Chapter 114 \nThe harem had exploded. It seemed that after the start of the new year, so many things had occurred, each more serious than the last. It was to the point that the matters concerning Noble Consort Shu were no longer considered significant. After all, even the empress’ paternal family had their estate searched through and some property seized. Compared to that, what was a noble consort even worth?\n
When such news entered Zhuang Laoyan’s ears, she was not one bit surprised. She stroked her swollen abdomen, features tranquil to an immense degree, as if instead of hearing that the estate of the empress’ paternal family had been searched through and seized, what she heard was that a family had merely lost a chicken.
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“Your Highness, this slave has brought what your honored self wanted,” said Fu Bao after rushing into the room, holding a small box.
Zhuang Laoyan opened it. Within lay a sachet with the character for “good fortune” embroidered onto it. Old Mistress Zhuang had personally given this to this body’s original owner. To bless her to be safe and sound, to have riches and honor, to have good luck.
The moment Yunxi had laid eyes on this wooden box, she knew her master missed her family. Originally, Old Mistress Zhuang was supposed to enter the palace for a visit a few days ago. But her master pushed the meeting back to a later date. It wasn’t easy for Old Mistress Zhuang to come here today. Who would have imagined that news regarding the Zhao family’s downfall would ring out? Such a matter was even more significant than what had happened to Noble Consort Shu’s family. It truly made things difficult for her master.
“Your Highness, Old Mistress Zhuang and Mistress Zhuang are asking for an audience,” said Tingzhu, entering the room. Her face carried a smile.
Zhuang Laoyan handed the box over to Yunxi. After Yunxi had stored it away, she said, “Invite them in quickly.”
Old Mistress Zhuang brought her daughter-in-law into the room with her. She dared not look around, taking the initiative in saluting Zhuang Laoyan. Tingzhu and Yunxi supported her, stopping her from doing so.\n
“Mother and Sister-in-law need not be so polite. Quickly take a seat,” said Zhuang Laoyan, presenting them each with one. Noticing how very reserved the two of them acted, she added, “The servants in this room are very loyal. Mother need not restrain yourself too much.”
It was at this moment that Old Mistress Zhuang raised her head. She examined Zhuang Laoyan quite a few times. Noticed that her complexion was decent. “Seeing Your Highness well makes this old one relieved. Will the fetus soon be nine months in development?”
“It’s already been a full nine months.” A smile graced Zhuang Laoyan’s lips. When she saw Yunxi carrying some tea over, she said, “Have a taste of this year’s tributary mushu dahongpao. Since I am pregnant right now, I can’t drink tea. If Mother and Sister-in-law likes this, take the tea home.”
Old Mistress Zhuang took a sip. Smiled. “Mushu dahongpao truly is a rare and precious tea. Although Your Highness cannot have some right now, it’s better to keep it for guests. How could we take some away?”
Zhuang Laoyan knew that Old Mistress Zhuang was prudent in her conduct. She said, “Since that’s the case, Mother can bring some bitan piaoxue home. This type of tea isn’t considered precious, but I remember that you and Father are fond of it.”
This time, Old Mistress Zhuang did not decline her offer. As long as one had the money, one could purchase bitan piaoxue, unlike mushu dahongpao, a tea in which only a few catties could be produced per year. How could they dare to use such a tea?
“I heard that Sister-in-law gave birth to a son last year. It’s a pity that I was already in the palace at that time and could not congratulate you in person. May Big Brother and Sister-in-law not take offense.” Zhuang Laoyan noticed Mistress Zhuang’s extremely docile and virtuous appearance, causing her tone to grow more gentle as she said, “I’ve prepared some playthings for my nephew. Please do not disdain them, Sister-in-law.”
“Your Highness is too serious. This official’s wife knows that Your Highness is not suitable for a place like the imperial palace, yet still thinks about my silly son. There’s no way this official’s wife takes offense,” said Mistress Zhuang. She noticed that her little sister-in-law appeared gentle, soft, and polite. Although she still felt flustered, she was much calmer than she had been before entering the palace. With such a gentle temperament, she truly did not resemble the most favored and pampered imperial concubine in the harem.\nZhuang Laoyan actually didn’t have much to say to Mistress Zhuang. Still, she wanted to protect the Zhuang family, and as a result said, “Recently, a palace maid I deeply trusted started to raise a cat. That cat relied on the fact that I trusted its master to cause trouble everywhere. In the end, it nearly knocked me over. It frightened me half to death. So I had the servants drown it, and even sent away that palace maid.” She played with the apple in her hand. Sighed. “Although it’s a pity it died, to me, my unborn child is more important. What do Mother and Sister-in-law think?”
The smile on Old Mistress Zhuang’s lips did not change. She rose to her feet and performed a curtsy. “Your Highness’ words are reasonable and just. In this world, how could there be a house pet that is more arrogant than its master? Your Highness does the utmost for the emperor’s successors. How could there be anything wrong about that? It’s that palace maid who did not supervise her kitten properly, allowing it to harm people. They both cannot remain. However, Your Highness is benevolent and allowed the palace maid to keep her life. It’s truly merciful. May the lord Buddha preserve us.”
Silent as she listened to her mother-in-law and sister-in-law converse, Mistress Zhuang suddenly jumped. In the next moment, realization struck her. Perhaps her sister-in-law was warning them.
The Ye family. The Zhao family. The Su family. All three had once produced a woman whom the emperor attached importance to. Yet, these families were arrogant and despotic, forgetting their bounds. Wasn’t their final outcome pitiful and deserved?
Zhuang Laoyan did not have the two women stay for long. Aftering seeing them off, she let out a sigh. It would be ideal if the Zhuang family understood her message. If they did not, it wasn’t as if she merely looked on without lifting a finger.
Gazing at the sun outside, Zhuang Laoyan said to the Yunxi standing behind her, “Pay a visit to Jingyang Palace. Tell them that this palace’s body is growing ever more heavy, and so is incapable of coming to personally pay respects. May Her Majesty take care of herself.”
“Understood.” Yunxi bent her knees in a curtsy and rushed out.
Fanning herself with her fan, Zhuang Laoyan drank half a bowl of pickled plum soup. In her opinion, the weather had recently warmed to an uncomfortable degree.
“Why do you appear so ill at ease?”\n\nZhuang Laoyan nodded. A sigh left her lips. “I understand.”
So what if she’s an empress? Now that she had fallen to such a state, wasn’t everyone able to bully her? It was to the point that she didn’t even have enough ice to use during the summer. The Department of the Palace’s people were too bold. Were they that certain that the empress would be deposed?
Zhuang Laoyan sneered. One would fear that the emperor did not have such an intention.
Within Jingyang Palace, the empress drank the medicine Heyu had served her. She said with a tranquil expression, “Withdraw.”
“Your Majesty, let’s get a different imperial physician,” Heyu could not help but to say. “We mustn’t wait any longer when it comes to your illness.”
“This palace is not ill, merely suffering from pent-up frustrations.” The empress smiled in a dull manner. “This palace will be better after some time. What’s more, no one would come here now. Other than the people from Xihe Palace, who come to ask about this palace, who else is concerned about me?” She saw her circumstances clearly, and understood it vividly as well.
Heyu fell into a daze. These days, things had really blown up. Everyone from other palaces were scared for themselves. Only Consort Zhao was genuine in her concern for the empress. From this, it was clear that the empress’ kindly feelings toward her had not been in vain.
Thus, it was evident that the imperial harem still contained a trace of emotions.