Consort Zhao entered the side room, where the wet nurse came forward to greet her. Xiao Jiatang wiped the tears from her face and sobbed, calling out, “Mother.”
“Look at you, already six years old and still crying like this,” Consort Zhao said, gazing at her daughter’s red and swollen eyes, unable to hide her heartache. She took out a handkerchief and gently dabbed the tears from the corners of Xiao Jiatang’s eyes.
“I’m only a month older than A Jue,” Xiao Jiatang said, feeling utterly wronged. Pouting, she was on the verge of tears again. “Grandmother and the others are biased. They say I’m the older sister and A Jue is the younger brother, so I always have to look after him. A Jue is unreasonable—he always snatches away the things he likes. I don’t want to pay him any attention.”
After saying all this in one breath, she let out a long hiccup and hung her head, adding, “Mother, I don’t want to go to Grandfather’s mansion to play anymore.”
Today was the birthday of Old Madam Gao of the Zhao family. Consort Zhao Defei and Consort Zhao, being palace consorts, could not leave the palace, while Xiao Yunjue had to attend school. Although Xiao Jiatang was young, as a princess of noble status, she was allowed to leave the palace to congratulate her grandmother on her birthday.
Consort Zhao lowered her eyelids, concealing the hatred in her eyes.
Xiao Yunjue had only just begun his studies—how could his lessons be so important? It was merely Consort Zhao Defei’s fear that he might suffer the slightest mishap, using his studies as an excuse to keep him from leaving the palace.
In the past, she had been the eldest legitimate daughter of the Zhao family. Her mother, Old Madam Gao, had placed high hopes on her and showered her with care.
The Zhao family was a military household, but the Great Yin dynasty valued civil officials over military ones. After she entered the palace and was granted the title of Jie Yu, the Zhao family’s status rose accordingly.
Two months later, coinciding with her birthday, she fell ill. Consort Zhao Defei accompanied Old Madam Gao into the palace to visit her and encountered Yuan Mingdi.
Three days later, Consort Zhao Defei entered the palace, deeply favored by the emperor. After giving birth to Xiao Yunjue, she was granted the title of De Fei. Her deceased father was posthumously honored, and her three brothers received imperial favor to enter officialdom. The Zhao family rose to prominence in the capital.
Consort Zhao’s heart ached with pain, but she restrained herself with great effort. Gently stroking Xiao Jiatang’s head, she said affectionately, “Alright, since A Tang doesn’t like it, you don’t have to go again in the future.”
Xiao Jiatang’s tears turned to laughter as she threw herself into Consort Zhao’s arms, cooing, “Mother, I’m hungry.”
“Look at your little face, all tear-stained. Go wash up first before eating,” Consort Zhao said, taking Xiao Jiatang’s small hand and leading her to the main hall. Granny Xie had already instructed the palace maids to prepare hot water and towels.
As the palace maids attended to Xiao Jiatang’s washing, Consort Zhao sat to the side, sipping tea. Granny Xie approached and softly called out, “Your Highness.” Consort Zhao glanced at her, calmly set down her teacup, and rose to return to the side chamber.
“What is it?” Consort Zhao asked.
Granny Xie quietly recounted the events at Xie Fang Pavilion. Consort Zhao listened, sneering repeatedly. “Hah, she’s always been like this, thinking herself clever and playing people like puppets. Who can’t see through her petty schemes? It’s just that Su and Jiang, burdened by their low status and lack of favor, can’t do anything about her.”
“Your Highness, this servant believes this matter is nothing more than Su Cairen and Jiang Cairen of Xie Fang Pavilion venting their frustrations and exchanging a few words. Even lips and teeth clash sometimes, let alone people living under the same roof. Which palace doesn’t have its share of quarrels? It’s just that Xie Fang Pavilion is making such a fuss now, as if they want Fu Ning Palace to step in and mediate. Fu Ning Palace likely won’t truly intervene, and the two of them can’t stir up much trouble. After a few arguments, it’ll pass.”
Granny Xie carefully observed Consort Zhao’s expression and added cautiously, “Your Highness, when one prospers, all prosper; when one suffers, all suffer!”
Consort Zhao looked up and fixed her gaze on Granny Xie. She recounted Xiao Jiatang’s visit to the Zhao mansion, her expression calm, but her eyes icy cold.
