Perhaps it was because the Empress was in a good mood, but the various concubines spent nearly an hour in the Jingyang Palace. By the time they left the palace gates, the sun hanging in the sky had become somewhat glaring.
Ma Jieyu, who had a poor relationship with Zhuang Luoyan, immediately walked in the opposite direction, which surprised Zhuang Luoyan when she noticed Zhuang Wanquing standing by the small path leading to the Taoyu Pavilion. When Zhuang Wanquing saw her, her expression showed some emotion.
Zhuang Luoyan, maintaining her pace, thought Zhuang Wanquing would not speak, but to her surprise, Zhuang Wanquing opened her red lips. The words she spoke were not to catch up or show sisterly affection.
“Such a beautiful day. I remember the day you first entered the palace—it was a rainy day,” Zhuang Wanquing’s voice was steady, but Zhuang Luoyan could still detect the hidden disdain. “You were granted the title of Fifth-Rank Noble Consort thanks to your status. After only two days, you were promoted to Wanyi, and then, to my surprise, you became a Zhaoyi. You’re always luckier than others.”
Zhuang Luoyan paused, turned around, and looked at Zhuang Wanquing. “Sister, why do you speak like this today?”
Zhuang Wanquing suddenly lifted her head and glared at Zhuang Luoyan. Her eyes were red, but her voice was cold as ice. “Zhuang Luoyan, I will see you cry one day!” With that, she turned and quickly disappeared at the end of the path.
Such intense hatred made Zhuang Luoyan unconsciously furrow her brows. Even if the original body had done something extreme, it shouldn’t have led to such irrational words from Zhuang Wanquing at this moment. Had something happened that she was unaware of?
“Your Majesty, we’ve just received word from outside the palace that the second concubine passed away last night,” Yunxi whispered in Zhuang Luoyan’s ear. “The eldest young lady must already know the news.”
Zhuang Luoyan halted for a moment, glancing towards Zhuang Wanquing’s direction. If Zhuang Wanquing had once been cautious, she probably no longer cared at all. It seemed that life in the harem would become more troublesome from now on.
“Your Majesty,” Yunxi knew that Zhuang Luoyan did not like the second concubine or the eldest young lady, but she was surprised to see Zhuang Luoyan so uneasy upon hearing the news of the second concubine’s passing. “Why aren’t you happy about this? Instead, you look worried.”
“I don’t know the news from outside the palace, and you haven’t heard it either, understand?” Zhuang Luoyan sighed. “The women in the harem have too many connections with the outside world. Even if they don’t want to die, they’ll die early.”
Yunxi paused, then lowered her head in realization.
Tingzhu glanced at Yunxi and gently reminded Zhuang Luoyan, “Your Majesty, Lady Ye Shurong, and Ye Shuyi have arrived.”
Zhuang Luoyan raised her head to see the two sisters from the Ye family. It wasn’t that her thoughts were malicious, but the Emperor’s actions were indeed hard to ignore. There were several sets of sisters in the harem: Empress Zhaoji and Su Xiuyi were cousins, Ye Shurong and Ye Shuyi were full sisters, and she and Zhuang Wanquing were also half-sisters. Additionally, there was a Lady Sun Hui, who was a distant cousin of the Empress. No wonder women in the harem loved to talk about sisterly affection. How could they not when it was so prevalent?
It was clear that the Emperor had a particular taste, though it was unfortunate for the beautiful women involved.
Ye Shurong and Ye Shuyi were full sisters, both ranked Second, but the Emperor favored Ye Shuyi more and often visited her palace. However, it was Ye Shurong, who was pregnant, who was currently not in favor, rather than Ye Shuyi. What must Ye Shuyi be feeling in her heart?
“Greetings, Lady Ye Shurong, Lady Ye Shuyi,” Zhuang Luoyan curtsied, her gaze drifting slightly downward and landing on Ye Shuyi’s pale, delicate hands as she gently supported Ye Shurong’s wrist, appearing to be extremely cautious.
