Pampered Consort's Acting Awards - Chapter 17

“The things that happened that year.”

Qin Ling nodded slightly, and her gaze went past him.

Behind Xiao Yu, stood an old man with white hair. Judging from the way dressed and the dark brown medicine case slung across his body, this person must not be a physician from the Imperial Hospital, but someone from outside.

If she guessed right, he must have come here to check on the consort dowager’s illness.

The consort dowager’s condition was strictly concealed. However, even if Qin Ling didn’t ask anything, she knew that her body was worse than before.

The increasingly heavier smell of medicine in Shouan Palace and the bloody smell that couldn’t be concealed emanating from the consort dowager’s body, seemed to imply that the current medicine was not enough. Her illness could not be cured.

After everyone moved to the side hall, Xiao Yun awoke slowly.

Qin Ling lowered her head and poked at his soft palm, softly said: “You’re awake?”

Xiao Yun was a little confused just after waking up. Resting his head on Qin Ling’s shoulder, he squinted his eyes and nodded.

Qin Ling smiled and continued to speak: “Are you still sleepy? How about moving to the warm pavilion and getting more sleep?”

Xiao Yun shook his head and unconsciously looked at the black lacquered water clock inlaid spiral shell.

It was already past the period of shenshi.

He knew that she would be leaving soon.

[warm pavilion: Uh, yes, it’s an actual room name. ‘A small room that is separated from the big house and connected with each other, can be heated by a stove’ is how it is written is baidu]

[period of shensi: 3-5 pm]

Xiao Yun looked up at her.

With one eye filled with longing, and the other with reluctance.

Sometimes, Qin Ling herself felt that there really was a tacit understanding between her and her son that no one else had. Just like now, even though Xiao Yun only glanced at her without any words, she knew what he was thinking.

Qin Ling smoothened his clothes and said: “I will come again tomorrow, alright?”

Xiao Yun scowled, lowered his head, and bit his lower lip.

Qin Ling looked at him, seeming to be waiting for him to speak. After a while, the little prince blushed and said: “Come earlier.”

Perhaps because he had just woken up, or perhaps because he was not skilled, his accent was not up to standard, like plucking the wrong string of a zither.

Qin Ling noticed it, and naturally, so did Xiao Yun.

His ears turned reddish, his eyes sank. As he clenched his fist, his head drooped lower.

Qin Ling didn’t correct him, nor did she comfort him aloud. She just poked at his small fist with the tip of her index finger.

Poking once, poking twice. He finally released his fists.

His gaze also softened.

He seemed to have no resistance to Qin Ling’s every action.

When Xiao Yu and the consort dowager entered the room, they happened to see this scene.

As the sun set in the west at the end of the day, orange-red light spilled in through the gaps in the window, and fell on the smiling Qin Ling and Xiao Yun.

His breath seemed to be taken away.

His steps paused, and he couldn’t help but wonder. If… If she was still alive, would it be like this?

At this time, Qin Ling and Xiao Yun turned their heads together.

Xiao Yun changed from his usual shyness, and approached the emperor step by step. He bowed, and paid his respect: “Imperial Father… a thousand blessings.”

Xiao Yun raised his eyebrows in surprise, and then a faint smile escaped.

After a few days of work, he now knew to pay respects.

Xiao Yu stroked his head.

Consort Dowager Sun curled her lips as she watched Xiao Yun trying to bribe his father.

In her opinion, although the child did not speak, he was very smart.

He knew very well that only in this way could Meiren Qin stay by his side.

Consort Dowager Sun looked at the two people who were not mother and son, but were better than most mother and son, and couldn’t help but pray in her heart, hoping she didn’t misjudge this person.

Qin Ling stood up and went over to pay respects to the emperor and the consort dowager.

The consort dowager nodded slightly, smiled at the corner of her mouth, and said: “I’ve troubled you today.”

“This concubine is not troubled,” Qin Ling looked up to the consort dowager and said: “Being able to help Your Majesty and Your Highness’ is my good fortune. This concubine only hopes that Consort Dowager can take care of her body.”

Hearing this, Xiao Yu glanced at her slightly and frowned: “You may retreat now.”

She had acted too cordially. Even though they had not seen each other for many years, Qin Ling was still keen enough to notice the ‘loathing’ hidden in his tone.

He had always disliked those who had the gift of gab and people who thought of themselves as smart.

 Qin Ling did not say anything anymore: “This concubine will retreat.”

