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Chapter 95

Noble Consort Shu, who had  basked in the limelight the most, became a target of gossip and excitement for the first time in the eyes of every imperial concubine. Everyone watched as their aloof and favored-for-many-years opponent suddenly fell in importance, and could not help but feel better, unburdening themselves from their jealousy.

“Ever since Xianrong Zhao had fallen heavily injured from Miss Hu’s schemes, she seemed to have become more and more important in the emperor’s heart,” said Noble Consort Xian, sighing with emotion. “This harem lost a favored Miss Hu and gained a favored Miss Zhuang. What difference does this make for me, someone who relied on seniority to climb the ranks in the harem?” She gazed at her reflection in the mirror. Although her appearance was the same as it had been in the past, it could not compare to the freshness and tenderness of those imperial concubines who entered the palace recently.

“How could Your Highness just be relying on seniority? This slave can see that His Majesty trusts you. Otherwise, why would he let you raise all the imperial princes?” said the palace maid who was inserting hairpins into her hair. “The other masters don’t have this kind of honor.”

Hearing those words, Noble Consort Xian smiled. It was clear that what the palace maid had said pleased her immensely. In high spirits, she rewarded that palace maid. She rose to her feet and supported the dangling hair ornaments by her temples. All the women of the imperial harem would one day grow old. Having a son by their side was the last insurance.

“Let’s go. Xianrong Zhao’s birthday banquet will be held this evening. Even the emperor will attend, so this palace cannot be late.”A smile bloomed on Noble Consort Xian’s lips. “Younger Sister Xianrong Zhao is a generous person. This palace cannot neglect her.”

As the protagonist of the birthday banquet, Zhuang Laoyan naturally had to dress up grandly. Splendid attire and brocade shoes. A golden-yellow flower print on her forehead, precious hair pins inserted into her hair, a fragrant sachet on her body. The Department of the Palace had selected each item with care. Each of the decorative designs were auspicious and cheerful. One could see that the Department of the Palace exerted much effort into this.

Delicately tracing her brows, Zhuang Laoyan did not not intend to let herself appear ordinary. When a woman was young, she should dress up as much as she could. Once she was at the age where one could not compare to those younger women no matter how hard one dressed up, then it was time to become more austere in fashion. If she appeared austere early on, then wouldn’t she appear lifeless when she was older?

She peered into the mirror on the table at her delicately-drawn brows once she was finished with them. Zhuang Laoyan nodded, satisfied. She stood. Made her way to the large standing mirror in the room for a better look. Then she reached out toward the Tingzhu who waited at the side. “Let’s go.”

Once she stepped foot outside of Xihe Palace, she passed through a nine-turns bridge, passed by Meixiang Luoxue Garden, and traveled along a long section of the vermillion palace path. She watched as the palace maids and court eunuchs on the road saluted her and yielded the way to her while she passed through. Expression not changing, Zhuang Laoyan sat steadily on her sedan until she reached the main doors of Jingyang Palace.

Heyu, who was waiting at the doors, caught sight of her. And she smiled as she stepped forward to salute Zhuang Laoyan. “Your Highness Xianrong Zhao has arrived. Her Majesty the empress is waiting for you. Please follow this slave inside.”

“Thank you for the trouble, Heyu.” Zhuang Laoyan smiled at her. Followed her through the doors. The palace maids and court eunuchs attending to her rushed to follow.

Somewhere not too far away, Noble Consort Shu and Consort Rou’s entourage had just arrived outside of Jingyang Palace. When they saw that scene, Consort Rou smiled insincerely. “Her Majesty the empress is truly affectionate.”

Expression unchanging, Noble Consort Shu looked at her. Then she smiled, not a word escaping her lips.

Consort Rou shifted her gaze to Noble Consort Shu. She could not stand her appearance, one of someone who had a card up her sleeve. As if she could see right through everyone in the imperial harem. If Noble Consort Shu was truly this capable, how could she only be just a favored concubine, and not someone who held the emperor’s entire heart? Even Zhuang Laoyan, who had entered the harem late, was surpassing her; the empress’ personal attendant, Heyu, had personally waited for her at the front doors of Jingyang Palace, a privilege that even Noble Consort Shu did not have this year.

Inside, after Zhuang Laoyan paid respects to the empress, the empress personally helped her put on a mutton-fat jade bracelet. The other imperial concubines that were already in the room saluted Zhuang Laoyan.

