Ruyi’s Royal Love in the Palace (Arc1 Chp9 Pt1)
Chapter 9: Status [Section Two] (Part 1)
Translator: Tygris
English proofreader: 247Reader
The Empress Dowager stood in the corridor of Ci’ning Palace, watching Fu gugu direct several palace servants to place dozens of pots of “Yellow Crane Feathers” and “Purple Cloud Cups” sent from the flower department in an orderly manner. It was dusk, and the sky, full of flowing clouds, looked like a piece of fine brocade. As it reflected upon the dozens of pots of yellow and purple chrysanthemums, it covered them with flowing waves of light and color.
Fu gugu came over with a smile and said, “The courtyard of Ci’ning Palace is much brighter and more spacious. If it were Shou’kang Palace, these dozens of potted chrysanthemums would give me nowhere to put my feet.” [1]Map of Forbidden City in English and Chinese to help you see the difference between Shou’kang Palace / The Palace of Longevity and Health vs. Ci’ning Palace / The Palace of Benevolent Tranquility.
Seeing that the Empress Dowager liked them, she said, “The Emperor is also filial. That day, he brought the Empress to personally invite you to move palaces. Now all the best things are sent to you first. Even the best purple chrysanthemums in the flower department have been sent to your residence.”
The Empress Dowager nodded with a smile, holding Fu gugu’s hand as she walked down the steps, carefully admiring the waterfall of blooming flowers. “In this way, Ai’jia’s love for the Emperor has not been in vain. It is just that, although the Emperor and the Empress came to invite [Ai’jia] that day, Ai’jia knows which person behind the scenes deserves the real credit.”
“Empress Dowager is speaking of Consort Xian?”
The Empress Dowager pinched a chrysanthemum, brought it closer, and scrutinized it momentarily. “What a bold color, as bright as gold. What a pity that it has not bloomed yet.”
Fu gugu smiled and said, “With your care and training, will it not be a matter of a moment for it to bloom?”
“This cannot be rushed. In a garden full of flowers, when the ones in the front are in full bloom, there is no need for the ones in the back to rush into full bloom. It needs to be at the right time and right place.” The Empress Dowager loosened her hold on the flowers and patted them, saying, “It is a pity that the Emperor only gave her the title of a Consort. Based on her ranking back in qiandi, she should have been at least a Noble Consort or an Imperial Noble Consort.”
Fu gugu retrieved a silk handkerchief and wiped the Empress Dowager’s hands. “Those who have fortune naturally will not care about a temporary status. The future is still long.”
The Empress Dowager nodded. “Noble Consort Hui is skilled at winning the favor of others. Sometimes she comes with the Empress to Ai’jia’s place to pay respects. Her understanding of etiquette and rules is also flawless.”
Fu gugu said, “According to the rules, it should be once at dawn and once at dusk, but the Empress and concubines only come once every three to five days. This…”
“Ai’jia, as the one residing in this Ci’ning Palace, is naturally the rightful and legitimate Empress Dowager. Whether they come twice a day or once every three to five days, it is not important. What is important is if Ai’jia‘s eyes are still within the harem. Originally, the position of Empress Dowager was not that of a caretaker, so there is no need to meddle in all affairs. As long as [Ai’jia] has the power to give a few pointers on major matters, then all is well. This way, [Ai’jia] will truly neither be bereft of power nor be the target of dissatisfaction.”
Only then did Fu gugu smile. “This servant cannot match up to Empress Dowager’s thoughts.”
Chang’chun Palace was exceptionally quiet at night. Amongst the dusky yellow clouds, hundreds of bats meandered towards the earth like a flowing river. Together, they seemed to section off the rest of the world, allowing Langhua to lay her head upon the Emperor’s shoulder while fiddling with the golden buttons on his bright yellow nightgown. She simply smiled without saying a word.
The Emperor did not feel the call to sleep. He smiled and said, “Empress has always been dignified and prudent. Why are you so affectionate towards Zhen today?”
Langhua chuckled and said, “The Emperor only sees that this concubine is dignified and prudent and not that this concubine also relies on the Emperor?”
The Emperor looked towards the bed canopy with a faint smile on his lips. “The Empress leads the harem by herself, helping Zhen share the responsibilities. Zhen is very glad. But having gotten used to the Empress acting like an Empress, it is rare to see her acting so coquettishly like a young girl.”
