Chapter 119: Fifteen

Chapter 119: Fifteen

With the Emperor's birthday approaching, concubines and maidens in each palace were busy preparing gifts and refining their talents, especially the newly entered maidens, all striving to win the Emperor's favor.

In Ningxiang Hall of Fuyang Palace, Lady Duan sat at a table, extending her hands for the maid Cailian to dye her nails with hibiscus flowers.

The sound of bead curtains clinking at the door announced the arrival of the maid Caihe, carrying a food box. She bowed to Lady Duan and said softly, "My lady, the Imperial Kitchen says they've run out of river shrimp for today. If you wish to have some, it will have to wait until tomorrow."

"Run out?" Lady Duan frowned slightly.

"Yes," Caihe replied, a hint of indignation on her face, "It seems Sun Baolin from Yufu Palace's Liushuang Pavilion paid extra to take them all, leaving a plate of steamed yellow croaker for you as an apology."

Sun Baolin, known for her striking beauty and imperious nature, also had a noble sister who didn't get along with her.

Lady Duan's frown relaxed, and she replied indifferently, "Then let it be, we can have it tomorrow."

Caihe acknowledged and was about to ask where to set the meal when noise from outside drew her attention, seemingly coming from Tang Xuan's quarters in the neighboring Baihua Pavilion.

Tang Xuan, another newcomer who entered the palace with Lady Duan, lived in Fuyang Palace as well. However, her family background was unremarkable, her looks were just above average, and she was somewhat dull, receiving little favor.

"Caihe, go outside and see what's happening."

Lady Duan had also heard the commotion and instructed accordingly.

Caihe obeyed, stepped out, and returned shortly, reporting in detail, "It was Tang Xuan's maid at the Imperial Kitchen collecting meals, but what she brought back wasn't Tang Xuan’s usual portion, and they're grumbling about it now."

With her fingertips carefully wrapped, Lady Duan stood up, walked to the window, looked out, and said with a smile, "Caihe, take the extra plate of yellow croaker to Baihua Pavilion and say... your mistress's shrimp were also taken by Sun Baolin."

"Yes." Caihe opened the food box, took out the plate of steamed yellow croaker, packed it in another box, and headed to Baihua Pavilion.

Lady Duan, in a good mood, sat at the table, waiting for Cailian to serve the meal.

Unbeknownst to her, Tang Xuan in the neighboring Baihua Pavilion, after receiving the yellow croaker, secretly said to her maid, "I may not be very smart, but that Lady Duan in Ningxiang Hall thinks everyone else is a fool, pah! Fool! Let’s see how long she can keep up her pride."

Tang Xuan's maid nodded and asked, "My lady, what about this steamed yellow croaker…"

"Eat it, of course. Why waste it!"

The fifteenth of June soon arrived, the day of the full moon. Unless exceptional circumstances arose, the Emperor customarily stayed overnight in Fengyi Palace.

In Yaohua Palace, Jiang Hui sat in the warm chamber, reading history to Nian'er.

Nian'er had taken an extended nap that afternoon and wasn't sleepy. Though not fully literate, he insisted on reading with Jiang Hui.

Jiang Hui had been revisiting historical texts and began to read from the "Book of Later Han" to Nian'er.

"The rise and fall of things, the ebb and flow of emotions, certainly follow natural laws. But in matters of elevation and decline, gain and loss, is it not all due to being blinded by favor?"

This passage discussed Empress Guo of Emperor Guangwu, lamenting how the natural laws govern the rise and fall of affairs, the wax and wane of emotions. The most dramatic changes, it pondered, were surely caused by being beguiled by favoritism.

"Mother, Nian'er doesn't understand..." Nian'er, sitting with his mother on the same round-backed chair, tilted his head in confusion.

Jiang Hui smiled, stroked his head, and said softly, "Nian'er, just remember, to love is to wish for life, to hate is to wish for death. Momentary favor is not lifelong favor. If you don't want to live in constant fear, like walking on thin ice, you must aim for the highest place."

Her explanation was still too complex for Nian'er, who didn't understand but firmly remembered his mother's words that night, nodding, "Nian'er will remember."

Jiang Hui smiled and asked, "Tomorrow is your eldest imperial sister's housewarming feast. What is the gift you prepared yourself? Can you tell mother now?"

Nian'er nodded, stood up on the chair, hugged his mother's neck, and whispered in her ear, "It's the fireflies I caught with Sister Pomegranate in the garden."

Pomegranate had already informed Jiang Hui about Nian'er's activities, but she pretended to be surprised, "Nian'er is amazing. But remember, tomorrow you and Huayang must stay close to me, understand?"

"Understood!" Nian'er replied obediently.

Jiang Hui was unsure if the Empress would take action, and she couldn't be certain if it would be tomorrow or even tonight. Regardless, she couldn't let her guard down until the dust had settled.

After all, if things went awry, she might choose to perish together with her adversaries.

Liangyi Hall.

Among the memoranda presented today, one was from Minister Gu, promoted last year, reporting some success in the experimental crops at the imperial farms near the capital. The Emperor took particular interest, summoning several officials for a discussion that lasted until the late hours.

The Xuan bird drinking dew censer on the large rosewood table was still dripping water drop by drop. The Emperor showed no intention of leaving for Fengyi Palace yet, prompting Sheng An to quietly remind him while serving tea, "Your Majesty, it's already late in the evening."

The Emperor's brows moved slightly. He put down the memorial in his hands, placed the vermilion brush on the jade brush rest, and responded faintly with a "Hmm."

Sheng An felt compelled to continue, "Your Majesty, will you be resting in Fengyi Palace tonight?"

The Emperor took a sip of tea, the steam momentarily veiling his face before quickly dissipating. He set the cup back on the table with a barely audible clink.

"Is the Crown Prince's illness much improved?"

"Yes," Sheng An, tidying up the Emperor's desk, replied softly, "The Crown Prince drank the last dose of medicine today, and Physician Lin has declared him much better."

The Emperor nodded slightly, stood up, and allowed Sheng An to kneel and smooth out the wrinkles in the hem of his dark robes, calmly instructing, "Proceed to Fengyi Palace."

Inside Fengyi Palace, the air was rich with the fragrance of resting incense. The Empress sat quietly at the dressing table in the inner chamber, in front of her a double-layered lacquer box intricately carved and gilded, filled with various bracelets.

Blood jade bracelets, mutton-fat white jade bracelets, gold bangles with ruby and emerald inlays…

She removed a pair of jade bracelets with a 'hundred sons and auspicious' motif she was wearing and asked Chunyan, who was unpinning her hair, "Has Consort Wu returned?"

"Yes, followed by Xiachan," Chunyan replied in a low voice, removing a set of nine phoenix hairpins, "My lady, it's the fifteenth today. You're unpinning your hair at this hour…"

The Empress, lost in thought as she gazed at her reflection in the bronze mirror, finally said, "The Emperor won’t come. There’s no need to wait."

Chunyan hesitated, then silently acknowledged after a moment.

Unexpectedly, Qing Mama entered and informed the Empress, "My lady, the Emperor is on his way to Fengyi Palace. He should arrive in about the time it takes an incense stick to burn."

The Empress was slightly startled, then replied, "I am aware."

Chunyan continued to redo the Empress’s hair, but the Empress stopped her.

"Leave it as it is, no need to comb further." She ran her fingers over the bracelets in the lacquer box, eventually choosing a pair of blood jade bracelets to wear, stood up, and said, "Come with me to welcome His Majesty."

Note: Excerpt from "Book of the Later Han, Annals of the Empresses, Part 10."