Chapter 17

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Chapter Seventeen

After parting from Lady Lu, Chu Qingwan kept turning over the news Lu had brought her.

Within the palace, apart from palace maidens and imperial attendants, Noble Lady Lu held the lowest rank. Yet she had managed to glean something about both the Changyuan Lake incident and the reason Consort Su had fallen from favor. Unless she had some channel for gathering information within the palace, the only explanation was that she was painstakingly observant.

After pondering for a moment, Chu Qingwan summoned Songxia.

“How much do you know about Noble Lady Lu?”

Songxia found herself at a loss. She had indeed served in the palace for many years, but a consort like Noble Lady Lu, who never sought attention, naturally attracted little notice.

After hesitating, Songxia shook her head. “This servant knows very little about Noble Lady Lu.”

Chu Qingwan was not surprised. She gave a brief instruction. “You know many people. Go and find out what she was like in the past and how she conducted herself.”

Songxia nodded at once. Having spent six or seven years in the palace, she had naturally built up a few connections.

She soon withdrew.

Chi Chun had been listening in. Lowering her voice, she asked, “Does Your Ladyship intend to befriend Noble Lady Lu?”

She had used the word “befriend,” but Chu Qingwan understood what she truly meant. Chu Qingwan gently shook her head.

“Investigate her first. We’ll decide after we have the results.”

She had always maintained a certain wariness toward the women of the imperial harem.

Her gaze calm, Chu Qingwan continued, “She has been in the palace for only two years. Even if she holds a low and inconspicuous rank, she has still managed to gather information and painstakingly seek someone’s protection. She must want something.”

In the palace, whenever one person received the Emperor’s favor, everyone else received a little less.

Chu Qingwan did not care that Noble Lady Lu had a desire of her own. What concerned her was precisely what that desire might be.

If it conflicted with her interests, then befriending Noble Lady Lu would merely plant a hidden danger for the future.

Chi Chun nodded. “Your Ladyship has considered everything carefully. This servant was simply worrying too much.”

Chu Qingwan took her hand and shook her head.

“You and Nong Qiu were the ones I brought into the palace. Apart from the two of you, no one else would think through every matter on my behalf. There is no room for carelessness here. The more carefully you consider things, the safer my position will be.”

Chi Chun could not help being moved.

Chu Qingwan sighed inwardly. Since entering the palace, she had relied heavily on Songxia. It was only natural that Chi Chun and Nong Qiu might feel neglected. At a time like this, she could not afford to overlook the feelings of those beneath her.

There was no need to speak of Chi Chun and Nong Qiu’s loyalty. Both had served her since childhood, and both were hereditary servants of the Chu family. Otherwise, she would never have brought them into the palace.

Yet the human heart was the hardest thing in the world to fathom.

If a problem could be resolved easily now, why wait until someone’s heart had gone cold before trying to win them back with regret?

Within the Palace of Gathered Splendor, in the Fragrant Jie Court.

After Noble Lady Lu returned, her palace maid Linglong could not help asking, “My lady, why did you say so much to her?”

Lady Chu had only just entered the palace, and there were still many years ahead of her. Was it not a little rash for her mistress to place her bet so soon?

Noble Lady Lu’s expression did not change. She was a stubborn woman, and once she had made up her mind, she rarely changed it. To Linglong, she replied calmly, “It is precisely because Lady Chu is still of low rank that I have the chance to court her favor. It is easy to add flowers to brocade, but when that time comes, why would she still think me worthy of notice?”

Linglong’s spirits immediately sank.

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Noble Lady Lu had returned to the palace some time ago before the servant sent to collect their meal finally came back. When the food box was opened, the dishes inside had already gone somewhat cold. There were four dishes and a soup, including meat, but once the food had cooled, the grease floated on the surface, making it utterly unappetizing.

Seeing this, Linglong could not help fuming. “A pack of miserable lackeys who only serve those who can reward them!”

Even when cursing a servant for neglecting his duties, Linglong had to keep her voice low, afraid someone might overhear and make their future even more difficult.

