A Ruo and Fang He accompanied her. Jiang Ling refused to take any Longevity Gifts, and neither of them was very happy about it. But fearing they would get into trouble, they didn’t dare show it, so they just lowered their heads deeply and followed behind in sullen silence.
Only when they saw that Su Yue’s palace maids, Xue Yan and Ming Cui, were also empty-handed did their expressions soften a little.
The walk from Xie Fang Pavilion to Fu Ning Palace took about the time to drink two cups of tea. The weather was hot and stuffy. Halfway there, Jiang Ling saw Su Yue’s snow-white powdered face, which looked like a whitewashed wall after the rain. The powder, mixed with sweat, was running down, leaving streaks.
Jiang Ling knew her own state was not much better. A Ruo and Fang He had started attending to her toilette at the crack of dawn, applying rouge and powder. She was dressed in three layers inside and out, and the powder had been piled onto her face layer by layer.
Although Jiang Ling was unwilling from the bottom of her heart to dress so grandly and bulkily, let alone have her face plastered like a wall, she played it safe and did not try to be unconventional, letting Fang He and A Ruo do as they pleased.
From the previous night, the thought of going to Fu Ning Palace had made Jiang Ling unbearably anxious, and she hadn’t slept well all night.
By the time she left in the morning, Jiang Ling’s entire body was stiff, and her mind was in a daze.
Seeing Su Yue’s appearance and thinking that she herself must look like a clown on a stage at that moment, that tension inexplicably dissipated a little.
“I’m like a clown, with laughter and applause, and then a special emptiness and loneliness…”
These few lines of lyrics kept replaying in her mind; she couldn’t remember the rest. Amidst an infinite loop of “loneliness, loneliness, loneliness,” she arrived before Fu Ning Palace.
Xue Yan and Ming Cui stepped forward to fix Su Yue’s makeup. A Ruo and Fang He also took out their cosmetics and began patting powder onto Jiang Ling’s face, filling in the gullies carved out by her sweat.
Without a mirror in hand, Jiang Ling only needed to look at Su Yue. Her face was snow-white once more, no longer like a clown’s. It was as if a mask had been pasted onto her face, hiding her true self behind it.
Wearing a layer of armor as a disguise, Jiang Ling relaxed a bit and discreetly sized up the stately and magnificent palace.
Fu Ning Palace was lively yet orderly. A palace maid serving at the entrance went to announce their arrival, and another came out to lead them inside.
The flowers and plants in the palace were lush. On two pear trees, estimated to be over a hundred years old, hung yellow-orange pears the size of fists. Jiang Ling could almost smell the sweet fragrance of the pears, and her mouth couldn’t help but water.
Upon entering the main hall, a wave of cool, warm fragrance washed over her, so comfortable that Jiang Ling almost sighed aloud. Her gaze followed the wall, where a row of ice chests stood in the corner, steadily emitting a chill.
Thinking of her own meager shards of ice, Jiang Ling began to feel a sourness welling up inside her.
Comparisons are truly odious!
However, when she saw Zhao Defei, Zhao Wanqing, seated in the place of honor, Jiang Ling immediately swallowed that bit of sourness.
Consort Zhao wore a Dian Cui Pearl Crown, a Vermillion and Gold Brocade Sprig Pattern Ceremonial Robe, and Silk Shoes. A Dragonfly Cui Dian was dotted between her brows. She had a full figure and a face like a full moon. The corners of her eyes tilted up slightly, and her lips were pursed. Beautiful as she was, she did not particularly stand out in a rear palace full of beauties.
But her disposition was unique. Already past twenty-five this year, she was not considered young among the consorts, yet her entire being exuded an air of innocent naivety, captivating the soul without her even knowing it.
Su Yue stepped forward to offer her salutations, her face wreathed in smiles. “Today is Your Highness’s birthday. I congratulate Your Highness on your health and peace, and wish you a thousand years of good fortune.”
At this moment, Jiang Ling couldn’t help but become flustered. She followed behind Su Yue and offered her congratulations. Zhao Defei’s beautiful eyes swept over them, and she nodded with a smile. “The two of you are very thoughtful. Please, have a seat.”
Several people were already seated in the hall. Zhao Pin, Zhao Wanying, Zhao Defei’s full-blooded elder sister, was seated to her lower left. Li Jieyu sat with Zhao Pin, and the two were making small talk about the weather. Lin Jieyu and Xia Meiren sat on the right. The Gui Ren and County Lady who lived in Fu Ning Palace with Zhao Defei sat at the very end.
