According to the palace rules, when the emperor favors a concubine, she must pay respects to the Empress early the next morning. Naturally, there are times when the emperor pardons her from the formalities out of fondness for beauty.
Last night, despite being in a daze, Zhuang Luoyan had heard Emperor Chengxuan say that she was exempt from the morning greeting. However, she was no longer the same Zhuang Luoyan. She knew that in this harem, those who grew arrogant from favor would eventually meet an unfortunate end. She didn’t have the charm of Daji, so it was better to avoid her downfall. After all, even Daji, the famous seductress, didn’t end well.
Dressed according to the rank of a Wan Yi (a lower-ranked concubine), she chose an attire that was neither too flashy nor too plain. In the harem, being too understated would be seen as deliberately drawing attention, which could be off-putting to some.
The Empress resided in Jingyang Palace, the traditional residence for Empresses since the founding of the dynasty. The Empress, who was a year older than the emperor, did not enjoy his favor but was still respected by him, which allowed her position in the harem to remain stable. Unfortunately, the Empress only gave birth to one daughter, who died at two, which allowed other favored concubines to overshadow her.
In the harem, it was easier to fall from favor than to regain it, so when the concubines saw Zhuang Wan Yi approaching to greet the Empress, they felt a sense of discomfort. She was merely a woman with some beauty; what means did she have to regain favor?
“Your servant greets the Empress, may the Empress live long,” Zhuang Wan Yi arrived at the right time, neither too early nor too late, following the proper customs. After performing the full rites, a palace maid stepped forward to assist her in rising, completely forgetting the cold reception she had received not long ago.
“Just now, a little eunuch from the emperor’s side came to inform me that you were exempt from today’s greeting, yet here you are. Please, sit down,” the Empress said. Though the Empress’ beauty wasn’t the most outstanding among the concubines, her dignified manner was enough to command respect, and when she smiled, her grace and composure shone through.
“Your Majesty and the Emperor’s kindness is a blessing to me. However, I have not paid respects to you for a few days, and I feel guilty. Please don’t mind my disturbance today,” Zhuang Luoyan thought to herself with a cold smile. Why hadn’t the Empress told her this before the formal greeting? It was all for the sake of creating an image of virtue and grace. It was rather tedious.
“Your thoughtfulness pleases me,” the Empress said. She then had some items presented to Zhuang Wan Yi, making some of the lower-ranked concubines envious.
After some conversation, the sound of a eunuch announcing the arrival of “Shu Gui Fei” and “Su Xiu Yi” was heard.
Zhuang Luoyan stood up, watching two beautiful women gracefully walk in. The first was a woman in a pink palace robe, around her twenties. Her figure was like willow, and despite her slender form, one could see the pride and nobility in her features. It was clear that she was a favored concubine.
Behind her was another woman, also quite beautiful, though her aura was slightly less imposing. The two shared similarities, and it seemed that the second woman held some respect for the first.
“Your servant greets the Empress,” Shu Gui Fei curtsied elegantly, her every movement graceful, which made Zhuang Luoyan inwardly sigh. No wonder she was so favored; if she were a man, she too would find it hard to resist showering such a beauty with affection.
After more greetings, a eunuch announced that Yan Gui Fei had arrived.
Among the concubines, only Yan Gui Fei, Xue Zhenyao, had a title, “Yan,” granted to her by the Emperor. It was said that when the Emperor first met her in the Plum Forest, her smile had so captivated him that he soon promoted her from a minor beauty to a rank of higher honor, ultimately granting her the title of Yan Gui Fei. This demonstrated the Emperor’s deep affection for her.
The woman entering was even more stunning than Shu Gui Fei, her every move exuding a soft charm. She looked around at the other concubines before stepping forward to greet the Empress.
The Empress’s attitude towards her was no different from that towards Shu Gui Fei, leaving Zhuang Luoyan unable to discern the Empress’s true feelings for the two favored concubines. However, she thought to herself that if not for Yan Gui Fei’s slightly lower birth, she might not be just a third-rank concubine now.
