Pampered Consort's Acting Awards - Chapter 16

“You may dispense with courtesy.”

Shouan Palace was silent all around, only the brazier in the corner would make a crackling sound every once in a while.

Consort Dowager Sun had the portrait in her hand, and said to Xiao Yun: “Yun’er, say something for your Imperial father to hear.”

Just like usual, Xiao Yun kept his head lowered.

The consort dowager continued to coax him: “Just something, just like before.”

The little prince lowered his head and clenched his fists, but did not say a thing.

Xiao Yu calmly looked at him.

If one says there is no disappointment in his eyes, it must be false.

This was his eldest son, he knew full well what a prince who could not speak meant.

After a long silence, Xiao Yu said in a deep voice: “Someone come. Send Meiren Qin back.”

The voice barely fell, Xiao Yun raised his head at once.

His frowning expression was exactly the same as his Imperial father.

Qin Ling had guessed that Xiao Yu said so only to force the little prince to speak. However, the little prince’s eyes were showing too much grievance, and she couldn’t bear to look at it.

Xiao Yu said again: “Sheng Kanghai, what are you waiting for?”

Gonggong Sheng hurried to Meiren Qin’s side, and called her in a low voice: “Meiren, let’s go.”

Qin Ling nodded her head and lowered her eyes: “This concubine will retire.”

Xiao Yu turned his head towards her and said: “You are not allowed to step into Shouan Palace again in the future. Do you remember this?”

Qin Ling’s throat tightened, but she still said softly: “This concubine remembers.”

In addition to this, she couldn’t really speak too much. Saying too much may imply that she has a hidden agenda, and Xiao Yu and the consort dowager would not want a concubine with ulterior motives by the prince’s side.

Xiao Yun looked at Qin Ling’s departing back, and pulled at the emperor’s robe urgently.

Xiao Yu was originally a tall person, and the black dragon robe made him more intimidating.

But the little man beside him was not even three feet tall.

One tall and one short. One lowered his head and the other raised his head.

Just looking at each other.

Xiao Yun’s eyes were flushed, and his breathing became rapid. After who knows how long had passed, in a very small voice he called out, “Imperial Mother.”

These two words were like a direct hit to the head.

Xiao Yu’s entire body froze.

Xiao Yu looked at Xiao Yun’s eyes, took a deep breath, and said to him slowly: “Yun’er, We have talked to you about this. Meiren Qin is only similar to your Imperial mother, not your real Imperial mother.”

You only have one mother, and since she’s gone, she’s gone.

No one can replace her.

However, the little prince turned a deaf ear to the emperor’s words.

His gaze remained at the empty palace door.

With an order, the mother and the child were separated.

Qin Ling was sent back to Jinlan Courtyard, and the little prince was carried to bed by his wet nurse, leaving only Xiao Yu and the consort dowager in the hall.

Xiao Yu was sitting on the red sandalwood-inlaid birch armchair with a frown on his face. His fingers were twirling a white jade thumb ring.

Consort Dowager Sun could guess the emperor’s thoughts.

3 years ago, the emperor took a risk and shed all pretense of cordiality with the empress dowager by letting the eldest prince to be raised in Shouan Palace, not wanting Xiao Yun to be involved in the court dispute.

No one other than Xiao Yu could be clearer about what will happen to a prince, who lost his birth mother and without his maternal family supporting him, inside the harem.

Xiao Yu’s birth mother was the daughter of a 5th ranked Deputy Grand Servant surnamed Yu. Her identity was not prominent, but her appearance was one of the best in the capital. She was pampered upon entering the palace. However, serving a monarch is not a long-term job, as there will always be new, dazzling beauties entering the palace.

The most unretainable in the human world is: the youth that never returns in the mirror and the fallen flowers that fall away from the tree1, and the same goes for a monarch’s favor. It is impossible to keep in the world.

Zhaoyi Yu died of illness in the harem when Xiao Yu was seven years old.

After that, Xiao Yu was raised in the palace of Consort Meng. Consort Meng had a venomous heart even among the others in the harem. She often fought for favor, saying that the little prince was sick. How could a good and healthy prince get sick twice in just three days?

It wasn’t until Consort Meng got banished into the cold palace for sowing discord that Xiao Yu was picked up by the empress, who later became the current Empress Dowager Chu.

(1) This is a Chinese proverb

Consort Dowager Sun pondered for a long time and slowly said: “I know what Your Majesty is worried about, but right now, nothing is more important than Yun’er’s illness. There is no lack of wind blowing in this world. The eldest prince is now 3 years old, even if Your Majesty has been hiding it tightly, it must have leaked out long ago. Your Majesty is willing to wait for him to speak, but are the civil and military officials willing to wait?”

Xiao Yu replied: “What the consort dowager is trying to say, We don’t understand.”

“Even though it has only been 2 days, not enough time to know something clearly, but her gaze is clean and bright, and her actions upright and honest. After a bit of testing, she has never acted improperly,” Consort Dowager Sun covered her mouth with a kerchief and coughed twice: “I don’t know how long these old bones will last. The eldest prince cannot stay in Shouan Palace forever. There must be someone to take care of him, and if it happens to be Meiren Qin, then it is that child’s as well as this palace’s good fortune.”

Xiao Yu declined to comment, and only replied: “The consort dowager should take care of her body. In two days, I will call Changning back to the palace.”

Consort Dowager Sun waved her hand: “She was raised to be too unruly by me. Your Majesty doesn’t need to care about her. If she wants to stay in Mount Li, then let her stay there.”

Early in the next morning, Consort Xue sent someone to Jinlan Courtyard.