Just when they took their seats, they saw Noble Consort Shu and Consort Rou entering the chamber together. Astonishment entered everyone’s hearts. Noble Consort Shu and Consort Rou seldom had contact with one another. So why were they together today?

And why wasn’t Xiuyi Su, who had always trailed after Noble Consort Shu, with them?

Another round of salutes. Then everyone took their seats again. The empress said, “His Majesty still has some memorials to go through, and has sent a message in advance: start the banquet on time. We will not wait for him. We will start the banquet now.”

Since the empress had said this, naturally no one would question her. The garden in Jingyang Palace was spacious. Even if a crowd of imperial concubines were sitting there and a stage had been built, it wasn’t crowded at all.

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The first opera was Magu Gives Her Birthday Greetings. Zhuang Laoyan wore a smile as she watched it to the end. Then, in a careless way, she chose from the list of operas one that had an auspicious message to be performed next. Following that, it was the turn of the empress and the other imperial concubines.

“This palace liked watching lively operas the most in my youth, and felt that the more exciting the better. Nowadays, this palace prefers the opposite, fond of the more peaceful operas.” The empress released the silver toothpick she had been holding. Both the tributary pear it had impaled and the toothpick itself fell onto a dish all alone.

“In these past few years, this concubine also liked peaceful things,” said Noble Consort Xian, smiling as she picked up on that topic of conversation. “It seems that you younger sisters are fond of exciting things.”

If it were a normal day, Zhuang Laoyan would not add to this conversation. However, it was the day of her birthday feast. As such, she had no choice but to speak. “Your Majesty the empress and Your Highness Noble Consort Xian are more patient than this concubine. Since childhood, this concubine could not understand operas and was impatient. This concubine is unable to wait the duration of those slow songs and needs to know the whole story immediately.”

“Xianrong Zhao has a straightforward personality. It makes sense that you don’t like to listen to operas.” Consort Rou stabbed a fruit with no pit from the dish. “But even though you don’t like to listen to them, you should understand what they’re saying.”

Zhuang Laoyan smiled. Glanced sideways at Consort Rou. “Your Highness Consort Rou places value on this concubine. This concubine wholly cannot compare to you.”

Who present didn’t know that Consort Rou had made things difficult for Xianrong Zhao quite a few times? Naturally, no one uttered a word when the two spoke with hidden meanings now.

“Beloved Concubine cannot compare to who?”  

The deep male voice had sounded from a corner. One could see everyone get up to pay respects one after the other.

Feng Jin approached to support the empress to her feet. Then he went to the empress’ side to support Zhuang Laoyan. “Today is Xianrong Zhao’s birthday banquet. No need to stand on ceremony. Sit.

“We knew in advance that you don’t like to watch operas, and had the palace’s circus performers prepare a show.” Feng Jin waved. The opera singers on stage withdrew one after the other. Following that, a few people wearing the uniform of the palace’s skilled circus performers appeared on stage.

“Many thanks, Your Majesty.” Zhuang Laoyan seemed to be trying her best to suppress the happiness in her smile. She tried to curtsy to the emperor, but the other party reached out for her hands.

“Today is your birthday. Why are you kneeling?” Feng Jin led Zhuang Laoyan to the seat to his right, having her sit. Then he looked at the empress who was sitting to his left. “Just a while ago, We heard Xianrong Zhao say she truly could not compare to Consort Rou. What was that about?”

“It’s merely the two younger sisters being modest to each other.” The empress looked at Consort Rou and Zhuang Laoyan, a smile tugging at her lips. “Xianrong Zhao has always been modest. Your Majesty should know this.”

Modest?

Feng Jin thought of the Zhuang Laoyan who always wanted him to praise her in private. All of a sudden, joy filled his heart. Fortunately, her shamelessness only occurred in front of him, otherwise the other imperial concubines would be shocked why he doted on Xianrong Zhao. In the emperor’s opinion, such embarrassing things should be kept secret.

“Empress is correct. Xianrong Zhao and Consort Rou are naturally the same.” Feng Jin smiled. He glanced at Zhuang Laoyan and saw that her smile grew a bit stiff. In high spirits, he said, “Why are there only fruits around? Where are the other dishes?”

“Originally, this concubine wanted the food to be served. But Xianrong Zhao said to wait, and so, this concubine had the people of Shangshi Bureau do just that,” explained the empress. “But Your Majesty did not arrive too late. It’s a good time to have the food served now.” Then she ordered the servants to bring in the food.

