Chapter 33 (None)
Aruo Fanghe is like a mirror to Jiang Ling, and the two of them constantly remind her to have a clear self-awareness.
In the past, being arrogant would at most invite criticism; here, it's courting death.
A tiger killed a wild boar. A hunter discovered this and, thinking he had gotten something for nothing, happily went to collect it.
The result was obvious: both the hunter and the wild boar became the tiger's prey.
Jiang Ling panicked, her mind acting out of control, and blurted out, "Your Majesty, I don't care, I'd rather die than care!"
No one had ever dared to directly contradict the emperor. Emperor Yuanming's face darkened instantly, and he said, "How dare you! You actually threaten me!"
After being scolded by Emperor Yuanming, Jiang Ling immediately came to her senses and hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, I can't even manage the candle and lamp room properly, let alone the Imperial Bedchamber. I'm afraid I'll make a mess of things and fail Your Majesty's trust in me."
She spoke earnestly on the surface, but inwardly she was roaring: "The Imperial Bedchamber Bureau is responsible for making the emperor's bed, carriages and sedan chairs, lighting the lamps in the harem, flowers and plants, candles, all sorts of messy and chaotic things. Just thinking about it gives me a headache. There are no benefits, just a bunch of tedious work. Who would do it!"
Emperor Yuanming was furious, cursing her inwardly for being so short-sighted. He had bestowed upon her immense favor, yet she was still only thinking about those small benefits.
He wanted to call her out on it, as he had heard her ulterior motives perfectly clearly. But he held back the words he was about to say.
If the truth is revealed, I fear I will never hear her true feelings again.
You can't see into someone's heart, but he knew exactly what she was thinking.
Whether in the imperial court or the harem, or even throughout the entire Great Yin Dynasty, Emperor Yuanming's most trusted person was Jiang Ling.
Emperor Yuanming glanced at her sideways and said disdainfully, "I know you're useless, there's no need to keep saying that."
"You're the good-for-nothing, your whole family is good-for-nothing!" Jiang Ling hung her head and remained silent, her mind in turmoil, constantly cursing, "You know I'm good-for-nothing, yet you still want me to do things! There are so many capable people in the harem, why aren't you choosing any? What's wrong with you!"
Emperor Yuanming took a deep breath, suppressing his anger, and said earnestly, "You've been in charge of the candle and lamp department these past few days, and nothing has gone wrong. You came to me urgently to deal with the shortage of candles and lamps in the storeroom, which shows that you are quite clever."
"What kind of cleverness is this? This is clearly the most basic sense of responsibility!" Jiang Ling thought to himself, feeling utterly speechless.
If she had known, she would have just given up and let the entire harem live like a poor family, working from sunrise to sunset!
"You are fair and just, and you have never shortchanged anyone's lamps or candles." Emperor Yuanming patiently spoke of Jiang Ling's strengths.
The more she spoke, the gentler Emperor Yuanming's gaze became. Despite her many flaws, her heart was truly pure.
"Fairness and impartiality have become punishment. I should have withheld it!" Jiang Ling pursed her lips, filled with regret.
Emperor Yuanming was speechless; she couldn't resist praise!
"Your Majesty, I am terrified. Consorts such as Consort Zhao, Consort Li, Consort Lin, and Lady Xia are all of higher rank and more capable than me. My management of the candles and lamps is already presumptuous and ignorant of my place, let alone any further presumption."
Jiang Ling steeled herself, secretly pinched her leg, and kept telling herself, "Cry, cry, look pitiful, like a pear blossom in the rain!"
She looked up at Emperor Yuanming and pleaded, "Your Majesty, please rescind your decree and spare me!"
Emperor Yuanming looked strange and barely managed to suppress his laughter.
Look at her stiff tone, not a single tear in her eyes. She can't even fake it properly. She really wasted her breath pinching herself!
"Stop this nonsense! What is the punishment for disobeying an imperial decree?" Emperor Yuanming retorted immediately, lest she continue her petty schemes.
Jiang Lingsheng was filled with despair, hanging his head and not daring to utter a sound.
Seeing her listless appearance, Emperor Yuanming softened his tone and said, "Qin Shanggong is loyal and reliable, and she is meticulous in her work. With her help, why do you need to worry?"
"Qin Shanggong?" Jiang Ling was taken aback for a moment, then perked up and asked eagerly, "Qin Shanggong was personally selected by the Emperor?"
Emperor Yuanming almost laughed in anger; her little scheme was now crystal clear.
