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Chapter 12: Ruiji [Section One] (Part 5)

Translator: Tygris
English proofreader: 247Reader

On the other side, in Yanxi Palace, it was not quiet either. Ruyi was standing under the eaves in front of the main hall, watching the people from the Imperial Household Department bring over the charcoal allowance for winter use. 

Little eunuch Baocheng led a few people to finish counting and came up. “Niangniang, we have already counted everything. There are one thousand and two hundred jin ^[1]斤 (jīn) is a measurement of weight that corresponds to 500g. This is the same as a catty. of black charcoal and three hundred jin of hongluo charcoal. ^[2]红箩炭 (hóng luó tàn) was a high-quality type of charcoal used in the Imperial Palace in the past. Supposedly it burns hotly and with minimal ash residue, and burning this type of charcoal means that you do not need to worry about carbon monoxide poisoning. This type of tribute charcoal was discovered during the Ming Dynasty. The making of this charcoal was a long, complicated process. This type of charcoal no longer exists due to the lack of high-quality trees needed to make it. Source. They are all outside already.”

Ruyi nodded and asked, “How is the situation at Hailan’s place?”

Baocheng replied, “Per the allowances of a First Class Attendant, there is no hongluo charcoal; there is only the daily allowance of twenty jin of black charcoal per day. But this servant has just come from the Imperial Household Department and heard that…”

Ruyi frowned. “Stop hesitating as you speak. What did you hear?”

Baocheng was so frightened that he choked on his tongue. Hurriedly, he said, “Heard that First Class Attendant Hai has been saying that there is not enough black charcoal to use. But that allowance is set by regulation. How could there be more? One fears that First Class Attendant Hai is suffering from the cold.”

A’Ruo brought a freshly prepared hand furnace for Ruyi, considerately putting on a purple velvet furnace cover before placing it into Ruyi’s hands. Softly, she said, “It is windy out. Little Mistress should be careful that she does not take ill from the wind blowing against her head.”

Ruyi smiled. “Always being shut inside is very stuffy. This place blocks the wind; there is nothing to fear.”

A’Ruo then said, “Listening to these words from Baocheng, [this servant thinks that] First Class Attendant Hai had always had an honest personality. Only if she was truly so cold that she could no longer bear it would she have gone to the Imperial Household Department to ask for more charcoal. It is just that, with only two people in her palace, how could there not be enough?”

Ruyi sighed. “Her difficulties must be mentioned. Last night when she and I were in Bao’hua Hall reading scriptures and praying for blessings, I felt her hand furnace and discovered that it was only warm and not hot at all. I had thought that it was Yexin and Xiangyun who had not served her carefully enough, but upon asking, her eyes grew red. She said it was because the charcoal allowance was not enough to use at all. She lives on the west side, and that place would of course be frigid during the winter. On normal days, even just lighting up one furnace is already somewhat of a stretch in resources. How could she begin to consider using hand furnaces and foot furnaces? Only then did I realize how difficult her days really are.”

A’Ruo straightened her dark purple palace dress and comforted her, saying, “This cannot be blamed on Little Mistress. Noble Consort has never gotten along with Little Mistress and so Little Mistress naturally cannot go to her Xian’fu Palace to visit Second Attendant Hai. Otherwise, how could this remain unknown? Speaking of, it is the Noble Consort who was too careless and has let the people of her own Palace suffer.”

Ruyi felt upset in her heart. Suppressing her anger, she said, “According to reason, the allowances should not be insufficient, as Hailan only has two maidservants and two eunuchs. But she told me that the Noble Consort is fearful of the cold and always says that the palace is not warm enough. When the Imperial Household Department sent her charcoal, more than half was withheld and given to the Noble Consort instead. And it is not even just that! Even the servants’ quarters are nicely warm and toasty, with no consideration given to Hailan.”

A’Ruo sucked in a breath of cold air. “How could this be? In the upcoming first and second months the weather will practically be frozen! Can First Class Attendant Hai endure this?”

Ruyi sighed. “This matter can only be a result of my wrongdoings — how could it be otherwise? In order to avoid suspicions and trouble, I have caused her to suffer so. If I were more observant and had discovered this earlier, she would not have to suffer the cold like this.”

She called over Baocheng. “You, be more careful, and quietly send some charcoal to Second Class Attendant Hai. Do not let other people notice you. And also remember to send only black charcoal; her position does not allow her to use hongluo charcoal. That hongluo charcoal when burnt leaves silvery white charcoal dust, and will be noticeable at first glance, which would not be good. It is much harder to see the amount of black charcoal used from the ashes.”

Baocheng sounded in the affirmative and said, “This servant understands and will take the opportunity to send some every few days when the Noble Consort goes to pay respects. This will prevent drawing the attention of others by sending too much at once.”

Ruyi smiled, pleased. “Then hurry and arrange this. Also, the Imperial Household Department sent some winter clothes. You go pick out some good ones and secretly send them over as well.”

A’Ruo, seeing that Baocheng had retreated, said, “Little Mistress can be considered very considerate of First Class Attendant Hai. As soon as the days began to turn cold, you sent a good amount of new cotton over. Now, you are even sending over clothes.”

Ruyi seemed emotional. “How many people in the palace are easy to get along with? Hailan can be considered to have cast all her chips on my side, so it is only right that we take care of each other more.”

She turned her face to ask A’Ruo, “Just now, when you went to Yong’he Palace to send gifts to Second Class Attendant Mei, did you manage to gather any news?”

