Little Palace Maid Desires a Higher Seat of Honor - Chapter 91

Chapter 91: Return to the Palace

The imperial concubines had only been at Song Ya Pavilion for the space of a quarter of an hour. Before they could even figure out what had happened, they were asked to leave. When they turned to look back, they saw only the Emperor’s back as he carried a woman toward the hall.

With the imperial return to the capital imminent, such an incident breaking out in the temporary palace frightened the consorts so much that not one dared to leave the palace gates.

On the last night before departing the temporary palace, no one slept soundly.
The imperial guards and the palace attendants in service to the Emperor continually interrogated the servants of the temporary palace, leaving no one with any connection to the palace maid who had committed suicide unexamined. The whole place was thrown into an atmosphere of fear and unease.

Tan Yuanchu remained in Song Ya Pavilion for the entire night.
Only when dawn broke did he finally leave.

Once he was gone, Qiu Yuan immediately turned to look at Yun Si. Yun Si sat before her dressing table and shook her head.

“I’m fine.”

Qiu Yuan said in a low voice, “Mistress, who do you think would dare make a move against you?”

Hearing this, Yun Si gave a sudden mocking laugh, tinged with coldness.

“Other than Consort De, who else could have such methods?”

Qiu Yuan had her own suspicions as well. She frowned, thinking that Consort De would be troublesome to deal with, and let out a quiet sigh. “What does Mistress plan to do?”

Yun Si closed her eyes for a moment, her voice calm.

“After we return to the palace, find an opportunity, I want to see Xiao Rongzi.”

Xiao Rongzi?

Qiu Yuan was a bit surprised. Having served her mistress for two years, she naturally knew who Xiao Rongzi was. But ever since Song Fu came to serve at Panju Hall, her mistress had deliberately reduced overt contact with Xiao Rongzi.

It was not estrangement, it was for both their sakes.

Since Xiao Rongzi had chosen to remain in Central Province Hall, it was no longer suitable for him to be in frequent contact with consorts of the inner palace.

Qiu Yuan glanced at her mistress.
Without asking further, she replied respectfully, “This servant understands.”

—

In the imperial palace, inside Kunning Palace.

The Empress received word of the Emperor’s return to the capital. The news was all laid out in the letter, including the events that had taken place in the temporary palace.

The Empress lifted her eyes, her gaze falling on a certain line in the letter:

“Rong Zhaoyi has been demoted, Consort De is under house arrest?”

Bai Zhi also leaned in to look. When she saw the line clearly, her eyes widened in surprise.
“Rong Zhaoyi has been demoted? Then what about the little princess?”

At the mention of the little princess, Bai Zhi felt both a headache coming on and a tangle of mixed feelings.

If the child had been the Empress’s, Baizhi would have doted on her from the bottom of her heart. But after learning that Rong Zhaoyi had once taken part in a plot to harm the Empress, she could not help but hold a trace of resentment toward the little princess as well.

Now that the little princess was staying in Kunning Palace, her temperament was anything but quiet. All day long she was either making a racket or wailing, leaving Kunning Palace in constant upheaval.

Bai Zhi had long hoped that Rong Zhaoyi would hurry back and take the little princess away.

And now?

Bai Zhi’s tone carried a faint trace of complaint.
“She’s now a fourth-rank Guipin and can’t raise an imperial heir. The little princess won’t have to stay in Kunning Palace even longer, will she?”

The Empress was the little princess’s legal mother. It was only proper for her to care for the child, but if she did it poorly, she would be accused of lacking devotion.

It was practically a hot potato.

Besides, they had no interest in keeping a little princess, especially one born of Qi Guipin.

That they hadn’t made a move against her was only because their mistress was kindhearted.

The Empress, however, paid no mind to Baizhi’s words. Looking at the letter, she suddenly gave a quiet laugh.
“It seems quite a lot happened during this summer retreat to the temporary palace.”

Seeing her laugh, Bai Zhi frowned in puzzlement, unable to figure it out.

Although Qi Guipin’s demotion was certainly something to be pleased about, compared with the trouble of the little princess, it was hardly worth mentioning.

The Empress raised her eyes and said unhurriedly,
“She’s doing well.”

Bai Zhi froze, instantly realizing whom the Empress was referring to. The letter had only mentioned a few names, and since the Empress had automatically ignored the Emperor, it could only mean Yun Jieyu.

Knowing what her mistress was thinking, Bai Zhi lowered her voice.
“Yun Jieyu being able to get the Emperor to demote Qi Guipin is indeed impressive. But… would she work with you? You once said, Your Highness, that Yun Jieyu would never destroy her own advantage.”

Hearing this, the Empress did not explain, she only gave a soft laugh.
“Perhaps not before, but now… that may no longer be certain.”

