Pampered Consort's Acting Awards - Chapter 59

In the first year of the Yanxi era, during the summer.

On scorching summer days, within the Forbidden City, the sophora trees and dense bamboo cast a shadowy layer while rays of light seeped through the gaps in the clouds, illuminating the emerald green glazed tiles, sparkling and radiant.

Parting the gauzy curtains, Fu Ying assisted Su Ling as she slowly rose to her feet. With the passing of time, her belly gradually became visible, making her movements increasingly difficult.

Fu Ying massaged her shoulders and asked, “Today is the fifteenth day. The three consorts are waiting outside the hall. Should I let them in now, Your Majesty?”

Su Ling nodded and replied, “Bring in the new tea sent by the Shunguang Office.”

The doors of the Kunning Palace opened slowly, and the three consorts entered, paying their respects. In unison, they said, “We, the consorts, greet Your Majesty.”

Su Ling smiled and said, “No need for formalities, please have a seat.”

Fu Ying stood by the table, serving tea, and respectfully poured a cup for each of the three consorts. Consort Li sipped and said, “Your Majesty, this tea has a delicate and elegant fragrance reminiscent of orchids. Its taste is rich and refreshing. May I know where it comes from?”

Su Ling replied, “It is Tiantian Rock tea from Shicheng County in Jiangxi.”

Consort Li set down her cup and whispered, “I have heard that Jiangxi is renowned for producing excellent tea, such as Jinggang green tea, Fuzhou Yunlin, Meiling Maofeng, and Fuyao Xianzhi.”

Su Ling smiled at Consort Li, saying, “Exactly.”

Consort Xue couldn’t help but snort. “The emperor isn’t even here. Why pretend to be knowledgeable?” She turned to Consort Li and continued, “Oh, I never expected Li Consort to possess such insight. If I hadn’t known earlier that you were born in Goryeo, I would have thought you were from Jiangxi.”

Consort Liu forced a dry laugh.

A faint stiffness appeared at the corner of Consort Li’s mouth.

In theory, the three consorts were equals, but Consort Li alone enjoyed the emperor’s favor. She didn’t need to endure Xue Lanyi’s provocations. However, people’s personalities differ from birth, and whenever faced with Xue Lanyi’s sarcastic remarks and strange tone, Consort Li always clenched her fists in silence. This submissive attitude only served to infuriate Xue Lanyi even more.

At that moment, Su Ling suddenly lowered her head and made a sound. The three of them immediately focused their gaze on Su Ling’s belly.

Fu Ying immediately became nervous and asked, “Are you feeling unwell, Your Majesty? Should I summon the imperial physician?”

Su Ling covered her stomach, shook her head, and smiled. “No, it’s nothing. The baby just kicked me, but not too forcefully.”

Consort Li laughed and said, “This child will surely have a lively temperament in the future.”

On the surface, the three consorts showed great respect for the empress. However, the feelings in their hearts couldn’t be summed up with mere jealousy. Although the empress had reached her twenties, which wasn’t considered young in the imperial harem, when it came to her appearance, she was still unmatched by others. Time seemed to unfold her like the blooming of peonies. 

The zither played, its sound captivating like a lotus in bloom, and now she had become the epitome of beauty and fragrance in the country.

Her voluptuous figure and the swelling of her belly seem to radiate a maternal brilliance. Even a strand of dark hair falling from her temple exudes infinite tenderness. 

As the rightful occupant of the harem, the emperor’s official wife, and the daughter of the general who guards the nation, her status would be unparalleled once she gave birth to the emperor’s first son. No matter how many more women were added to the harem in the future, she would remain beyond reach in the eyes of others.

Not to mention the emperor’s inherent favor toward her.

It was not difficult to understand. After all, without the Su family, Xiao Yu’s ascension to the throne wouldn’t have been so smooth.

Consort Li had been staring at the empress’ belly while Consort Xue looked at Consort Li, the corner of her mouth unconsciously lifting. “In a few more months, Her Majesty will give birth, won’t she?”

Su Ling nodded and said, “At the end of the ninth month.”

“It seems that the palace will become lively when autumn arrives,” Consort Xue turned to Consort Li and continued, “The empress dowager mentioned yesterday that it is of utmost importance for His Majesty to have abundant offspring. Consort Li, why haven’t you consulted a physician to examine your pulse?”

Consort Li suddenly raised her gaze and locked eyes with Consort Xue.