Su Yue expressed her thanks and greeted Zhao Pin, Li Jieyu, and the others. Jiang Ling mingled among them, offering greetings all around. By the time she sat down, sweat had once again soaked through her clothes, clinging to her skin.
A palace maid served tea. Jiang Ling picked up her cup and took two sips. The tea was fragrant and rich, neither hot nor cold as it went down, and she finally let out a breath of relief.
Her rank and Su Yue’s were low, so their seats were far away. This was perfect as it meant they didn’t have to speak, and she began to have the leisure to observe everyone.
Zhao Pin and Zhao Defei shared some facial similarities. She had a gentle and dignified temperament and a slender figure, making the sisters’ dispositions completely different. She had entered the palace earlier, given birth to the Second Princess, Xiao Jiatang, and been enfeoffed as a Pin. Zhao Defei had entered the palace later, was greatly favored, and after giving birth to the Second Prince, was enfeoffed as De Fei.
Li Jieyu, Lin Jieyu, and the others were a mix of plump and slender, each with her own charm. Jiang Ling discovered one thing they had in common: their faces were all coated with powder, as if they too wore masks. They spoke and laughed cheerfully, yet their true expressions were impossible to discern. A sudden realization dawned on her.
Masks—the best makeup for the deep palace!
“Elder Sister, why didn’t A-Tang come? A-Jue was just saying earlier that he wanted to play with A-Tang,” Zhao Defei said with a pout.
Zhao Pin smiled. “The weather is hot, and A-Tang didn’t sleep well last night, so she was listless. I didn’t let her come out this morning. When the weather cools down, I’ll have A-Tang come and pay her respects to you, Your Highness.”
Xiao Jiatang was less than a month older than Xiao Yujue. The two sisters had been pregnant one after the other. Two legendary beauties serving one lord, yet the younger sister’s rank was higher than the elder’s.
Jiang Ling had been wondering how the Zhao sisters addressed each other. She couldn’t help but secretly wonder if their “Elder Sister” and “Your Highness” were spoken willingly.
Xiao Yunjue snuggled beside Zhao Defei. At five years old, he was round and chubby, currently holding a pear and eating it as if no one else was there. Juice splattered, and his wet nurse wanted to step forward to wipe it, but he impatiently slapped her hand away.
Zhao Defei lovingly stroked his large head and said to the wet nurse, “You may withdraw. Let him be.”
The wet nurse hastily curtsied and withdrew. Zhao Defei lowered her eyes, then smiled again. “A-Jue has been very strong-willed since he was little, just like His Majesty.”
Jiang Ling only remembered that the First Prince, Xiao Yunrui, was born to Lin Guifei. Yuan Mingdi had only two sons, though there were four or five princesses. She couldn’t clearly recall who had given birth to them.
Li Jieyu and the others offered sycophantic smiles. “The Second Prince is so clever and bright, truly rare.” “It’s all due to Your Highness’s excellent guidance.”
Zhao Defei modestly demurred but smiled with great pleasure. After sitting and drinking tea for a while, Li Jieyu rose to take her leave. “Today is Your Highness’s birthday, and you will be seeing your family later, so I won’t disturb you any longer.”
According to the rules, consorts could not summon their families to the palace at will. But rules were rules; once one reached a certain rank or was in favor, their family could visit the palace frequently.
Xia Jieyu and the others also rose to leave, and Jiang Ling, following them closely, also took her leave.
Zhao Defei did not press them to stay. “When the weather cools down, I’ll host a few banquet tables, and we can all drink together.”
After a while, her mother, Old Madam Gao, and her brother and sister-in-law entered the palace. The Zhao sisters, Defei and Pin, accompanied them, chatting. After lunch, Old Madam Gao and the others left the palace, and Zhao Pin also took her leave.
Zhao Defei could finally catch her breath. After changing her clothes, she sat on the couch and closed her eyes to rest. Huang Momo held up the gift register. “Does Your Highness wish to look at this later when you have leisure, or go over it now?”
“His Majesty is still coming later. When have I ever had leisure?” Zhao Defei opened her eyes and extended a hand toward Huang Momo. “Bring it here.”
Huang Momo hurriedly presented the gift register with both hands. Zhao Defei examined it item by item, a slow smile spreading across her face. “Chong Hua Palace is quite generous, another piece of calligraphy by Great Master Yu from the previous dynasty. Just perfect. My Zhao family comes from a military background; we can use this to absorb some of Lin’s literary air.”
Chong Hua Palace was Lin Guifei’s residence. Huang Momo lowered her head to listen, not daring to interject for a moment.
