Chapter 344

Chapter 344 Nanny Li also complained along: "The Emperor has always been good to Consort Zhaode." "Who knows what tricks Consort Zhaode has up her sleeve, keeping the Emperor treating her like a precious treasure. She's not much worse off than Noble Consort Chen was back then." The Empress instantly lost the desire to speak. "Nanny, my mouth tastes bitter. Find me a plate of candied fruit that isn't too sweet." Hearing that the Empress was unwell, Nanny Li's expression changed instantly, her face full of concern: "This servant will go find some at once!" Xie Run sat in her palace, and joy fell from the heavens. Her headdress had been smashed without warning, and then she suddenly received the authority of Management of the Six Palaces. Even when she learned the full truth, she was still somewhat dazed. Xie Run: "This... should be a good thing, right?" "Of course it's a good thing!" Dantao said with a smile: "You, my lady, have received the authority of Management of the Six Palaces. You don't necessarily have to manage anyone, but at least you have the prestige of the title." "Even Consort Li and Consort Wen cannot rely on their authority of Management of the Six Palaces to show you disrespect." Xiaoshu also nodded: "Although they haven't done such a thing, having the title can also eliminate the possibility of them doing so." Those of lower rank cannot show disrespect to those of higher rank, but if someone of lower rank has a legitimate excuse to manage those of higher rank, then even if they occasionally show disrespect once or twice, the higher rank must swallow their anger and endure it. Xie Run only leaned back in her chair and sighed twice: "The title is good, but it's also tiring." "Your lady here probably won't have any free time in the future." Dantao said softly: "Not having free time also has its benefits." Xiaoshu nodded repeatedly. The people of Zhaohua Palace only cared about the newly obtained authority of Management of the Six Palaces; no one paid any attention to the damaged headdress. Xie Run had been favored for quite a long time after all—she had plenty of headdresses and jewelry. Losing one set didn't affect her in the slightest. That headdress was said to have been prepared by Xie Run for the Empress's birthday banquet, but in truth, it was just something the Imperial Household Department had sent up for Xie Run's consideration. The Imperial Household Department would prepare at least three sets of the same jewelry for Xie Run to choose from. Speaking of which, Wu Baolin was just unlucky. Of all the things she could have smashed, she had to smash Xie Run's belongings. At noon, Xie Run had nothing to do, so she went to Fengyi Palace to express her gratitude to the Empress. She couldn't have obtained the authority of Management of the Six Palaces without the Empress's support from behind. She had just sat down in Fengyi Palace when she saw a young palace maid enter, seemingly to deliver a message. The young palace maid hesitated as if she wanted to speak but held back. The Empress asked calmly: "If you have something to say, just say it." The young palace maid said cautiously: "Reporting to the Empress, Noble Lady Ye has hanged herself." The Empress raised an eyebrow: "Oh? Did she die?" "No, she was discovered by those around her and saved." The young palace maid said softly: "I heard Noble Lady Ye has been shouting that Wu Baolin deliberately provoked her, and rather than endure such humiliation, she might as well die." The Empress's brows sank, and the light in her eyes dimmed several shades. Her gaze shifted and landed on Xie Run: "Consort Zhaode, how do you think this matter should be handled?" Xie Run sighed inwardly, knowing she couldn't escape this. Since she sat in this position, she couldn't very well keep playing dumb. Xie Run asked softly: "According to palace rules, what crime is it for an imperial concubine to attempt suicide?" Nanny Xu slowly stepped forward and said in a low voice: "By precedent, she should be deposed and sent to the Cold Palace, with her three clans punished and enslaved." Xie Run rose and bowed to the Empress: "Your Majesty the Empress, this matter is of great importance. This concubine has never handled such a case before and wishes to seek your guidance." "To handle it according to palace rules would be too severe. But Noble Lady Ye's suicide attempt is an act of disrespect toward the Emperor, so I fear it cannot be dealt with leniently." The Empress nodded slightly: "Ben Gong shares the same view." "Then depose her to the Cold Palace, and send word back to the Ye family, letting them reflect on themselves." Although she had anticipated it, Xie Run's heart still trembled when she heard these words. The demotion of Noble Lady Ye's rank was a punishment given by the Emperor. The punishment had barely been handed down when she attempted suicide. Whether she truly couldn't bear the humiliation and didn't want to live, or was deliberately putting on a show to express her attitude, it was all dissatisfaction with the Emperor's decision. Even the repeated conflicts between Noble Lady Ye and Wu Baolin were minor matters, but her dissatisfaction with the Emperor's handling was an unforgivable crime. Moreover, Xie Run had just received the authority of Management of the Six Palaces, and together with the Empress, sending someone to the Cold Palace was also an excellent deterrent. The moment the Empress finished speaking, Noble Lady Ye's fate of entering the Cold Palace was sealed. Xie Run even had to offer praise: "The Empress is merciful and magnanimous, not extending Noble Lady Ye's wrongdoing to her family." But everyone knew well in their hearts. The Empress deliberately had the news sent back to the Ye family, letting them reflect on themselves. That in itself was a severe punishment for the Ye family. Xie Run didn't reflect on herself; instead, she