TJAIP Chapter 17

During the time when the Emperor did not frequently summon his consorts, he unexpectedly visited Zhaoqin’s residence twice. Though the first night he summoned Yan Gui Fei’s plaque, he later went to Taoyu Palace.

The women in the harem all have different thoughts, but if one were to say who felt most uncomfortable, it would likely be Yan Gui Fei. She had always been favored in the harem, but never expected that after spending the night in her residence, the Emperor would go to stay with another consort.

Zhuang Luoyan knew that her actions might have raised suspicion, but compared to women like Shu Gui Fei and Yan Gui Fei, she was hardly important, so she wasn’t worried about becoming a target. However, when a consort is favored, no one is foolish enough to cause trouble, but once they lose favor, that’s when things can change.

The weather was still cool in the morning, but as an emperor, he had to be mindful of his appearance. The dragon robe, though made of the finest silk, still seemed uncomfortable to Zhuang Luoyan. She couldn’t help but feel sympathy for the emperor. Wearing layer after layer of garments must have been stifling.

As Zhuang Luoyan looked at him with concern, the Emperor noticed and smiled. “Why the concern, my love?”

“Your Majesty,” she replied, “I’m just worried about the heat. Although the dragon robe is majestic, it must be a bit stifling.”

As soon as she said this, she realized she may have overstepped. The dragon robe was made by the finest artisans, and even if it was uncomfortable, she, a mere consort, had no right to comment on it. Not even the Empress would dare to. She hadn’t yet fully adjusted to the decorum of the palace, where respect for the Emperor’s majesty was paramount.

“That’s a fair point,” the Emperor said, seemingly unaware of her slip, raising his hand to allow the palace maids to adjust his accessories. “But as a ruler, one must not forget their dignity for the sake of fleeting comfort.” He added, “Not many would be able to wear this robe, no matter how much blood has been spilled.”

“Forgive me for my ignorance,” Zhuang Luoyan said, relieved that the Emperor did not comment further on her mistake.

The Emperor smiled warmly. “You care so deeply for me. I know your heart.” He stood and said, “I’ll be leaving now. You need not accompany me. It’s hot today. Get some rest; you won’t have time to sleep later.”

Zhuang Luoyan usually accepted the Emperor’s goodwill, occasionally showing a bit of reluctance. She saw that he was quite pleased with her actions, so she didn’t need to send him off to the palace gates.

In her past life, she had seen a television drama where Emperor Huang Tai Chi deeply favored Empress Zhen. The reason was that, among so many women, Empress Zhen was the only one who treated him as a husband rather than as the emperor. Zhuang Luoyan thought that the Emperor was perhaps the most difficult type of man to please. Like Empress Chen A Jiao of the Han dynasty, who treated Emperor Liu Che as a husband, she too eventually ended up in a tragic situation in the palace.

The Emperor, like many men, wanted his women to treat him as a husband but also to revere his imperial authority when the situation called for it. This showed how much more changeable men were compared to women. If anyone still believed that women’s hearts were like deep seas, Zhuang Luoyan felt like slapping them.

After some intimate moments, Zhuang Luoyan arrived early at Jingyang Palace, where only the virtuous consort and two other consorts were present. The virtuous consort, though not exceptionally beautiful, gave an approachable impression. She had a sense of propriety that made the title “Virtuous Consort” seem fitting.

“Zhaoqin, you served His Majesty last night. Why are you here so early today?” The Empress smiled and motioned for He Yu to serve tea. “Such a sweet girl, I’m sure I’d feel sorry for her too.”

Zhuang Luoyan smiled. “I couldn’t sleep, so I thought I’d come early and chat with the Empress. Could it be that I’m disturbing Your Majesty’s peace?”

“Not at all,” the Empress said, “The weather has been quite hot lately, so I’ve been waking up earlier than usual. It’s nice to have someone to talk to.”

The Virtuous Consort, with her gentle tone and demeanor, smiled at Zhuang Luoyan and said, “Empress, Zhaoqin is clever. Perhaps we can discuss the matters you just mentioned with her.”

