Chapter 65: The Show of Women (女人戲)  

If it were another person, they would not know the uses of phosphor. But Feng Jin was a different story. In his youth, he had seen some sideshow artists perform, and due to curiosity, he had asked them to explain their acts. There, a young Feng Jin learned that the fluttering “ghost fire,” which seemed somewhat frightening in the dark, had actually been the work of phosphor.

“Your Majesty, there is a eunuch from the Department of the Palace whose ancestors were sideshow performing artists. This explains what happened last night. So it turns out the strange light involved the phosphor on that palace maid’s body.” Noticing the lack of curiosity on the emperor’s face, Gao Dezhong grew aware that the emperor already knew the reason. He added, “This slave has served in the palace for many years, yet did not know that phosphor had such a use. This slave is truly ignorant and inexperienced.”

“It’s not just you. We only learned of this use of phosphor by chance.” Feng Jin’s spirits were comparatively better. “It’s normal that you didn’t know about this. One would fear many people in the palace aren’t aware of this use of phosphor.”

“Your Majesty is erudite and multi-talented. This slave falls short of even a bit of your honored self’s knowledge.” Puzzled, Gao Dezhong said, “Those people clearly knew that was the only path to Xihe Palace Your Majesty could take, yet still prepared such a strange sight. Who knows what they’re thinking?”

“Perhaps it’s because that was Our only path to Xihe Palace that someone did such a move,” said Feng Jin indifferently. “Since this palace maid’s identity and the reason for the strange blue light has been unearthed, We will have the empress investigate. Such a thing happening in the palace truly causes one unhappiness.”

“Yes, this slave will now head to Jingyang Palace and pass on Your Majesty’s verbal decree.” Gao Dezhong noticed the emperor’s unhappiness. As such, he did not speak any further and hurried to retreat.

As for the empress, her luck was also poor recently. Bad things happened in quick succession in the harem, yet she was unable to fully understand the causes behind them. Nowadays, the emperor spurned the Zhao clan. One would fear that in the future her position would become even more difficult.

Previously, the emperor had sent her a verbal decree to keep this matter under wraps. Now he sent her a verbal decree to investigate said matter. And it caused her unhappiness. So many things happened to this Xianrong Zhao, the rate practically every day. She was just an empress, but resembled the Minister of Justice in how much she had to investigate. Yet the emperor also wanted to protect Xianrong Zhao’s reputation. Even if the empress wanted to use this case to do something, she worried what the emperor would do if she did.

“Your Majesty, what should be done?” Heyu frowned. “The matter of Xianrong Zhao’s miscarriage had just calmed down a few days ago. Why did something else happ—should this slave invite Her Highness Noble Consort Xian so that your honored selves could discuss together?”

“Do you really think Jiang Yingxue would wholeheartedly assist me?” Grime laughter spilled from the empress’ lips. “At present, she is a noble consort and is also raising Eldest Prince. With only this palace above her in rank, how could she not develop other intentions?”

“Her Highness Noble Consort Xian and Your Majesty have always had a good relationship. It probably would not come to that…” said Heyu in a doubtful manner.

“In this imperial harem, there is no such thing as great sisterly affection.” The empress adjusted her expression. Once it was calm, she called for the eunuchs and palace maids who were her trusted aides. And she gave them orders.

In Zhuxiu Pavilion, Zhao Laoyan gazed at the fluttering snowflakes outside. Then she looked at the people sitting with her, her grip on her handheld brazier increasing a hint.

Actually, she did not at all want to accompany Zhaorong Xu in the delight that was making and tasting tea among the snow. Nor did she want to talk to unfamiliar people, like Consort Ning and Noble Consort Xian, about the lives of women. Currently, Zhuang Laoyan just wanted to return to her palace, wrap herself in quilts, and live an idle life.

Wasn’t the best thing to do on a snowy day lying in a warm bed with a quilt wrapped around you, enjoying the warmth? Why must she sit in a pavilion with no walls to block the wind? Even if there were hot tea, light refreshments, and charcoal stoves, she still found it all types of difficult to bear. Why did her cheap legs have to choose that road? Who told you to have cheap legs?! Who told you to bump into those imperial concubines?!