Consort Xue went on, “If I remember correctly, His Majesty has been frequently staying at Changchun Palace in the past six months. It’s strange that your belly hasn’t settled down, Consort Li.” However, the words “frequently staying” were perceived by Consort Xue herself.

A layer of mist filled Consort Li’s eyes.

Consort Xue’s smile grew wider as she continued, “In my opinion, Consort Li should still consult a physician just to be sure. If there’s any discomfort, it’s best to receive medical treatment as soon as possible.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Su Ling lifted her eyelids to look at  Consort Xue.

Consort Xue’s heart skipped a beat.

In the past six months, she had indeed been frightened by the empress’ punishments—copying scriptures, copying palace rules. At first, it didn’t seem like a severe punishment, but when she couldn’t write anymore and had to find someone to write on her behalf, she never expected that the empress would assign someone to oversee her writing. She didn’t know how many books she had copied in the past six months, and this gaze made her wrist ache.

Having completed her sarcastic remarks, Consort Xue feigned obedience and said, “I misspoke, Your Majesty.”

Su Ling said, “I’m tired. You may leave now.”

The empress had never been arrogant, but her tone had clearly changed. It was evident that she was displeased.

After Consort Xue and Consort Li left, Li Yuan returned once again. Su Ling looked at her reddened eyes and asked, “What happened?”

Tears streamed down Li Yuan’s face.

Su Ling helplessly said, “Consort Xue is impulsive, but both of you hold the position of consort. Unless there’s a major mistake, I cannot always stand up for you…”

“It’s not because of Consort Xue,” Li Yuan said, wiping her tears with her hand. “I feel frustrated with my own inability to conceive.”

Indeed, Su Ling no longer felt much about a specific matter.

Su Ling looked at her and said, “Although the empress dowager is urging for an heir, have I ever mentioned anything to you on behalf of His Majesty?”

Li Yuan replied, “I know that His Majesty and Your Majesty treat me well, but the more you do, the more guilty I feel.”

Su Ling patted her shoulder and said softly, “I married His Majesty at the age of seventeen, and it was only this year that I had an heir. You are still young, and there is plenty of time ahead. Why rush?”

Li Yuan looked up, her teary eyes fixed on Su Ling as she said, “Your Majesty and His Majesty truly understand each other’s hearts. His Majesty has also…”

She spoke halfway, but the rest of the content was not difficult to guess.

What had he done?

Had he consoled her with the fact that the empress had been childless for years?

Li Yuan suddenly knelt down and said, “It’s not what His Majesty meant. It was my mistake.”

Su Ling’s expression remained unchanged, but she admitted that when Xiao Yu used her past vulnerability to comfort Li Yuan, it did ignite a long-lost flame in her heart.

But it extinguished in an instant.

Su Ling supported her waist and stood up, looking down at Li Yuan. “Get up.”

Li Yuan hesitated to rise. “I am guilty. Please punish me, Your Majesty.”

Since it was so, Su Ling didn’t ask her to get up and simply walked past her, returning to the inner chamber. She was not completely oblivious to people’s thoughts.

If she liked kneeling so much, then let her kneel.

When Su Ling woke up, it was already afternoon.

Today was the fifteenth day, and Fu Ying feared the emperor would come early for his meal. She noticed Li Yuan kneeling outside and reminded, “Your Majesty, Consort Li is still kneeling outside.”

“She’s still kneeling?” Su Ling frowned. “What time is it?”

Fu Ying replied, “It’s noon.”

Su Ling smiled at Fu Ying and said, “She has been kneeling outside all this time, why didn’t you wake me up?”

Fu Ying responded, “Regardless of whether she did it intentionally or not, if she made Your Majesty uncomfortable, isn’t that a sin in itself?”

After Su Ling had a nap, she had already lost her temper. “Alright, quickly ask her to leave, or the empress dowager will have something to gossip about again.”

Fu Ying lowered her head and responded.

During the Yongchang era, too many messes were left behind, and the court was in decline. Emperor Xiao Yu would hold court not only in the morning but also in the evening. He worked tirelessly, neglecting his sleep and meals.

Today was the fifteenth day, the day he would return to Kunning Palace, no matter how late it was or how busy he was.

It was night.

Xiao Yu lay behind Su Ling, his hand resting on her belly. He kissed her shoulder and said, “The court affairs with the ministers took longer today.”