Noble Lady Lu’s expression remained unchanged as she calmly ate.

It was not that she had never been angry. It was simply that anger could change nothing. If she refused to eat, she would only go hungry.

She did not want to starve, nor did she want to keep eating cold meals. She was only eighteen, with a long life still ahead of her. That was why she had struggled so desperately to find a way forward.

After Consort Su fell from favor, the treatment she received in the palace remained unchanged. Was that not because she had managed to attach herself to Noble Consort Zhou?

She did not care whether others looked down on her or called her calculating. Life itself was already difficult enough. What use was there in caring about empty reputations?

The Palace of Gathered Splendor had no principal mistress, and so it was inevitably somewhat desolate. Noble Lady Lu turned her head and glanced at the Cloudglow Tower beside it.

Yang, the Honored Concubine, lived in the Cloudglow Tower.

At first, Noble Lady Lu had thought the Honored Concubine Yang might perhaps move into the main hall. But now it seemed that hoping to rise from a low-ranking Beauty to the principal mistress of a palace merely by becoming pregnant with an imperial heir was nothing more than wishful thinking.

As daylight faded, Noble Lady Lu did not retire early. Instead, she waited for news from the Emperor’s attendants.

When word came that the woman of Jade Luster Court had been summoned to attend the Emperor that night, Noble Lady Lu finally breathed a sigh of relief. At least for now, the path she had chosen did not appear to be the wrong one.

As for the future, who could concern herself with so much?

*******

The Mid-Autumn Banquet was the first palace feast the new consorts would attend after entering the palace.

Though it was called a family banquet, imperial relatives would also be present. It was likewise one of the rare occasions on which the consorts might see the Emperor, so they naturally began preparing well in advance.

Chu Qingwan was no exception. She had recently become favored, and the people beneath her did not dare neglect any task she assigned.

Two days before the banquet, the Wardrobe Bureau delivered the ceremonial robe she had ordered.

Xu Yanheng had bestowed many bolts of brocade upon her, most of them in bright colors. Understanding the message behind his generosity, Chu Qingwan had chosen a robe in a plum-rose shade for the occasion. It had wide sleeves and a narrow waist, while every fastening was shaped like a plum blossom. The fabric was cloud-woven brocade sent from the Emperor’s own stores.

Chu Qingwan lightly brushed her fingers over the garment, unable to suppress her delight.

“Put it away carefully. Bring it out only on the day of the banquet.”

Nong Qiu could not stop smiling. “The Emperor will certainly notice Your Ladyship at first glance that day.”

After being warned several times by Chu Qingwan, she no longer dared say anything about eclipsing every other beauty, fearing that such words might invite trouble. Still, in her heart, she believed that with her mistress’s beauty and talent, Chu Qingwan would surely rank among the finest women in the palace.

It was only that her mistress and Chi Chun were cautious and never allowed her to speak the truth aloud.

Nong Qiu had never attended a palace banquet. Moving close to Chu Qingwan, she pleaded, “My lady, I have never seen what a palace banquet is like. Could you take me with you on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival?”

Chu Qingwan knew that Nong Qiu was incapable of sitting still. That was why she had assigned her the task of collecting meals, allowing her to leave Jade Luster Court and wander about a little.

Nong Qiu was gifted with words, and in less than two months since arriving at the palace, she had somehow made the acquaintance of a great many palace servants.

Chu Qingwan turned her head toward Chi Chun. Covering her lips, Chi Chun laughed. “You should take her along, my lady. Otherwise, she will keep talking about it until this servant develops a headache as well.”

Chu Qingwan tapped Nong Qiu lightly on the forehead.

“Since Chi Chun has spoken for you, you may come along that day.”

The Mid-Autumn Banquet arrived before long. The palace feast would take place in the evening, but in the morning they still had to go to the Palace of Peaceful Harmony to pay their respects. Today, however, was different from other days. When Noble Consort Zhou emerged, she did not sit down. Instead, she said directly, “The new consorts have been in the palace for some time now, yet they have not paid their respects to Her Majesty the Empress Dowager. Since today is the Mid-Autumn Festival, we should take you all to the Palace of Benevolent Tranquility to greet her.”

