Chapter 8: Status [Section One] (Part 3)

Translator: Tygris
English proofreader: 247Reader

Ruyi was surprised. “At this hour? Hailan is still coming to pay her respects? Quickly invite her in.”

As Ruyi arrived at the western warm room ^[1]暖阁 (nuǎn gé) refers to a small room separated from the main house but connected to it, where a stove can be installed for heating. Directly translated, the characters are along the lines of ‘warm room’. and settled herself, Hailan was already leading her personal maidservant Yexin inside.

Ruyi smiled. “Why are you still coming to pay your respects this late? Is it that the long night passes slowly and you cannot fall asleep?”

Hailan was not the same as before, when she had been full of caution and only caution.

 [Suo]xin brought over a cup of tea, respectfully saying, “First Class Attendant Hai, please have some tea.”

Hailan did not drink the tea. Her full attention was devoted to silently gazing at Ruyi.

Ruyi was secretly surprised, and smiled. “If Younger Sister has anything to say, she can just directly speak. Oh yes, today when the decree was announced, it did not specify in which palace Younger Sister would reside. Did the Empress make arrangements?”

The rims of Hailan’s eyes turned somewhat red. She quietly responded, “This concubine has little say. Naturally, wherever the Empress casually chooses will be where this concubine will be assigned.”

Ruyi was curious. “Where is this? Is the assignment not good?”

Yexin could no longer hold back. “Empress Niangniang said that Noble Consort Hui’s Xian’fu Palace was spacious and gorgeous and therefore assigned Little Mistress to Xian’fu Palace. Originally this would not be anything bad, but that person in Xian’fu Palace was never one to be tolerant of others. Now that her banner has been raised, she has become even more [arrogant and unyielding].

For instance, Noble Lady Yi used to be a maidservant next to the Empress. But as for Noble Consort Hui, she forced out a maidservant who served the Emperor while it was inconvenient for her. ^[2]TL Note: I believe this means that she was having her period. Could also be that she was pregnant but so far there is no indication that she was ever pregnant before.

Ruyi’s gentle voice cut into her words. “That is a past event. Now, she is the Noble Consort. Naturally, she will need to seem more generous and kind than before.”

Yexin angrily continued, “Our Little Mistress has a gentle temperament, and has always been bullied by others. After arriving at Xian’fu Palace, she first had to listen to Noble Consort Hui’s lectures, then was allocated a west-facing, sunny room in which to live.”

Hearing this, Ruyi’s brows furrowed. “How could such a place be habitable? In the summer, the sun causes the room to be unbearably hot, and in the winter, the room will be as cold as ice. Even the average servant would not live there – usually, this type of room is only used to store some unimportant items. Is Noble Consort Hui not afraid that the Emperor will see this?”

Hailan spoke with a hint of tears in her voice. “In the past, the Emperor rarely saw this concubine. Now under the eyelids ^[3]Meaning ‘under the control of’ or ‘within the sphere of influence of’. of Noble Consort Hui, there is even less of a possibility. Today, Noble Consort Hui even said, if the Emperor actually asks about this, then this concubine should respond that [this concubine] herself enjoys living in that room and that Noble Consort Hui was unable to convince [this concubine] otherwise. This concubine… in reality, when was the Emperor ever concerned about this concubine?” 

Ruyi’s heart was unable to bear this. “Since she treats you thus, then if you just move out like this, she would not be offended?”

Hailan sobbed, “How would she be offended? Now, it cannot be said how popular Xian’fu Palace is. Every single person is fawning upon her for having been created Noble Consort, not to mention that her banner has been raised.”

Ruyi silently sighed for a moment, then asked, “Then what are your plans?”

Hailan, with her eyes full of tears, gazed at Ruyi. “This concubine only dares to come to beg Consort Xian Niangniang for a favor, hoping to reside with Niangniang. [If that is possible, this concubine] would be fully content.”

Ruyi hurriedly responded, “In the past, you have called me ‘Elder sister’, and now you should still call me ‘Elder Sister’. Repeatedly using terms like ‘Niangniang’ and ‘this concubine’ makes it seem as if we are more distant.”

Hailan timidly nodded. “Yes.”

Ruyi considered for a moment then said, “It is not impossible for you to move over and reside here as long as I report this to Empress Niangniang…” 

Ruyi had not yet finished her sentence when [Suo]xin moved forward, “Niangniang, the tea has gone cold. This servant will replace the cup for you.”

