The next day, Song Xibai was awakened by a series of tiptoeing footsteps.
Upon opening her eyes and seeing the dim light outside the window, Song Xibai was stunned for a long time. Turning her head, she saw that the Crown Prince had already dressed and was ready to go out.
She sat up and yawned.
"Aren't you exempt from court? Why are you up so early?"
"Getting up at the hour of Yin (3-5 AM) is a habit I developed from childhood."
The prince didn't turn his head, letting the palace maids squat down and straighten the hem of his clothes.
"If you're sleepy, you can sleep a little longer. The Crown Princess won't get up until 5 a.m.
After saying this, the Crown Prince called out to Feng Jia and led his servants away in a grand procession.
Song Xibai wanted to take a nap, but the two palace maids were standing in the room the whole time, so how could she fall asleep?
I decided to get up.
Two palace maids rushed forward to serve her; one searched for clothes, while the other fetched hot water.
Both of these palace maids were assigned by the palace, but Song Xibai had no idea whether they had any powerful backers.
She was just a concubine, and she wasn't allowed to bring maids into the Eastern Palace.
After changing his clothes and washing up, he glanced at the water clock and realized it was still early to pay his respects to the Crown Princess, so he decided to have breakfast first.
While waiting for breakfast, Song Xibai found out the names of the two palace maids and the basic situation of the East Palace.
The palace maid Fuliu was originally responsible for cleaning the back of Changchun Palace, while the other maid, Juqing, was from the Shangfu Bureau.
Juqing was taciturn, but Fuliu was quick to speak, and before Song Xibai could ask, she took the initiative to speak.
"I've inquired, and the other mistresses all go to pay their respects to the Crown Princess at 5:15 AM. Currently, the most favored person in the Eastern Palace is Consort Zhu. She is a girl from the Empress Dowager's maternal family, and she is incomparably beautiful. I heard that His Highness the Crown Prince spends five days a month with her."
She then mentioned another concubine, Consort Guo, who was somewhat favored. As for the other concubines, Zhaoxun and Chenghui, they were not favored, so she only mentioned them briefly.
In fact, Song Xibai had already inquired about it, but now that someone was taking the initiative to be friendly, she wouldn't refuse.
Fu Liu clearly wanted to climb higher, so she was well-prepared.
She wanted to say more, but the young eunuch who was delivering the meals had already arrived at the door. Fu Liu quickly shut her mouth and went to pick up the food box.
Breakfast was surprisingly plentiful.
A small table was set out with snacks, porridge, and other treats.
Song Xibai pointed to the silver thread soup in the very center and asked, "Isn't this my portion?"
The young eunuch who delivered the meals explained.
"This was specially ordered by His Highness, so Your Highness can use it with complete peace of mind."
Song Xibai raised an eyebrow, not believing that the crown prince would be so meticulous; it was most likely done by someone close to him.
However, I still appreciate the kind offer.
After finishing breakfast and rinsing his mouth, Song Xibai prepared to pay his respects to the Crown Princess.
She didn't say who she was bringing, but Fuliu came along on her own initiative.
Song Xibai glanced at her but didn't say anything.
Because at that moment, the people next door also came out.
Song Xibai's room was located at the far west end. Next door was the woman who had entered the East Palace with her yesterday. She was said to be a merchant's daughter presented by the servants, named Feng Ying.
Feng Ying was petite and timidly glanced at Song Xibai before blushing.
Song Xibai was puzzled. "I'm not a man, why am I blushing?"
The next moment, Feng Ying walked over with graceful steps and gave a curtsy.
"Greetings, elder sister."
Song Xibai stepped aside, avoiding her bow.
The two of them were not yet officially recognized, and their statuses were equal. Song Xibai dared not accept her gift, lest someone use it as an excuse to complain, which would be a greater loss than gain.
On the other side of Feng Ying lived Zhao Xinlan, the Crown Prince's concubine who had also arrived the day before.
Zhao Xinlan and the Crown Princess Zhao were from the same family. Although she was a concubine's daughter from a collateral branch, she was beautiful and elegant, with a refined and graceful demeanor. Even Song Xibai couldn't help but take a second look at her.
The three stood at the door for a while, greeted each other, and then two more people came out of the other two rooms. They were both Zhaoxun, one surnamed Xie and the other surnamed Wu.
These two were originally palace maids who served the crown prince and were considered his mentors. However, they were old and not particularly attractive, so they had long since fallen out of favor and were only treated better than ordinary palace maids in the Eastern Palace.
These were all whispered by Fu Liu to Song Xibai.
Song Xibai wasn't interested in any of this, but what she didn't know was that everyone in the Eastern Palace was watching her closely, both openly and secretly.
It's because the Crown Prince spent the entire night in her room last night!
The other two newly arrived concubines didn't even get to see the Crown Prince.
Wu Zhaoxun took the initiative to greet everyone.
"It's getting late, sisters, let's go pay our respects to the Crown Princess!"
So, a group of people, accompanied by palace maids and servants, marched in a grand procession toward the main courtyard.
Song Xibai arrived in a sedan chair yesterday and didn't have time to examine the layout of the Eastern Palace. Now is the perfect opportunity to get a good look at it.
The Eastern Palace is a separate palace located to the east of the Imperial Palace. People can enter directly from the Donghua Gate and reach the Eastern Palace.
South of the East Palace is the Wenhua Hall, where the Crown Prince handled state affairs, but now it is his place of study.
North of the East Palace is the Renshou Palace, where the Empress Dowager resided.
As for the emperor's concubines, they lived quite far apart, separated by several doors!
The interior of the East Palace is divided into three halls: front, middle, and rear.
Song Xibai and the others stayed in the last hall, which was actually just the back room of an ordinary house.
There were also side rooms on the left and right, three rooms on each side, where the two concubines and two other concubines lived.
It's so crowded!
Song Xibai was filled with emotion.
Even so, people outside are saying that His Highness the Crown Prince is not interested in women and has too few wives and concubines, which is why he took three concubines yesterday.
The problem is, if a few more come, we won't be able to accommodate everyone, okay?
Does this mean His Highness the Crown Prince's women have to live in communal dormitories?
As he was mentally complaining, he had already arrived at the corridor of the central hall.
The central hall, with its row of five rooms, all belonged to the Crown Princess.
So it's no wonder that people in the palace fight and scheme against each other; this is only the Eastern Palace, yet the treatment is worlds apart.
In particular, when Song Xibai stepped into the hall, he was stunned by the luxurious decorations in front of him.
She was a worldly woman, but the various exquisite antiques, beautiful ornaments, gold and silver inlays, warm and lustrous jade carvings, and brightly colored sancai (three-color glazed pottery) pieces before her eyes dazzled her.
The floor was covered with a thick, cozy carpet with neat lotus flower patterns, giving it a dignified and elegant appearance.
Song Xibai took a deep breath, then suddenly frowned and glanced at the incense burner beside him.
The palace maids led them to the east side room, where four people were already there.
But then a pretty woman in a pink dress sitting at the head of the table on the right suddenly turned her head and stared at Song Xibai.
"It's only your first day in the East Palace, and you're already late to pay your respects to the Crown Princess. I think you don't take the Crown Princess seriously at all."
Her voice was as clear as a lark's, but her words carried an air of arrogance.
Moreover, while speaking, his eyes were fixed on Song Xibai without any attempt to conceal them.
Song Xibai chuckled inwardly.
They've only just arrived, and they're already trying to intimidate us?
Tsk tsk, do you really think I read all those palace intrigue novels for nothing?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com