pondered the Empress's method of handling the matter. Involving the Ye family from the previous court, such a punishment was something she had no qualification to issue, but the Empress could. Xie Run had barely arrived back at Zhaohua Palace when news of Noble Lady Ye's suicide attempt and banishment to the Cold Palace spread throughout the Six Palaces. Combined with the Empress's multiple demotions of concubines in recent times, it made people somewhat uneasy. They only felt that the former Princess Consort and the current Empress had already vastly changed in methods and temperament. Far away in Chonghua Palace, Fang Yuan'er heard that Xie Run had obtained the authority of Management of the Six Palaces and indifferently curled the corner of her mouth. "So she's finally showing her true colors." Xie Run... in the end, she still coveted power. Having climbed her way up through the ranks, Fang Yuan'er had come to see things more and more clearly. Though the Emperor was not particularly suspicious by nature, he was deeply calculating. He disliked the women around him meddling in court affairs, and even more so, he disliked women who craved power and status. When she had first entered the prince's household, young and headstrong, she had committed the very taboo that angered the Emperor most. That was why she had never been able to win his true favor. Fang Yuan'er thought to herself, "I thought I had lost to Xie Run, but now she too has taken the wrong path, harboring thoughts she shouldn't about power." "If she keeps going down this road, she'll just become another me." The more she thought about it, the more Fang Yuan'er couldn't suppress her disgust for the Emperor's cold and heartless nature. She suddenly snapped, "Someone! Throw out all the jade ornaments in my chambers." If she wasn't going to be favored, then so be it. She no longer wanted to choke down her disgust and dress herself up as someone others liked just to curry favor. Besides, as long as she didn't make a mistake now, the Emperor couldn't depose her! What happened in Chonghua Palace was mirrored in other palaces as well, though each reacted differently. Xie Run had barely sat down in Zhaohua Palace and taken a bowl of iced milk when someone came to report: "Your Ladyship, Wu Baolin has come to offer her apologies in person." Only then did Xie Run remember that matter. It was the Emperor himself who had ordered Wu Baolin to come and apologize in person, so Xie Run couldn't very well refuse to see her. She set down the bowl. "Bring her in." "Yes." Soon, Wu Baolin was ushered inside. She kept her head lowered, looking utterly meek and obedient—just as she had been back in the prince's household when she had secretly told Xie Run about her pregnancy and begged for her help. Xie Run wore a faint, gentle smile on her face, appearing soft and elegant. Though she had gained a bit more splendor compared to before, her usual tenderness remained unchanged. Wu Baolin stepped forward with her personal maid and performed a slow bow: "This concubine greets Consort Zhaode." Xie Run: "Rise. Do sit down—after all, you're with child." Wu Baolin kept her head down and spoke softly: "Thank you for your concern, Your Ladyship. But this concubine has come today to offer her apologies. I have no face to sit as a guest here." "This concubine had a quarrel with Noble Lady Ye, and in my rage I lost my senses. I accidentally damaged Your Ladyship's headdress. I have now been punished by His Majesty, and I have come specially to apologize to Your Ladyship." "I only hope Your Ladyship can forgive this concubine's mistake. I will accept any punishment you see fit." Xie Run looked at Wu Baolin, a hint of surprise in her eyes. "After this ordeal, Wu Baolin's temperament has become much more composed." The old Wu Baolin had prided herself on her little cleverness, carrying an indescribable arrogance deep in her bones. That arrogance had made her unwilling to admit defeat, and her cleverness had made her always scheme with her own little calculations. But setback after setback had worn away her arrogance and made her far more grounded. Wu Baolin smiled bitterly. "Thank you for the praise, Your Ladyship." As she spoke, she pulled a large embroidered pouch from her sleeve. It looked plump and full, as if it held quite a lot. "His Majesty also ordered this concubine to compensate Your Ladyship for the damaged headdress. All the rewards and monthly allowances I've received since entering the palace are in here. I know this money isn't enough to cover it, but I only hope Your Ladyship will grant me some time. Once I've saved up enough, I'll repay the rest." Xie Run swept a glance over, and Dantao stepped forward to accept the pouch. Xie Run wouldn't refuse the money—after all, her headdress had indeed been damaged. Moreover, this was the Emperor's punishment. Even if she didn't need the money, she should respect His Majesty's wishes. Xie Run: "There's no rush." Wu Baolin's eyes glistened with tears. "Thank you for your mercy, Your Ladyship." Seeing her with her slightly swollen belly yet carrying such an air of dejection, Xie Run couldn't help but offer a few extra words: "You're with child now—you ought to focus on nurturing your pregnancy. Nothing in this palace matters more than the child in your womb." She spoke with earnest sincerity: "Have the child safely, and the Emperor will not treat you unfairly for what is rightfully yours." As long as the child survived, Wu Baolin had a protective talisman. If anything happened to the child, Wu Baolin's fate would surely be grim. Xie Run brought up the matter of Concubine An: "There was once a concubine in the prince's household. She conceived after serving the Emperor just once, and everyone said she was lucky." "But she couldn't hold herself together. She managed to carry the child for over eight months, only to frighten herself