The Job of an Imperial Concubine

On the night they returned to the palace, Changtian House summoned an imperial physician to examine Noble Lady Qian. In the end, the imperial physician informed her that her clothes had been tampered with using a type of powdered drug, to the extent where her entire body would itch. Said powdered drug also attracted leeches. For a period, the imperial concubines, who had originally been waiting to see the show that was Noble Lady Qian’s misfortune, grew careful. Afraid that they would inexplicably be implicated in this matter.

Zhuang Laoyan leaned as she sat in a pavilion, a look of satisfaction on her face as she gazed at the koi swimming in the dark green lake. Then she heard two palace maids chatting.

“Who do you think would harm Noble Lady Qian?”

“Who knows? Ever since Noble Lady Qian entered the palace, the emperor has favored her. Although she is not as favored as Noble Consort Shu or Xianrong Zhao, she’s more or less as favored as Consort Rou.”

“In my opinion, it should be Zhaorong Xu. These days, Noble Lady Qian lives with her, and she herself lost favor. She must hate her a lot.”

Just when Zhuang Laoyan had listened to almost everything, she heard Consort Rou say from not too far away, “Which two audacious palace maids are commenting presumptuously on the masters?” Left with no other choice, Zhuang Laoyan stopped being lazy and left the pavilion. And she saw two ashen-faced palace maids kneeling before Consort Rou.

“Greetings to Your Highness Consort Rou,” said Zhuang Laoyan, curtsying. She swept her gaze through the kneeling palace maids, a trace of a faint smile on her lips.

“Isn’t this Xianrong Zhao?” Although Consort Rou was not fond of Zhuang Laoyan, now that the emperor pampered her so much, Consort Rou’s expression was more gentle than it had been in the past. “You were just at the fields yesterday. So why are you in the mood to walk around today?”

“It’s merely going to the suburbs, and did not take that much energy.” Zhuang Laoyan gave off a gentle smile. “Since the scenery seemed so pleasant today, this concubine went to take a stroll. Who would have imagined that this concubine would chance upon such nonsensical words?”

“It’s exactly speaking nonsense.” With cold eyes, Consort Rou looked at the palace maids. Every consort-ranked imperial concubine would not be happy being compared to a noble lady by a palace maid. Moreover, she had never had a soft personality. Since someone dared to say such things, they naturally dared to bear her rage. “The way this palace sees it, if some people can’t control their mouths, then they need not open their mouths.”

Zhuang Laoyan looked down, dropping her head. The corners of her lips curved; not a word left her lips.

Consort Rou saw that Zhuang Laoyan held no intention of getting involved. Her expression grew cold. “Servants, send these two palace maids to the Department of the Palace. This kind of presumptuously commenting on the masters must be dealt with severe punishment.”

 As Zhuang Laoyan watched the two palace maids beg for forgiveness while being dragged away, her smile dimmed. “Where did Your Highness Consort Rou come from?”

“Noble Lady Qian is unwell. Since we are all sisters who serve the emperor, this palace went to check on her.” An insincere smile spread across Consort Rou’s face. “Has Xianrong Zhao gone over yet? If not, come with this palace for a look.”

Now that the topic of conversation had reached this point, Zhuang Laoyan naturally could not decline. She walked with Consort Rou to Changtian House.

After passing through a lush bamboo forest, they arrived at Changtian House. Zhuang Laoyan noticed Gao Dezhong standing outside. And she knew that the emperor was here as well. She stopped in her tracks. Smiled and nodded at Gao Dezhong. “Eunuch Gao.”

“Greetings Your Highness Consort Rou. Greetings Your Highness Xianrong Zhao.” After Gao Dezhong saluted them, he smiled at Zhuang Laoyan. “Have the two Highnesses come to visit Noble Lady Qian? Right now, the emperor, empress, and Noble Consort Shu are present. Please enter.”

“Thank you for the trouble.” Zhuang Laoyan nodded faintly, watching as Consort Rou advanced a few steps ahead. Without any other choice, Zhuang Laoyan turned around and followed her.

Gao Dezhong watched as the two women left, before bending his back in a deep bow. When he raised his head again, the smile on his face weakening bit by bit.

“Your Majesty, Consort Rou and Xianrong Zhao have asked for an audience!”

