Who Would Understand, Her Ladyship Wrote A Hundred Palace Regulations - Chapter 30

Chapter 30: A Reward Bestowed for Her

The bright moon hung high in the sky.

Before the Zijin Temporary Palace, on the Wild Goose Platform, bonfires were set ablaze, roasting the fresh game hunted during the day. Alongside it were the delicate pastries prepared by the accompanying imperial chefs, and jars of fine jade wine brought from the palace.

A host of princes, dukes, and ministers sat in attendance, waiting in order.

From afar, the ceremonial guards carried forth the grand and solemn imperial palanquin. As it arrived, all the officials fell to their knees in unison, bowing, “We greet Your Majesty!”

“Rise, all of you.” Helian Qi, now dressed in a brand-new dragon robe, stepped out from the palanquin holding Ning Wanyin’s hand.

At that moment, all who saw were struck with astonishment.

To share the Emperor’s palanquin, this Ning Meiren, rumored to hold favor above all six palaces, was truly even more favored than the rumors claimed.

Consort Zhuang was deeply upset, muttering under her breath, “Vixen! What is there to flaunt? I too have sat there before!”

Her resentful gaze swept toward the Emperor, and in anger she grabbed a wine cup from the table and downed it in one gulp.

Her close maid quickly reminded her, “Your Ladyship, His Majesty has not yet raised his cup.”

“The Emperor would never fuss with me over such things,” Consort Zhuang replied, and poured herself another cup without hesitation. Before Ning Wanyin appeared, she had been the most favored of the Six Palaces.

Indeed, the Emperor had always indulged her temper. Whenever Consort Zhuang quarreled with another concubine, it was always the other who suffered misfortune.

Helian Qi took his seat, and music and dance began.

Ning Wanyin also returned to her place. At this moment she was dressed with the utmost care, newly changed into a concubine’s-colored ruqun, adorned with her beloved butterfly hairpin swaying gently at her temple.

She was dazzling, radiant, truly of peerless beauty.

Every movement was flawless, only beneath her skirt her calves trembled ever so slightly. She was tired.

For the two of them had just shared passion in full bloom, and in the bathhouse no less, how could it have been only a simple bath?

“Ning Meiren was just saying she was hungry. This eight-treasure cake, bestow it upon her.” Helian Qi looked at one of the pastries on the imperial table and gave the order.

The Emperor’s food, the concubines’ food, and the officials’ food were all of different rank.

Of course, Ning Wanyin’s own table was not lacking in desserts. But the Emperor’s mindful favor showed her special indulgence.

At once, all gazes shifted toward her, with expressions that varied greatly.

Wang Degui presented the eight-treasure cake to Ning Wanyin.

Ning Wanyin trembled as she rose, bowing respectfully. “Many thanks for His Majesty’s grace and reward.”

“Your Majesty, I want some too!” Consort Zhuang glared at Ning Wanyin angrily.

Helian Qi laughed. “You don’t even like sweets. What eight-treasure cake would you want? Send Consort Zhuang a plate of the roasted venison leg that I hunted today.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty! To taste what Your Majesty has hunted with his own hands, I am truly honored.” Consort Zhuang’s face instantly brightened with joy, her eyes glancing provocatively toward Ning Wanyin.

What I eat is the very game His Majesty hunted himself.

“Better than yours!”

As soon as those words fell, Helian Qi gave another order, “Reward all the other consorts with a plate as well. Beauty Ning does not need it. She has always eaten lightly and cannot stomach smoked and roasted food. Send her instead a bowl of clear stewed pheasant soup.”

The Emperor had hunted much game that day. Among them were also several wild pheasants, and the imperial chefs had removed the gaminess and simmered them into broth.

Ning Wanyin rose together with the other consorts to give thanks.

Consort Zhuang’s smile froze on her face, her mood sinking into gloom.

Xue Zhaoyi and Cen Jieyu never concerned themselves with competition over favor. So long as the Emperor granted them a dish and preserved their dignity, as for those extra signs of indulgence, it mattered little.

The most stricken was Song Qingzhi. She had always eaten lightly, but His Majesty could not remember her preferences, while he could remember Ning Wanyin’s taboos.
How could she not feel pained?

After a round of song and dance, and after three rounds of wine—

Helian Qi suddenly turned toward the gathered ministers and said, “Last month, the pagoda built by the Empress Dowager for the prosperity of Great Yan was completed. The abbot told We that true prayer rests in sincerity. If one who prays ascends the pagoda, and remains there in seclusion, fasting and chanting sutras for three years, that is what best shows sincerity.”

Xue Zhaoyi’s expression shifted, and she immediately rose to speak, “May Your Majesty permit me to report, my aunt is plagued by illness, and now is resting. I fear it would be difficult for her to personally go up the mountain to pray.”

