Little Palace Maid Desires a Higher Seat of Honor - Chapter 117

Chapter 117: Awakening

Bai Shao returned empty-handed. Su Jieyu seemed to realize something, her expression turning especially ugly. Bai Shao knelt on the ground and, after some hesitation, explained the whole cause and effect.

Suddenly, a jade ornament shattered at Bai Shao’s feet. She glanced at it and recognized the jade ruyi as the reward His Majesty had given her mistress when she was first promoted to Guipin. The mistress had once been very fond of it.

But that was in the past.

The crisp sound of breaking snapped both mistress and servant out of their thoughts. Su Jieyu nearly shed two lines of tears.

“They’ve gone too far!”

Bai Shao sighed inwardly and said in a low voice, “Master, when the confinement is over, you should go and yield to Her Highness.”

The hall was silent for a long time before Su Jieyu tugged at the corner of her lips. But the look in her eyes made Bai Shao feel a chill, as Su Jieyu said,

“Of course I will go and yield to her.”

The Central Province Hall had never once failed to deliver her things, only now, while she was confined. She didn’t believe the Empress didn’t know. Wasn’t the Empress just trying to tell her that without her protection, she was nothing in this palace?

It was hateful enough for Yun Si to deliberately wear her down, was the Empress’s calculated manipulation somehow innocent?

Bai Shao didn’t know what her mistress was thinking. From her expression, she felt a little uneasy, wondering if her mistress had truly thought things through.

Ten days passed in the blink of an eye.

On New Year’s Eve, there would be the palace banquet. Unlike Qingyu Courtyard, which was eager to attend, everyone in Chu’an Palace was a bit torn.

The evening before the banquet, in Chu’an Palace, Song Fu scratched his head hesitantly.

“This is Your Ladyship’s first New Year’s banquet since receiving your rank. Imperial Physician Lin also said you’ve been resting very well, and that it’s appropriate to step outside for a bit of fresh air.”

He didn’t say more, but between the lines, it was clear he felt regret on her behalf.

Qiu Yuan frowned, as she always preferred caution. “Su Jieyu and Qi Guipin have met, but until now there’s been no action. No one knows what they’re plotting. Your Ladyship is not yet four months along, and this servant fears someone might make a move during the banquet.”

The New Year’s banquet was full of people coming and going, crowds and prying eyes everywhere. Even if they guarded her carefully, there was no guarantee no accidents would occur.

Qu Mama entered with medicinal soup. Hearing the conversation between the three, she smiled with some relief. Looking at her mistress’s conflicted face, she said respectfully,

“Your Ladyship has stayed in the hall for a long time, it’s time to go out for some air. Besides, since becoming pregnant, Your Ladyship hasn’t yet met the Empress Dowager, has she?”

Qu Mama glanced at Yun Si’s slightly rounded belly, her tone much softer.

“The Empress Dowager doesn’t like to see people, but you could use the banquet as an excuse to bring the Young Master and pay your respects to her.”

Qu Mama had once served the Empress Dowager and naturally understood her well. Though the Empress Dowager seemed uninvolved in the harem’s affairs, all the imperial heirs in the harem were her own grandchildren.

There was no way she disliked them, she simply feared that interfering too much would put His Majesty in a difficult position, so she never meddled in harem matters.

Now that she was serving Xi Xiurong, tasked with caring for the imperial heir in her belly, she naturally hoped the little prince could be born safe and sound.

If the Empress Dowager could be won over to provide even a measure of protection, Her Ladyship wouldn’t have to hesitate so much just to leave the palace.

During pregnancy, a mother’s mood was especially important.

Yun Si hadn’t expected Qu Mama to actually agree with her attending the banquet. Surprise flashed in her apricot eyes as she turned her head toward her. For the first time, she realized this mama wasn’t as stern as she appeared on the surface.

She blinked and suddenly asked, “Then will Mama go with me?”

Her voice was light, almost like a child acting coquettish to an elder.

Qu Mama looked up in surprise, then paused before respectfully replying, “If Your Ladyship wishes me to accompany you, this servant will accompany you.”