Since Qin Shanggong was personally appointed by him, she should be a hands-off manager, and if anything goes wrong in the Imperial Bedchamber, it will have nothing to do with her.
Emperor Yuanming ignored her and pointed to the pine nut candies on the table: "Don't you like candy? Why aren't you eating any?"
"You think you can bribe me with a few candies? You're an emperor, how dare you offer such a thing!" Jiang Ling secretly rolled his eyes, respectfully thanked the emperor, and popped a candy into his mouth.
She had been longing for the taste of pine nut candy, but unfortunately, since it came from the imperial kitchen, there were no sweets or candies among the usual dishes, so she had to give up on that idea.
Pine nut candy certainly couldn't bribe her. If Emperor Yuanming refused to even offer pine nut candy, she would be helpless.
The green porcelain jar containing the plums had a warm, jade-like glaze. Jiang Ling looked at it again and again until his eyes ached.
"How extravagant! A porcelain jar for sugar is more valuable than all the bottles and jars in my house combined!"
Emperor Yuanming was furious. She was truly blind, making up all sorts of lies about him! Every single vase or ornament in Fanying Pavilion that was sold at a bargain price was taken from his private treasury!
Jiang Ling took a sip of tea to dilute the sweetness in her mouth and said, "Your Majesty, Qin Shanggong is capable and deeply trusted by Your Majesty. From now on, I will entrust the Shangqin Bureau to her management. She will also help select the lantern bearers."
Seeing that sugar couldn't shut her up, Emperor Yuanming glared at her and said, "You are the master. You have to keep an eye on your subordinates to prevent them from shirking their duties!"
"Do you even remember that those below are people? 'If you doubt someone, don't use them; if you use someone, don't doubt them.' You've said everything you need to say. What about your face? Is it just an ornament?"
After Jiang Ling finished his grumbling, he respectfully replied that the Emperor's reprimand was correct. Then, with a slight change of heart, he asked, "Was Qingwen personally selected by the Emperor?"
Emperor Yuanming was taken aback, thinking to himself that she was indeed quite clever. He glanced at her and said slowly, "What's wrong? Is Qingwen not doing her job diligently?"
Jiang Ling suddenly understood. Qingwen was like a confidant of the big boss, transferred to a branch office to support junior managers. Being by the big boss's side would definitely lead to a bright future; after all, close advisors to the emperor were more likely to be promoted, and officials in the capital were one rank higher than those in local positions.
But she had to listen to the big boss and produce some results. Deep down, Qingwen actually looked down on her, this lowly leader. She dared not cause any major trouble, but by stalling in areas where no one could find fault, she could make Qingwen suffer greatly.
For example, when Jiang Ling asked Qingwen about taking over the lamp and candle department, she answered very smoothly, claiming it was Emperor Yuanming's decree, and that imperial orders could not be disobeyed. It sounded impeccable, but in reality, she was using Emperor Yuanming to pressure her into taking over the lamp and candle department.
The concubines in the harem only secretly vie for power; there's no reason for them to relinquish it. When Consort Zhao handed the candles to Jiang Ling, it was clearly suspicious, and Qingwen was well aware of this.
On the night Consort Gao died, Qingwen seemed concerned for Jiang Ling, fearing she might be cold, and brought her a censer. That evening, Consort Lin, Consort Zhao, Consort Liu, and even Emperor Yuanming, all dressed appropriately, rushed over.
If she went there carrying a smoky ball, all dressed up, just as Wenjuan said, she would become a laughingstock for going to see Gao Cairen.
Jiang Ling pondered for a moment and said, "Your Majesty, I have thought of a candidate for the lantern bearer. Why not let Qingwen do it? Qingwen has been working in the lantern and candle department these days, and she is Your Majesty's person, so she is the most suitable person to be the lantern bearer."
“I sent Qingwen to serve you. She went to the candle and lamp department, so you won’t have enough people around you,” Emperor Yuanming said, frowning.
"I have nothing serious to do. Three people are enough. There is no need to add any more people." Jiang Ling slowed down her speech and emphasized, as if afraid that Emperor Yuanming would point to another person.
Emperor Yuanming was annoyed by her nagging and said irritably, "Fine, fine, I'll do as you say."
Having resolved two matters at once, Jiang Ling secretly breathed a sigh of relief. She couldn't control Qingwen, a clever person, so she would leave her to Qin Shanggong to manage from now on.
