Little Palace Maid Desires a Higher Seat of Honor - Chapter 126

Chapter 126: “Send Her Out of the Palace.”

The news that Xi Xiurong would be presiding over the final selection spread like wildfire, soon reaching Yongning Palace.

Liu Gui was feeling somewhat downcast, lacking her usual liveliness and efficiency. While serving Consort Jing her medicine, she moved listlessly. When Consort Jing once again inspected the stitching on the tiny garments made for Yun Si’s unborn child, Liu Gui could no longer hold back.

“Your Ladyship…”

Consort Jing lifted her gaze with calm composure. She coughed lightly a few times, her cheeks tinged with red.
In her condition, even getting angry was exhausting, any intense emotion could drag her body down further.

Seeing this, Liu Gui fell silent at once, her voice catching in her throat, rough and uncomfortable.

After a long spell of coughing, Consort Jing dabbed the corner of her lips with a handkerchief and asked in a low voice, “What is it?”

Liu Gui could not put her feelings into words, worry, anxiety, and heartache all mingled together, reddening her eyes.
She murmured dully, “It’s nothing.”

Consort Jing let out a soft sigh.

How could she not know what Liu Gui was thinking? But some things were simply beyond her control.

As if hearing something in that sigh, Liu Gui’s eyes flushed completely red. She rasped, “How can they bully you like this? Was it not enough for them to oppress you all those years in the household?”

They had finally managed to take refuge in the palace, enjoying a measure of peace, and yet now trouble was coming right to their door.

When her Ladyship’s mother had passed, the master had soon remarried. In less than three years, the new wife bore him a son and a daughter. Two years later, she gave birth to another young daughter. Back in the household, these children were the legitimate ones, while her Ladyship had always been forced to step back three paces.

The one entering the selection this year was the household’s Third Young Lady, Gu Qingchuo.

If it had been anyone else, Consort Jing could have gone to the Empress Dowager and secured a favor. But this was someone from the Gu family, who also had to address the Empress Dowager as “Aunt.” In this case, all Consort Jing could do was quietly wait in the palace for the results.

Liu Gui stomped her foot in frustration. After a moment, she glanced at the little garment in her lady’s hands and lowered her voice suddenly.

“I heard this year’s final selection will be presided over by Xi Xiurong.”

Consort Jing heard the implication in her tone and couldn’t help coughing again. Her cheeks flushed as she shook her head. “Don’t go troubling her.”

“Your Ladyship!” Liu Gui said through clenched teeth.

But Consort Jing met her gaze with unwavering eyes.

“Whether she enters the palace or not… cough, cough… do you really think entering the palace is such a blessing?”

If Gu Qingchuo didn’t enter, she would still be the Emperor’s cousin, and with that connection, she would certainly find a good match somewhere. But if she entered the palace, she would merely be one concubine among many.

Consort Jing herself had safeguarded her position by keeping to her place, thereby separating herself from the harem’s constant rivalries.

The Emperor would not give the Gu family two high positions. If Gu Qingchuo did enter the palace, her rank would certainly be lower than Consort Jing’s, at best respectable and proper, at worst even lower.

Moreover, Consort Jing doubted the Emperor would allow Gu Qingchuo into the palace at all. The girl was far from mild-tempered, spoiled to excess by the Gu family, and emboldened by the fact that her aunt was the Empress Dowager. In the capital, her behavior was often ostentatious.

The Emperor might not take notice of an ordinary official’s daughter, but the connection between the two families was different. As long as he had heard of Gu Qingchuo’s conduct, it would be difficult for her to be chosen.

With Yun Si’s confinement drawing near, the Emperor would not allow such a person into the palace to cause her trouble.

Liu Gui listened quietly to her lady’s reasoning, but after a pause, she couldn’t help saying, “…What if?”

The Third Young Lady had always delighted in bullying Consort Jing, covertly and overtly squeezing her out, leaving a bitterness one could hardly put into words. They had always felt that Consort Jing had taken a place that should have belonged to them.

Even though both were of legitimate birth, there was still a difference between a child of the first wife and one of a subsequent wife.

Consort Jing lifted her gaze toward the pillars and windows outside. The flush brought on by her coughing had gradually faded from her cheeks, and her expression was calm.

“Then let her come.”

Gu Qingchuo needed to understand that the whole world was not the Gu household, and she could not always act with unrestrained willfulness.