“I’ve always believed I never treated her unfairly. On the contrary, she has been jealous of me since childhood, competing with me in everything. I used to yield to her, and now I have to yield even A Tang. As an elder sister and as a Pin, I am nothing but a complete joke.”
Granny Xie had served Zhao Pin since her youth and understood the situation between the two sisters perfectly. Back then, Zhao Pin was exceptionally talented in the capital, bringing much honor to the Zhao family. Old Madam Gao naturally favored Zhao Pin, inevitably neglecting Zhao Defei somewhat.
Despite this, the sisters generally got along harmoniously. The real rift between them began when Zhao Defei took advantage of Zhao Pin’s illness to enter the palace, where she caught the attention of Yuan Mingdi and was taken into the harem.
Zhao Pin gave birth to a daughter, while Zhao Defei bore a son and was elevated to the rank of Consort. From then on, the elder sister had to pay respects to the younger.
The Zhao family continued to treat Zhao Pin with the same respect as before, though their attitude toward Zhao Defei differed, given her higher status and the fact that she had borne a son.
Yuan Mingdi had four princesses in total, and of his three sons, one had died young. The position of crown prince had yet to be established.
Granny Xie sighed inwardly. Her husband had passed away early, and she had no children of her own, only a nephew who remained with the Zhao family. After some thought, she refrained from offering further advice.
“Granny, you worry too much. Set your mind at ease—the Zhao family is my maternal home, and I naturally hope for their well-being.”
Zhao Pin chuckled softly, patted Granny Xie’s hand reassuringly, and then, thinking of Xiao Jiatang, rose and walked out.
After returning the Ink Chrysanthemum, Jiang Ling was as tense as a tightly drawn bowstring.
A Ruo and Fang He were unreliable, and she still had to wait for Su Yue to make her move. Fighting alone, Jiang Ling was like a battle-ready rooster, sleeping little and keeping her eyes wide open, wary of everything around her.
The osmanthus finally bloomed in full, marking the arrival of the Mid-Autumn Festival. Though the past few days had been peaceful, Jiang Ling’s tension did not dissipate; instead, it was compounded by a growing anxiety.
The Mid-Autumn palace banquet was held in Lan Yue Hall, attended by all the imperial concubines, princes, princesses, and Yuan Mingdi himself.
Jiang Ling was not afraid of seeing Yuan Mingdi. Her rank was low, and she was not favored, so she could simply appear as part of the background.
Yet the thought of facing so many people made her feel suffocated. She desperately wanted to plead illness and avoid the event, but she couldn’t help thinking that doing so would only make her more conspicuous and ultimately backfire.
After much deliberation, Jiang Ling dressed up, applied a thick layer of powder to her face as if whitewashing a wall, and made her way to Lan Yue Hall.
The weather had cooled, and she no longer sweated profusely, allowing her makeup to stay in place. Jiang Ling felt as if she were wearing a suit of armor, which eased her tension slightly.
As she left Xie Fang Pavilion, she noticed Su Yue walking ahead. Su Yue was dressed in a brand-new rosy palace gown, with a gold filigree hairpin swaying as she moved, glinting brilliantly.
Lan Yue Hall was adjacent to the central Kun Ning Palace and was originally where the empress received and entertained noblewomen. Xie Fang Pavilion was remote, and along the way, they encountered other palace women walking in small groups. Su Yue greeted them warmly, exchanging pleasantries.
Jiang Ling walked silently behind, unfamiliar with anyone, secretly keeping an eye on Su Yue. They held the same rank, so whenever Su Yue paid respects to higher-ranking imperial concubines, Jiang Ling followed suit by curtsying. When lower-ranking concubines greeted her, she nodded in acknowledgment.
Upon entering Lan Yue Hall, Chen Shang Gong from the Shang Yi Bureau, along with the female officials and maids in charge of celebratory banquets, guided everyone to their seats according to their ranks.
In the spacious hall, low tables were arranged in rows on both sides. Jiang Ling’s seat was quite close to the entrance, while Su Yue was seated one position ahead of her.
Under normal circumstances, Jiang Ling wouldn’t have noticed these details at all, and even if she did, she wouldn’t have paid them any mind.
