Ruyi’s Royal Love in the Palace (Arc1 Chp12 Pt4)
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Chapter 12: Ruiji [Section One] (Part 4)
Translator: Tygris
English proofreader: 247Reader
Noble Consort Hui was originally supposed to be the last one to leave, but just as she was about to rise and retreat, she saw the Empress give her a slight nod, and so she remained sitting, peeling kumquats to eat.
Only when everyone else had left did the Empress let out a sigh. Rubbing her temples, she said, “In the warm room, there is a high-quality mint ointment. You come rub some on for Bengong.”
Noble Consort Hui agreed and followed the Empress and entered the warm room. Suxin retrieved a simple floral-patterned small porcelain beauty [1]TL Note: Unclear to me what the author meant by 美人像/visage of a beauty in describing this container, but maybe she means something along the lines of a beauty cup, in which the portrait of a beautiful woman appears when the cup is filled with water. If you are interested, you can open this article and machine translate it into English. This is some article from some Chinese news webpage. bowl and placed it on the table before silently retreating. Noble Consort Hui understood, and upon opening it up, the cooling and sinus-clearing scent of mint entered her nose. She immediately felt much more alert than before, as though she had been submerged in frost and snow.
With her fourth finger [2]Ring finger, but I felt like that term did not fit the vibe of the story. she picked up some [of the ointment] and gently rubbed the Empress’s temples. Softly, she said, “It is not that this concubine is petty. It is just that the Emperor has chosen this kind of person. It is very…”
The Empress gave a long, soft sigh. “A lowly background can be overlooked. As long as the temperament is a harmonious and obedient one, then all is well. But you do not know her origins…”
Noble Consort Hui became even more surprised and suspicious. “What origins?”
The Empress seemed to have a ceaseless headache. Smoothly, she said, “Bengong had just treated this as the Emperor taking another concubine, and did not think that much. Who knew that when Zhao Yitai went to Nanfu to ask for details, it would turn out that née Bai was related to her?”
Noble Consort Hui was stunned. “Niangniang means… Consort Xian!” The more she thought about it, the more she felt that this was wrong. Hatefully, she said, “No wonder! This concubine thought that, as the Emperor did not visit her often, she had settled down. It turns out that not only is she boasting of her own favor, but that she is also arranging for other people. How sinister!”
The Empress dipped her finger into the mint ointment and brought it just under her nose, taking a few sniffs. Only then did she feel much more relaxed and peaceful. “Is it not that she is sinister. It was we who, thinking that we could sit back and relax, were negligent. At the slightest lack of attention, out comes a Second Attendant Mei. If she were a good one, then it would be fine…”
Noble Consort Hui spoke with gritted teeth. “How many good ones could possibly come out of Nanfu? Each and every one of those vixens strives to seduce and flirt with the masters.
“This concubine had just recalled that yesterday, when this concubine felt that their pipa skills were not up to par and opined a sentence casually, there was a daring one who directly replied to this concubine’s words in front of the Emperor. Each and every one of them is so extraordinarily audacious. How could they be any good?”
The Empress sucked in a breath of cold air in surprise. “Daring to do so right to your face. Then indeed this one is not the kind of person who will remain content.”
She worriedly continued, “Bengong needs to attend to the thousand heads and ten-thousand threads [3]千头万绪 (qiān tóu wàn xù) describes things as complicated and confusing. This can also be used to describe the beginning of something with a lot of clues/a situation with many possible avenues of exploration. worth of matters of the Imperial Harem, and unavoidably, there will be somewhere that is lacking. You are a Noble Consort, ranking below only one person and above the rest. If you do not pay some additional close attention for Bengong, and put up your guard, then one day, we sisters will be plotted against without ever knowing!
“Consort Xian has not enjoyed favor recently, but she is only nineteen. The coming days are still long…”
Noble Consort Hui grew somewhat desolate. Her hand that was massaging [the Empress’s] temples unconsciously slowed and loosened. “This concubine is already twenty-five…”
The Empress gently placed her hand atop Noble Consort Hui’s slender white one, and said in a low tone, “You are twenty-five. Bengong is also already twenty-five.”
Her voice became stern, and she spoke solemnly. “So what if [we are] twenty-five? As long as we have long-term vision and properly consider matters from all aspects, if one person’s eyes are not sufficient, then the other will help. [By doing this,] nothing will be done improperly, and there will be no place for those seductresses.
“That day, when Bengong was allocating palaces to reside in, Bengong had specially placed Hailan into your palace. Do you understand why?”
Noble Consort Hui heard the Empress’s calm and steady voice, and her own heart settled down somewhat. She quickly replied, “Back at qiandi, no one other than this concubine, Consort Xian, and Noble Lady Jia could be considered as favored. The Empress placed Hailan in this concubine’s palace in order to prevent her from one day sneakily seducing the Emperor. Empress Niangniang, please do not worry. The Emperor barely even remembers who she is.”
The Empress’s gaze swept over [Noble Consort Hui’s] face, and seeing that she remained confident in her responses, could not help but shake her head. “Though this is one of the reasons, it is not the most crucial reason. Hailan had never been considered favored, so from the Emperor’s point of view, she is someone whom he cannot even recall, but she is also someone who can easily become fresh and novel. You are not wrong that you have to be on guard against her, but it is to guard against Consort Xian and Hailan being too close.”
Noble Consort Hui immediately understood. “Niangniang means that Hailan may also become the second Second Class Attendant Mei.”
The Empress remained calm. “That may not be the case. But in all matters, you must take more care. You should pay attention to the people in your own palace.”
