The Job of an Imperial Concubine

Chapter 33: Compromise (妥协)

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“Your Majesty, the empress dowager,” said Hongxiao, one of the servants who had been by the empress dowager’s side for many years. She was also the most useful and capable. For this reason, after the eunuchs sent by the emperor passed on their message, she quickly helped support the empress dowager.

“Good. Truly this grieving one’s good son.” The empress dowager sneered. “In this imperial harem, which woman has clean hands? This action of his basically means he does not want this grieving one to interfere with the harem.”

“Your Majesty the empress dowager, His Majesty is your honored self’s son. In the end, he will still consider you.” Hongxiao hesitated, before saying in a consoling manner, “His Majesty’s personality has always been unyielding. It looks like he is only angry about you interfering with the harem.”

The empress dowager’s complexion pointed to her exhaustion. She sat down on a chaise lounge and rubbed her forehead. “Hongxiao, in your opinion, as a woman of the Ye family, how could this grieving one not think for the Ye family?”

“However, in His Majesty’s opinion, he is the emperor and the world belongs to the Feng family.” Hongxiao knelt before the empress dowager. Kowtowed. “Your Majesty, the empress, this slave has gone beyond what this slave is allowed to say. However, this slave has accompanied your honored self for more than thirty years. There are some words this slave must say. 

“Your Majesty, the empress dowager, is His Majesty’s mother. His Majesty is your honored self’s son. Perhaps the Ye family is important. But which is more important, His Majesty of the Ye family?” Hongxiao kowtowed once more. “This slave thinks whether the Ye family is good or the Zhou family is good, who His Majesty loves should be up to him. If His Majesty dislikes it, why must Your Majesty, the empress dowager, force it? His Majesty has never liked people controlling him. Back then, after the Second Imperial Prince disrespected the then-crown prince, how did the crown prince retaliate? Does your honored self remember?”

“That’s true. This son is very ruthless.” The empress dowager dropped the hand that had been rubbing her forehead. She stood and pushed open the window. The rain seemed to have gotten heavier.

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“It was also raining like this when Imperial Concubine Xia died,” said the empress dowager. She looked in the direction of Taoyu Pavilion. With the palace walls, heavy rain, and it being nighttime, nothing could be seen. “The previous emperor felt heartbroken for a while. In the end, a Miss Wei entered the palace, and Miss Xia became fertilizer for the flowers. Who still remembered her?

“The one who laughed at the end was this grieving one,” said the empress dowager, a cold smile on her lips. “Whose fault is it that a woman of the imperial harem cannot even protect the child in her belly?” She turned to face the kneeling Hongxiao. “You may rise. This grieving one has never blamed you. You have followed this grieving one for many years, so how could this grieving one not know what you are thinking?”

“Thanking Your Majesty, the empress dowager, for the grace.” Hongxiao kowtowed before rising to her feet. She supported the empress dowager to a chair. Noticing the empress dowager’s calm expression, she released a sigh of relief in her heart.

In Qianzheng Palace, Feng Jin received the present sent by the general manager of Kang’an Palace. 

“Her Majesty the empress dowager knows that Your Majesty is still awake this late into the night, and had this slave deliver a nighttime snack she had personally prepared. May Your Majesty rest after having it.”

After the eunuch lifted the lid of the mealbox, a bowl of pearl starch balls¹, still steaming, came into view. Feng Jin’s expression became much better. “To have made the empress dowager worry is unfilial of me. Tell the empress dowager that We understand her thoughts.”

After the eunuch left, Feng Jin took a bite and then set the bowl aside. He was very satisfied with the empress dowager’s compromise. When it came to the empress dowager, no matter how her paternal family was, it would not affect her current distinguished identity. Under the heavens, who was more distinguished and noble than the mother of the emperor? 

Zhuang Laoyan did not know that the emperor and empress dowager came to a compromise. However, the next day when she went to pay respects to the empress dowager, she found that the empress dowager acted more gently with  the empress. Her words no longer made things difficult for the other woman. It was even worthy of being called mild and magnanimous. It made Zhuang Laoyan feel that the women of the imperial palace could in fact let go of things.

