Red Chamber 15
Wang Xiling was invited inside.
She had thought the outer chamber was already splendid beyond measure, but who could have imagined that upon entering the Eastern Warm Chamber, every piece of furniture and decoration inside was dazzling to the eyes. Especially since the room was adorned with many potted plants, clustered around the chaise lounge, all to catch the eye of the languid beauty reclining upon it.
A Yuan had been admiring the flowers when she saw Wang Xiling arrive and quickly beckoned her over. “You’re here! Come quickly and look at this pot of flowers—they’ve grown so beautifully.”
Wang Xiling, however, did not dare to be impolite. “This commoner pays respects to the Noble Consort.”
As she had not yet attended the bedchamber and held no rank or title, she could only refer to herself as ‘commoner.’
“Rise quickly. Between us, there’s no need for such formalities.” A Yuan spoke with a hint of reproach as she straightened up.
During her time at Chuxiu Palace, Wang Xiling had been a social butterfly, getting along well with every Candidate Maiden. However, after A Yuan’s imperial decree conferring, the disputes among the Candidate Maidens grew increasingly apparent. Her attempts to please everyone no longer worked, and she often mentioned A Yuan to show off their friendship, which only provoked widespread resentment.
Now, she was severely ostracized.
Seeing that A Yuan still treated her with warmth, her nervousness finally eased a little. “It’s just that we haven’t seen each other for many days, and now our statuses differ. It’s better to err on the side of courtesy.”
“Look at that clever mouth of yours—still as eloquent as ever.” A Yuan pulled her to sit by the table. “Sit down quickly and have some tea. These past few days, my place has been in such disarray that I haven’t had time to attend to you. I heard you’ve already moved out of Chuxiu Palace?”
“Yes, I’ve moved to Zhongcui Palace. Now I don’t have to sleep in a shared bed and can even turn over at night without worry.”
Her playful remark made A Yuan laugh.
“Now that you’ve been assigned your own palace quarters, it’s a case of hardship giving way to sweetness.” A Yuan gently patted the back of Wang Xiling’s hand and pointed toward the direction of the Western Warm Chamber. “My place here isn’t fully settled yet.”
Wang Xiling followed her gaze to the tightly closed door of the Western Warm Chamber. Judging by the size of the Eastern Warm Chamber, she knew the Western Warm Chamber must also be quite spacious. She thought of her own cramped and stuffy side room and couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.
Truly, comparing oneself to others is enough to drive one to despair!
Her side room was only a tiny space, so small that if she had too many belongings, she could hardly turn around.
“You are truly blessed to live in such a fine place as Yongshou Palace. Although Zhongcui Palace isn’t small either, it’s old and in disrepair, making it look quite desolate.” She was so envious that she wished Noble Consort Lin would move out so she could move in.
Moreover, at a glance, the servants of Yongshou Palace seemed much more spirited and capable than those in Zhongcui Palace.
“Zhongcui Palace is also an excellent palace residence.” Aunt Jin, who had been waiting nearby, spoke up to remind her.
Wang Xiling was taken aback, realizing she had spoken out of turn, and immediately felt a surge of panic. She wasn’t afraid of Noble Consort Lin, but she had a psychological fear of strict Matrons.
“It was just casual conversation. Auntie, there’s no need to be so harsh.” A Yuan chided softly, then took Wang Xiling’s hand again. “Don’t be afraid. Aunt Jin may seem strict, but she’s actually very easy to get along with.”
Aunt Jin then apologized. “This servant spoke out of turn.”
“It’s fine. You may leave now. This consort wishes to speak with Miss Wang.”
Wang Xiling shrank her head, feeling that Noble Consort Lin’s use of ‘this consort’ was truly majestic and something she envied deeply. When would she ever be able to refer to herself as ‘this consort’ like Noble Consort Lin?
“Yes.” Aunt Jin curtsied, but before leaving, she shot a glance at Wang Xiling.
Wang Xiling’s heart tightened, feeling the spot on the back of her hand that had been touched burning hotly, scorching to the extreme.
How was this Matron easy to get along with?
Clearly, the look in her eyes seemed to be wrapped in knives, making the little schemes in Wang Xiling’s heart impossible to hide.
For a moment, Wang Xiling felt that the gazes of all the palace servants in the entire palace had turned strange. After exchanging a few more pleasantries, she hurriedly rose to take her leave. She had originally intended to linger in Yongshou Palace, hoping for a chance encounter with the Emperor, but now her plan was thwarted because of Aunt Jin.
His Majesty treats Noble Consort Lin so well.
