Little Palace Maid Desires a Higher Seat of Honor - Chapter 83

Chapter 83: Consort Jing

Yun Si brought Qiu Yuan and the palace maids to Ganquan Hall. Before leaving, she tilted her head to glance at Tan Yuanchu, blinking her apricot eyes as she innocently asked, “Would you like to come along?”

If it were under normal circumstances, Tan Yuanchu felt he would be quite happy to accept such an invitation.

But now?

Tan Yuanchu politely declined, “There are still matters in the Qinzheng Hall; I won’t disturb Yun Jieyu’s refined enjoyment.”

Bathing with a beauty was indeed a delightful thing, but if he could only look and not touch, it would be pure torture. Tan Yuanchu had no interest in tormenting himself.

Yun Si was a little flustered at being called “Yun Jieyu”; a faint blush rose to her cheeks. She gave Tan Yuanchu an annoyed glance before taking Qiu Yuan with her and leaving.

Ganquan Hall was quite far, so Qiu Yuan had the attendants prepare a ceremonial procession. They went in grand style toward the hot springs, and along the way, those who saw them had to step aside. In the temporary palace, two or three consorts were gathered together; upon seeing such a display, they couldn’t help but ask curiously,

“Where is she going?”

It was An Cairen’s first time coming to the temporary palace, and she could never stay idle, afraid she wouldn’t get another chance to come. She wanted to explore every corner of the palace, but the time had been short, so she still didn’t know it well. Seeing the direction the procession was heading, she looked completely puzzled.

Lu Pin followed her gaze, a glimmer of understanding flashing in her eyes.

“She must be going to Ganquan Hall.”

An Cairen immediately turned to look at her, but Lu Pin didn’t meet her eyes and simply said, “This temporary palace has a natural hot spring located within Ganquan Hall. But only those who have received His Majesty’s favor are allowed to enter.”

Upon hearing the last part, the excitement on An Cairen’s face slowly faded. She pouted and muttered under her breath, “His Majesty really is biased.”

Lu Pin couldn’t even be bothered to respond. Did An Cairen think she could so casually criticize the emperor?

Utterly senseless.

No matter how much she disdained An Cairen’s behavior, Lu Pin didn’t show it on her face. Instead, she asked casually, “I heard the performers have choreographed a dance, best enjoyed from a painted pleasure boat. Would you like to go together?”

An Cairen’s eyes flickered; in her heart, she still had a shadow over that lake. She shook her head.

“Better not. It’s getting late, this concubine should return.”

After she left, Lu Pin narrowed her eyes slightly and asked, “Hasn’t An Cairen been rather quiet these past two days?”

In the pavilion, one of the consorts covered her lips, smiling in a way that carried a hidden meaning.

“She has been much quieter, not like before, when she’d always be making a fuss and rushing to join any excitement.”

Someone added, “Perhaps after being reprimanded by His Majesty that day, she’s finally learned her lesson.”

As soon as the words fell, a ripple of low laughter spread through the pavilion. Though the sound seemed veiled, it was undeniably laced with mockery and sarcasm.

—

Yun Si didn’t know she was being watched. When she arrived at Ganquan Hall, there was a row of steps in front, over a dozen tiers. The palace attendants had gone ahead of her, and the hall doors were pushed open. Inside, layers of gauze curtains surrounded the room. The light fabric hung down from the beams, half-concealing and half-revealing, adding an unmistakable air of romance and allure to the hall.

Yun Si removed her shoes and stepped in barefoot. Qiu Yuan carefully supported her.

“Careful, Mistress, the floor is slippery.”

Inside was a large bathing pool. Yun Si could almost hear the sound of running water. She searched around for the source, but found nothing. Looking at the surroundings, she narrowed her eyes slightly. “His Majesty truly knows how to enjoy himself.”

With Ganquan Hall decorated like this, Yun Si didn’t believe for a moment that Tan Yuanchu usually came to soak in the hot springs alone.

Her tone was hard to read, and Qiu Yuan didn’t dare to respond.

