Chaрtеr 17: Punishing the Сoncubinеs, Теасhing Тhem tо Веhаve Prоperly
Bеаuty Wu glаrеd аt Lаdу Yang’s rеtrеаting figure, inwardlу сursing her sеveral times.
Shе had gоne out in glorу last night, оnly tо rеturn in disapрointment—she wаs bоund tо bе mockеd.
“Мistrеss, аt least thе Emрeror rеmemberеd you аnd summoned yоu fоr thе night. It’s just that уеsterday wаs a sреcial оccаsion, аnd thе Еmpеror likelу had no сhоiсe but to go. After all, many inсidеnts have ocсurrеd recentlу.”
Liаn’er supported her, offering comfort.
Beauty Wu didn’t want to hear any of this. Huffing angrily, she flicked her embroidered handkerchief and walked outside.
With Consort De losing power, the Empress had regained control.
This morning’s greetings saw noticeably more concubines in attendance. Except for Consort Rong, who was absent, all the others from the various palaces had arrived.
Consort Xian sat in the foremost seat, looking at Consort Shu opposite her with a faint, mocking smile. “Consort Shu, it’s been days since I last saw you. Why do you look so haggard?”
Their family backgrounds and statuses were nearly equal, but Consort Shu was fond of pretending to be gentle and magnanimous, which earned her the Emperor’s admiration and favor.
Consort Xian had never liked Consort Shu.
Consort Shu glanced up at her briefly before lowering her gaze again. “I am not as fortunate as Consort Xian. With so many incidents occurring frequently in the palace, Consort Xian still appears quite cheerful.”
Her words immediately put Consort Xian at a disadvantage.
Consort Xian’s smile faded. “Consort Shu’s tongue is truly sharp. Indeed, without such a clever mouth, how could one win the Emperor’s favor? After all, there are so many beauties and royal heirs in the palace, yet not everyone is as eloquent as Consort Shu.”
Consort Xian’s words struck directly at Consort Shu’s heart.
A cold glint flashed in Consort Shu’s eyes. “When it comes to speaking, it seems Consort Xian is still superior. No wonder you gave birth to two formidable princesses. You are right, Consort Xian—with so many beauties in the palace, you should indeed worry about winning favor.”
Among the high-ranking concubines recently, Consort Xian was arguably the least favored.
Hearing Consort Shu’s words, Consort Xian flushed with anger. Her fingers unconsciously dug into her palms inside her sleeves, the faint pain helping her restrain her impulse.
Yet she couldn’t utter a single word in response.
What mattered most now was to regain the Emperor’s affection and ensure she bore a prince as soon as possible.
Consort Hui sat to the side, listening to their barbed exchange, unfazed by such scenes.
Just then, the Empress emerged from her seat above.
Dressed in magnificent phoenix ceremonial robes, her demeanor was majestic. The concubines all rose to their feet, bowing and offering greetings in unison.
Their voices echoed throughout the grand hall.
Hua Shu waved her sleeve and took her seat but did not grant them permission to rise. The concubines below grew puzzled—what was the Empress planning?
Amid the tense silence, Consort Xian spoke first. “Your Majesty, what is the meaning of this?”
As she spoke, she straightened her posture and looked up at the figure seated above.
Hua Shu glanced at her dismissively before surveying the group of concubines below.
“Consort Xian, what I mean is not for you to question. It seems there truly is no respect for hierarchy in this harem anymore.” Hua Shu spoke coldly, showing no mercy.
Consort Xian’s face flushed crimson—she hadn’t expected the Empress to reprimand her publicly.
Hua Shu raised her hand slightly, and Nanny Wen behind her led the maidservants forward, each holding a small booklet containing excerpts from the Palace Regulations.
“Today, I am here to advise all of you to understand the Palace Regulations, act with propriety, and refrain from causing trouble and stirring up incidents in the harem. If I learn of any such behavior, I will show no leniency.”
Hua Shu’s voice was not loud, yet it rang clearly in the Inner Hall.”These Palace Regulations, all of you must diligently review and copy them repeatedly to commit them to memory. The golden osmanthus of August is in full bloom, a fine season indeed. I must trouble each of you to submit your copies when you come to pay your respects.” Hua Shu spoke with a gentle smile, her demeanor perfectly appropriate.
The expressions of the assembled consorts below instantly turned sour.
Wasn’t the Empress punishing them in a roundabout way?
Hua Shu paid no mind to what they thought. She could no longer sit still and needed to return to rest.
Just as she reached the inner chamber, she felt a warm surge below, accompanied by a sharp cramping pain in her abdomen.
