Chapter 11: He Has an Old Man’s Smell

There was no hope in relying on Nian Shilan. The Empress said, “Although the Emperor values the Han Army Banner, the Manchu-Mongol marriage alliance is an old custom. Having two Noble Ladies from the Han Army Banner—wouldn’t that be too conspicuous?”

[What’s so conspicuous about it? He’s the Emperor—what’s wrong with doting on the women he likes?]

[If I were the Emperor and had someone I liked, I’d immediately make her a consort or even Empress. What’s so conspicuous about granting a mere Noble Lady?]

A tree that stands out in the forest will be felled by the wind. Wouldn’t it be better to let Zhen Huan be that conspicuous one?

Nian Shilan shook her head. [The Empress is just petty. Why not let them love each other? Let them love passionately, love to the point of earth-shattering devotion. In the end, anyway…]

The Emperor and Empress waited quietly for her to continue. Nian Shilan’s eyes drifted to the oranges on the table.

[I wonder if the oranges in the Empress’s palace are sweet. I have pomelos in my palace—very sweet and delicious. Seeing them annoys me. I don’t want to stay here; I want to return to my palace and eat pomelos.]

What a roundabout way of saying it.

The Emperor and Empress: “…”

“For those from the Han Army Banner, their entry into the palace should not be too high-ranking. Let’s grant Zhen the position of Attendant, sixth rank.”

The Emperor had considered granting her the rank of Promise, but Zhen Yuandao’s official position was a factor. If her rank were too low, it would be difficult to handle others appropriately.

The court and the inner palace are interconnected. Even if one dislikes it, sometimes one must endure patiently.

Even an Emperor has no choice. In his previous life, he must have been utterly helpless, allowing the Empress to order Shilan’s execution.

The Emperor thought that if Shilan could understand these words, perhaps she wouldn’t resent him so much, or at least her resentment would lessen.

Nian Shilan lowered her head, playing with her handkerchief, her inner thoughts following the Emperor’s words: “Although she’s only an Attendant, I still want to grant her a Title of nobility.”

This fool! How did she speak her inner thoughts aloud? And “I, the Emperor”! Had she grown tired of living?

The Empress was so startled she lost control, instantly looking at the Emperor.

The Emperor hadn’t intended to say this. Considering the Empress’s longstanding animosity toward Shilan and the fact that the Empress had ordered Shilan’s execution in his previous life, he feared the Empress would seize upon this slip and not let it go.

So, he fiddled with the jade Buddhist beads in his hand, pretending nonchalance, and spoke simultaneously.

The Empress also breathed a sigh of relief: Fortunately, the Emperor was thinking of Zhen Huan and hadn’t paid close attention.

“If Your Majesty intends to, then let the Imperial Household Department draft a Title of nobility for review,” the Empress said.

[No need. I’ve already decided.]

The Emperor didn’t even know he had decided.

“You come.”

Nian Shilan, finding her handkerchief no longer amusing, looked up at the Empress. [The Emperor is calling you. Sitting there motionless, stretch out your hand! He’s about to tell you what character it is.]

The Empress looked at her.

The Emperor also looked at her, suppressing a laugh, deliberately frowning and repeating, “You come.”

“Me?” What does this have to do with me again?

[I haven’t said anything tonight. Why keep dragging me into this? Is this never going to end?]

The Emperor shook his Buddhist beads. “You tell me, what Title of nobility should be granted?”

[Me, tell you? Don’t you always say I haven’t read much? Why ask me now?]

[Me, say? I say just grant her Chunyuan and be done with it—save the trouble.]

“Wan.”

Nian Shilan couldn’t be bothered to think too hard.

The Emperor frowned. “Wan?”

The Empress looked at Nian Shilan: Knowing she hasn’t read much, but her tongue is quick. The Emperor didn’t say the character “Wan,” yet she knows how to cater to his preferences, jumping ahead. Could she use her brain a little?