"Your Majesty is busy, and I dare not delay. I shall take my leave now." Jiang Ling prepared to offer incense to Consort Gao and rose to take her leave.
"It's still early, are you planning to go back to rest again?" Emperor Yuanming looked out the window and said with some displeasure.
Jiang Ling told the truth, thinking to himself, "Even a day as husband and wife is worth a hundred days of kindness. Now that your bedmate is gone, you're really heartless, not even going to see him off on his final journey."
Emperor Yuanming paused, his heart filled with complex emotions. As the Son of Heaven, how could he possibly offer sacrifices at the mourning hall of a mere concubine? Her idea was utterly outrageous, disregarding the proper order of rank and status.
However, Emperor Yuanming had seen too much of her rebellious behavior and was already used to it. Her ability to think this way was precisely where her compassion and kindness lay.
"It's nothing serious to just take a walk in front of the mourning hall." Emperor Yuanming paused for a moment, then stood up and said, "I'll go take a look too. You'll come with me."
Jiang Ling lowered her eyes and respectfully agreed, but inwardly she was irritated and thought, "Who wants to go with you? If people see us, they'll think you only dote on me!"
Emperor Yuanming glanced sideways at Jiang Ling, his fingers starting to itch, wishing he could pinch her hateful mouth!
She's really dreaming. He's doting on her the only one. Considering her temper, he hasn't killed her. He's been kind and merciful!
"You may go now, I have other matters to attend to," Emperor Yuanming said calmly as he sat back down.
Jiang Ling was secretly pleased and quickly curtsied to take his leave. As he left, he couldn't help but glance at the porcelain jar containing the sugar.
Emperor Yuanming saw Jiang Ling's reaction clearly, raised an eyebrow, and deliberately refused to give it to her!
As Jiang Ling left Qionghua Pavilion, her shoulders slumped instantly. She walked forward silently, thinking about the Shangqin Bureau she had been forced to take on.
Wenjuan followed behind Jiang Ling, and seeing that no one was around, asked in a low voice, "What's wrong, my beauty?"
Jiang Ling said, "The Emperor has appointed me to manage the Imperial Bedchamber Bureau." With a bitter face, she briefly recounted the events at Qionghua Pavilion, sighing repeatedly, "Wenjuan, I'm so unlucky!"
Wen Juan was also surprised. She paused for a moment and said, "This servant is going to say something disrespectful, but above the Beauty are Consort Zhao, Consort Li, and Consort Lin, yet His Majesty has put the Beauty in charge. The palace has its own rules. If Consort Zhao and the others are dissatisfied and reprimand the Beauty, their rank is higher than the Beauty's. If the Beauty talks back, it would be an act of insubordination."
Jiang Ling said bitterly, "I spoke to the Emperor, but he rejected my request. If I disobey the imperial decree, I will have to go on my way with Consort Gao."
Wenjuan followed suit, saying, "The Shangqin Bureau used to be managed by Consort De. Although Consort De declined the position, if you, my lady, were to take over, you would offend Consort De. Apart from the lanterns and candles of the Lantern Department and the flowers and trees of the Garden Department, the Shangqin Bureau is truly difficult to manage."
The flowers and trees in the palace came from local tributes, and the gardens were cultivated and nurtured in greenhouses. The Imperial Treasury would also occasionally purchase them from the common people.
Jiang Ling was well aware of the complexities of the garden and flower market; Su Yue's ink chrysanthemums from last time had already given her a profound lesson. Ink chrysanthemums weren't even the most expensive; various delicate and rare orchids and peonies were truly priceless.
The Directorate of Gardens was in charge of the planting and maintenance of the Imperial Garden and the inner palace courtyards. During festivals, they were responsible for decorating the gardens with flowers and plants for Emperor Yuanming's enjoyment. If any flowers or trees in a palace withered or died, they had to be replanted.
The prices of flowers and plants are not transparent; a pot of orchids may be worth a hundred taels of silver or be worthless.
The imperial gardens were under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Works. Jiang Ling was taken aback for a moment and asked, "Do you know whose family in the harem works in the Ministry of Works and is in charge of the imperial gardens?"
Wen Juan pondered for a moment and said, "I seem to have heard that Consort Li's father was originally the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works, but he retired a couple of years ago due to poor health. Her elder brother was granted a government post through imperial favor and took a sinecure in the Ministry of Works' Yu Department, where he usually takes care of flowers and plants."