Hearing this, Yun Si made her decision at once. She said, “Qiu Yuan, prepare clothes and jewelry. Mama, you’ll come with me to the banquet tomorrow. Song Fu will stay in the palace.”

Qiu Yuan made no objection, she had always known her place and seldom overstepped.

—

On New Year’s Eve, there was the evening banquet, but the morning greetings at the hour of Chen(7-9am) went on as usual.

Yun Si rarely came to offer morning greetings, so when the consorts who had arrived early at Kunning Palace saw her, they were momentarily stunned, then hastily rose to salute her. Meng Xiurong, who had already taken her seat, stood up naturally upon seeing her and yielded the spot.

Yun Si told them all to rise. Meng Xiurong sat opposite her, noticing how the loose palace dress concealed her slightly rounded belly, and knowing she did not wish to draw attention, made no mention of her pregnancy, merely asking,

“Is Your Ladyship’s health much improved?”

Except toward Qi Guipin and Su Jieyu, Yun Si’s manner toward others was always cordial. Her apricot eyes curved slightly as she replied, “The Imperial Physician says I can get out of bed and walk about now.”

Meng Xiurong let out a look of relief and smiled.

“That’s good to hear.”

The attendants of Kunning Palace had not expected her to come for greetings, and quickly changed the tea at her side for another, removed the pastries to be checked one by one, fearing there might be anything harmful during pregnancy.

When Su Jieyu arrived, what she saw was the entire hall revolving around Yun Si, with the other consorts all wearing smiles.

At this scene, only one word came to Su Jieyu’s mind- fawning.

In the nearly three years she had been in the palace, even when she herself had been pregnant, she had never enjoyed such treatment.

Su Jieyu clenched her hands, the resentment in her heart growing deeper. She didn’t even understand why this was happening, just because Yun Si was pregnant, did these people feel no trace of jealousy?

It was just as well no one knew what she was thinking, or they would have been speechless. After all, however much one might feel resentment in their heart, there was no need to show it on one’s face.

Sensing a faint chill, Yun Si looked up and saw Su Jieyu standing at the beaded curtain, her face cold and hard, gaze fixed unwaveringly upon her. Yun Si did not care what she was thinking; she merely took in her attire today and lifted her brows imperceptibly.

It wasn’t that Su Jieyu was dressed in anything particularly luxurious or noble today, rather, she was plain and simple.

From the day she entered the palace, Su Jieyu had been first among the new concubines, and her style of dress and manner had never been associated with plainness or simplicity.

This appearance only brought to Yun Si’s mind the day she had miscarried, kneeling before Kunning Palace in simple white dress.

As far as she recalled, that was the only day she had been dressed so.

A woman who was usually cold and distant could, when she put on a show of frailty, be especially apt to stir pity.

Yun Si vaguely guessed what Su Jieyu intended and clicked her tongue inwardly.

She kept her gaze fixed on Su Jieyu, and the others noticed something amiss. Following her line of sight, they looked over, and upon seeing Su Jieyu, someone exclaimed in surprise.

“Su Jieyu’s confinement is over?”

There was a note of puzzlement in the voice.

No one needed to look to see who had spoken, everyone already had their guesses.

When An Cairen received a cold glance from Su Jieyu, she awkwardly raised a hand to cover her lips, inwardly muttering that she hadn’t deliberately kept track of Su Jieyu’s confinement period.
Wasn’t it natural to be curious?

The others also noticed Su Jieyu’s attire today and exchanged subtle glances, each with their own thoughts.

The Empress arrived neither early nor late, just as all the consorts had taken their seats, she came out. The consorts all rose to salute her. What surprised people was that Su Jieyu was especially quiet today.

Yun Si also raised her brows; she had thought Su Jieyu would take the opportunity to lodge a complaint.

The fact that Su Jieyu did nothing instead only heightened Yun Si’s sense of caution. Without betraying any emotion, she cast a glance at Su Jieyu, then swept her gaze toward Qi Guipin, who had been silent the entire time. Narrowing her eyes slightly, she truly could not figure out what the two of them might be plotting.

