Chapter 20

Chapter 20: Zhen Huan Chronicles, An Ling Rong

“What now? Is Your Majesty not letting this concubine speak the truth again?”

Li Si Qi immediately stepped forward and acted coquettish. “Do I not even have the right to speak honestly in front of Your Majesty?”

“You!” A trace of helplessness flashed in the Emperor’s eyes.

He reached out and tapped her forehead. “You’re about to become a mother, yet you have no sense of propriety at all. Matters of rank among the imperial consorts are not something a mere Noble Lady like you can speak about. If the Empress finds out, she’ll certainly punish you.”

“This concubine isn’t afraid.”

Li Si Qi wasn’t in the right, but she still sounded bold. “With Your Majesty protecting me, the Empress can’t bully this concubine.”

“You were the one who broke the palace rules first.” The Emperor felt both amused and exasperated. “If the Empress punishes you, I won’t be able to stop her either.”

“No, Your Majesty can’t let word get out!”

Li Si Qi used her hand-shaking trick again. “Your Majesty, you mustn’t let Her Majesty the Empress find out. This concubine knows I was wrong!”

“Stop acting spoiled!” The Emperor pulled his hand back, lifted his teacup, and asked again. “Tell me – when you spoke up for them, was it really for the child’s sake?”

“Of course. Other than Second Attendant Xia, this concubine hardly interacts with them at all.”

Li Si Qi pursed her lips. “This concubine just thought Your Majesty should treat everyone fairly…”… The Emperor only returned after he had eaten in the side hall of Yan Xi Palace. After he left, Li Si Qi met Aunt Ruo Lan.

“Aunt, why is it you!” Li Si Qi looked genuinely surprised, then asked, “How did you end up becoming a nanny?”

“Replying to My Lady, this servant is already past thirty this year.”

Ruo Lan saluted as she explained, “This servant does not plan to leave the palace, and I plan to take the self-combing vow and become a nanny. Eunuch Su happened to be choosing nannies for My Lady, so this servant recommended herself. I wished to come serve My Lady and the little master.”

“So that’s how it is.”

Li Si Qi personally helped her up. “If Aunt is willing to come here, of course I’m happy. We did spend a month together outside the palace, so we understand each other. From now on, this place will depend on Aunt.”

“My Lady is too polite.” Ruo Lan smiled, her tone turning earnest. “Please rest assured, My Lady. This servant will not disappoint you.”

“Good. From now on, let’s get along well.”

… While she received Aunt Ruo Lan here, Noble Lady Fu Cha and Second Attendant Xia also met the nannies the Emperor bestowed. At this time, the Emperor returned to the Imperial Study and immediately issued an edict. Second Attendant Xin (?) was promoted to Noble Lady Xin (?). Second Attendant Xin (?) was promoted to Noble Lady Xin (?).

Noble Lady Shen was granted the title Hui and became Noble Lady Hui. Bo Er Ji Ji Te was granted the title Yu and became Noble Lady Yu. Second Attendant Xia was granted the title Jing and became Second Attendant Jing. As soon as the edict went out, it shook the entire inner palace.

For the Emperor to promote the whole harem at a time like this was truly unexpected. Even though they were all low-ranking consorts, this edict was the Emperor’s decision alone. Jing Ren Palace.

“Your Majesty… how could Your Majesty humiliate me like this?”

Tears brimmed in the Empress’s eyes. Her voice shook with anger. “Does the Emperor even have me, his Empress, in his eyes?”

“Your Majesty, the Emperor was simply happy for the moment.” Jian Qiu hurried to soothe her mistress. “The consorts are with child. No wonder the Emperor forgot to come discuss it with Your Majesty. This servant believes the Emperor will surely come tonight to explain it to Your Majesty.”

“The Emperor will really come to Jing Ren Palace?” The Empress quickly wiped the corners of her eyes. “You’re right. The Emperor has never humiliated me like this. This must have been an accident. He will definitely come to explain it to me.”

Jian Qiu changed the subject. “Your Majesty, why not have the small kitchen prepare the dishes His Majesty likes?”

