Who Would Understand, Her Ladyship Wrote A Hundred Palace Regulations - Chapter 35

Chapter 35: It’s My Duty as a Concubine

Helian Qi gave her a cold glance. “This is what she should do as the person in charge of assisting in managing the six palaces.”

The power to manage the six palaces also came with responsibilities, including taking care of pregnant concubines.

After a pause, Helian Qi continued, “I didn’t want to bother others, but you’ve almost had two accidents. You’re not careful enough, how can I trust others to take care of you?”

The Emperor would blame others for harming Shun Pin, but he would also blame Shun Pin herself for not being cautious.

Shun Pin’s face turned pale instantly. She didn’t care about her physical discomfort and quickly knelt down to apologize. “I’m incompetent, I almost didn’t protect the imperial heir…”

“Since you know you’re incompetent, then follow my arrangements and don’t try to be clever,” Helian Qi warned coldly.
He then instructed Chun Que, “Help your mistress up. She’s just recovered from an illness, take good care of her with medicine.”

With that, the Emperor stood up and walked out.

He didn’t have a close relationship with Shun Pin, and he only paid extra attention to her because he wanted to protect the child. That didn’t mean Shun Pin could speak freely in front of him.

The Emperor’s entourage left Changchun Palace. Shun Pin stood up with Chun Que’s help, her eyes slightly red. Being scolded by the Emperor made her feel wronged.

“How can the Emperor blame you, Your Ladyship? You’ve been careful and haven’t left the palace since you got pregnant,” Chun Que said indignantly.

Shun Pin’s face showed a mix of sadness and bitterness. “It’s always been like this since ancient times. If I can’t protect the child, it’s my fault.”

“It’s all because Tang Meiren plotted to harm you… I’ve heard that the Emperor was lenient and only put her under house arrest. It’s all because of that fox spirit’s plea. Now the Emperor is making her take care of you. Won’t it be even more convenient for her to harm you in the future?” Chun Que complained unhappily.

Shun Pin thought for a moment and shook her head. “Since she’s been assigned to this task by the Emperor, if anything happens to me, she won’t be able to escape blame. In this palace, she’s the least likely to harm me…”

“How can you trust an outsider, Your Ladyship?” Chun Que asked anxiously.

Shun Pin’s eyes showed a hint of disappointment. “It’s not about trust. This is her duty, and she’s tied to me now. I know the Emperor is doing this for my own good. He just doesn’t want her to use me to gain favor, or rather, use the imperial heir in my womb to gain favor.”

“Gain favor? Your Ladyship means…” Chun Que suddenly understood.
“Lady Ning is using you to get close to the Emperor?”

“Otherwise, why would she take on this difficult task? Now that she’s in charge of taking care of my pregnancy, she’ll have plenty of opportunities to see the Emperor over the next six months,” Shun Pin said with a hint of resentment in her voice.

She hadn’t even used her pregnancy to gain favor yet. How could she let someone else benefit from it?

This was the reason Shun Pin thought Ning Wanyin would take on this task. After all, everyone knew it wasn’t an easy task, unless there was sufficient benefit.

Ning Wanyin was currently very favored, but the favor shown to women in the palace was always temporary. No one could guarantee that they would remain favored forever.

With this child, Ning Wanyin would have enough opportunities and reasons to see the Emperor until she gave birth.

Apart from this reason, Shun Pin couldn’t think of any other reason why Ning Wanyin would be willing to take on this task.

“This woman is really cunning. Tang Meiren drugged you… it’s possible that she was behind it all,” Chun Que speculated with ill intentions.

“Whether she was behind it or not, the Emperor didn’t pursue the matter,” Shun Pin sighed.
“Anyway, she shouldn’t dare to do anything now. We still need to be careful. She’s just an outsider after all, and can’t be trusted.”

“Yes, this servant will definitely take good care of you. Let’s find an opportunity to get rid of her!” Chun Que said.

As they were talking, a eunuch came to report from outside the door, “Ning Meiren requests an audience.”

Ning Wanyin left Xianfu Palace and headed to Changchun Palace. On the way, she encountered the Emperor’s entourage coming from the direction of Changchun Palace.
Ning Wanyin stood far away and bowed…

The imperial carriage stopped in front of her. The man on the dragon carriage looked down at her from above. “It’s a bit far from Yonghe Palace. Would you like to move to Changchun Palace?”

“Shun Pin is prioritizing her pregnancy, and if I live with her, it might be noisy and disturb her rest,” Ning Wanyin declined with a bow.

