Chapter 30: Chapter 30 Delicate Palace Maid VS Cold-hearted Emperor 30
That day, the entire Imperial Palace and even the court received this imperial edict.
The court buzzed with discussion, the clamor unceasing, but by comparison, the harem accepted this fact quite calmly.
When they had first entered the palace, they had thought up various strategies to gain Shen Qi’s favor, but more often than not, due to their low status, they could not even get an audience with the Emperor. Now that Su Zhiruan had suddenly appeared by Shen Qi’s side, having given birth to the Crown Prince, becoming the current Noble Consort, most concubines in the harem felt they had no chance to wedge themselves between them.
Rather than languishing in boredom in the harem for the rest of their lives, they preferred to leave the palace with the status of a court lady, carrying their rewards and living freely. If they encountered a better companion, they could also spend their lives together.
After waking from her noon nap, Su Zhiruan heard a commotion outside. At this mont, a Palace Maid ca to assist her in rising.
“Did the noise wake up Your Ladyship? I’ll ask them to move away,” said the Palace Maid, seeing Su Zhiruan frequently glance towards the window, assuming she was awakened by the noise.
Su Zhiruan waved her hand dismissively, curious about what was happening, and said lightheartedly, “I’m not going to eat anyone, co, let’s go have a look.”
The two walked out of the sleeping quarters one after another, and then Su Zhiruan stood at the entrance of Kunning Palace.
What t her eyes were carriages laden with large and small luggage, forming a queue heading out of the palace. So concubines had smiles on their faces, while others looked distressed.
So palace ladies who passed by and saw Su Zhiruan imdiately curtsied, “Greetings to the Noble Consort.”
“Rise, what are you doing today?” Su Zhiruan had slept until now, even missing the ti for lunch, so drowsy she could barely keep her eyes open. Shen Qi had coaxed her to eat a few bites, after which she continued to sleep. Waking up, she found the harem nearly emptied.
“Your Ladyship isn’t aware?” The woman who curtsied, whose previous position was that of a Noble, was surprised by Su Zhiruan’s question. She then explained, “The Emperor and the Empress Dowager decreed that the concubines below the rank of concubine, carrying the corresponding double rewards, be dismissed from the palace with the status of court ladies. The concubines have already received their rewards and are now leaving the palace!”
Su Zhiruan truly hadn’t expected this. Upon hearing the news, she looked up towards the distance—the procession leaving the palace had already ford a long queue.
“Noble Consort!!”
Just as Su Zhiruan was looking towards the queue on the left side where people were leaving the palace, a clear and joyful voice suddenly called out from not far away. Turning her head, she saw it was a familiar face.
The vocally expressive woman was accompanied by a more demure woman, and both of them, inseparable as shadows, had joyful smiles on their faces.
“Lady Wang, Lady Song?” Su Zhiruan took a couple of steps towards them. Seeing their joyful expressions told her they were content with leaving the palace. She smiled and said, “It’s good that I get to see you again before you leave the palace.”
“Oh, isn’t that right,” Lady Wang said excitedly, her mouth almost stretching to her ears. Lady Song gently tugged at her sleeve, and only then did she rember her manners, becoming a bit more serious, “At the ti, the three of us were punished to kneel together by the Noble Consort, oh no, she’s now just a Lady. None of us expected to see such a day as this.”
Lady Song blinked softly, “Who would’ve thought that the three of us from that day would be so different now? The Emperor holds you in high esteem and has also shown us favor. Rather than dying old and alone in the palace, it’s better to leave the palace where the sea opens for fish to leap and the sky is wide for birds to fly. The Emperor has released us, he truly cares for you and loves you deeply, Noble Consort.”
“Have you made any plans for after leaving the palace?” Su Zhiruan asked softly after nodding slightly.