Jiang Ling recalled Consort Li. She wasn't considered the most beautiful woman in the harem, but she was tall, with exceptionally fair skin and a pair of bright, cat-like eyes. Presumably, she had some non-Han ancestry, as she possessed a certain exotic charm.
The two entered the palace at the same time. After Li Jieyu gained the emperor's favor, she was granted the title of Jieyu. Every year, new concubines were selected to enter the palace. Although she had not borne any children, Emperor Yuanming favored her greatly and often spent time with her in bed.
Consort Li also attended Consort Zhao's birthday celebration, and the two appeared to be very close.
Whether their feelings are genuine or feigned, if there are mutual interests to maintain the relationship, then it is solid.
Jiang Ling, on the verge of tears, arrived at Xiefang Pavilion, lost in thought. A reed shed had been erected in the courtyard, where the mourning ladies rested in a side hall.
Several palace maids and eunuchs were serving in the mourning hall. Consort Liu was unwell and rested in a reed shed outside.
Granny Shi busied herself with the arrangements and led Jiang Ling into the mourning hall. As she walked in, the once familiar place, now filled with white mourning clothes, appeared strange and desolate.
Where the couch was originally placed, there was now a cypress coffin, with the tiny flame of the ever-burning lamp flickering from side to side.
After offering incense, Jiang Ling added oil to the ever-burning lamp and gazed at the coffin, feeling inexplicably downcast.
There was a coffin but no outer coffin; even the nanmu coffin exceeded the prescribed size. After death, the imperial mausoleum where they were buried could not be built as a separate mausoleum; it could only be called a tomb, attached to the mausoleum of a high-ranking concubine.
They lived in high-class palaces during their lifetime, and they lived in the same way after death.
No wonder everyone is vying for it.
They fight for life, and they fight for death.
When the time came for the noblewomen to mourn, Jiang Ling turned to leave. Granny Shi said, "Her Highness the Virtuous Consort invites you to sit in the reed shed for a while, have a cup of tea to warm yourself before you go."
Jiang Ling couldn't help but feel awkward. He forced himself to enter the reed shed and curtsied.
Consort Liu, dressed in slightly worn plain clothes, leaned against a low couch, holding a smoky ball in her arms for warmth. She raised her hand and said kindly, "Consort Jiang, there's no need for formalities. Come and sit down. Granny Shi, pour Consort Jiang a bowl of the red date soup I had been drinking."
Granny Shi poured some red date soup and served it to Jiang Ling. He ate several mouthfuls, and the sweet taste calmed him down a bit.
Consort Liu adjusted her hood and said with a sigh, "As people get older, they become afraid of the heat in summer and the cold in winter. Their energy also declines. Just one funeral, with Consort Chen and the others running around, I just couldn't keep up with it."
Jiang Ling didn't know how to respond, and said dryly, "Your Majesty is still young."
Consort Liu said gently, “Time waits for no one. I injured my body during childbirth and have been taking medicine for years, but I still haven’t recovered. I usually have a strong smell of medicine on me, and I’m afraid people will dislike it, so I don’t go out much. As a result, my relationship with the sisters in the harem has become distant. It’s rare to meet you here, so I’d like to ask you to say something.”
“It’s very cold in the reed shed, Your Highness, you should go inside and rest. You should take good care of yourself,” Jiang Ling replied, racking her brains.
"The smell of incense and candles in the room is too strong. Just smelling it makes me cough uncontrollably." Consort Liu shook her head self-deprecatingly and sighed repeatedly, "Look at all these illnesses of mine, they are really annoying."
She looked at Jiang Ling and said, "To be honest, Consort Jiang, I originally intended to ask you for help, but considering how busy you are at the Lantern and Candle Department, I changed my mind. The Imperial Concubine and the Consort De are both unwell and sent someone to tell me to take care of them. But how can I possibly manage in my current state? There are so many ladies in the harem, so why don't we all share the burden? Let's divide the duties of the Six Bureaus among ourselves, and that way everyone will be more relaxed. What do you think, Consort Jiang?"
Meeting Consort Liu's unfathomable gaze, Jiang Ling's face stiffened, a chill ran down his spine, and he felt as if he were sitting on pins and needles.
Only after Consort Zhao handed over the Shangqin Bureau, Consort Liu was to assign tasks to the Shangqin Bureau.
Emperor Yuanming had just put her in charge of the Imperial Bedchamber. Could it be that Consort Liu already knew about this beforehand and was now deliberately testing her?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