“Of course We cannot allow my Imperial Mother to pray while sick. Therefore We have decided to choose someone blessed with deep fortune to go to the pagoda and pray in her stead.” Helian Qi unhurriedly took up the second half of the matter, his gaze turning to Ning Wanyin.

“I have heard that your grandmother is devoted to the Buddha, and with a granddaughter such as you, good in all respects, she must surely be one blessed with fortune. Then let your grandmother go to the pagoda in place of the Empress Dowager to pray.”

All eyes immediately turned toward Ning Wanyin, and then all together toward the seat of the Count of Shou’an’s household.

Ordinarily, in such a gathering, the Count of Shou’an might not even have been present. Among the hereditary nobles, there were only a few allotted seats, and with so many families, the Ning clan had little chance of being included.

It was because Ning Wanyin had become the Emperor’s beloved consort that the Ning family had a seat this year.

At this moment, it was Old Madam Ning and Lady Cheng seated there. There was no extra place for Ning Ziyin, besides, she had just been driven out by the Emperor, and Old Madam Ning dared not let her appear to offend his eyes again.

Old Madam Ning never expected that the Emperor would suddenly speak of her. She froze for a moment before recovering, trembling as she stepped out of line, kneeling to give thanks,

“Your Majesty overestimates me, this old woman… this old woman…”

For her to go to the pagoda and remain in fasting seclusion for three years, was that not the same as locking her away in the mountains for three years?

“Old Madam Ning, His Majesty’s decree, you need only give thanks for the grace.” Wang Degui coughed lightly to remind her.

Old Madam Ning was seething with rage. It must have been that wretched Ning Wanyin, she was the one who whispered into the Emperor’s ear!

But before an imperial decree, there was no place for refusal.

“This old woman thanks Your Majesty’s grace!” Old Madam Ning could only grit her teeth and accept.

After arranging this, Helian Qi turned toward Duke Xue. “What does the Duke think of Our decision?”

“Your Majesty’s filial piety shines forth, Your Majesty’s wisdom is clear!” Duke Xue smoothly rose and bowed.

Otherwise, should the Empress Dowager go herself?
Of course everyone had to praise the Emperor as wise and brilliant.

Xue Zhaoyi, watching this scene, also understood. The Emperor had never intended to drive the Empress Dowager away, and the Xue clan would never allow the Empress Dowager to be pushed out…

The Emperor was only using this as a pretext to drive out that old woman of the Ning family.

And the Ning family could only express their honor.

To pray in place of the Empress Dowager, was that not the greatest favor under heaven?

“Old Madam Ning will pray in the Empress Dowager’s stead, enduring hardship. The Ning clan also has Ning Wanyin carefully caring for Us, and the Count of Shou’an serving Us loyally. Your Ning family, loyal and virtuous as a whole, brings Us great comfort.”
Helian Qi continued,

“Pass on Our decree: bestow upon the Ning family a plaque of ‘Loyal and Virtuous,’ grant the Madam of the Count of Shou’an the title of a second-rank noblewoman.”

First rank was the wife of a Duke, second rank the wife of a Marquis, third rank the wife of an Count.

Lady Cheng’s official standing was still that of a third-rank Earl’s wife, but now she would enjoy the treatment of a Marquis’s Madam.

(The conferment of noble titles upon women in the Great Yan dynasty followed two systems, one based on their husband’s noble rank, the other on their husband’s official post.)

Ning Wanyin was startled, looking at Helian Qi in surprise, then rose to bow. “Thank you, Your Majesty, for Your boundless grace.”

Lady Cheng and Old Madam Ning also hurriedly bowed to give thanks. Only, one’s face was full of delight, the other’s smile forced and stiff.

Helian Qi looked toward Ning Wanyin, and seeing the joy written on her face, his mood brightened greatly.

—

After the night banquet dispersed.

Ning Wanyin bathed and changed into her nightclothes.

Lian Rui tended to Ning Wanyin’s long dark hair, delighted, saying, “Mistress, His Majesty treats you so well! He sent Old Madam away to the mountain, venting your anger for you. He also granted Madam the title of a noblewoman, rewarding the Ning clan. Now who would not envy the Ning family?”

“I too did not expect His Majesty to do all this…” Ning Wanyin leaned against the bath tub, a little surprised.

She had only wanted the Emperor to pity her a little more. That His Majesty would intervene in the Ning family’s household affairs, punishing one and rewarding another, this she had truly not expected…

Now she could understand why the women of the harem, even knowing that falling in love with the Emperor was a painful thing, would still throw themselves forward one after another.

When the Emperor chose to treat you well, what he could give you was truly too much.

But… in the end, all of it came from imperial power.

Imperial power, this was the most enchanting thing in the world.