Upon hearing the eunuch’s announcement, the expressionless Feng Jin nodded. “Allow them entry.” A trace of warmth appeared on his face, causing the tips of the empress’ brows, who sat next to him, to twitch.

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“Your Majesty, Noble Lady Qian’s skin has already been ruined by scratching. Zhaorong Xu is too vicious.” The empress’ expression proved grave. “What a pity about Noble Lady Qian’s snow-white skin. This palace feels brokenhearted looking at it.”

Entering the room, Zhuang Laoyan overheard the empress’ words. In her heart, she sighed in emotion. To be able to speak lies with such sincerity could be considered an essential skill of harem women. Once she was three steps away from the emperor, she curtsied. “This concubine greets Your Majesty the emperor.”

“The two Beloved Concubines need not be so polite,” said the emperor in a dull tone. “Give them their seats.”

Zhuang Laoyan sat at Consort Rou’s right, carefully glancing at the Noble Lady Qian lying in bed. In a flash, she sucked in a breath of cold air. How could the good face of a beautiful woman become like this? That red to the point of dreadful rash forcibly transformed a face capable of toppling nations into one of a witch.

“How could Noble Lady Qian be so seriously injured?” Consort Rou cut a shocked figure. She furrowed her brows, somewhat unhappy. “Noble Lady Qian has a countenance of a flower, a face like the moon. Who would scheme against her this ruthlessly?”

Such words truly lacked common basic respect for others. The other party had clearly suffered to the point of disfigurement, yet the empress and Consort Rou just had to mention whatever snow-white skin and whatever countenance of a flower, face like the moon. Could it be that they just had to make the emperor remember Noble Lady Qian’s current sorry appearance? And was that Zhaorong Xu kneeling on the ground transparent? Must Consort Rou insist on saying those words?

It seemed Noble Lady Qian could not accept her current appearance. As soon as Consort Rou had finished speaking, she pulled her quilt over more than half of her face. She did not even have the mood to glance at everyone.

Feng Jin looked up. He did not respond to Consort Rou, turning to the empress to say, “Now that Noble Lady Qian looks like this, work harder so that she can recover faster.” 

“May Your Majesty rest assured. Now that Noble Lady Qian’s appearance is like so, not only your honored self feels distressed. I do as well,” replied the empress gently. Following that, she shifted her gaze to Zhaorong Xu. “Zhaorong Xu, this is your third offense. You truly cannot be pardoned anymore.”

Zhaorong Xu lifted her head. Smiled in a melancholic manner. “Your Majesty the emperor and Your Majesty the empress have already determined my guilt. I naturally cannot be pardoned.”

These words did not change the empress’ complexion at all. She looked down. “Previously, you were jealous of Xianrong Zhao. The emperor did not punish you severely since you had served him for many years. Now, you harmed Noble Lady Qian with a toxic substance. You truly have a vicious heart.”

With an indifferent expression, Zhaorong Xu had listened to the empress speak. Then she turned to the emperor. “Your Majesty…”

Zhuang Laoyan could make out the expectation in Zhaorong Xu’s eyes. Perhaps she was clear on the fact that all the women in the room wanted to pin this crime on her. The sole person who could clear her of everything was the emperor.

“What else do you have to say?” The emperor looked at Zhaorong Xu, not a trace of affection in his gaze. As if he were looking at a stranger. “Perhaps We have indulged you too much.”

Since the emperor had spoken in such a light as a feather tone, the expectation that had filled Zhaorong Xu’s vanished without a trace. She knelt with her body straight. Performed a full ceremony of paying respects to him. Then she enunciated each word clearly as she said, “This concubine who has committed a crime has nothing to say.”

Sorry for the late chapter. WordPress decided to fck with me again and removed the classic editor again. Then their crappy blocks option REFUSES to save my edits. Had remake the post so many times UGH.

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Give them their seats: 赐座. Some people would just translate this to “Please sit” or something similar, but there’s a bit more nuance to that. The emperor is looking at ZL and Consort Rou, but he is ordering the servants to take them to their seats.right: 下首. Raws said she sat at a seat inferior in status to Consort Rou. This could either mean behind her or to her right. But in this context, right makes more sense.