Game
Concubine Ke was privately dissatisfied with the fact that Concubine Wan was promoted first, but she also understood that under the current circumstances, the existence of Concubine Yi was indispensable.
After becoming Concubine Ding, Li Qingping's life was no different from before.
When she was still a concubine, she had already been living on the allowance of a concubine for food, clothing, and other expenses. Now she was just completing the title of a concubine.
Assisting in the management of the six palaces wasn't exactly a busy job. The three concubines and the Crown Princess each handled a portion of the work, only gathering to discuss matters they couldn't handle. While they spoke of discussions, the Crown Princess couldn't influence the opinions of the three elders, and usually remained silent on the sidelines. While Noble Concubine Yi held a high position, she also sought to seize more power through this opportunity, but the Li Qingping sisters wouldn't let her succeed. Noble Concubine Yi felt powerless, forced to fret over the tasks assigned to her.
The four of them each performed their duties and arranged all matters of the harem properly. Day after day, although there were occasional frictions, most of the time they were able to live in peace.
By the Mid-Autumn Festival, Queen Li's belly was more than eight months pregnant and was bulging.
Emperor Yongping had given full authority to Li Qingping and the others for the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet this year, so there was no need to bother Empress Li. If there was anything he didn't understand, he could go to the Cining Palace and ask the Empress Dowager.
Yonghe Palace.
A vase was filled with a blooming Buddha's crown jewel, and its faint fragrance filled the palace.
Li Qingping sat nearby, reviewing the menu for the palace banquet. A palace attendant from Yongshou Palace, having been notified, knelt outside the curtain and said in a clear voice, "Greetings to Consort Ding. Long live Consort Ding. Our Imperial Concubine said she wanted to add some fun to the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet. She wants the Jiaofangsi to stage a performance of 'Rainbow Skirt and Feathered Robe' and invite a major opera troupe to form a troupe."
Li Qingping's eyes never left the list he was reading. His tone was calm but weighty, leaving no room for doubt: "It's true that Concubine Yi wanted the palace banquet to be lively. But there was a severe snowstorm in the north a while ago, followed by spring floods. The victims have migrated south, and the national treasury has already spent a lot of money on disaster relief. Staging 'The Dance of the Rainbow Skirt and Feathered Coat' is too extravagant. The Emperor just called for frugality in the court, so I'm afraid it's inappropriate to do so now."
Before the palace servants of Yongshou Palace could even catch their breath, they heard Concubine Ding flipping through a page and continuing:
"Besides, the Empress needs to focus on her pregnancy right now, so it's not appropriate to make such a grand arrangement. You can set up a troupe, but don't make it grand. Find a quiet place away from Kunning Palace, and let all the palace ladies and the ladies of honor come and watch. We'll go over the playlist again later, and if there are no problems, have the troupe arrange it according to the above. You can go and tell the Imperial Concubine now."
When the palace maid conveyed Li Qingping's intention, Concubine Yi picked up the teacup and took a sip, her face full of displeasure.
It happens again! It happens again!
Whenever there is a disagreement among the parties, Yonghe Palace always downplays it and moves on from it.
Noble Consort Yi's breathing was rapid, her chest rising and falling dramatically, completely losing the calm and elegant demeanor she displayed outside. "Is she the Noble Consort, or am I?! She's always using the Emperor and Kunning Palace to refute my dignity! I was originally giving her some face out of consideration for our past, but I never expected someone to be so shameless!"
The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. It was clearly her favorite Baihao Yinzhen tea, but now it seemed bland. Concubine Yi, frustrated, simply threw the teacup away, sending the shattered pieces scattering with the tea, sending the palace maids to their knees.
"Your Majesty, calm down."
Concubine Yi leaned her head and took a few deep breaths to calm herself down, her eyes cold.
As I said before, Concubine Yi is best at patience.
After having a tantrum, although Concubine Yi was still upset, she calmed down.
Yonghe Palace now relies on the emperor and the empress, and she will not be able to get away with it if she confronts them head-on.
Concubine Yi paused for breath.
But what if... the backer falls?
Unable to think any further, Concubine Yi ordered the palace maid to present the list of plays and began to write.
In fact, the plays performed every year are the same ones, such as "The Monkey King Visits the Moon Palace", "The Drunken Concubine", and "The Frost Fairy", which have long lost their novelty.
Concubine Yi thought for a moment, then wrote the list and said to the eunuch standing by, "Make several copies of this list and send them to Chengqian Palace, Yonghe Palace, and the Eastern Palace for review. If there are no errors, we can rehearse the play according to the list. Also, ask the person in charge of the opera troupe at the Jiaofang Department to come here. I have something to ask you about this play."
The eunuch stepped forward to take the list, but Concubine Yi didn't let go immediately. She stared at the eunuch and said calmly, "These are serious matters. There's no need to avoid people. Got it?"
The old eunuch smiled with his wrinkled face and said, "Don't worry, Master. I know what's going on."
"What is Concubine Yi looking for the manager of the Jiaofangsi for?"
It just so happened that Concubine Ke came to Li Qingping with a list of gifts for reward. Upon hearing the news, she looked at the list of plays again and again with uncertainty: "She wouldn't do anything with this, would she?"
Li Qingping pondered and shook his head: "I wouldn't go so far as to do anything."
The plays on the list are all common ones. There is nothing special about them. They are pretty standard and there is nothing wrong with them, but they are not eye-catching either.
