The Job of an Imperial Concubine

“Originally, that Hua Hongxiu was to be moved to Consort Ning’s palace. Who knew what tricks she employed so that the emperor would move her to Taoyu Pavilion?” said Xiuyi Su, expression one of ridicule. “She just entered the imperial palace and has already started scheming. She thinks she truly is the female lead in a ‘beauty accompanying a scholar as he studied’ scenario. Really makes one sick.”

“Why do you care what she does?” In a helpless manner, Noble Consort Shu glanced at Xiuyi Su, unhappy with her cousin’s impulsiveness. “Is a lowly cairen worth your concern?”

“Cousin, it’s just that whenever I see her, I think of Zhuang Laoyan. I can’t stand her actions.” Xiuyi Su sat down on a chair at the side, expression unsightly. “They’re the same kind of people.”

“Where has your upbringing gone?” said Noble Consort Shu, glancing at her. “Should you really be saying such vulgar words? It doesn’t matter if that Zhuang Laoyan is acting or not. To be more favored than you speaks of her ability. What’s the use of you complaining here? As for that Hua Hongxiu, even without you complaining, someone would find her offensive to the eye.”

“Her every word and action is an imitation of Zhuang Laoyan. Would Zhuang Laoyan be able to tolerate her?” Recalling that Hua Hongxiu’s words and actions, Xiuyi Su pursed her lips in disdain.

“Other people might not be able to endure it. However, Zhuang Laoyan…” A smile graced Noble Consort Shu’s lips. “She would definitely endure more than others. In this imperial harem, those who imitate others would only have a moment of favor. It’s not a long term tactic.”

Back then, Noble Imperial Concubine Yan had also been favored to the extreme. But right now, wasn’t she still a little noble imperial concubine? However, that Noble Lady Ning really was unlikeable.

To be able to endure for a long period was a long term tactic. There was no need to rush when dealing with someone.

In Qianzheng Palace, Feng Jin looked at the ivory name tags arranged before him. All of a sudden, he lost interest in them. He picked up Noble Lady Ning’s name tag from a corner.

“Tonight We will visit the newly-arrived Noble Lady Ning,” said Feng Jin. After a moment of thought, he said, “Right, send the kite We had someone just make to Xianrong Zhao. Leave the fat horse kite here.”

“Understood,” said Gao Dezhong, before retreating.

Numerous red lanterns hung outside of Changtian House. However, the one waiting outside the doors wasn’t Zhaorong Xu, but Noble Lady Ning. After Noble Lady Ning had entered the palace, the emperor saw that she was cold and untouched by elements of the mortal realm, and also came up with an excellent poem. So it could be said she was very similar to Zhaorong Xu. Therefore, Feng Jin had moved her to Changtian House.

Zhaorong Xu stood by the window. Gazed at the beauty standing by the doors. Not a hint of expression was on her face.

“Your Highness, it’s late. It’s time to sleep,” said a palace maid, approaching her.

Zhaorong Xu remained silent as she stood there, until the emperor’s bright yellow imperial sedan appeared. She looked on unfeelingly as the emperor held another woman intimately by the doors. As the two stepped foot within the doors, arms around each other.

By force, she broke off her nails that had been maintained beautifully. Zhaorong Xu turned around. “Help this palace get ready for bed.”

Among the three new arrivals, the emperor visited Noble Lady Ning first. After Zhuang Laoyan had received this news, she was not surprised at all. After all, men were creatures of the flesh. It was normal for them to choose the most beautiful woman first.

Before two days had passed, the empress wanted to host a flower appreciation feast in the imperial gardens. Naturally, Zhuang Laoyan complied in a well-behaved manner. Although the empress hosted feasts in the imperial gardens for different reasons a few times every year, and the main wife and concubines would fight using words and glances during those periods, everyone would leave satisfied once said feasts ended.

“Your Highness, today Her Majesty the empress is hosting a banquet. Who knows what would happen? New people have entered the palace, so your honored self needs to be careful,” said Tingzhu carefully as she combed Zhuang Laoyan’s hair.

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Allowing Tingzhu to arrange her hair as she pleased into a Facing Cloud and Nearing Fragrance bun, Zhuang Laoyan smiled. “I know you’re worried about me. But there will be many imperial concubines present later. Not all of them will think about me.”

“If you’re careful, then mistakes won’t happen. It’s better for Your Highness to be more on guard.” Although the emperor visited Noble Lady Ning a few times, she still believed her master was more favored. Otherwise, why did he have someone specially send over a kite to her master on the day he visited Noble Lady Ning?

Yunxi helped Zhuang Laoyan adjust her clothes. As she listened to the other two speak, she said, “This slave heard that originally, Cairen Hua wasn’t supposed to live at Taoyu Pavilion. Later on, she was moved there for some reason.”

Zhuang Laoyan adjusted her dangling hair ornament tighter into her hair. Tone ordinary, she said, “It’s her own business that she’s not living with Consort Ning. It has nothing to do with us.”

Hearing that kind of normal tone, Tingzhu was temporarily unable to figure out if Zhuang Laoyan didn’t care or if she long since prepared a plan. She adjusted the jade medallion hanging by her belt that pressed against her skirt. “As long as Your Highness knows what to do, then it is fine.”

Before her sedan had moved far, as it turned the corner, Zhuang Laoyan caught sight of Noble Imperial Concubine Jiang, Wanyi Kong, and Righteous Imperial Concubine Ye coming in another direction.