into premature labor. The young prince was left with a lifelong fright-induced ailment, which enraged the Emperor. In the end, she failed to raise the child properly, and her fate was miserable..." That Concubine An had been scared out of her wits back then. The Emperor loathed her and placed her under House Arrest in a remote pavilion, ignoring her completely. Suffering from postpartum distress and several frights, she frightened herself into illness, and within a few days, she was gone. The prince's household had been in chaos at the time, and no one bothered with her. A thin coffin was used to settle the matter. Come to think of it, she had borne the Emperor a son and a daughter, yet her funeral arrangements couldn't even compare to Wan Linlang's. In certain respects, the Emperor was indeed cold and heartless. Wu Baolin's face paled slightly at the story of Concubine An, a hint of fear flickering across her expression. A bitterness spread across her tongue: "This concubine has vaguely heard that Concubine An was the Second Princess's birth mother?" The Second Princess was simple-minded, and the entire harem considered her a taboo subject, not daring to speak of her much. Moreover, the Empress guarded her child so closely that she only brought the child out once or twice when paying respects to the Empress Dowager, so no one knew much about the child. Xie Run did not respond to Wu Baolin's words. She only raised her handkerchief to cover her mouth, lowering her eyes. "It's not that I'm trying to frighten you. If you simply take good care of yourself during your pregnancy and live your days well, it will be good for both you and the child in your womb." Wu Baolin said, "I know Your Ladyship said these things for my sake." Her face was full of helplessness and bitterness, and she could not help but pour out some of her grievances to Xie Run. "But Your Ladyship may not know—although I am well aware that my rank is too low to qualify to raise the child in my womb, I still have several months before giving birth, and already quite a few people have come to send me gifts and express their regards." "What they want in their hearts, I can see clearly, and it inevitably pains me." Those who sent gifts to Wu Baolin were after the child in her womb. The child was only about five months along, and already several people had set their sights on it. It would be strange if Wu Baolin did not feel distressed. Xie Run said, "The child in your womb is not only yours, but also the Emperor's. The Emperor cherishes his offspring and will not treat the child poorly." Wu Baolin was momentarily stunned, as if she understood, and yet as if she did not. She respectfully bowed to Xie Run before turning and leaving. The Emperor was busy and did not often come to the harem, so the days in the harem were much more peaceful. Xie Run continued to help the Empress manage the Six Palaces, with Consort Wen occasionally lending a hand as well, which could be said to have lightened half of the Empress's burden. Such time passed both quickly and slowly. Slow in that the days felt hard to endure, quick in that a month had passed in the blink of an eye. Among the three people the Emperor had specially appointed to manage the Six Palaces, although Consort Wen had a soft temperament and could at least help with small matters, Consort Li was deeply selfish. She did not attend to business on ordinary days, only stubbornly opposing Fang Yuan'er, using the authority of managing the Six Palaces as an excuse to deliberately find fault with Fang Yuan'er. The Empress knew that Consort Wen could not keep Consort Li in check, so she often sent Xie Run to mediate. After mediating several times, Xie Run could not help but remark, "Consort Li and Imperial Concubine Gong must be enemies from a past life." Otherwise, why would they insist on making each other's lives difficult? That day, Xie Run went to mediate once again. Consort Li and Fang Yuan'er had gotten into a verbal dispute, and Consort Li raised her hand and slapped Fang Yuan'er twice. Now Fang Yuan'er was lodging a complaint. Xie Run had just finished meting out punishments to the two when she heard a eunuch arrive bearing good news. "Greetings to Consort Zhaode, Consort Li, and Imperial Concubine Gong. The Empress sent this servant to report good news—Ritualist Hui is with child, and the Emperor has already ordered her promotion to Hua Zhaorong." Hua Yu had enjoyed favor for over a month. There was nothing wrong with her health, so becoming pregnant was only natural. But the Emperor had actually skipped over the still-vacant position of Lady of Appearance and directly promoted her to Zhaorong of the Zhao rank—that was truly a unique display of favor. To count carefully, that was a promotion of four minor ranks in one go. Consort Li smiled and said, "Sister Hua is truly favored. Merely the news of her pregnancy, and the Emperor has already promoted her to Zhaorong." "If she later gives birth to a prince or princess, I fear she will sit directly at the Fei rank." "It's a pity that Ritualist Hui is also an old hand from the prince's residence. She gave the Emperor a fair-skinned and delicate Third Princess, and though she is said to be the head of the Nine Concubines, she has always remained within the Nine Concubines, still distinct from the Fei rank." In fact, what Consort Li said was not wrong. Both had given birth to children, but because of poor family backgrounds and lack of favor, their promotions were always more difficult than those who were favored and well-born. Fang Yuan'er covered her just-slapped cheek and retorted coldly, "Could Consort Li's words be expressing dissatisfaction with the Emperor's decision?" Consort Li feigned surprise. "How would I dare?!" "Just from hearing Imperial Concubine Gong say that, I can tell you've forgotten how to write the character 'Gong' in your title again."