TPNCQ CHAPTER 45
The scene was once chaotic, quite unsightly. Seeing this, the court lady in charge of sweeping and singing loudly announced, "The Empress has arrived!" Everyone quieted down and knelt on the ground to plead guilty.
Empress Fucha frowned at the winter clothes that were thrown on
the ground in disarray. She patiently asked, "What caused this? The
Empress Dowager's grace is bestowed upon every palace maid. Why would these be
damaged?"
Fang gugu, the head of the laundry bureau, quickly adjusted her hair
and her appearance slightly before replying, "Reporting to the huanghou niangniang (Empress), this servant did not intentionally stir up trouble or break the rules.
It's just that the Imperial Household Department is too bullying. Other palaces
or bureaus have either received their clothes or have been informed. When it
came to the laundry bureau, they not only hesitated and refused to say
anything, but they also hinted that this servant should offer some silver as a
bribe before they would give a definite answer. Not only the laundry bureau,
but I also had people inquire. As long as it was a low-ranking palace maid, the
Imperial Household Department either demanded silver or demanded favors before
they would give a definite answer, and whether or not they could get the
clothes was even more uncertain. This servant was so angry that she brought
people here to the Imperial Household Department to demand an explanation. Who
knew..."
"No, Your Majesty, this servant absolutely did not
instruct the people below to demand bribes or silver. Everyone is treated
equally. There will definitely not be such a thing as embezzlement." Wang
Fu, the chief steward of the Imperial Household Department, interrupted before
Fang gugu could finish.
"Reporting to the huanghou niangniang, if this is not the case, even if you gave this servant a lot of courage, this servant would not dare to bring people to the Imperial Household Department to cause trouble. It's just that this Wang Fu is too bullying. Not only does he often embezzle the laundry bureau's share, but if he doesn't receive a bribe, he will also use inferior goods to deceive people. The work in the laundry bureau is heavy and already very hard. If you don't believe, niangniang, look at their hands," Fang gugu said, pulling the hand of a palace maid from the laundry bureau and continuing, "They are soaked in water all year round, and not only are their joints deformed and painful, but in winter they also have frostbite and cracked skin. When they come to the Imperial Household Department to ask for some frostbite ointment, they are either scolded or given something bad to fool them. They have to spend some silver before they can get it. The Empress Dowager is kind, and an extra set of clothes for each palace maid is a great grace to the palace maids. It is an even greater grace to the laundry bureau. The palace maids change their clothes every day, and their clothes often get wet. It's fine in summer as it helps to cool down, but in the cold winter, if their clothes get wet from time to time, their whole body will be cold and wet, and even if they catch a cold, they can only endure it. Therefore, having an extra set of clean clothes to change can save them a lot of suffering. These clothes are like lifesavers for the laundry bureau. huanghou niangniang, tell me, how can this servant not be angry?"
"This servant knows that bringing people to make a scene
violates palace rules and should be punished. But if I don't come to seek
justice, this servant really has no way to explain to the palace maids in the
laundry bureau. Please punish this servant, huanghou niangniang, but don't punish
them. This servant is willing to take all the blame." After saying this,
Fang gugu kowtowed again on the ground.
"This servant, this servant really doesn't know. Perhaps it
was the people below who were messing around. This servant will
immediately..." Seeing that the situation was not right, Wang Fu
immediately shifted the blame to the people below.
"Presumptuous! Wang Fu, you pay lip service but disobey orders, and you use your power to seek personal gain. You still want to shift the blame to the people below? If there really is such a thing, it is also because of your negligence in management. Now that things have come to this point, instead of thinking about how to solve the problem, you are still here making excuses and shirking responsibility?" Empress Fucha looked at the hands of the palace maids in the laundry bureau, each one was red and swollen, with translucent frostbite, and she couldn't bear to see it.
“I dare not, please forgive this servant, huanghou niangniang. This
servant will immediately…” Before Wang Fu could finish his sentence, Xian guifei
interrupted him.
“huanghou niangniang, there is much to do at the end of the year.
