HLnovel Chapter 15 The Legend of Zhen Huan (14)
Chapter 15 The Legend of Zhen Huan (14)
"The Emperor has begun summoning concubines to his bedchamber, and the first one is Consort Fucha!" Inside the Suiyu Pavilion, Shen Meizhuang and Zhen Huan chatted idly.
"It is only natural that Consort Fucha and Consort Shuxian are on good terms!" Zhen Huan originally planned to feign illness to avoid the emperor's favor, but after entering the palace, she discovered that when concubines sought medical treatment, they could not choose just one imperial physician; they had to be examined by three imperial physicians at the same time.
This was done for two reasons: first, to prevent the imperial physicians from being bribed, and second, to allow them to supervise each other.
But their worries were in vain. A month later, the emperor finally began to summon new concubines to his bedchamber.
"Sister Mei is so beautiful, I think the next one will be you!" Zhen Huan said with a smile, her eyes full of sincere blessings.
“Huan’er, life in the palace is not easy. We sisters should support each other!” Shen Meizhuang said in a low voice.
"What you say is true, sister, but An-mei hasn't been coming around much lately!" Zhen Huan said casually, or perhaps she was hinting at something.
“She’s in Yanxi Palace, and there’s Consort Fucha above Lingrong. Consort Fucha is also on good terms with Consort Shuxian. It might not be very convenient for her!” Shen Meizhuang guessed a thing or two.
On the way back that day, Fucha Yixin gave An Lingrong a good lesson, which scared An Lingrong so much that she dared not run around anymore.
She didn't say anything else, but simply told An Lingrong some stories that she and Wangyou had heard while listening to a nanny's class in the harem.
For example, which unfavored concubine was punished by being forced to kneel when she wandered around, or which unfavored concubine offended a high-ranking concubine and was punished with a severe beating.
After that, An Lingrong rarely went out.
Wangyou and Yixin learned these things only because although Wangyou's mother knew that her husband had pleaded for Wangyou's exemption from the imperial selection and freedom to marry, it was ultimately just a verbal promise from the emperor.
Furthermore, with each new emperor comes a new court, and the emperor might not even be around by the time Wangyou grows up. Therefore, it was best to have the nanny teach Wangyou some private matters of the inner quarters, just in case.
Fucha Yixin came to visit Wangyou and heard that Wangyou was taking this class. When she returned home, she told Madam Fucha about it, and the two ladies immediately agreed to send Yixin to the class as well.
Little did I know that what I learned back then would come in handy now.
Wangyou didn't care who the emperor favored, but she wondered why the emperor would send something to Chengqian Palace every time he summoned a concubine. Wangyou thought about it for a moment, then gave up.
"Your Majesty, please slow down!"
"Bai Zhi, I want to eat barbecue. Go to the imperial kitchen and get some fresh meat!" Wang You suddenly became interested in flowerpot shoes these past two days, and then put them on and walked around a few times.
"Your Majesty, please stop wearing it! This servant will send someone to fetch the ingredients right away!" Bai Zhi was extremely worried; her mistress was becoming more and more childish.
"Understood!" Wangyou took off her flowerpot shoes and had someone put on embroidered shoes for her. "Speaking of which, who invented such inhumane shoes? They're so uncomfortable to wear!"
“Your Highness, only the ladies in the palace can wear flowerpot shoes; they are a symbol of status!” Bai Zhi said with a smile.
"Has the harem been quiet lately?" Belatedly realizing, Wangyou remembered that she seemed to still be in charge of palace power!
"Your Majesty, with Consort Hua and Consort Jing managing things, the harem is very peaceful!"
"Those two must have had a hard time. Later, pick out some good stuff from the storeroom and send it to them!"
"Yes, madam!"
……
"Your Highness, Consort Shuxian, we've come to see you!" Fucha Yixin rushed in quickly, wearing flowerpot-shaped platform shoes, followed by a woman.
"Greetings to the Noble Consort Shuxian! May Your Majesty be well!"
