Who Would Understand, Her Ladyship Wrote A Hundred Palace Regulations - Chapter 27

Chapter 27: His Majesty’s Affection Is Also Love

Old Madam Ning, seeing that Ning Wanyin was sincerely helping her cousin, finally gave her a smile.
“Though you’ve brought some trouble upon the family, since you’re willing to help your cousin enter the palace, it can be considered that your merits cancel out your faults.”

Ning Wanyin only smiled in silence.
Clearly, it was by borrowing her light that they had won the Cen family’s favor, yet they turned around and bit the hand that fed them.

But she did not waste more words with the old lady and simply said, “Grandmother should stay with Cousin to help her prepare her painting. In a little while, His Majesty may be back.”

“Indeed…” Old Madam Ning nodded, taking Ning Ziyin with her to the quiet chamber next door to prepare her painting, freshen up, and dress.

After the two had left.

Lady Cheng, both anxious and indignant, her eyes red, said, “Wanwan, you’ve been wronged.”

“Your daughter does not feel wronged. Since Grandmother so wishes to send Cousin into the palace, of course I should help her succeed.” Ning Wanyin gently clasped Lady Cheng’s hand, her smile faint and cool.

She certainly could have refused Old Madam Ning.

But why should she refuse?
She needed this very scene to let the Emperor see that behind her, there was no one.

Estranged from her clan, she could only rely upon the Emperor’s lonely ministers, that made her all the more useful.

What’s more, this was a chance to stir the Emperor’s pity.

Affection is also love.

She would not disdain even a little.

The power the Emperor granted, his feelings too, as a consort, of course she had to calculate for each step.

“Mother, how have you been of late?” Ning Wanyin asked with concern, looking at Lady Cheng.
“Your daughter, shut deep in the palace, has caused no small number of disturbances, worrying you.”

Lady Cheng clutched tightly at her soft hand. “So long as you are well, I have no worries. I am well. Your father wrote some days ago, by the grace of Marquis of Changping’s recommendation, he has been promoted one rank in office.”

Promoted one rank?
Together with Tang Miaoling’s various gestures, it seemed they were showing goodwill toward her.

Ning Wanyin was thoughtful.

“And your elder brother also sent a letter from Nanshan. His health has recovered greatly; you needn’t worry for us. Your own well-being is what matters most.”

Lady Cheng had one son and one daughter. Her eldest son had nearly drowned when young; though saved, only half his life was left. He had been sent to Nanshan to a divine physician for treatment and had been there for many years.

Perhaps because of her son’s misfortune, Lady Cheng was overly cautious in raising Ning Wanyin. She would often wake in the middle of the night and slip into her daughter’s room, watching her sleep soundly before she herself could rest.

That excessive caution had, more or less, influenced Ning Wanyin’s temperament. She knew that her mother’s greatest wish for her was simply to live safely.

She too cherished her life, so her mother could be at ease.

The mother and daughter spoke quietly of private matters.

Not until the hour grew late and word came from the hunting grounds that the Emperor was already returning, did Lady Cheng and Old Madam Ning take their leave, leaving Ning Ziyin behind.

Ning Ziyin had redone her grooming and attire, wearing a newly made soft-jade brocade ruqun, with two butterfly hairpins adorning her coiffure.

She had also carefully painted an excellent picture.

Ning Wanyin obligingly painted one of lesser skill, then went to the quiet chamber to change and freshen up, instructing Lian Rui to make her appearance more plain.

“Miss, why must you help Miss Ziyin so much!” Lian Rui was filled with grievance.
“Old Madam is biased toward the fourth branch, always giving them the benefits meant for our Count’s household. Even now that you’ve entered the palace and gained His Majesty’s favor, the fourth branch is envious and insists on competing with you for it!”

The Old Madam had two sons, the eldest was Ning Wanyin’s father, the youngest was Ning Ziyin’s father, ranked fourth.
The second and third branches were from concubines.
The Old Madam had always favored her youngest son.

Even the hereditary title had been tilted toward the fourth branch. Though by law the heir was the legitimate eldest son, if the eldest committed serious offenses, such as being gravely unfilial and stripped of succession, or if he died young, or if he had no heirs and had to pass the title to a nephew, there were countless twists and turns to maneuver through.

That it finally settled as it did was only because Ning Wanyin’s Fourth Uncle had died. And how did he die?
Because he had plotted to eliminate Ning Wanyin’s father.

But the position of the Countess of Shou’an could only ever belong to her mother.

“He’s dead now, let her have it,” Ning Wanyin said from before her dressing mirror, her tone steady and unhurried.

Still, Lian Rui remained sullen.

Ning Wanyin gave a soft laugh to console her. “Don’t worry. She will never enter the palace.”

Just earlier, when parting, her mother had embraced her in tears.

She had said, “Wanwan, other consorts all have their families to aid them, but the Ning clan not only cannot help you, they even force you to do what you do not wish to do, making your days in the palace all the harder.”

Her mother was wrong.

It was precisely because from childhood she had seen through all manner of scheming and deceit that this palace path, to her, was easier to tread than for those pampered young ladies who had lived smooth, sheltered lives.

Even if they had elders to guide them and clans to shield them, the pitfalls along life’s road had to be stumbled into themselves before they knew the pain.

For Ning Wanyin, the harem was merely a larger Count’s residence.

The road might seem harsher. But the cards in her hand were also more numerous.

—

At dusk, Helian Qi returned to the palace residence together with Consort Zhuang.

Consort Zhuang knew that Ning Wanyin was lodging with Helian Qi, and her heart burned with dissatisfaction. She was determined to stay close by him and seize the chance to send Ning Wanyin away.

Did she really think that just because the Emperor allowed her to share his quarters, she could monopolize his favor?

The two had only just come back from the mountains and forests, still in their martial garb, carrying with them the air of sun and dust. At a glance they saw two women kneeling at the front of the main hall to greet them.

“Rise,” Helian Qi said carelessly, waving a hand.

Consort Zhuang deliberately ordered Ning Wanyin, “We have returned from the hunt and must bathe and change. You go make the arrangements.”

She was a high-ranking consort, such words spoken as a matter of course.

Ning Wanyin accepted it without hesitation, bowing in salute. “Yes. This concubine will go make the preparations at once.”

With that, Ning Wanyin withdrew.

Left behind, Ning Ziyin, encountering such a situation for the first time, stood frozen in confusion. Consort Zhuang also noticed her, and asked with suspicion, “And who is this?”

The girl was dressed gaudily, clearly not a palace maid.

Ning Wanyin, having just reached the hall doors, turned back to salute and explained, “This concubine was remiss, and for the moment forgot to report. This is my cousin, who came today with Grandmother to visit me. We were discussing painting together, and lost track of the time… Cousin, you should return to the warm pavilion and wait there.”

But Ning Ziyin, having finally caught sight of the Emperor, was unwilling to leave. Helian Qi was so handsome and gallant, far superior to those young gentlemen Grandmother had sought out for her. She hadn’t even shown her painting to the Emperor yet, how else could she capture his attention?

“This humble daughter has heard that His Majesty often discusses painting with Elder Sister. Today I happened to paint together with her. Might I beg His Majesty to offer a critique?” Ning Ziyin sneaked glances at Helian Qi, her delicate face flushed pink.