Once they saw Zhuang Laoyan, they disembarked from their sedans in succession to salute. Zhuang Laoyan had not expected the three to travel together, and said, “I rarely see you three together.”

“Responding to Your Majesty, a few days ago, Righteous Imperial Concubine Ye moved to this concubine’s residence. Wanyi Kong lived nearby. Just now, we encountered each other on the road, and so came here together,” said Noble Imperial Concubine Jiang. “Your Highness is busy, so must not have known about this trivial matter.”

“So that’s how it is. In the future, you three should stick together.” Zhuang Laoyan smiled. “You three should follow this palace. It wouldn’t do to make Her Majesty the empress wait.”

Zhuang Laoyan looked back at the Noble Imperial Concubine Jiang following her. Lately, Noble Imperial Concubine Jiang had treated her well, so much so that she intentionally or otherwise revealed past secrets of the imperial harem to her. Every imperial concubine’s taboos and likes. Noble Imperial Concubine Jiang had been in the palace for many years. As such, it wasn’t strange for her to know these things. What was strange was that she’d actually inform Zhuang Laoyan.

No one would treat someone well for no reason in the imperial harem. Zhuang Laoyan did not believe that Noble Imperial Concubine Jiang had done so due to those rumors in the palace, which were about the trio’s promotions. Noble Imperial Concubine Jiang was an extremely intelligent and rational woman. Since she had done such a thing, there was definitely an intention behind it.

But Zhuang Laoyan did not know what Noble Imperial Concubine Jiang wanted. Or whether she could give it to her.

Within the imperial gardens, all sorts of beauties either sat or stood. Each of the palace maids and eunuchs at the side carefully waited on them. When Zhuang Laoyan and her group arrived, she saluted the higher-ranked women and received salutes from the lower-ranked women.

“Xianrong Zhao is here?” asked Consort Ning, who stood next to a Chinese flowering crab-apple tree. She wore clothes embroidered with the same flower, using both real and embroidered flowers to enhance her beauty. It gave off a sense of relaxation and tranquility that could not be put into words.

“Greetings to Your Highness Consort Ning.” Zhuang Laoyan went forward to salute. Looking at the blossoms on Consort Ning’s clothes, she said, “Those Chinese flowering crab-apples are truly splendid.”

“They are splendid but not vulgar. This palace is very fond of this flower,” said Consort Ning. She plucked a blossom. Smiled.

At the sound of those words, Zhuang Laoyan also smiled. However, she did not respond.

At that moment, Noble Consort Shu arrived. Consort Ning watched as her procession approached from afar. With indifference, she said, “Noble Consort Shu is even more dazzling than these crab-apple blossoms.” Then she casually threw away the blossom in her hand. The pretty flower fell onto the soil.

Zhuang Laoyan looked at that flower. Then she followed the other imperial concubines forward to pay respects to Noble Consort Shu.

“If it wasn’t for Her Majesty the empress hosting this feast today, this palace would not know that the flowers have blossomed this beautifully in the imperial gardens.” Noble Consort Shu relieved everyone from paying respects. She used the hand of her first-ranked palace maid Lingsha as support, making her way to the clusters of flowers. She looked at all the beauties. Sighed. “What a pity that the tuberose this palace loves the most does not bloom at this time.”

“Reporting to Your Highness the noble consort, Her Majesty the empress knew that your honored self is fond of tuberose, and had skilled servants of the palace make imitation tuberose. May Your Highness take a look,” said one of the empress’ first-ranked palace maids, Diancui. She saluted. Following that, two eunuchs carried a flower pot over. Within was precisely a tuberose plant, green heart-shaped leaves and pure white petals. No one could tell that those flowers were man-made.

As Noble Consort Shu looked at the flower pot, she smiled lightly. However, she said, “This concubine thanks Her Majesty for showing solicitude. The likes of this concubine has inconvenienced Her Majesty.”

“You’ve worked hard to attend to His Majesty. If the flowers you are fond of isn’t in this flower appreciation banquet, then how could that be acceptable?” said the empress, using Heyu’s hand for support as she led a crowd of palace maids and eunuchs over. It was evident she had heard Noble Consort Shu’s words. After everyone had paid respects to her, she smiled as she looked at Noble Consort Shu. “Anyway, it’s not an inconvenience. This palace is the leader of the imperial harem. For some matters, this palace only needs to move one’s lips.”

The smile on Noble Consort Shu’s face dimmed. “Your Majesty has already shown solicitude to this concubine for remembering this trivial matter. This concubine is unable to return the favor, and can only help Your Majesty more in the imperial harem in the future.”

“You are an agreeable person. Nothing like Noble Consort Xian, who thinks up every possible method in order to shy away from work.” The empress smiled. She did not continue speaking with Noble Consort Shu, turning to chat with the other imperial concubines.

As Zhuang Laoyan watched the skillful way that the empress and Noble Consort Shu acted out a play, she sat on a chair with carved decorative patterns. One that had long since been built for this event. She picked up a peach blossom pastry from the table and took a bite. It was sweet yet not greasy, with the flavor of peach. She could not help but take another bite.

A white figure appeared before Zhuang Laoyan. “Your Highness Xianrong Zhao.”

When Zhuang Laoyan lifted her head, to her surprise it was the newly-arrived exceptional beauty.