Chapter 8 Chapter 8
The palace maids had long been accustomed to the imperial concubine often going out alone, but Tan Rui was still startled when she found the imperial concubine in the corridor near the rockery. The independent beauty leaned all her weight on the corridor pillar, her eyes were unfocused, and she seemed to have lost all her strength.
There was not even a single person to serve him.
She called out for dry clothes and said worriedly, "My lady, you are soaked all over. Did the palace servants who rowed the boat fail to serve you well and hurt you?"
Shen Youyi nodded, frowning tightly: "Take her away and give her twenty strokes of the cane, then find an excuse to send her away."
She thought she was still the daughter of the Shen family. It was a rare opportunity to meet someone familiar from her previous life, so she still couldn't completely regard herself as Wei Lanzhen. In her haste, she never thought that her original body was not the wife of Marquis Lingyang. Even if their relationship was shallow and Wei Lanzhen had fallen in love with someone else, the prince and Marquis Lingyang were so close, how could he do such a thing?
Her little finger hooked around a strand of black hair, and Shen Youyi pulled it lightly, but she couldn't sort out the tangled mess in her mind.
In fact, in addition to the power and wealth of the Eastern Palace, she also liked the prince in her heart. They were of the same age, and the prince was generous and firm enough when he made promises. He obeyed her in many things, even if he weighed the pros and cons in the end and let her fend for herself in the Ye Ting. Because she understood his thoughts, at most she would feel a little resentment and sadness in her heart when she recalled this incident, but she didn't have any other feelings, she just didn't like him anymore.
He was young and naive, and all his power came from the emperor. It was ridiculous for him to challenge his father's authority for a woman he liked, not to mention that the woman was attracted by his status.
But when she actually saw him alive today, she felt a little complicated and sad.
This bright and handsome man not only married and had children, but also fell in love with his best friend's widow, his father's concubine, a few years later. He loved her so much that he even asked her to wait for a while, and when he became emperor, he would depose his wife and kill their children for her?
There is nothing special about her in the prince's heart, and the same goes for those women who once defeated her to become the prince's concubines. So would Concubine Wei be any different?
Shen Youyi shuddered slightly. How could the man she once loved say such chilling words in just a few years?
Tan Rui thought that the imperial concubine had caught a cold, so she ordered the eunuchs to use a screen to block off a small space for her. Even though she had many doubts, she didn't dare to ask. The imperial concubine was expected to be irritable and angry because the servants didn't serve her well, but she shouldn't look so worried.
However, the noble lady's intentions were unpredictable. She put on a smile and whispered, "I just sent someone to ask the newly arrived eunuchs. Your Highness the Crown Prince returned to Tangquan Palace to have a feng shui survey conducted so that a stage could be built for the Emperor's birthday celebrations. That's why he stumbled in by mistake and nearly bumped into you. Just now, the chief eunuch of the Eastern Palace sent over many gifts, saying they wanted to apologize to you."
Shen Youyi cheered up. As long as Emperor Yuan Shuo was still alive, it didn't matter to her whether the Crown Prince treated his concubines well or not. "Your Majesty doesn't live in Tangquan Palace, so why are you here?"
Tangquan Palace has a special palace for rehearsing singing and dancing, so even if there are operas or music, there is no need for the prince to supervise.
Tan Rui smiled and said, "How could it be called a happy event? The Empress Dowager has for some reason felt like relaxing this year and wants to stay at the temporary palace for a while. I heard people say that His Majesty is not only planning to hold his birthday banquet here, but is also interested in entertaining his family with colorful attire and wants to personally perform a play for the Empress Dowager. So His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has already brought people here to choose a location as a token of his filial piety."
The stage originally faced south and was where actors performed for distinguished guests. Emperor Yuan Shuo was of high status, so if he wanted to perform on stage himself, he would have to rebuild a new stage facing north.
Shen Youyi then remembered why the prince said that he came here on the orders of the Royal Grandmother, and even if the two of them met in private, it would not arouse suspicion.
However, when she thought about the Crown Prince using the excuse of showing filial piety to secretly meet his father's concubines, Shen Youyi couldn't help but laugh and said angrily, "How can this be considered a good thing? Your Majesty didn't come here specifically for me. Suddenly, so many people came to the palace, and it was a mess all day long. How can I live a carefree life?"
Seeing her smile, Tan Rui gently teased, "Madam, you still say you're unhappy. Your Majesty is the most filial to the Empress Dowager. Since you're going on stage, how can you do without a musician? Even the Empress Dowager has praised your skills. Isn't your piano better than those musicians? In my opinion, it would be better to secretly give some money to Chen Zongguan. Then you can accompany Your Majesty on stage, please the Empress Dowager, and say a few soft words to her in private. Once His Majesty's anger has subsided, he will definitely not be willing to ignore you again."
