Chapter 87 - 86 The Affairs of the Honored Lady

「Inside Xifu Palace」Noble Concubine Shih woke up late in the morning. During the period when the Emperor returned from outside the palace, under the Empress Dowager’s stern admonitions, Noble Concubine Shih had mostly managed not to cause any trouble. Except for... eating the venison the Emperor brought back. In fact, had she known of anything else, she certainly wouldn’t have held back. It’s just a pity she didn’t know. Or perhaps... her people didn’t dare to say too much. Even so, by the time she sent Ying Yue again with silver to the Imperial Kitchen, the Little Eunuch was so frightened that he knelt on the ground, begging for mercy. He pleaded, "I beg Your Highness, the Noble Consort, for mercy! Please spare my life!" He also added, "If this is discovered, my life is worthless, but it would be terrible if Your Highness were implicated!" No matter what Ying Yue said, the servant just knelt there, weeping bitterly and imploring for mercy, not daring to accept even a single coin of the silver. Ying Yue, grinding her teeth in frustration, cursed him as a coward several times. She had no choice but to tell him to get lost. A few days later, news arrived that the Little Eunuch had been reassigned to menial labor. Menial eunuchs had no hope of advancement; it was as good as being ruined for life. He Changshou had "killed the chicken to scare the monkeys," thoroughly cleaning up the Imperial Kitchen from top to bottom. Those who had made mistakes were terrified, cursing themselves for their greed. Those who had harbored thieving thoughts but lacked true courage trembled even more, now completely devoid of any nerve. As for Noble Concubine Shih... ever since Zhao Junyao returned from Xia Ruqing’s place, he hadn’t visited her for over ten consecutive days. Noble Concubine Shih was so neglected she was practically rolling her eyes in frustration. Her heart seethed with an overwhelming hatred for Lady Xia! If she could, she would tear her to shreds this instant! Of course, these were all concerns for later. For now, she had woken up. After washing up, she stroked her belly, already three months pregnant, a satisfied smile spreading across her face. Then she asked Ying Yue, "Where did the Emperor stay last night?" "Your Highness, the Emperor stayed at Zhaohua Pavilion." "Lady Xia?" Noble Concubine Shih raised an eyebrow, a ruthless glint flashing in her phoenix eyes. She snorted coldly. "A sickly creature, yet so resourceful! Just when it seems she’s about to fall out of favor, she always manages to have her moments with him..." She added, "Lady Xia isn’t nearly as charming as Honored Lady Lan or Honored Lady Xi. I can’t imagine what the Emperor finds so appealing about her." Ying Yue smiled. "Our Emperor is benevolent and virtuous. It’s likely nothing more than pity he feels for her." Noble Concubine Shih smiled faintly and then instructed Ying Yue, "Go tell Consort Yun she is not to mistreat those two. She should treat them well... Ideally, she should win them over to our side." Heh, so the Empress wants me to torture those two and anger the Emperor, does she? I refuse to play her game! Any people you send my way, I’ll gladly take them all! This Noble Consort has a son, and my faction is growing stronger. Let’s see if you, Empress, start to feel anxious then! Noble Concubine Shih felt a surge of smug satisfaction. As for Consort Yun, she wouldn’t have dared to defy the Noble Consort before, and she certainly wouldn’t dare to now. After her father’s demotion to a Fifth Rank Minister, her behavior had become much more restrained. Even though she disliked the two young Honored Ladies living nearby, she hadn’t dared to mistreat them. So, when Consort Yun, upon receiving the Noble Consort’s orders, suddenly began treating them with a smiling face, the two young Honored Ladies were still rather bewildered. They discussed it in private. "Everyone says Consort Yun is difficult to get along with, but I think she’s been quite nice to us, don’t you?" Honored Lady Lan remarked. Honored Lady Xi, nibbling on a snack, nodded. "I think so too. Just yesterday, Consort Yun had Cai Die bring me a plate of... date paste