Bai Zhi looked utterly puzzled.

The Empress said nothing more. She turned her gaze back to the letter, the expression in her eyes gradually deepening.

—

The imperial entourage traveled for another half a month before finally returning to the capital. The Empress led the palace consorts to greet them in front of the palace gates.

Yun Si had been worn down until she was in a terrible state, her complexion ashen. After the Empress had exchanged formal courtesies with Tan Yuanchu, she caught sight of Yun Si behind him. Her voice paused for a moment, then she frowned in concern.
“What has happened to her?”

Qiu Yuan answered on her behalf.
“Replying to Your Majesty, the mistress is unwell from the carriage ride. It would be best for her to return to the palace early.”

The ceremonial process of the imperial return was tedious and time-consuming. Whether or not others secretly wished for Yun Si to suffer a while longer, the Empress did not stop her.

She said directly, “Have Panju Hall send a palanquin to fetch you. In this state, how could you make your own way back?”

Yun Si did not refuse. Her stomach was roiling, and she had no mind to care what others might think. Once Songfu arrived with attendants, she managed a difficult bow to Tan Yuanchu and the Empress, then got straight into the palanquin and returned to Panju Hall.

Panju Hall was exactly as it had been when she left, but Yun Si herself had grown noticeably thinner, so much so that Song Fu was stunned.
“Mistress, what has happened to you?!”

Yun Si kept it brief. “Motion sickness.”

Song Fu was a bit dumbfounded.

Once inside Panju Hall, Yun Si sat down and took a sip of tea, feeling so wretched that it made her uneasy.
Qiu Yuan ordered, “Go prepare some pickled plums.”

At that, Yun Si immediately knit her brows. Along the way, she had eaten so many of those things that she felt she was practically exuding a sour scent.

Qiu Yuan seemed to sense what she was thinking.
“This servant knows you’re sick of them, but pickled plums can help ease your discomfort. Please endure it a little longer.”

Yun Si’s words of refusal caught in her throat. She turned her head toward Song Fu. Knowing that the whole palace was currently busy with the emperor’s return and that no one would be paying attention to Panju Hall, she spoke softly,

“Go once to Central Province Hall. Tell Xiao Rongzi I want to see him.”

Song Fu was a little surprised, but seeing his mistress’s expression, he said nothing. Not daring to waste any time, he turned and went out at once.

The pickled plums were brought in. Yun Si wrinkled her nose, picked up a few, and swallowed them. Her whole manner seemed to sink into weariness.

Her brows knit tightly, as though lost in thought. Qiu Yuan spoke softly,
“Mistress, after the long journey, nothing needs to be handled in such a rush. You should rest a while.”

Yun Si took a deep breath and said quietly,
“On the road, it was my body that felt unwell. After returning to the palace, it’s my head that aches.”

Just now at the palace gates, the Empress’s attitude toward her had been conspicuously warm. Yun Si might be feeling ill, but she was not so far gone as to miss the Empress’s intent.

She said, “Guess what will happen at morning greetings tomorrow?”

Qiu Yuan shook her head and answered calmly.
“Who can know? What this servant or mistress says does not matter, it’s only a matter of soldiers blocking with arms, water covering with earth.”

The day the emperor returned to the palace, the outer court had bustled for quite some time. Only toward evening did the palace finally fall completely quiet.

Tan Yuanchu did not enter the harem that night, but after returning to the palace, he did make a trip to Cining Palace.

The next day, Yun Si slept for a full day and night, and at last felt much better. But when she saw breakfast, she still found it difficult to eat. She did not force herself and managed to arrive at Kunning Palace for morning greetings before the hour of Chen.

During this trip to the summer palace, Yun Si had suffered no small amount, yet she was the only one who could be said to have returned in glory.

When the eunuch announced her arrival, the consorts chatting quietly in the hall all fell silent and turned toward the door.

The beaded curtain lifted, and the woman entered with the support of palace attendants. Today she wore brocade satin patterned with a hundred flowers and clouds, looking nothing like the haggard, disheveled figure of the day before. Light makeup dusted her face, with a faint flush upon her cheeks, making her beauty all the more radiant. When she raised her eyes, she easily outshone the entire room of blossoms.

The consorts nearest to her unconsciously softened their breathing. Once they regained their senses, they could not help but feel a touch of gloom.

If even they found her stunning, what of a certain someone?

Yun Si had not yet taken her seat when another announcement rang out:
“Qi Guipin has arrived—”

Everyone turned their heads sharply, with no time to linger in melancholy. Some had long known that Qi Guipin had been demoted, but for others, the news was only reaching them now.

People all have an innate streak of meanness.

They like to watch those who have always been proud fall from a high place.

Yun Si’s seat had been changed.