At the highest level of the hall, two steps up, sat Yuan Mingdi’s imperial throne. Below the steps on the left, Imperial Concubine Lin had her own seat. Following in order were Consort Zhao, Consort Liu, the Eldest Prince Xiao Yunrui, and the Second Prince Xiao Yunjue. The princesses were seated similarly, arranged according to age.
The farther Jiang Ling was from the main hall’s entrance and the powerful figures, the more at ease she felt.
Now, because she had essentially fallen out with Su Yue, she had become particularly sensitive about seating arrangements.
After all, on the surface, she had been appointed Cairen before Su Yue, so her seat should have been placed ahead of Su Yue’s.
The rear palace was full of clever people, and many had noticed the anomaly. Acquaintances whispered and murmured among themselves, occasionally glancing at Su Yue and Jiang Ling with probing looks and expressions of amusement, as if waiting for a spectacle.
Su Yue seemed completely oblivious, casually turning her head to glance at Jiang Ling with a sinister yet triumphant gaze, her lips curled in a scornful smirk.
Noble Lady Xu, seated below Jiang Ling, flashed a look of keen interest and feigned surprise, saying, “Why is Jiang Cairen seated here with me?”
Jiang Ling inwardly cursed, “None of your business,” but maintained a stoic expression and sat upright, pretending not to hear.
Noble Lady Xu, having been snubbed, snorted coldly and turned to whisper with her companion on the left, occasionally glancing at Jiang Ling and giggling incessantly.
A mere seating arrangement had already made Jiang Ling the butt of everyone’s jokes. Face meant little to her; what mattered was her personal safety and the possibility of being treated poorly or having her privileges withheld based on others’ whims.
She had no time for Noble Lady Xu’s mockery, her mind racing to analyze every possible scenario.
The likelihood of the Palace Administration making a mistake was minuscule. Firstly, if they arranged the seating incorrectly, it would reflect poorly on their duties, and they would be punished according to the rules. Secondly, they had no reason to trouble Jiang Ling unless someone had instructed them to do so.
The palace banquet was jointly managed by Imperial Concubine Lin, Consort Zhao, and Consort Liu. Who was responsible for arranging the seats, or whether the three of them had decided together, Jiang Ling had no way of knowing.
At present, the only person connected to both Su Yue and Jiang Ling was Consort Zhao, and it was almost certainly her doing.
Yet, Consort Zhao had previously been all smiles with her and had even gifted her tea. Afterward, there had been no further news from Consort Zhao’s side, and Jiang Ling’s meals and other provisions remained unchanged, without any reduction or deterioration.
The relationships in the rear palace were intricate and deeply entangled. Imperial Concubine Lin and Consort Zhao both had princes and were at odds with each other. Consort Liu had given birth to a third prince, who died just over a year old. To console her, Yuan Mingdi had entrusted her with raising the eldest princess, born to the late Consort Han Hui.
Jiang Ling felt like crying. Truly, in the world of palace intrigue, banquets and crowded gatherings were bound to lead to trouble!
She, a mere background Cairen, had been briefly mentioned in the original book. But now that she had transmigrated into this role, she had a complete life and a world of her own.
What kind of ending would her life and world ultimately have?
In the midst of Jiang Ling’s anxiety and torment, Imperial Concubine Lin, Consort Zhao, and Consort Liu arrived with their respective princes and princesses, followed shortly by Yuan Mingdi.
The hall fell silent instantly as everyone rose to pay their respects. Jiang Ling, her mind in a daze, casually glanced at Yuan Mingdi as he passed by.
In the original book, Yuan Mingdi was described as tall, majestic, and divine, exuding the noble aura of an emperor.
Jiang Ling believed that Yuan Mingdi, bolstered by his status as emperor, possessed an imperial nobility that accounted for half of his presence. Accustomed to a life of luxury and surrounded by numerous imperial concubines in his harem, he was tall in stature but had a face as pale as paper, clearly a weakling who couldn’t carry a load on his shoulders or lift anything with his hands—utterly unrelated to divine martial prowess.
Then, glancing at the palace maidens inside the hall, each stunning in their own unique way, Jiang Ling had only one thought: “So many Mei Ren—what a waste of fresh flowers stuck on a pile of cow dung!”
Yuan Mingdi was utterly shocked. His steps faltered slightly as he slowly turned his head, looking around in disbelief.
Damn it!
Who in the world dared to be so audacious!