cakes." As she spoke, her face lit up. "I’ve never eaten such delicious pastries! They were so fragrant and sweet, so fluffy and soft..." Honored Lady Lan was also delighted. "Sister Xi, please stop! If you keep talking like that, I’ll invite myself over to your place for lunch!" "Oh, please do! I’d love the company!" Honored Lady Xi exclaimed, then asked, "What did Cai Die bring you?" "A plate of mung bean cakes!" Honored Lady Xi’s eyes lit up. "Mung bean cakes? Are they delicious?" Honored Lady Lan hesitated, a little flustered. She wasn’t particularly fond of sweets; she had tried one, found it sweet, and had left the rest untouched. After a moment’s thought, she said, "I still have them. I’ll have someone bring them over for you to try." Honored Lady Xi clapped her hands in delight. The two of them sat in the pavilion, drinking tea and enjoying their snacks. Just as they were delighting in their treats, Consort Yun suddenly arrived. Both hurriedly rose to greet her respectfully. "Greetings, Consort Yun." Consort Yun smiled. "I just overheard you saying you were eating snacks. What’s wrong? Are they not to your liking?" "Delicious! They’re absolutely delicious! This servant thanks Your Highness for your gracious gift," Honored Lady Xi said cleverly. Seeing this, Honored Lady Lan quickly followed suit with her own thanks. Consort Yun, observing their reactions, smiled even more radiantly. "Since you both like them, this Consort has plenty more. Cai Die!" "Go and bring a few more plates of snacks over." "Yes, Your Highness," Cai Die replied. Soon, the small table in the pavilion was laden with dishes. Consort Yun also began to sip her tea. She kept smiling and speaking kind words, leading Honored Lady Lan and Honored Lady Xi to take her at face value. They truly believed that Consort Yun was genuinely kind to them. Both felt at ease; even the usually timid, indecisive Honored Lady Lan relaxed. Seeing how happily they were eating, Consort Yun laughed. "Before you two arrived, I was the only one living in Yaoyue Palace. I didn’t even have a single person to talk to." Honored Lady Xi then said, "Your Highness, for you to live alone in such a vast palace, the Emperor must truly cherish you!" Honored Lady Lan glanced around, unsure of what to say. When Honored Lady Xi smiled, she simply smiled along. Consort Yun picked up her handkerchief and, as if bothered by the heat, gently fanned herself. She sighed, "Cherished or not... with Her Majesty the Empress around, no matter how noble the rest of us might be, we’re all essentially the same... all just concubines, after all." Honored Lady Xi, nibbling on a pastry, looked somewhat puzzled. Just as she was about to speak, Consort Yun suddenly said, "Don’t move." As she spoke, she gently flicked a crumb from Honored Lady Xi’s cheek. Her movements were light and tender, like an elder sister doting on her younger sibling. Honored Lady Xi flushed slightly. "How embarrassing, Your Highness." Consort Yun chuckled. "It’s nothing to worry about. When this Consort was your age, I was just as fond of my food." She laughed as she said this. But in her heart, it felt like a knife twisting. When she was that age, she had also just entered the palace. Back then, the Emperor was still the Crown Prince. She, too, had been that fresh and young, and he... he had been very fond of her then... Honored Lady Xi’s face was fair and smooth, as delicate as a peeled egg; it looked so tender it seemed a light pinch could bruise it. Just a moment ago, if she had applied even a little force, her sharp nails could have torn that tender face to shreds. But she had held back. And so, they continued to sit in the pavilion, drinking tea and chatting lightheartedly. After that small incident, Honored Lady Xi felt even warmer towards Consort Yun, addressing her as "Consort Yun" with even greater cheerfulness. Consort Yun composed her expression and smiled again. "This Consort is a few years older than you both. Why don’t you just call me ’Sister’? We all live together; there’s no need to be so distant." Honored Lady Xi was a little hesitant, yet pleasantly surprised. With wide, hopeful eyes, she asked tentatively, "Really... May I?"