TPNCQ CHAPTER 41
Embarrassing Su Limo in front of everyone
Wang Fu stumbled, but quickly regained his composure, knowing he couldn't lose his composure in front of the niangniang. He knelt down on the spot, his body trembling like a sieve, and said in a choked voice, "If I have done anything wrong, niangniang, please punish me. I would never dare to complain. Niangniang has such a precious body, please don't let yourself be upset because of me. It would be a waste if others took advantage of this. Since niangniang has been confined to Chunxi Palace, with the Empress and the Xian Guifei managing the Six Palaces, I would never dare to disobey them even if I had ten times the courage. By protecting myself, I could always think of Chunxi Palace. It doesn't matter if I die, but no one will serve niangniang as loyally as I do. No matter how incompetent I am, I am niangniang's confidant, and it was niangniang who promoted me to where I am today. How could I betray niangniang and curry favor with others by using Chunxi Palace?"
"Wang Fu, you're so slick with your words, shifting all the blame onto the Empress and Xian Guifei, and making yourself out to be a loyal servant who always puts the master first. Do you think we're all so easy to fool?" Lamei scolded sharply.
"Please forgive me, niangniang, Please forgive me, Lamei gugu. I dare not. Every word I said just now came from my heart, and I would never dare to deceive you in the slightest. These days, Xian Guifei has been assisting in managing the Six Palaces and has gained the favor of the Emperor and Empress. Although the Emperor is indifferent to Xian Guifei, he has been willing to meet her three or four times a month for various palace matters. This month, because the New Year is approaching and there is a lot of work to do, the Emperor has broken his usual habit and visited Yikun Palace five times. He even occasionally drops by Changchun Palace. Therefore, in palace affairs, Xian Guifei has become stricter than before in order to please the Emperor and Empress. I can't do anything about some special items and dare not send them to Chunxi Palace. Otherwise, in winter, because niangniang is afraid of the cold, the supply of charcoal is the best after the Empress's palace, and niangniang's palace. How could I not know this? But now, even if I want to add more, I can't. My heart for niangniang is as clear as day. I wish I could take out my heart and let niangniang see it." Wang Fu was almost crying, wishing he could have a knife to dig out his heart so that Jia Fei could see it.
"Alright, if you have the time to howl in this cold wind, I don't have the patience to waste on you. Let's go to the main hall," Jia Fei said, glaring at Wang Fu and turning to lean on Lamei as she walked towards the main hall.
Seeing that the warm pavilion and the bookshelves in the main hall had been renovated and added many good things, she said lukewarmly, "I'll give you credit for having a little loyalty. You can keep your head for now. If you make any more mistakes in the future, I'll punish you all at once."
"Thank you for your magnanimity, niangniang. Even if I had ten heads, I would never dare to neglect niangniang's affairs," Wang Fu saw that Jia Fei was satisfied, so he had someone lower the curtain, knowing that he had no business here, and left Chunxi Palace with two eunuchs.
When he got outside, Wang Fu dared to wipe the sweat from his forehead. In the cold winter, he was covered in cold sweat.
"Master, has Jia Fei forgiven us?" the little eunuch beside him asked in a low voice.
"Are you still asking? You have no brains?" Wang Fu slapped the little eunuch's hat and said angrily, "Be more vigilant in the future, and don't offend either side, otherwise you don't know when your head will be moved. Go back and tell everyone to be careful, if you are caught for any mistake and punished, don't blame this servant for not having taught you."
"Yes, yes, this disciple understand."
Jia Fei sat on a brocade couch, sipping a cup of hot tea. Two braziers were placed in the room, making it warm and spring-like. There were also two vases of narcissus, their fragrance filling the air. This was the treatment she deserved.
A few days ago, there was only one brazier in the room. She had to hold a hand warmer during the day and a hot water bottle at night. It was truly humiliating. When had she ever suffered such indignities in all these years?
"Niangniang, Wang Fu's words were half-truths and cannot be trusted. That damned servant, daring to act so pretentiously while niangniang was in such a difficult situation. How despicable!" Lamei placed two dishes of Jia Fei's favorite snacks on the desk.
"Rootless weeds, as fickle as a fencepost. Everyone in the palace knows that I promoted him, and it's not appropriate to punish him at this time. Just wait. Anyone who dares to harbor different intentions and betray me will not have a good end. I will deal with him sooner or later." Jia Fei spat viciously.
"This time, falling into the trap of that old woman, the Empress, and causing the Emperor to neglect me for several months, it was my carelessness. When I recover from this, I will return the pain I have suffered a hundredfold."
"Niangniang means..." Lamei looked at Jia Fei and pondered for a moment, then said in a voice only they could hear, "The Prince's residence..."
"It's time to use that chess piece. Just be careful and don't end up shooting yourself in the foot." Jia Fei narrowed her eyes.
"This servant understands." Lamei smiled obsequiously.
"The New Year is approaching. With all the fireworks and firecrackers, and the dry weather, it would be a pity if he couldn't survive, wouldn't it?" Jia Fei sneered. Weak and sickly child, it would be better if he didn't live to cause trouble in the entire palace.
*
On the fifteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, all the concubines gathered for an audience. Early in the morning, they waited in the courtyard in front of the main hall of Changchun Palace.
Xian Guifei personally helped the Empress with her hair and makeup, and then followed behind the Empress as she walked out.
"The Empress has arrived." The senior palace maid, Saoqin, announced, clearing the way.
