TJAIP Chapter 30

Feng Jin accompanied Zhuang Luoyan through the morning and stayed for lunch.

Seeing that Zhao Chongyi clearly couldn’t eat but was forcing herself to swallow the soup because it had been personally served to her, Feng Jin’s heart softened. He put down his silver chopsticks and said, “If you don’t want to eat, then don’t. I’ll have the Imperial Kitchen prepare more fruit and snacks today.” He then ordered a small eunuch to pass a message to the kitchen.

“Your Majesty, I’m fine. I just have no appetite, it’ll be better soon,” Zhuang Luoyan smiled, trying to make it seem natural. “You led a thousand elite soldiers to wipe out thousands of mountain bandits, so how could I, your woman, be scared or useless over something so trivial?”

“I am a man, of course, I fight for the people,” Feng Jin chuckled, “But a woman being a little delicate is no problem.”

“But I am your woman,” Zhuang Luoyan looked at Feng Jin seriously, “Even though I don’t need to fight for the world, I don’t want to distract you from your state affairs when you’re busy.”

Feng Jin laughed softly; what a cute, silly woman. The women in his harem were just a form of entertainment for him, happy or sad didn’t affect him much. But when he saw the sincerity in her eyes, his tone softened. “You think of me, I am very grateful and pleased.” As soon as he said this, he saw a smile spread across her face, and for a moment, he couldn’t bear to face such pure emotion.

Zhuang Luoyan smiled gently and picked up a piece of food for him, “Your Majesty, your happiness is my fortune.”

“You don’t hold back at all,” Feng Jin took the chopsticks and ate the food she had picked, “Saying such things, you must be waiting for me to praise you.”

“As the saying goes, a word from the emperor is like a promise, Your Majesty’s praise must be true,” Zhuang Luoyan tilted her head and smiled at Feng Jin, her face slightly pale, but suddenly full of life.

Feng Jin looked at her coquettish appearance and couldn’t help but smile. He shook his head, “It seems some women can’t be praised or spoiled too much.”

“I am your woman, Your Majesty,” Zhuang Luoyan pulled her hand back from the soup, “If you don’t pamper me, no one will.”

“Now you’re saying I can’t say anything,” Feng Jin put down his chopsticks, picked her up, and placed her on his lap, giving her a light pat on the bottom. “But I can still punish you.”

“Your Majesty!” Zhuang Luoyan wrapped her arms around his waist, pinching the flesh at his side. Then, she proudly looked up at him.

Feng Jin, although feeling a bit of pain in his side, still happily kept her on his lap and smiled, “Today, I’ve learned that my beloved concubine can’t be scolded, slapped, or punished. She can only be praised and pampered.”

Zhuang Luoyan hummed inwardly, thinking to herself, “You only enjoy it when others twist and tease you, don’t you?”

Gao Dezhong stood in the corner, occasionally glancing at the untouched food on the table. The beauty was in his arms, a feast for the eyes, but whether the emperor ate or not, it didn’t matter.

But this Zhao Chongyi seemed to have scared herself. When she twisted the emperor’s side, Gao Dezhong even felt the pain, not knowing how the emperor could tolerate it.

The meal didn’t take long, but in the end, Feng Jin was quite satisfied and left with a smile on his face.

After watching the emperor leave, Zhuang Luoyan rubbed her stomach and drank two bowls of bitter medicine. Who could drink any more nourishing soup after that?

She waved away the other servants, leaned back on the beauty couch, and half-closed her eyes, staring at the water lily in the flower pot. Who was plotting against her?

The Xian Fei seemed to be on the same side as the Empress, and even Yan Gui Pin could tolerate her, so there was no need for them to go after her now. Shu Gui Fei, such a woman, would surely think of even more ruthless methods and wouldn’t resort to this kind of scheme. As for Ning Fei, Xu Zhao Rong, and Ye Shu Rong, there was no conflict of interest, so they wouldn’t waste energy on her for no reason.

The Empress Dowager, that old fox, wouldn’t use such methods against her either. Besides, she didn’t seem to be the target of the Empress Dowager’s focus.

After thinking for a while, Zhuang Luoyan yawned and called a maid to fan her, lazily falling asleep.

After returning to the palace, Feng Jin didn’t immediately review the memorials. Instead, he wrote down a few vacant palaces’ names and marked one of them with a check, a palace that was well-ventilated and sunny.

“Pass my order, Zhao Chongyi is now a third-rank official. It’s no longer appropriate for her to stay at Taoyu Pavilion, I grant her Xihe Palace as her new residence. The Imperial Kitchen will choose an auspicious day for the move.” Feng Jin issued the order, and Gao Dezhong was sent to carry it out.

It seemed that the emperor was really angry this time, bypassing even the Empress for discussion. His dissatisfaction with the recent incident was clear.

