Chapter 82 The torment and the elevation: She had only been in postpartum confinement for a little over a month…
Having only completed her postpartum confinement period of a little over a month, Cheng Qianyue was already having to go out for social engagements. To be honest, she didn't want to go out at all, even though kowtowing to the Emperor and Empress Dowager would be an honor, but the problem was that her body hadn't fully recovered yet.
This wasn't just a casual excuse; she genuinely hadn't recovered. Even during her postpartum confinement, when she occasionally got out of bed to use the restroom or walk a few steps, her legs and back felt like they weren't even her own anymore. To drag herself to kneel and kowtow in this condition—wasn't that pure torture?
Cheng Qianyue cursed inwardly that the people in the Forbidden City were all perverts. How could they treat someone who had just given birth like that?
But there was no way around it. That was the rule in the Forbidden City. If someone of higher status gave you a reward or praise, you had to express your gratitude. The longer you delayed, the less respectful you became, and the more disrespectful you were to your master. And to think of the worst-case scenario, if she lacked manners, it meant that the Crown Prince's concubines lacked manners, and the mother of the imperial grandson lacked manners, which would make her a disgrace to Yinreng and his children.
From the moment Cheng Qianyue entered the palace, she had to accept these rules and regulations, whether they were explicit or unspoken. Moreover, no one cared whether she was willing or not; they all assumed that she had to abide by these rules.
Cheng Qianyue sighed. Since she had to get out of this door, she was determined to be fully armed.
First and foremost, there's the clothing. You absolutely need three layers: an inner garment, a shirt, and then an outer robe lined with mink fur, plus a woolen vest. Of course, that's not enough; you also need to wear a cloak over it, thus covering yourself up completely.
After getting dressed, Ruoxia brought her shoes.
Cheng Qianyue thought for a moment and said, "Let's change them. Didn't I make a new pair of flat cotton shoes a couple of days ago? Let's wear those."
Normally, she would have worn platform shoes for an occasion like today. But Cheng Qianyue felt a chill just looking at those two-inch thick heels. She had just given birth and could barely walk; wearing platform shoes would make it even harder. Anyway, no one would be staring at her feet, so she decided to avoid this "torture" for now.
Once everything was ready, Cheng Qianyue went out. As soon as she stepped out the door, a gust of cold wind hit her in the face, making it hard to open her eyes.
Cheng Qianyue couldn't help but shiver.
She walked step by step, and soon arrived at the Crown Princess's main courtyard. After entering the room, she knelt down to pay her respects. When she stood up and looked up, she found that Lady Li Jia was sitting opposite her, with the eldest princess sitting next to her.
She looked at the two of them and smiled at them. Her face, which had been taut from the wind outside, gradually regained its warmth. She said softly, "Greetings, Consort Li. The eldest princess is here too."
Li Jia casually hummed in agreement but didn't even glance at her. Only the eldest princess, Wulinzhu, curtsied to her and greeted her, "Greetings, Mother Cheng."
After a while, the Crown Princess said, "Since you're all here, let's go."
The group agreed and then followed the Crown Princess. As they left the Xiefang Palace, a sedan chair was already waiting at the entrance. Cheng Qianyue breathed a sigh of relief. In just a short time, her legs had already felt numb. If she were to walk to the Empress Dowager's palace, she definitely wouldn't be able to. And if she were to fall halfway there, it would be quite a embarrassment.
Soon, they arrived at Ning Shou Palace. Before even stepping into the main hall, they could hear bursts of laughter and cheerful conversation. After the Crown Princess led them inside, the sounds inside suddenly ceased.
After they had paid their respects, Consort Tongjia smiled and said, "The Ancestor was just talking about you, and here you are." As soon as she finished speaking, all the high-ranking concubines and consorts looked at them and smiled.
The Empress Dowager feigned anger, saying, "If you laugh any longer, you might scare them so much they won't dare come in." She then offered them seats. The Crown Princess and the First Princess naturally sat at the front, while Cheng Qianyue and Li Jia were seated below the Consorts, with seats arranged next to the Concubines. But Cheng Qianyue had barely sat down and removed her cloak when the Empress Dowager asked, "Where is the Crown Concubine? Quickly call this child over." Immediately, all eyes in the room were on her.
Cheng Qianyue couldn't discern the meaning behind those gazes for a moment. She simply got up and, led by the nanny, knelt before the Empress Dowager, bowing her head and saying in a deep voice, "This servant, Cheng Jia, greets the Empress Dowager."