“Zhao Yi?” Ye Shuyi had never thought much of Zhao Yi, whether in the past or present. In terms of family background, the Zhuang family couldn’t compare to the Ye family; in terms of flavor, the Zhuang sisters were also no match for her. Now, as Zhuang Luoyan suddenly appeared before her, Ye Shuyi took a few more looks. Indeed, Zhao Yi had a few more beautiful features than Zhuang Jieyu, which explained her favored position.
“Zhao Yi, no need to be overly polite,” Ye Shurong spoke, her face still bearing a gentle smile, making her appear amiable. It made her companion, the beautiful and sharp Ye Shuyi, look somewhat harsh in comparison.
“Thank you, Lady Ye Shurong, thank you, Lady Ye Shuyi,” Zhuang Luoyan straightened up, her eyes casually scanning Ye Shurong’s abdomen. Ye Shurong didn’t seem like a frail person, but how could someone who was two months pregnant suddenly faint in front of the Empress?
Although she had never given birth herself, she knew how careful a woman needed to be in the first three months of pregnancy. Ye Shurong couldn’t be foolish enough to expose her pregnancy early, drawing attention to her belly. Was the fainting incident a coincidence, or was someone deliberately scheming?
“Your Majesty, why not take a walk in the garden with your sister?” Ye Shuyi glanced at the gentle Ye Shurong and raised her brow.
“Since Lady Shuyi has invited me, I shouldn’t decline, but today I have some matters to attend to. Please forgive me, Your Excellencies,” Zhuang Luoyan couldn’t afford to provoke a pregnant woman; if something happened, it would be the end for her.
“Ha,” Ye Shuyi scoffed, seemingly guessing Zhuang Luoyan’s thoughts. She lazily shot Zhuang Luoyan a sideways glance. “Fine, since Zhao Yi has business to attend to, we’ll leave first.”
Zhuang Luoyan was momentarily distracted by Ye Shuyi’s beautiful little gaze. Only after the Ye sisters had walked far did she lead Tingzhu and Yunxi toward the Taoyu Pavilion. However, even though Ye Shurong was pregnant, it seemed that Ye Shuyi still dominated the situation between the two sisters, and Ye Shurong lacked a bit of momentum.
Yunxi, seeing Zhuang Luoyan deep in thought, assumed she was upset by Ye Shuyi’s attitude and was about to speak when Zhuang Luoyan suddenly said, “Ye Shuyi is truly a beauty.”
Yunxi silently lowered her head.
Back at the Taoyu Pavilion, Zhuang Luoyan lay on the soft couch, lazily observing the furnishings. The items in the palace now looked much more beautiful than when she had first arrived. The food from the Palace Kitchen was also the finest. It was clear that a low-ranked concubine with little favor had nothing.
After lunch, Fubao rushed in, perspiring. “Your Majesty, the child in Lady Ye Shurong’s womb is no more.”
“No more?” Zhuang Luoyan, who had been resting, slowly opened her eyes upon hearing the news. “What happened?”
Fubao wiped the sweat from his face. “I heard from the palace servants that Ye Shurong was walking in the garden with Ye Shuyi when Ye Shuyi slipped on a stone step and knocked into Ye Shurong, causing her to fall. The child… is no more. The Empress and the other noble ladies have already rushed to Ye Shurong’s palace.”
Zhuang Luoyan stood up and said, “Let’s go take a look as well.”
“Your Highness, your attire…” Yunxi noticed Zhuang Luoyan’s simple pleated skirt and the lack of much decoration in her hair and was about to remind her.
Tingzhu stopped her with a smile, saying, “Yunxi, let’s go.”
Yunxi paused for a moment, then silently followed.
Zhuang Luoyan was quite pleased with Tingzhu and Yunxi. Sometimes, it’s not the formidable enemies that are to be feared, but rather the clueless teammates. No matter how loyal a servant is, if they lack wit and the ability to control their mouths, they could end up harming their master. Servants like Tingzhu and Yunxi, however, were ideal.
