Chapter 74

Chapter 74: Zhen Huan Chronicles – An Ling Rong

“Noble Lady Cao is joking.” Zhen Huan lowered her head and forced an awkward yet polite smile. “This concubine has already been confined for three months. His Majesty has probably forgotten this concubine long ago.”

“You’ve got the nerve to say that.” Noble Lady Cao let out a cold laugh. “Why were you confined? You don’t even know in your own heart? Fine if you gave Fu Guang Brocade to your maid, but she even dared to make it into clothes and wear it. Did she put the whole harem in her eyes at all? A servant with no sense of her place like that deserves to be beaten to death.”

“This concubine was at fault.” Zhen Huan’s face flushed white and red, and she did not dare argue.

“I thought you, Zhen Huan, were a smart woman.” Noble Lady Cao looked her up and down, her gaze a little strange. “I didn’t expect you to do something so foolish. Don’t think this is over. The other consorts haven’t vented their anger yet. You’ll have it rough from now on.”

“…” Zhen Huan pressed her lips tight. She had no strength to defend herself.

“It isn’t Huan’er’s fault, really.” Shen Mei Zhuang had to speak up for Zhen Huan. “Huan’er has always treated Huan Bi well, and she meant to give her a good bolt of cloth. It could have been kept for gifts, or saved for a dowry in the future. But what girl doesn’t love looking pretty? Huan Bi overstepped and has already been punished. I hope Noble Lady Cao will forgive Huan’er.”

“Who do you think I am, anyway?” Noble Lady Cao smiled faintly and swept her eyes over Zhen Huan. “I’m just saying a few words here. I’m only kindly re minding Attendant Zhen – the resentment in the harem hasn’t been let out yet. If she has favor, that’s one thing. If she doesn’t…” By the end, a gloating look crept onto her face. “Attendant Zhen, can you even bear the various ladies’ spite?”

“…” Zhen Huan’s face slowly turned pale. These days, with her love-addled mind, all she could think about was the man in her heart. For his sake, she had decided to avoid favor.

Noble Lady Cao’s words were like a club to the back of her head. In an instant, she understood her situation in the harem.

“Huan’er, don’t worry.” Seeing her like this, Shen Mei Zhuang grew anxious for her. “Huan’er can think of a way to regain favor. Once you have favor, the ladies will at least spare you for His Majesty’s sake, and they won’t use you to vent their anger anymore.”

“That depends on whether Attendant Zhen has the will to do it.” Noble Lady Cao rose with a smile. “Next month is the Bestowing Gold Festival. If Attendant Zhen has the heart for it, you can put on a good showing. I should go back and see Wen Yi now. You two rest here!”

“Noble Lady Cao, take care!” “We respectfully see Noble Lady Cao off!” The two of them rose to see her out, watching as she left with her people. The sisters exchanged a look.

Then they sat down again. “Huan’er, Noble Lady Cao’s words were ugly, but they were the truth.” “Sister Mei, I know.” “Good, as long as you understand.” … The Bestowing Gold Festival!

No matter how lively the festival was, it was still the men’s stage. The harem consorts were only there to attend the banquet. The noblewomen who had to attend the palace banquet went to pay respects to the Empress Dowager first. Jing Ren Palace should have been bustling at this time, but the Empress was nurturing her pregnancy, and no one dared disturb her.

The noblewomen all went to Yi Kun Palace to pay respects to Noble Consort Hua. For a time, Noble Consort Hua stole all the limelight. No one came to visit Li Si Qi’s Yong Shou Palace. But she still received plenty of gifts.

No matter who sent gifts, there were always three – one for each of the mother and two children. He Xiang and the others, busy sorting them, were grinning from ear to ear.

“Your Highness, it’s time to change.” Senior Maid Ruo Lan came in and, seeing her mistress sprawled there like a salted fish, had to re mind her, “In another hour, the palace banquet will begin.”

“It’s still early.” Li Si Qi did not want to be fussed over too soon. “In another half an hour, I’ll change and then go.”

“Your Highness won’t wash up before changing?” Senior Maid Ruo Lan knew her mistress’s quirks. She was especially fond of being clean. Even in the dead of winter, she still insisted on bathing every day.