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Chu Qingwan blinked. She had never seen the Empress Dowager since entering the palace and had nearly forgotten that such a person existed.

Yet judging from the rumors she had heard, the Empress Dowager was not the sort of woman who spent her days doting on grandchildren. Why had she remained so quiet during this period?

At the mention of the Palace of Benevolent Tranquility, Chu Qingwan could not help thinking of Lady Du, who had entered the palace alongside her. Lady Du’s injuries had healed long ago, but after this period of confinement, she was clearly much more subdued.

Chu Qingwan glanced at Lady Du without drawing attention to herself. At the words “Palace of Benevolent Tranquility,” Lady Du could not help lifting her head slightly.

Chu Qingwan’s heart tightened. As expected, Lady Du had some connection to the Palace of Benevolent Tranquility.

But soon, Chu Qingwan found herself puzzled. She was merely a newly arrived consort. Even if she offered Lady Lu her protection, how much intimidation could she truly exert over the servants beneath them?

Chu Qingwan said only enough to make her meaning clear. “The weather is about to turn cold. Noble Lady Lu, take good care of yourself.”

A flicker of delight appeared in Noble Lady Lu’s eyes, but she could not be certain whether her guess was correct. In the end, she restrained her emotions and said softly, “Thank you, Lady Chu, for your concern.”

At the Palace of Benevolent Tranquility, Noble Consort Zhou led the others inside. No matter how deeply she resisted the Empress Dowager in her heart, she still had to wear a smile on her face.

“I pay my respects to Your Majesty. You have not yet met the new consorts, have you? Since today is the Mid-Autumn Festival, I have brought them especially to offer you their greetings.”

The Empress Dowager’s face revealed neither pleasure nor anger. She merely told Noble Consort Zhou to rise. Once Zhou had taken her seat, the Empress Dowager did not speak to her at all, coldly leaving her aside.

Noble Consort Zhou was perfectly content with that arrangement. She had no desire to deal with the Empress Dowager either.

The Empress Dowager glanced at Consort He and Lady Du. Anger stirred within her, but she could only suppress it.

During Lady Du’s confinement, all the other new consorts who were supposed to attend the Emperor had done so. Only Lady Du and Beauty Gu had been overlooked.

The Empress Dowager studied Lady Du in particular. In terms of appearance, even if she could not claim first place among the women of the palace, she was still outstanding. Otherwise, the Empress Dowager would never have placed her bet on Lady Du.

However things stood, Lady Du was still one of her own. The Empress Dowager had to give her a helping hand.

She looked toward Noble Consort Zhou, her tone difficult to interpret.

“There is no empress in the palace now. You hold the highest rank and oversee the imperial harem. Advising the Emperor to visit the harem more often, extend the imperial line, and distribute his favor evenly is part of the duty you ought to fulfill.”

Noble Consort Zhou cursed inwardly. She could naturally hear that, in the Empress Dowager’s long speech, only the words “distribute his favor evenly” were truly important.

She knitted her brows, sighed, and put on an expression of helplessness.

“The Empress Dowager speaks wisely. But some people are simply useless and have caused the Emperor to lose interest. This subject is helpless.”

“There are so many consorts in the palace. As long as one of them can make the Emperor happy, that is enough. Surely I cannot advise him to show consideration toward women he dislikes. Your Majesty, do you not agree?”

The Empress Dowager had no intention of debating with her. She frowned at once.

“Enough. If you have failed in your duty, then you have failed in your duty. Why make so many excuses?”

Noble Consort Zhou was left fuming.

But the Empress Dowager was her elder. Even when the older woman was being unreasonable, Zhou had no way to deal with her.

Chu Qingwan took the entire exchange in, utterly astonished. So this was how openly the Empress Dowager disliked Noble Consort Zhou?