The Empress Dowager told her to get up, and then ordered someone to move her stool to her side. Cheng Qianyue quickly kowtowed and thanked her: "This servant thanks Your Majesty for the seat."
After Cheng Qianyue was seated, the Empress Dowager said, "This child looks like a good one. You have done a great service by giving birth to twins for the Crown Prince."
Cheng Qianyue pursed her lips, looking embarrassed, and replied, "This servant dares not take credit." She then expressed her gratitude for the rewards given by the Empress Dowager, and said, "The gold lock given by the Empress Dowager has been placed under the pillows of the imperial grandsons, and the seven-treasure bracelet bestowed by the Emperor is also nearby." She then added, "This servant was somewhat depleted after childbirth and took a few more days of postpartum confinement, which is why I have been late in expressing my gratitude. I hope the Empress Dowager will forgive me."
Only after hearing Cheng Qianyue's words did the Empress Dowager pick up her reading glasses and examine her closely. Hmm, she was a pretty girl, but her face was a bit round and soft, like a fluffy white steamed bun that would leave a dent if pressed. She said kindly, "Childbirth is the most exhausting thing. Good child, the charcoal stove is closer to the front, you can sit here to keep warm."
Cheng Qianyue rose from the stool, bowed, and said softly, "Thank you, Empress Dowager."
There was plenty to talk about afterwards. The Empress Dowager inquired in detail about the Fourth Prince and the Second Princess, and then the conversation drifted to the Crown Princess, praising her hard work managing the Xiefang Palace and her generosity and kindness. The conversation then veered off on other topics. Cheng Qianyue initially had to respond, but later she didn't need to say anything. However, sitting in the front for the first time made her very uncomfortable, especially whenever she felt others looking at her. She had to look over and smile in acknowledgment; if she could raise her hand to curtsy, she wouldn't be much different from a lucky cat.
After a long while, it was noon, time for lunch. The Empress Dowager said, "It's already so late, everyone may leave." Then she added, "Where is Wulinzhu? That child is well-behaved, have lunch with me. The handkerchief she sent over a few days ago was truly exquisite; the embroidered eyes of the swimming fish were so beautiful."
The Crown Princess, who had been wearing a kind smile, breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing the Empress Dowager's words. Her smile broadened, and she softly said to Wulinzhu, "Good child, stay and have dinner with your Wukuma later." Wulinzhu stood up and smiled, saying yes.
Then everyone stood up and knelt before the Empress Dowager. Cheng Qianyue quickly retreated to the back and followed the crowd, kneeling and kowtowing. When she stood up again, she felt Li Jia's gaze on her was like a sword being tempered by fire. That gaze was so obvious, like lava erupting from a volcano, radiating intense heat. But in the blink of an eye, Li Jia no longer looked at her.
In a short while, all the concubines had left, and it was time for them to go too. Li Jia's hem swept across her arm like a blade, and then she stepped across the threshold ahead of her, her steps hurried.
Cheng Qianyue let out a long sigh of relief, her breath spreading out, filling the air with moisture and coolness. If she had vaguely sensed Li Jia's dislike for her two years ago, now Li Jia's hatred and jealousy towards her had reached a point where they were no longer concealed.
Sitting in the sedan chair, she thought, "Why do you hate me so much? Why don't you hate someone else, hate the Emperor, hate the Empress Dowager, hate the real culprit?"
Without Cheng Qianyue needing to think it over, the answer was already clear—Li Jia dared not. Both the Empress Dowager and the Emperor were of higher status than Li Jia; she still needed their praise and their support. Therefore, it was simpler to hate those who took these things away than to hate the Empress Dowager or the Emperor.
Cheng Qianyue returned to Xiefang Palace, first went to the west wing to see the two children, then went to the east wing to ask the Third Prince about his recent literacy studies, and after returning to the main room, she asked someone to bring water to soak her feet.
She's not the kind of saint who turns the other cheek if you slap her, nor is she the kind of ruthless person who will deal with you if you hate her.
Cheng Qianyue removed the hairpin from her head, and Ruoyun, Ruohong, and the others also took it off and put it away. She soaked her feet, her hair loose, and thought to herself, "Since Li Jia is willing to hate and be jealous, then so be it. Who can blame her? There are all sorts of people in this world. Some people just love to compare and fight, to compete with this person and fight with that person. If air had a physical form, maybe they could even outwit and outmaneuver the air itself!"