“The emperor gave Xihe Palace to Zhao Chongyi?!” Xian Fei frowned and glanced carefully at the Empress. “Empress, this Zhao Chongyi is getting too favored.”

Xihe Palace wasn’t the largest among the palaces, but it was exquisitely built, and closer to the emperor’s main palace than Taoyu Pavilion. The emperor’s favor for Zhuang Luoyan seemed excessive.

“The emperor is not granting the palace to Zhao Chongyi,” the Empress replied quietly, not finishing her sentence. The fact that the emperor gave a palace but bypassed her only showed his displeasure.

If only the palace maid had died outside Taoyu Pavilion, it would’ve been one thing. But being struck by lightning… Now, some servants are spreading rumors that Zhao Chongyi is blessed by the heavens. The servants who died were getting what they deserved. In the past, the Empress would never allow such talk in the harem, but the emperor personally sent someone to Zhonghua Temple, donating incense money for Zhao Chongyi’s divine protection. “Zhao Chongyi was startled, so she can’t stay at Taoyu Pavilion anymore. It’s only right for her to move.”

Xian Fei could guess the Empress’s feelings and nodded. “It makes sense, considering how much trouble this has caused. Changing her residence isn’t too much of a favor.”

The Empress sighed bitterly. Zhao Chongyi’s rise to prominence had been unexpected. The emperor had always been like this—showing his favoritism clearly. She could hardly say anything about it.

“Xihe Palace, what a great Xihe Palace!” Zhuang Jeyu snapped the pen in her hand, ink dripping onto the back of her hand. She took a deep breath. “Bring some water.”

Xie Yu glanced at Zhuang Jeyu with concern and began to clear the table. “Master, you’re hurting yourself by getting angry.”

Zhuang Jeyu snorted. “It’s just that she has such good luck.”

“Perhaps… it’s a coincidence,” Xie Yu poured tea and placed it on the table. “Besides, it’s better that Zhao Chongyi gets favored than your rivals. At least she has to consider her surname.”

“Surname?” Zhuang Jeyu lifted the tea cup, thinking about the past. “If she cared about that, she wouldn’t have done those foolish things when she entered the palace.” She set the cup down with a snap. “Now that she’s getting favored, she’s pretending to be virtuous.”

Seeing this, Xie Yu didn’t dare to speak further but sighed inwardly. In the harem, there were no sisters, only rivals.

When the other palace ladies heard about Zhao Chongyi’s relocation, they said nothing but sent many gifts to Taoyu Pavilion under the guise of comforting her. Even the Empress Dowager sent a hundred-year-old ginseng, indicating that no one had any objections to the matter.

Zhuang Luoyan was slightly surprised. She had anticipated that the emperor would make her move but didn’t expect it to be to such a prestigious palace. Xihe Palace, with its auspicious name and proximity to the emperor’s main palace, was indeed a high honor.

That evening, the emperor stayed at Taoyu Pavilion for nearly an hour before returning to his main palace. Zhuang Luoyan was relieved he didn’t stay overnight. If he had, even if the Empress were kind-hearted, she would have been dissatisfied.

As Feng Jin sat in his palanquin, playing with the jade pendant in his hand, he asked Gao Dezhong, who was walking beside him, “Gao Dezhong, which concubine should we assign to raise the Third Prince?”

Gao Dezhong dared not answer, so he replied, “Your Majesty, the Third Prince is still young and charming. I’m sure any of the concubines would love to raise him.”

“Let’s give the child to Xian Fei for now. I see she’s raised the First Prince well,” Feng Jin lightly tapped the jade pendant. “Tomorrow, you’ll deliver the order.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Gao Dezhong wasn’t sure what the emperor was thinking but agreed that Xian Fei would be a good choice.

The next day, when the decree was issued, Xian Fei became the envy of the harem. Despite her jealousy, the others had no choice but to congratulate her with a smile.

Zhuang Luoyan didn’t care much about raising someone else’s child. After all, the Third Prince was just being fostered, not officially named. When he grew older, it would be clear who his real mother was. Blood is thicker than water, and even a foster mother couldn’t replace a biological one.

When she greeted the Empress, there was no conflict. Zhuang Luoyan felt at ease but remained vigilant. If the Empress had mocked her, she would have let it slide. But the Empress was still acting graciously, showing just how deep and patient her mind was.

The more patient someone was, the more ruthless their schemes. Zhuang Luoyan didn’t want to be caught in the Empress’s plot, nor did she want to oppose her.

The Empress was still somewhat resentful but softened upon seeing Zhao Chongyi’s cautious demeanor. Zhao Chongyi might be clever, but she was still just a plaything. The Empress didn’t need to waste energy on her.

Her gaze passed over Shu Gui Fei and Rou Fei, both of whom were still enjoying the emperor’s favor.