Chapter 39 A-Zhu: I'll just take a look.
Kunning Palace
Nianqin came out of the small kitchen carrying a bowl of milk and bird's nest soup.
Upon reaching the outside of the hall, she hesitated for a moment, but instead of entering, she handed the soup to Aunt Hua behind her.
Aunt Hua didn't take it. Instead, she stepped forward and gently advised, "Nianqin, now that Jiang's daughter... it's been almost a month."
"Besides, she's still just a palace maid serving tea to the emperor. The empress's anger has subsided a bit, so you can't just keep serving outside the palace like this."
Nianqin hesitated for a moment, then shook her head.
"My aunt also said that Her Majesty the Empress has finally calmed down a bit, but if she sees me, she might still feel uncomfortable just thinking about it... Aunt, please go ahead, I... I'll wait a little longer."
Seeing Nianqin's downcast eyes and melancholy expression, Aunt Hua couldn't help but sigh softly, and finally could only nod.
"Alright, then let's wait a little longer."
Taking the white porcelain bowl filled with soup, Aunt Hua turned and entered the hall.
Inside the palace, Empress Wang, feeling that everything was going wrong, indeed found it difficult not to lose her temper.
"Hmph, look at what's written on this!"
Empress Wang, flipping through the official history, let out a cold laugh.
"Just half a month ago, Consort Tang served the Emperor once, and Consort Zhang served the Emperor three times in total... I had no idea that our Emperor had become so abstinent and detached?"
"Does it mean we have to become vegetarians and chant Buddhist scriptures to become immortals or gods?"
No wonder Empress Wang was angry. Look at these days, Emperor Xuanpei only sits in the palaces of the concubines during lunch or dinner, and returns to Hanyuan Palace at other times.
Empress Wang closed the official history book, threw it heavily to the side, and said sarcastically, "Yes, I do remember."
"Your Majesty, even if you can't become a Buddha, there's still that bewitching vixen in the Hanyuan Palace who can seduce your soul."
The two female officials in charge of recording the official history were kneeling to one side with their heads bowed, not daring to utter a single word.
Aunt Hua, who had just entered the hall, paused for a moment. She glanced at Huiyue, then stepped forward and presented the soup bowl to Empress Wang, saying softly, "Your Majesty."
"The small kitchen is stewing the finest bird's nest with fresh milk."
"It's so hot today, please moisten your throat first."
While Aunt Hua was speaking, Huiyue quietly picked up the red paper from the ground and handed it to the female official.
Looking at the other people in the room who were all bowing their heads and not daring to speak, Empress Wang waved her hand irritably.
"Get out of here!"
Upon hearing Empress Wang's words, everyone except Aunt Hua hurriedly lowered their heads and left the hall.
Aunt Hua placed the soup bowl on the table, then picked up the white jade fan that had been lying on the couch and slowly fanned Empress Wang.
"He is indeed a wicked child raised by the Jiang family, who has learned the art of seduction."
"Back then, Crown Prince Chongde was completely infatuated with that vile woman and couldn't extricate himself from it."
"Now that the eldest has become a ghost, the youngest is even more of a worry, a veritable reincarnation of a demon!"
"If I had known this would happen, I should have dealt with her much earlier, so that she wouldn't have been so arrogant and presumptuous, trying to bewitch the Emperor and disrupt the court!"
Aunt Hua didn't interrupt immediately. She waited until Empress Wang had vented her anger before gently fanning herself and saying, "Your Majesty, in the end, His Majesty still cares about Your Majesty's dignity..."
Empress Wang gritted her teeth upon hearing this. What couple in the world lives a life based on appearances?
"Bang—!" She slammed her hand on the table. "Dignity, dignity, all I have left is dignity!"
Seeing this, Aunt Hua shut her mouth again, only gently fanning Empress Wang until her anger subsided.