After leaving Yongshou Palace and reaching the intersection of the long street, Wang Xiling couldn’t help but glance back at Yongshou Palace, the jealousy in her eyes no longer concealed.
To return to Zhongcui Palace from Yongshou Palace, one must pass through the Imperial Garden.
Wanchun Pavilion already had people inside at this time, but Wang Xiling, lost in thought, failed to notice and simply walked straight past it, bypassing Jiangxue Pavilion and leaving.
“Who is that?” Consort Dowager Zhen asked indifferently.
“This servant thinks she looks like a Candidate Maiden from Zhongcui Palace.”
The Emperor had only summoned one Candidate Maiden for favor, Noble Consort Lin, who resided in Yongshou Palace. The other Candidate Maidens had been assigned to the other three palaces and had yet to see His Majesty’s face.
“Your Ladyship, His Majesty is quite fond of that Noble Consort Lin.”
Consort Dowager Zhen sneered, “Fond is fond. She’s just a commoner girl. Does he expect to share his favor equally and produce seventeen or eighteen children all at once?” Compared to that, she would rather the Emperor dote on just one person, after all: “Killing one is much simpler than killing seventeen or eighteen…”
And it would save her the trouble of dirtying her hands.
“Did His Majesty summon that Noble Lady Chu again tonight?”
“Yes, Your Ladyship.” The palace maid shrank her neck, afraid her mistress would become angry again.
“What a truly low-born wretch.”
Consort Dowager Zhen clenched her fist and struck the wall with some force. “Has everything been arranged on Noble Lady Chu’s side?”
“Your Ladyship, rest assured. This servant handles matters, you can be completely at ease.” The palace maid spoke with a mix of flattery and ruthlessness. “This servant guarantees that the two young masters in our palace will be His Majesty’s most beloved princes.”
At ease?
As long as that Noble Lady Chu remained alive for a single day, she could never truly be at ease.
“Since His Majesty favors that Noble Consort Lin, then summon her to Ningshou Palace tomorrow.”
With no one currently in charge of the Imperial harem and her acting in authority, it was only proper to take a look at this newly favored imperial consort.
“Yes, this servant will definitely prepare the finest tea from Your Ladyship’s palace for Noble Consort Lin tomorrow.”
Consort Dowager Zhen gave an indifferent ‘hmm.’
As dusk fell and the sky darkened, the Emperor once again arrived at Yongshou Palace.
As usual, A Yuan stood waiting at the main entrance, curtsying from a distance: “May Your Majesty be well and at peace.”
Shui Cong quickened his steps, reached out to help A Yuan up, and without letting go, led the beauty by her small hand toward the main hall. “How many times have I told you to wait inside the hall? Why won’t you listen?”
Though secretly quite pleased in his heart, his words still carried this tone.
A Yuan rolled her eyes inwardly. If she had truly waited inside the hall, the remarks probably wouldn’t have been the same.
Through these days of interaction, she had also discovered that this Emperor, though not old in years, could be quite cunning.
Perhaps suppressed by the Retired Emperor for too long, he had grown to greatly dislike defiance from others, becoming rather obstinate and self-willed. In A Yuan’s eyes, he certainly did not resemble a wise ruler. Coupled with the later events in the original story involving Jia Tanchun’s marriage alliance… A Yuan felt she could add the great task of “slaying the dragon” to her agenda.
Though her mind was racing with thoughts, her expression grew even gentler.
“This humble concubine simply wished to see His Majesty sooner.” A Yuan’s voice curved sweetly, wrapped in sugar, sweet enough to drown a person.
Shui Cong felt a surge of joy in his heart.
This was exactly what he liked about Noble Consort Lin—her honesty, her passion, and her unreserved expression of affection… Just look at how much Noble Consort Lin loved him. Her eyes were filled with adoration, gazing at him as if with light. In his mind, this was how a husband and wife should be.
When he heard in the afternoon that a Candidate Maiden had come to see Noble Consort Lin, he was somewhat displeased.
Although those Candidate Maidens were also his women, he disliked others casually entering his territory. After asking a few questions, he couldn’t help but say, “If there are people you don’t wish to see in the future, simply refuse them.”
He walked to the desk and picked up the travelogue A Yuan had been reading halfway: “I mean those women from the rear three palaces.”
Not wish to see? Refuse?
A Yuan looked at the Emperor strangely. She… hadn’t shown any reluctance to meet them, had she?
