Chapter 79

Chapter 79: Incident at the Thousand Carp Pond "Very well~" Nian Shilan said. Sun Miaoqing hadn't expected Consort Hua to be so agreeable. She must truly be tired, right? "Thank..." "Songzhi, remember to remind This Consort tomorrow when the Emperor comes. This Consort is not up to the task and cannot teach Changzai Gong. From now on, Changzai Gong need not come to Yikun Palace to learn about assisting in managing the Six Palaces affairs." How could this woman be like this? Back when she used to lead her team, she would only temporarily reject their proposals, make them work overnight to prepare new ones, and then let them off. How come now, even though she had prepared two copies in advance and been so considerate, instead of letting her go, she was given even more punishment? Sun Miaoqing felt indignant, but she dared not let Nian Shilan relay those words to the Emperor. She quickly knelt down. "Your Highness misunderstands, this concubine did not mean that." Songzhi took out another account book. "Since Changzai Gong does not mean that, then hurry and go copy it." Sun Miaoqing took the account book from Songzhi's hand and looked up to see a thick stack still on the shelf. Was this meant to make her copy herself to death here? Nian Shilan watched Sun Miaoqing's retreating figure, a smirk tugging at her lips. "Songzhi, the candles in the hall are too bright. Go extinguish two more lamps." [So what if you're reborn? So what if you know what happens next?] [Once you fall into This Consort's hands, you still can't escape even if you want to?] [Want to become Empress Dowager? Hmph, This Consort thinks your skin is too thick!] [To compete with This Consort, you're still too green.] Sun Miaoqing hated copying and grew to hate Consort Hua even more, grinding her back teeth until they creaked: When the Nian Family falls in the future, she would definitely go to the Cold Palace and, right in front of Nian Shilan, reveal the whole truth! She wanted to personally watch this venomous woman dash her head against a wall right before her eyes! In Changchun Palace. Xiao Xiazi went to deliver the news that the Emperor would be coming. Consort Qi, who hadn't seen the Emperor visit for over half a year, was overjoyed. When she stood up, she lost her balance for a moment and nearly fell. She immediately ordered someone to fetch the Third Prince but was stopped by Xiao Xiazi. Then she hurriedly had her maid do her makeup. Remembering Consort Hua had said she looked old in pink, she stubbornly refused to believe it. She still changed into that set of pink palace attire. When the Emperor arrived, she offered ginseng soup one moment, chrysanthemum tea the next, showing all sorts of enthusiasm, yet she was still disliked by the Emperor. The Emperor listened to Consort Qi's same old talk—one moment about how the Third Prince had grown taller, the next about how the eldest son was diligent—and found it annoying. "Do you have no other words to teach your son?" Then, looking at her pink clothes, he said, "This outfit of yours doesn't look good. Don't wear it in the future." "Your subject consort remembers that Your Majesty liked it best when your subject consort wore pink." Consort Qi hadn't expected Consort Hua's words to actually come true. She silently prayed in her heart: Don't say pink is delicate, don't mention lake blue or emerald green. The Emperor said bluntly, "Pink is delicate. How old are you now?" "Is Your Majesty saying your subject consort is old?" "This Emperor is speaking the truth. You would suit your status much better in lake blue or emerald green than you do now." Exactly the same! It was exactly the same! Consort Qi had a bit of recklessness in her. She said bluntly, "Did Consort Hua tell Your Majesty this?" The Emperor frowned. "What does this have to do with Consort Hua?" "Consort Hua said exactly that to your subject consort's face." ...Consort Hua's mouth. As fellow Imperial consorts, she truly dares to say anything and really isn't afraid of making enemies. The Emperor couldn't possibly speak of Consort Hua in front of Consort Qi. "In matters of dress and appearance, she does indeed have more insight than you." Consort Qi was displeased. The Emperor set down the book in his hand and stood up. "You should rest early." "Your Majesty, where are you going?" "I am returning to the Hall of Mental Cultivation." As the imperial sedan carried the Emperor out of Changchun Palace, Su Peisheng felt uncertain: The Emperor seemed merely unwilling to spend more time with Consort Qi, not truly intending to return to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, yet he had not explicitly said so. Consort Hua was consistently favored, Changzai Gong had enjoyed exclusive favor for several days, and Wan Chang Zai could also be considered a newly favored concubine. If it were a choice among three, asking the Emperor where to go or which to