The place where Ye Shurong lived was somewhat remote, so Zhuang Luoyan had to hurry for a while before finally arriving. By the time she got there, many concubines had already gathered. Upon entering, she saw Ye Shuyi kneeling on the floor, her face pale, while the Empress sat in a chair, her expression cold and stern.
Zhuang Luoyan properly stepped forward to bow. The Empress waved her hand casually, and Zhuang Luoyan stepped aside to stand with Wang Pin, Jiang Xianpin, and the others. She had already guessed that Ye Shurong’s chances of keeping the child were near zero, but for it to happen so quickly and involve Ye Shuyi was a bit odd.
Was it an accident that Ye Shuyi fell, or was it intentional? But such an action, if calculated, was hardly clever; not only would it be hard to explain, but it would also provoke the disapproval of the Ye family. Although Ye Shuyi was beautiful, she wasn’t foolish enough to do something so obvious.
“The Emperor has arrived.”
Well, now that even the Emperor was here, this scene was about to get even more lively. However, during her time in the palace, she had yet to see the Empress Dowager. Even now, when Ye Shurong lost her child, the Empress Dowager didn’t make a move, showing just how calm and composed she was.
When the Emperor entered, all the women in the room bowed, including the Empress, who stood to salute him before letting him sit in the most honored seat. She then chose a lower seat for herself.
Feng Jin looked at Ye Shuyi, kneeling on the floor, with no expression on his face. “Ye Shuyi caused the loss of the royal child by accident. Considering she was unintentional in serving me, she is demoted from second-rank Shuyi to fifth-rank Ronghua.”
Zhuang Luoyan saw Ye Shuyi collapse to the ground after hearing the Emperor’s words and couldn’t help but steal a glance at the Emperor’s expression. His face was emotionless, not even a hint of change in his eyes.
In the Emperor’s eyes, it seemed that the women in the harem only had two functions: warming the bed and bearing children. If the Emperor lost interest in a woman and didn’t want her to have children, then her future in the harem would be bleak.
The Empress hesitated before speaking, “Your Majesty, Ye Shurong has lost her child, and Ye Shuyi must be distressed as well. Would this punishment be…?”
“The Empress need not intercede,” Feng Jin said coldly, not even looking at the woman kneeling on the floor. “There’s no need to call her Shuyi anymore. From now on, call her Ronghua.”
“Your servant… thanks Your Majesty for the grace.” Ye Ronghua’s face was pale as she shakily stood up, tears still on her face. She could sense the mocking and schadenfreude in the gazes of the other women, but she wouldn’t give in, and she wouldn’t accept her fate!
She turned to look at Ye Shurong’s inner chambers, stood straight, and curtsied. “Your servant takes her leave.”
Zhuang Luoyan watched Ye Ronghua leave, still carrying her grace and elegance despite the departure, but unfortunately, she encountered an Emperor who was unmoved by beauty and pity.
Feng Jin then ordered some gifts to be sent to Ye Shurong, and rose to leave. As his gaze swept over the women in the room, he suddenly pointed to a woman in elegant attire and said, “Sixth-rank Jin Liángyi has lost her grace before the Emperor, and is demoted to the lowest rank of attendants.”
He turned his cold eyes to Jin Gengyi, who was kneeling on the floor and said, “My son is lost, yet you still have the mind to adorn yourself. This shows your indifference. I cannot tolerate such a woman before me.” With that, he flicked his sleeve and left without sparing another glance at the women in the room.
“Your servant respectfully sees off the Emperor!” The women immediately bowed in respect.
Zhuang Luoyan watched the Emperor’s handsome figure disappear and pondered for a long time before finally finding one word to describe his imposing back.
There was only one word: Scum!
Lucien On ABRWF Chapter 34.1
“Empress Zhaoji and Su Xiuyi were cousins” Should this be Shu Guifei instead of Empress Zhao? Also is their surname Su or Shu?
It’s amazing how I thought of his reaction as normal then realized that if I was personally in that situation, I’d hate him too.