After a while, seeing that Empress Wang had calmed down a bit, Aunt Hua continued, "Your Majesty, this servant thinks that His Majesty's behavior over the past month... is not entirely a bad thing."
Before Empress Wang could get angry, Aunt Hua continued, "Since entering the palace, Consort Zhang has relied on her family background and the Emperor's favor, and has always been very arrogant and domineering... When Nianqin went to the Inner Palace to select people, she must have been very careful and thoughtful."
“This servant has also met Lady Jiang.”
"Although she is a bit dull and stupid, she is indeed outstanding in appearance. And by some twist of fate, she has used the art of playing hard to get in front of the emperor. If she continues to keep people in suspense like this, it will inevitably make the emperor more and more interested in her."
"But she went to Hanyuan Hall in a daze, letting the Emperor summon her at will and dismiss her at will..."
"These days, the Emperor is deliberately protecting her, and she seems to be enjoying temporary glory and success, but in reality, what has she gained?"
"As for her status, she's still just a tea-serving maid in the Emperor's court, without even a formal title."
"His Majesty values rules, and what she did was a violation of those rules."
“She was pleased when the emperor found it novel.”
"But the longer it goes on, the more favored she becomes, and the more arrogant she gets. Once this momentum wears off and the Emperor comes to his senses, he will not only be disgusted, but he will also feel indebted to the Empress."
It was obvious that Aunt Hua knew the nature of these nobles very well—even if the Emperor were to indulge in pleasure for a moment... the Emperor would never be wrong.
The one at fault, of course, is Ah Zhu, the femme fatale who bewitched the emperor.
"Now she's hiding in Hanyuan Palace, feeling only self-satisfied. She probably hopes the Empress will make things difficult for her so she can win the Emperor's favor again."
"But next year is the year of the general election. After spring, countless beautiful and talented young women will enter the palace to participate in the selection. Does Your Majesty think that Lady Jiang can still sit still?"
"Before this, she must have been anxious and eager for a formal status."
"And her status destined her to never attain a high rank."
"Given her arrogant and presumptuous behavior these days, can Consort Zhang swallow this insult? Even without Your Majesty's intervention, Consort Zhang can personally humiliate her and get her revenge."
"Your Majesty, it is you who should be sitting comfortably now."
For nearly a month, Emperor Xuanpei has been staying at Hanyuan Palace almost every night. Which of the concubines in the palace hasn't murmured a few words about it?
Only Azhu's status as a sinner allows the women in the harem to remain stable.
Seeing that Empress Wang looked thoughtful, Aunt Hua picked up the bird's nest soup from the side.
"Please try it while it's still delicious, Your Majesty. If you leave it any longer, it will get cold and lose its flavor."
This time, Empress Wang accepted the soup.
She stirred it with a spoon, then suddenly asked, "Where's Nianqin?"
Aunt Hua smiled.
"Nianqin had been thinking about making soup for you in the small kitchen for a while now, and she's still waiting outside the hall to give you instructions."
Empress Wang slowly sipped a spoonful of milk.
"Let her in."
"Yes." Aunt Hua nodded repeatedly, "This servant will go and summon her right away."
Aunt Hua, holding a white jade fan, had just left the hall when Nianqin, wiping away tears, hurriedly ran in.
As soon as she entered, she knelt before Empress Wang, opened her mouth, and only managed to choke out, "Your Majesty..."
"You are the head lady-in-waiting of Kunning Palace, yet you've managed to shirk your duties for most of the month," Empress Wang said, feigning anger. "I'm going to deduct your allowance for this month."
"Oh, oh." Nianqin smiled through her tears and nodded repeatedly. "It's all my fault, I should have done it."
"Get up."
Nianqin quickly wiped away her tears, got up from the ground, and walked over as usual, standing behind Empress Wang and massaging her shoulders.
*
Qingyang Palace
"Sister, sister, sister..."
