The Job of an Imperial Concubine

The name tag representing Zhuang Laoyan’s status had long since changed from wood to white jade. Just this was enough to show her rapid promotion in the imperial harem.

An old eunuch from the Department of the Palace, who was in charge of making the name tags, received a piece of water white jade from his superiors. He rubbed the jade’s surface with the palm of his hand, somewhat moved as he said, “In just a short period, the name tag has changed from white marble to water white jade. Could this master be the most favored in the harem?”

“Water white jade. Isn’t this something only the rank of zhaorong and above can use?” asked the old eunuch’s apprentice, amazed. “Is it possible that someone in the harem will be conferred the rank of consort?”

“Other than her, who else has that kind of ability?” The old eunuch shifted his gaze to the direction of Xihe Palace, catching sight of his little apprentice apparently still deep in thought. With a calm expression, he said, “Why are you curious about these things? Hurry up and continue working.”

?

“Recently, this palace finds the imperial harem more and more cold and cheerless.” Noble Consort Shu sat leaning against a vermillion winding corridor, watching the autumn scenery of the garden with an indifferent gaze. “Yet, it’s a mystery whether it’s the people in the harem or this palace’s mood that has changed.”

“Why is Elder Sister lamenting?” Xiuyi Su peeled a longan in a careless manner. “In my opinion, it’s because the people in the harem have decreased. Due to those people who are now gone, the atmosphere here was foul before.”

The moment Xiuyi Su had finished speaking, they heard someone say in a gentle voice behind them, “This concubine greets Your Highness Noble Consort Shu. Greets Xiuyi Su.”

“Oh! Isn’t this the newly promoted Wanyi Qian from Changtian House?” Xiuyi Su threw aside the half-peeled longan. She reached out and dipped her hands into a basin of clean water a palace maid had presented to her. As she washed her hands, she said, “A few days ago, your face still had a frightening red rash. Now, you look incomparably beautiful again. You seemed to have a full recovery.”

“Many thanks for Your Highness’ concern. The imperial physicians of the Imperial Academy of Medicine are brilliant. This concubine is already healed. Besides, tomorrow will be Xianrong Zhao’s birthday. How could this concubine be absent for it?”

“The way you put it, does that mean you can be absent for Noble Consort Shu’s birthday?” Xiuyi Su snorted coldly. She looked at Wanyi Qian’s blank and ignorant appearance, before averting her gaze and raising her voice to say, “Or are you trying to say that in your heart, Her Highness Noble Consort Shu is less honorable than Xianrong Zhao?”

“Enough. We’re all sisters who serve the emperor. What’s this about ‘honorable’ and ‘not honorable?’” Noble Consort Shu looked at the Wanyi Qian who appeared to want to explain something. “Perhaps Wanyi Qian did not attend this palace’s birthday celebration due to her incomplete recovery at that time. Now that she has recovered fully, she naturally should attend Xianrong Zhao’s birthday celebration.”

“Your Highness’ wisdom shines bright.” Wanyi Qian curtsied in a grand manner toward Noble Consort Shu. “This concubine has no intention to offend you.”

Noble Consort Shu examined her. A sweet-tempered smile appeared on her face. “Enough, this palace knows. You’re dismissed.”

Watching Wanyi Qian leave, Xiuyi Su said a bit unwillingly, “Elder Sister, why did you let her just leave like that?”

“If this palace doesn’t let her leave, then should this palace punish her?” The smile on Noble Consort Shu’s face disappeared. “Let’s not mention the fact that the emperor somewhat favors her these days. What reason do you want me to use to punish her? Because she wants to attend Xianrong Zhao’s birthday banquet?”

Before Xiuyi Su could respond, cold laughter spilled from Noble Consort Shu’s lips. “Do you think the current Zhuang Laoyan is like the one from the past? Look at how the empress and Noble Consort Xian treat her. You should understand what kind of position she has grasped in the emperor’s heart.”

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“But Elder Sister, you are the most favored person in the harem. Why must you yield to her?” said Xiuyi Su, unresigned. “What’s a thing like Zhuang Laoyan even worth?”

“Most favored?” Noble Consort Shu’s gaze darkened a shade. At once, she snickered. “Perhaps.”

Only she herself knew that the emperor no longer favored her as much as he had in the past.

The two did not sit for long before they noticed a crowd of people slowly approaching. Once said crowd was closer, they realized it was led by the Xianrong Zhao they had just been mentioning.

