Chapter 13
Noble Consort Xie’s bedchamber was in the northeast corner of Taiji Palace, very far away from the other concubines.
Ordinarily, very few people who come to Cuifang Palace, but today the hall was brightly lit, and a row of attendants in front of the steps were waiting beside a gorgeous gold-topped soft-curtain sedan.
Yaoying dismounted from her horse and asked the palace eunuch who greeted her, “Whose sedan?”
The eunuch bowed and replied, “It’s Concubine Rong’s sedan.”
Yaoying’s face sank: “Who let Consort Rong into the palace hall?”
Concubine Rong was originally a maid of the Xie family. These years, she had been most favored, so Li De conferred her the title of Concubine Rong.
The other concubines in the palace were daughter of noble families and looked down on Concubine Rong.
Concubine Rong was also self-conscious about her origins as a maid. Whenever she could, she would seize the opportunity to embarrass Noble Consort Xie in public, using the strategy of humiliating her former master to show off her power.
Yaoying naturally will not sit back and watch Concubine Rong bully her mother.
Concubine Rong had eaten a few losses from her, and no longer dared to be reckless.
Yaoying quickened her pace.
Noble Consort Xie could not be stimulated. If she weren’t by her side, who knows what Concubine Rong will say to Noble Consort Xie?
The eunuch made apologies: “In the afternoon, Noble Consort woke up, saying she wanted to go to the garden to see the peony flowers but didn’t expect Concubine Rong to be there. Noble Consort had forgotten what happened in the past, drawing Concubine Rong to chat. The servants were anxious when they saw that, but fearing they would frighten Noble Consort, did not dare utter a word. Later, Concubine Rong sent Noble Consort back and has stayed until now……”
”Your Highness, rest assured. Ah Wei has been watching from the side, Her Ladyship Concubine Rong did not dare to talk nonsense.”
The eunuch had gone in to inform so Concubine Rong knew that Yaoying had returned. She didn’t want to appear fearful, but she didn’t dare to stay longer either. She excused herself and took her leave.
Seeing Yaoying walking directly her way, she stopped in her tracks and smiled.
”I heard that Princess went to Daci’en Temple to seek treatment for Noble Consort? Princess really has a sincere and filial heart.”
She said with a sigh.
”Noble Consort is pitiful, ah…. just now, Noble Consort asked bengong why the Grand Duke did not come to see her. Bengong did not dare to tell Noble Consort, the Grand Duke has been dead for eleven years…..”
Yaoying mouth slightly curved, interrupting with a smile Concubine Rong’s hypocritical show of condolences: “I, this person, am not only filial, but also small-minded, loving to remember revenge. What I can not stand most is others bullying my aniang.”
This sentence was meaningful.
The tone of voice was soft, but full of ice-cold warning intention.
Concubine Rong changed her face: “It was Noble Consort who dragged bengong to…..”
Yaoying smiled, her vermilion lips in the flickering illuminating lights shone with a rich luster. Within the hazy, watery halo of light, the delicate face seemed to glow with a clear and cold light; like the Yushu jasper flower1 had blossomed, opening to their fullest. There was a kind of bright and magnificence that people dared not stare straight at.
In that split second, the momentum of Concubine Rong became somewhat timid, shifting her line of sight.
Noble Consort Xie grabbed her she could have thrown her off. But she didn’t.
The formerly high and mighty master had become a fool. How could she be willing to let this opportunity to see a good show slip away?
She liked taunting Noble Consort Xie. Seeing how Noble Consort looked like now, she felt pleased at heart.
Yaoying said: “Since Concubine Rong knows that I am the most filial, she should also know what to do and what not to do.”
Concubine Rong’s face turned embarrassed, leaving the inner palace halls.
Sitting in the sedan carriage, the more she thought about it, the angrier she became, coldly snorting.
”Let’s see how long you can be so proud! Who doesn’t know that Empress Tang was forced to die by the Xie family? The Crown Prince has all this noted in his heart! Wait until the Crown Prince is firmly seated as the heir to the throne. All three of you, mother and child, will not have a good death!”
The nearest palace maid’s shoulders trembled, not daring to say a word.
……
Li Zhongqian was a junwang who had reached adulthood. He deliberately avoiding Concubine Rong, waiting until Concubine Rong’s sedan carriage had gone far away before entering Cuifang Palace.