Mingxia dared not disturb Qingwen at the Fu Palace last year. Qingwen rarely took a turn on duty and came over in his spare time, but he was startled by Mingxia's hurried call, which made his eyelids twitch.
"Alright, alright, we're all here to work, we should all be more composed."
Mingxia didn't care what Qingwen was saying at all, she just nodded randomly and grabbed Qingwen's arm and said urgently, "Sister, Azhu, Azhu is looking for me."
"No, no, no, she sent the imperial eunuch to find me."
"She threatened me, initially telling me to leave, then suddenly stopping me, took my money, and then made me leave, saying, 'Sister, if you're not satisfied, go find her...'"
What utter nonsense is this?!
Qingwen, who was getting a headache from listening, interrupted Mingxia.
"Stop, stop, stop!"
“Say it to me slowly from beginning to end, no, repeat her exact words to me.”
That's why everyone in the palace is so clever.
Mingxia and Azhu, both equally cunning, communicated smoothly without giving it much thought.
Qingwen, however, was different. Hearing Azhu's boastful words, her expression changed drastically—
If Mingxia's affair were to leak out, then her repeated mentions of Azhu's affair at Nianfu Palace would be exposed.
In this palace, any servant who tries to use his master as a tool will only face death!
What exactly does Ah Zhu want to do by seeing her now?
Could it be that she's to be a spy for Consort Zhang?
Thinking back on these past few days, even Consort Zhang kept cursing Jiang Zhu for bewitching the emperor... The more Qingwen thought about it, the more solemn his expression became.
Perhaps because Qingwen's expression was so unpleasant, Mingxia couldn't help but say, "Sister, I know Azhu's personality. She took the money, which means this matter is over. From now on..."
"Do you think everyone in this palace is as stupid as you?!"
Qingwen glared at Mingxia, scolding her with exasperation, "If she were a brainless idiot like you, how could she have escaped from Kunning Palace unscathed and gone to serve the Emperor?"
"She is a slave, and without someone's support, she will never be able to face the emperor in this lifetime!"
"If she stays in Kunning Palace, given the Empress's temperament and personality... what good can she possibly get out of it?"
"But now that she's out, she dares to climb over the walls of Kunning Palace and has been enjoying the Emperor's favor all these days!"
The more Qingwen talked, the angrier he became, and he angrily poked Mingxia's head.
"You dare to provoke someone like that, just for a few taels of silver?!"
"A few taels of silver and we sisters are all gone!"
"Mingxia, Mingxia, you've really made a very profitable business!"
"You're amazing!!!"
Mingxia cried after being scolded.
As she cried her heart out, she thought to herself, "Back in the Yeting Palace, I never realized that Azhu was such a person."
*
Hanyuan Hall
Ah Zhu, who is still remembered by everyone for his "dragon aura," is still in the tea room, diligently studying the art of tea brewing.
Having been brainwashed in the Yeting Palace for many years, Azhu still retained a bit of the habit of "loving what you do." She even received a few sips of tea from Emperor Xuanpei from time to time, giving her a more direct understanding of the emperor's preferences than others.
Today was not a day for court assembly, and Emperor Xuanpei went to the drill ground in the West Garden as usual. He had just returned and was being helped by palace servants to change his clothes.
After wiping away his sweat and changing into a light, wide-sleeved casual robe, Emperor Xuanpei took the teacup from Eunuch Chen who came to serve him tea and casually asked, "Where is A-Zhu?"
"Your Majesty."
A-Zhu responded and entered with a smile, carrying a tray in both hands. "I just prepared some snacks. Would you like to try some?"
Emperor Xuanpei nodded slightly.
"Coincidentally, I also feel a bit hungry."
Now, Azhu has a special seat in front of the emperor, covered with soft satin cushions. As soon as Emperor Xuanpei sits down, she diligently serves him tea and snacks.
Emperor Xuanpei was ingratiated with Azhu.
He remained calm and unhurriedly ate some snacks before turning his head to look at Ah Zhu, who was staring at him expectantly.