Nian Shilan wrote a character on her left palm with her right hand. Not wanting to waste words, she said with utmost frankness:

“Wan with the grass radical.”

Indeed, she is one who dislikes reading. Even the Palace Maid Candidates know the phrase “Graceful and slender as a waist in the Chu palace,” but she, the dignified Consort Hua, could have simply said “a gentle smile” and it wouldn’t have been so bad.

A smile with a grass radical?

Why didn’t she say there’s also the character for “finished” beneath the grass radical?

The Empress noticed the slight smile at the corner of the Emperor’s lips. It seemed Consort Hua’s use of the character “smile” had struck a chord with him, leaving no room for reversal. She couldn’t help but shoot a reproachful glance at Nian Shilan.

“It’s getting late.”

The Emperor stood up and once again took Nian Shilan’s hand. “Let’s go back.”

[Go back? Where does he plan to go? You return to your Hall of Mental Cultivation, and I’ll return to my Yikun Palace! Don’t you dare publicly make an enemy for me!]

Nian Shilan tried to withdraw her hand, speaking virtuously, “Your Majesty rarely visits the rear palace. Why not stay and accompany the Empress tonight?”

[Empress! Empress! Can’t you show some spirit? Usually, when the Emperor drinks three bowls of duck soup, you find some excuse to send him away. Why are you silent now?]

[Hurry and call your brother-in-law back!]

Hearing the term “brother-in-law,” the Emperor tightened his grip even more.

Without hesitation, the Empress knelt down. “I respectfully bid farewell to Your Majesty.”

[Still bidding farewell? Useless daughter of a concubine, you’re truly beyond help.]

Daughter of a concubine!

The Empress: “…”

“Your Majesty.” Jian Qiu helped the Empress up. “She never seemed particularly respectful before, yet she shows up precisely when the Emperor is here—such a seductive temptress! And the Emperor too, having come to Jingren Palace, still left with her.”

“Hasn’t it always been this way? What does it matter?”

The Empress watched the Emperor’s silhouette against the window. She used to think he was perfect in every way, having given her heart and soul to him, even sacrificing her chance for children. And what was the result?

Never to meet again, in life or death.

As for the unfinished half of Consort Hua’s sentence, the Emperor probably intended to take my life, didn’t he? It was the Empress Dowager’s final decree that saved me.

The Empress turned and looked at the spot where the Emperor had been sitting. Jian Qiu grew even more distressed. “Your Majesty…”

“That cushion…” the Empress frowned. “Have it washed tomorrow.”

Getting onto the kang without removing his shoes, just ruining things for no reason.

No wonder Consort Hua complains he smells like an old man. He’s not even that old yet, but already so slovenly. If he weren’t the Emperor, who would give him a second glance?

“Let it sun for a couple of days.” To dispel the bad luck.

The Empress dusted herself off with a handkerchief, then lifted her hand to smell herself: Consort Hua always says I’m getting old. Do I smell like an old woman?

“Jian Qiu, go to the Imperial Household Department tomorrow and fetch some incense.” The fragrance of fruits is pleasant but doesn’t last long.

Jian Qiu was shocked. “Your Majesty wishes to use incense? But you said…”

It wasn’t that the Empress disliked incense; it was just that, having often deprived others of children, she naturally feared the same fate.

But now she was no longer afraid.

In the past, to conceive the Eldest Prince, she had used potent medicines that damaged her foundation. Now, at her age, she could no longer bear children, and she didn’t know what fate awaited her. Rather than living in constant fear, she might as well make herself fragrant.

That way, she wouldn’t have to worry about developing an odor and having Consort Hua avoid her like she avoids the Emperor, leaving her unable to hear anything.

After the positions of the new palace entrants were decided, the Imperial Household Department assigned teaching matrons to each residence. Once the Empress had arranged their accommodations, Huang Guiquan brought the register for Nian Shilan to review.