Chapter 199

Chapter 199 According to protocol, after Xie Run had her pick of these fabrics, they were supposed to be sent to the courtyards of the Side Consorts and Concubine Consorts for their selections first. Only after those women had chosen would it be Concubine Lu's turn to pick through what remained. Now, following beside Xie Run, she actually had such good fortune—being able to choose before the Side Consorts and Concubine Consorts. With these fabrics, the difference between choosing first and choosing last was enormous. Concubine Lu knew that Eunuch Shian was doing this to curry favor with Consort Xie. She instinctively looked toward Xie Run. Xie Run gave a slight nod. "Pick two pieces to have made into clothes. Wearing them will make you look more spirited." "But since the eunuchs didn't make a special trip here, you can't skimp on the gratuity." Concubine Lu was flattered and flustered, nodding hastily. "Of course, of course." "Cuiniao..." Xie Run laughed. "Look how happy you are. You haven't even picked your fabric yet, and you're already celebrating." After a few teasing remarks, Xie Run shot Dantao a look. Dantao pulled two rather weighty sachets from her sleeve and had the young maidservant fetch silver, then pressed them one by one into the hands of those who had delivered the goods. Xie Run led Concubine Lu to select fabrics. There were many types of materials, mostly furs, but subdivided into those for making robes, jackets, and cloaks. Xie Run's eye landed on a pure white fox fur—it felt exceptionally soft to the touch. She even leaned in to sniff it. "This fur has been processed beautifully. Not a trace of odor." In the past, even the best deliveries always carried that peculiar smell of animal hide, which Xie Run had never particularly liked. Eunuch Shian chuckled. "Indeed. This was originally tribute from the north. His Majesty was in high spirits today and threw open the storehouses, granting a batch to both the Prince and Prince An." Xie Run asked curiously, "His Majesty is in high spirits today—has something momentous happened?" Eunuch Shian replied, "His Majesty has taken a fancy to a new palace maid and directly conferred upon her the rank of Lady of Beauty. He dotes on her greatly. Judging by the look of things... she may well be the next Noble Consort Chen." Xie Run was taken aback. She had been wondering—the New Year was already over, so why were such fine fabrics still being bestowed? So the Emperor was being unpredictable again. At his age, he'd taken a new palace maid as a favorite. His constitution was truly something. Concubine Lu had already sighed in admiration. "For a palace maid to be promoted across ranks to Lady of Beauty—that is fortune beyond measure." By the rules, a palace maid who served the Emperor's bed was usually conferred the rank of Lady-in-waiting or Yünü. Even the most favored would top out at Baolin. But His Majesty had skipped straight past Lady-in-waiting, Yünü, Baolin, and Cairen, conferring upon the newcomer the rank of Lady of Beauty. Four ranks skipped in one leap. Given the Emperor's temperament and this manner of conferral, it would indeed be just as Eunuch Shian had said. This was the next Noble Consort Chen. While Concubine Lu was selecting her fabrics, Xie Run asked Eunuch Shian in a low voice, "How is the Prince's mood?" With his own father handling matters so irresponsibly, Prince Jing surely couldn't be in good spirits. Eunuch Shian lowered his eyelids and gave a slight shake of his head. Xie Run understood. Prince Jing was indeed displeased with the Emperor. Xie Run felt that Prince Jing was like a young man experiencing a belated adolescence. In the past, his father's authority had suppressed him, so he played the filial son and obeyed completely. As he gradually grew stronger and his father grew weaker, he began to find fault with his father at every turn—as if trying to reclaim all the oppression and grievances he'd suffered during his own "adolescence." Now, whenever Prince Jing looked at his own father, he found him displeasing no matter what. Xie Run thought it over and decided not to go provoke Prince Jing's bad mood. After selecting the fabrics from her own allotment, Xie Run had someone invite Eunuch Shian for tea and wrapped up a generous red envelope. "This is a New Year's red envelope, to share in the festive luck." "This is the eunuchs' first visit to my courtyard this year. If you didn't even receive a red envelope, people would surely say I'm stingy." Eunuch Shian said with exaggerated flair, "Who would dare say Consort Xie is stingy?" "Among all the maidservants and matrons in the entire Prince's residence, they love receiving Consort Xie's rewards the most. They all say Consort Xie is generous in her