Chapter 20: Rest Well and Recover
The Beauty Rong in Qiushui Pavilion had indeed vomited blood. The Imperial Physician was summoned, and the diagnosis concluded only that it was due to yin deficiency with internal heat and stagnation of liver qi.
When Chu Mingheng arrived, Qiushui Pavilion was still quite lively.
After Beauty Rong’s incident, Jia Pin from the main hall of Changying Palace had also come to check on her and was speaking with her.
Upon hearing the announcement from the palace maids, both women stopped their conversation and simultaneously turned their gaze toward the entrance.
Jia Pin was the first to bow to Chu Mingheng as he entered the hall. However, whether due to illness and lack of strength or inconvenience on the bed, Beauty Rong only hurriedly threw off the covers and knelt on the floor when she saw the Emperor enter the hall.
“Rise, all of you.” Chu Mingheng sat to the side, casually waving his hand and signaling the palace maids to help the person on the floor up.
Beauty Rong’s complexion was truly unwell. Assisted back to sit on the bed, her face still appeared pale.
She spoke softly to Chu Mingheng, “Your Majesty, the Imperial Physician said this concubine merely has excessive liver fire. This concubine originally forbade the palace maids from reporting it to Your Majesty, especially since there is another sister currently in Your Majesty’s palace…”
As she spoke, she lowered her eyes to the ground, pausing meekly. Seeing that Chu Mingheng showed no intention of interrupting, she took a slightly heavier breath and continued, “But when the palace maids saw this concubine vomit blood, they panicked and reported it to Your Majesty. This concubine will discipline them properly afterward and begs Your Majesty’s forgiveness.”
Chu Mingheng did not say the palace maids were at fault. Instead, his dark eyes swept over her face. The bright candlelight in the hall clearly illuminated the indifference and composure on his features.
After a moment, he spoke slowly, “You often practice calligraphy to calm your mind. How did you develop excessive liver fire today?”
Beauty Rong had not expected words of concern but rather this kind of questioning. She swallowed and could not help but rein in her thoughts, replying respectfully, “It must have been from drinking too much wine at noon, which is why…”
“That’s not it! It was clearly Lady Shufei who—”
Before Beauty Rong could finish, a young palace maid beside her spoke up indignantly on her behalf.
“Silence!” Beauty Rong quickly hushed her.
“Oh?” Chu Mingheng shifted his gaze to the young palace maid. “You speak. What did Lady Shufei do?”
Frightened by Beauty Rong’s tone, the young palace maid trembled and knelt, momentarily unable to speak.
“Your Majesty, the people in this concubine’s palace lack discipline. This concubine will definitely…”
“I did not ask you to speak.” Chu Mingheng coldly interrupted her.
Beauty Rong could not help but clench her sleeves and also lowered her head, kneeling on the floor.
The young palace maid knew she had caused trouble but had no choice but to speak. With an ashen face, she softly uttered, “Replying to Your Majesty… in the afternoon… Lady Shufei, in front of all the imperial concubines, said… said that the Beauty seduced Your Majesty. The Beauty was humiliated, which is why… This servant only wanted to defend the Beauty a little. Your Majesty, forgive this servant—Your Majesty, forgive this servant—”
After speaking, she kowtowed repeatedly.
Jia Pin stood to the side without speaking, quickly glancing at the Emperor’s expression before immediately withdrawing her gaze.
A cold glint gradually rose in Chu Mingheng’s eyes, directed at Beauty Rong. He said nonchalantly, “I granted Lady Shufei the authority to assist in managing the six palaces. Are you implying that Lady Shufei is at fault, meaning I gave it to the wrong person and should have given it to your mistress instead?”
These words were like sharp blades hidden within a vast snowfall, striking until one was left utterly exposed.
Beauty Rong hurriedly expressed her deference, saying that Lady Shufei’s words naturally held reason.
“It was this concubine who erred, this concubine failed to properly instruct the palace maid. Your Majesty, please punish this concubine—”
At this moment, Chu Mingheng once again ordered her to rise: “You are still unwell. Why would I punish you? Since you are ill, focus on recuperating from now on.”
“As for this palace maid,” Chu Mingheng did not spare her another glance, “administer thirty strokes of the rod and send her to the Huanyi Bureau.”
Beauty Rong could not help but feel a pang of fear. She lifted her head, her eyes filled with dread, lips trembling, and could only kowtow to accept the decree and express gratitude.
Jia Pin slightly lowered her head at this moment, her eyes shifting thoughtfully, finding the situation somewhat amusing. Yet when she raised her head again, her face was full of concern as she said, “Your Majesty, Sister Rong’s constitution is weak. This concubine will surely take good care of her.”
Chu Mingheng glanced at her, rose from his seat, and said, “Return to the palace.”
Watching the emperor’s figure disappear beyond the palace doors, Jia Pin calmly stood up, looking down at the sickly Beauty Rong. She reached out and lifted Rong’s delicate, flower-like face, softly speaking to awaken her:
“Do not think that just because His Majesty treats you somewhat specially, you are truly that special person. There are many in this palace more beautiful than you. His Majesty’s fondness for you is merely a passing novelty. Now that there are beauties more captivating and amusing than you, what are you?”
“And you dare to speak ill of Consort Shu? Do you think she reached her position by any means other than being more favored by His Majesty than you?”
“Think carefully.”
Having said this, Jia Pin pushed Beauty Rong’s face aside, instructed the palace maids to take good care of her, and then returned to her own palace.
Inside Changying Hall, palace maid Qingrong presented Jia Pin with hot tea.
“You have something to say?” Seeming to notice Qingrong’s hesitation, Jia Pin accepted the tea and urged her to speak.
Qingrong glanced outside the hall doors and asked in confusion, “Why did Your Ladyship advise Beauty Rong? That Beauty Rong acts aloof all day and is not particularly respectful toward you. Why help her?”
Jia Pin’s fingers traced the warm surface of the cup as she smiled. “She is an intelligent person, but since entering the palace, she has never experienced His Majesty’s coldness and is too eager for success. In this palace, aside from the late Noble Consort Liang who gave birth to the eldest princess, although other imperial concubines have also been pregnant, none have successfully delivered. With new consorts entering the rear palace, many are anxious.”
“Previously, she showed me little respect, but after this, she should understand that relying on herself alone is not enough to survive in this palace.”
“Tell me, if she becomes pregnant, should I help her?”
Qingrong pondered thoughtfully. “Does Your Ladyship intend to raise Beauty Rong’s child under your own care?”
“That is hard to say. It remains to be seen how far she can go.” Jia Pin took a sip of tea and said leisurely, “I only hope she does not disappoint me.”
“But that dancer… Your Ladyship, should we investigate the situation?”
“There is no need to concern ourselves with that. It is not I who opposes her.”
In fact, she held higher hopes for that dancer named Lan Wu. Her figure and appearance were such that even as a woman, Jia Pin felt envy. As long as she was clever and pleasing, she would surely gain the emperor’s favor.
However, His Majesty had always been cold and indifferent. It was uncertain how long such favor would last.
“Let us wait for tomorrow’s imperial decree and see what rank she will receive.”
A dancer’s status is rather low; in the end, she is merely a servant.
Jia Pin estimated that Lan Wu would at most be granted the title of Beauty, as the highest rank among the imperial concubines selected this time was Jieyu. Even the highly favored Beauty Rong remained a Beauty to this day. If Your Majesty truly conferred the title of Beauty upon Lan Wu, it would surely make Beauty Rong the laughingstock of the entire palace.