The Job of an Imperial Concubine

The autumn rain lasted the whole night. When Zhuang Laoyan roused, she felt that the weather had already cooled. She put on the cloak Tingzhu had presented to her. Took in a deep breath. “When did the emperor leave?”

“Your Highness, His Majesty left less than one hour ago. He noticed you were deeply asleep, so had us servants keep quiet to not wake you.” A moment of hesitation. Then Tingzhu noticed Zhuang Laoyan had a rosy complexion and seemed well. She said, “Recently, Your Highness did not have an imperial physician perform a regular pulse examination for you. Should we summon an imperial physician to do that?”

Slightly, Zhuang Laoyan frowned. Following that, she said, “We’ll discuss this again after paying respects to Her Majesty the empress.” Indeed, she had slept deeply during the morning, so much so that she had not been aware when the emperor slipped out of bed. Despite this, she wanted to be very careful when it came to imperial physicians.

“Your Highness mustn’t be angry. This slave knows that your honored self dislikes taking medicine. However, Tingzhu only has good intentions,” said Yunxi, carrying a bowl of warm milky broth into the room with both hands. She smiled from ear to ear. “You haven’t had anything yet since getting out of bed. Have some heated milky broth to warm the stomach.”

Zhuang Laoyan drank a few sips. The flavor of dried fruit concealed the gamy scent of milk. And she took a few more sips.

Placing the bowl down, Zhuang Laoyan yawned. She sat before a mirror, allowing a few palace maids to arrange her hair.

Quite a few boxes sat in front of her. Within were all sorts of pearls and jewels. Her gaze flitted across those many boxes, until it finally landed on a hairpin with flowing clouds and a butterfly. Zhuang Laoyan reached out. Picked it up. Then she handed it to a palace maid behind her. “This hairpin matches today’s outfit well.”

Once her hair had been arranged, Zhuang Laoyan rose to her feet. Glanced at the dazzling sight before her: the main hall of Qianzheng Palace’s wing meant for the emperor’s slumber. She gave Tingzhu her hand. “Let’s go and pay respects to Her Majesty the empress. One would fear we will be late today.”

In Jingyang Palace, the empress sat upright in her golden phoenix chair, which was decorated with magical clouds. Below her sat and stood many imperial concubines. Except that in the row right under hers, there were three vacant seats. Those present dared not look at those seats, and the empress’ smile did not appear too good.

Everyone knew that those seats represented high positions. At present, there were only four imperial concubines that were of the consort rank and above. But today, three out of the four had yet to come pay respects to the empress.

On the contrary, Noble Consort Xian took a few more looks at those three vacant seats. “It rained all night yesterday, the weather gradually cooling. Your Majesty the empress should be more careful of your health.”

After hearing those words, the empress smiled. “This palace has always been in good health. May the sisters present take better care of yourselves.”

“Younger Sisters Noble Consort Shu, Consort Rou, and Consort Zhao are all delicate. Who knows if they caught a cold last night?” Noble Consort Xian had said the words that the other women dared not say.

A smile on her lips, the empress allowed her own gaze to fall upon her temporarily. “Yesterday, Consort Zhao served the emperor at Qianzheng Palace. In all likelihood, she is still tired.”

To which Noble Consort Xian smiled as well. Yet, she slowly shifted her gaze to the others in the room.

Outside, Zhuang Laoyan and Consort Rou rushed toward Jingyang Palace from the left and right respectively, pausing at the same time at the doors.

Their gazes met. Zhuang Laoyan disembarked from her sedan and performed a slight curtsy toward Consort Rou. “Good morning, Elder Sister.” Google search f𝘳𝚎𝗲𝘸e𝐛𝑛𝐨𝘃𝘦𝚕. co𝚖

“It’s no longer early now.” Consort Rou returned the curtsy, raising her head to check the time of day. In a lazy manner, she said, “In the past, Younger Sister would always be very diligent in paying respects to the empress. Why are you slacking now?”

“This concubine slept too deeply last night and has allowed Elder Sister to witness a joke.” A hint of a smile appeared on Zhuang Laoyan’s face. She followed Consort Rou into Jingyang Palace, keeping behind her by half a step.

“Whether or not I laugh at you isn’t important.” Consort Rou paused in her steps, turning to look at Zhuang Laoyan. “What’s the most important is how others view you.” With that, she continued on her way.

The tips of Zhuang Laoyan’s brows twitched. Then she stopped in her tracks, falling behind Consort Rou a few steps. She looked at the other party’s rear figure. Smiled. “Elder Sister is overthinking it.”

Consort Rou glanced back at her yet did not speak again. Nevertheless, her pace slowed a little. Once Zhuang Laoyan caught up, the two stepped foot through the main entrance of Jingyang Palace’s main hall together.

“Consort Rou has arrived! Consort Zhao has arrived!”

The eunuch’s announcement brought an end to the empress and Noble Consort Xian’s discussion. Smiling, the two looked toward the doors, watching as Consort Rou and Consort Zhao entered together.

Although the smile on the empress’ face did not change, her gaze grew somewhat cold.

“What’s the grand occasion? Seldom do we see you two younger sisters arriving together to pay Her Majesty the empress respect,” said Noble Consort Xian, a smile gracing her lips as she looked at the two.

“This concubine merely encountered Consort Zhao outside by coincidence.” Consort Rou smiled in a careless manner, saluting the empress. “This concubine was a bit late today, and humbly apologizes to Your Majesty the empress.”