Layer by layer, Yun Si’s outer robe was removed. She cautiously stepped into the water, and after confirming the pool wasn’t deep, she relaxed. Both legs entered fully, stirring up ripples of warmth. Steam filled the hall, and in just a moment, her black hair was damp, clinging to her face.

The water temperature was perfect, and the discomfort Yun Si had felt these past days seemed to dissolve the moment she sank into the spring.

Qiu Yuan glanced at her, then suddenly said in a low voice.

“His Majesty must be regretting it now.”

Yun Si turned her head back in puzzlement. Qiu Yuan’s tone was calm, as if she were stating something ordinary.

“If His Majesty had known there would be so many incidents, and that he’d miss such a fine sight, on the very first day at the temporary palace, he would have brought you here to Ganquan Hall.”

Yun Si was a beat slow in catching the teasing in her words. Her whole face burned red; she raised a hand to her face, feeling the heat in her palm.

She shot Qiu Yuan a mildly annoyed look. “You’ve started making fun of me now?”

Qiu Yuan didn’t refute her, but in her heart, she knew she had only spoken the truth.

As the mistress and maid were speaking, footsteps suddenly sounded outside. Yun Si immediately furrowed her brows, and Qiu Yuan’s expression also changed. “Who’s there?!”

The noise outside paused for a moment, and then a woman’s voice came.

“Someone inside?”

The newcomer seemed puzzled as well.

Yun Si thought the voice sounded familiar. She shrank further into the water, leaving only her head and a stretch of fair neck exposed. After a while, a figure appeared behind the gauze curtain. Their eyes met, both faces showing astonishment.

“Yun Jieyu?!”

Yun Si also recognized the newcomer. She looked up in surprise. “Liu Gui?”

Liu Gui was momentarily stunned, then turned her head to call out,

“Your Ladyship, Yun Jieyu is inside.”

Yun Si’s brows knit tighter. She had always thought that Consort Jing’s attitude toward her was rather strange. And now, the moment she saw Consort Jing, she couldn’t help recalling the day Consort Jing had brought up Yuzhou City to her.

What exactly did Consort Jing mean to say?

The gauze curtain was lifted, and Consort Jing was helped inside. Yun Si suddenly felt ill at ease. She wanted to put on her clothes and stand up, but Consort Jing promptly turned aside.

“I didn’t know you were here, am I disturbing you?”

Yun Si was momentarily speechless, feeling there was no way to answer that question.

But a trace of suspicion flickered in her heart, did Consort Jing truly not know she was here?

Bailu Hall, where Consort Jing lived, was not far from her own Songya Pavilion. The commotion she made coming to Ganquan Hall had been considerable. If Consort Jing had the mind to notice, it was impossible she wouldn’t know. Moreover, there were attendants stationed outside Ganquan Hall, how could she not know someone was inside?

Yun Si’s eyes flickered slightly. She didn’t continue playing riddles with Consort Jing and instead asked directly, “Your Ladyship came to see me?”

Seeing that Consort Jing was still turning her body aside, Yun Si glanced at Qiu Yuan, then stepped out of the water. Her bare feet touched the ground with a splash, and Qiu Yuan picked up the outer robe and draped it over her, at least she wouldn’t have to face anyone completely exposed.

The faint sounds inside the hall lasted for a while before gradually settling into quiet.

Consort Jing didn’t speak for a long time. Only when the sounds behind her ceased did she turn around to look at Yun Si. Yun Si wore only the outer robe; her damp black hair fell loosely over her shoulders, with a few strands clinging to her cheeks.

There was a hint of dishevelment, yet it only made her seem more like a beauty emerging from the water. Still, she was obviously uncomfortable, leaning into Qiu Yuan’s arms.

Consort Jing knew she shouldn’t be staring at her now, but seeing her like this, she couldn’t help losing herself for a moment.

Like.

Really alike.

Liu Gui discreetly tugged at her mistress’s sleeve, and Consort Jing came back to herself. Meeting the young woman’s suspicious gaze, she lowered her eyes and said softly, “Let’s go sit in the next room.”

Ganquan Hall didn’t have only the hot spring, outside there was also a place to rest.

