The matter of moving had to be temporarily set aside. Jiang Ling walked under the corridor eaves and sincerely apologized to Talented Lady Gao: “I’ll move immediately after I return. Please don’t blame me, Sister Gao.”
Talented Lady Gao’s expression was rather unpleasant as she reluctantly replied, “You’re too polite, Jiang Cairen.”
With numerous troubles on her mind, Jiang Ling couldn’t concern herself with Talented Lady Gao’s thoughts and followed Zhang Shan to Chui Gong Hall.
The entire procession moved in silence, the sound of wooden clogs intertwining with the rain. Walking through the deep autumn rain, the narrow path felt exceptionally desolate for some reason.
Arriving before Chui Gong Hall, Jiang Ling looked up. The characters “Chui Gong Hall” appeared shrouded in gloom under the dim sky, much like her current state of mind.
Raindrops from the tung oil umbrella fell on her cheeks. Jiang Ling instinctively closed her eyes. The cold rainwater startled her, and she couldn’t help but feel secretly pleased.
Yuan Mingdi summoning her in the afternoon definitely wasn’t for nighttime duties.
After all, regardless of virtue, an emperor must maintain propriety – indulging in lust during daylight hours would ultimately be immoral.
With several dozen imperial concubines in the rear palace, Yuan Mingdi had only recently completed his first round of favoring them all. At twenty-six years old by traditional reckoning, he already had one foot on the path to the imperial mausoleum according to ancient and imperial average lifespans.
And given his weak physique, he likely lacked the ability even if he had the intention.
But her joy quickly faded as new worries surfaced.
Why exactly had Yuan Mingdi summoned her?
Following Zhang Shan, Jiang Ling arrived at Qionghua Pavilion in the Back Garden. The building loomed faintly through the rain and mist, with gurgling streams flowing through creeks, lush fragrant grass, and blooming osmanthus, chrysanthemums, and camellias.
Marquis Huangliang stood at the entrance. Seeing them approach, he bowed and entered to report. Soon, he turned back to lift the door curtain, signaling A Ruo and Fang He to step back. “Cai Ren, please enter.”
Jiang Ling couldn’t control her nervousness. She closed her umbrella and handed it to A Ruo, nodding in thanks to Marquis Huangliang.
The moment she stepped inside, she stumbled forward, nearly falling headlong.
“Shit!” Jiang Ling waved her arms to steady herself, the curse escaping her lips.
Everywhere Jiang Ling had been before had stone floors. She never expected that Qionghua Pavilion would have luxurious wool carpets so thick they nearly covered her feet.
Yuan Mingdi sat by the window, appearing casual while staring intently at Jiang Ling’s entrance.
Every imperial concubine and palace maid who entered the palace had thoroughly clean family backgrounds for eight generations.
Jiang Ling’s father was the Linping County Magistrate, her mother had died early, and she had two siblings in her family – all with spotless records. She entered the palace in Yuan Ming’s third year and was granted the title of Cai Ren.
She was rather good-looking, but the rear palace never lacked beautiful women. Yuan Mingdi had nearly forgotten her – she definitely hadn’t stood out before.
Judging from the chaotic thoughts he heard from her mind, she was only occasionally clever and mostly neurotic.
Fearing he might have missed something, Yuan Mingdi had met with all the imperial concubines but found nothing.
Worried he might be developing delusions, Yuan Mingdi summoned Jiang Ling again. Seeing her stumble upon entry gave him quite a start, then he couldn’t help wanting to laugh.
Hearing her “shit,” Yuan Mingdi didn’t understand the meaning but instinctively felt it wasn’t proper language, his smile gradually fading.
The moment the word left her mouth, Jiang Ling regretted it immensely – this was improper behavior before the emperor!
“Maybe I should just fall down completely, pretend to faint, play weak. This floor is quite comfortable anyway, falling wouldn’t hurt…” Various thoughts flashed through Jiang Ling’s mind in that moment.
Hearing her calculations clearly, Yuan Mingdi felt relieved and instantly became cheerful.
Only an emperor is worthy of possessing such a miraculous and unique ability!
Jiang Ling nervously paid her respects. Yuan Mingdi raised his hand to signal her to rise and pointed to the brocade stool opposite him. “Sit.”
Seeing that Yuan Mingdi did not take offense, Jiang Ling secretly breathed a sigh of relief. She walked over and sat properly, unable to resist silently grumbling to herself.
“What a waste of resources! The floor is covered with such expensive wool carpets, and he lives alone in several palaces. Meanwhile, the imperial concubines eat poorly, dress shabbily, and are crammed together. What a miser! If you can’t afford to support them, then don’t!”
Yuan Mingdi pursed his lips tightly, his expressionless gaze fixed on Jiang Ling. She wore a faded lotus-root-colored gown and a pale moon-white silk half-sleeve jacket.
Just like the last time he saw her, she wore no makeup, her smooth and firm face as radiant as osmanthus flowers. A gold hairpin adorned her bun, dull and clearly aged.
Though she sat stiffly, appearing timid and unsophisticated, her inner self was anything but.
Yuan Mingdi wrestled with conflicting thoughts, torn between wanting to kill her and being unable to bring himself to do it.
Her inner voice was grating and treasonous. Yet, if she were gone, he would lose the ability to hear others’ thoughts. As the Son of Heaven, this was a matter of grave concern to him.
Besides, some of her remarks weren’t entirely unreasonable. Huang Liang had reported that she seldom went out, at most walking under the eaves, and never venturing farther than the osmanthus tree in the courtyard, where she would stand for a while and pick blossoms to brew tea.