Still, she didn’t argue. Instead, she cast a resentful glance at the Emperor. “Since they’ve come to my door, how could I not see them?” Moreover: “If this humble concubine truly refused to see them, I’m afraid it wouldn’t be long before rumors spread in the palace that I’m arrogant and intolerant.”
“I’d like to see who dares spread such nonsense.” Shui Cong frowned.
The imperial harem was quite peaceful now. Those women were confined to the rear three palaces. Although they weren’t prevented from moving about, it was rather inappropriate for them to come running to Yongshou Palace. Noble Consort Lin was in good health, and he himself was vigorous and robust. Who knew, she might already be pregnant. What if those women caused a disturbance?
“Stopping people’s mouths is harder than stopping a river. At worst, this humble concubine can simply close the palace gates and live quietly.” A Yuan tugged at the jade pendant hanging from Shui Cong’s waist and shook it, coquettishly saying, “Why should Your Majesty trouble yourself to play the villain for this humble concubine?” Besides: “Now that Consort Dowager Zhen is managing palace affairs, why should this humble concubine cause her any distress?”
Mentioning palace affairs made Shui Cong even more irritable.
He had not yet taken full control of governance, nor had he held his grand wedding. In the court, he was suppressed by the Retired Emperor; in the harem, he was suppressed by Consort Dowager Zhen. There was not a single place, whether in court or the harem, where he felt at ease.
Once again, Shui Cong placed his hopes on A Yuan’s womb.
“Give birth to a son for me soon, so I can confer upon my beloved consort the titles of pin and fei.”
A Yuan sighed… Did she not want the same?
The soil was fertile, the seed was excellent—now it was just a matter of whether it could sprout smoothly. However, it was still too early; even if it had sprouted, it wouldn’t be detectable for a while.
After dinner, the Emperor and his consort played a game of chess before heading to the Water Chamber to wash up and retire to the bedchamber.
That night, the Emperor and his consort slept chastely, embracing each other. A Yuan’s nearly broken waist finally got a night’s rest, though being held tightly all night nearly gave her a stiff neck. When she woke up, she looked even more exhausted than if she had toiled all night.
When she received the summons from Consort Dowager Zhen, A Yuan’s spirits sank even further.
Yawning, she asked Aunt Jin, “How much do you know about Consort Dowager Zhen?”
Aunt Jin was a person planted by the Retired Emperor in the Qianqing Palace and could already be considered his confidante; otherwise, she would not have been arranged to get close to the Emperor. Naturally, she was well-acquainted with Consort Dowager Zhen, so she introduced: “This Consort Dowager Zhen does not come from a prominent background, but she has a deep connection with the Retired Emperor. Her grandmother was the Retired Emperor’s wet nurse…”
Wet nurse?
A Yuan’s drowsiness vanished instantly.
“Aunt Jin, tell me quickly.” She wanted to hear the gossip!
“The Retired Emperor’s birth mother passed away early, so he was entrusted to the care of the then-noble consort. However, the noble consort had her own biological son and naturally did not pay much attention to the Retired Emperor. Fortunately, the wet nurse was a good person and treated him extremely well. Later, after the Retired Emperor ascended the throne, he conferred the title of Fengsheng Furen upon his wet nurse, and the Zhen clan, her husband’s family, also gained significant favor.”
This was how the rise of the Jinling Zhen Clan began.
“Later, when Yizhong Prince rebelled and the Retired Emperor was injured, Fengsheng Furen was heartbroken but could not enter the palace to serve due to her advanced age. Thus, she sent her own granddaughter, Zhen Shi, into the palace to serve the Retired Emperor.”
It was precisely this gesture of devotion that earned Consort Dowager Zhen the Retired Emperor’s exclusive favor upon entering the palace, and over the years, she gave birth to two princes in succession.
“Perhaps fearing that His Majesty would favor his own wet nurse’s family, thereby threatening the Zhen Family, when the Retired Emperor passed the throne to His Majesty, he had His Majesty’s wet nurse beaten to death right in front of him.”
A Yuan sighed: “The magistrates are free to burn down houses, while the common people are forbidden even to light lamps.”
However, she did not believe that the Retired Emperor feared the emergence of another Fengsheng Furen threatening the Zhen Family’s status. On the contrary, she suspected that the Retired Emperor had discovered something amiss with the Zhen Family, which was why he feared the rise of another ‘Fengsheng Furen.’
The favor of an emperor is unpredictable.
Although the Retired Emperor was deeply suspicious, his political decisions over the years had not been significantly flawed.
This shows that the Retired Emperor was indeed capable.
So, what exactly had the Zhen Family done that made the Retired Emperor aware of it yet refrain from taking action against them?