—

Outsiders knew nothing of the conversation in Yongning Palace, nor did Yun Si, but people always have their biases.

Once she learned that the late first wife of the Gu family had been her own aunt, it was hard for her not to pay attention to the Gu household, and so she could not help but feel resistant toward this so-called Third Young Lady of the Gu family.

Qiu Yuan was the only one who knew of her connection to Consort Jing, and she quietly asked for instructions,

“Shall this servant go and send a word of greeting?”

Yun Si lowered her gaze and shook her head lightly. “The Empress Dowager is still here.”

After all, that was the Empress Dowager’s own niece. To so openly go and “greet” her would be tantamount to showing no regard for the Empress Dowager at all.

After a moment, she narrowed her apricot eyes slightly and asked softly,

“If I recall correctly, during the period when the chosen girls are learning palace etiquette, they are given one opportunity to leave the Chuxiu Palace for a bit of fresh air?”

Qiu Yuan nodded. “Once the etiquette lessons are passed, before the final selection, the matrons will grant them a day’s leave.”

Not everyone among those hundred would succeed in being chosen, likely only about one-tenth would remain. The outing was also meant to give them a chance to at least see what the palace was like.

Without lifting her head, Yun Si’s voice was neither light nor heavy, revealing nothing of her mood:

“Mark it down for me. When the time comes, we’ll go take a look at this Miss Gu.”

Consort Jing had judged correctly, whether or not she came to ask for help, Yun Si had no wish for this Third Young Lady of the Gu family to enter the palace. This Miss Gu was clearly different from Consort Jing, not one content to quietly keep to her place. With her special status, once she entered the palace, the imperial consorts would be forced to give some consideration to the Empress Dowager’s face.

Yun Si had no desire for such a vexing person to be in the harem.

On the day before the start of July, the long-shut gates of Chuxiu Palace finally opened, and the concubines, catching wind of it, flocked to the Imperial Garden, making it unusually lively.

Yun Si too was carried out of Chu’an Palace in her palanquin.

When she went out, she was attended by no fewer than a dozen palace staff, with attendants surrounding her front and back in an imposing procession.
Concubines who spotted the spectacle from afar would step aside early, before the palanquin even drew near.

After the incident with the Su and Qi ladies, everyone knew that Xi Xiurong carried a golden treasure in her womb, anyone who so much as brushed against her risked broken bones.

Most in the palace still valued self-preservation and were unwilling to invite trouble.

—

Today, with the gates of Chuxiu Palace open, the chance was too rare to pass up, and the chosen girls could not help stepping out.

Gu Qingchuo was among them, and indeed, she harbored even more ambition than the rest. She was not entirely unfamiliar with the palace, having accompanied her mother on several occasions during the New Year and other festivals to pay respects to her aunt, the Empress Dowager.

Gu Qingchuo was, of course, aware of the evaluations the other selected maidens had of her, but she did not care in the least.

These people, whether she would ever see them again in the future was uncertain, were not worth so much as a glance.

After slipping a bit of silver to some palace staff, and learning that her gumu spent most of her time in Cining Palace and seldom received guests, Gu Qingchuo hesitated for a moment but decided to try her luck.

She had heard that Gu Anrong could often go to Yongning Palace to see her Paternal Aunt. Since both were the Taihou’s biological nieces, naturally she too ought to be able to see her Paternal Aunt.

The attire of the selected maidens during this period was regulated, to distinguish them from the fei pin of the harem. A group of selected maidens streamed out from Chuxiu Palace toward the Imperial Garden, a lively display of delicate beauty and cheerful laughter, like a hundred flowers in full bloom, difficult for the eye to turn away from.

Lifting the bead curtain, Yun Si took in the sight and, in that instant, understood why the palace held a selection every three years.

The imperial family was ever prone to favor the new and discard the old.

Who would not enjoy seeing so many beauties gathered together, all monopolized within the palace, three palaces and six courts, beauties to the left and right?

Gu Qingchuo’s sole aim was to see her gumu; she had no desire to be lumped together with the other selected maidens. Leaving the group far behind, she was about to pass through the Imperial Garden when she saw a grand procession approaching.

The palace staff all around the Imperial Garden instantly dropped to their knees. Gu Qingchuo noticed that the fei pin, who had been gathered in twos and threes chatting, also fell silent, inclining themselves toward the procession without a word.

Gu Qingchuo had never seen such a scene before. An indescribable feeling welled up in her heart, but before she could make sense of it, a palace servant beside her suddenly tugged her down into a kneel.

