Inside Changchun Palace.
The Empress looked speechlessly at the two rows of concubines sitting below her, who had co to her palace early in the morning under the pretense of paying respects. It was now midday, they had drunk several rounds of tea, and the snacks had been served three tis, yet they still refused to leave.
Was this truly a visit of respect?
Listening to what they said, although it was tactful, the implication was clear: the Emperor had been residing in the back palace recently, constantly being enticed by those young temptresses. These young temptresses had shallow backgrounds, they only knew how to charm, not how to advise the Emperor to take care of his health.
If this continued, what would beco of decorum? What would happen if the Emperor hard his imperial body?
At this mont, only the Empress, being the Emperor’s wife and the head of a palace, could speak out to reprimand those temptresses and teach them proper conduct.
They were also inciting the Empress, advising the Emperor to shower his favor evenly, for only then could the back palace be harmonious, and so on.
The Empress chuckled coldly in her heart. Did she look foolish? Did they truly believe a few words would put her on the spot?
Did they want her to be the scapegoat, to run afoul of the Emperor? Dream on!
She aspired to be the Empress Dowager! She had no interest in being a virtuous Empress!
Currently, her Ninth Prince was still young. Both mother and son had to rely on the Emperor. How could she be so unwise as to risk her life offending the Emperor?
Moreover, even if she wanted the reputation of a virtuous Empress, she couldn’t let others benefit while she did the work.
If she really took the lead and advised the Emperor to distribute his favors evenly, what benefit would she gain? Would she allow those below to take advantage for nothing?
With this effort, she would rather return to the rear hall and dote on her son. Isn’t that more enjoyable?
The Ninth Prince was now nearly a year old, tender and fair, growing rapidly. His little face combined the best features of both the Empress and the Emperor, especially his expressions. When he was unhappy and stern, he looked like a small copy of the Emperor.
The Empress, when she had nothing better to do, enjoyed teasing the Ninth Prince, occasionally bullying him for a slight sense of the thrill from bullying the Emperor.
The Emperor was particularly fond of this youngest legitimate son. The Empress, already favored by the Emperor, found that the more the Ninth Prince grew to resemble the Emperor, the more the Emperor favored her.
In the back palace, over the recent half-year, the Emperor spent nearly half of his ti resting in the Empress’s palace. At other tis, he favored a few newcors of lesser rank, rarely visiting the older ones.
Recently, however, it seed the Emperor’s tastes had changed. Previously favoring the mature type, he now only sought out young beauties.
The two in the palace who were pregnant were both newcors. With their low positions, they were lucky to have such fortune, carrying imperial offspring, eagerly waiting to give birth to a prince, securing their future.
For the Empress, having a son fulfills all her needs. Moreover, although giving birth to the Ninth Prince was safe, it indeed took a toll on her body. Not only did Wang Yongzhu advise her not to conceive for the next few years,
but even Du Zhongjing ntioned in front of the Emperor that the Empress needed several years to recuperate before bearing another imperial heir.
With the Ninth Prince under her care, coupled with the Emperor’s favor, unless she made a grave mistake, her position was as solid as a rock. Naturally, there was no need to fiercely confront those two pregnant young concubines.
Moreover, she could see things clearly: even if the Emperor pampered her, he wouldn’t compromise himself. When it was ti to favor others, he wouldn’t hesitate.
Furthermore, instead of favoring highstanding concubines, he preferred those of lower rank as even if they bore a prince, they wouldn’t cause much trouble.
More so, the so-called virtuous reputation didn’t require her to foolishly admonish the Emperor. All she needed was to order that the two young concubines be well cared for, and ensure that the Imperial Physician checked their pulse every ten days. Making it clear that the two pregnancies needed to be preserved was sufficient.
It was these concubines, always advocating for the Empress’s virtue, who were scheming endlessly.
The palace had been in turmoil for so ti, but the Empress, with her thunderous asures, managed to suppress it. Those who sched with ill intentions failed and soon quieted down.
The palace finally had so peace and quiet after a long ti.
Moreover, even if the Emperor favored newcors, he still occasionally visited the high-ranking concubines, granting them dignity.
Recently, however, he hadn’t even made those courtesy visits, spending all his ti calling upon young concubines, and a few days ago, he even took a fancy to palace maids.
For a ti, the mood in the palace was unsettled, especially among palace maids who considered themselves sowhat attractive, each striving to advance, thinking up new ways daily to create various chances for encounters in the back palace.
Every day the Emperor entered the back palace, he encountered three or four maids twisting their ankles before him, twisting themselves like pretzels in various bizarre angles, trying to throw themselves into the Emperor’s arms.