As soon as Lady Wang ntioned this, her bubbly personality resurfaced, and she even sped up her speech, possibly because she was talking about sothing she liked, “Our hotowns are both very far away, certainly too far to return to. We’re planning to open an apothecary. It just so happens she has dical skills, and I, well, I can provide protection and dispense dicine. As for the future, if we et soone we fancy, then we’ll marry. Anyway, life is bound to get better.”
“Noble Consort, you and the Emperor should also take care,” Lady Song lifted her skirt to curtsy, a courtly gesture—she smiled after bowing, “This might be the last ti I perform a palace courtesy in this lifeti. Ruanruan, I wish you happiness.”
“I wish you happiness,” Lady Wang also curtsied.
“May you find happiness too, and may we et again soday,” Su Zhiruan replied as she returned the curtsy and bid farewell.
She watched as the two of them slowly walked away, laughing and joking about sothing, and suddenly she felt quite emotional.
She was just an outsider here to complete a mission, yet she had managed to be rembered by others.
This feeling was rather pleasant.
*
In the following period, the harem beca busy again.
Due to the flood disaster in Jiangnan, many concubines were sent away from the court, and there was much to attend to on both fronts.
Before long, it had been a hundred days since Little Crown Prince Xingzhi was born, and the Empress Dowager, along with Su Zhiruan, happily instructed the servants to prepare for the banquet.
This ti it was a family banquet, with not many people from the harem attending, just Su Zhiruan, Shen Qi, and the Empress Dowager, as well as mbers of the Imperial Family who were on good terms with them. They enjoyed a al together in a harmonious atmosphere.
The days that followed beca much quieter, but Shen Qi, Su Zhiruan, and the Empress Dowager were all very content.
The Empress Dowager started living the life she wanted, doting on her grandson, and encouraged Shen Qi and Su Zhiruan to give Little Shen Xingzhi a few more brothers and sisters. Whenever this topic ca up, Su Zhiruan knew she wouldn’t need to prepare breakfast for herself the next day.
One month later.
Shen Qi looked at Su Zhiruan, who had fallen asleep at the edge of the desk in the Imperial Study Room, and, filled with concern, put down his pen and approached to feel her forehead.
Lately, the young girl seed to be tired all day long, whether it was during dayti or at night. Seeing her so exhausted, he even refrained from disturbing her at night.
Initially, he thought it was because he was too demanding at night that caused her to lack sleep, but now, she was falling asleep over her books during the day…
The more Shen Qi thought, the more worried he beca. He stepped out of the Imperial Study Room and seeing Little Fuzi chatting on the side, he called him over in a low voice, “Little Fuzi, go call the Imperial Physician for Us!”
Little Fuzi had been chatting with his apprentice, but when he suddenly saw Shen Qi co out, he was so startled that he almost kneeled down, only to be stopped by Shen Qi himself.
“If you dare make a sound today, We will fine you three months’ salary”, Shen Qi spoke indifferently, stopping Little Fuzi from bending his knees, “Go find the Imperial Physician for Us.”
“Your Majesty… Why do you need the Imperial Physician?” Little Fuzi carefully scrutinized Shen Qi, afraid that he might be injured sowhere.
“Ask again and see what happens,” Shen Qi’s calm gaze fell upon him, and although it was gentle, Little Fuzi, who had followed him for more than a decade, knew that if he continued to inquire, he might really lose his head, so he quickly went to fetch the Imperial Physician.
Shen Qi returned to the Imperial Study Room and didn’t continue to review the petitions. Instead, he sat beside Su Zhiruan and carefully lifted her up so she could sleep more comfortably.
Soon, the Imperial Physician arrived hurriedly, carrying a dicine chest, following Little Fuzi into the Imperial Study Room.
As soon as he entered, the Imperial Physician didn’t even look up and loudly said, “This humble servant pays his respects to Your Majesty!”
In an instant, Shen Qi’s sharp gaze fell upon the Imperial Physician, and at that mont, Su Zhiruan was also awakened by the noise.
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