The Empress remained silent for a moment, before slowly smiling. “The harem is full of thoughts from young girls, and inevitably, they will have petty thoughts, competitions, and jealousies. [2]争风吃醋 (zhēng fēng chī cù) refers to jealousy and quarrels due to relationships between men and women. Directly translated, this is ‘competing for’/争 ‘favor or charm’/风 and ‘eating vinegar’/吃醋. The vinegar part is a reference to a story from the Tang Dynasty: In order to win the hearts of the people, Emperor Taizong of Tang wanted to take a concubine for the prime minister Fang Xuanling. The wife of the minister, out of jealousy, interfered and refused to let him do so. Emperor Taizong asked the wife of the minister to choose between drinking poisoned wine and allowing her husband to take a concubine. Unexpectedly, née Fang, the minister’s wife, was quite stubborn and would rather die than acquiesce to the emperor. So she picked up the cup of “poisoned wine” and drank it all. When née Fang, with a face full of tears, finished drinking, she found that the cup was not filled with poisoned wine, but with strong, sweet and sour vinegar. Since then, ‘eating vinegar’ was a way of referring to ‘jealousy’. If this concubine does not act with more dignity, then would [this concubine] not lose her authority, making herself a laughingstock?” She paused, carefully peeking at the Emperor. “The Emperor’s meaning… is it to blame this concubine for making an inappropriate decision this morning to assign Consort Xian to reside in Yan’xi Palace?”
With a shadow of a smile, the Emperor removed his shoulder from beneath Langhua’s head. “The Empress is the Mistress of the Six Palaces. It follows that harem affairs should be decided by the Empress. Zhen will naturally not disapprove of the Empress’s proposals.”
A slight chill rose in Langhua’s heart; she was unable to keep herself from feeling somewhat aggrieved. “In saying this, the Emperor really underestimates this concubine. Could it be that after all these years this concubine has been with the Emperor, this concubine would still be as foolish as those few Noble Ladies, only knowing how to compete and be jealous?
“This concubine only thought that the Emperor, having recently promoted Noble Consort Hui, would naturally favor her abundantly. Noble Consort Hui is virtuous and quiet and is deserving of the Emperor’s favor.
“It is just that back at qiandi, Consort Xian’s position was higher, and her personality was also of the arrogant type. Now that the Noble Consort is a head higher than her, she will inevitably feel uncomfortable and competitive. [This concubine] might as well assign her to a more tranquil location, allowing her to calm her heart. When her emotions have calmed down somewhat, the Emperor can then bestow handsome rewards upon her.”
The Emperor reached out and caressed the Empress’s hair. “The Empress is thoughtful.”
Only then did Langhua give a sigh of relief. She reached out to hook the Emperor’s elbow with a smiling face. “How can this concubine’s stupid opinions be compared to the Emperor’s wise thoughts? In the past, the Emperor often praised Consort Xian for having a heart full of wisdom and the temperament of an orchid and complimented Noble Consort Hui as elegant, calm, and gentle. Why is it that now, the title given to Consort Xian is ‘Xian’ and the title given to Noble Consort Hui is ‘Hui’? [3]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’. This concubine does not understand.”
A faint breeze blew in. Outside the canopy, the flame topping the pure copper candlestick holders, which were decorated with designs of a celestial crane holding a Ganoderma fungus in its mouth, subtly flickered, reflecting upon the fluttering curtains: its reflection upon the fluttering curtains undulating like rippling water. It was unclear whether the flame would go out or remain lit. The intermittent light and shadow falling upon the Emperor’s face rendered it somewhat ambiguous. His smile was as imperceptible as the thin clouds floating in the sky. “Zhen simply chose two words at random.” He lowered his head to look at Langhua, “Zhen ordered the Imperial Household Department to decorate your Chang’chun Palace attentively. Does it meet your satisfaction?”
A smile bloomed on Langhua’s face, like a brightly colored flower flame bursting out from the candle’s light. “The Emperor has stayed in this concubine’s palace to spend the first night in the harem. For this concubine, this is the greatest consideration and favor.”
The Emperor gently patted Langhua’s shoulder, his voice gradually becoming lighter, yet still full of attachment and tenderness. “It is enough as long as you understand Zhen’s intentions. You are Zhen’s Empress, and you have always been virtuous. With you in charge of the affairs of the harem, Zhen is very relieved.”
