Zhang Jia, dressed in a red gauze dress, stood in the chilly wind, her skirt fluttering in the breeze. She tiptoed, and with every gesture, every smile, she was captivating.
Consort Que and the others watched with great interest, while Xu Lejin, several meters away, felt a chill run down her spine for Consort Zhang Jia.
Half an hour later, an hour later
Zhang Jia continued to jump around, while Xu Lejin and the others shivered from the cold, having already changed two hot water bottles in their arms. Even Consort Que and the others had lost their initial enthusiasm.
With a soft sigh, Xu Lejin said in a deep voice, "It's freezing cold. Ruhua, go and tell Zhang Jia to return to Changchun Palace to warm up as soon as possible. The Emperor will be heartbroken if she gets sick in this cold weather."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Ru Hua agreed and quickly walked in the direction where Zhang Jia had agreed.
Consort Que shrugged and said with a smile, "Your Highness is absolutely right. It's freezing cold, and His Majesty would be heartbroken if he got sick."
"Today, Consort Duan and Consort Ning, you accompanied the Imperial Noble Consort and me in this cold wind for an hour. It was my oversight."
Raising her eyes and exchanging a glance with Xu Lejin, Consort Que instructed the palace maid beside her, "Sang'er, I recently acquired some new fabrics. I'll send them back to the various palaces for the ladies to enjoy."
Sang'er respectfully agreed.
Consort Duan, Consort Ning, and others spoke in unison, "Thank you, Noble Consort Xie Que..."
Xu Lejin smiled and cleared her throat.
"It's getting late, ladies, you should all go home! Tomorrow is the first day of the twelfth lunar month, a joyous occasion. I'll have the Imperial Household Department send some gold and silver jewelry to all of you."
Everyone said in unison, "Thank you, Imperial Noble Consort."
Three days later
On the second day of the twelfth lunar month, all the concubines gathered at Yikun Palace to pay their respects to Xu Lejin.
Xu Lejin's gaze fell on Zhang Jia, who was pale-faced in the corner, and she thought to herself, "Zhang Jia is quite healthy."
That day, it was freezing cold, but Lady Zhangjia danced in the Imperial Garden for more than an hour, and now she is perfectly fine.
Several noble ladies and concubines who had been enjoying the dance with them that day, and were in poor health, had all caught a cold and asked for leave. It was astonishing that Lady Zhangjia was still able to come and pay her respects today.
Consort Hui slightly curved her lips and looked at Consort He diagonally opposite her, saying, "I heard that Consort Zhangjia in Consort He's palace danced in the Imperial Garden three days ago?"
"The Imperial Noble Consort, the Noble Consort Que, and others have all gone to the Imperial Garden to enjoy the dance performed by Consort Zhangjia."
Consort He's expression changed slightly.
On second thought, it was Zhangjia who was embarrassed, not her. Consort He's discomfort vanished instantly, and she said in a sweet voice, "Consort Hui is well-informed, that is indeed the case."
"Zhang Jia has been practicing dance since childhood, and her dance moves are captivating. Three days ago, on a whim, she performed a dance in the Imperial Garden."
Looking up at Xu Lejin and the others, Consort He covered her mouth and said, "Consort Zhang's dance was so captivating that even the Imperial Noble Consort and Consort Que were able to enjoy it for an hour in the cold wind that day."
"Sister Huifei, don't you think so?"
Upon hearing this, Consort Hui's face turned from white to pale.
Finally, Consort Hui glared fiercely at Consort He, then turned her head to whisper with Consort Wan.
Xu Lejin smiled and said, "Indeed, as Consort He said, Consort Zhang's dance is outstanding. I, Consort Que, Consort Duan, and others like it very much."
Zhang Jia agreed.
I glanced into the corner.
Lady Zhangjia's expression changed slightly. She bowed and entered the hall, gracefully greeting Xu Lejin.
Xu Lejin smiled and said, "Zhang Jia's dancing skills are outstanding. I and all the sisters like them very much. Her dance three days ago was magnificent."
"Today, I take this opportunity to promote Zhangjia to the rank of Consort."
Zhangjia paused, looking up at Xu Lejin in surprise.
Consort Que covered her mouth and said, "Your Highness, look how happy Consort Zhang is, she has forgotten to express her gratitude."
"To celebrate Consort Zhangjia's promotion, I, the Empress, also present her with a set of purple jade headdress."
Consort Hui's expression changed repeatedly.
"This humble servant thanks Your Highness the Imperial Noble Consort, and Your Highness the Noble Consort Xie."
With her eyes lowered, making it impossible to see any change in her expression, Lady Zhangjia's gentle Wu dialect rang out in the main hall of Yikun Palace, instantly warming hearts like a ray of sunshine in the dead of winter.
Consort Duan paused for a moment, then said, "Your Highness, Imperial Noble Consort, Your Highness, I am not as well-off as you, so I will present Consort Zhangjia with a pair of ruby earrings."
Consort Ning: "I recently acquired a warm jade bracelet, which I will present to Consort Zhang..."
...
Starting with Consort Xu Lejin and Consort Que, followed by Consort Duan, Consort Ning, and the other concubines who had 'appreciated' Zhangjia's dance that day, they all presented gifts, including hairpins, jade bracelets, and bolts of cloth.
Zhang Jia always accepted the gifts with a smile.
Xu Lejin and Consort Que exchanged a glance, unable to figure out Zhangjia for the time being.
If this were in the palace, other concubines would feel humiliated to be treated like actors or performers, but why did Lady Zhangjia look so flattered and happily accept these gifts?
Zhangjia, has she lost her mind?
One hour later
Consort He, her face grim, led Lady Zhangjia back to Changchun Palace. Seated in the main seat, Consort He scrutinized Lady Zhangjia, her voice cold, "Lady Zhangjia, what do you mean? Don't you know?"
Don't you know that the Imperial Noble Consort and the Noble Consort Que are deliberately humiliating you?
Consort Zhang raised her eyes, glanced at Consort He, a hint of amusement flashing in her eyes, and respectfully said, "Consort He, the Imperial Noble Consort is equivalent to the Empress, and Consort Que is a Noble Consort. If they bestow gifts upon me, should I refuse?"
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