Chapter 48 (None)
Duan Cairen was dressed in a light green spring dress. She had just turned 18 last year and was beautiful with a charming and innocent demeanor, as fresh and tender as a spring bud.
Jiang Ling couldn't help but sigh with emotion when he saw her. No wonder Consort Duan was so favored by Emperor Yuanming.
Whether they were imperial concubines or palace maids, after a period of time in the palace, regardless of their age, they always exuded a similar aura in their gestures and expressions.
They claim to be upright and proper, but in reality, they are all rigid and inflexible.
"Sister Jiang." Consort Duan curtsied gracefully, her voice as melodious as a painted eyebrow.
Jiang Ling nodded in return and pointed to the brocade cushion, saying, "Please sit down, Consort Duan."
Duan Cairen didn't sit down. She pointed to the orchids that Qin Shanggong and the palace maids were holding and said, "When Qin Shanggong came to deliver the orchids earlier, I heard that they were moved from Sister Jiang's Fanying Pavilion. How could I dare to take away Sister Jiang's favorite? I gave them to Sister Jiang first and then brought them to me. I have only been in the palace for a short time. It would seem arrogant of me to try to outdo Sister Jiang and get ahead of her."
Jiang Ling was taken aback, thinking to himself, "This scene is quite familiar. Zhou Rui's wife sent silk flowers, which displeased Lin Daiyu. She thought that the flowers were the leftovers and that's why she was unhappy."
Lady Duan came from a noble family. Her ancestors fought alongside Emperor Taizu to establish the empire and were granted the title of Earl of Yong'an, a hereditary title.
Of the noble families that emerged at the beginning of the dynasty, only three or five remain today. The descendants of the Marquis of Yong'an are unambitious and prefer eating, drinking, and merrymaking. Although the descendants of the Duan family now only hold sinecure positions, they are still born into the Marquis's family, and Consort Duan is the youngest legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Yong'an, so it is understandable that they are somewhat spoiled.
The inner palace was not peaceful to begin with, and with the idea that it was better to avoid trouble, Jiang Ling hurriedly explained, "Consort Duan, I am not knowledgeable enough. Orchids are delicate and would be a disservice to me. It is enough to appreciate the flowers and plants in the courtyard. If you like orchids, you may take them."
The afternoon was fine, with a gentle breeze. The slanted windows of the warm pavilion were lowered, and the gauze curtains were half-rolled up, swaying gently in the breeze. Magnolia flowers were in full bloom, the trees covered in a light purple cloud of smoke.
Duan Cairen's lips curled slightly as she said, "Sister Jiang is too kind. Before I entered the palace, I kept many flowers and plants in the greenhouse of my residence. I've seen many peonies, peonies, orchids, and I've never thought they were rare or precious. Sister Jiang, you should keep the orchids for yourself."
Judging from Duan Cairen's tone, she didn't even care about the few pots of orchids in the wealthy and luxurious Yong'an Marquis's mansion.
When her good intentions were met with disdain and contempt, Jiang Ling said no more. She wasn't angry either, and as she looked at Consort Duan, she couldn't help but smile.
The harem is full of shrewd people, and someone as naive and impulsive as Consort Duan is even rarer than a top-tier tribute fish.
Finally, someone got the better of me in a verbal argument, arguing over some trivial matters!
The concubines in the imperial harem are like the changing seasons, blooming in spring and withering in winter. Emperor Yuanming was only twenty-seven years old; if he could live to fifty, he would have a full twenty-three years left.
Twenty-three years have passed, and the flowers and plants have gone through twenty-three cycles. Duan Cairen, this tender sprout, has long since grown into an old tree root like Jiang Ling.
Jiang Ling smiled and said, "Alright, since Consort Duan doesn't like it, then leave the orchid behind."
Consort Duan bit her lip, curtsied gracefully, and took her leave. At this moment, Emperor Yuanming walked in from outside the side hall. Consort Duan's eyes lit up, and she hurriedly stepped forward, bowing her head to greet him: "Your Majesty, this concubine greets you."
"Huh, what are you doing here?" Emperor Yuanming was taken aback and looked towards the warm pavilion.
Hearing the noise, Jiang Ling cautiously peeked out the window, but when he saw Emperor Yuanming looking over, he quickly shrank back.
"Your Majesty, I have come to return the orchid to Sister Jiang," said Consort Duan, following Emperor Yuanming's gaze, biting her lip.
"What about the orchid?" Emperor Yuanming asked, frowning.
Duan Cairen said shyly, "Sister Jiang received several pots of orchids, but because she didn't like them, she asked Qin Shanggong to give them to me. I didn't dare to take Sister Jiang's flowers away, so I quickly returned them."