But so what? Li Jia's resentment and jealousy couldn't cause her any real harm, so why should she care? She wouldn't waste her energy on things that shouldn't be there; she only cared about her own life and making sure she lived it well.
The next day was the first day of the Lunar New Year, and the entire palace was to pay New Year's respects to the Emperor and Empress Dowager and attend banquets at the two palaces. Cheng Qianyue was no exception. She knelt outside with the Crown Princess and others, and finally got to rest at Ning Shou Palace. The banquet had just begun when a young eunuch walked in along the corner of the wall. Among them, Granny Shu from Ning Shou Palace seemed to take something from his hand and went to the Empress Dowager to tell her something in detail. Then Granny Shu came over to her.
Cheng Qianyue was curious.
Granny Shu walked up to her and handed her the hand warmer, saying, "The Crown Prince was worried that you would catch a cold, so he specially ordered someone to send you this hand warmer."
Cheng Qianyue was surprised that this was a gift from Yinreng. She took the hand warmer, and the warmth immediately spread from her palms to her heart, making her face flush. Before leaving, Granny Shu ordered the eunuchs to bring over some charcoal braziers, lest she catch a cold.
Cheng Qianyue didn't need to look to know whose piercing gaze it was. But soon, another malicious gaze swept over.
The Eighth Princess Consort smiled and looked up, saying, "Grandmother is so biased! Why didn't you send anything to your granddaughter-in-law? Don't you love your granddaughter-in-law anymore?"
With the Eighth Prince's wife's words, everyone at the banquet in the hall openly turned their gazes towards her.
The Empress Dowager smiled and gave the Eighth Prince's wife a light tap, saying, "Look at this child, he's already jealous. Your sister-in-law just gave birth, so I can't help but take extra care of her." As she spoke, she told the nanny to bring her her hand warmer and give it to the Eighth Prince's wife, saying, "Now that you've taken it, don't say I don't care about you."
With just a few words, the smoke of battle instantly dissipated.
After the banquet ended, it was time for them to return. Cheng Qianyue and the Crown Princess had just stepped out of the Ning Shou Palace when the Eighth Prince's Consort followed them. She exchanged a few pleasantries with the Crown Princess, then looked at Cheng Qianyue and said, "Look, that little eunuch who just came in must be one of the Crown Prince's servants, right?"
Cheng Qianyue replied with a straight face, "Eighth Princess Consort is mistaken."
"Yeah?"
"yes."
The Eighth Prince's wife shrugged. "Perhaps I'm mistaken. Who can blame me when the Crown Princess is so glamorous this year? It's impossible to ignore her." She finished speaking with a half-smile and then walked south.
After a long silence, the Crown Princess spoke softly, "That's just her sharp personality."
Cheng Qianyue nodded. "This servant understands, after all, Consort Liang has just passed away." Consort Liang's health was not good last year, and she couldn't make it through the year. She passed away before the Golden Offering Festival this year. But the death of a consort didn't have much of an impact. Whether it was the Golden Offering Festival or the New Year, there were no white mourning banners in the palace, and the singing and dancing continued as usual.
Upon returning to Xiefang Palace, Cheng Qianyue told the Crown Princess that she would be unable to attend social events for the next few days.
The Crown Princess frowned and said, "Why is that? The Emperor and the Empress Dowager like you and promote you. I was even thinking of taking you to a banquet to accompany the princesses and noblewomen of various parts of Mongolia, as well as the wives and relatives of the imperial family."
Cheng Qianyue said, "This servant thanks the Crown Princess for her kindness, but yesterday I noticed that the two children were coughing a bit, and I was worried about them. Even when I went out, I had to keep them in mind, and I was afraid that I could not live up to the Empress Dowager's and Your Majesty's kindness."
The Crown Princess seemed to look down on her personality, her eyes seeming to say that she was hopeless and useless. She sighed, nodded, and told her to go back.
Granny Shuang personally saw Cheng Qianyue to the door. After watching Cheng Qianyue's departing figure, she didn't know whether to be happy or worried. Because Cheng Qianyue had been too conspicuous this year, she was very worried that Cheng Qianyue might develop disrespectful thoughts towards the Crown Princess.
Granny Shuang's eyes slowly narrowed, radiating a cold light.
It seems that Madam Cheng Jia still lacks the ambition. If she can remain this way, that would be best, but if one day she were to try and replace the Crown Princess, then this old nanny who has served in the palace for many years is not to be trifled with. People in the palace value reputation most, and for the sake of the Crown Princess's stable position, she has plenty of power and means.
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