the word leak out. Jingshun is active and loves to move, and her clothes wear out quickly. It’s okay.” Empress Fucha said, giving Yan’er a nod. Yan’er received the order and went to invite Chen Guiren and her maid, Yingchun.
Chen Guiren and her group had knelt in the courtyard all night yesterday, and they had only just returned to their chambers at dawn to apply medicinal oil to reduce the swelling. Now that they had been summoned by the Empress, and the head palace maid Yan’er had come in person, even if their bodies were uncomfortable, they had to go to Changchun Palace with Yingchun.
Chen Guiren and Yingchun entered the hall together. Because of the swelling and pain in their knees, they walked slowly and carefully, but they dared not lose their composure. So, they knelt down to greet the Empress, but as soon as they knelt, they couldn’t get up and both of them stumbled and fell to the ground.
“How can you be so disrespectful in front of the Empress?” Su Limo was the first to speak.
Hearing Su Limo’s voice, Chen Guiren and Yingchun quickly struggled to straighten their bodies, enduring the pain. When they looked up and saw Su Limo’s expression, they immediately understood and said, “We shouldn’t have been so disrespectful, but our bodies really couldn’t take it. It’s our fault. Please forgive us, Empress, Xian Guifei, and Chun Guifei.”
Hearing Chen Guiren say this, Empress Fucha also smelled the medicinal oil on them and asked, “You were fine at the flower-viewing banquet yesterday. What happened today? Are you unwell? Have you called the imperial physician?”
“Reporting to the Empress, we deserve to die for being disrespectful in front of Your Majesty. It’s just that last night, Jia Fei scolded us, and the Guiren and the maids knelt in the courtyard all night. Now our knees are so swollen and painful that we are too weak to kneel.” Yingchun supported Chen Guiren and raised her swollen face slightly to face everyone.
“Jia Fei is so arrogant. According to the ancestral rules, no one is allowed to punish palace maids privately, even the highest-ranking concubine can only manage them, not punish them. Palace maids are also human beings. Even if you’re really angry, you can’t hit them, let alone hit them in the face!” Empress Fucha said angrily her chest rising and falling in .
“Jia Fei is always so difficult to get along with. Our Guiren has endured her many times. Yesterday, she just went to Chun Guifei niangniang’s palace to play mahjong, and when she returned, she was scolded and beaten by Jia Fei and made to kneel for a whole night.” Yingchun knew that Su Limo had asked the Empress to support them. Seeing this as an opportunity, she told everything that had happened yesterday. In recent days, although Chun Guifei niangniang seemed indifferent to them on the surface, she had secretly helped them several times, and Yingchun was aware of it.
“Never mind about them skimping on our mistress’s rations on a daily basis, but to scold her at every turn? Our mistress has endured so much, only to be met with even more severe scolding from Jia Fei,” Yingchun said, raising her head to show Empress Fucha the slap marks on her face.
“Since Jia Fei cannot tolerate them, it’s not suitable for them to stay in Chunxi Palace. Jia Fei has just given birth, and it wouldn’t be good if she were to have a mishap due to anger. Empress, why don’t you move Chen Guiren to my west side hall? It’s large and spacious, and it’s been empty for years anyway,” Xian Guifei said, a growing smile on her lips.
“Yes, the Six Palaces must be harmonious for the Emperor to handle state affairs with peace of mind. Yan’er, take a few people to help Chen Guiren pack her things. You don’t need to go back to Chunxi Palace anymore,” Empress Fucha ordered, turning to look at Jingshun, “Jingshun’s pants need to be mended. Yingchun, you can take a look.”
Yingchun was stunned for a moment before she understood what was going on. She took the pants that Su Limo had handed over and sat on the footstool to carefully mend them. She had grown up with Chen Guiren, and although she was not as favored as her own mistress, she was still able to handle the situation with ease.
While they were mending the clothes in Changchun Palace, Yan’er and several others quickly packed Chen Guiren’s belongings in Chunxi Palace.