After Qin Ling left, the consort dowager covered her mouth with a kerchief and coughed hard. The sound was heavier than before. At a glance, the kerchief was soaked with blood.

Seeing the dreadful bloodstain, Xiao Yu immediately said: “Consort Dowager should quickly call Changning back.”

Consort Dowager Sun clenched the kerchief, cleared her throat, and said: “There’s something that I’ve been keeping in my heart. I’m aware that my time is limited, if I don’t say it now, I may not have a chance to say it again…”

Before she could finish speaking, Consort Dowager Sun gasped for breath, seemingly losing her strength to stand. The momo quickly supported her.

Xiao Yu said: “Consort Dowager can say it slowly.”

Consort Dowager Sun stabilized her breath and spoke: “In the future, if Changning causes any trouble in the future, I sincerely ask Your Majesty to save her life.”

Xiao Lianyu was her daughter, and she knew her best.

With her restless temperament, the fact that she was able to claim to be sick and insisted on staying at Mount Li for 3 years is not as simple as her sentence, “Daughter cannot forget Su Huai’an, in this life I will not marry.”

Xiao Yu said: “We only have Changning this one younger sister, even if Consort Dowager didn’t say anything, We will protect her.”

From the side, Xiao Yun looked at the corner of Consort Dowager Sun’s mouth that was stained with blood, hurriedly walked over, stood on his tiptoes, and tried to wipe it with his hand.

“Yun’er, it’s okay, it’s okay,” The consort dowager patted his little hand to comfort him, and said: “Momo Yuan, take the eldest prince to the warm pavilion.” Momo Yuan replied that she understood, and quickly brought Xiao Yun away.

Xiao Yun turned his head and stared at the consort dowager motionlessly, his eyes gradually filled with water.

The little child seemed to know nothing, but at the same time, seemed to know everything.

Just like he knew when his mother would leave, he also knew that the consort dowager would leave in the end.

Consort Dowager Sun suddenly felt sore in her heart, and couldn’t help saying: “I will be overstepping the boundaries by saying this, but if Your Majesty has the idea to let her take care of Yun’er, then she must be promoted.”

When it comes to position, there is a lot of talk behind the scenes.

According to the court laws of the Great Zhou Dynasty, if someone of the harem wants to be promoted, she must either be favored, or she must give birth to an heir for the Imperial family. Otherwise, her maternal family must have achieved something for the country.

For example, even though Consort Xue was not favored, Xue Changbai had done a meritorious service by resisting the Mongolians all these years. Even if the emperor looked down on her, he had to give a little bit of a face for the Xue family.

However, Qin Ling’s father was nothing but a Grand Scribe with an empty position, having no opportunity to achieve anything.

If the latter couldn’t work, it could only be the former.

If an heir is out of option, then she must be favored.

If the emperor doesn’t even visit, where does the favor come from?

The harem is a place where humans can eat humans. Without a maternal family, without the emperor’s favor, how can she take care of the prince?

Xiao Yu was silent for a while, then said in a deep voice: “We will think about this matter again.” 

Looking at the emperor’s departure, the consort dowager sighed in her heart.

Recently, whenever Meiren Qin went to Shouan Palace, the emperor also followed. The harem was already in quiet disarray.

The hearts of the people of harem are the same as anyone else in this world. All of them are “the people who do not suffer from scarcity, but from unevenness.”

It was tolerable that nobody was pampered within the 3 palaces and 6 courtyards. Everyone lived together in harmony.

What they were most afraid of was if someone would break this peaceful atmosphere.

Just some time after noon, Consort Xue invited Consort Li to have tea at Xianfu Palace.

It was said to be drinking tea while enjoying the flowers, however, the hearts were obviously filled with ulterior motives.

Consort Li picked up the tea cup, took a sip, and said softly: “I’ll have to congratulate Elder Sister.”

Consort Xue: “What’s the happy occasion?”

Consort Li: “The happy occasion of Old General Xue successfully repelling the Japanese pirate attack?”

Hearing that, Consort Xue put down the cup in her hand, and the corners of her mouth curled up into a sarcastic smile: “So what if we make great contributions? In the end it cannot beat some people who are born with good appearance, able to make people ‘fall for the new, and move the old.’”

Being in the palace these few years, even though Consort Xue was not favored, she had to admit in her heart that Xiao Yu was a wise monarch.

She recalled that when the late emperor was still in power, most often than not, whichever family had done meritorious service, the concubines of that family would be favored. As the pillow talk blew, the brothers in the family were promoted one after another.

