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Chapter 79

March had already ended, and the peach blossoms had already fallen. The weather was starting to warm, yet none of the imperial concubines felt any warmer. Rather, they felt colder than they had before.

The emperor was furious since an evildoer had almost murdered Xihe Palace’s Xianrong Zhao. Everyone was investigated, and all the servants trembled with fear. Fear that they would be inexplicably implicated.

Up until now, perhaps the only relaxed person was Xihe Palace’s Zhuang Laoyan, who was nursing her injury. She leaned against a soft couch, playing with the palace flowers the Department of the Palace had specially sent over.

“Your Highness, these tea leaves…” Tingzhu held a jar of tea leaves. “Should we still keep them?”

“Didn’t the Department of the Palace send over new biluochun and bitanxue?” Zhuang Laoyan looked at the jar. “Bury the leaves under the soil in the bonsai tree’s pot. That way, we won’t waste them.”

She wasn’t a tea enthusiast. As such, she would not finish the new tea too quickly. Even if the Department of the Palace failed to send her new tea for a month, it would still be enough. However, since she had suffered grievances, how could the Department of the Palace have a good time? Wouldn’t it be great if the emperor drank old tea when he came to Xihe Palace?  

 “This slave heard that yesterday, Gao Gongong demoted the assistant of the Department of the Palace’s supervisor to a hard-labor servant at Shangyi Bureau,” said Tingzhu. She carefully buried the tea leaves in the bonsai tree’s soil. After there were no visible traces of the leaves, she said, “Also, Changtian House’s Zhaorong Xu fell ill. Today, her first-ranked palace maids kneeled at Qianzheng Palace for half a day, but the emperor did not go to see her.” 

Zhuang Laoyan snickered. “Didn’t she say she lacked servants a few days ago? Now that she’s sick, one would fear she will lack even more servants.”

After hearing those words, Tingzhu smiled. “Your Highness doesn’t know this yet: although His Majesty did not go to Changtian House, he did send out a decree. And it said since Zhaorong Xu was ill, she would need to recuperate, and a good deal of servants from Changtian House was removed.”

Zhuang Laoyan burst into laughter, glee in her heart. The emperor had originally grown sick and tired of Zhaorong Xu’s fakeness. Now that he discovered that she had taken advantage of her position to bully others, he naturally grew even more fed up with her. Men ought to sympathize with weak women. But they also loathed when women pretended to be weak.

Putting on an act once was interesting. Always putting on an act was dull. Zhuang Laoyan had guessed the following as early on as when the emperor had punished Zhaorong Xu because of Noble Lady Qian’s servant suffering grievances: the emperor had grown tired of Zhaorong Xu.  

 After a period of getting the cold-shoulder, Zhuang Laoyan was able to see who hated her the most. To the point where Zhaorong Xu had burned all bridges with her, bullying her directly. Consort Rou could rely on her good looks and high favor. Xiuyi Su could rely on her cousin who was very favored. But who could Noble Imperial Concubine Yan rely on?

It’s no wonder that even though she imitated Noble Consort Shu to climb the ranks, she could only be a noble imperial concubine. Her words and actions could not be compared to Noble Consort Shu’s.

“Your Highness, Jingyang Palace’s Heyu Gugu is here,” said Yunxi, rushing into the room. “The sun is bright outside and there’s no wind. Does Your Highness want to bask in the sun?”

Using Yunxi’s hand for support, Zhuang Laoyan rose to her feet. “It’s boring to stay inside all day. Have someone set up a table and some chairs in the courtyard. Heyu Gugu can pass me the message outside.”

Heyu stood in the courtyard. With the warm sun shining on her, she felt lazy in her bones. Ever since Xianrong Zhao had been attacked, Heyu did not see her. At present, more than twenty days after the attack, bestowment after bestowment arrived at Xihe Palace every day. Everyone could tell that the emperor did not spurn Xianrong Zhao. Rather, he pampered her immensely.

Just as Heyu was thinking this, she saw Xianrong Zhao coming outside using the arm of a palace maid for support. She did not have her hair up in an arrangement. Instead, it was let down, draped over her shoulders. She wore a beautiful pink robe that seemed too large for her, yet she carried a flavor that could not be put into words. 

“This slave Heyu greets Your Highness Xianrong Zhao,” said Heyu, rushing forward to pay respects and salute. Nowadays, who dared to slight Xianrong Zhao in front of her? Wouldn’t that be courting death? It wasn’t just Heyu. Even the empress needed to be a bit more polite toward Xianrong Zhao.

“Heyu Gugu need not be so polite. Does Her Majesty the empress have something important for you to tell me?” Zhuang Laoyan gave Heyu a smile, before slowly sitting down.