A’Ruo’s eyes glanced around in all four directions, before she hurriedly whispered, “This servant followed Little Mistress’s orders and sent two bolts of zhuanghua satin. ^[3]妆花 (zhuāng huā) is the most complex weaving technique of Nanjing brocade and still now cannot be replaced by any modern machine. This weaving method is complicated and time-consuming, and there is even a saying that ‘one cun of zhuanghua can be exchanged for [one unit] of gold’. (A cun is the Chinese ‘inch’ and is approximately equivalent to 3 and ⅓ centimeters.) The weaving speed is extremely slow and a day’s work results in at most 6-7 centimeters of zhuanghua satin. Here is a collection of photos of zhuanghua satin from Baidu. Unexpectedly, Yong’he Palace was extremely lively — Noble Lady Jia and Noble Lady Yi had both sent things over, and even Noble Consort Hui bestowed many items.”

Ruyi thought of something, and asked, “Then Concubine Chun…”

“When this servant was there, Concubine Chun’s palace had not yet sent anything.”

Ruyi understood. After leaving the Empress’s palace, Concubine Chun must have immediately rushed to a’ge’suo to visit her son. Even if she had arrived back, she would have been immersed in desolation over her son not growing up by her side. At a moment like that, it might be feared that she would have no energy to spare for these matters of etiquette. “Later, I will go to Zhong’cui Palace to visit Concubine Chun. She is also pitiful.”

A’Ruo continued, “This servant specially met with Second Class Attendant Mei. Even though she is a Second Class Attendant, the decorations in Yong’he Palace and Second Class Attendant Mei’s garments were all more respectable than those of Noble Lady Yi. One can see that even though she has served only once, the Emperor likes her exceedingly.”

Before her words dissipated, the sound of Noble Lady Jia’s dulcet tones came from outside the courtyard. “How could the Emperor not like Second Class Attendant Mei? What musical venture is she not proficient at? And she is also a fine person trained specially by others!”

Lifting her gaze slightly, Ruyi saw Jin Yuyan, wearing a rose-patterned purple and white outfit layered with a fur cloak, holding the maidservant Lixin’s hand and walking in a manner reminiscent of willows swaying in the wind. Upon meeting Ruyi, Yuyan bent her body in a wanfu greeting, her voice as chilly as the icicles hanging from the eaves. “Congratulations to Consort Xian.”

Ruyi was stunned, then smiled and said, “These words of Noble Lady Jia should be said to Second Class Attendant Mei of Yong’he Palace. Why have you mistakenly come to Yan’xi Palace?”

Noble Lady Jia gave a cold snort. “This concubine is not skillful enough, and cannot train such a flower-like figure to know how to perform with all manner of musical instruments and dance to seduce people. Niangniang has managed to develop such a talent, so how is this not worthy of congratulations?”

Ruyi’s heart was full of confusion. Though she did not understand what had happened, listening to Jin Yuyan’s words and noticing that each and every one of them were directed at her, she did not shy away. “Noble Lady Jia has always been quick with her words. If there is anything to say today, then you might as well speak directly. Bengong shall wash out her ears and listen carefully.” ^[4]洗耳恭听 (xǐ ěr gōng tīng) means to listen respectfully and attentively and to be ready to learn. People should remain humble, learn to listen, and understand others with a respectful attitude. Later on, this term developed a humorous and sarcastic connotation.

“Wash the ears and listen carefully?” Noble Lady Jia laughed. Her laughter was as bone-chillingly cold as the surrounding air. “Consort Xian Niangniang has already gotten used to listening to pipa music. Why pretend to be as confused as the rest of us this morning, and ask about Second Class Attendant Mei’s origins?”

Upon hearing the word “origins”, Ruyi’s heart grew even more confused. But seeing that Jin Yuyan had an all-knowing expression, it might be easier to listen to her next words instead of figuring it out herself. Ruyi asked, “No matter what Noble Lady Jia says, Bengong truly knows nothing of Second Class Attendant Mei’s origins. If Noble Lady Jia feels that there is no need to waste a trip to Yan’xi Palace, why not bestow your knowledge upon Bengong, and allow Bengong to understand the situation.”

One of Noble Lady Jia’s beautiful long eyebrows lightly rose up. Suspiciously, she asked, “Do you truly not know, or are you pretending to not know?”

Ruyi replied honestly, “Truly do not know.”

Noble Lady Jia looked at her with raised eyebrows, neither trusting nor distrusting her. Sighing, she said, “Was Second Class Attendant Mei not sent into Nanfu by Niangniang’s maternal family, the Ula Nara clan?”

Ruyi and A’Ruo looked at each other, bewilderment on both of their faces. Seeing that their expressions did not seem to be falsified, Noble Lady Jia believed [in Ruyi’s words] a few points more. “You really did not know?”

Ruyi walked down the steps and said sincerely, “Bengong is wholly unaware of this matter, and was just about to send A’Ruo to ask around. If Younger Sister knows, then please speak frankly.”

Noble Lady Jia coldly looked at her. “Second Class Attendant Mei was sent in by your maternal family, the Ula Nara clan, in the eighth year of the late Emperor Yongzheng.”

Ruyi furrowed her brows in thought. “During the eighth year of Yongzheng, Bengong was only fourteen years of age. How would Bengong know of this matter?”

Noble Lady Jia caressed the pointed nail guards adorning her fingers. “That you do not know does not mean that the Jing’ren Palace Empress of that year did not know. Noble Consort Hui and this concubine have already investigated. That year, when Second Class Attendant Mei entered Nanfu, it was under the approval of the Jing’ren Palace Empress. Even if you did not know of this matter then, does it mean that you were wholly unaware of it afterwards?

“Not to mention that Second Class Attendant Mei was unexpectedly favored. This matter is unspeakably strange.

“The connections within, only you, Niangniang, would know.”

Finishing her words, Jin Yuyan took Lixin’s hand and left, leaving Ruyi standing in the middle of the yard, watching the water drip from the icicles hanging from the eaves. Drop by drop, they knocked against her doubtful and unsettled heart.

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