Zhao Defei said, “Since Sister Liu is ill, pick a gift of similar value to the one she sent and send it back to her. Consider it a visit to inquire after her health.”
“Yes,” Huang Momo replied, adding with a placating smile, “Consort Liu falls ill every other day. She hardly ever leaves her palace. One can only see her at banquets where His Majesty is present.”
Zhao Defei merely lifted her eyelids without a word and continued to look at the gift register. “Is this everything?”
“As Your Highness instructed, His Majesty’s rewards are recorded in a separate account. All the Longevity Gifts that have been sent are here.”
After speaking, Huang Momo tapped her forehead and quickly said, “Yesterday evening, Su Cai Ren from Xie Fang Pavilion came and delivered a handmade inner garment and two pairs of shoes as a birthday gift for Your Highness. Your Highness never wears intimate apparel or shoes made by outsiders, so after I accepted them, I momentarily forgot about it.”
Zhao Defei frowned, trying to recall, then smiled faintly. “Since she sent handmade needlework, have someone summon her for tea later.”
Huang Momo was taken aback. “Your Highness, His Majesty said he would come to celebrate your birthday. Su Cai Ren’s intentions are plain as day. How can Your Highness summon her?”
“How can I only accept gifts and not do anything in return?”
Zhao Defei leaned against a soft cushion, the smile on her face fading, her gaze sharp and cold. “Every year, fresh and lovely young ladies enter the palace. How many more years can this old woman stay fresh? Zhao Wanying has pushed every palace maid by her side who is even slightly presentable before His Majesty. Since one has delivered herself to my door, why should I refuse? In this palace, you can grab a handful of women like Su Yue anywhere. Her heart is burning with ambition, so I will grant her wish. If she can regain His Majesty’s favor, it will be because I made it happen, and she will owe me a debt of gratitude. If she proves useless, I won’t have lost much.”
Huang Momo hurriedly said, “Your Highness is truly wise and far-sighted. This servant will send someone to pass on the message right away.”
Zhao Defei raised a hand. Huang Momo withdrew, and she closed her eyes for her afternoon nap.
It is easy to go from frugality to luxury, but difficult to go from luxury to frugality. After leaving the cool and comfortable Fu Ning Palace, Jiang Ling returned to Xie Fang Pavilion to cradle her basin of ice shards, feeling that the weather had somehow grown even hotter.
The next day, when A Ruo returned from collecting the ice basin, her cheeks were flushed. She plunged into the side room, her voice nearly distorted. “Cai Ren, Xue Yan went to the Ice and Charcoal Room to get ice, and two young eunuchs from the Ice and Charcoal Room personally carried two large baskets of ice to the West Side Courtyard!”
Fang He, who was tidying up the teacups, looked up in utter astonishment. “How could that be?”
A Ruo caught her breath, her voice a mixture of envy and anger. “I asked around and heard that yesterday afternoon, Su Cai Ren was summoned to Fu Ning Palace for tea by Consort De. His Majesty came to wish Her Highness a happy birthday and saw Su Cai Ren at Fu Ning Palace. That night, he chose Su Cai Ren to attend to him. His Majesty rewarded Su Cai Ren with two bolts of Light Gauze Silk, so how would the Ice and Charcoal Room dare to skimp on her ice again!”
She looked at Jiang Ling, her tone one of exasperation at her inaction. “Cai Ren, this servant told you that Su Cai Ren would definitely take advantage of Consort De’s birthday to curry favor. But Cai Ren wouldn’t listen and refused to send a gift. If Cai Ren had been able to show her face before His Majesty, it wouldn’t have been her turn!”
Jiang Ling hugged her basin of ice shards, dumbfounded and trembling.
For Su Yue to have been summoned by Zhao Defei, she must have used some means in secret.
What was Zhao Defei’s intention in conveniently pushing Su Yue before Yuan Mingdi?
In the future, would she have to give up the main room and start calling Su Yue “Sister”?
Pitifully, she couldn’t figure out a single thing. Palace intrigue was simply too terrifying!
Just then, Xue Yan’s voice came from outside the door. A Ruo quickly went out. A moment later, Su Yue walked in at the front, with A Ruo and Xue Yan following behind, carrying a basin full of ice.
Su Yue had shed her previous cautiousness. Her back was ramrod straight, and she seemed to have grown a head taller.
She was all smiles. “My room is small, and I have a bit too much ice; I’m afraid it’ll get too cold for me to bear. Your room is spacious, so I brought some over for you to cool down.”
Jiang Ling was stunned. Had Su Yue really come to give her ice, or was she here to remind her to be sensible, call her “Sister,” and voluntarily give up the main room?