Emperor Yuanming knew Jiang Ling's temperament well; aside from gold and silver, she was always generous and unconcerned with trivial matters. If she truly liked something, she would never give it up at her own expense.
"Since it's already been given to you, keep it. Why bother refusing?" Emperor Yuanming said.
"Your Majesty, I obey your decree." Consort Duan curtsied and thanked the Emperor, biting her lip and smiling. "I've heard that Fanying Pavilion is a riot of flowers, with different scenery in each season, the most beautiful of all. I didn't believe it at first, but after seeing it for myself, it truly lives up to its reputation. Sister Jiang's Fanying Pavilion is truly a garden full of flowers; I couldn't bear to leave. Is Your Majesty also here to admire the flowers?"
Emperor Yuanming glanced towards the warm pavilion from time to time. Qin Shanggong and other palace maids stood respectfully with their heads bowed in the distance, but Jiang Ling was nowhere to be seen. He frowned slightly, beckoned Qin Shanggong forward, and instructed, "Take the orchid to Consort Duan."
Qin Shanggong hurriedly summoned a palace maid to carry the orchid to Cuiwei Pavilion. Emperor Yuanming said to Consort Duan, "You may go back now."
Consort Duan responded sweetly, glanced shyly at Emperor Yuanming, and left reluctantly.
Emperor Yuanming strode towards the warm pavilion. Jiang Ling heard the footsteps and hurriedly came out from behind the screen to pay his respects, "Your Majesty, what brings you here?"
"You saw me arrive long ago, yet you feigned surprise, asking questions you already knew the answer to," Emperor Yuanming said, glancing deliberately at the screen with a half-smile.
Jiang Ling said matter-of-factly, "I saw Your Majesty talking to Consort Duan and was afraid of disturbing you, so I did not come forward."
"We've been eavesdropping here perfectly, so how can you say it's an disturbance?" Emperor Yuanming pointed behind the screen and bluntly stated.
Jiang Ling was indeed eavesdropping, harboring a bellyful of nameless rage. Duan Cai Ren had previously assumed Jiang Ling had given her the leftover orchids, and that's why she had come to his door to deliver a tirade of open and veiled mockery. However, she used subtle language to describe it as a gesture of courtesy.
What's even more outrageous is that while she kept praising Fanying Pavilion, she actually had ulterior motives and wanted to snatch it away from Jiang Ling!
Jiang Ling suppressed her anger and resolutely denied it, feigning fear as she said, "Every word Your Majesty says is a golden rule, how dare I presume to pry into Your Majesty's words?"
Emperor Yuanming, seeing that she was still arguing, remained silent for a long time before saying, "I was just saying a few idle words... Never mind, I won't hold it against you. Sit down."
Jiang Ling sat down, and Emperor Yuanming beckoned Huang Liang to come forward and leave the box behind. "All of you, step back."
Huang Liang hurriedly led the eunuchs and palace maids to a distance to stand guard. Emperor Yuanming pointed to the box and said, "Open it and take a look."
Jiang Ling opened the box and found a tile-shaped iron plate inside. The plate was semi-circular like a tally talisman, only half the size of a tile. She reached out to pick it up and almost couldn't lift it: "Ouch, it's so heavy!"
"Be careful." Emperor Yuanming quickly reached out and caught it, saying, "You can put it here, but be careful it doesn't fall and break."
Jiang Ling was so happy when she saw the imperial edict that she almost screamed. She ignored Emperor Yuanming's reminder, gritted her teeth, and hugged it tightly to her chest.
The iron certificate weighed about ten pounds, with auspicious patterns painted on the edges. The words, written in cinnabar with added gold powder, were inscribed in the grooves: "Treason will not be pardoned. You will be spared ten deaths, and your descendants will be spared three deaths."
"How stingy to spare one's descendants from three deaths," Jiang Ling muttered to himself, placing the iron certificate on his lap and tracing the indentation with his fingers.
Suddenly, she paused, her hand moving nervously. "Your Majesty," she asked, "if the cinnabar fades, it won't be considered an imperial edict anymore. Will it still be valid then?"
Yuan Ming glared at her and said, "Words written in cinnabar will never fade. What, are you really planning to commit a capital offense and use a pardon to avoid death?"
"Your Majesty, I have always been proper and have never overstepped the bounds." Jiang Ling was relieved and confidently affirmed herself, saying, "The iron certificate and the red letter are not for me. Moreover, the tree may wish to remain still, but the wind will not cease. I fear that one day Your Majesty will listen to slander and punish me. If Your Majesty wishes to bestow Fanying Pavilion upon the other sisters in the palace, I humbly request Your Majesty to move me to Xiefang Pavilion."