“How lively it is today in the Empress’s court! Is that not Zhuang sister, whom I haven’t seen for some time?” Yan Gui Fei said, her beautiful eyes resting on Zhuang Luoyan with a soft smile that hid a trace of coldness.
“Replying to my elder sister, it is indeed I,” Zhuang Luoyan rose and curtsied with a faint smile.
“I heard you were ill the other day and couldn’t visit me, but you’re looking much better now,” Yan Gui Fei smiled and looked toward Shu Gui Fei. “Sister, look at Wan Yi’s little face, it seems she has lost weight.”
“Indeed, Wan Yi seems to have lost some weight, though she is already recovering, she should still take care of herself,” Shu Gui Fei said softly with a gentle smile, her voice as soft as a spring breeze. “If you’re lacking anything, you must inform the Empress or us older sisters; do not neglect your health.”
“I thank you all, elder sisters. Nothing is lacking, and I apologize for causing you concern,” Zhuang Luoyan thought to herself as she sat back down. If these women truly regarded her as a sister, they wouldn’t keep calling her “Wan Yi” in a way that reminded her of her lower rank, urging her not to become arrogant with her sudden favor.
“It comforts me to see you all getting along so well,” the Empress said, surveying the lively group of concubines. “Earlier, Kang’an Palace sent word to exempt today’s greetings. If there is nothing else, you may all leave.”
Naturally, no concubine would dare stay after the Empress’ dismissal. As they exited Jingyang Palace, some of their true feelings began to show.
Concubines who were either straightforward or had no hope of regaining favor quietly left, while others with more complex intentions lingered.
“Zhuang Wan Yi is regaining favor. I imagine Zhuang Jie Yu must be very pleased. Am I right?” Ma Jie Yu’s voice was not loud, but clear enough for the others to hear. Everyone knew that Zhuang Jie Yu had entered the palace two years before Zhuang Wan Yi, and Zhuang Wan Yi was the legitimate daughter of the Zhuang family, while Zhuang Jie Yu was born of a concubine. Since Zhuang Wan Yi’s arrival in the palace, she had never been respectful to her sister. Now, Ma Jie Yu’s words were meant to make both sisters uncomfortable.
Zhuang Jie Yu had never expected her younger sister to rise again. Though she wished Zhuang Wan Yi would never regain favor, she knew this was a family matter and didn’t need someone like Ma Jie Yu, with a father who was only a small magistrate, to meddle. Hearing her words, Zhuang Jie Yu sneered and replied, “If my sister can make the Emperor happy, shouldn’t you, Ma Jie Yu, be pleased?”
Ma Jie Yu’s face changed, but she soon scoffed, “You two are close sisters.”
“Close sisters?” Zhuang Luoyan thought, but she knew very well that these two sisters had no real affection for each other.
Zhuang Jieyu’s expression turned somewhat unpleasant, and she no longer responded to Ma Jieyu’s words.
Zhuang Luoyan turned her head to look at Ma Jieyu, a half-smile on her face as she said, “Sister Ma, you’ve been in the palace for many years. Aren’t we all sisters who share a deep bond?!”
“You!” Ma Jieyu’s face darkened like water. Although she was no longer young and had entered the palace quite early, she was still only a fourth-rank secondary lady, a Jieyu. Compared to the delicate and charming women around her, she had already lost her youthful beauty.
“We’re speaking, so what place does a mere Wan Yi like you have to interrupt?” Ma Jieyu’s eyes turned cold. “Someone, slap her.”
“Your Highness…” The maid by Ma Jieyu’s side looked troubled and trembled in fear but dared not move.
“My sister has been improper. I hope my sister will forgive me. It was because you mentioned the deep bond between sisters that I dared to speak up. I did not know that you didn’t have such intentions.” Zhuang Luoyan bowed gracefully, watching Ma Jieyu’s expression become even more difficult, her smile not increasing nor decreasing.
“It’s been some time since we last met, and it seems Zhuang Wan Yi’s tongue has grown sharper,” Jiang Xianpin, watching the scene from afar, whispered to Wang Pin beside her. “I wonder if her methods have improved.”