Helian Qi’s gaze lingered on her for a moment before he said, “The weather has been hot lately. Wang Degui, grant Ning Meiren half a set of ceremonial umbrellas and fans.”

In the Great Yan Palace, only concubines of the rank of Zhaoyi and above could ride in a sedan chair or carriage with ceremonial umbrellas and fans, known as “color envoy”.

For concubines below Zhaoyi, an extra reward would be half a set of ceremonial umbrellas and fans, which meant they would have the same specifications as Zhaoyi, but with fewer decorations on the carriage.

This way, there would be a distinction between them and Zhaoyi, and it wouldn’t be considered an overstep.

Ning Wanyin would rather not walk, especially in the hot weather. She would have to endure the scorching sun…

“Thank you for Your Majesty’s kindness!” Ning Wanyin immediately bowed to thank him. Having received the reward, she showed her enthusiasm for the task, which naturally caught the Emperor’s attention.
“I will definitely take good care of Shun Pin!”

Helian Qi listened to her crisp and confident voice, his thin lips curling slightly.

Ning Wanyin always knew how to behave. That’s why he liked to promote her.

He had been thinking of taking some power away from Consort Shu, and he had originally considered two other people. Now, it seemed that Ning Wanyin was unexpectedly useful…

Ning Wanyin arrived at Changchun Palace, and the head palace maid, Chun Que, immediately welcomed her inside.

This was Shun Pin’s order. If she dared to leave Ning Wanyin standing outside, Ning Wanyin would report it to the Emperor, and Shun Pin would be the one to suffer.

Shun Pin wasn’t particularly smart, but she wasn’t without schemes. She naturally put on a good face.

“I pay my respects to Shun Pin,” Ning Wanyin bowed, her etiquette impeccable.

Shun Pin leaned against the bed, sizing up the rumored new favorite concubine. She showed a gentle smile on her face. “Younger Sister Ning, please rise. I’ve heard from the Emperor that you’re here to take care of me. I’m touched, and I’m afraid I’m troubling you.”

“It’s my duty, Your Ladyship,” Ning Wanyin replied neither haughtily nor humbly.

Shun Pin’s smile froze for a moment. Just a concubine, and she dared to say that taking care of a Pin was her duty?
She was quite arrogant.

But the Emperor had said the same thing. The Emperor indeed favored this woman as much as the rumors said.

Since Ning Wanyin was one of the Emperor’s favorites, Shun Pin didn’t want to start a direct conflict with her. Even if she wanted to get rid of Ning Wanyin, it wouldn’t be on her first day at Changchun Palace.

Otherwise, it would be a slap in the Emperor’s face.

“My body is not well, so I’ll entrust everything in Changchun Palace to you, sister,” Shun Pin said politely.

“With your words, Your Ladyship, I’ll feel more at ease,” Ning Wanyin replied courteously. She didn’t waste time on small talk and got straight to the point.
“The Emperor has ordered me to take care of your pregnancy, Milady. The palace maids in Changchun Palace will take orders from me. Of course, if you feel I’m not doing a good job, you can go and ask the Emperor.”

As she spoke, she looked directly at Chun Que and instructed, “Summon all the palace maids in Changchun Palace to gather in the courtyard.”

Chun Que was taken aback and hesitated. “You want me to do that?”

“Who else?” Ning Wanyin replied matter-of-factly.

“I’m Shun Pin’s palace maid, Ning Meiren. You can’t give me orders…” Chun Que retorted with hostility.

Ning Wanyin said calmly, “Lian Rui, go and ask the Emperor if the palace maids who don’t take orders from me should be replaced.”

Lian Rui received the order and was about to leave.

Shun Pin snapped out of her daze and quickly said, “Wait… this girl just didn’t understand. Sister, please forgive her this once.”

As she spoke, she gave Chun Que a warning look and scolded her. “Didn’t you hear me clearly? The Emperor has granted Sister Ning the authority to give orders. How dare you disobey?”

Chun Que realized the situation and reluctantly knelt down to apologize. “This servant is stupid and knows her mistake.”

“Chun Que is my personal maid. Without her, I wouldn’t be able to eat or sleep well. Sister, please forgive her this once,” Shun Pin said anxiously, looking at Ning Wanyin.

She would never let Ning Wanyin replace her personal maid.

Ning Wanyin just wanted to make a point and didn’t push the issue further. “Since Shun Pin likes her, I’ll let her stay.”

“Thank you, Sister,” Shun Pin had to say, feeling a bit frustrated and trapped.

She wanted to get rid of Ning Wanyin even more now.