“To drink tea here gives it a distinctive feel.” Noble Consort Xian picked up her teacup for a sip. “For many days, this palace has not properly gazed at the palace’s scenery.”

“Since Your Highness Noble Consort Xian and Your Highness Consort Ning help manage the harem, your honored selves are naturally very busy,” said Zhaorong Xu. “This concubine is ignorant regarding those things. However, after some thought, this concubine feels those duties are matchless in their troublesomeness.”

“The empress is the one who’s truly busy. We are merely assisting her, and just have the positions in name.” Noble Consort Xian set the teacup down. “Now, many things occurred in the imperial harem. One would fear that Her Majesty the empress wouldn’t be able to rest for a while.”

Zhuang Laoyan looked at the three women. She did not know the intention behind Noble Consort Xian’s words. Noble Consort Xian was part of the empress’ faction. Everyone in the imperial harem knew, but because she constantly said she was only assisting the empress by name, others found her words somewhat fake.

Consort Nng nodded. “Noble Consort Xian is right.”

Ever since Zhuang Laoyan had miscarried, the empress’ authority had been divided. For Zhaorong Xu to purposely mention that matter now, apart from having an intention to curry favor with Noble Consort Xian and Consort Ning, it also had the intention of putting Zhuang Laoyan in an awkward position.

Zhuang Laoyan wasn’t a fool. However, she did not know why Zhaorong Xu hated her. Could it be that Zhuang Laoyan herself was too much of a common person, clashing with her fresh and melancholic manner?

“Is Xianrong Zhao keeping quiet because something is bothering you?” Noble Consort Xian was very amiable to Zhuang Laoyan. No matter the reason, she at least never embarrassed Zhuang Laoyan.

“Your Highness has great insight,” said Zhuang Laoyan, forcing a smile. “Recently, this concubine was unable to sleep well. Sometimes, this concubine seems to hear the cries of a child. As such, this concubine has been muddleheaded in front of your honored selves and lacked manners.”

“Aih, what lacking manners and not lacking manners?” Noble Consort Xian personally poured hot tea into Zhuang Laoyan’s cup. “You still haven’t fully recovered. This palace is merely concerned that it will be bad for your health if you don’t have proper rest. Nowadays, you are in your prime and favored by His Majesty. Why must you dwell on upsetting things?”

Zhuang Luoyan revealed a smile that wasn’t very pretty. She lifted her teacup. Took a sip. “Thanking Your Highness. This concubine is useless, causing Your Highness to worry.”

“For Your Highness the Xianrong to be so hard on yourself indeed can harm your health.” Zhaorong Xu looked at Zhuang Layan, a smile tugging on her lips. “In some circumstances, it’s not good to think too much.”

Zhuang Laoyan returned her gaze. “Zhaorong Xu is correct. In some circumstances, not only is thinking too much not good. Doing too much is not good as well.”

The smile on Zhaorong Xu’s face stiffened. Her grip on her teacup tightened. But she was unable to say anything more.

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Consort Ning seemed unaware that their words held hidden meanings. A smile on her lips, she pointed to somewhere not too far away. “Everyone look. Is that Cairen Zhen in the front?”

Zhuang Laoyan followed Consort Ning’s finger for a look. And she saw a woman in red approaching from the distance. Since it was still snowing, others couldn’t see the woman’s appearance clearly.

However, probably the only person who would be wearing such gorgeous attire was Cairen Zhong, the newest arrival of the imperial harem.

“For that person to be that dazzling, in all likelihood she is Cairen Zhen.” A light sigh escaped Zhaorong Xu’s lips. “A red flower in the snow is truly conspicuous.”

Sometimes, the words spoken from elegant people could be very lacking in virtue and basic respect for others. Zhuang Laoyan looked away. That said, in the imperial harem, the only person who would dress so ostentatiously would be Cairen Zhen, Emei.Never had Cairen Zhen expected that some high-ranking imperial concubines would be drinking tea and admiring the snow in this pavilion. She rushed to kneel and pay respects. Her knees hurt from the snow.

“No need to be so ceremonious, Cairen Zhen. It’s snowing heavily outside. Come to the pavilion to warm yourself.” Since Noble Consort Xian had opened her mouth, Zhuang Laoyan and the others would not say anything.

