"Your Majesty flatters me. You are the bright moon in the sky, while I am but a tiny firefly. I am nothing in your presence."
Ever since entering Shou Kang Palace—or rather, after receiving the message that she was to come to Shou Kang Palace to pay her respects to the Empress Dowager—Sun Miaoqing had never felt at ease.
After all, she was the previous champion of palace intrigue and had a string of children. Although her eyesight is failing now, she is still very clear-headed when it comes to palace power struggles.
Fortunately, just in case, she had Physician Lu add an extra layer of protection. The medication she drank daily to prevent miscarriage was laced with a drug that would induce a false pregnancy; she refused to believe anyone would be able to tell.
Upon hearing the Empress Dowager's words, Sun Miaoqing couldn't help but wonder what the Empress Dowager meant. A girl changes a lot as she grows up, becoming more and more beautiful.
Does the Empress Dowager mean she's prettier than before, or does she mean she's more cunning than when she first entered the palace?
Or perhaps she was skilled at flattery and seduction, a vixen who bewitched the emperor? In just a few breaths, Sun Miaoqing had thought of many things.
The more you talk, the more mistakes you make; the less you talk, the fewer mistakes you make; if you don't talk, you won't make mistakes; just smile!
Sun Miaoqing smiled even sweeter than before, her two dimples making her look incredibly endearing.
The Empress Dowager didn't have that much thought. She was the most powerful person in the entire harem. Except when speaking to the Emperor, which required her to be tactful and subtle, who were the others? Did they need her to go to such lengths to be diplomatic?
If there's anything you want to ask or say, just say it. If she has to be so considerate of even a lowly concubine, then her role as Empress Dowager is rather pointless.
The Empress Dowager's words were merely a spontaneous expression of her feelings; they were exactly what they seemed and had no other meaning.
Who could blame her? Sun Miaoqing had left such a deep impression on her during the palace selection!
The dark-skinned, plump, and tacky-dressed imperial concubine from back then is nothing like the slender, bright-eyed, and beautiful Consort Cheng before me.
The Empress Dowager said, "If you are a firefly, then aren't the other concubines even less than fireflies?"
"I have heard that you are extremely spoiled and arrogant because of the Emperor's favor. In order to be promoted, you have been making a fuss because you are pregnant, which has annoyed the Emperor."
"Now that your wish has come true, and you've received the Emperor's word to promote you to the rank of concubine, are you happy?"
Sun Miaoqing has an 800-word piece on Zu'an culture that she wants to promote...
When did she ask Big Fat Orange for a higher rank? She didn't mention it at all; he was the one who offered it to her!
Just as wronged as Dou E~
With a thud, Sun Miaoqing knelt down decisively, tearfully defending herself.
"Your Majesty, I am well aware of my status and position. It is already a great honor to be granted the title of Noble Lady and to serve by His Majesty's side. How could I dare to hope for anything else?"
"Your Majesty, I do not know where you heard these words. I swear to heaven that I have never asked the Emperor for a higher rank because of my status as a child of the Emperor."
"If there is even half a lie, may I never be able to eat four dishes again!"
The Empress Dowager turned her head away, not wanting to look at her, and too lazy to bother with the matter anymore. The decree had already been issued, and she didn't really want to go against the Emperor.
"Enough, I'm too old. This harem will eventually belong to you young people."
"Whether it's a Noble Lady, a Consort, or even a Consort or a Noble Consort, it's all just a matter of the Emperor's word."
"You've won the emperor's favor so easily, haven't you thought about the future?"
Using the gentlest tone to say the most frightening words, she, a mere concubine, dared not admit it.
"Your Majesty, I would never dare to have such an overstepping mind."
"The harem belongs to the Emperor and the Empress, and also to the Empress Dowager. Whether I am a Consort or a Lady Cheng, I am merely a vine clinging to the Emperor."
"Aside from how to serve the Emperor and Empress well, I dare not have any other thoughts."
Hearing what she wanted to hear, the Empress Dowager said, "I was just chatting with you for a few minutes, and you're so frightened. Get up."
Zhu Xi helped Sun Miaoqing up, and the Empress Dowager continued, "Since you know that you are dependent on the Emperor, I will not say anything more."
"The Emperor enjoys glory, and while you may not necessarily enjoy glory, you still have something to look forward to. In my opinion, you are a clever person, and I hope that your cleverness will not backfire."
Sun Miaoqing said, "Thank you for your teachings, Your Majesty. I will always remember them."
The Empress Dowager looked at the string of prayer beads in her hand, gently stroking the thousand-eyed bodhi seeds, and slowly said,
"This string of Buddhist prayer beads was a gift from the late Emperor to me, and it has been with me for many years."
"Now that you are pregnant, I will give it to you as a gift, hoping that you will live up to the expectations of me and the Emperor."
Sun Miaoqing accepted the thousand-eyed bodhi beads with both hands, then knelt down to express her gratitude to the Empress Dowager. Only when the Empress Dowager felt tired did Sun Miaoqing drag her weary knees and return to Chuxiu Palace in a palanquin.
Back in her own territory, she closed the gate. Sun Miaoqing kicked off her shoe with one foot and sprawled out on the kang (heated brick bed). The string of thousand-eyed Bodhi beads was slapped onto the kang table.
"Your Majesty, why are you acting like you're at home again? It's not good for others to see that."
Upon seeing her like this, Linglan started chattering away, taking out a pair of warm and soft shoes for Sun Miaoqing to change into.
"Besides, the ground is cold and hard. What if you get cold walking on it without shoes?"
"You're so tired after visiting the Empress Dowager. Anyone who didn't know better would think you'd been working in the fields to get this exhausted!"
Sun Miaoqing shook her arm and said, "Isn't talking to the Empress Dowager more tiring than working in the fields?"
"I've been kneeling and getting up, getting up and kneeling again. It's better to farm; at least that's safer!"
Rose served a glass of almond milk, and Sun Miaoqing was a little disappointed, "Why isn't it milk tea?"
Rose said, "Your Majesty, you've forgotten that pregnant women cannot drink tea."
Sun Miaoqing pursed her lips. If you're going to put on an act, you have to go all the way. Maybe sugar really is addictive and hard to give up.
"Almond milk is fine, adding honey is the same."
While the Empress Dowager was talking to Sun Miaoqing, Liuli and Qiangwei could only stand guard outside, so they didn't know what was happening inside.
Judging from Sun Miaoqing's reaction, she seemed unhappy, but not like she had been scolded by the Empress Dowager. Besides, her mistress was now extremely precious, and the Empress Dowager doted on her too much for the sake of the imperial heir; how could she bear to make things difficult for her?
Liuli glanced at the string of thousand-eyed bodhi beads on the kang table and said, "The thousand-eyed bodhi beads symbolize good fortune and health, and have the effect of bringing blessings and good luck. The fact that the Empress Dowager bestowed this string of prayer beads upon the Empress shows the Empress Dowager's favor towards the Empress."
Sun Miaoqing said, "The Empress Dowager is not showing me any favor; she is clearly warning me not to do anything under her nose."
"Put it in a nice, expensive box to store it properly; it should be worthy of the gift from the Empress Dowager."
Rose said, "The Empress Dowager may not have meant that, Your Highness need not take it to heart."
Sun Miaoqing said, "What else could it mean? They called me over today and gave me a good talking-to. They wish everyone in the palace were like Consort Shen."
"Also, investigate who dared to spread rumors about me, actually slandering me for obsessively pursuing the Emperor in order to advance my rank."
"The person who said that has ulterior motives!"
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