The birthday celebration for Consort Shu was held grandly in the Jingyang Palace, and she received many generous gifts from the Emperor. Even the Empress Dowager, who was busy with Buddhist rituals, sent her offerings. Consort Shu, who had already been a standout figure in the palace, became even more prominent.
In contrast to Consort Shu’s favor, Zhuang Luoyan, who was about to celebrate her birthday, was expected to be the subject of ridicule among the other consorts in the palace.
Dressed in a gauzy robe and embroidered shoes, Zhuang Luoyan applied makeup in front of the mirror, shaping her brows and painting her lips with red pigment. She adjusted the jewelry on her head and said, “Let’s go, time to greet the Empress.”
Yunxi and Tingzhu exchanged a glance. Tingzhu, feeling uneasy, said, “My lady, today is your birthday. If…” They both knew that the people in the palace were waiting to see her make a fool of herself. Going to Jingyang Palace now, they wondered what the other consorts might say.
“Isn’t it a consort’s duty to greet the Empress?” Zhuang Luoyan stood up. “Let’s go.”
“Yes,” Yunxi and Tingzhu replied, helping her out of the inner room. When they reached the outer chamber, Zhuang Luoyan noticed the lotus that had been placed outside. The buds, which had been only half-opened earlier, had bloomed fully after being moved into the sunlight, with only a few petals still wrapped. The sight was pleasing to the eye. “Take good care of them.”
“Yes, Your Ladyship,” the palace maids and eunuchs answered. Zhuang Luoyan didn’t dwell on it further and left Taoyu Pavilion.
It was early in the morning, with the sun just rising, casting an orange-red light that should have been warm, but in the summer heat, it only felt oppressive. Zhuang Luoyan waved her fan and glanced up at the sun, which looked like a frying egg in the sky, then handed the fan to Tingzhu as she entered the Jingyang Palace gates.
“Consort Zhao has arrived!” The eunuch at the door loudly announced when Zhuang Luoyan entered the main hall. She noticed the subtle glances from the consorts inside, even though they were all engaged in light conversation.
“Your humble servant greets the Empress.” Zhuang Luoyan paid her respects without acknowledging the others’ stares.
“Consort Zhao, no need for such formality. He Yu, please offer her a seat and some tea.” The Empress smiled warmly, speaking gently to Zhuang Luoyan. “Today is your birthday, and you should have been excused from greeting me, but there are some matters I need to discuss with you, so I asked you to come.”
“Giving greetings to the Empress is my duty as a consort. I cannot neglect it just because of my birthday,” Zhuang Luoyan replied with a smile. “It is my honor that the Empress remembers my birthday.”
“We are all sisters here, there’s no need to be so formal,” the Empress said with a gentle smile. “We should celebrate your birthday properly. I have already instructed the Imperial Kitchen to prepare a feast for tonight, and all the consorts here will join us in a small celebration for you.”
Seeing the Empress’s attitude, the other consorts did not dare be dismissive, and they all offered their congratulations. The onlookers seemed to abandon their hopes of making her the subject of gossip, as the Empress’s tone suggested there would be no embarrassment for Consort Zhao.
“I remember your birthday is in March, correct?” Consort Ma, seated next to Zhuang Wanju, looked at Consort Zhao being congratulated by a group of women. She smiled faintly, her expression more sarcastic than sincere. The Empress had not arranged a feast for Consort Ma during her birthday.
Zhuang Wanju cast a cold glance at Consort Ma, “It seems that the swelling on your face hasn’t fully subsided, Sister. I have some moisturizing ointment with me, would you like to try it?”
Consort Ma’s face darkened at the remark. Zhuang Wanju smiled lightly, then turned her gaze to Zhuang Luoyan, lowering her eyelids as she sipped tea, her hand tightening slightly around the teacup.
The Empress observed the interaction with a cold smile inside, already looking forward to the evening’s entertainment.
After Zhuang Luoyan finally left Jingyang Palace and had some conversations with a few other consorts, she was finally able to escape. There hadn’t been this many people wishing her a happy birthday the day before.
“Consort Shu from Anqing Palace has sent gifts.”
“Consort Rou from Helo Palace has sent gifts.”
“Consort Xian from Ruanming Palace has sent gifts.”