Caught off guard, her knees hit the ground sharply, and she could not help but let out a soft cry.

The procession immediately came to a halt.

Perplexed, Gu Qingchuo looked up to see a palace servant beside the procession raise his head and say something toward the one inside. Very soon, the bead curtain was lifted, revealing the woman sitting within. Gu Qingchuo had already guessed who it must be, but still, when she actually saw her, she could not help but be stunned in place.

The woman in the procession lowered her gaze slightly.
She wore no powder, yet her cheeks were fair with a faint blush, as though brushed with the most perfect tint. Her almond eyes were bright and steady as they swept over, her long black hair loosely gathered at the back, a few strands falling freely over her shoulders.

Even the warm sun seemed especially partial to her, lingering a little longer upon her.

Everyone knew Xi Xiurong was beautiful, but without seeing her in person, they assumed the praise was exaggerated.

Gu Qingchuo could scarcely imagine that someone so innately noble in every movement had once been merely a servant. At last she understood Xi Xiurong’s unrivaled favor, without being slowly cultivated and cherished with luxury, how could such poise be nurtured?

Faintly, Gu Qingchuo heard voices from the front of the procession:

“…Who is she?”

“Judging by her dress, she’s probably one of this year’s selected maiden.”

Not even a name, just summed up in two words: Selected maiden.

Gu Qingchuo had never experienced such disregard before and could not help biting her lip.

Yun Si glanced at where Gu Qingchuo was kneeling, then lifted her gaze toward the other selected maidens, her brow arching slightly.

“This palace remembers that the movements of selected maidens are restricted. It seems this selected maiden has overstepped her bounds?”

They called it “letting the selected maiden get some air,” but of course, it wasn’t as if every place in the harem was open to them, their movements had been restricted from the very start.

Gu Qingchuo also heard this question.
She faltered, suddenly at a loss for how to answer.

A palace servant above her head pressed, “Her Ladyship is speaking to you, why haven’t you answered?”

Gu Qingchuo couldn’t help glancing around. The Concubines were standing a little closer now, but none dared approach the procession, only watching from afar.
The palace staff kept silent, and even the one who had just pulled her down to kneel quietly distanced herself, as if afraid of being implicated.

At this moment, her so-called status as the Empress Dowager’s niece seemed to be of little use.

Only then did Gu Qingchuo faintly realize it. She bit her lip, hesitating over whether to tell the truth, after all, no matter how she put it, going to Cining Palace was indeed overstepping.

She was still wavering when she forgot exactly where she was. The palace servant questioning her let her face darken and bypassed her altogether, turning to ask the maid who had pulled her down.

“You came with her?”

The maid, Xiao Qiu, went slightly pale. She didn’t have Gu Qingchuo’s nerve to keep silent and hastened to reply, “This servant has met Her Ladyship Xi Xiurong. This servant is not with this young mistress selected maiden, but it seems this young mistress intended to go to Cining Palace to see the Empress Dowager.”

She first made sure to clear herself of any connection, then revealed Gu Qingchuo’s purpose.

Gu Qingchuo had not expected this at all. Her face immediately showed a trace of embarrassment, and she instinctively began to explain, only to be cut off when Ladyship Xi Xiurong in the procession arched a brow at her and asked,

“You were going to Cining Palace?”

What Gu Qingchuo had meant to say was interrupted. Her thoughts circled once before she bit out, “It has been a long time since I saw my Paternal Aunt. Today the mamas were lenient, so I thought to go and pay my respects to her.”

She admitted what the maid had said, but also made sure to point out her own identity.

Yun Si caught the implication in her words and arched her brow slightly. A quiet click of her tongue sounded in her heart, this one hadn’t even entered the harem yet, and she was already waving the Empress Dowager’s name like a banner.

Yun Si asked softly, “Do you know that this violates the rules? Did the teaching mamas not tell you you may not go beyond the Imperial Garden?”

Inside her sleeve, Gu Qingchuo clenched her handkerchief. She still had to return to Chuxiu Palace, so she naturally didn’t dare truly offend the teaching mamas.
She tried to argue, “The mamas did say so, but—”

Unfortunately, no one wanted to hear her explanation. Yun Si only inclined her head lightly. “Then you knowingly defied the rules.”

In that moment, Gu Qingchuo finally realized that the Xi Xiurong before her was not here with friendly intentions.
She immediately furrowed her brow.