The emperor usually went to Tangquan Palace to enjoy himself and avoid the cold in late autumn and early winter, so he seldom held banquets in the palace on his birthday. A meeting is a token of affection, and if it were not for the empress dowager's intention, the imperial concubine didn't know when she would be able to meet the emperor again.
Shen Youyi laughed and said, "Your Majesty wants to put on a show. Who knows how many people are trying to be his supporting role? Does Chen Zongguan think that I am willing to give you a small bribe?"
Tan Rui's smile froze on her face, but she heard the imperial concubine speak in a leisurely tone, "But the journey is long and the weather is hot. I should give the steward fifty taels of silver and treat him to a cup of tea when the time comes. There's no need to talk about other things. What if he refuses to help me, or if His Majesty is displeased after learning about this, then I will be humiliated. Why bother with all this publicity?"
The imperial concubine had her own ideas, and it was difficult for the servants to persuade her too much. Tan Rui opened her mouth but had to swallow back all the pros and cons.
Until the emperor arrived at Tangquan Palace with his concubines and royal family, everyone was busy cleaning and welcoming him. However, Concubine Wei, who originally loved boating and listening to music, actually hid in her own palace, occasionally copying Buddhist scriptures and doing needlework to pass the time. She only gave silver rewards to a few attendants of the Ministry of Internal Affairs... and continued to claim to be sick and not go out.
Emperor Yuanshuo was going to live in Tangquan Pavilion for a long time, but he could not ignore state affairs. The outer court of the palace was built around the inner palace, and there were also court hall, Hongwenguan and Bailiao Hall for important officials accompanying him to discuss matters and submit letters. The emperor would summon his officials to Changsheng Hall, court hall and other places, or go to the garden with princes and princesses, or even go out hunting or perform on stage. Except for going to bed at night, he rarely spent time in Qingping Hall.
But even so, Shen Youyi still encountered many inconveniences in traveling.
At this time last year, Concubine Wei was at the peak of her power. Even though she had fallen out of favor, she still lived in the Yaoguang Palace, which was not far from the emperor's residence. The two palaces faced each other, and people could be vaguely seen in between.
And up to now, no one has come to convey the emperor's order for her to move out of this magnificent palace close to the emperor.
But on the second day after the emperor arrived at the palace, Nanny Jiang, who was by the Empress Dowager's side, came to the Yaoguang Palace to invite her to talk.
The Wangming Hall where the Empress Dowager lived was located in a quiet place, far away from the Qingping Hall where the Emperor lived, and the stage built for the birthday banquet was in front of the Fenghuang Tower between the two halls.
Ever since she met the prince behind the rockery, Shen Youyi no longer dared to sneak out to play casually. She always used a full set of ceremonial guards when traveling, and learned the style of the avant-garde concubine very well.
The imperial concubine's ceremonial procession was magnificent, with ceremonial fans, golden incense boxes, chairs, stools, stoves... The long line of people following behind her was very eye-catching. Shen Youyi sat on the sedan chair. She sometimes even guessed that the imperial concubine Wei herself might not want such a grand ceremony every day, maybe just to avoid the prince's entanglement.
Shen Youyi had never seen the empress dowager, but had only heard the prince talk about this imperial grandmother. When the current emperor ascended the throne, he was almost twenty years old and would not allow others to interfere in the imperial power. The empress dowager did not interfere in state affairs on weekdays. She usually worshipped Buddha and recited scriptures in the palace. She was a kind and gentle old woman.
Wangming Hall is built against the mountain and is shaded by bamboo forests. Outside the hall, there is a clear spring. Occasionally, a hint of sandalwood can be found among the lush green leaves.
When Shen Youyi arrived, it was already past the time when the Queen Mother was doing her morning prayers. The palace maid led her to the Moon Cave in the back garden where the birds and beasts were kept, and then she walked in quickly to report: "Old Lady, the Imperial Concubine has come to pay her respects."
Shen Youyi watched from afar. The Queen Mother stopped feeding the baby because of the palace maid's report, but she did not turn around.
But the fat peacock in Wangming Palace was very enthusiastic when he saw her. He screamed a few times in a shrill voice and jumped around, as if he was about to spread his feathers at the next moment.
The Queen Mother chuckled softly, threw all the bird food in her hand over, and motioned Shen Youyi to come closer. She looked at him carefully from top to bottom. Her voice was a little old, but still full of energy: "Your child seems to be much more relaxed. Are all your illnesses healed?"
Shen Youyi's face instantly turned red. As the saying goes, a happy heart makes the body fat. She seemed to have gained a little weight in the palace. Her arms and chest were a little softer, but her figure was still slim and slender. She thought outsiders should not be able to see anything.
But no one has stipulated that a concubine who has fallen out of favor cannot eat, right?