“Right, Jian Qiu. Hurry and have the small kitchen prepare duck soup.”

A smile returned to the Empress’s face. “Prepare a few more dishes His Majesty likes as well. Go give the instructions personally.”

“Yes. This servant will go arrange it at once.”

… Jing Ren Palace waited expectantly for the Emperor’s arrival. Chu Xiu Palace. Second Attendant Xin received the edict and burst into tears of joy. She instructed her personal palace maid to slip Xiao Xia Zi, who delivered the edict, a richly stuffed perfumed pouch.

After accepting the reward, Xiao Xia Zi spoke again to re mind her, “Noble Lady Xin, His Majesty has decreed that you may go to the Princes’ Quarters and bring the First Princess back to raise. When the First Princess turns six, you will send her back to the Princes’ Quarters.”

“Good, good, good!”

Overjoyed, Noble Lady Xin excitedly knelt to thank him. “This concubine thanks His Majesty for his grace.”

“Noble Lady Xin, hurry and rise.” Xiao Xia Zi said with a smile. “Don’t just stand there being happy. Hurry and prepare a place for the First Princess – that is what matters.”

“Sir is right.”

Noble Lady Xin rose smiling and immediately instructed the people beside her, “Qiu’er, quickly go tidy up a side room. In a moment, we’ll go bring Her Highness back.”

“Yes, My Lady!” Qiu’er, just as delighted, called two palace maids and left.

“Eunuch Xia.”

Noble Lady Xin took off a jade bangle and pressed it into his hand. “Can you tell me why His Majesty suddenly granted me this favor?” She knew very well she was not favored. Otherwise, how could the birth mother of the First Princess have only been granted the rank of Second Attendant after entering the palace?

At that time, she had still been carrying a child. Later, she was harmed and miscarried, and the Emperor never upheld justice for her. What stung the most was that Princess Wen Yi could be raised by her birth mother, yet her First Princess had to be sent to the Princes’ Quarters. She had suffered far too much unfair treatment.

With no natal family to support her, she could only endure it in silence. She never dreamed she would receive everything she had today. And she understood even more clearly that someone must have helped her. Otherwise, how would the Emperor ever have thought of her?

“Noble Lady Xin, to be honest, this servant is not too sure either.” Xiao Xia Zi smiled.

Just as he turned to leave, he lowered his voice and added, “At midday, His Majesty ate in Yan Xi Palace with Noble Lady Xin.”

“…”

Noble Lady Xin froze for a moment. She could not help thinking of the sweet, naïve An Ling Rong. They had never had much to do with each other. If anything, she had looked down on her somewhat – she always felt that with her blunt, mouthy temperament, she would sooner or later be dealt with, and would never come to a good end.

Perhaps it was exactly that kind of temperament that made her speak up for her…. Sui Yu Pavilion. Zhen Huan could not stop herself from crying.

“My Lady, this servant will go invite Imperial Physician Wen.” Huan Bi voiced her idea. “They can all get pregnant. This servant doesn’t believe My Lady can’t.”

“My Lady, Huan Bi is right.” Liu Zhu stepped forward and said softly. “We should invite Imperial Physician Wen to take My Lady’s pulse. Perhaps My Lady is with child as well.”

Zhen Huan’s expression stiffened, and her tone turned cold. “Liu Zhu, are you joining in this nonsense too?”

“No, My Lady.” Liu Zhu grew anxious. “My Lady, have you forgotten? This month, your monthly bleeding never came. Last month’s was not much either. This servant suspects My Lady is pregnant too.”

“Really?”

Zhen Huan jerked her head up, disbelief on her face. “Liu Zhu, am I truly pregnant?”

“My Lady, this servant will go invite Imperial Physician Wen at once!” Huan Bi threw out those words and ran off like a gust of wind.

“This…”

Zhen Huan felt uneasy. “If I’m not pregnant, wouldn’t that make me a laughingstock?”

“It won’t, My Lady. Please rest assured.”

Liu Zhu smiled as she comforted her. “Imperial Physician Wen will help My Lady handle these matters properly.”