People were kneeling on the ground in front of the corridor.
Li Zhongqian frowned slightly and went into the inner room.
Li Yaoying supported Noble Consort Xie out, “Aniang, elder brother is back.”
Noble Consort Xie looked confused. Staring at Li Zhongqian for a moment, she said doubtfully, “He is not elder brother…..”
Yaoying patiently said, “Aniang, it’s second brother Hu Nu who has returned.”
Hu Nu was Li Zhongqian’s childhood name.
Li Zhongqian walked forward and bowed towards Guifei Xie: “Aniang, your son is back.”
Guifei Xie looked at him foolishly, then puzzledly murmured, “Where is elder brother? You are not my elder brother. Why didn’t elder brother come to see me? Is he angry with me?”
”Elder brother, I was wrong….” She weeped heavily, “I won’t marry anymore, I’ll listen to you. Don’t be angry with me….. “
Yaoying sighed and gestured for the palace maid to come over and help Noble Consort Xie to rest in the inner room.
Li Zhongqian stood up, looking at the retreating back of Noble Consort Xie with little expression on his face.
He was sent to Xie Wuliang’s side as a child to be brought up. He had stayed there until he was nine years old, among the Xie family full of bravery.
Li De took him back to the Li family when Noble Consort Xie, stimulated by the death of her brother, had already become insane and foolish, unable to recognize him.
He and Yaoying depended on each other to survive. He and Noble Consort Xie, could not be considered close.
Yaoying said softly, “Elder brother, aniang has been like this a lot lately. There were times where she didn’t even recognize me.”
Li Zhongqian gave a faint ‘en’ and looked down at Yaoying: “When I was not in the capital, did Concubine Rong bully you?”
She was amiable and seldom hated a person so much.
Yaoying said, “Concubine Rong’s heart is not upright.”
In the novel, the person who forced Noble Consort Xie to kill herself was none other than Concubine Rong. While Noble Consort Xie was still alive, everyone knew that she was once the Xie family’s servant. She wanted to conceal her origins, but also wanted to please the Eastern Palace. Every day, she provoked Noble Consort Xie with words, and finally forced Noble Consort Xie to die.
Li Zhongqian said, “I’ll go kill her.”
Yaoying was startled and shook her head, “Elder brother, don’t be impulsive. I’ve already sent someone to investigate her, wait until the evidence is gathered.”
After all, Concubine Rong was Li De’s favorite concubine, so she couldn’t be killed just like that.
Li Zhongqian was noncommittal.
Yaoying was afraid that he would really go to cut down Concubine Rong, mentioning to him about Mundatipa: “Tomorrow the Venerable Master will come to feel aniang’s pulse.”
Li Zhongqian nodded, lifting Yaoying’s chin with his fingers.
During the day, her complexion was fine, and she nimbly got on and off the horse but she had lost some weight.
At night, under the light of the lanterns, her cheeks were as white as snow, very much in an unbearable state.
He said, “Since that Venerable is highly skilled in medicine, let him also check your pulse. Have you been taking your medicine on time these days?”
Yaoying nodded her head, looking very proud: “My body is much better this year. I can run and jump so don’t worry, elder brother.”
Li Zhongqian did not continue to question her.
A year ago, Yaoying abruptly vomited blood for no cause or reason. She made the servant girls keep him in the dark, not allowing them to tell him.
By the time he found out, she had already passed out and had lost consciousness.
Li Zhongqian kept watch for her, watching her being tormented, hovering between life and death, feeling like his heart was being cut out.
Three days later, she awakened. When she saw him, her haggard little face was immediately filled with a cheerful smile: “Elder brother is still alive!”
At that moment, Li Zhongqian almost shed tears.
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Buy me a kofi for faster releases.
I’m slightly confused, do concubines also get to be called Her Majesty? Do concubines even have an address?
Unrelated news but I got my first acceptance today!! It’s one of my safety schools but still! I’m going to college wow?!?!
1 琼花玉树 (Yushu jasper flower): This a forest in the alpine region above Xixiang Chi, a well-known Buddhist temple. The metaphor is used to describe things that are white, crystal clear, seeming like they’re carved out of jade. Yet another poetic way to say beautiful. This metaphor took me an especially long time to figure out so I decided to share my research findings instead of directly translating like I usually do.