However, ever since Noble Concubine Yi gained control of the palace, she had been eager to assert herself before Emperor Yongping, intent on completely diverting this power away from Empress Li. Li Qingping could understand why Noble Concubine Yi acted this way. It was only natural for the Noble Concubine of Yongshou Palace, now second only to the Emperor in the harem, to become more active.
Everyone in the palace knew that the Imperial Concubine was in charge of singing, dancing and opera at this banquet, so it was normal to call the Music Bureau over for questioning, just like Li Qingping, who was in charge of the dishes, had to summon the kitchen manager from time to time.
But it was Concubine Yi who had just proposed to stage that kind of extravagant song and dance, so I was right to be on guard. I just don't know what tricks she will come up with this time.
Li Qingping ordered his servants to pay more attention, then calmly pointed out a mistake on Concubine Ke's gift list: "Concubine Zhuang is allergic to peanuts and prefers sweets, so these five-nut mooncakes should be crossed out. Instead, add a few red bean-filled ones to her Qixiang Palace gift."
This is no small matter. Concubine Ke quickly changed it and was surprised: "How did you know that, sister?"
Concubine Zhuang was not stupid enough to tell these things to others.
Li Qingping laughed and said, "When Concubine Zhuang orders dessert, she never orders dishes with peanuts. She won't touch any of the dishes even in the palace banquets. But Concubine Zhuang is smart. She knows how to confuse people by pretending that she doesn't like this or that." But careful observation can still tell which ones she really didn't touch and which ones she touched a little.
"As for snacks, Qixiang Palace orders sweet snacks much more often than salty snacks. They always add sugar to the milk and bird's nest porridge." Li Qingping felt a little embarrassed when he saw Concubine Ke's eyes shining. He picked up the teacup and took a sip. "Okay, there's nothing wrong with the rest. Let's prepare the festival gifts for each palace accordingly."
Immediately afterwards, Li Qingping finished checking the list of dishes in his hand and prepared to ask the eunuch to take the list to the kitchen.
She gave her final instructions, "The Empress has been complaining lately that her taste is bitter. She'd rather eat something light. No meaty or fishy dishes are allowed before the phoenix carriage. If you still disobey my warning, everyone in the kitchen will be punished."
The young eunuch took the order and left. When he was walking out, he happened to pass by another young eunuch.
The young eunuch whispered a few words into Li Qingping's ear.
After hearing the eunuch's report, Li Qingping raised his eyebrows and said with a smile, "Looking for twelve graceful dancers?"
Concubine Ke pricked up her ears and looked at Li Qingping curiously.
Li Qingping waved his hand to dismiss the young eunuch, then sat there leisurely, stroking his earrings, and said to Concubine Ke, "Why are you asking the dancers to rehearse when the troupe has all those famous actresses to perform instead of the actors?"
Concubine Ke laughed and said, "Could it be that if Sister doesn't rehearse the 'Rainbow Skirt and Feathered Robe Dance' for her, she will turn her attention to the opera troupe?"
"...The dancers are wearing costumes." Li Qingping narrowed her eyes, pausing to touch her earrings. "If we can truly create something ingenious that catches the Emperor's eye, it's certainly the work of Imperial Concubine Yi." She chuckled softly and instructed the eunuch, "Have everyone cooperate and don't spoil the Imperial Concubine's spirit."
We have to cooperate here, and the Yongshou Palace is also keeping an eye on us. The person in charge of the Jiaofangsi opera troupe is almost going bald.
Just now, when I went to Yongshou Palace, Concubine Yi insisted that these plays were nothing new, and the officials in charge didn't dare to refute her. It's true that they're not new, but it's been the same every year throughout the dynasties. This is the palace's rules, and they can't be changed at will.
"Don't we have twelve jade rabbits in the 'Frost-beating Fairy' piece? So, why don't you have them dancing with glass lanterns? If the troupe can't do it well, then find twelve graceful dancers. They can practice for a few days and it will be perfect."
Concubine Yi had the final say and gave the steward no room to speak.
The manager was in a difficult position: "My Lady, this glass is fragile. It might be inappropriate to dance with it. And how can the dancers sing..."
Concubine Yi glared at him, and the steward, thinking of his own life, dared not say a word. His back was already sweating profusely, and he quickly responded, "Your Majesty, I will do it right away."
But the person in charge had no idea what to do.
In reality, the stewards, having experienced years of ups and downs in the palace, were well aware of Concubine Yi's intentions. While they now shared responsibility for the six palaces, it was clear that the Empress's true preference lay with Concubine Ding of Yonghe Palace. She had only brought Yongshou Palace into the fold to silence those who accused the Li family of dominance. Concubine Ding was indeed capable, managing matters with impeccable efficiency, no less effective than Empress Li. But how could Concubine Yi accept this? She was the only Concubine in the palace, yet she was constantly outshined by Concubine Ding in all matters, constantly seeking a way to outdo her.
If this were done well, it would add a touch of novelty to the palace banquet's excerpts, making them less tedious than before. Concubine Yi would surely steal the show and eclipse Concubine Ding. But when the masters compete, the servants suffer. The glass lanterns are fragile, the dancers can't sing, and choreographing a new lantern dance is time-consuming and laborious. What should be done? If the palace banquet is delayed, wouldn't it be the servants who lose their heads?
“It’s difficult, it’s really difficult!” sighed the steward.
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