"What of mine have you set your sights on this time?"
"No, no." Ah Zhu opened her round almond-shaped eyes and honestly shook her head repeatedly.
Emperor Xuanpei tasted a piece of chestnut pastry.
"Was it an accident that you broke one of my favorite purple clay teapots?"
"No."
Emperor Xuanpei calmly picked up the peach and rose pastry that Azhu had brought him and slowly took a bite.
"You had a stomachache yesterday because you ate too much, so you're not allowed to have any ice cream for the next few days, not even chilled fruits."
"...I won't eat, I won't eat."
Emperor Xuanpei glanced at Azhu, who was blinking obediently beside him, and then looked at Eunuch Chen.
Eunuch Chen quickly shook his head at Emperor Xuanpei, indicating that he really hadn't heard anything about Miss Azhu causing trouble.
Emperor Xuanpei put down his chopsticks and extended his hand to Azhu.
Azhu was taken aback, then obediently placed her hand in the emperor's palm, got up, and was pulled to sit in his lap.
Eunuch Chen quickly lowered his head, waved to his left and right, and led the palace servants who were serving the meal out swiftly.
Emperor Xuanpei reached out and touched Azhu's forehead, then said very seriously, "It's not hot."
"Your Majesty." Ah Zhu's once proudly held tail drooped.
Her eyes drooped: "This servant just saw how hard His Majesty has been these past few days..."
It's this soft, sticky texture.
No matter how hard you stick it, it always feels like you can't stick it enough.
Emperor Xuanpei patted Azhu's head and said in a low voice, "Our Azhu is so good. I was mistaken."
After thinking for a moment, Emperor Xuanpei said, "How about I take you out of the palace for fun in a few days?"
Ah Zhu's eyes widened immediately, and she said with a hint of surprise, "Really?"
Seeing Ah Zhu's eyes suddenly brighten, her pupils filled with his image, Emperor Xuanpei nuzzled her forehead.
"A promise is a promise."
"Ah, hahaha, Your Majesty is so good, Your Majesty is the best, hehehe..."
Looking at Ah Zhu, who was clinging to him softly and happily tilting his head back, Emperor Xuanpei felt as if something had gently scratched his heart. Lately, he had even had this feeling all the time... It was so uncontrollable that it made him instinctively feel that there was danger.
“A-Zhu”.
"Hmm?" When A-Zhu responded and looked over, her eyes were like crescent moons.
"Is there anything else you want?"
What you want?
Ah Zhu blinked and thought about it seriously.
Needless to say, the Empress would be lucky if she didn't kill Kunning Palace first. As for the others... a sixth-rank steward is out of the question. The only option left is to become a principal consort.
But this is unrealistic right now, and if I said it out loud, I'd probably be ridiculed for being delusional.
A-Zhu first shook her head, then suddenly looked at Emperor Xuanpei as if she remembered something, and gently nestled in his arms.
"As long as Your Majesty doesn't send me away, I have nothing else I want."
To be honest, does Emperor Xuanpei want to keep Azhu close at hand, to tease her when he has nothing to do, and to be able to hold her and steal a moment of peace?
Those who say they don't want to must have never had a beautiful, interesting, and soft-spoken Ah Zhu.
Emperor Xuanpei rarely wanted anything outside the rules.
As for A-Zhu, look at her, all alone, without a distinguished family background, without any entangled relationships in the court, she has nothing to do with politics... she just belongs to him.
This month was a rare opportunity for Emperor Xuanpei to indulge himself.
He thought that no matter how interesting or novel a person is, there will always be a time when their energy wears off.
Ah Zhu was so "obedient" that she dared not go anywhere except Hanyuan Palace, and waited for Emperor Xuanpei.
Originally, I just wanted to try something new, just wanted to keep someone around to amuse me, just wanted to... But now Emperor Xuanpei wants to inform the six palaces and give Azhu a legitimate title.
