Who Would Understand, Her Ladyship Wrote A Hundred Palace Regulations - Chapter 29

Chapter 29: The Youth Who Never Came to Propose Marriage

Flowers bloom in clusters, each branch bearing its own.

Because her rank was the lowest, Wen Baolin resided in the most remote palace. Yet since the Emperor had brought her out on this summer hunt, her heart was itching with anticipation, ready to vie for favor.

“Baolin, His Majesty went out hunting with Consort Zhuang early this morning. It’s said he left Ning Meiren to stay with him…” her maid reported the news she had gathered.

Wen Baolin’s heart sank. By day the Emperor had Consort Zhuang at his side, and by night that fox-spirit Ning Wanyin…

When would she ever have her turn to serve in the bedchamber! “Consort Zhuang is one thing, but Ning Wanyin actually dares live together with His Majesty. How shameless, clinging to him so tightly, leaving no chance for anyone else!” Wen Baolin was furious.

She had been in the palace for a month already and had not yet been summoned. She could hardly lift her head.

As mistress and maid spoke, the eunuch guide entered to announce, “Baolin, Lord Wen the Censor has arrived!”

“Quickly, invite Father in!” Wen Baolin said joyfully.

She dismissed the extra servants, leaving only her personal maid, and anxiously turned to her father.

“Father, your daughter is without favor in the palace. You must help me!”

Wen Shilang’s face was stern as he reproached her. “How could you ally yourself with Cen Jieyu?”

“Did Father not teach me, upon entering the palace, not to fight for favor, but to form wide friendships?” Wen Baolin asked in puzzlement.

“That was for you to befriend the likes of Song Meiren, those descended from the pure and upright clans, so that you would not stand alone in the palace.” Wen Shilang’s tone was heavy with disappointment.
“Our Wen family has never allied with either the Xue or Cen factions. Do I really need to remind you of this?”

But Wen Baolin did not feel she was wrong, and defended herself boldly, “Daughter knows His Majesty and the Empress Dowager are at odds. His Majesty gave Consort Shu authority over the Six Palaces, using the Cen family to check the Empress Dowager. By helping the Cen family deal with the Xues, I too am sharing His Majesty’s burdens!”

“Foolish cleverness! The ruler’s heart is unfathomable, how dare you presume to guess His Majesty’s intent? You say you share his burdens, then why does he treat you coldly?” Wen Shilang countered.

Wen Baolin was struck dumb.

“Now look at the one most favored in the palace, Ning Meiren. How does she conduct herself?” Wen Shilang’s gaze was sharp.
“She has given neither the Xue nor the Cen clans the slightest face, and yet by stepping on them she has become the Emperor’s beloved concubine.”

Wen Baolin was stunned, as though clouds had parted to reveal the sun. “Father means… Ning Wanyin gained favor precisely because she did not side with either faction…”

“The harem cannot be the domain of the Xue and Cen families alone. His Majesty will always need people who are truly his own.” Wen Shilang reminded her.

At last Wen Baolin understood. “Your daughter sees clearly now! I will definitely draw a clear line with the Cen family!”

“It is good you’ve thought it through. Do not worry, since His Majesty brought you to the summer hunt, he has not entirely cast you aside. You need only wait patiently for the right moment. Ah, and when you have the chance, you should cultivate ties with Ning Wanyin, it will be of great benefit to you!”

Wen Baolin nodded. “Daughter understands. Now that His Majesty favors Ning Wanyin, for me to fight for favor and offend her would be unwise. Rest assured, Father, I will certainly befriend her well.”

She had to cut ties with both the Xue and Cen factions, then the only one left in the palace she could make use of was Ning Wanyin.

—

In the neighboring palace, Song Meiren was also receiving her parents and elder brother.

Her father, Song Gu, the Right Censor-in-Chief, was one of the Emperor’s closest aides.
Her full-blooded elder brother, Song Chengyi, was elegant and refined. Just last month at the Spring Examinations, he had been personally appointed Tanhua by His Majesty.

For two generations, the Song family had been beloved courtiers of the Emperor. Though His Majesty saw Song Meiren rarely, he had sent her many rewards over time. Among the new concubines, she was counted as favored.

The family spoke of private matters for a while.