In truth, Yun Si was a bit surprised herself. She had come today intending to cause trouble, but hadn’t expected that before she could act, this Third Young Lady Gu would walk right into it.

From afar, the other selected maidens stared in astonishment. The Young Lady Gu who had always been lofty in Chuxiu Palace and looked down on them was now kneeling before the procession, cold sweat nearly dripping from her forehead, yet it didn’t stir the slightest sympathy from the palace staff nearby.

This scene left an indelible impression in their hearts, and they couldn’t help but lift their eyes to look at that Xi Xiurong.

Suddenly, three claps sounded from not far away. Having spent nearly a month learning palace etiquette, the xiunv naturally knew what that meant, their expressions changed at once, and the bodies that had just risen knelt back down again.

Some of the girls could not resist lifting their heads to look at the imperial carriage, they had been in the palace all this time yet had never seen the Emperor.

Yun Si was also taken aback; she had not expected Tan Yuanchu to be passing by just now. The procession halted, and before the carriage came to a full stop, Yun Si was helped down from her sedan by Qiu Yuan.

The carriage that had been moving without pause finally stopped.

The man inside stepped out, and amidst the sounds of people bowing and offering greetings, he stopped the woman before she could salute, raising his brows. “Why so proper today?”

Yun Si was momentarily choked for words and could not help but complain with a touch of grievance.

“In Your Majesty’s eyes, have I always been someone without propriety?”

No wonder she felt aggrieved, she had just called out Gu Qingchuo for breaking the rules, and now Tan Yuanchu had tossed out a remark like this, as if deliberately undercutting her.

Tan Yuanchu, of course, would not admit to it.

“Propriety? You are the most proper of all. Not needing to salute was my order, how could you be blamed?”

His voice carried a hint of careless amusement. Glancing toward the direction of her sedan, he raised a brow slightly.

“Rare to see you out of your palace today. Were you coming to find me?”

With so many people around, Yun Si gave him a light glare and could only nod.

“I suddenly wanted to see Your Majesty.”

At her muffled reply, Tan Yuanchu subtly straightened his posture. The imperial physician had said that, as her due date approached, her emotions might be unsettled, mostly from an underlying sense of insecurity, and Tan Yuanchu dared not take it lightly. Lowering his gaze, he spoke gently,

“Good. Then come back with me.”

The Concubines nearby, hearing the Emperor’s and Xi Xiurong’s exchange, felt a sourness rising in their hearts.
They found it hard enough to get permission to send even a small dish to the Emperor, yet Xi Xiurong could simply say she wished to see him and go straight before him.

Yun Si had just been about to nod when she suddenly seemed to remember something and glanced toward Gu Qingchuo, still kneeling before the sedan.

Following her gaze, Tan Yuanchu finally noticed there was someone kneeling in front of the procession. Seeing only the attire of a xiunv, he paid her little mind and looked back to Yun Si.

“She offended you?”

Yun Si lightly drew her brows together and said softly, “She didn’t exactly offend me, she merely wanted to go to Cining Palace to see the Empress Dowager. I was startled when I heard it, so I delayed a bit.”

To put it bluntly, Yun Si herself had been pregnant for so long and had never once gone into Cining Palace. Of course, part of that was because she knew the rules and did not dare disturb the Empress Dowager’s peace, and she was unwilling to cash in on the goodwill her late mother had left.

Tan Yuanchu picked up on her meaning and turned his eyes toward the kneeling Gu Qingchuo.

“To see the Empress Dowager?”

Gu Qingchuo’s whole body went tense. She had not expected to run into the Emperor, and upon hearing his question, she instinctively said,

“Cousin, this subject’s daughter—”

Tan Yuanchu didn’t let her finish. He cut her off mid-sentence with, “Who taught you the rules?”

From the moment she opened her mouth, he had realized who she was, but so what?
The palace already had one consort surnamed Gu; there was no need for another.

Especially seeing Gu Qingchuo’s conduct today, it was obvious she was not one to behave properly. Tan Yuanchu turned directly to Xu Shunfu.

“Replace the teaching mama at Chuxiu Palace.”

Xu Shunfu answered at once.

Yun Si was not surprised at Tan Yuanchu’s action. She gave his sleeve a gentle tug and hesitated before asking softly, “What about her?”

Without even sparing Gu Qingchuo another glance, Tan Yuanchu replied in a faint tone,

“Send her out of the palace.”