Nothing happened during the morning greeting. Yun Si’s visit to Kunning Palace was only to inform the Empress that she would also be attending the New Year’s banquet that evening.

Otherwise, if she appeared at the banquet in the evening without having come for morning greetings, wouldn’t that give those with ill intent a chance to accuse her of disrespect toward the Empress?

Before leaving Kunning Palace, Yun Si saw Su Jieyu still seated in her place, and was not in the least surprised. She knew full well that the purpose of Su Jieyu’s attire today was to remind the Empress of past events, how could she possibly just get up and leave?

After the greetings dispersed, in Kunning Palace, Bai Zhi’s expression was a little sour. She lowered her voice in irritation,

“Your Highness, just look at her!”

Wasn’t Su Jieyu wearing that outfit precisely to make Her Highness feel guilty?

One after another, they were taking advantage of the Empress’s kindness!

The Empress closed her eyes and gave a light cough. Her complexion turned a bit pale, though she quickly covered it up. Wearily, she said, “Enough, go and invite her in.”

Seeing this, Bai Zhi dared not trouble the Empress further and could only go to summon Su Jieyu.

Dressed in her plain attire, Su Jieyu entered the inner hall, sat down, and immediately began to shed silent tears.
She said nothing, only cried quietly.
The Empress, made weary by her weeping, lifted a hand to her forehead and asked,

“What are you crying for?”

Su Jieyu turned her face away, wiped her tears, and choked out, “Is Your Highness planning to stop caring for this concubine?”

The Empress had indeed considered it, but her gaze fell on the jade magnolia hairpin adorning Su Jieyu’s head, a gift she had specially bestowed upon her when she was pregnant.

The Empress lowered her gaze, concealing the emotions in her eyes, and shook her head.

“Why would you say such a thing?”

Crying, Su Jieyu recounted how the Central Province Hall had treated her harshly, and through her sobs said, “If it wasn’t that Your Highness no longer wished to care for this concubine, how could you just sit by and do nothing?”

No matter how pitiful Su Jieyu tried to appear, she could not hide the resentment she felt toward the Empress. The Empress could not help but raise a hand to her forehead, feeling her headache grow worse.

Bai Zhi could no longer bear it and interjected,

“Su Jieyu, can you be reasonable? All matters in the palace must be given to Xi Xiurong first, that is His Majesty’s order. What does that have to do with Her Highness?”

“And as for your confinement, you were the one who first offended Meng Xiurong. Even if Her Highness favored you, she couldn’t make it so obvious.”

“Besides, hasn’t Her Highness treated you well enough on ordinary days? And yet, instead of any gratitude, all you show is blame.”

The Central Province Hall merely failed to send you charcoal once, and you feel so humiliated. Su Jieyu truly ought to see how those consorts who have gone without imperial favor for years manage to endure.

Bai Zhi’s words were blunt and without courtesy; she had long since been unable to stomach Su Jieyu.

The Empress frowned and stopped her. “Bai Zhi!”

Bai Zhi bit her lip and fell silent, unwilling to watch her mistress treat Su Jieyu well. Su Jieyu was only emboldened because the Empress felt a bit of guilt toward her.

Stamping her foot, she turned and ran out of the inner hall. “This servant will go summon lunch for Your Highness!”

Once Bai Zhi had left, the Empress looked at Su Jieyu.

“She’s been spoiled by this palace. Don’t take her words to heart.”

Su Jieyu’s lips twitched. She bit the tip of her tongue; surely the Empress must think the same way, only speaking through Bai Zhi’s mouth. Otherwise, how would Bai Zhi dare to treat her so disrespectfully?

Her fingertips dug into her palm, the pain snapping her back to her senses.
She lowered her head.

“Bai Zhi was right, it was this concubine who, in the past, did not know what was good for her, troubling Your Highness.”

She seemed to have been frightened into sense by the days of confinement, and finally knew to repent, choking out, “This concubine will change. Your Highness, please don’t stop caring for me.”

The Empress gave her a long, deep look. After a while, she said softly,

“So long as you do not deliberately stir up trouble, this palace will not allow anyone to bully you.”