Qin Ling, who was wearing a golden cicada and jade leaf hairpin on her head, a white woven gauze over the shoulder, a persimmon colored jacket, and a pink colored long skirt, walked into Xianfu Palace.

Once arrived, she saluted Consort Xue: “This concubine has seen Her Highness Consort Xue.”

Consort Xue’s eyes were bent, her smile was even more cordial than yesterday: “Younger Sister came here really fast.”

Qin Ling bowed in reply: “Since Your Highness has invited, this concubine did not dare to delay.”

Consort Xue said casually: “Have you had breakfast?”

Qin Ling: “I’ve had it.”

Seeing that her body was still bowed, Consort Xue lifted her hand and stroked the earring on her ear, and sighed: “When I just entered the palace, I always thought that manners should not be abandoned. But after a while, one will understand that it is not easy to have someone to talk to in this cold and quiet palace, so you don’t have to be so formal. We can just talk like ordinary sisters. If there’s anything you need help with in Jinglan Courtyard, just let me know.”

“This concubine thanks Your Highness for her care,” Qin Ling then raised her eyes: “Has Your Highness slept well these two days?”

Consort Xue replied: “Thanks to you, it has gotten better.”

Qin Ling smiled: “Then, this concubine will continue to transcribe the scriptures for Your Highness.”

Consort Xue patted her shoulder: “Bengong knows you have the heart.”

After a chat with Consort Xue, Qin Ling continued to transcribe the scriptures.

Qin Ling knew that there was nothing that happened for no reason in this harem. The enthusiasm that Consort Xue showed her today was mostly related to the fact that the consort dowager had asked her to go to Shouan Palace yesterday.

The incense in the hall was overflowing. Less than an hour later, Consort Xue said quietly: “For what matter did the consort dowager look for you yesterday?”

Qin Ling paused and stopped writing. She raised her eyes, looking genuinely confused, and respectfully answered: “Her Highness Consort Dowager was ill, so she called me to serve her.”

Serve what nonsense.

One will know at once that this was a nonsense answer.

Why would the consort dowager ask for a tender melon to serve her?

The corner of Consort Xue’s mouth was slightly raised, pretending to be surprised: “What’s wrong with the consort dowager?”

Qin Ling stood up and hesitated for a while before saying: “Gugu Yuan told this concubine yesterday not to talk about this matter in private. This concubine…”

With a clear, understanding smile, Consort Xue soon spoke nonchalantly: “I only asked casually, why are you so nervous? Alright, quickly sit down. I won’t ask anymore.”

Qin Ling: “Thanking Your Highness.”

Consort Xue lowered her head and drank tea, her gaze changed slightly.

This Meiren Qin looked sincere, but she was actually borrowing the consort dowager’s name, telling not to ask questions anymore.

Consort Xue looked at Qin Ling while tapping the edge of the table with her fingers.

Since the late empress’ death, Shouan Palace seemed to have been isolated from the harem during these past few years. Apart from occasionally going to Cining Palace to sit and talk, it could be said that the master of Shouan Palace had no contact with other people in the harem.

So, why would that Shouan Palace have a relationship with a 6th ranked Meiren out of nowhere at this moment?

Naturally, because of the eldest prince.

Could it be that her face has some use for Shouan Palace?

Let’s just wait and see.

After some time, Momo Yuan of Shouan Palace came as expected.

Momo Yuan bowed, and with a smile on her face, spoke earnestly: “Her Highness the consort dowager is looking for Meiren Qin for an urgent matter.”

The actions of Shouan Palace almost confirmed what Consort Xue thought in her mind. Consort Xue immediately let her go.

The following days, Qin Ling went to Xianfu Palace to transcribe the scriptures every morning, then came to Shouan Palace to sit with Xiao Yu for 2 hours, trying to talk to him.

At first, the consort dowager was worried and always watched them from the side. However, after 3 days, the consort dowager could see it.

Xiao Yun did not hear a single word His Majesty had said on that night. Those words were like wind past his ears.

He really took Meiren Qin as his biological mother.

Although Xiao Yun didn’t speak, the consort dowager still knew the child’s temperament since she had raised him for 3 years.

The child, who was normally not close to anyone except the emperor and herself, was currently dozing off and leaning on Meiren Qin so comfortably.

Qin Ling naturally let him lean on her.

Looking at the scene in from of her, Consort Dowager Sun couldn’t help but smile.

After a long while, Consort Dowager Sun put down the medicinal food in her hand and glanced at the ink on Qin Ling’s sleeve.

Consort Dowager Sun said: “Being tossed from side to side like this every day, you’ve suffered.”

Qin Ling answered at once: “Being able to take care of the eldest prince is this concubine’s good fortune. I’ve not suffered.”

These words were spoken sincerely from Qin Ling’s heart.

She especially entered the palace again for Xiao Yun, and for this child, she even learned the tricks to seduce men from Si Yue.

Now that she didn’t even have to serve that person and can stay with her son, how could she find it suffering?

This situation was exactly what she had been looking for.

As Qin Ling was immersed in satisfaction, the sound of familiar footsteps rang outside the door.

The curtain was lifted by a young eunuch.

As soon as Xiao Yu entered the door, he saw his son asleep, leaning on Meiren Qin’s shoulder.

As their eyes met, the atmosphere turned awkward.

Qin Ling did not stand, nor did she sit. She was afraid of waking up her son, so in the end she blushed and said very quietly: “This concubine pays respect to Your Majesty.”

Xiao Yu’s gaze stayed on her face for a while, quietly answered, “You may dispense with courtesy.” Then lowered his eyes for a second before glancing at her again.