"When did I ever intend to punish you...?" Emperor Yuanming was completely bewildered and was about to reprimand her for her wild thoughts when he remembered that Consort Duan seemed to have mentioned Fanying Pavilion earlier, and he paused.
"Heh, men! Lust makes you lose your mind! Just how many good sisters do you have? She smells of your perfume..." Jiang Ling thought to himself, watching Emperor Yuanming's reaction.
Emperor Yuanming felt a tickle in his ear, raised his hand to scratch it, and glanced at Jiang Ling with annoyance, saying, "Since I have already bestowed Fanying Pavilion upon you, you can live there without worry."
"Men's words can't be trusted; only ironclad guarantees are truly useful... Wait, children and grandchildren... I'm considered a child and grandchild too, but... well, asking won't hurt me, I'll confirm first..."
Jiang Ling, unable to contain her anxiety, asked urgently, "Your Majesty, I am also a descendant of the Jiang family. Could the iron certificate and the decree possibly spare me from the death penalty... I will not commit a capital offense. Could you perhaps spare me from having my title stripped and my allowance reduced?"
"Nonsense!" Emperor Yuanming laughed in anger, and scolded, "The iron certificate and the decree are not child's play, to be used so casually. A married daughter is like water spilled, and her sins do not apply to her. You have already entered the palace as my concubine, and have no further connection with the Jiang family."
Since Emperor Yuanming disagreed, Jiang Ling inwardly scoffed at him a few times and gave up. Her legs ached from carrying the iron certificate, so she carefully placed it back in the box, closed it, and locked it securely.
Emperor Yuanming said, "Your father and his party will arrive in the capital around the day after tomorrow. I have bestowed a house in Zhuangyuan Lane upon them, so they will have a place to stay after they arrive in the capital."
Living in the capital is no easy feat, and Jiang Ling was overjoyed, thinking to himself, "Wow, that stingy guy is being generous!"
"Your Majesty, I thank you. I am deeply grateful for your kindness!" Jiang Ling stood up and bowed deeply.
Emperor Yuanming chuckled coldly and bestowed a house upon the Jiang family. She still scolded him for being a stingy man, saying that he had truly lost both his wife and his army!
After glaring at Jiang Ling several times, Emperor Yuanming reluctantly said, "I plan to arrange for your father and elder brother to take on the duties of the imperial garden."
Jiang Ling was taken aback and asked, "Where is Physician Li?"
Emperor Yuanming's face darkened, and he said unhappily, "The Li family is insatiably greedy. They stole precious flowers and trees from the imperial gardens and sold them off, embezzling the money meant for purchasing seedlings. My beautiful imperial gardens have been completely emptied by a bunch of parasites. You scoundrels, I have ordered the Council of State Affairs to conduct a thorough investigation and uproot these parasites!"
It seems that Physician Li is doomed this time. I wonder if he will be dismissed from his post, beheaded, or exiled.
Jiang Ling didn't ask any further questions. After a moment's thought, he readily replied, "Father and elder brother are fortunate to have been given the post in the imperial garden. They will certainly work diligently and conscientiously to live up to the Emperor's grace."
Seeing that she was genuinely grateful, Emperor Yuanming couldn't help but smile and teased, "What, you're not going to refuse anymore?"
With the iron certificate in hand, even if the Jiang father and son fail to perform their duties well, they will at most be dismissed from their posts.
Since it wouldn't endanger her life, and the Jiang father and son would manage the garden and wouldn't cause her any trouble, saving her from intrigue, Jiang Ling readily agreed.
Jiang Ling replied in a grand and solemn manner, "Imperial decree cannot be disobeyed; your subject obeys."
Emperor Yuanming chuckled and tapped the box with his finger: "I see, you're just relying on the iron certificate and imperial decree in your hands..."
At this moment, Huang Liang peered into the warm pavilion from a distance. Emperor Yuanming frowned upon seeing this, gestured for him to come forward, and asked, "What is it?"
Huang Liang bowed and replied, "Your Majesty, Consort Li is seriously ill. Both Imperial Physician Zheng and Imperial Physician Wu are helpless and her life is hanging by a thread. Consort Li is crying and insisting on seeing Your Majesty, saying that she has a confidential matter to tell Your Majesty in person."
-----------------------
The author notes: The iron certificate is based on the Qian Liu iron certificate currently in the museum, which is inscribed with "You are pardoned nine times, and your descendants three times".
However, even with a pardon, one was not 100% safe; the emperor held the final say. Historically, most of the meritorious officials who possessed pardons were still executed by the emperor.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