Zhaorong Xu purposely glanced at Zhuang Laoyan. After all, the emperor had granted Cairen Zhen’s former personal palace maid a death by caning, due to the palace maid violating taboo and using Zhuang Laoyan’s name. This taboo of using a master’s name could either be a large or small matter. If the master that had her name used didn’t chase after the matter, then it wouldn’t be a big deal. But if she did and had the palace maid killed, it wouldn’t be a big deal either.

Moreover, Zhuang Laoyan pretended to be kindhearted and didn’t make a fuss about it. On the contrary, she let the emperor unveil his might in her stead. It was unknown whether that palace maid had been unlucky or if Zhuang Laoyan had been lucky.

Once Cairen Zhen stepped foot into the pavilion, she did not dare to glance at the Zhuang Laoyan in a white fox cloak. The emperor had granted her former first-ranked palace maid death by caning because she had used Zhuang Laoyan’s name. And so, she feared that that woman was displeased with her.

Zhuang Laoyan did not want to mention that dead palace maid. Naturally, she would not pick on Cairen Zhen because of what had occured. After Cairen Zhen had entered the pavilion, Zhuang Layoyan didn’t say much, letting her stand in the corner as she pleased.

“Where did Cairen Zhen come from?” asked Zhaorong Xu in a lazy manner.

“Responding to Zhaorong Xu, Noble Imperial Concubine Yan liked the plum blossoms in the western garden, and had this concubine pick some for her.” Cairen Zhen was careful as she had spoken. It was evident that her previous lesson made her much more subdued. What a pity she was still not smart enough.

Zhaorong Xu took in her red dress. Arched a brow. “The yellow plum blossoms of the western plum blossom garden indeed have a distinctive flavor.” The western plum blossom garden was very far from Linyue Pavilion. This Xue Zhenyao definitely would bully others.

Noble Consort Xian nodded. “Even the emperor has praised the plum blossoms of the western plum blossom garden. It’s somewhat of a pity that Xianrong Zhao hasn’t seen it these past few days.”

Zhuang Laoyan smiled. “Your Highness mustn’t laugh at this concubine. This concubine knows which plum blossom cakes taste good, not which type of plum blossom is the most beautiful.”

As soon as Consort Ning had heard this, she broke into a smile as well. “It looks like His Majesty wasn’t kidding when he said you liked to eat.”

Nodding, Noble Consort Xian said, “Indeed this is so.” If it wasn’t for the fact that this person loved to eat, perhaps her child would still be here. In the imperial harem, those who could not control their mouths from eating and talking were frightful to themselves.

Cairen Zhen looked at the women sitting on the stone stools with thick cushions. They drank hot tea as they made fun of each other, while she stood at the corner like a servant. She couldn’t help the hatred that could not be said from growing in her heart. These people may not be better than her in appearance. Rather, it was merely because their births were better than hers that they could enjoy such glory now.

In this imperial harem, everyone could make her bow her head. Everyone could scare her witless. Her looks obviously did not lose out to others’, so why did she have to be subservient to these people? She could not accept it!

All of a sudden, Zhuang Laoyan took notice of the appearance of Carien Zhen, who stood in a corner. She knew how it felt to be lower than others in rank. However, this was the imperial harem. So what if one was unhappy?

What’s more, this person’s palace maid was caned to death because of Zhuang Laoyan herself. This embarrassing situation wasn’t a small deal. If Cairen Zhen was able to climb back up, it would not bring any advantages to her; she didn’t want this person to climb high in the ranks and oppose her in the future.

The women of the imperial harem needed to be ruthless to other people.

Just as Zhuang Laoyan was thinking this, she saw a few eunuchs rush over to them. Once the eunuchs had caught sight of them, they paid respects in a well-behaved manner. “Greetings to the masters. Her Majesty the empress has ordered us slaves to summon Cairen Zhen to Jingyang Palace.”

Curious, Noble Consort Xian asked, “Did something happen?”

The leader of the group of eunuchs said, “If the masters have time, your honored selves may come along.”

Zhuang Laoyan glanced at Cairen Zhen. What kind of matter could involve Cairen Zhen?

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