Since this Wang Fu is incompetent and has delayed the matters assigned by the
Empress Dowager, causing unrest in the palace and preventing the Emperor from
peacefully handling state affairs, it would be better to choose someone more
capable. This concubine sees that Bai Fu, the deputy chief steward of the
Imperial Household Department, has always been diligent and honest in his work.
Why not let him temporarily replace Wang Fu and handle these few crucial
matters before the New Year?” Xian guifei said, her voice full of
authority.
Suddenly being named, Bai Fu tensed up. When he heard that he was
to temporarily take over Wang Fu's duties, knowing that this was an opportunity
for him to gain experience, he immediately nodded vigorously and gratefully
said, “Thank you, huanghou niangniang and Xian guifei. This servant will
definitely work hard and do a good job.”
Empress Fucha glanced at Bai Fu and nodded, saying, “Very well,
handle these matters first. As for Wang Fu, for his abuse of power and causing
unrest in the palace, he will be temporarily removed from the position of chief
steward of the Imperial Household Department and sent to the Department of
Penal Servitude to do hard labor. If what happens today happens again, Wang Fu will be
an example.”
Hearing this, Wang Fu's body went limp and he almost collapsed to
the ground. He was carried away by two eunuchs and sent to the Department of
Penal Servitude.
“As for Fang shi, her actions were improper and she led the
disturbance, which violated palace rules. However, considering the
circumstances, she will be fined one month's salary as a warning. In the
future, if you have anything, you can come and report it to this Empress or to Xian
guifei. It is too undignified to do things like this today.” Empress
Fucha's voice softened as she spoke.
“Thank you for your grace, huanghou niangniang. This servant will keep
it in mind.” Fang gugu led everyone in thanking the Empress and then left.
“huanghou niangniang, rest assured, Xian guifei niangniang rest assured. This servant will go back and immediately make new arrangements and deployments, and I guarantee that by the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month at the latest, everyone will receive their due share.” Bai Fu promised confidently.
“Good, if you handle this matter well, this Empress will reward
you generously.” After saying this, Empress Fucha and Xian guifei left
the Imperial Household Department together.
The news of Wang Fu being dismissed and sent to the Department of
Penal Servitude to be punished spread throughout the six palaces in no time.
Everyone in the palace knew that Wang Fu was promoted by Jia fei.
Relying on Jia fei's support, he was bold and reckless. Now that he had
been punished, everyone cheered. It was really Wang Fu's own fault that he
ended up like this.
When Jia fei received the news, she was having her maid, La
Mei, select matching outfits for the New Year's Eve banquet. Upon hearing the
news, she snorted coldly and said, “The Empress has actually taken care of this
ungrateful dog, Wang Fu, for this concubine. This concubine doesn’t have to
dirty her own hands. Anyone who dares to harbor different intentions and betray
this concubine, this concubine will not let them have a good end.”
“Although Wang Fu is incompetent, he was after all promoted by niangniang. No matter what, he has to consider niangniang and make careful
arrangements for niangniang in everything. Now that Bai Fu has taken over the
Imperial Household Department, although he has not been explicitly promoted to
chief steward, it is only a matter of time. When that happens, it may not be so
convenient.” La Mei reminded her softly. After all, the servants are closer to
whoever promoted them.
"He betrayed me and wavered. How could I tolerate him? Besides, as long as the Emperor favors me, getting anything is just a matter of saying a word. People will do anything for money. Bai Fu is no exception. There's a lot to do before the New Year, and after that, when everyone's guard is down, you pick some items and go see him. I don't believe there's a servant who wouldn't be moved by money." Jia fei said confidently.
Seeing Jia fei's expression, La Mei knew that it was
useless to say more, and besides, Wang Fu had already been sent to the
Department of Penal Servitude, and it wouldn't be easy to turn things around.
Since they were going to abandon this pawn, then so be it. It was just that in
the future, their expenses might not be as lavish as before. She knew Jia fei's
temper very well; she always loved luxury, and it was difficult to go from
luxury to simplicity. In the future, she was afraid that they would have more
disputes with the Imperial Household Department.
