Chapter 35: Acting

Chapter 35: Acting

Lady Li, sitting aside with her left hand cradling her right, gently applied an ice pack wrapped in a silk handkerchief by Yin Zhu. She showed slight surprise at Luo's words.

Luo continued, "However, my maid Su Jin was only acting out of protective instincts. The Drunken Concubine Yang's peony is a rare twin flower, intriguing all of us. Seeing our curiosity, Lady Xu instructed her maid, Peony, to lift the pot and bring it around for closer admiration."

She paused, glanced at Lady Li, then continued, "When Peony brought the pot to me, coinciding with the tea-serving maid carrying the kettle, Peony, holding the pot, failed to notice. Su Jin, in a rush to prevent a collision, gently pushed the tea-serving maid, inadvertently causing the water to spill on Lady Li's hand next to us."

Lady Luo then addressed Jiang Hui, "Su Jin was at fault first, but I hope the Imperial Consort could consider her protective instincts and mete out a lenient punishment."

Yin Zhu, displeased, refrained from arguing with Lady Luo, instead attending to her own mistress. Surprisingly, Lady Li seemed to accept Luo's account, offering no rebuttal.

It was Lady Xue who lightly chuckled and spoke up, "Lady Luo puts it nicely, but who in the palace doesn’t know of Lady Li's divine pipa skills, especially with the Emperor's Birthday Festival approaching. With this burn, how will she play the pipa now?"

Her words almost directly accused Luo of scheming.

Lady Xue and Lady Luo, both residing in Changxin Palace with minor favor, were visibly at odds, almost like fire and water.

Lady Luo, hearing this, had a sudden change in expression, her slender eyebrows knitting together, replying, "Does Lady Xue have any proof? The maids handling the flowers and tea are Lady Xu's. Are you implying that I conspired with Lady Xu to harm Lady Li? That we orchestrated this whole scenario just to burn Lady Li’s hand?"

Xu Xiu Yuan, unable to sit still, stood up and scolded, "Lady Xue, watch your words! I invited everyone to celebrate Min Jie Yu’s recovery, not to create disputes."

As she spoke, she turned and urged the maid Haitang, "Hurry and check if the Imperial Physician has arrived. We can’t delay treatment for Lady Li's hand!"

"Yes," Haitang hurried off.

Lady Xue, however, replied leisurely, "Lady Xu, my apologies, I meant no such thing."

It was then Jiang Hui intervened, "It's alright. The maid of Lady Xu is not the principal offender, let her be dealt with internally. As for Su Jin, Luo's maid... ten strokes of the cane to serve as a warning. What do Lady Li and Lady Luo think?"

Lady Li respectfully bowed her head, "I abide by the Imperial Consort's decision."

Lady Luo's face changed dramatically, barely managing a response, "I respectfully comply with the Imperial Consort's decree."

Min Jie Yu, quietly observing, slightly raised her brows, gently restraining Sun, who was about to speak up, and stood to intercede, "Imperial Consort, Su Jin is but a frail woman. Ten strokes might be too harsh for her. With the Emperor's Birthday Festival approaching and to avoid bad omens, perhaps a kneeling punishment would suffice. She is, after all, a loyal servant."

"Since Min Jie Yu suggests so..." Jiang Hui's expression remained neutral, not insisting, "Then change it to kneeling for an hour. Lady Luo, any objections?"

Lady Luo bowed, "I thank the Imperial Consort for her mercy."

With this incident, Xu Xiu Yuan's flower-viewing banquet came to an abrupt end. Jiang Hui stood to take her leave.

Back in Yao Hua Palace, Jiang Hui summoned Autumn Osmanthus and instructed, "Open the treasury, select a few gifts and send them to Jin Lan Garden in Chang Xin Palace. Let them know that although Su Jin had to be punished, I recognize her loyalty and devotion. These gifts are to comfort her."

Autumn Osmanthus agreed, and as she was about to leave, Jiang Hui added, “Remember, make it noticeable but not overly deliberate.”

Understanding her mistress's intention, Autumn Osmanthus replied firmly, "I will fulfill your wishes, my lady."

Shan Zha, puzzled, couldn’t help but ask, "Mistress, why send gifts to Jin Lan Garden after intending to punish Lady Luo's maid at Guang Yang Palace?"

Jiang Hui smiled softly, explaining, “Min Jie Yu is cautious, even more than the Empress. Since her arrival from Chu Xiu Palace, Sun, her cousin, has made several moves, yet Min always verifies thrice, fearing entrapment. Lady Xue is known to be close to me. Today, by siding with her against Lady Luo in Guang Yang Palace, Min will undoubtedly suspect my motives.”

Shan Zha, catching on, asked, “Does Min Jie Yu fear that Lady Luo is secretly your ally and that today’s punishment was a performance for her?”

Handing Shan Zha a washed cherry, Jiang Hui said with a smile, "She might've thought so, but after Autumn Osmanthus delivers the gifts, Min will instead suspect I’m trying to sow discord.”

Shan Zha, flattered by the gesture, bit into the cherry, admiration in her eyes. She hesitated before asking, “What about the Empress Dowager’s stance?”

“The Empress Dowager?” Jiang Hui replied nonchalantly, “Do you think the incense burner from Hu's family simply ended up in my chamber? When the Emperor was the Crown Prince, the Empress Dowager wielded full power over the harem.”

Shan Zha gasped, while even Wan Song, standing beside, blanched, quickly saying, “Mistress, you mean…the Empress Dowager...? But wouldn’t she fear the incense burner harming the Emperor?”

Jiang Hui chuckled, “How could she? The Emperor was inspecting water conservancy projects outside the capital when the late Emperor fell critically ill. How could he have spent much time in my chamber?”

The hidden implications in her words startled both Wan Song and Shan Zha.

“Besides, even if he did stay often, the trace amount of cinnabar wouldn't be fatal to a strong man. Just inconspicuously sending dishes like mung bean and milk to the Emperor’s table would do.”

Shan Zha, speechless, felt a chill despite the summer heat, finally asking, “But why?”

“The Empress Dowager had two sons and a daughter, but only the Emperor survived to adulthood. How could she easily accept a woman of significant influence and noble background in his heart?” Jiang Hui said mockingly.

Wan Song gently supported Jiang Hui, voicing her concern, “Then, Mistress, during your childbirth…”

“A grandson about to be born and a lump of flesh in the womb are different,” Jiang Hui replied calmly, reclining on the couch. “And for the sake of mother-son affection, the Empress Dowager couldn’t be too obvious.”

Tears welled up in Wan Song’s eyes, while Shan Zha, unusually speechless, couldn’t find words.

Jiang Hui chuckled, “Don’t look so solemn, girls. Smile more. I'm just making you aware, not to think that being in this harem means I can rest easy.”

"Yes," the two maids replied, bowing their heads.

Wan Song, wiping her tears, choked up: "Sister Autumn Osmanthus already knew, didn't she? Mistress, I too will risk my life to protect you and the young master!"

"Alright," Jiang Hui, not wishing to dwell on the topic, instructed, "Call Hong Ying and Shi Liu to bring over Nian'er."