While the other Pins in Xie Fang Pavilion often visited the main hall to chat, she never initiated contact with them. Aside from eating, she spent her time sleeping, living a life akin to ascetic cultivation.
Huang Liang led the eunuchs in serving tea and pastries. Seizing the opportunity, Yuan Mingdi pardoned her: “Have some tea.”
After expressing her gratitude, Jiang Ling took a few sips from her teacup. The warm tea eased her tension slightly, and she casually picked up a chestnut cake to eat.
“It’s so sweet, it’s like they beat the sugar seller to death,” Jiang Ling muttered inwardly, setting down the chestnut cake and reaching for a snowflake pastry instead.
After taking a small bite, she put it down again. “So greasy and sweet. Hah, please, you waste of resources, can’t you eat something better?”
Yuan Mingdi stared at the chestnut cake in his hand, tossed it back onto the plate, and took a handkerchief to wipe his hands gently.
Jiang Ling kept her eyes downcast, focusing on her own thoughts. But when the chestnut cake landed within her line of sight, she abruptly looked up, her face filled with terror.
Yuan Mingdi met her gaze. Seeing her fear, his previously displeased mood lightened.
“Why are you wearing old clothes and no makeup? Where are your rouge and powder?” Yuan Mingdi asked casually.
According to palace regulations, Jiang Ling was allotted four sets of everyday clothing for each season and two sets of ceremonial robes for grand occasions. Her rank was low, so she never attended major ceremonies, but the robes were kept for the sake of imperial dignity. Since ceremonial robes could only be worn on specific occasions, she usually wore her everyday clothes. Rotating through her four sets of autumn attire, the delicate fabrics faded after each wash.
She did have rouge and powder but never applied them while staying indoors.
Yuan Mingdi’s question left Jiang Ling unsure how to respond. Her mind raced as she struggled to give a proper answer: “The new clothes aren’t ready yet, and it’s more comfortable without powder…”
She closed her eyes in despair and shut her mouth.
Look at this damned proper answer—her mouth always moved faster than her brain!
Yuan Mingdi was left speechless, unsure how to continue. Silence fell between them, and an awkward atmosphere quietly filled the room.
Whenever Jiang Ling felt awkward, she wished she could burrow into the ground. Staring at the carpet, her mind wandered: “This ground isn’t easy to burrow into—beneath the carpet are bluestones. Stones… earth-shattering stones. Shattering… Jing City…”
Yuan Mingdi nearly laughed aloud. How illiterate! “Shattering” and “Jing” were completely different characters!
“You may go back now,” Yuan Mingdi said, rubbing his temples.
Listening to court officials argue all day in the court, then enduring her nonsensical ramblings—it would shorten his lifespan.
Jiang Ling felt as if a weight had been lifted. She sprang to her feet, bowed, and took her leave. The rain continued to pour, leaving puddles on the bluestone pavement.
Only after leaving Qiong Hua Pavilion, exiting Chui Gong Hall, and reaching the gate of Xie Fang Pavilion did Jiang Ling remember something.
What had Yuan Mingdi summoned her for in the first place?
Her wooden clogs splashed water, dampening the hem of her skirt. Chilled by the wind, she shivered uncontrollably. Prioritizing her health, she hurried back to her room to change into dry clothes, putting Yuan Mingdi out of her mind.
With the early darkness of a rainy day, Jiang Ling gazed out the window at the gloom and said to A Ruo and Fang He, “Keep packing. We’ll move soon.”
Gao Cairen was clearly displeased. As Yuan Mingdi’s new favorite, she was not someone to offend.
Tranquil days were rare—better to move early and avoid trouble.
Seeing that Jiang Ling had once again not been chosen to attend the emperor overnight, A Ruo and Fang He were both disheartened. Their hopes for her gaining favor faded, and they resignedly continued packing the trunks.
Just as they finished organizing all the clothing, Huang Liang and Zhong Shanggong from the Shangqin Bureau arrived, accompanied by eunuchs and palace maids carrying fabrics and jewelry.
Huang Liang announced, “Jiang Cairen, receive the decree.”
Jiang Ling froze. Seeing A Ruo and Fang He kneeling on the ground, she quickly knelt to receive the imperial order.
Huang Liang declared, “By the emperor’s oral decree: Lady Jiang, frugal in guiding subordinates and gentle in disposition, is hereby granted the title of Mei Ren. Bestowed with five bolts of brocade, one set of Diancui Lusi jewelry, and one set of pearl headpieces.”
Mei Ren was a fourth-rank position. From now on, she was no longer a commonplace fifth-rank Cai Ren!
Jiang Ling was utterly bewildered, unable to react immediately. A Ruo discreetly tugged at her sleeve and whispered, “Mei Ren, quickly give thanks.”
“Thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty,” Jiang Ling blurted out.
Huang Liang’s cheek twitched, but he chuckled and said, “Lady Jiang, please rise. His Majesty has newly assigned the spacious Fanying Pavilion for your residence. Zhong Shanggong has already sent people to prepare it and will assist with your move.”
Fanying Pavilion was a courtyard west of the central Kun Ning Palace, near Chui Gong Hall, and had been vacant for a long time.
Recently, A Ruo and Fang He had been speculating about who Yuan Mingdi would assign to live in Fanying Pavilion, now separated from Kun Ning Palace.
Promoted inexplicably, rewarded generously, and given new quarters—Jiang Ling stood up, staring dazedly at the dazzling jewelry and radiant fabrics.
How fortuitous—her trunks were already packed, perfect for moving and conveniently making room for Gao Cairen!