Fortunately, the chamberlains around the Emperor were not to be trifled with, heroically stepping forward to block them.
Otherwise, with the Emperor’s physique, being tackled three or four tis a day, he might end up with lumbar muscle strain or slipped discs.
So palace maids, despite the biting cold, wore spring dresses, wandering back and forth in the Imperial Garden, with noses running with the cold. In such a state, instead of being shocked, if the Emperor wasn’t alard, it was due to his startling composure.
There are even more daring ones; in this cold weather, they can pretend to slip into the water, climbing out of the pool in their thin dresses with curves fully exposed—truly throwing caution to the wind.
If it were sumr, it would be an encounter of romance, but unfortunately it is winter. Struggling to climb out, their whole body is frozen blue, tongues numb, words slurred, kneeling there with mouths like they’re filled with hot radish: "See, see... see..."
While speaking, ice chips keep falling from her hair.
Not to ntion the Emperor, even Chief Steward Su, who has ridden the tides in the palace for so many years, hasn’t seen such tricks, let alone those Little Chamberlain, who don’t dare do anything all day, only shielding the Emperor from unwelco advances.
They have to have keen eyes; those who really aren’t worth looking at, with poor deanors, must be stopped, not allowed within three ters of the Emperor.
Those with so distinction, if the Emperor shows even a smidgen of interest, must employ their life’s acting skills to subtly allow them closeness to the Emperor.
Even so, within a few days, several palace maids of good looks have ascended to the dragon bed.
After receiving the Emperor’s favor, they were granted titles, and now the Emperor exclusively summons these palace maids to serve in the front hall, not even entering the back palace.
These concubines, though unable to see the Emperor before, at least could catch his scent and hear gossip of which lady the Emperor favored.
Now they can’t even glimpse his shadow, how could they not be anxious?
Hoping to use the pretext of delivering soups and supplents to see the Emperor, they were blocked by those around the Emperor.
There’s no other way, so they banded together to seek out the Empress.
In all the palace, aside from the Empress Dowager, only the Empress can see the Emperor without a decree.
The Empress Dowager long stopped caring for external affairs, just staying in the palace for her old age.
Besides, for her, the back palace belongs to her son, her son is the Emperor; what’s wrong with him summoning a few palace maids? Is that even a question? Speak too much, and she might chastise them for jealousy.
Only the Empress, in the past when the Emperor entered the rear palace, spent most of his ti resting with her; now the Emperor doesn’t enter the rear palace or Changchun Palace.
Surely the Empress isn’t at ease, her lilight and affection stolen by a few palace maids, right?
They all unanimously think to incite anger in the Empress, to have the Empress probe the situation.
Unexpectedly, after talking in the Empress’s palace till their mouths are dry and tea cups have been refilled several tis, the Empress remains unmoved.
She opens saying, His Majesty has his own ideas, I, as the master of the palace, mother of the nation, must only embody grace and magnanimity. His Majesty is the sky; what kind of woman he prefers, where would I have a say?
Moreover, even for palace maids, they are daughters from clean families, carefully selected to enter the palace. Their ability to please His Majesty is their rit; not only should they not be reprimanded, rather rewarded.
Furthermore: if you can also serve His Majesty the Emperor happily, I will reward you too!
It implied they were all equal in her eyes, why look down on each other with mysterious disdain.
The concubines, feeling pierced in the chest, were agitated to the point of spitting blood.
Wanting to rebut in response, they find the Empress’s words impeccable. Besides her being the wife, all are concubines; who is nobler than whom?
In the Imperial Palace, those favored are noble, those not favored, what use is a high status?
Yet truly asking them to give up, they remain unwilling.
Thus, albeit aware the Empress wouldn’t intercede, they don’t give up, hoping to wear her down over a few days, awaiting her change of mind.
The Empress wished to say, don’t waste your efforts, but the words lingered at her lips unspoken.
Regarding the Emperor’s behavior these days, initially she felt sowhat disappointed, perhaps even disappointed with the Emperor.
But soon she ca to, knowing the Emperor well, he certainly isn’t such a person; there must be sothing suspicious here.
Recalling the Emperor’s conduct these days more carefully, not entering the rear palace, not summoning high-status concubines, nor entering Changchun Palace, the hidden implication is deep.
For those concubines, it seems the Emperor has taken to novelty, not caring for these old folks anymore.
But thinking deeply, the Empress suspects the Emperor’s behavior signifies sothing else in not seeing them.
The Empress has consistently been cautious; upon discerning this, she naturally paid more attention, discovering many subtle changes, discrepancies.
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