According to the original arrangement, Yun Si sat below Concubine De, facing Rong Zhaoyi and Su Jieyu. But now, her seat had been swapped with Rong Zhaoyi’s.

When she was about to sit, a palace maid even made a point to remind her.

When Qi Guipin entered, she saw Yun Si sitting in the place that had once been hers. She paused, suddenly remembering her current rank.

A demotion in rank meant more than just losing one’s title.

Tong Yun discreetly tugged at her mistress’s sleeve, worry shadowing her eyes. She feared her mistress might lose her composure in Kunning Palace.

In the summer palace, a drop in rank didn’t show much of a difference, but once back in the imperial palace, everything would constantly remind you of it.

Now it was merely a change of seat, this wasn’t even the worst yet.

Thinking of what might come later, Tong Yun could only smile bitterly to herself, unsure if her mistress would still be able to remain calm when the time came.

Qi Guipin clenched her hands.
Under the weight of everyone’s gazes, she suppressed the surge of humiliation in her heart and sat down. Her face stayed cold and hard, entirely different from the Zhaoyi of the past, who was always touched with careless nonchalance.

The other women glanced at each other. In comparison, Ning Cairen received little attention.

…Well, not none at all.

An Cairen still held a grudge against Ning Cairen for her various aggressive acts in the temporary palace. During morning greetings today, she deliberately sat in front of Ning Cairen. Seeing Ning Cairen frown gave her a small sense of satisfaction.

Gui Chun didn’t have time to stop her.

Gui Chun was ready to cry without tears, when her mistress wanted revenge, could she at least think about whose person the other side was?

When the Empress appeared, the air outside the hall felt inexplicably frozen.
Everyone sat upright and proper; on the surface, nothing seemed wrong, but there was not a sound between them.

The Empress sat down, a little surprised, and asked in puzzlement, “What’s the matter with everyone?”

Yun Si took a sip of tea, her almond-shaped eyes curved, and in a soft, delicate voice she replied,

“This concubine doesn’t know either. None of them are speaking, so this concubine had no choice but to stay quiet too.”
The Empress was amused by her and shook her head.
“You!”

Once someone broke the silence, the atmosphere in the hall quickly warmed up again. The Empress looked toward Yun Si, her tone carrying a trace of concern.

“I’ve heard that your entire journey there and back was unsettled. How is your body feeling today?”

Yun Si shook her head with a bitter expression.
“Please don’t mention it, Your Highness. This morning, I still had no appetite for breakfast. I don’t know when I’ll recover.”

The Empress let out a sigh.
“You’ve truly suffered. Had I known, it would have been better for you to stay in the palace and chat with me.”

Yun Si’s brows arched slightly in a subtle way, now that was something to say.

If one could accompany His Majesty to the summer palace, who would willingly stay behind in the palace?

Although Yun Si had been quite worn out by the journey, if given the choice, she still wouldn’t have stayed.

However, when replying to the Empress, she gave a different line,
“Who could disagree? To be able to speak with Your Highness, this concubine could only wish for such a thing.”

The Empress couldn’t help but shake her head with a smile, then instructed the palace attendants.
“If you have no appetite, drink less tea. I’ll have someone prepare a bowl of sour plum soup for you.”

Sour plums again.

Yun Si inwardly resisted it to the extreme, but her expression didn’t show it. She lowered her gaze as if in embarrassment.
“This concubine has troubled Your Highness.”

The Empress laughed softly behind her hand.
“You’re one who inspires affection. It’s not just His Majesty who cherishes you, I can’t help but cherish you too.”

During the entire morning greeting, the consorts and concubines watched the Empress converse with Yun Jieyu.
They were somewhat used to it; the Empress was always like this. Except for Su Jieyu, it had always been the case that whomever the Emperor favored, she favored as well.

Call her opportunistic if you will, but in this way she gained the Emperor’s regard.

If any of them were sitting in the Empress’s position, how many could actually manage that?

Everyone has preferences, yet the Empress seemed to have none.

While the consorts were paying respects in Kunning Palace, Cining Palace welcomed its usual guest. Zhang Momo personally came forward to escort her in.
“Consort Jing, you haven’t visited for so long. Her Majesty has been thinking of you constantly.”

Consort Jing gave a light cough behind her hand, her voice gentle as she said,
“It’s Rong’er’s fault for coming back late. How is Aunt’s health?”

Zhang Momo shook her head.
“You accompanied His Majesty on the trip, how could anyone blame you? Rest assured, this old servant has been attending to Her Majesty. Just yesterday, the imperial physician came to take a look and said Her Majesty is in excellent health.”

Hearing this, Consort Jing couldn’t help but smile as well.
“Then I’m relieved.”