The gifts kept coming into Taoyu Pavilion. Zhuang Luoyan looked at the gift lists, which were not the most extravagant, but certainly not insignificant. She smiled and set the lists down on the table. “Make sure everything is carefully taken care of.”
“My lady, Consort Zhao is just a consort. Why must we…” Qinglu from Ruanming Palace began, somewhat puzzled.
“She’s a consort now, but who knows what she’ll be after tonight?” the Consort Xian replied, closing her Buddhist scriptures. “Didn’t the servant who went to deliver the gifts just say that even Jingyang Palace sent things over? Just wait and see, Consort Zhao is not to be underestimated.”
Qinglu nodded and then asked, “Does this mean she’ll rise faster than Consort Yan?”
“Consort Yan is nothing,” Consort Xian scoffed. “Her status has never matched Consort Zhao’s. Now that the Emperor is favoring her, if that ever changes, she might end up worse off than anyone.”
Qinglu didn’t dare to ask more, only nodding submissively. “Your ladyship is clear-headed, I am ignorant.”
Consort Xian gave a noncommittal smile. How many women in the harem were truly clear-headed?
As the evening sun began to set, the sky turned gray. After Zhuang Luoyan thanked the Empress for her kindness at Jingyang Palace, she finally took her seat, breaking tradition by sitting with the other consorts due to it being her birthday.
“As I said earlier, Consort Zhao must drink a few extra cups on her birthday. Don’t forget, sister,” Consort Shu said, initially feeling a bit irked. But seeing that the food and drinks set out for Consort Zhao were not as grand as hers, and the performers were fewer, her irritation faded somewhat.
“I’m not skilled at drinking, but if the Empress insists, I can’t refuse,” Zhuang Luoyan said with a smile, raising her cup and respectfully offering a toast to those present before drinking it down.
Seeing that Consort Zhao was not pretending to be delicate, Consort Shu stopped pressing the issue, especially since she didn’t want things to get too awkward. She simply smiled.
“Make sure none of you get Consort Zhao drunk tonight, or I’ll have an additional drunkard in my palace,” the Empress said generously, as she always did. “He Yu, please bring some soup for Consort Zhao, so she doesn’t get drunk too early.”
“It seems the Empress truly cares for Consort Zhao, doesn’t she?” Consort Rou said softly, almost mockingly.
The Empress glanced at her. “I care for all of you.”
Zhuang Luoyan wiped her lips with a handkerchief. Being the first wife, how could she genuinely care for the younger wives? These women were experts at speaking nonsense, and even she, the listener, felt guilty.
A eunuch’s voice then announced, “The Imperial Decree is here.”
The consorts quickly rose and knelt in the hall, though they were puzzled to see the eunuch delivering the decree was Gao Dezhong, who served the Emperor.
“The Zhao family, with their virtuous and elegant demeanor, has won the Emperor’s favor. Based on her virtues and appearance, she is worthy of the title of a beauty. On the occasion of her birthday, she is to be promoted to the rank of Third-Class Zhaochongyi.”
Zhuang Luoyan bowed deeply in gratitude, receiving the decree from Gao Dezhong’s hands.
“Zhaochongyi, please rise,” Gao Dezhong said, extending a hand to help her up. He added with a smile, “I see that you all are drinking, so I’ll leave now. Please, enjoy your meal.”
“Thank you, Your Excellency,” Zhuang Luoyan stood and took the embroidered gold thread decree in her hand, somewhat surprised. She had expected a promotion to at most a noble consort, but she had been raised from Fourth-Class to Third-Class.
The Empress, upon hearing the decree, paused for a moment, but quickly regained her composure. “Zhaochongyi’s promotion is indeed a good thing.” She then rewarded Zhuang Luoyan with a set of jewelry.
The other consorts present, though smiling on the outside, were not happy.
Feeling upset, they began to pour more wine, and Zhuang Luoyan was repeatedly toasted by the other consorts. Despite her skill at turning down drinks, she couldn’t resist the forceful toasts and ended up drinking several more cups. By the end of the evening, she was somewhat tipsy.
Sitting in the swaying sedan chair, Zhuang Luoyan rested her chin on one hand, looking up at the starry sky. Her vision blurred slightly. Though still partially sober, she felt a bit dizzy.
As she lowered her gaze, she saw a procession of yellow-clad servants approaching.
sarcastisaurus On CFRFGC Chapter 102