Moli was serving in the corridor. Today, the Emperor had finally come to have breakfast with the Niangniang, and those lowly maids in the east side hall were making a racket again. Moli went to the courtyard of the east side hall with her waist twisted, ready to scold, but when she saw that it was Yan’er, a palace maid from the Empress’s side, coming out of the room, she turned around to leave but was stopped by Yan’er.
They came to the main hall together. Yan’er first greeted the Emperor before saying calmly, “The Empress has an order. Since Chen Guiren always angers Jia Fei by living in Chunxi Palace, and it’s not good for Jia Fei’s recovery, she should move out. Palace maids are after all from the Eight Banners. If they don’t serve well, the head momo maid will naturally reprimand them. Jia Fei should not break the rules.”
After delivering the message, Yan’er retreated and led everyone to move the palace.
Jia Fei, with her hot temper, could not bear it. But with the Emperor present, she couldn’t immediately flare up. She could only suppress her anger and said coquettishly, “Your Majesty, I didn’t mean to. Yesterday, Chen Guiren’s maid was disrespectful to me. Your Majesty knows that I am straightforward and have a quick temper. I couldn’t help but slap her twice. Who knew she would go to the Empress to complain? If all the palace maids are like this, won’t everyone in the palace be able to overstep their bounds?”
“Since she was disrespectful to you, it’s not suitable for her to stay in your palace. It’s better to move her out. But don’t let this happen again. Rules are rules. Jia Fei, you have overstepped your bounds.” The Emperor said, turning to leave, his eyes gradually turning cold.
“Your Majesty, I had my servants make this quail dish with porridge for over an hour…” Before Jia Fei could finish her sentence, she saw the Emperor turn and leave the main hall without looking back. She was furious. “You worthless servant! The Emperor finally comes to my place for breakfast, and you have to embarrass me at this very moment. She seem so weak and timid on the surface, but as soon as she leave Chunxi Palace, she go straight to Changchun Palace, you bitch.”
Jia Fei raised her hand and smashed the bowl of quail porridge on the table. The porridge spilled all over the floor. Seeing the charred quail on the ground, Jia Fei panicked. “Lamei, do you think the Emperor is angry with me? The Emperor has never left like this before.”
“Your Majesty must have taken the Empress’s side because she spoke up for Chen Guiren. The Emperor always gives face to the Empress, so naturally he would give niangniang a cold shoulder. But I think Your Majesty is just putting on an act, and he won’t really be angry with niangniang over such a small matter,” Lamei comforted her.
“Really? These past few days, I’ve felt like something is wrong, but I can’t say what it is,” Jia Fei said fearfully, her eyes filled with panic. Could she have really done something wrong yesterday? But the Emperor has always favored her. Could he really be angry with her just because she scolded the palace maid? Could there be something else that angered the Emperor that she didn’t know about?
*
Qianlong left Chunxi Palace and went to Changchun Palace. As soon as he entered the courtyard, he heard a lot of noise coming from the main hall, and the sound of Jingshun giggling.
Qianlong entered the hall, and everyone greeted him respectfully. Qianlong saw Chen Guiren and the palace maid stumble and barely manage to stand up. He also smelled the medicinal oil on them. He initially had only a vague understanding, but now he understood more or less.
“Li Yu, have the Imperial Hospital send some good medicinal oil to Consort Chen,” Qianlong ordered. After giving the order, he picked up Jingshun and played with her for a while before handing her to the wet nurse. He then sat on the brocade couch.
“Jia Fei is so disrespectful. If Jingshun’s clothes hadn’t torn and we hadn’t needed to find Chen Guiren’s maid, Yingchun, to sew them, we wouldn’t have known what happened yesterday after leaving Changchun Palace. It’s also because I’ve been in poor health since giving birth and have been taking care of the Seventh Prince that I haven’t been able to pay attention to these matters,” Empress Fucha said, sitting on the brocade couch with Qianlong and handing him a cup of almond tea.
Qianlong took the almond tea and took a few sips. He asked, “Where has Chen Guiren been moved to? Make sure she is well settled.”
“Chenqie have an empty side hall, so I gave it to Chen Guiren. Everything is ready, and there’s no need to trouble the palace,” Xian Guifei replied.