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“Responding to Your Highness, Her Majesty the empress does not have anything important for this slave to say, and merely instructed this slave to deliver medicinal ingredients that can enrich the blood,” said Heyu. Then she had the palace maids behind her hand the items to the servants of Xihe Palace. “Her Majesty the empress also said that Your Highness needn’t worry. If there is anything your honored self needs, just let Jingyang Palace know.”

“Many thanks for Her Majesty’s grace,” said Zhuang Laoyan, nodding. “I have really implicated Her Majesty the empress this time. Originally, I should go to Jingyang Palace to personally thank her for the grace. However, my condition is still recovering. Hopefully Her Majesty will forgive me.”

“Your Highness Xianrong Zhao is too serious,” said Heyu quickly once Zhuang Laoyan had spoken. “Your honored self is still injured. How could we make you move around so carelessly? Her Majesty understands your feelings. Her Majesty said that as long as your honored self properly recovers, this would bring her the most happiness.”

“Her Majesty is kindhearted. This concubine is truly grateful,” said Zhuang Laoyan, her voice gradually revealing her exhaustion. Her complexion grew paler as well.

Seeing these circumstances, Heyu said, “May Your Highness Xianrong Zhao recover at ease. This slave will return and report back to Her Majesty.”

“Watch your step,” said Zhuang Laoyan, smiling as she watched Heyu leave. When she could no longer see her figure, her smile still did not dim. Zhuang Laoyan merely closed her eyes and leaned against the couch, resting. With the warm sun on her body, spring was truly the easiest season to take a nap.

Once Tingzhu saw Zhuang Laoyan resting with her eyes closed, she and Yunxi retreated two steps, giving their master a quiet environment.

When Fu Bao entered the courtyard, he noticed his master basking in the sun. And he gestured toward Tingzhu.

Tingzhu approached him. Asked in a soft voice, “What happened?”

“Tingzhu, did you hear? Gao Gongong investigated every palace’s servants. Every servant that had passed by Xihe Palace on the day Master had been attacked were all interrogated.” Then he said softer, “I also heard that a few of them were caned to death.”

“Those who have crooked hearts ought to lose their lives.” Tingzhu turned her head to look at the resting Zhuang Laoyan. “There’s no need to report such trivial matters to Her Highness, so as to avoid disturbing Her Highness’ good spirits.”

Zhuang Laoyan opened her eyes, and saw Tingzhu and Fu Bao talking endlessly about something at the side. But she didn’t inquire anything, only changing her position and continuing to rest. Who would have known she would slowly fall asleep?

The moment she opened her eyes again, before her stood a field of bright yellow. She slightly raised her head. And she actually saw the emperor sitting at the side of the soft couch, reading a book in silence.

“Your Majesty?” Zhuang Laoyan had yet to get up, when the emperor had already set down his book and stopped her. “Recently, your injury hurt so much that you couldn’t sleep. It’s not easy for you to rest, so it’s not necessary for you to salute Us.”

Zhuang Laoyan took the chance to lie down on the couch. She faintly averted her gaze. “It’s just that this concubine never expected Your Majesty to come.”

 “We are not busy today so came to check on you.” Feng Jin received a cloak from Tingzhu and draped it over Zhuang Laoyan. “We saw that you were sleeping soundly, and as such did not wake you up.”

“This concubine has slept for a while.” Zhuang Laoyan touched her cheeks that had turned slightly red under the sun. “Your Majesty should follow this concubine back inside. Reading under the sun isn’t good for the eyes.”

A smile spread across Feng Jin’s lips. All of a sudden, he bent down. Carried Zhuang Laoyan in a princess carry. “Since Beloved Concubine wants to go back inside, We will naturally comply.”

“Your Majesty!” Zhuang Laoyan cried out in alarm. She reached out and grabbed onto his neck. “This…”

She had actually experienced the princess carry that was the privilege of female leads in romance stories. Such a feeling was too good.

Feng Jin placed her onto a chaise lounge. Then he draped the cloak over her shoulders. “There’s no sunlight inside, so don’t catch a cold. Your body is still weak. You can’t fall sick again.”

“Your Majesty is as nervous as always. This concubine is not that delicate,” said Zhuang Laoyan, tone carrying complaint. However, she still lightly held onto the cloak. “Your Majesty is busy with governmental affairs. There’s no need to worry about this concubine’s health every day.”

 “In the past, you said We were your sky. As such, when you are unwell, We will naturally worry.” Feng Jin reached out. Stroked the fine dark hair by her shoulders. “These days, there’s been nothing of urgency in the court. We have a lot of leisure time, so don’t worry about this.”

Zhuang Laoyan still wanted to say more, when she saw Luyi carrying the bonsai tree inside that had been soaking in the sun for a while. Although the pot wasn’t that big, it still required some strength to carry it.