Ruyi was in the middle of nodding when she noticed [Suo]xin glancing deeply at her. She knew the situation clearly in her heart, ^[4]心知肚明 (xīn zhī dù míng) means knowing something in one’s heart but not saying it out loud. but could only sigh and continue her words. “It is not impossible for you to move over and reside here as long as I report this to Empress Niangniang. But you also know of my current situation. First, I cannot be the same as before and open my mouth to ask the Empress for various favors. Second, even if I do ask for a favor, there is no guarantee that the Empress will grant it. One fears that she would blame you for not knowing your place. And if Noble Consort Hui is angered by this, then your future days will not be easy.”

[Suo]xin replaced the tea for Hailan, and, seemingly inadvertently, mentioned, “Actually, back at qiandi, Little Mistress Hailan lived in the room right next to our Niangniang. If [the decree] mentioned that [Little Mistress Hailan] is to move into Yan’xi Palace together with us, then that would make sense. Now we have been purposefully separated this far, one must wonder about the reason.”

Hailan’s eyes were clouded by tears. She lowered her head and pondered for a moment, then said in a low voice, “It was I who was confused. How can I trouble Elder Sister thus?”

Ruyi was apologetic. “If matters were the same as before, then there would be no reason for me not to help you. But you can understand the current situation just by looking at my Yan’xi Palace. I truly cannot open my mouth. Additionally, it may not be a good thing for you to move to somewhere as desolate as Yan’xi Palace. If you are implicated by me and lose the Emperor’s favor, then that would be even worse.”

Hailan looked around Yan’xi Palace, and let out an irrepressible sigh. “Back at qiandi, Elder Sister was the first amongst the Secondary Consorts. When have you suffered living in such conditions?”

Ruyi patted her hand. “This single moment does not determine whether or not this is suffering. You and I are both well. Do we fear not being well in the future?”

Hailan took a handkerchief to wipe away her tear tracks. Smilingly, she said, “Elder Sister speaks correctly.” Her tone contained a trace of a smile. “Before, back at qiandi, when I was a maidservant in the embroidery room, I was also bullied by others. It was Elder Sister who saw me and, feeling pity for me, persuaded me to strive [for better days]. Later, [it was Elder Sister who] took the boots I embroidered and offered them to the Emperor, leading the Emperor to favor me and give me a name. How Elder Sister helped me, I remember it all in my heart.”

Ruyi warmly said, “That is enough. You have what you need to endure, and I also have what I need to endure. We shall both endure, and there definitely will be a day when it is all over.”

Only then did Hailan rise and speak, “It is no longer early. Younger Sister will retreat first. Elder Sister should rest earlier.”

Ruyi sent her out under the eaves; her heart was still unsettled. “If Noble Consort Hui mistreats you, you still have to tell me. Even if I cannot help much, I can still take on some of the burden with you.”

Hailan was thankful. “Many thanks, Elder Sister. I will remember it all.”

Ruyi watched as Hailan and Yexin left. In the yard, the moonlight filled the ground like fresh snow, adding a few points of coldness and bleakness. Unconsciously, she gave a sigh.

[Suo]xin retrieved a cloak and covered Ruyi’s shoulders. Then, she lowered herself to her knees. “Is Niangniang sighing because she blames this servant for dissuading Niangniang earlier?”

Ruyi shook her head. “You acted correctly. It is difficult for me to even protect myself. There is no need to implicate Hailan.”

[Suo]xin said, “Back at qiandi, Noble Consort Hui’s temperament was not like this: she was often gentle and loveable. Why did she become like this the moment that she entered the palace?”

Ruyi contemplated the shadows of the swaying branches upon the verdant tiles within the yard; her heart was also confused. She suppressed her feelings and responded, “It is part of human nature to become arrogant when successful and to become humble when in dire straits. If one can remain peaceful and restrained even at the peak of success and continue to treat others generously and respectfully, then one can be truly said to be enlightened.”

[Suo]xin gave voice to a thought. “The Emperor had often commended Niangniang as having a heart full of wisdom and the temperament of an orchid, and complimented Noble Consort Hui as elegant, calm, and gentle. Why is the title he gave Niangniang today ‘Xian’ and the title he gave Noble Consort Hui, ‘Hui’?” ^[5]慧心兰性 which is used to compliment Ruyi has the character ‘Hui’ while 娴静温婉 which is used to compliment Gao Xiyue contains the character ‘Xian’.

Ruyi tightened her cloak, saying faintly, “The Emperor’s deeds contain hidden intentions. We should not continue to speculate [upon his thoughts].”

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