“Have them prepare hot water. I’ll wipe myself down in a bit. I won’t bathe today.” Li Si Qi glanced outside. “How’s the weather? Is it snowing?”

“Replying to Your Highness, the weather is quite good.” Senior Maid Ruo Lan replied with a smile. “The wind has stopped too, and it isn’t as bitterly cold.”

“Good. Everyone can suffer a little less.” Li Si Qi asked again, “Those four – what are their temperaments like?” The Empress Dowager had given four senior maids, and they were assigned directly to the dragon-phoenix twins.

Of course, they only served the children after swallowing Puppet Pills.

“Two are more honest, and two are more quick-witted.” Senior Maid Ruo Lan smiled. “By a stroke of luck, one honest one and one quick-witted one were paired together. Your Highness doesn’t need to worry about them.”

“And the wet nurses?” Li Si Qi raised her brows, the smile at the corner of her mouth unchanged. “How are they getting along with the four senior maids?”

“Replying to Your Highness, they’re still each on their own side.” Senior Maid Ruo Lan answered with a smile. “But they all treat the Sixth Prince and Princess Wen Ning very well and don’t dare be careless in the slightest.”

“How they get along is none of my concern.” Li Si Qi drawled lazily. “They’re all people around the little ones. In the future, which of them the siblings keep at their side will be up to the siblings themselves. Just take good care of the children.”

“Your Highness is right!” Senior Maid Ruo Lan nodded in agreement. “With two more senior maids, this servant can see they’re even more attentive to the little masters.”

… The mistress and servant chatted for a while. After the hot water was carried in, Li Si Qi finally went to tidy herself up. At the Shen hour, the consorts from every palace began making their way to Tai He Hall. They rode heated sedan chairs, and each held a hand warmer.

No matter what, those who were masters lived far more comfortably than the palace maids and eunuchs. When Li Si Qi arrived at Tai He Hall, she found quite a few people were already there. She was not the latest, but she was still among the later arrivals. The hall was already lively.

Led by a palace maid, Li Si Qi took her seat below Consort Jing. Below her seat was Concubine Li. She had no favor and no child, so her place was farther back. At a time like this, no one would act rashly.

Still, Li Si Qi could not help studying the noblewomen of the imperial clan. Each of the former princes’ consorts had once been a name that carried weight. Yet there were not many who could appear here.

“Xiao Hu Zi, Prince Yi isn’t dead yet, right?” Li Si Qi suddenly thought of a key figure. That dog of an emperor’s dear Thirteenth Brother did not seem to appear in this drama world.

“Replying to Master, the Thirteenth Prince died in the eighth year of Yong Zheng.” Xiao Hu Zi explained. “It is currently the fifth year of Yong Zheng, so the Thirteenth Prince still has three years of life.”

“Only three years left. What a pity!”

“Master, the Thirteenth Prince’s health is poor.” Xiao Hu Zi added. “And he works himself to death for the Emperor every day. Living that long is already pretty good. Master, do you have plans?”

“Prince Yi is capable, and his character is decent.” Li Si Qi said. “I think keeping him around to serve as a regent minister for our little Sixth Prince would be good.”

“Master’s idea is good.” Xiao Hu Zi nodded. “We can rely on the Nian family, but the Thirteenth Prince is also a capable minister. Letting him go would be a pity. Is Master going to save him?”

“Save him.” Li Si Qi decided. “We aren’t taking his life – we’re saving his life. As long as we aren’t harming people, the Heavenly Dao can’t drive us out of here.”

“That will never happen.” Xiao Hu Zi snorted. “The Thirteenth Prince is a worthy prince who serves the common people with his whole heart. If Master saves his life, the Heavenly Dao should even send Master merit.”

“Merit or not, that’s not something we can force.” Li Si Qi instructed, “Find a chance, when Prince Yi falls ill. Enter his dreams and let him know the future history. Let him choose for himself – whether he wants to ignore what’s coming for him, or whether he’s willing to support a wise ruler.”

“Easy.” Xiao Hu Zi replied happily. “It’s not like we haven’t done this before.”