Yun Si hesitated for a moment. She truly did want to know what Consort Jing was up to, so she stopped overthinking it. Gathering her robe closer, she spoke quietly, “May Your Ladyship wait just a moment.”

She was wearing nothing underneath, only the robe; naturally, she couldn’t talk to Consort Jing like this.

Consort Jing gave a small nod and turned to leave first, making space for Yun Si. Qiu Yuan glanced around to make sure no one was nearby, then lowered her voice:

“Mistress, Consort Jing has sought chances to speak with you again and again. I fear she doesn’t mean well.”

Yun Si put on her clothes and lifted her hand to sweep her hair over her shoulder. At Qiu Yuan’s words, she replied in a low voice,

“She deliberately came here, clearly not wanting anyone else to hear what she and I say. Since that’s the case, I might as well hear what she has to say.”

Seeing her mistress had her own plan, Qiu Yuan swallowed her words and said no more.

A quarter of an hour later, Yun Si appeared before Consort Jing. She had tidied herself up, though her hair was still damp. Consort Jing coughed lightly and said gently:

“Yun Jieyu, there’s no need to hurry. Dry your hair first, so you don’t catch a chill.”

Yun Si shook her head in refusal. “No need, what is it Your Ladyship wishes to say to me?”

The hall suddenly fell silent. Consort Jing was quiet for a while, and Yun Si frowned.
Wasn’t Consort Jing the one who sought her out? What was the meaning of not speaking now?

Liu Gui grew anxious watching this and couldn’t help but interject.

“Yun Jieyu, Her Ladyship only wants to confirm one thing with you, was your mother’s surname Wei?”

Yun Si’s head snapped up.

She looked warily at Consort Jing and her maid. Regarding matters about her mother, Yun Si didn’t actually know much herself, especially since, when she was about five, her mother had passed away from illness. Her memories of her were even more faint.

Yun Si gripped her handkerchief, her expression turning cold and hard.

“I think,” she said, “what my mother’s surname was should have nothing to do with Your Ladyship, Consort Jing.”

It was the first time Yun Si had shown a cold face before Consort Jing. Liu Gui was stunned for a moment before recovering, thinking only that Yun Si didn’t trust her mistress. She hurried to say:

“Please don’t be nervous, Her Ladyship doesn’t mean you harm…”

Consort Jing finally raised her eyes and stopped Liu Gui, her voice gentle and slow.

“I will speak to her myself.”

Yun Si frowned. She wasn’t a fool, just from Liu Gui’s brief words, she immediately sensed that Consort Jing must have some sort of connection with her mother.

But so what?

Yun Si had always remembered what her father told her: that her mother’s family had once committed an offense, and she nearly fell into the dust of the brothels. It was her father who had exhausted the family fortune to redeem her.

Later, until her mother’s death, Yun Si had never seen a single relative from her mother’s side. What use was it for someone to appear now?

And who was Consort Jing?

She was born into a Duke’s household, her aunt being the current Empress Dowager. With such favor, she entered the palace directly as a second-rank consort. With the Empress Dowager’s regard, everyone in the palace treated her with respect.

What’s more, Yun Si now knew that before Consort Jing entered the palace, she and the Empress had been close friends in their maiden days.

If she really was her mother’s kin, where was she when her mother was in distress?

With such a status, could she truly have offered her mother no protection at all?

Yun Si didn’t know, but—

Since back then no protection had been given to her mother, what was the meaning of suddenly coming forward now to acknowledge her?

Her mother had been melancholy and unhappy all her life, and even at the moment of death had not seen a single relative. And as for herself, she had endured all those long years of hardship alone. When she had wanted someone to save her, not a single person came. Now, she no longer needed any so-called family.

In her heart, Yun Si felt some resistance toward the idea of “relatives,” but when she heard Consort Jing’s first sentence, she couldn’t help pressing her lips tightly together.

Consort Jing seemed to be looking at her, yet also seemed to be looking past her at someone else, her expression a little dazed.

“You look very much like your mother.”

Yun Si instinctively lifted her eyes. She was a little stunned, truthfully, she no longer remembered what her mother looked like.

So… she and her mother really looked alike?