After a round of mutual greeting, Zhuang Laoyan sat down to the right of Noble Consort Shu, gazing at the vermillion pillars of the winding corridor. She smiled yet did not speak.

“Tomorrow is Xianrong Zhao’s birthday. Why do you still have the free time to come here?” said Noble Consort Shu, languid as she looked at her. The other party wore a dress made of soft silk and flower patterns. It wasn’t brightly colored, yet carried an unspeakable fine flavor.

“Although it is this concubine’s birthday celebration, His Majesty the emperor and Her Majesty the empress will be doing all the hard work since they cherish me so. This concubine is merely an idle person in this.” On Zhuang Laoyan’s face, a sincere smile. “Her Majesty the empress also said that my health was poor recently, and that I should exercise more.”

To say, one day before someone’s birthday, that said person seemed unwell and needed to exercise more indicated this: the empress truly cared about the imperial concubines in a nothing-was-off-limits type of way.

Noble Consort Shu looked at Zhuang Laoyan, who was smiling in a completely ignorant manner. Don’t tell me the emperor took a fancy to her ignorance?

Zhuang Laoyan seemed as if she did not notice Noble Consort Shu sizing her up, merely smiling softly.

As Xiuyi Su caught sight of her appearance, the expression in her own eyes changed. But this time, Xiuyi Su no longer said something to embarrass Zhuang Laoyan. It was a rare moment of Xiuyi Su seeing the situation clearly, or being able to endure.

“His Majesty has arrived!”

Zhuang Laoyan rose to her feet. She noticed that the emperor had changed out of his court dress, and instead, wore a set of auspicious dragon robes made with Sichuan embroidery and bronze inscriptions. On his head was a golden crown with nine dragons holding a pearl in each of their mouths. Compared to when he wore his court dress, he gave off less of a hegemonic aura.

After the three women saluted the emperor, he stepped forward and supported Noble Consort Shu and Zhuang Laoyan up. “Why are the three beloved concubines together? We seldom see you in each other’s presence.”

“Your Majesty is busy with governing the country. There is no need for you to concern yourself with these trivial matters,” said Noble Consort Shu as she received the tea cup presented by a palace maid. Then she personally handed it over to the emperor. “Never had this concubine expected to encounter Your Majesty here.”

The emperor drank a sip of tea. He set the tea cup aside. “Beloved Concubine words make it sound like We are always busy with governmental affairs.”

“Your Majesty works hard every day to govern the world. This is the people’s fortune,” replied Noble Consort Shu with a smile.

In silence, Zhuang Laoyan watched the emperor and Noble Consort Shu in conversation. Due to this, she discovered something interesting: this Noble Consort Shu seemed to have sincere feelings toward the emperor.

It really came as a surprise to Zhuang Laoyan that someone as intelligent as Noble Consort Shu could have such emotions.

Or, perhaps as long as one was a woman, after a long time passed she would find it hard not to fall in love with someone?

However, men and women were on opposite ends of the spectrum. After a long time passed, the person who had stirred a man’s heart would change into a mild and tasteless cup of old tea, and he would wish to exchange the cup immediately for a new one.

“What is Beloved Concubine thinking of to be silent until now?”

Hearing his words, Zhuang Laoyan raised her head and smiled at the emperor. “This concubine is only thinking about the tea leaves.”

“A few days ago, the Department of the Palace received new tea. If you like them, have someone fetch some for you.” Feng Jin broke into laughter. “But the way We see it, you weren’t thinking about that.”

“If Your Majesty says this is not so, then this concubine can only agree.” Then Zhuang Laoyan slightly tilted her head. As if unaware that she was feigning anger in a coquettish and intimate way. “In any case, Your Majesty is this concubine’s world. Whatever you say is fine.”

Feng Jin rose to his feet. Made his way to Zhuang Laoyan’s side and sat down. He reached out to hold her hand. “We feel very happy hearing these words.”

To which Zhuang Laoyan lifted her head. By lucky coincidence, her gaze met with the emperor’s. His eyes were full of smiles, and so were hers.

But who knew if it was real?

Noble Consort Shu looked at their clasped hands, and her smile grew a bit colder.

Come night, when everyone had expected the emperor to visit Noble Consort Shu after coincidentally encountering her and Xianrong Zhao in the imperial gardens, the emperor visited Xianrong Zhao’s Xihe Palace instead.

I’ll be shouting out my lovely patrons from March in the next release!

Also, look at the foreshadowing in the beginning (;

Chapter Supplement:

White Water Jade:

Longan: