The Job of an Imperial Concubine

Chapter 31: Probing? (试探)

“Your Majesty, it’s getting late. Your honored self should go rest.” Gao Dezhong appeared from a corner. He said in a soft voice, “Sleeping late will harm the body.”

“What time is it right now?” Feng Jin set down his imperial brush. He looked outside the window. Pitch black.

“Reporting to Your Majesty, it is already the period of Hai¹. ” Gao Dezhong approached to push aside the brush. Noticing the emperor’s quiet expression, he did not speak any further. After cleaning up the desk, he moved to the side.

“How has the investigation of what happened at Taoyu Pavilion progressed?” Feng Jin left his main chamber. Took in the palace lit with small yellow glows, silent as water.

“Reporting to Your Majesty, this slave is not clear about this matter. But this slave has heard that that night, someone saw a eunuch and a palace maid carrying something toward Taoyu Pavilion. Other than that, this slave does not know much.” Gao Dezhong probingly said, “Perhaps only Chief Pan of the Yulin Guards would know.”

Feng Jin did not comment on that. Instead, he asked, “Has there been any action at the empress’ side?”

“Her Majesty the empress and the other high-ranking masters have sent nutritious and precious medicinal ingredients to Chongyi Zhao in order to calm her fears. Other than that, there haven’t been any actions.” Gao Dezhong did not know how the emperor truly felt about Chongyi Zhao. For this reason, he dared not speak too much or too little. “There aren’t any movements from Chongyi Zhao’s side either. For the past two days, Chongyi Zhao ate very little. However, she still ate her meals. This slave has noticed that other than paying respects to the empress, Chongyi Zhao does not seem to leave her residence.”

Feng Jin fell silent. After a while, he sighed, before waving. “Go rest.” Then he returned to his inner chamber.

It wasn’t a secret in the imperial harem that Chongyi Zhao had been scared to the point of not leaving her residence often. The high-ranking masters indulged in schadenfreude. They regretted the fact that Chongyi Zhao had not actually been harmed.

Early that day, all the imperial concubines went to pay respects to the empress. The empress looked at all the different types of beauties sitting before her. She smiled. “Lately, many things have happened in the imperial palace. You should all not worry about it too much. There will be His Majesty and this palace around. If anything happens, someone will be watching over you.” Her gaze fell upon Zhuang Laoyan. “Has Chongyi Zhao been alright?”

“Thanking Your Majesty, the empress, for the concern. This concubine is already fine.” Zhuang Laoyan rose to her feet to perform another ceremony of greeting. In the eyes of other people, she seemed frightened.

Some of the imperial concubines smiled mockingly at her. In this imperial harem, how many people did not kill someone before? This Chongyi Zhao only saw three corpses and was already scared to such a state. Truly was not malicious enough. How could people like her survive in the harem?

“In my opinion, Chongyi Zhao is easily scared,” said Xiuyi Su with a smile. “Those deaths have nothing to do with you, so why are you so afraid?”

“This concubine has never seen such things before, and has let Xiuyi Su see a joke.” Zhuang Laoyan flashed her a regretful smile.

When others heard these words, people would think she was so scared because she had never seen corpses before. Then what did that say about those who weren’t afraid?

Noble Consort Shu felt helpless toward this cousin hers. Such a beautiful face, but the brain was useless. Could those words of Xiuyi Su be said in public?

“You’re the only one teasing Chongyi Zhao. A few days ago, who was it that was scared silly after seeing a little mouse?” said Noble Consort Shu, making an act of reproaching Xiuyi Su. “Don’t compare your bravery to others or it will cause others to laugh at you.”

“It’s natural for us women to not be courageous.” A gentle smile spread across the empress’ lips. “You all should stop laughing at each other. It’s getting late. Let’s go pay respects to the empress dowager.”

“Your Majesty, the empress, is certainly correct.” Noble Consort Shu beamed as she made to stand. But the gentle and beautiful smile was somewhat stiff.

