Chapter 150 Phoenix Hairpin with Pearl: Phoenix hairpins were not uncommon in the palace...
Phoenix hairpins weren't uncommon in the palace; any person of high rank could wear one. However, the hairpins worn by different high-ranking officials were not the same. The difference lay in the number of tails on the phoenix; more tails signified higher status. According to the rules, the Empress's phoenix hairpin had to have nine tails, while Consort Cheng Qianyue, as a Noble Consort, could only wear one with five tails. As for the seven-tailed phoenix hairpin in the box today, that was something only an Imperial Noble Consort could wear. If Cheng Qianyue dared to wear that, it would be a clear act of usurpation.
What's even more presumptuous is the thing embedded on it.
Pearls weren't rare in the Forbidden City, but Dongzhu (Eastern pearls) were. Like phoenix hairpins, these had strict hierarchical distinctions. Only the Emperor, Empress, and Empress Dowager could use top-grade Dongzhu; even the Imperial Noble Consort, whose title included the character "Emperor," couldn't use them. Not to mention that Cheng Qianyue, being a Noble Consort, could only use second-grade Dongzhu at most, and even then, the quantity was limited. As for others, the available Dongzhu grades and quantities were even fewer. Furthermore, using Dongzhu for jewelry was extremely extravagant, as most Dongzhu were used for court beads and headdresses.
However, this pair of phoenix hairpins has a lot of pearls, especially the phoenix head and tail. The most eye-catching one is definitely the size and color of a top-grade pearl.
Cheng Qianyue recognized it immediately!
Then she was stunned, completely bewildered, as she watched helplessly as Yinreng took the pair of phoenix hairpins from the box and held them up to her head. In a moment of realization, Cheng Qianyue instinctively grabbed his hand.
To be honest, Cheng Qianyue was completely captivated by the phoenix hairpins. Why did he give her these? Was it to elevate her rank or to show his favor? But whatever the reason, she felt incredibly happy, as if fireworks were exploding in her mind.
She wondered whether she should get up to express her gratitude, but what should she say? Should she say that she was unworthy of such an honor, or that she dared not? But this way of expressing gratitude was too formal, and Yinreng's attitude towards her was too gentle. Her bottom, which was sitting on the stool, seemed to be glued on, and she couldn't move it no matter what she did.
Fortunately, her subconscious was still intact, and she grasped his hand, telling him not to put something so outrageous as to be placed on her head.
"What's wrong?" Yinreng asked.
Cheng Qianyue hadn't quite caught up yet. She stared at him intently, her eyes shining with surprise and emotion, but she gently shook her head. It took her a while to find her voice, and she said in a hoarse voice, "Master, I know you've been good to me, but I can't wear these phoenix hairpins." They were too conspicuous, and they would inevitably give people something to gossip about.
Yinreng paused for a moment, then said decisively, "There's no such thing as 'can' or 'can'. This is something I gave you; if I say it's okay, then it's okay." He then took off the original hairpin from her head and put the pair of phoenix hairpins in her hair, looked at them for a moment, and said with a smile, "Quickly see if it suits you?"
Cheng Qianyue didn't turn around to look at herself in the mirror; she continued to blink and stare at him.
A wave of tenderness washed over Yinreng; he felt himself melting under her gaze, followed by a bittersweet feeling that he couldn't quite describe. He dismissed the servants and whispered, "I feel guilty, I feel I've let you down. When I return, I'll bestow upon you the title of Imperial Noble Consort, okay?"
"What have you done to wrong me, Master?" Cheng Qianyue blurted out, her eyes narrowing. "Have you favored other people?" No, he hadn't stayed overnight anywhere else, nor had he summoned any other concubines, so she quickly added, "Was it a palace maid from the Hall of Mental Cultivation?" Was he telling her this because he was afraid she would make a mistake, or was he trying to give her a proper status?
Although Cheng Qianyue felt a little bitter if that were the case, if he really favored someone, he still had to give her a title. Otherwise, how could it be a situation where she was neither a palace maid nor a master?
Yinreng was taken aback by her barrage of questions. After a long while, he said with a wry smile, "I didn't." He muttered sweetly, "Really, you're being jealous for no reason again."
"No? Then what are you feeling guilty about?" Cheng Qianyue looked over in confusion.
Yinreng sighed, suddenly at a loss for words. What could he say? That he and she were of one heart but he couldn't make her Empress? He cupped her cheeks, reached out and stroked the corner of her eye, and reiterated, "I will make you Imperial Noble Consort."
Cheng Qianyue was baffled again. Even if she were truly made an Imperial Noble Consort, she couldn't wear these phoenix hairpins. And why make her an Imperial Noble Consort? There had to be a reason. Could it be that they thought she managed the harem exceptionally well? But she quickly thought he might be suffering from separation syndrome. She smiled and said, "Your Highness, even if I don't become an Imperial Noble Consort, I know your feelings for me."
She wrapped her arms around his waist and unconsciously rubbed her face against his clothes. She looked up and said, "You've been good enough to me. There's nothing to feel guilty about." Compared to the others in the palace, she was so happy she felt like she was about to explode.
Yinreng looked at her with that complicated gaze again, but soon he embraced her and said as if making a vow, "My heart for you is as clear as the sun and moon."