Zhuang Luoyan paused slightly before replying with a smile, “Virtuous Consort, I’m just a lowly consort. I’m not sure I’m in a position to offer any advice.”

The Empress smiled gently and added, “It’s no big deal. I was just thinking about how to arrange for Shu Gui Fei’s upcoming birthday. She’s so modest, she said she doesn’t want anything extravagant. But don’t you think that’s a bit odd?”

The Empress seemed to be subtly concerned, unsure whether to go big or small with the arrangements. Zhuang Luoyan knew that the Empress was likely worried about being criticized for excess or being accused of stinginess if she kept things too simple. By asking for her opinion, she was likely trying to show that she wanted to do the right thing by Shu Gui Fei.

Zhuang Luoyan put down her tea cup and, with a conflicted look, said, “Your Majesty, I haven’t been in the palace long, so I’m not familiar with many matters. But I believe that Shu Gui Fei has served His Majesty for many years, and I’m sure His Majesty remembers her fondly.”

The Empress smiled warmly. “Yes, I’m sure the Emperor is thinking of her.” She looked at Zhuang Luoyan with satisfaction and added, “By the way, some new snacks have arrived from the kitchen. I’ve had them sent here this morning. He Yu, please serve them to the Virtuous Consort and Zhaoqin.”

“If you like them, I’ll have the kitchen send some over to you as well,” the Empress said, sipping her tea.

“Your Majesty, the Empress requests an audience,” the eunuch announced.

In the afternoon, the Emperor, lying lazily on a soft couch while listening to new music from the Court of Music, barely opened his eyes when he heard the announcement. “Summon her,” he said lazily.

When the Empress entered, the Emperor waved off the formalities and smiled as he guided her to sit with him. “This is a new piece from the Court of Music. Let’s listen together.”

The Empress scanned the musicians and paused on one particularly beautiful woman. She smiled and listened to the music with the Emperor. Once the piece finished, she spoke up, “I was just discussing Shu Gui Fei’s birthday with the Virtuous Consort and Zhaoqin. I was wondering if I should arrange something special for her. Zhaoqin reminded me that perhaps His Majesty might have something to gift her, so I thought I should consult you first.”

“You are the Empress,” the Emperor replied, waving to the musicians to leave. “You are fully capable of handling such matters. Shu Gui Fei is already a Noble Consort, so there’s no need for further titles. I’ll just send her some gifts. As for the arrangements, keep them simple—after all, she’s just a consort.”

“Understood, Your Majesty,” the Empress said, clearly pleased with his decision.

“By the way,” the Emperor added, frowning slightly, “If I remember correctly, Zhaoqin’s birthday is this month as well. Though her rank is low, we can still elevate her status for the occasion and offer her a small feast. No need for anything else.”

The Empress smiled and nodded in agreement, but after leaving the palace, her smile faded slightly. The Emperor’s remarks about Zhaoqin’s birthday might seem dismissive, but the underlying meaning was more significant than the treatment given to Shu Gui Fei.

For a woman in the harem, nothing was more important than a promotion in rank. For Zhaoqin, a small feast and a rank elevation were immense favors, far greater than anything Shu Gui Fei might receive.

“Your Majesty, be careful—the road is slippery ahead,” He Yu whispered.

The Empress raised her head and smiled. “It’s fine. I’ll be careful.”

Now that the Emperor was showing interest in Zhaoqin, the Empress knew better than to interrupt his mood. It was just a new shift in favor. In the past, Consort Yuan, Shu Gui Fei, and Yan Gui Fei had been the Emperor’s favorites, but none of them had retained the position permanently. It was simply a new phase of favor.

Still, the fact that the Emperor knew Zhaoqin’s birthday seemed to indicate she had made sure to remind him. Her calculation, however, was a bit too transparent. Even if the Emperor remembered this year, would he still care in the years to come?

It was just a fleeting moment of glory, destined to fade into obscurity.

The Emperor wasn’t the type to remember the birthdays of his consorts and keep them in mind.