Once they had arrived at Kang’an Palace, the empress dowager and the empress showcased a close relationship between a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. She did not mention the Ye family sisters and gently asked Zhuang Laoyan a few things.

Then the empress dowager told the women that they could leave after paying respects once more with a kneel².

At that moment, Virtuous Imperial Concubine Jiang’s sedan came next to hers. And she saw Zhuang Laoyan’s appearance. “Is Chongyi Zhao not feeling happy?” She smiled. “So Younger Sister is actually weak to the heat?”

“Younger Sister is weak to the heat and cold.” Zhuang Laoyan continued to fan herself. “Is Elder Sister not afraid of the heat?”

“No, I am also afraid of it. Especially at the hottest time of the year. I won’t be able to sleep well at night. If there’s even a bit of sound, I’ll wake up.” Virtuous Imperial Concubine Jiang smiled lightly. “It’s a bad habit.”

“It truly isn’t good.” Zhuang Laoyan smiled with her. “People should have a good and uninterrupted sleep at night.”

“Yes, only after sleeping so soundly would one not hear the noises outside.” A soft sigh escaped Virtuous Imperial Concubine Jiang’s lips. “The way Younger Sister is makes others envious.”

“How could this cause others envy?” Zhuang Laoyan’s smile dimmed. “What else could I have done?”

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Virtuous Imperial Concubine Jiang glanced at her. She lifted her head to look at the sky. “Younger Sister should hurry home. It’s about to rain.”

Zhuang Laoyan flashed a smile at Virtuous Imperial Concubine Jiang. “That’s true.”

The time in which it took for her to separate from Virtuous Imperial Concubine Jiang and return to Taoyu Pavilion was less than fifteen minutes. And it indeed poured. Zhuang Laoyan sat by the window, flipping through the pages of a collection of poems. But rather than paying attention to the poems, her focus was on the heavy rain outside.

“Master.” Tingzhu approached with a plate of thinly sliced and iced watermelon. Noticing that Zhuang Laoyan was next to the window, she couldn’t help but advise her. “The wind is too heavy over there and master will get soaked by the rain.”

“It’s cooler here.” Zhuang Laoyan waved as if she didn’t care. She reached out for a slice of watermelon. As soon as she took a bite of it, she seemed to feel refreshed to her heart.

“Master, what did Virtuous Imperial Concubine Jiang mean today?” asked Tingzhu with hesitation. “This slave thinks there is a hidden message to her words.” 

“Even if there is a hidden meaning, people have to catch it for it to be useful.” In just two bites, she had finished the thin slice of watermelon. Zhuang Laoyan wiped the corners of her mouth clean. She smiled. “Your master sleeps well during the night. How could I understand Virtuous Imperial Concubine Jiang’s experience?”

“That’s true. Before Master suffered a scare, Master had always had a pleasant sleep,” said Tingzhu with a smile. “It is this slave that thought wrongly.”

In the past, Zhuang Laoyan had found it stupid to take a romantic stroll after the rain had let up. But looking at the emperor who was approaching in the rain, Zhuang Laoyan changed her opinion. It wasn’t stupid. It was very stupid.

As the emperor, Feng Jin naturally did not get wet. It was the people around him who were drenched. Zhuang Laoyan had her servants bring his servants in for a change of clothes. She accompanied Feng Jin in sitting by the window.

There, one could not only see the small garden of Taoyu Pavilion but also the red palace walls and the mist.

“Beloved concubine is reading this?” asked Feng Jin as he picked up the collection of poems. The corners of his lips tilted upward. “We did not know beloved concubine was a scholarly person.”

“Your Majesty is teasing this concubine.” Zhuang Laoyan pointed at one of the poems. “This concubine feels sleepy when looking at those flowers and rain. Your honored self already knows that this concubine is not interested in these things, yet still has to tease this concubine.”

“So it seems We have misunderstood beloved concubine.” Feng Jin casually set the collection of poems down on the table. “Then tell me, what are you best at doing?” 

“Although this concubine is not proficient in those things, this concubine can still do them. But Your Majesty just had to ask about best talents. This concubine’s talent is being is a jack of all trades.”