Su Ling turned around and saw a faint bruise under his eyes. She said, “The matters of the former dynasty are important. If Your Majesty is busy, it’s fine to rest in the Yangxin Hall.”

A hint of a smile appeared in Xiao Yu’s eyes. “Ah Ling, don’t you miss me at all?”

Su Ling helplessly said, “Yesterday, Your Majesty had dinner with me.”

“I don’t want to hear you call me ‘Your Majesty’.” Xiao Yu turned her over, biting her lower lip, his hand gradually moving downwards. His voice lowered, “It has been several months, can’t we?”

Su Ling gently nudged him with her elbow. “I really don’t feel well lately.”

Xiao Yu asked her lowly, “What’s wrong?”

Su Ling murmured, “I’m extremely tired and constantly sleepy.”

Knowing her hardships during this pregnancy, Xiao Yu couldn’t bear to push her further. He rubbed his temples and said, “Then I’ll go to the washroom. You go ahead and sleep.”

Su Ling watched his figure as he left and then turned over.

The night passed by.

Xiao Yu had to wake up at cockcrow, and as soon as he did, Su Ling habitually sat with him.

In fact, Su Ling’s eyes had a touch of charm to them, although it was not evident in her usual empress demeanor. Now, with sleepy eyes gazing at him, helping him change clothes, there was a hint of familiarity from the past.

But little did Xiao Yu realize that resemblance to the past was no longer the same.

Xiao Yu put on his regular attire and headed for the morning court.

The civil and military officials on the imperial road appeared weary, and there was constant whispering. Since the fifteenth year of Yongchang, the Great Zhou Dynasty no longer held court daily. After enjoying such comfortable days for a long time, seeing the new emperor diligently attending to state affairs naturally displeased many. Su Ling remembered that when the morning court was first resumed, someone solemnly presented a memorandum, claiming fatigue and inability to get up from bed at the third watch. Xiao Yu made an example of that person to warn the rest, not only confiscating his black gauze hat but also giving him fifty strokes of the cane. Since then, no one dared to complain of tiredness while attending the morning court.

After the emperor took his seat and cracked the whip, the civil officials faced north and ascended west, while the military officials faced north and ascended east, followed by three kowtows and six bows (1).

(1) Referring to: “《礼部七 朝仪》” (Book of Rituals and Ceremonies – Seven Ceremonies): This is a reference to a book that describes ancient ceremonial practices and protocols, specifically related to the morning court rituals.

Once the ceremonial rituals were completed, each ministry presented their reports. Although it was called reporting, most of the time, it involved financial calculations.

A saying holds true: dynasties’ decline throughout history often began with economic collapse.

The treasury was empty, and the local taxes couldn’t be collected. Currently, the war was intense, and Revenue constantly cried about poverty. Minister He Chengmao, the Minister of Revenue, was indeed a master of acting.

Xiao Yu would have believed he was genuinely poor without knowing how wealthy the He family was.

He Chengmao said, “I understand Your Majesty’s concern for the frontier soldiers, but I calculated the accounts last night, and the provisions provided to the army since the start of the war with Qi have been more than sufficient…”

“More than sufficient?” Xiao Yu slammed the report on the table and sternly said, “That’s a total of sixty thousand people! If Minister He thinks it’s more than sufficient, I’ll recall the Duke of Zhen and send you to fight in his place.”

He Chengmao bowed and said, “Your Majesty, please calm down.”

“The soldiers cannot fight on an empty stomach. Rather than lamenting poverty with me, Minister He, you should thoroughly examine the Revenue accounts.” Having led troops at eighteen, Xiao Yu understood the situation at the frontier well.

Gritting his teeth, He Chengmao bowed in agreement.

Next was the implementation of the grain storage plan. The documents were loudly read in the council hall, “Storing grain not only helps absorb the displaced but also prevents banditry. As more land is cultivated, the tax revenue will naturally…”

Before the words could finish, a sudden cry came from outside the Taihe Hall, “Urgent report from the frontier!”

There was a rule during the morning court. Any urgent report from the frontier would take precedence.

Another voice followed, “The governor of Langzhou requests an audience.”

“Let him enter the hall!”

The Governor of Langzhou, covered in dust, held an urgent report and knelt down upon entering the hall. He said, “Your Majesty, our sixty thousand soldiers at Mihe have been trapped, and none have survived… Su Jingbei has defected. I personally witnessed him entering the borders of the Qi Kingdom while being attacked from both front and rear. And he never returned.”