“Just let a eunuch do something like that. Why is a palace maid like yourself doing such a heavy job? If you slip by accident, then what’s to be done?” said Feng Jin, seeing the bonsai tree he had bestowed to Zhuang Laoyan. “We know that your master is highly fond of this pine bonsai tree.”

“Responding to Your Majesty, this slave is able to lift this pot. This slave normally takes care of this bonsai tree.” Luyi curtsied. She was pretty, bearing straightforward.

Zhuang Laoyan glanced at her with a normal expression. That palace maid was originally one of her first-ranked palace maids. However, Zhuang Laoyan preferred to use Yunxi and Tingzhu, and was more distant with Luyi. Nowadays, this attitude of Luyi made her laugh.

She could have brought this bonsai tree inside at any time. So why did she just have to choose this moment?  

 “It’s good that you take care of it well. However, as a palace maid, shouldn’t you know to pay respects and announce your arrival before entering a room?” Feng Jin seemed to not have noticed Luyi’s good points, and merely said with indifference, “You are Xianrong Zhao’s palace maid. As such, We will not punish you. Go kneel outside.”

“This slave thanks Your Majesty for the grace.” With an unsightly expression, Luyi saluted. Then she left the room without ever lifting her head.

After she was gone, Zhuang Laoyan heard Tingzhu say from beyond the heavy curtain, “Your Majesty, Your Highness, this slave has brewed some tea.”

“Come in.” Feng Jin pulled at the cloak covering Zhuang Laoyan’s body. Then he turned to the approaching Tingzhu. “Such a diligent and loyal servant. She is bestowed two gold ingots. In the future, you must serve your master even more wholeheartedly.”

“This slave thanks Your Majesty for the grace,” said Tingzhu, kneeling at once.

A faint smile graced Zhuang Laoyan’s lips. Her gaze fell upon the bonsai tree, growing pensieve.

Feng Jin looked at Zhuang Laoyan. “We know you have a good personality, but if the servants around you are not useful, just dismiss them. Otherwise, they will just give trouble to their master.”

“Luyi was sent to serve me after this concubine entered the palace.” Zhuang Laoyan sighed. “She has a straightforward personality, so this concubine doesn’t bring her outside with me often. Your Majesty shouldn’t criticize her too harshly.”

 “Palace maids are taught palace protocol by the older female servants. If they don’t understand some of the rules, it’s not that they truly don’t understand. It’s that they just don’t care to follow them.” Feng Jin patted the back of Zhuang Laoyan’s hand. “Letting servants that aren’t wholehearted in their service remain will just bring disaster.”

After hesitating for a moment, Zhuang Laoyan sighed again. “Your Majesty is correct. This concubine was ignorant.”

“It’s not that you’re ignorant. Rather, you just did not think of this.” Now, Feng Jin held her hand, his action gentle to the extreme.

Seeing the two of them like this, Tingzhu carefully retreated. Noticing Luyi kneeling outside, she furrowed her brows a shade. This was the servant the emperor had just mentioned who did not wholeheartedly serve their master. Earlier, she saw Luyi carry the bonsai tree inside the room. Could there have been something behind that?

A servant wanted to borrow their master’s power in order to attract the emperor’s attention? If that servant wasn’t a calamitous beauty, then they would bring about their own destruction.

But if they were a calamitous beauty, would they still need to borrow someone else’s power to win the emperor’s favor?

Thank you kayree for the 3 ko-fis! You’re a legend.

Anyway, Happy Holidays everyone! (I would have said this in the next chapter, but by then Christmas would have already finished). I hope you all are in a good place in your lives and safe and sound.

First of all, I wanted to address some  comments on the release schedule. I’m aware that in this day and age, a once a week chapter release is considered slow, especially for Chinese web novels. With that, I want to apologize. I truly wish to be quicker with releases, but it’s just very difficult with my irl schedule. I don’t want to come off as giving excuses, but that’s just the truth. Don’t get me wrong, though. No one has outright pressured me to release faster or said anything mean; there were just light and harmless musings. Though as a reader myself, I can empathize with these feelings.

Regardless, I am thankful for my readers, who have all been very kind and understanding.

For those of you still interested in advanced chapters, please read this post for more information. There are only no advanced chapters left this month, so if you pledge for a tier that gives 2+ chapters now, you’re basically my suga daddi. A Patreon post with January 2021’s release schedule will be out in the coming days.

If you like this chapter, please rate/review/add this novel to your reading list on NU!

Thirteenth chapter of The Times Spent in Pretense is out! You can read it here.

Another plug for the new BL tl group me and my friends formed:  Perpetual Daydreams! I’ve started moving all of my BL novels there. Click here if you’re interested.