Emperor Xuanpei remained silent.
In this unusual silence, Ah Zhu's heart suddenly tightened.
At that moment, she suddenly had an extremely strong premonition—she wouldn't be able to stay in Hanyuan Palace for much longer.
Ah Zhu slowly closed her eyes, and this time she didn't beg to stay.
It's been a month; it's quite remarkable that Emperor Xuanpei has kept her interested for so long.
Besides, if the emperor is determined to get rid of her, she will have to leave no matter how much he begs her, so why bother?
The way nobles treat you is so fickle, sometimes praising you to the skies and other times condemning you to death. Ah Zhu had already experienced this firsthand back in the Kunning Palace.
*
During the evening meal, Emperor Xuanpei did not stay at Hanyuan Palace, but instead went to Kunning Palace.
To be honest, when Eunuch Chen heard the emperor's order, he subconsciously calculated the days.
Hey, that's weird, today is neither the first nor the fifteenth of the lunar month.
Eunuch Chen was curious, but he dared not ask.
Soon, the imperial carriage arrived at Kunning Palace.
Emperor Xuanpei rarely dined at Kunning Palace, so this evening's dinner was prepared with great pomp and circumstance.
Empress Wang tried her best to control her expression, and kept glancing at Aunt Hua. She really was right.
The Emperor and Empress always refrained from speaking while eating or sleeping, so this dinner was quickly consumed in silence.
After the meal, Emperor Xuanpei did not leave and even spoke with Empress Wang.
When the topic turned to the Crown Prince, the atmosphere in the hall was relatively harmonious. When it came to the matter of arranging a marriage for Prince Rui during next year's general election, Emperor Xuanpei and Empress Wang were quite cooperative in their discussion.
When Emperor Xuanpei left, Empress Wang, who had endured it all night, finally couldn't hold back and overturned the teacup on the table.
"Your Majesty!"
"Get out!"
The Empress Wang was so distraught that her eyes were red with hatred.
"A mere foot-washing maid, a lowly servant, is she really worth the Emperor personally coming to give me, the Empress, some pointers?"
Empress Wang believed what Aunt Hua said, and was certain that A-Zhu would be restless and ask for a formal title. She waited patiently.
But instead of Ah Zhu, she received a clear indication that Emperor Xuanpei was determined to protect her.
"How dare she?"
"How dare she?!"
"Bitch maid!"
Empress Wang felt that no other empress had ever felt so aggrieved.
She even wanted to rush to Hanyuan Palace right now, drag out that ungrateful, audacious, and rebellious lowly maid Azhu, and tear her to pieces, skin her alive, and pull out her tendons.
As the saying goes, what you hold in your heart will eventually come to pass.
It was truly a meeting of minds; Ah Zhu, who was "going to the same place" with Empress Wang, was now lying in Chonghua Palace, and she also mentioned Empress Wang to Consort Feng.
"Your Majesty, she has ruined my dream."
What dreams could a palace maid who serves others possibly have?
It sounds ridiculous when she says it, but Ah Zhu is serious.
Of course, during this month, not only did Empress Wang calm down, but A-Zhu's impulse to tear off Empress Wang's face at the cost of inflicting a thousand casualties on the enemy and eight hundred casualties on himself also subsided.
Ah Zhu is not very shrewd.
Perhaps she was also very self-aware, so she wouldn't hold grudges against those she couldn't avenge the next day, lest she agonize over them to death.
More than anything else, Ah Zhu now wants to be the Empress of the First Palace.
The relatively rational Ah Zhu is now actively using her brain.
"Once you're driven out of Hanyuan Palace, no matter how you try to hide, you can't avoid having to go to Kunning Palace to pay your respects to the Empress."
Upon hearing this, Consort Feng also felt a little worried.