Hua Shu nearly lost her balance. Yun Yue, standing beside her, noticed immediately and quickly supported her, her voice filled with concern.
“Your Majesty, are you feeling unwell?”
Hua Shu pressed a hand to her abdomen, her brow furrowed tightly. Could it really be such a coincidence?
Yun Xiu, being more observant, noticed Her Majesty’s unusual pallor. She suddenly calculated the days—it was indeed close to the time. She hurried off to prepare water.
“Yun Yue, Her Majesty’s monthly courses have arrived. Please help Her Majesty to rest first.”
The room became a flurry of activity. Hua Shu lay on the bed, clutching the bedding, feeling utterly miserable.
In the past, how had she never realized this monthly affair could be so tormenting?
The maidservants cleaned her and changed her into fresh clothes. Yun Xiu then brought over the medicine.
The original host’s body suffered from coldness, a long-standing ailment that caused severe pain each time, requiring medicinal treatment.
After drinking the medicine, Hua Shu finally felt somewhat better. She leaned back on the couch. The recent ordeal had caused her to break out in a cold sweat again, leaving her face pale.
Her thoughts drifted. A woman’s cold constitution could affect pregnancy.
But for now, she couldn’t dwell on that too much. She could only focus on gradual recuperation.
The consorts, having received the palace regulations manual, were each filled with heavy resentment.
Consort Wan twisted her handkerchief and approached Consort Xian. Ever since Consort De was gone, she had no choice but to seek a new patron.
“Consort Xian, what do you think the Empress means by this?”
As soon as Consort Wan finished speaking, she received a sharp glare from Consort Xian, who was clearly displeased. “What else could the Empress mean? When she lost power before, those of us who didn’t pay our respects and secretly mocked her… Now that she’s back in charge of the palace, she’s seizing the chance for revenge.”
Hearing Consort Xian say this, Consort Wan’s gaze fell upon a consort passing by to the side—Beauty Wu.
“Yesterday, His Majesty summoned Beauty Wu to his chambers early, yet later he still went to the Palace of Earthly Tranquility. This time, the Empress is only punishing us with copying. Who knows what methods she might use next time?”
Though Consort Wan was foolish, her words hit the mark.
Consort Xian’s expression shifted unpredictably. Having finally managed to remove Consort De, she never expected to have paved the way for someone else. How could she possibly accept this?
“Beauty Wu.”
Consort Xian spoke up. Seeing her gaze directed toward Beauty Wu, Consort Wan quickly had someone bring her over.
Beauty Wu was lovely in appearance and had a good figure. She stood timidly before them, offering a respectful greeting.
Having cried earlier, she appeared rather pitiful.
Consort Xian reached out, pinched Beauty Wu’s chin, and lifted her face for a look. Satisfied, she said, “Beauty Wu, His Majesty cares for you deeply. You merely lack opportunity. Today, not only did the Empress fail to console you, she even punished you with copying. If His Majesty were to find out, how heartbroken he would be!”
Listening to Consort Xian’s words, a fresh mist of tears welled up in Beauty Wu’s eyes, her heart instantly overwhelmed with grievance.
Seeing her like this, Consort Xian smiled lightly, then elegantly flicked her sleeve and departed.
Beauty Wu remained where she was. Her tears swirled, but she wiped them away stubbornly. Instead of returning to her own palace, she turned and headed in a different direction.
Inside the Colorful Cloud Hall.Nanny Wen led her people inside, where the maid Song Shi blocked their way and asked, “Nanny Wen, my mistress is unwell. May I ask what business brings you here?”
Seeing Song Shi holding her head high with an arrogant air, Nanny Wen couldn’t help but inwardly scoff.
No matter how favored she might be, in front of the Empress, she was merely a low-born concubine.
Putting on airs all day long—did she really think she was something special?
“We are here on the Empress’s orders. Knowing that Consort Rong is unwell, Her Majesty is deeply concerned and has summoned an imperial physician to check Consort Rong’s Peaceful Pulse. Furthermore, the Empress requires everyone in the palace to be thoroughly familiar with the Palace Regulations and to copy them for submission to the Palace of Earthly Tranquility.”
As soon as Nanny Wen finished speaking, Song Shi immediately refused, “Nanny Wen, my mistress is unwell, and the Emperor is deeply concerned. Surely the Empress does not expect her to copy—”
Before she could finish, Nanny Wen cut her off, her gaze sharp and stern. “The Empress is merciful and considerate of the entire harem. She has instructed the imperial physician to provide careful care and has specifically exempted Consort Rong from copying. However, to ensure fairness and maintain peace in the harem, Her Majesty has ordered this servant to come daily and recite the regulations aloud. I hope Her Ladyship will understand.”