She approached the Empress Dowager, bowed gracefully, and said respectfully, "Thank you, Her Majesty, for your concern. My illness is getting better, but I still have palpitations. If I wasn't afraid of passing my illness on to you, I would have come to greet you yesterday."
The emperor did not have many demands on his harem, and the number of portraits of his concubines never exceeded ten. Therefore, the empress dowager did not have any special thoughts about Wei Lanzhen, the young daughter-in-law who had been a widow. At most, she thought that the child was too beautiful, too outstanding, and had a bit of a seductive charm that could seduce the emperor.
A widowed woman was so beautiful that the emperor disregarded his dignity and favored her in the Duke of Yan's Mansion and brought her back to the palace, conferring the title of Jieyushi. Less than half a year later, he promoted her to Guifei and even asked her to stay in the Purple Palace to accompany him, which caused an uproar in the court and the public. There was a concern that if Guifei Wei gave birth to a prince, it would affect the succession of the crown prince.
After all, a son's status depends on his mother's. Yang Xiuyuan fell out of favor in her early years, and the second prince, who was born to the emperor, had a chronic illness. The emperor was in his prime, and the imperial concubine was born in the Duke of Yan's Mansion and was also of childbearing age. If her favor continued, no one could be sure what would happen in the future.
But the empress dowager watched coldly. The child seemed to have no ambition for the position of the Eastern Palace. Apart from being wholeheartedly devoted to the emperor and a little too spoiled, she was always respectful to the empress. Although she was a little arrogant and cunning towards Yang Xiuyuan, and sometimes even wanted to suppress the prince's biological mother, everyone in the harem had complaints about Yang Xiuyuan. This little bit of jealousy among women was not worth her concern as a mother-in-law.
After all, the Empress, Concubine Wei, Yang Xiuyuan, and even all the women in the harem combined were not as important as the Emperor's mood. As long as the Emperor indulged the Concubine and there was no major disturbance in the harem, she was happy to turn a blind eye.
But the imperial concubine fell out of favor in just a moment, and it was not because the emperor had a new favorite - this made her very curious, and combined with the rumors inside and outside the palace, she was even a little worried.
The imperial concubine didn't do anything too out of line during that period. In fact, because of the emperor's special favor, she remembered that the child rarely competed for favor with the older concubines.
She said kindly, "My dear child, it's hard for you to think so much, but after all, you are only a budding flower, why do you always spend your thoughts on me?"
Shen Youyi felt a little guilty. Concubine Wei and she should both be women who like to fight for each other, but it seems that the Queen Mother does not think so.
It could also be that the Empress Dowager felt that the Emperor still had some attachment to her?
"I dare not lie to the old lady. Your Majesty has long disliked me. Apart from seeking the old lady's protection, who else in this palace can I turn to?"
Her tears came quickly, wetting the thin layer of powder on her face. "As long as Your Majesty pities and loves me, I will be willing to eat vegetarian food, chant Buddhist scriptures, and pray for your blessings for the rest of my life."
Shen Youyi's eyes were bright and clear. When she lowered her head, big tears fell down in a row. Even though she was an abandoned woman with resentment, her tears were like dew on a peony, trembling and swaying in the wind, which made people feel pity.
She had intended to cry in a pitiful way, with the beauty of Xi Shi holding her heart. She had practiced in front of the mirror many times for this purpose, and she didn't expect to use it in front of the Empress Dowager today.
But just as Shen Youyi was about to kneel down, he heard a faint laugh.
It was low and pleasant, yet so short that it seemed like an auditory hallucination.
Shen Youyi was frightened and raised her head quietly, but the queen mother was looking at her with a loving face.
Seeing that the gorgeously dressed beauty in front of him ignored him, the chubby peacock began to cry out in dissatisfaction until the shrill sound attracted everyone's attention. Then he shook his body proudly, slowly and reservedly spread out his gorgeous tail feathers, and jumped around to flap them.
The empress dowager sighed softly. It was true that beauty could be alluring, but even she felt a little sorry for her. Even if the emperor was not burdened by external things, he should not be so cruel as to leave such a beauty aside in vain. However, the purpose of calling Concubine Wei here today was not to care about her situation.
Besides, she shouldn't be able to ask now.
"You are a smart person, why did you go into a poor alley so early?"
The Queen Mother raised her hand to smooth down her hair and jokingly said, "Even peacocks know you're beautiful. How could the Emperor not be pleased with you?"
Shen Youyi lowered her head. She felt vaguely uneasy in her heart, but she couldn't explain it. Fortunately, the Queen Mother was not a difficult mother-in-law. She just said a few more caring words and told her to go back.
Nanny Jiang personally escorted the Imperial Concubine out through the corner gate. The Empress Dowager cast a slightly disgruntled glance behind a screen in the hall. Although old, she was not deaf. She gently rebuked the gatekeeper, "Why didn't anyone announce the Emperor's arrival?"
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