The empress dowager not only treated the empress nicely, she also did not seem biased toward the Ye family’s sisters anymore. After everyone paid respects, she let everyone leave after another round of ceremony.

Once Zhuang Laoyan had stepped foot outside of Kang’an Palace, she was certain of one fact: the emperor must have found something after overhauling the peach forest. It was enough to at least make the empress dowager restrain some of her behavior. Whether the empress dowager truly wanted to compromise, or forcibly suppressed her temper, was anyone’s guess.

Xihe Palace was much larger than Taoyu Pavilion. The scenery all around was also decent. Not far away was a lotus pond. At the side were many willow trees, making it appear like a scene from Jiangnan. And Xihe Palace was close to Noble Consort Shu’s Anqing Palace and Zhaorong Xu’s Changtian House.

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The exterior of Changtian House was home to many green bamboo trees. Quiet and beautiful. And outside Anqing Palace were artificial mountains, flora, and trees, all of which were precious. It was exquisite and luxurious. Zhuang Laoyan’s residence was in the middle of the two when it came to appearance. Elegant but not sumptuous. Graceful, but not quiet. Zhuang Laoyan was very satisfied.

Once she had moved in, Zhuang Laoyan naturally had her people check the palace’s decorations and furnishings. Fortunately, Gao Dezhong had prepared them. Therefore, things that should not appear did not appear. Zhuang Laoyan was grateful that Emperor Chengxuan had only used her a little. And he was thoughtful of her situation. Her efforts and acting had not been wasted.

“His Majesty has announced that Xihe Palace will prepare for tonight.”

Speaking of which, the emperor had not visited Zhuang Laoyan to indulge in the matters of the flesh for a while. Zhuang Laoyan had only moved into the new palace for two days, and the emperor already flipped her name tag. It could be considered giving her some face. Zhuang Laoyan was beside herself with joy.

Not long after this imperial edict was announced, people from the empress’ Jingyang Palace arrived. They sent over some decorations and tonics. They said the empress was afraid her body could not handle suffering a scare and moving to a new residence otherwise.

Zhuang Laoyan received the items and gave her thanks. She chose a couple of the decorations to place in the main hall, and had the rest placed into the storeroom. She let Fubao record the items and did not concern herself with them anymore.

Within the imperial harem, not many people were able to guess what happened between the emperor and the empress dowager. However, the empress was definitely one of them. Originally, she had been suspicious about the emperor placing Chongyi Zhao in her own palace. Now she thought, perhaps the emperor was compensating her, as an innocent bystander suffering a fright. Also, for being implcated in a murder. Fortunately, the heavens protected her. Otherwise, it was unknown what kind of outcome she would receive.

When one really thought about, this Chongyi Zhao had truly been lucky. Could the heavens really be protecting her?

“Gao Dezhong, head for Xihe Palace.” The sky had yet to grow dark, as it was only the evening. However, Feng Jin’s manner made it seem as if he valued the master of Xihe Palace.

Gao Dezhong glanced at the sky. “Your Majesty, your honored self has yet to have the evening meal.”

“We’ll have it at Xihe Palace.” Feng Jin waved. Suddenly, he said, “Since Chongyi Zhao is already the master of a palace, this Xihe Palace should have its own kitchen. Inform the Department of the Palace and the empress about this.”

Gao Dezhong nodded. “Understood.” Only the emperor’s favored imperial concubines could have a personal kitchen. It seemed that the emperor  valued Chongyi Zhao more than halfheartedly.

Happy Chinese New Years!

Okay, so I don’t know how many of you TJOAIC readers also read SYP, but since I tagged/used both categories, hopefully SYP readers will see this. There won’t be two chapters this month. Heck, there might not even be one chapter. I’ll try my best, but as I’ve said before, that novel is up for adoption, and I’m busy with TYQHM at Chrysanthemum Garden.

Anyway, looks like the emperor and empress dowager came to a compromise. Wonder how long that’ll last…

Chapter Supplememt:

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