"Get up!" Wangyou called out. It wasn't that Wangyou wanted to put on airs, but rather that in her palace, besides her own people, there were only Yongzheng's people. She didn't care, but if it got to Yongzheng's ears, people would overinterpret it, which wouldn't be good.
"This is Consort An. Why is Consort An here too?" Wangyou asked curiously. She didn't seem to have much of a relationship with An Lingrong.
"Your Majesty, I heard that Your Majesty is pregnant, so I embroidered a few children's bibs. I am not good at anything else, but I am quite good at embroidery. Your Majesty has always taken care of me, and I have no way to repay you!" An Lingrong said with a mix of shyness and worry.
"Let me see!" Wangyou took the several bibs. "Wow, the patterns on these are so beautiful! Your craftsmanship is amazing, unlike mine, where the mandarin ducks look like ducks!"
"Consort An, may I ask you for a favor?" Wangyou asked, her eyes shining.
"Your Majesty, just give the order. How could I possibly accept a mere pleading?" An Lingrong knelt down in extreme fear. She knew that she was chosen after Consort Fucha only because of Consort Shuxian's influence.
"Get up quickly. I don't have many rules here. Your embroidery on this bellyband is quite good, but it's a bit short. I'm carrying more than one child. Could you help me embroider some more?" Wangyou genuinely admired An Lingrong's embroidery because she herself had a heart that longed to learn embroidery, but unfortunately, she lacked the skill.
"What's the big deal? I'll embroider it as soon as I get back!" An Lingrong felt that Wangyou was telling the truth, and her smile became much more sincere.
"No rush, take your time embroidering. I'll have someone from the palace send you some more things later as a token of my gratitude!"
"This concubine thanks Your Majesty for the reward!"
"Oh dear, oh dear, Sister Wangyou has found a new love, and I, the old flame, have been forgotten!" Fucha Yixin said sourly after the two finished talking.
"Sister Yixin, does your Fucha family lack such a small thing?" Wangyou said with a smile.
"I don't need anything, so I'm going to eat here for free. What are you having for lunch?"
"I'm planning to have barbecue. I've sent a eunuch to the imperial kitchen to fetch the ingredients. Lingrong, you can stay here too!"
"Yes, Your Highness, I thank you for your kindness!" An Lingrong was not as uninhibited as Yixin, but this was fine too.
After several eunuchs retrieved the vegetables, meat, and other ingredients, a charcoal fire was lit in Chengqian Palace, and the people from the small kitchen came out to help. Wangyou rolled up her sleeves and prepared to grill the food herself.
"Your Highness, the smoke is too thick, you can't go any further!" Qingzhu and Lamei pulled Wangyou back from either side. "You should sit comfortably inside with Consort Fucha and Consort An!"
"But isn't barbecue the best when you grill it yourself? If you don't let me grill it, half the fun is gone. I used to grill it myself!" Wangyou argued vehemently.
"Your Majesty, the past is the past. You are pregnant now, so you dare not go forward!" Qingzhu said helplessly.
"Oh right, I'm pregnant. You guys grill it, grill a lot. Also, have the kitchen make a bowl of sour soup noodles, I want to eat it!" Wangyou suddenly didn't really want to eat barbecue anymore.
"Alright, Your Highness, just sit down, and I'll cook anything you want to eat!" Lamei breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Wangyou finally sit down.
"Noble Lady Fucha, Consort An, please keep an eye on my mistress. I'll be right back!" Lamei winked at Qingzhu and then hurried off to the small kitchen.
……
"Your Majesty, something terrible has happened! There's a fire at Chengqian Palace!" Su Peisheng stumbled and scrambled into Yangxin Hall, panting heavily as he spoke.
"What!" Yongzheng threw down the memorial in his hand. Su Peisheng only felt a gust of wind, and when he looked up, the emperor was already gone.
"Your Majesty, please wait for me!" Su Peisheng hurriedly ran to catch up. After leaving the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Yongzheng also saw the billowing smoke above the Chengqian Palace and quickened his pace.