“This concubine is also at fault,” said Zhuang Laoyan a beat later.

“It’s not late yet. You two need not be like this.” The empress smiled and had them sit. “This palace isn’t someone who fusses over minor matters.”

After saluting again, Zhuang Laoyan took her seat. She looked at the room full of women, before her gaze finally landed on the seat belonging to Noble Consort Shu. Because the only empty seat in the room was that one.

For Zhuang Laoyan, paying respects to the empress daily was extremely boring and a huge nuisance. But perhaps for the empress, her sole comfort was to watch a room full of women, regardless of whether they were favored or not, pay respects to her. Generally speaking, this was the so-called “finding joy in sorrow.”

In an absent-minded manner, Zhuang Laoyan listened as the other women flattered each other. Fifteen minutes later, she heard an eunuch from outside announce Noble Consort Shu’s arrival.

Zhuang Laoyan’s hand paused as she was reaching out to hold a teacup, following which she placed said cup back on the small table next to her. Then she resumed her dignified sitting posture.

“Greetings to Your Majesty the empress,” said Noble Consort Shu after entering the room. Once she saluted the empress, she shifted her gaze to Zhuang Laoyan. From start to finish, Zhuang Laoyan did not have any expression other than a smile.

“Noble Consort Shu’s complexion doesn’t seem good. Are you unwell?” Noble Consort Xian held a teacup in her hand, a sliver of ridicule in her expression.

With regards to Noble Consort Shu, that trace of ridicule stood as the largest insult, her smile sinking. Not a moment later, however, her smile returned as she said, “This concubine caught a cold last night, and has allowed you sisters to witness a joke.”

“The rain only started during the period of Zi last night. How did Younger Sister catch a cold? In the future, you must take better care of your body,” said Noble Consort Xian with a smile that did not quite touch her eyes. She looked at the other party, the ridicule in her gaze growing more and more obvious.

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The look on Noble Consort Shu’s face grew slightly cold. Nevertheless, her voice was as soft and gentle as ever when she said, “Elder Sister Xian surely slept unwell too. Otherwise, how would you know when it rained?”

“It wasn’t only Her Highness Noble Consort Shu who had trouble sleeping. Younger Sister also roused from the sound of the rain,” said Zhuang Laoyan, choosing to join in the conversation at this time. “However, this concubine remembers it even clearer. It started to rain forty-five minutes after the eleventh hour in the evening.”

Noble Consort Xian’s expression, which had darkened from Noble Consort Shu’s words, immediately grew better.

Noble Consort Shu shifted her gaze to Zhuang Laoyan. “Younger Sister is actually a light sleeper.”

“Elder Sister is too serious. Younger Sister dares not be careless when serving at the emperor’s side.” A smile bloomed on Zhuang Laoyan’s lips, giving the appearance of boundless love.

To which Noble Consort Shu smiled even brighter. “Younger Sister is correct.”

Looking at the other party’s smile, Zhuang Laoyan could not help but wonder, Just how is Noble Consort Shu scolding me in her head right now?

Once the imperial concubines finished paying respects and left, Heyu knelt next to the empress and massaged her legs by beating them lightly with her fists. A bit puzzled, she said, “Your Majesty, this slave doesn’t understand something. Her Highness Consort Zhao has always been subdued. Why was she slightly butting heads with Noble Consort Shu today?”

“If she blindly remained patient and accommodating, how could she maintain a steady position as a consort?” The empress sneered. “We underestimated Zhuang Laoyan. One would fear that at this moment, it is not this palace who regrets it the most, but the one who thought she was the most important woman in the emperor’s heart. Noble Consort Shu.”

Heyu noticed her master’s expression and rushed to lower her head. She was aware that Her Majesty the empress disliked Her Highness Noble Consort Shu, yet did not anticipate that the empress hated the other woman until now.

Outside Jingyang Palace’s gate, high-ranking and low-ranking imperial concubines well-behavedly saluted and saw off those of higher ranks. The moment Zhuang Laoyan watched Noble Consort Shu leave, she boarded her sedan with the help of Yunxi. From behind, she could hear the sound of people saluting and seeing her off, when she suddenly felt dizzy.

Slightly furrowing her brows, Zhuang Laoyan felt a bit worried. Once they were away from Jingyang Palace, she said in a low voice to Yunxi, who was escorting the sedan at its side, “Go to the Imperial Academy of Medicine and request for Imperial Physician Mao, who examines this palace’s pulse regularly.”

Yunxi noticed her master’s serious expression and dared not slack off, rushing to the Imperial Academy of Medicine after responding to Zhuang Laoyan.

“You said you saw Yunxi, Xihe Palace’s first-ranked palace maid, make for the Imperial Academy of Medicine?” said Noble Consort Shu as she sat on her sedan, after a court eunuch gave that report. Her expression changed a shade, before a smile took over immediately. “My cousin has been unwell recently. This palace should visit her.”

Lingsha smiled at those words. “Master is correct. This slave heard yesterday from the servants who attend to Xiuyi Su that she really misses Your Highness.”

“This palace also misses Younger Sister. Make a detour to Xiuyi Su’s residence.” Then she said in a lower voice, “Have people pay more attention to the Imperial Academy of Medicine.”

Sorry, can’t really think of much to say right now; my head’s all full of studying and the dumb puzzle log-in system of JJWXC (some of you would get what I mean if you also read TSP).

Chapter Supplement:

Ah, sorry but the patron shout-out will have to come next week.

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