"Chenqie greet the Empress. May the Empress live forever in peace and prosperity."
"Sisters, get up quickly. It's a cold day, and you've been waiting for a long time," said Empress Fucha. Then, looking at Jia Fei, who was first in the right row, she said with a smile, "Jia Fei is here today as well."
"Chenqie greets the Empress. Of course, I would come early to wait. After not seeing Your Majesty for several months, Your Majesty is still as beautiful as ever." Jia Fei smiled, the tassels of the small millet beads on both sides of her temples swaying slightly. Her smile did not reach her eyes.
Su Limo stood in the front row on the left, right next to Jia Fei. She listened to Jia Fei's words, each one seemingly forced out, and couldn't help but curl her lips. On such an occasion of a palace gathering, humility and obedience were best. After suffering this loss, no matter what Jia Fei was thinking, she dared not be too arrogant in front of the Empress. Even if she couldn't bear it, she had to swallow this breath.
"It's not early. Let's go to pay our respects to the Imperial Mother," the Empress said without acknowledging Jia Fei's words, and led all the concubines towards the Cining Palace.
The morning wind was bitterly cold. Every concubine was wrapped in a large cloak and holding a hand warmer. The palace maids who served them naturally didn't have such treatment. One by one, they couldn't help but shrink their necks from the cold, but they still paid attention to etiquette. No matter how cold it was, they couldn't slouch and had to walk with their backs straight.
The Cining Palace was warm with two or three braziers. After paying their respects to the Empress Dowager according to the etiquette, all the concubines took their seats.
"Jia Fei's purple fur-trimmed coat with a gold headpiece is both rich and grand. I think it looks very good," the Empress Dowager scanned everyone and praised Jia Fei, then paused and looked at everyone, continuing, "In serving the Emperor, besides being diligent, from your appearance and posture to a single hairpin or even a strand of hair, everything must be carefully decorated. You should all learn from this. Don't be lazy all day long. Study the latest hairstyles, jewelry, and clothing in the capital. At the end of the year, when the outer court ladies come to pay their respects, don't dress worse than them. It will only embarrass the Emperor and cause the people to gossip and point fingers at palace affairs. If that happens, you will be the ones to suffer, and don't ask me to help you."
"Chenqie will heed the Empress Dowager's teachings. We are honored." All the concubines replied.
Jia Fei was very pleased with the Empress Dowager's praise. She had not appeared in front of everyone for several months, so naturally, she had to dress up well today to avoid being looked down upon. No matter which concubine's jewelry and ornaments, they couldn't compare to hers. In recent years, the Ministry of Internal Affairs had given her a lot of gifts, and the Emperor had also rewarded her with many things. She could change her complete set of headpieces every day for a month without repeating them.
"It's a good thing that the Empress advocates for frugality, but on ordinary days. At the end of the year, the money that should be spent should be spent. Each concubine should also make two sets of bright clothes to look festive. Also, the palace maids and servants who have worked hard for a whole year should each be given an extra winter outfit for the New Year. If more money is needed, just come to me for it," the Empress Dowager ordered.
Hearing this, Empress Fucha stood up and smiled, "How dare I use the Imperial mother's money? I will go back and discuss with Xian Guifei to see how much money we need, and then instruct the Ministry of Internal Affairs to prepare it. If the allowance is insufficient, I will add some more. If there is still a shortage, we will trouble the Imperial mother later."
"What the Empress Dowager said is very reasonable. Chenqie will definitely supervise it properly," Xian Guifei stood up and said with a smile.
"Since that's the case, you can handle it. If you need anything, just come to me. It's a cold day today, and there's nothing else to do. You may all return early."
Hearing the Empress Dowager dismiss them, everyone stood up and took their leave from the Cining Palace.
Empress Fucha and Xian Guifei had important tasks to attend to. Today was the 15th, and at the latest, the 29th, the clothes promised by the Empress Dowager must be distributed in full. Therefore, they hurriedly returned to Changchun Palace.
Jia Fei was arrogant, and Su Limo was too lazy to argue with her. After bidding farewell to the Empress, she turned and left. Before she had taken two steps, she was called back by Jia Fei.
"Chun Guifei niangniang is dressed so simply. If I remember correctly, the Empress Dowager bestowed upon Guifei niangniang a pigeon blood ruby the size of a fist, enough for a complete set of headpieces. Why haven't I seen niangniang wearing it?" Jia Fei looked at Su Limo's pale blue palace dress embroidered with pear blossoms, made of the most ordinary brocade. If it weren't for the exquisite pear blossom embroidery, it would be hard to imagine that this was a Guifei's clothing. Even the outer cloak was incredibly shabby.
Clearly, she had good things but pretended to be poor for whom? She was so good at pretending.
"How dare I easily damage the gifts bestowed by the Empress Dowager? Of course, I must keep them well," Su Limo said softly, her gentle voice leaving nothing to be desired.
"Even the Empress Dowager couldn't bear it and ordered the Ministry of Internal Affairs to make some bright clothes for all the sisters. The New Year is approaching, and Guifei niangniang should also dress up properly. His Majesty has always liked slender waists. It's been a year since niangniang gave birth, so why hasn't there been any change? This sister has quite a few experiences that she can share with Guifei niangniang one by one," Jia Fei giggled, her eyes sparkling. Her entire set of gold headpieces shone brightly.
As soon as Jia Fei finished speaking, Lamei and Moli beside her burst out laughing.