She was escorted all the way inside. The Empress Dowager was having her breakfast in the hall, and upon seeing her arrive, the Empress Dowager ordered the attendants to bring out another set of bowls and chopsticks, teasing:

“If you’d come any later, you’d have missed the chance to join Aunt for this meal.”

Consort Jing sat down with a soft laugh.
“Once again, Aunt has found out that Rong’er is timing her visits just to freeload a meal.”

When the tableware was brought over, Consort Jing ate two shrimp dumplings and didn’t touch anything else.

Seeing this, the Empress Dowager also set down her chopsticks. Consort Jing helped her back into the inner hall to sit down. The hall was quiet, and on the table sat a chessboard. The Empress Dowager had only learned to play after entering the palace; her skill was not great, but she greatly enjoyed playing with others.

The Empress Dowager sat opposite the chessboard.
“Rong’er, come, let Aunt see if your trip outside the palace has improved your chess skills.”

Consort Jing obediently sat down. She took the white pieces and quietly waited for her aunt to make the first move.

Only a few stones had been placed when the Empress Dowager’s slow, measured voice came,

“You’ve always been quiet, and this is the first time you’ve wanted to go out of the palace for a bit. The jolting of the carriages, you’re not afraid it might be too much for your health?”

Before the list for the summer palace trip had been finalized, Consort Jing had suddenly come to Cining Palace, saying she’d been cooped up in the palace too long and wanted to go stretch her legs at the summer palace.

She was such a quiet person that she rarely even left Yongning Palace, yet now she wanted to go to the summer palace.

With her frail health, she was suited only to resting quietly.
The Empress Dowager had wanted to match her with the Emperor, yet had long since stopped thinking about having her stay the night in Yongning Palace.

The Empress Dowager hoped her niece could have someone to protect her.

But she feared that even the usual duties of the bedchamber might be more than her niece could bear.

And now, this frail niece of hers suddenly wanted to go to the summer palace to escape the heat. The Empress Dowager naturally didn’t believe her claim of being bored, she simply assumed the girl had finally thought things through.

The Empress Dowager naturally saw clearly that Consort Jing harbored feelings for the Emperor, and she was willing to give her the opportunity.

Otherwise, with that Emperor of hers, so intent on distancing himself from Consort Jing, how could he have remembered to put her name on the list for the temporary palace trip?

Consort Jing lowered her gaze.
“But Rong’er feels that after going out once, my heart feels much lighter.”

After so many years, the knot in her heart had finally loosened a little; naturally, she could secretly savor a trace of relief.

Her aunt had not died of illness on the road to exile, but had nearly been sold into a brothel along the way. Even though in the end her aunt had only married a hunter, Consort Jing could not help but be grateful to him.

If not for him, Consort Jing dared not imagine what would have happened had her aunt truly fallen into such a place of smoke and dust.

Her aunt had always been proud, she would never have chosen to live in degradation.

But even so, her aunt had lived only a few more short years. The constant hardship of that journey had, in the end, ruined her health.

The Empress Dowager was a little surprised. She gave Consort Jing another look, and seeing that her complexion truly seemed a bit improved, she nodded.
“It seems the imperial physician was right. You do need to recuperate quietly, but you also can’t stay shut up in the hall all the time. Going out for some fresh air now and then is also a good thing.”

Skipping over the question of why she had suddenly decided to go to the summer palace, the Empress Dowager was quite interested in this trip of hers.
“What happened along the way?”

Consort Jing’s eyelashes quivered ever so slightly. She gave a faint, bitter smile.
“Though the summer palace is far, how could Aunt not already know everything? You’re teasing Rong’er on purpose.”

As she spoke, she coughed twice, her face paling slightly, yet there was also a faint flush, the kind that hinted at frailty.

Zhang Momo poured her a cup of tea.
“Consort Jing, have a sip of water.”

The Empress Dowager looked at her with concern, and when she saw her recover a bit, she couldn’t help but shake her head.
“This body of yours… Don’t complain that the medicine is bitter. All the medicine the physician sends, you must finish it.”

Only after Consort Jing smiled and agreed did the Empress Dowager return to the earlier topic, though this time with different wording.
“Or rather, how did you find the journey to the Temporary palace?”

Realizing what the Empress Dowager was asking, Consort Jing pressed her lips together slightly.
She was silent for a moment before lowering her gaze gently, her tone calm,

“The work of the same person.”

She then raised her eyes again and let out a soft sigh.
“Truly knows how to cause trouble.”

Two consorts had been demoted, one had lost her life, and many palace servants were implicated.
During this summer retreat to the palace, someone had gained from it, yet the royal family had utterly lost face before the court and ministers.

The Empress Dowager, too, said slowly,
“Yes… truly knows how to cause trouble.”