*
In the blink of an eye, it was the end of the year. On the
afternoon of the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month, all the palace maids
received their clothes, and everyone in the palace was overjoyed. The palace
was well-decorated everywhere. Empress Fucha and Xian guifei promoted
Bai Fu to the position of chief steward of the Imperial Household Department,
and when the Emperor Qianlong learned about it, he agreed without objection.
Therefore, in just a few days, the top position of the Imperial Household
Department had changed hands.
Bai Fu had worked in the Imperial Household Department for so many
years, slowly rising from a young eunuch to the position of deputy chief
steward. He had originally thought that he would have to stay in the position
of deputy chief steward for another twenty years, but he never expected to be
promoted to the position of chief steward so quickly. He had finally obtained
this honor, so he was even more cautious and careful, trying his best not to
repeat the mistakes of his predecessor.
"The only one who can manage the affairs of the harem is
always the Empress. Don't misunderstand and have any wrong thoughts." Xian
guifei's words seemed light, but Bai Fu knew that she was warning him
not to choose the wrong side and to choose the wrong person. From now on, he
should wholeheartedly serve the Empress and take the Empress's orders as his
priority.
*
On New Year's Eve, the 30th day of the twelfth lunar month, every
part of the palace was decorated. Su Limo had Bai Lu cut some paper cuts to
paste on the windows, which looked very festive.
There would be a night banquet in the Chunhua Pavilion that evening. In addition to the concubines with their respective positions, favored
princes and nobles and their families would also attend. Moreover, a few days
ago, the Empress Dowager had just warned everyone to dress up properly so as
not to lose face in front of the ministers. Naturally, Su Limo dared not be
careless and had to dress appropriately and elegantly to impress everyone.
Therefore, after her nap, Su Limo had Shuangjiang and Dong Xue
bring out the clothes she would be wearing for the next three days, because she
had to carefully select the matching jewelry.
The court dress she would wear for the New Year's Day sacrifice naturally didn't need any extra matching, as it was a complete set, including a court crown, two strings of coral beads, one string of amber beads, a pair of gold collar ornaments inlaid with gems, and a colorful sash with auspicious clouds and grasses.
What needed careful consideration was the outfit for the New Year's Eve banquet. This set of auspicious blessings with a dark blue background and a thousand blessings pattern was dignified and elegant. It was matched with a nine-piece set of gold headpieces inlaid with gems, which complemented each other perfectly. She also chose a pair of very expensive cloisonné pearl-inlaid finger guards, and the gold and silver thread-woven embroidered shoes of the same color had a faint luster when she moved, which was both luxurious and elegant. After checking it two or three times to ensure there were no omissions, she finally felt at ease.
On the second day of the first lunar month, the entire palace would gather to pay their respects to the Empress Dowager, including all the princes and princesses. For such a family gathering, one had to dress appropriately but not appear distant. This warm-toned outfit, made of a fēi sè (a specific shade of light purple) silk embroidered with pear blossoms and gold thread, and trimmed with marten fur, was perfect. Paired with the velvet flower that the Empress had gifted at the chrysanthemum banquet, and a pearl tassel hairpin with a ruby red gold rúyì (a traditional Chinese scepter symbolizing good fortune) clasp, it was not overly flashy but definitely impeccable.
Su Limo disliked these grand festivals the most. Last year, she
had just given birth and could use that as an excuse to avoid them, but this
year, there was no way she could. She could only prepare herself and try her
best to be a mere decoration. Thankfully, it would only be troublesome for
these three days.
At the quarter past five in the evening, everyone entered in accordance with their rank. The banquet officially began at nine o'clock. All the concubines dressed in their finest attire, showcasing their unique styles. At such a grand occasion, even if one had other intentions, they could not overstep their rank. Therefore, even if someone had a mind to, they could only dress according to their own rank and could not be overly extravagant.
T/N- Next chapter contains the one of my favourite scenes of this novel. If my dear readers want me to publish it today, comment before 12:00.
Let me tell you, it's about our cute sixth dumpling. Curious??? Then comment for an early publish.