“Alright, in that case, you can take care of it.” Qianlong’s voice was indifferent, and there was no extra emotion on his face.
Seeing that Jingshun’s pants had been sewn and changed, Su Limo hurriedly took her leave and left Changchun Palace.
Xian Guifei and Chen Guiren, along with her entourage, also took the opportunity to leave Jingren Palace under the pretext of moving.
“The Emperor must have something to say to the Empress. It would be inconvenient for us to be there,” Xian Guifei said, leaning on the arm of her senior palace maid, Hupo. “I’ll take Chen Guiren back to tidy up her new quarters.”
“That’s right, Jingshun must be hungry. Let’s take Jingshun back to the palace first and visit the niangniang at her palace another day.” Su Limo said, leading everyone back to Jingren Palace.
It's always good to deal with intelligent people. There's no need to waste words, and what needs to be done will be done.
Jia Fei had been arrogant ever since she gained favor, and now with two princes, she was the most favored person in the palace. With her success, others would naturally lose. In this world, everyone is vying for gain. It's normal to form alliances and compete with each other.
Now, Su Limo could no longer remain aloof. Since this was the case, she might as well use the incident with Chen Guiren to extend an olive branch to the Empress and Xian Guifei.
Moreover, Xian Guifei was the most likely candidate to become the next Empress. Having her as Jingshun's foster mother would provide more protection for Jingshun. Xian Guifei would also understand her intentions, and they could both feel at ease. And judging by the Empress's attitude towards her suggestion of making Jingshun Xian Guifei's foster daughter, Su Limo was finally certain that Xian Guifei and Empress Fucha were indeed on the same side.
In the evening, news came that after leaving Changchun Palace, the Emperor had ordered the removal of Jia Fei's green card, saying that she was weak after childbirth and should rest instead of serving the Emperor. The duration was unknown.
Su Limo was playing mahjong with Shuangjiang and the others when she heard Dongxue's words and understood.
Although Empress Fucha was kind and gentle, when it came to her interests, she would still show the authority of an Empress and was not simply a weak and saintly figure.
For example, some time ago, in the Prince's Residence, Yongzhang and Yongqi were worried that if they had a legitimate (direct son), their father would no longer care about them. They said that the Fourth Prince, Yongcheng, had told them this. Yongcheng was only six or seven years old, so these words could only have been taught to him by Jia Fei. The Empress must have been angry with Jia Fei because of this.
Even she knew about this, so the Empress must know as well. Jia Fei dared to mislead her own son and compete with the legitimate son showing a desire to seize the throne. She was practically courting death. The Empress had finally obtained a legitimate son and cherished him like the apple of her eye. How could she tolerate someone overstepping their bounds?
Furthermore, a few days ago, when no one was around, Dongxue had quietly told her that Xiu Guiren had died in the cold palace. It was said that she had starved to death because she couldn't eat the food in the cold palace. This didn't make sense. If she couldn't eat and wanted to starve herself, she should have died completely after ten or twenty days, not a few months later...
"Niangniang?" Shuangjiang called out to her mistress who seemed lost in thought.
"Oh? It's my turn, right? Eight of bamboos." Su Limo came back to her senses and sorted through her hand of tiles, playing an eight of bamboos.
0
"Hu! I finally won a hand! Niangniang has been winning all afternoon. It's about time we maids won some money. Otherwise, we've only just received our monthly allowance, and now it's going back into Niangniang's hands." The little palace maid, Bailu, picked up the tile that Su Limo had discarded, put them together, and showed them to everyone to verify. She was overjoyed.
"Look at how aggrieved you are. Here, take this money and divide it among yourselves. Don't say that I, your mistress, am stingy and won't let you spend your monthly allowance, okay?" Su Limo said, dividing the pile of money in front of her into three parts and giving one to each of them. The smile on her lips deepened.
Although she lost this hand of cards, the game of the palace had only just begun to take a turn for the better.
Author's Note: Today is the official VIP chapter release. I hope you will continue to accompany this foolish author on this journey~