Who Would Understand, Her Ladyship Wrote A Hundred Palace Regulations - Chapter 26

Chapter 26  Offering a Cousin?

Early in the morning, the Emperor took Consort Zhuang along with a number of princes and high ministers out hunting.

Ning Wanyin could not ride or shoot, so she remained behind in the traveling palace.

Though this generation of noble daughters were all called “daughters of generals’ households,” in truth, the fashion of the age prized softness in women. Martial training was regarded as coarse.

Even daughters of military clans learned the qin, chess, calligraphy, painting, etiquette, and rules, not archery or horsemanship.

Occasionally, a girl from a humbler household, less bound by such rules, might have the chance to learn riding and shooting. Of course, Ning Wanyin did not think Consort Zhuang vulgar, rather, she envied her skill.

If one encountered assassins, she would be the one to survive.

Now that Ning Wanyin lived in the same palace as the Emperor, she could only attend upon him in the main hall when summoned. Normally, she stayed in the warm pavilion attached to the main hall.

She had especially requested the Emperor’s permission to receive her family in that warm pavilion.

“Mistress, the Old Madam and Madam have arrived!” Xiao Guizi cheerfully led a party inside.

At the center was the smiling Old Madam Ning.

On the left was Lady Cheng, face alight with joy. On the right, supporting Old Madam Ning, was a young girl about the same age as Ning Wanyin, graceful and blooming.

“Wan’er…” Lady Cheng had just opened her mouth.

Old Madam Ning’s eyes swept the room, catching sight of all the palace maids and eunuchs. She coughed lightly and said, “First, pay respects to Ning Meiren!”

“Grandmother and Mother need not stand on ceremony. Xiao Guizi, you all may withdraw. Only Lian Rui shall remain to attend.” Ning Wanyin understood the unspoken cue.

Xiao Guizi and the others bowed and departed. Only her own family remained in the room.

Old Madam Ning’s expression instantly hardened, her gaze on Ning Wanyin sharp with severity.
“Ning Wanyin, you have shown grave disrespect to the Empress Dowager. Do you admit your fault?”

“This was all His Majesty’s favor, Wan’er could not refuse the imperial grace…” Lady Cheng spoke up to defend her.

“Hmph! I never thought you would be so shallow. Once so cautious, but with the Emperor’s favor you have grown arrogant! To neglect the Empress Dowager like this, do you realize, in offending the Xue family, there will be no good end for you? Worse still, the whole family will be dragged down by you.” Old Madam Ning’s eyes gleamed like blades, each word cutting deep.

“Because of you alone, the entire clan is imperiled. You are the Ning family’s calamity! And your mother, to have raised such a wicked daughter, is likewise the Ning family’s sinner!”

At the word sinner, Lady Cheng’s face paled further, though she still struggled to defend Ning Wanyin.
“Wan’er must have had no choice in many things within the palace…”

Ning Wanyin had long expected her grandmother would come to hold her to account.

To offend the Xue family, her grandmother was bound to be deeply alarmed.

But for the Ning family to desire imperial favor while also currying favor with the Xues and the Cens, how could there be such a perfect outcome?

She had chosen the Emperor because she was cornered, with no other road. Yet even if she were not, among these three powers, only the Emperor was the best choice.

So long as she lived, the Ning family would be safe. If she died, the Emperor, remembering her loyalty unto death, would still leave her kin a way to survive.

“Then I wonder, Grandmother, what lesson do you wish to teach me?” Ning Wanyin looked at her calmly.

After scolding her so harshly, there was surely more to come.
The old lady could not have come all this way just to quarrel with her.

“It is thanks to your father’s capable service that the Cen family is willing to lift us up. From this day forth, if you look to Cen Jieyu as your guide within the palace, the Cen family will naturally protect us.” Old Madam Ning’s gaze softened slightly as she looked at Ning Wanyin.

Ning Wanyin’s lips pressed lightly together, a flicker of unsurprised mockery flashing in her eyes.

Once, the Ning family had sought to curry favor with the Xues and the Cens, but those houses disdained them.

Now that she was the Emperor’s new favorite, having struck a heavy blow to the Xue family’s pride, the Cens extended them an olive branch.

But would she dare to accept it?

If she accepted, she would become another Wen Baolin. Once she lost favor, without the Emperor’s protection, how could she possibly stand against the Xues?
At that time, of what use would she be to the Cen family?
Would they still shield her?