Just like Empress Chu who was favored back then. The Chu family used the power of their relatives outside to command the Ministry of Rites, the Capital Procuratorate, and the Hanlin Academy, so as to investigate the court officials and form parties for private interests.

The state between the noble families and the Imperial family had long been hostile.

Only the head of the Xue family took initiative to let his power go.

Except for 3 years ago, where Eldest Brother was negligent and let the traitor Su Huai’an escape from the prison of the Ministry of Justice. Has the Xue family not done enough for this country?

Thinking of this, Consort Xue clenched her fists.

Back then, Empress Su was favored. After all, before the discovery of Su Jingbei’s collaborating with the enemy and treason, the Su family had made great achievements for generations.

Although she was jealous, she could accept it.

But, what about this Meiren Qin now?

Just because she was born similar to her?

Consort Li softly comforted her: “Elder Sister’s maternal family is the pillar of this country, this kind of honor is worth to be envied by others.”

Consort Xue stared at Consort Li: “You actually can look clearly.”

Consort Li said slowly: “The days are peaceful and smooth, it could even be considered pleasant. It would be impossible to not be able to look clearly.”

Consort Xue sneered: “To whom are you showing your graceful appearance? If you really do not care about these things, then 3 years ago, why did you come to tell me those things in tears?”

The things that happened that year.

Consort Li squeezed the cup tightly.

At this moment, Qing Yue walked over and said: “Your Highness, Meiren Qin has arrived.”

Consort Xue smoothed her hair and said: “Bring her here.”

Qin Ling followed Qing Yue to Kuoyue Pavilion.

She was slightly surprised to see Consort Li at Xianfu Palace.

Xue Lanyi who had just entered the palace was arrogant and domineering. Relying on the power of Xue family, she often bullied this Consort Li who came from Goryeo, and oftentimes incited disharmony between her and Li Yuan.

Xue Lanyi had always come to Kunning palace to speak with her on the alternate days when Li Yuan was in favor.

She remembered that on one occasion, Xue Lanyi rushed to Kunning Palace in anger, and with a bruise on her eye said: “Can Her Majesty the Empress be the master and change this concubine’s courtyard?”

In confusion, she asked: “What bad things has happened to Xianfu Palace?”

Xue Lanyi said: “Perhaps Her Majesty is not aware His Majesty likes the tunes sung by Consort Li as it cannot be heard from Kunning Palace. However, Xianfu Palace and Changchun Palace are next to each other. It is very noisy at night, making this concubine unable to sleep.”

She looked up at Xue Lanyi’s eyes and clearly understood her intentions. Even though her heart was like undulating waves, she just said indifferently: “Your Majesty has a lot of things to do, and it is a rare thing to be able to rest in the harem. If you feel it is too noisy, come to Kunning Palace to live.”

Consort Xue returned in disappointment.

As soon as Consort Xue left, the servants of Kunning Palace muttered in secret: “Her Majesty is a person of virtue, even the consort dowager is full of praises for her. Consort Xue thought our empress is the same as her.”

“It is just the case of grapes being sour when you can’t eat them.”

[proverb meaning: what you can’t get always looks more tempting, is always better than what you already have. Basically talking about jealousy]

Every time she heard these words, she laughed.

Is she really virtuous?

Nope.

Only she knew that she was actually not a virtuous person.

She had lust, jealousy, greed, and the seven emotions and six desires that people have.

After the 3 consorts entered the palace, she once miscalculated and broke the mirror in Kunning Palace. Fu Ying hurriedly ran to look at her hand, asking why she was so careless.

She looked at the countless images of herself reflected in the broken mirror for a long time.

Racking her brain to fight for favor?

Too tiring.

She did not want to.

After that she figured it out.

It was impossible to be a virtuous person in a relationship between a husband and a wife.

But it was possible between a monarch and a minister.

Unexpectedly, afterwards, they couldn’t even be a monarch and a minister.

Qin Ling regained her senses and bowed, then said: “This concubine has seen Consort Xue and Consort Li.”

Consort Li smiled from the corner of her mouth, stared at her, and said softly: “You may dispense.”

The author’s words:

To give you a clear reminder that the male lead only has Su Ling in his heart.

Perfect level of angst :^) I know that Consort Xue must be an a-hole, but that ‘cannot sleep because the emperor keeps listening to another biatch singing next-door’ is a whole new level of a-hole.