Wang Pin glanced at Ma Jieyu’s uncomfortable expression. “I don’t know if Zhuang Wan Yi’s methods have improved, but Ma Jieyu has been in the palace for quite a while, and her wits seem to have dulled.”
The three of them entered the palace on the same day. Jiang Xianpin was somewhat of a fourth-rank, while she too had started as a fourth-rank, but Ma Jieyu was just a secondary fourth-rank. Remembering the days when Ma Jieyu enjoyed the Emperor’s favor three years ago, a sarcastic smile tugged at the corner of her mouth.
Ma Jieyu could not let her servant slap Zhuang Luoyan, not only because they were outside Jingyang Palace but because, even in another place, a Jieyu allowing her servant to slap a recently favored Wan Yi would be seen as envious and malicious, ultimately inviting trouble upon herself.
Though somewhat foolish, Ma Jieyu wasn’t entirely without intelligence. She quickly regained her composure, shooting Zhuang Luoyan a cold, venomous glance before turning and leaving with her maid.
After a few moments, the other concubines, who had been watching the drama, gradually dispersed, leaving only Zhuang Jieyu and Zhuang Luoyan.
“When my sister was ill, I missed you dearly,” Zhuang Luoyan said with a fake smile, looking at Zhuang Jieyu. The original body’s actions had displeased the Empress, and Zhuang Jieyu had likely played a role in it.
Zhuang Jieyu met Zhuang Luoyan’s gaze. Those eyes were beautiful, beautiful enough to irritate her. With a sneer, she leaned on the maid Xieyu’s arm and coldly retorted, “Why should I bother?” She had entered the palace two years earlier than her younger sister, and because of her lower status, she had endured these years only to remain a mere Jieyu. Meanwhile, her spoiled younger sister, with her status as a legitimate daughter, entered the palace and was promoted to a fifth-rank Gui Ji. After gaining favor, she was promoted to a fourth-rank Wan Yi. Yet she was still only a secondary fourth-rank Jieyu.
Whether bitterness or hatred, Zhuang Jieyu could not stand to see her sister rise, and she wished nothing more than for Zhuang Luoyan to fall out of favor and disappear quietly from the palace. But Zhuang Luoyan had lost favor before, and yet, in the blink of an eye, she regained the Emperor’s affection. Even the Empress’s attitude toward her had shifted. Was it because she was more beautiful? Was it because she was a legitimate daughter?
Zhuang Luoyan saw the hatred in Zhuang Jieyu’s eyes, lowered her gaze, and extended her hand for Xieyu to support. “My sister is a little tired today. I’ll leave first.”
As Zhuang Luoyan and her attendants left, Zhuang Jieyu muttered darkly, “What news from Taoyu Pavilion?”
“Your Highness, I’ve heard…” Xieyu whispered, “This morning, Chief Eunuch Gao Dezong personally went to the palace to select six servants for Taoyu Pavilion. It’s said that the Emperor is worried that there aren’t enough servants in Taoyu Pavilion and that Lady Zhuang Wan Yi might be wronged.”
“Wronged?!” Zhuang Jieyu sneered. “Which Wan Yi isn’t surrounded by servants? Why is she the only one who’s wronged?” After saying this, she suddenly realized it was inappropriate, and she forced back her dissatisfaction, turning to head back to her residence.
“Your Highness, Miss Zhuang…”
“Xieyu, she is not Miss Zhuang. She is Zhuang Jieyu. Don’t forget,” Zhuang Luoyan lightly smiled. There were no sisters in the harem.
“Your Majesty, will you be turning the card today?” Gao Dezong led the eunuchs into the room and saw the Emperor was focused on reviewing memorials, so he lowered his voice.
Feng Jin paused his red brush and glanced at the tray with the cards, reaching for a jade card, inscribed with “Anqing Palace, Noble Consort Su Shi Ruizi.” His finger had just touched the cold jade when he suddenly stopped, flipping over a wooden card instead.
Gao Dezong glanced at the card, then saw the Emperor again engrossed in the memorials and led the eunuchs out.
“By order of the Emperor, Taoyu Pavilion will light the lanterns tonight.”
Lucien On ABRWF Chapter 34.1