giving and easygoing in person." "If this servant hadn't been watching today, those lads carrying the chests would have doubled their numbers—every one of them trying to seize the chance to come collect rewards from you, mistress." After all, he was someone who served Prince Jing—he was certainly silver-tongued. Xie Run was thoroughly amused by Eunuch Shian's flattery. In truth, the most generous spender in Prince Jing's residence was Fang Yuan'er. But Fang Yuan'er had a bad temper. The servants took her rewards happily, yet they served her in constant fear and trembling. Sometimes when she was in a foul mood, they might do the work and receive no reward at all. This had also led to Fang Yuan'er having a very poor reputation among the residence's servants—only slightly better than Jiang Baobao's. Just then, Taotao's "ah ah" cries sounded from the room. Eunuch Shian remarked, "Hear our Fifth Young Master's voice—so full of vigor." "Last time, the Prince complained to this servant that the Fifth Young Master had kicked him. This servant's heart ached to hear it and was just about to console the Prince, when the Prince himself began gleefully boasting that the Fifth Young Master was strong and healthy, and would surely grow up accomplished in both letters and martial arts." Xie Run couldn't help but laugh. Dantao came out looking helpless. "The Fifth Young Master can't stay put in his room. He insists on going outside to play." Eunuch Shian said in surprise, "In such cold weather, how can the Fifth Young Master go outside?" "Children can't be cooped up. Dress him warmly and let him roam outside a bit—that's fine too. We can't raise him to be too delicate." Xie Run smiled. "Though, I can't carry him anymore." Although Taotao was only eight months old, Dantao and Xiaoshu wrapped him in layer after layer every time they took him out, making him look like a big ball. Xie Run, with her slender arms and legs, could not carry him at all. She thought for a moment, then said to Eunuch Shian, "I'll trouble you to pass a message to the Prince for me." "Just say that Fifth Young Master wants him to take him out to play, but I can't hold him, so I'm waiting for the Prince to come and take him out." Eunuch Shian was somewhat at a loss. In this household, who didn't treat their children like precious treasures, the apple of their eye, wishing they could hold them in their palms all day long? If the weather was even slightly cold or hot, they wouldn't be allowed outside. Before the New Year, Princess Ruyi had even sulked with Concubine Fang because she wouldn't let her go out to play in the snow. And now Mistress Xie actually dared to let the eight-month-old Fifth Young Master go outside?! She really was bold. Eunuch Shian said, "This servant will be sure to relay the message to the Prince." After Eunuch Shian left, Xie Run saw that the snow seemed to be getting heavier and quickly said to Concubine Lu, "I think the snow is getting heavier. Soon the paths will be covered, so you should head back first." Concubine Lu had the same concern and quickly nodded. "That's what I was thinking too." "Falling on the ice would hurt terribly." Xie Run couldn't help but smile. "I'll have Xiaoshu and Fangcheng escort you back together." Afraid that Concubine Lu might be cold, Xie Run also let her take a hand warmer with her. Concubine Lu joked about herself, "I came empty-handed, but I'm leaving loaded with bundles. Anyone would think I came to mooch off you." "Who mooches and takes only their own things?" Xie Run teased her. "With talk like that, I should stuff a few more hand warmers into your arms, so at least you'll leave fully loaded." Concubine Lu and the other maids all laughed. Xie Run found Concubine Lu quite an interesting person. She had a thick skin that could take anything, yet occasionally showed a bit of backbone and principles. Although she came from a humble background, she could take a joke without being overly sensitive or insecure, and she had a knack for gathering gossip. That was also why Xie Run was willing to keep associating with her. The Prince's rear courtyard was only so big, and she would be living here for the rest of her life. She needed people to talk to. After seeing off Concubine Lu, she turned around and heard Yueya'er say enthusiastically, "This fabric is smooth and thick—it would make a great cloak!" "Mistress is always saying she wants to go to Half-Mountain Pavilion to enjoy the snow. With this on, she'll look like someone out of a painting." Zihu also said softly, "This one would be perfect for a hooded cape. It looks so warm." Seeing Xie Run approach, they all smiled and asked for her opinion. Xie Run smiled and said, "I'm fine with anything. It all depends on your craftsmanship."