After all, she came from an extraordinary background. She was granted the title of concubine as soon as she entered the palace through the imperial selection process, and her career was always smooth sailing and she was always favored by the emperor... She had never tried the path of survival that Ah Zhu took due to her lowly status.
Ah Zhu sighed dejectedly, "I could kowtow and beg for mercy before the Empress."
"Kneeling to her won't hurt you."
"She can make me cry however she wants... but a noble person's face is precious. I'm afraid Empress Wang won't let this go until she peels off my face to vent her anger."
"If begging for mercy doesn't work, then how about borrowing a 'tiger skin' to wear?"
Consort Feng pondered for a moment and slowly said, "After all, you have stayed in Hanyuan Palace for so long. In the eyes of outsiders, there are still some concerns."
"Empress Wang is an empress, and she also has a prince who is already the crown prince. She relies on these things, but she must also cherish them very much."
"In her opinion, it doesn't matter if you die, but what if you anger the Emperor? Don't forget, there's Consort Zhang in the palace who's eyeing us covetously."
It's better to borrow the tiger's power than to sit idly by and wait for death.
"These days of wealth and luxury are indeed not easy to come by."
Ah Zhu lay sprawled on the couch, murmuring, "When I was a palace maid, whatever the master said, I did. All you had to do was be loyal and follow orders."
Consort Feng did not scold A-Zhu for being useless; she even seriously considered a solution.
"Otherwise, you can express your feelings to the emperor. If you say that you only want to be a tea-serving maid in front of the emperor for the rest of your life, it is not impossible."
"No, no, no, I'd better get out of here as soon as possible."
Ah Zhu's head shook like a rattle drum.
"The emperor is the most vengeful and petty. While he is still willing to give you some face, you'd better be sensible and accept this face yourself."
"If he's tired of you, and you're still hanging around in front of him and refusing to leave, just one cold look from him is enough to scare him."
Consort Feng laughed a few times, but showed no intention of refuting A-Zhu.
The phrase "great wisdom appears as foolishness" might describe someone like A-Zhu.
*
Thinking about how to gain more face with the emperor and his promise to leave the palace, A-Zhu has become even more diligent these past few days.
Before dawn, she half-asleep, got up from beside Emperor Xuanpei and headed to the tea room.
Although nine times out of ten she would be pressed back and held to sleep a little longer, after Emperor Xuanpei finished court, Azhu did not entrust the task of serving tea to the emperor to anyone else.
The palace servants in the tea room, who never thought Ah Zhu would stay in the tea room for long and had vaguely heard rumors, were extremely cooperative.
Sure enough, as soon as the message was relayed today, the other palace servants subconsciously looked at A-Zhu, who was sitting at the table, pondering the tea classic. She naturally got up without hesitation and accepted the task.
A-Zhu has always been a very pragmatic and ambitious "sycophant," so since arriving at Hanyuan Palace, she has rarely cared about anyone other than Emperor Xuanpei.
But today...
Seated at the lower end of the table, besides the Crown Prince who was wearing a red robe with gold dragon patterns, was a handsome young man in a royal blue court dress.
Compared to the imposing Emperor Xuanpei and the young and promising Crown Prince, he was more like a refined gentleman from a scholarly family.
At that moment, the gentle, refined, handsome, and elegant young man that Ah Zhu had been dreaming of after secretly reading storybooks day and night suddenly materialized before her eyes, even becoming a top-tier version with an added touch of nobility.
Of course, having neither the desire nor the courage to steal, and lacking the madness of Ah Zhu, she only had the courage to take a look.
But Ah Zhu's glance... The Crown Prince calmly accepted the tea and took a sip, while Prince Rui sat upright, seemingly unaware of anything.
Emperor Xuanpei, seated high on his dragon throne, did not touch the tea that was served, but instead calmly stroked the thumb ring in his hand.
......
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Author's Note: Thank you for your support, my little cuties! *snorts* I'm here! [Let me see][Let me see][Let me see][Heart][Heart][Heart]
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