Song Qingzhi faltered, “That Ning woman actually shares a residence with His Majesty… such a thing has never happened before… Previously, the officials also impeached Count Shou’an for failing to discipline his daughter, saying Ning’s conduct was outrageous…”

At these words, Song Chengyi’s gaze flickered, his expression shifting slightly. Song Gu fixed his eyes sharply on his daughter. “Do you want me to impeach her?”

Meeting her father’s gaze, Song Qingzhi’s eyes wavered. “Father is a censor. Admonishing His Majesty is Father’s duty…”

“As a minister, to admonish the ruler is indeed my duty. But of all matters in the court, which one is less important than a mere concubine? Corrupt officials, the people’s livelihood, compared with these, which woman the Emperor favors is hardly worth mention. The censors must keep their eyes on state affairs, not His Majesty’s private matters.” Song Gu’s stare was unwavering as he spoke each word clearly:

“Moreover, you and she are both consorts. For the sake of your position, I must be cautious and avoid suspicion. Otherwise, should His Majesty suspect you of using your family’s power for private gain to eliminate rivals, how would you defend yourself? When the officials impeached Count Shou’an, I kept silent. First, because the matter was trivial; second, to safeguard you.”

Song Qingzhi’s face went deathly pale with shame.

“You are now a consort. You cannot behave as you did at home, indulging every whim. Think carefully before you speak.” Song Gu sighed.

Madam Song stayed behind to talk with her daughter. Father and son took their leave first.

As the eunuch guide led them out of the palace residence, they happened to meet Old Madam Ning and Lady Cheng emerging from the warm pavilion. Song Chengyi could not help glancing twice in their direction.

Not seeing that familiar figure, he withdrew his gaze.

Outside the palace, only father and son remained.

Song Gu suddenly turned to his son. “I recall something. Last year, you asked me to go to Count Shou’an’s residence to propose marriage. The young lady you had in mind, Miss Ning, the eldest daughter, is now Ning Meiren.”

“You did not agree,” Song Chengyi said quietly, lowering his head.

“Of course I would not. Our Song family, being of the qingliu (pure and upright faction), cannot ally with the hereditary nobility. If you liked a girl from a qingliu family, or even the daughter of a merchant, I could arrange the marriage. But not the descendant of a noble house.” Song Gu paused, then patted his son’s shoulder, admonishing earnestly,

“Now she is the Emperor’s new favorite. If you do not wish to destroy both yourself and her, then act as though you do not know her. See less, hear less, think less.”

Song Chengyi fell silent.

In truth, Ning Wanyin did not know him.

It was only that they happened to share the same chess tutor. One day last year, the tutor mistakenly dropped a hand-copied scroll containing the solution to a half-finished chess problem.

He picked it up, and saw that the game he had labored long over without success had already been solved.

He pressed the tutor many times, only then was the tutor willing to tell him that it was the legitimate eldest daughter of Count Shou’an’s household who solved it.

He begged his father to go to the Ning residence to propose marriage, but was refused. He could only wait until he passed the imperial examinations, had an official title, and then “negotiate” with his father again. Who would have thought…

That person had already entered the palace.

—

“Who was that young man who just walked past?” Cen Jieyu atood on the second-floor spring terrace, looking into the distance.

“That is Song Meiren’s elder brother, this year’s tanhua. He is very trusted by His Majesty,” the eunuch looked once and answered.

Cen Jieyu thought for a moment, “Why did I see him looking toward the Ning family?”

“It did seem like that…”

“That is strange. He is not some frivolous playboy, but a scholar who knows books and reason. How could he rashly stare at womenfolk… it seems more like he has some old connection with the Ning family. Go check, I want to know what relation this man has with them.” Cen Jieyu gave the order.

The eunuch accepted and left.

Cen Jieyu suddenly smiled, “Oh yes, invite Old Madam Ning here to sit with me.”

After a moment, Old Madam Ning was brought into Cen Jieuy’s residence. After greetings and small talk—

Old Madam Ning said, “Concubine, don’t worry. My eldest granddaughter may be useless, but my younger granddaughter will surely be able to serve you…”

Just then, a maid came to report, “His Majesty has returned, and he has thrown Miss Ning Ziyin out!”

Old Madam Ning could not believe it, her face turning pale.
How could this happen?

Cen jieyu paused, then shook her head with a smile. “His Majesty is always quick with joy and anger. It seems this Miss Ning does not have the skills of her elder sister. Old Madam, you had better go back and speak well with Ning Wanyin. A good bird chooses the right tree to live on.”