Plate after plate of exquisite dishes were brought into the garden. Feng Jin was in a rather good mood, drinking two cups of wine before holding a third cup as he looked at the imperial concubines.

After he swept his gaze all around, it fell upon Zhuang Laoyan. He noticed her immersed in drinking soup with her head lowered. And he could not help but recall last night, when she suddenly roused in the middle of the night from a dream, bewildered as she called out to him, tears flowing down her cheeks.

Before this, he had never seen another imperial concubine wake up from a nightmare. Other imperial concubines would have very serene sleeping postures as they lay with him, so much so that they would not so much as move around. But Xianrong Zhao would always sneakily hold his hand or touch his ear.

She had thought he was asleep, and so he pretended to be.

However, he still felt panic-stricken when he thought about her shouting in her sleep last night. The scene had left behind a mark in his heart.

When she woke up early the next morning, she did not remember her dream. Yet for some reason, Feng Jin did.

Could there be another imperial concubine who broke etiquette like Xianrong Zhao?

As if he thought of something, Feng Jin looked at the empress by his side. “Just a while ago, when Xianrong Zhao said she could not compare to Consort Rou, We have figured out what this referred to.”

When everyone present had heard these words, one after the other they turned to look at Consort Rou, and then at Zhuang Laoyan. Even Consort Rou could not help but shift her attention to her.

The empress’ heart skipped a beat. She and the emperor had been together for many years, so she knew some of his habits. The emperor should not have been just speaking carelessly. But she could only follow his topic of conversation and ask, “What does Your Majesty have in mind?”

“Consort Rou has the rank of consort, whereas Xianrong Zhao has the rank of xianrong. Their positions are different.” Feng Jin set down his wine cup. Carelessly said, “Since We mentioned earlier that you two are the same, then let’s have Xianrong Zhao promoted to a consort. There are too few imperial concubines of the consort rank and above.”

It’s not that there are too few imperial concubines of the consort rank and above, but that Miss Zhuang wasn’t among them, right?

The empress sneered in her heart, but her outward smile did not change. With a calm tone, she said, “Your Majesty is wholly correct.”

Contrary to what one might expect, Zhuang Laoyan was somewhat surprised. The emperor just casually promoted her. Once she snapped back to her senses, she stood and kowtowed in thanks for the imperial favor.

“We said that it is your birthday today, so you don’t need to keep kneeling like that. We already had the Bureau of Astronomy choose an auspicious date. The official promotion ceremony will be held on the fifth of next month.” Feng Jin smiled once again. Pointed at a dish of honey duck tongue in front of him. “You like this, so We will give this dish to you.”

Consort Rou’s complexion changed a little. What did the emperor mean with these actions? Was he informing everyone in the harem that Zhuang Laoyan does not fall short of herself in any way? After today, how could she still have any face?

If he had just let the Bureau of Astronomy choose a date, then why did he casually mention it here? Noble Consort Shu raised her head to look at the emperor’s smile. A bit absent-mindedly, she thought, It didn’t matter what the emperor heard as he arrived. He would still find a reason to promote Zhuang Laoyan.

Lightly blinking, Noble Consort Shu watched as Zhuang Laoyan ate the honey duck tongues the emperor bestowed her, gaze growing a bit cold.

She would not allow anyone to so easily snatch away the emperor’s favor she had seized in the past.

“Oh right. Noble Consort Shu, why is Xiuyi Su not present today?” asked the empress.

“Responding to Your Majesty the empress, Xiuyi Su feels unwell and fears infecting others.” Noble Consort Shu looked down, making herself seem gentle and respectful. “Besides, it’s Younger Sister Zhao’s birthday today. If Xiuyi Su comes, wouldn’t that be unlucky?”

“Your Highness Noble Consort Shu is overthinking it.” Zhuang Laoyan wiped the corners of her mouth with her handkerchief, raising her head to smile at the other party.

To which Noble Consort Shu lifted her head as well and met her gaze, giving Zhuang Laoyan a gentle and soft smile.

Ayyy promotion! Our girl ZL is now Consort Zhao!!

Chapter Supplement:

Mutton-fat jade:

Nine-turns Bridge:

Ah, sorry but the patron shout-out will have to come next week.

Thank you hungryreaderjen and Angie for the clarification of two terms!

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