Yes, Cheng Qianyue thought, she knew all of this.
The two embraced tenderly in front of the dressing table for a while, only separating slightly when word came from outside that the painter was requesting an audience. Only then did Cheng Qianyue have the mind to turn and look in the mirror. After examining herself from left to right and finding nothing amiss, she followed Yinreng out.
Everything needed to be prepared in the outer room was ready—a couch, a flower stand beside it, and decorative bonsai. She and Yinreng sat side by side, looking as if they were having their wedding photos taken. The painter carefully looked them up and down as he began to paint.
After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the painter finally finished the painting, and Cheng Qianyue dared to move. Oh my god, being a model is really tiring. After a while, her body became stiff. If she hadn't been a background figure in the palace for so many years, she really wouldn't have been able to endure it.
Yinreng stood up first, stretched his shoulders, and then pulled her up. The two of them went to look at the painting together. The people in the painting were really too stiff, but as Cheng Qianyue looked at it, she smiled and thought that if Hongyan and the others were added, it would be a family portrait.
When Yinreng saw her smile, the corners of his mouth also turned up. Actually, he had wanted to say that the painting was not good and did not capture her charm, and he was thinking of painting one himself. But when Cheng Qianyue smiled, he felt that she liked the painting, and said, "Not bad, I'll reward you."
Just as Cheng Qianyue was about to say something else, Jing Shun's words interrupted her thoughts. It turned out that someone from the Court of Imperial Sacrifices had something to report. Cheng Qianyue figured that they were probably here to report on matters related to the sacrificial ceremony, so she said, "Since it is an important matter of the court, then I will go back first."
Yinreng thought for a moment before nodding and saying to her gently, "I will come to see you again tonight."
Cheng Qianyue said "Good," bowed, and withdrew. As she exited the palace, she saw officials waiting outside, all bowing in greeting upon seeing her. Cheng Qianyue declined their formalities and led her entourage back to Yongshou Palace.
However, after returning to Yongshou Palace, Cheng Qianyue realized something was amiss. She quickly took off the two phoenix hairpins from her head and ordered, "Bring me a box." When the box was brought over, she put the hairpins inside, thinking that she still couldn't wear them outside.
She gazed at the pair of phoenix hairpins—the finest craftsmanship of the imperial court paired with the finest Eastern pearls—they were simply unparalleled. Yet, as she looked at them, the joy she had felt in the Hall of Mental Cultivation receded like a tide, replaced by an indescribable fear. She didn't know what was wrong with her, why her emotions had shifted so quickly. After a long, long time, she finally came to a conclusion.
The gap between her and Yinreng was simply too vast. In her eyes, the overstepping of authority was nothing more than a casual remark or order from Yinreng.
His love for her and his status as an emperor were not contradictory.
Cheng Qianyue couldn't help but let out a long sigh of relief, feeling as if she were standing on the edge of a cliff. After a long while, she whispered, "Put it away, put it... put it under your pillow."
The more he acted this way, the better he treated her, the more vigilant she needed to be. She had to always remember who she was and not ruin this hard-won relationship.
Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, the officials from the Court of Imperial Sacrifices finished their report. After reading their memorials, Yinreng gave them a few instructions and then dismissed them. He stood up from his dragon throne and went back to the inner room to change his clothes, intending to proceed to Yongshou Palace afterward. However, he stopped when he caught sight of the dressing table out of the corner of his eye. It turned out that Cheng Qianyue's hairpin had fallen there.
He picked it up casually and played with it, thinking that the pair of pearl hairpins were too plain. After spring, some brighter ones had been presented from Jiangnan, and he would send them over soon. Although he thought this, his eyes remained fixed on them. After a moment, he said, "Keep these pearl hairpins safe and put them away with that painting." No matter what the hairpins were like, they belonged to her, and he would take them with him so that he could remember her by looking at them.
In early March, Yinreng led the princes of the palace south. Cheng Qianyue didn't feel anything at first, but after a few days, she felt as if she had lost her soul. Normally, she and Yinreng wouldn't see each other every day, but they would be together every few days. With him gone, she felt the palace was empty, and a part of her heart was empty too. Fortunately, Yinreng had left her this pair of phoenix hairpins; when she missed him, she would take them out and look at them, which made her feel much more at ease.
Although Yinreng was gone, the work still needed to be done, such as palace affairs and matters concerning the princesses. On one hand, she thought that with Yinreng gone, she needed to manage the Forbidden City even better so as not to worry him; on the other hand, she wanted to fill the emptiness in her heart with these trivial matters. When people have things to do, they won't think about those other things.
More than ten days passed peacefully, but then something unexpected happened. That day, after inspecting the preparations for the palace servants' spring attire, she thought she would take a break, but then someone came to report that Consort He was requesting an audience.
The Fan family? What is she doing here?
Cheng Qianyue sent someone to invite her in to talk. After a few pleasantries, she asked, "You said earlier that everything was fine in Chuxiu Palace. Is there something else you want to say?"
Lady Fan became excited, her eyes seemingly shining, and said in a low voice, "Your Highness, I truly have something important to report..." She said, enunciating each word clearly, "It concerns Xianfu Palace!"
Regarding Consort Ke, of the Li Jia clan?!
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