“As Grandmother sees, I am a foolish one. I admire His Majesty, and my heart is solely for him. The tasks you ask of me, I would not do them well…” Ning Wanyin declined evenly, neither hurried nor slow.

“I knew you could not be relied upon!” Old Madam Ning cast her a look of disdain, then turned toward the young girl at her side, her tone softening, “This is your cousin. Bring her into the palace, and she will naturally share your burdens.”

“Mother, you never said before that Ziyin was to enter the palace…” Lady Cheng was shocked.

Old Madam Ning cast her a warning glare, then looked back at Ning Wanyin. “Although you enjoy the Emperor’s favor for the moment, no woman’s favor lasts forever. If your cousin enters the palace, she can help you secure it. Grandmother is only thinking of your good…”

“How can this be! People will surely slander Wanwan! If Ziyin wishes to enter the palace, better to wait for the draft three years from now.” Lady Cheng cried out in opposition.

Though the Emperor could bring in women at any time, only the Imperial selection was legitimate.
Any other time, it was considered an offering.

If Ning Wanyin were to offer her own cousin to the Emperor, she would surely be condemned by many as a demoness who bewitched the ruler.

“Cheng-shi, you grow more and more unruly, do you even dare to contradict my words?” Old Madam Ning shot her a cold glance, her eyes full of anger.

Lady Cheng bent in salute. “Daughter-in-law meant no such thing… Please, Mother, do not be angry. But to make Wanwan offer her cousin, this truly harms her reputation!”

Ning Wanyin said softly, “Mother, do not worry. Compared to your daughter’s reputation, the family is more important. If Grandmother believes that Cousin’s entering the palace will bring great benefit to the clan, then naturally Wanwan must help her cousin.”

“Elder Sister is willing for me to enter the palace?” Ning Ziyin was somewhat surprised.

“So long as Younger Sister is willing, I will lend you a hand.” A faint smile flickered in Ning Wanyin’s brows and eyes.

Ning Ziyin half believed, half doubted, her words carrying a hidden barb. “If Younger Sister enters the palace, it is to help Elder Sister. Only I fear that Elder Sister would not wish for her younger sister to gain favor…”

“Younger Sister, you overthink. But even if I were to offer you to His Majesty, should His Majesty not take a liking to you, then Grandmother’s kind intentions would come to nothing,” Ning Wanyin said evenly.

Ning Ziyin had just wanted to say, His Majesty will surely take a liking to me…

When she heard Ning Wanyin continue,
“To ensure Younger Sister can catch His Majesty’s eye, let me give you a suggestion. Why not paint a picture to attract His Majesty’s attention? His Majesty excels in painting; loving the art, he may look favorably upon you.”

“Of course, His Majesty’s vision is lofty, he has seen countless famous works. If Younger Sister’s skill cannot yet stand out alone, then let Elder Sister act as a foil for you. With my clumsy piece placed before, your painting will naturally be elevated as though it were a masterpiece of the immortals.”

“You may also borrow my jewelry for adornment, they were all bestowed by His Majesty, far finer than anything outside the palace. As for me, I shall dress simply, yielding my adornment to highlight your beauty.”

Lady Cheng grew anxious as she listened.
Wouldn’t her daughter be outshone by her cousin this way?
Even if Ziyin must enter the palace, there was no need to have her so carefully presented. If the Emperor’s heart strayed, what would happen should her daughter lose favor?

Ning Ziyin’s eyes sparkled, and she quickly turned to Old Madam Ning.
“Grandmother, my elder sister’s painting…”

She needed to be sure, was Ning Wanyin truly poor at painting, lest she be tricked.

Old Madam Ning nodded firmly. “You are better than she is.”

The tutors hired to teach Ning Wanyin painting and chess had both been specially engaged at great expense by the Old Madam.

Ning Wanyin’s chess was passable, but in painting she was hopelessly slow to learn.

“If Elder Sister helps me so, then in the future, Younger Sister will certainly look after Elder Sister as well.” Ning Ziyin finally felt at ease, speaking prettily with practiced grace.

In truth, she had no intention of caring for Ning Wanyin.

Seeing Ning Wanyin bask in favor, she was eaten alive by jealousy.
Why should Ning Wanyin have such good fortune?

She herself was in no way inferior to Ning Wanyin!

Before, she had feared suffering in the palace, thinking it better to marry as the principal wife into an official’s household, and so she had not joined this year’s draft.

But now, seeing Ning Wanyin so deeply favored, she regretted it bitterly.