Chapter 382

Chapter 382 With the Empress arranging things this way, Consort Hua was certainly dissatisfied. But she was still in confinement after childbirth and couldn't very well run out to cause a scene herself, so she sent her personal palace maids and eunuchs to the Imperial Study to request an audience. The Emperor didn't even grant them a meeting—he simply had Eunuch Shian send them away. He only said that all matters of the harem were to be handled by the Empress. Hua Yu had no choice but to send people to the Empress to express her displeasure. The Empress's reply was even more direct: "If Consort Hua finds Fanghua Palace too crowded and uncomfortable to live in, she might as well move to the adjacent Chonghua Palace." Hua Yu recalled that Consort Li had died in Chonghua Palace, and that everyone else who had stayed there had either been sent to the Cold Palace or fallen gravely ill. She immediately dared not say anything more. Of course, this didn't mean Hua Yu had settled down. When the selection candidates entered the palace, Xie Run had someone open the storerooms and picked out quite a few items to send over. "Tonight the selection candidates will finally be able to serve the Emperor. I wonder who will win the first night. When they come to pay their respects tomorrow morning, I'm afraid there will be quite a show to watch." Xie Run had loved watching dramas before she became pregnant, but now she knew her limits and didn't like to thrust herself into lively places. "Tomorrow, send someone to find out what's happening. Also tell Concubine Shen not to be too conspicuous." Concubine Shen was the type who couldn't tear herself away from a good show. Xie Run was afraid that if she got too absorbed in watching, she might get dragged into it herself. Xiaoshu said eagerly, "I was just about to deliver the newly bestowed fruits to Concubine Shen—let me go." Xie Run smiled helplessly. "Go on then." Those assigned to live in Fanghua Palace were Cairen Kong, Noble Lady Bai, Noble Lady Xue, and Lady-in-waiting Miao. The Empress had shown some mercy after all—she hadn't placed Lady of Beauty Ming in Fanghua Palace. Otherwise, if Hua Yu ran into Lady of Beauty Ming, who knew what trouble might arise. Inside Fanghua Palace, the newly arrived selection candidates were slowly adapting. After settling in, Bai Fu brought her personal palace maid Caiyue to visit Cairen Kong next door. When new people entered the palace, their ranks were all low. The Empress had assigned them all small quarters—just one main room and one side room. When Bai Fu entered Ziyue Pavilion, she noticed the main door wasn't even closed. The room wasn't very bright, but it carried a faint fragrance. She looked up and saw Cairen Kong sitting by the dressing table, her features stunningly beautiful. In the dim room, Cairen Kong was as beautiful as a painting, making the dark chamber shine with radiance—so breathtaking it was suffocating. Even seeing Cairen Kong again, Bai Fu was still dazzled by her appearance and couldn't help but sigh inwardly. But Cairen Kong had been blessed with a celestial face yet cursed with a wooden head—she was a true wooden beauty. Back when she first entered the palace and received the Emperor's favor, she became a Lady of Beauty after just one night of service, yet she lost that favor almost immediately and remained a Lady of Beauty for the rest of her life. Later... Bai Fu tried hard to recall what had become of Lady of Beauty Kong. She couldn't remember clearly. There were too many eye-catching beauties in the harem. As Bai Fu climbed higher step by step, Lady of Beauty Kong faded from her sight, and naturally she never cared whether the woman lived or died. Bai Fu spoke gently: "Sister Kong, I apologize for the unannounced visit. I hope you'll forgive my intrusion." Cairen Kong, sitting before the dressing mirror, seemed startled awake. Flustered, she said, "You... you are?" "My surname is Bai, my name is Bai Fu. I live right next door to Sister Kong. If you don't mind, you may call me younger sister." Although there were only seven selection candidates, those learning the rules in Chuxiu Palace weren't just them—there were also over a dozen women the Emperor had granted to the imperial clan. More than twenty of them were split into two groups to learn the rules, and Cairen Kong and Bai Fu happened to be in different groups. Cairen Kong hastily instructed her palace maid to pour tea, then said nervously, "Sister Bai, please have a seat." "May I ask if there's something you came to see me about?" Bai Fu said gently, "Nothing serious—I just moved in and wanted to get to know you, Sister. That way, when we meet in the future, we won't make fools of ourselves." "Also..." Bai Fu lowered her head with a smile, carrying a delicate, fragile beauty, "We're both newcomers, just arrived. If we share information with each other, we won't make mistakes in the palace later." Cairen Kong was taken aback. "But... but I don't know any information at all." Cairen Kong was merely the daughter of a county magistrate from a small county, with no connections whatsoever in the capital. Her selection had depended on two things: luck and looks. She happened to have both, which was how she'd made it all the way into the palace as a Cairen. But once she actually entered the palace, she was completely in the dark, unable to take a single step forward. Bai Fu paused, then smiled helplessly. "I do know a bit of news, though I'm not sure if it's accurate." Cairen Kong heard this but didn't know how to respond, so she simply fell back into silence. Bai Fu already understood her temperament well. Without waiting for Cairen Kong to answer, she spoke first: "We're currently living in Fanghua Palace, whose principal resident is Consort Hua. She's quite favored by the Emperor and just gave birth to the Ninth Prince—she's still in confinement." "Everyone says that once Consort Hua finishes her confinement, the harem will gain another Fei rank." Cairen Kong remained silent. It wasn't that she didn't want to speak—it was that she didn't know what to say, so she could only stay quiet. Bai Fu lowered her voice: "But I did manage to hear some news." Cairen Kong looked up at her, puzzled. "Is there some problem?" Bai Fu nodded. "I heard that Consort Hua didn't restrain herself in the later stages of her pregnancy, nor did she heed the advice of her governess or the imperial physicians. That's what led to her difficult labor." "The Emperor was also angered by Consort Hua over this matter. Since she gave birth, he hasn't once set foot in Fanghua Palace." "According to palace rules, consorts who bear children are usually granted a promotion in rank. Noble Lady Xi, who gave birth to the Eighth Prince before Consort Hua, received such a promotion—but Consort Hua remains a Zhaoyi." Bai Fu deliberately lowered her voice. "Everyone says the Emperor has grown weary of Consort Hua and will never allow her to rise to the Fei rank." Kong Cairen's eyes widened in surprise, and she whispered softly, "So the affairs of the palace are this complicated." Bai Fu nodded. "Those who don't know the inside story would think Consort Hua is currently at the height of glory, with flowers embroidered on brocade and flames licking boiling oil—eager to curry favor with her." "But in truth, Consort Hua has already fallen out of favor. Those who go to curry favor may not gain anything good; instead, they're likely to end up covered in trouble." Kong Cairen seemed to have a sudden realization and looked at Bai Fu with curiosity. "Thank you, sister, for telling me all this. But regarding what you said about currying favor..." Bai Fu let out a light laugh. "Xue Baolin, who came to Fanghua Palace along with us, had already selected some fine gifts early this morning and gone to seek an audience with Her Ladyship Consort Hua."