“One would fear that none of your skills can be compared with others.” Feng Jin lightly smiled. He pulled Zhuang Laoyan by the hand to sit by his side. “In Our opinion, your best talents should be eating, drinking, and sleeping.”

“Is Your Majesty calling this concubine a pig?” Zhuang Laoyan pouted. “Even if this concubine is a pig, it would be a beautiful pig. Extremely unique.”

“Xihe Palace is almost fully renovated. Tomorrow is an auspicious day. You can move there at that time.” Feng Jin held both of her cheeks in his hands. On his face was a very gentle expression. “If there’s anything that you find unsuitable, tell the Housing Department to change it. You don’t have to ask anyone for permission.”

Zhuang Laoyan’s heart trembled. Was this emperor pampering her so much to test her? To see if she would act arrogantly after receiving so much favor? For her, a lesser third-rank imperial concubine, to actually become the master of a palace was already a great grace. If she actually still felt unsatisfied, then there truly must be something wrong with her brain.

“This concubine hasn’t even seen the palace yet. Why does Your Majesty think this concubine would not be satisfied with it?” Zhuang Laoyan broke into a smile as she gently pulled at Feng Jin’s sleeve. “Wasn’t your honored self just teasing this concubine for only being good at eating, drinking, and sleeping? As long as this concubine can do these three things, this concubine would be happy. It doesn’t matter where this concubine lives.”

“I only said this once, yet you already treat it as fact? Are you scared that We will skimp on your food?” A smile graced Feng Jin’s lips. This smile did not seem simple in Zhuang Laoyan’s eyes. But she returned the smile as she said, “If that’s the case, then Your Majesty definitely will not skimp on this concubine’s things.”

“It’s good that you are like this,” Feng Jin suddenly said. He saw Zhuang Laoyan’s expression change at the sound of his words, to one that was of uncertainty. Then he pecked her on the cheek. He turned to the window outside. “The rain has let up. We will return to Our palace.” 

He rose to his feet, After taking two steps, he looked back at the plainly-dressed Zhuang Laoyan with a simple hair arrangement. “Beloved concubine needs not feel sad. Everyone has to work hard to polish their talents. But the hardest things to obtain cannot be obtained merely by practicing.”

Zhuang Laoyan watched Feng Jin leave with an uncertain expression. After his figure could no longer be seen, she shook her head. Wasn’t he just trying to praise her for having a beautiful soul? Did he have to say it in such a roundabout manner? But why did the emperor come here today?

“Master, just now this slave saw the emperor’s procession leave Taoyu Pavilion,” said the young palace maid by Virtuous Imperial Concubine Jiang’s side. “Looks like His Majesty really thinks of Chongyi Zhao a lot.”

“For now, that is true.” Virtuous Imperial Concubine Jiang revealed a mocking smile. “Two years ago, the emperor went to visit the sick Noble Consort Shu during a snowstorm. Last year, the emperor went to visit Noble Imperial Concubine Yan who had a nightmare in the middle of the night. In the beginning of this year, Consort Ning’s birth mother had passed away and the emperor accompanied her for many nights. Now, he came to visit the frightened Chongyi Zhao. Indeed Chongyi Zhao has received some favor.”

The young palace maid was put in a daze. She did not know if her master was mocking Chongyi Zhao for not being favored or pitying her for being temporarily favored.

Virtuous Imperial Concubine Jiang saw her expression and slowly said, “You’re dismissed. From now on, you do not need to ask about Chongyi Zhao’s matters.”

She was only a silly woman who was fated to be like so.

That Xiuyi Su really is dumb, huh? Also, I loved the cute banter/flirting between Zl and emperor this chapter. “Even if this concubine is a pig, it would be a beautiful pig.” Bwahaaha

For those still interested in Patreon advanced chapters, I highly recommend reading this post.

I’m also gonna plug my new novel with JP: Those Years in Quest of Honor Mine. Historical and comedy, with tons of misunderstandings XD. It’s danmei tho, so you’ve been warned!

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