visit, even if the two mentioned were not the answer, the remaining one would become the choice. But with four options, excluding the obvious ones, there were still two left. How should he phrase the question to get the answer directly? Xiao Xiazi seemed to grasp his master's dilemma and whispered, "Today, Consort Hua was instructing Noble Lady Shen and Changzai Gong on matters of the Six Palaces. However, Wan Chang Zai's Green Head Plaque has been returned." Su Peisheng now had an idea and asked, "Your Majesty, shall we return to the Hall of Mental Cultivation or go to Suiyu Pavilion?" The Emperor recalled Consort Qi mentioning Consort Hua. Shilan, though sharp-tongued, often shared his views. Whether it was today's attire or her understanding of Chunyuan, she knew him well. "I am... somewhat hungry." When it came to food in the palace, Yikun Palace was the best. Su Peisheng understood but felt obliged to remind him, "The pastries from Consort Hua's small kitchen are the finest in the entire palace. Today, Noble Lady Shen and Changzai Gong are also there. The Consort is always generous, so she likely prepared many." Those two were also newly favored. The Emperor did not want to navigate among three women. "Let's go to Suiyu Pavilion." Su Peisheng announced loudly, "Set course for Suiyu Pavilion—" In Suiyu Pavilion, Zhen Huan heard that the Emperor had gone to Changchun Palace and felt relieved to have avoided another encounter, her heart light with joy. Yesterday, while accompanying Consort Hua for a stroll in the Imperial Garden, she had mentioned that the Emperor would come to Suiyu Pavilion tonight and that she would play Xiangfei's Lament. On such a happy occasion, who would want to play such an inauspicious tune? And call him "Fourth Brother"? Wasn't that how Empress Chunyuan addressed him? Hmph, she refused to call him that. Zhen Huan had no desire to play Xiangfei's Lament and instead thought of Moon over the West River: "Singing and dancing on my own, carefree and unconstrained, without hindrance." Her fingers flowed with cheerful rhythms. "It seems... the young mistress is quite happy that the Emperor isn't coming." Fangruo noticed the unusual tone of the zither and felt her mistress shouldn't be so cheerful, so she left her sentence unfinished. Who would want to serve the Emperor on behalf of your departed mistress? Zhen Huan, wary of Fangruo, tried to sound sorrowful. "One must always live on, and life must go on." Fangruo nodded, finding this reasonable. "You have stirred my heart with your playing." The Emperor's voice suddenly reached her ears, and Zhen Huan abruptly opened her eyes. "Your Majesty, why have you come?" She quickly rose from her seat to bow. "May Your Majesty enjoy boundless fortune and peace." "Pining away for someone, I have finally tasted the bitterness today." How hypocritical. Holding Sun Miaoqing in his arms, thinking of Empress Chunyuan for seven days, yet expecting her to accept this sentiment. Zhen Huan stood up. "This concubine heard that Your Majesty visited Consort Qi today?" "It has been a while since I last saw her, so I went to check on her. I originally planned to return to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, but seeing the beautiful moonlight tonight, I thought I'd come see what you were doing." How difficult it must have been for you to detour here in the middle of the night, deliberately making an enemy of Consort Qi on my behalf. "Such beautiful music. Fortunately, I did not miss it." I should have trusted Consort Hua! Why did I have to play the zither for no reason? Zhen Huan felt like slapping her own hand twice, but after all, he was the Emperor, and she could not afford to offend him. Lowering her gaze with a coy and shy expression, her eyes sparkling, she said, "Your Majesty speaks in such a way that this concubine feels utterly ashamed. If Your Majesty enjoys it, this concubine will play another piece for you." Every extra moment spent out of bed meant one less moment to be held in bed. "What is your given name, Zhen Huan? And what is your courtesy name?" the Emperor asked. Sitting before the zither, Zhen Huan recalled how Consort Hua had rehearsed the evening's scenario with her in the Imperial Garden just yesterday. Her ladyship had said her own courtesy name was Iron Hammer. Though it was a jest from her ladyship, it was still better than any other name she could think of. Had it been any other two characters, Zhen Huan would have gladly followed Consort Hua's suggestion, but "Iron Hammer" was simply too inelegant. She replied: "Your subject consort has no courtesy name." "Then shall I call you Huanhuan from now on?" "Huanhuan..." At least it was better than Wanwan. As the piece concluded, Zhen Huan attended to the Emperor as he washed and changed, preparing to retire for the night when Xiao Xiazi hurried in to report that something had happened at the Thousand Carp Pond.