Chapter 27: Heavy with Jealousy

Chapter 27: Heavy with Jealousy

After the Emperor's order was passed, especially seeing the Third Prince, Zhang He, being carried out by Qu Gu and returned to Fengyi Palace, none of the concubines and princesses at the gates of Fuhua Palace dared to linger any longer, dispersing like birds and beasts.

In Fengyi Palace, Empress Liu, seeing her returned son and hearing Qu Gu's message, had her face flush with alternating shades of red and white, as if a paint shop had exploded. She replied in a muffled voice, "I understand. I will take good care of the Third Prince and will later send a memorial to His Majesty to apologize."

Fuhua Palace is a residence for the imperial concubines.

Even with the Emperor in Fuhua Palace, as the Empress, she couldn't personally go there to apologize, given the implications for her dignity and status. This was entirely different from her usual visits to Lady Zhu in Fuhua Palace.

——

In Qingyang Palace, Consort Chu, lounging with a Persian cat on the windowsill, listened to the chief eunuch's report, then turned to Li Fei, who was practicing dance in the middle of the room, "Sister, see, you did the right thing by not going. Moreover, being a mother isn't much better. Why bother wanting children?"

"I hope to have someone to rely on in the future."

Li Fei ceased her dance moves, her cold and stunning face showing a rare hint of melancholy. Everyone else could bear children, even Lady Zhu after giving birth to the Fourth Prince; her health worsened, making further pregnancies difficult. Yet, she had been told by the Imperial Physician that her frail constitution and cold womb made it hard for her to conceive.

In the Dayu Palace, apart from the Empress, no other concubine had the right to raise someone else's child. For this reason, having no children in over two years since entering the palace, Princess Chongyang sent her sister to the palace, "If you can gain His Majesty's favor and bear a child, our sisterhood will have support for life."

Lady Chu laughed, waving her hand to dismiss Ru Jiang, then turned around, leaning against the windowsill. The afterglow of the sunset fell on her hair, turning it golden. In her slightly frivolous and disdainful fox-like eyes, there was an unmistakable ambition, "That's not what I want."

"Don't be reckless, this is the palace, not Princess Chongyang's residence," Lady Chu Li reminded urgently.

"Where there are people, there is competition. What's there to fear, sister?"

"The palace is different."

"I don't see what's different."

Lady Chu casually responded, feeling her sister had become overly cautious over the past two years in the palace, "In Princess Chongyang's residence, we fought to win her favor for various honors and opportunities. It's the same here. Only by catching the Emperor's eye can one gain favor and status."

Changing the subject, she added, "The children sister so desperately wants are just icing on the cake. Lady Li and Lady Yi both had princesses and remain mere Cairen. Sister is still a first-rank consort without children. It's the mother that makes the child significant, not the other way around. Just look, the Empress favors the Fourth Prince much more than the Third. Instead of longing for children, it's better to think about how to capture the Emperor's heart."

Lady Chu Li and her sister, both from Princess Chongyang's residence, understood this principle. But the beauties in the harem are never-ending, always younger and more beautiful. The Emperor is not known for his lasting affections, and besides...

"I've never understood the Emperor," she hesitated, then confessed to her sister.

"Did sister maintain her favor for two years just with her beauty?"

Hearing these words from her sister, Lady Chu Li felt a sharp sting in her heart. Her sister had always been resentful, upset about their vastly different appearances despite being from the same mother. "This face of mine is not something anyone can just wish for," Lady Chu Li said coldly, turning her head away.

"Sister got the better deal, and now I can't even make a comment?" Lady Chu, not really wanting to anger her sister, softened her tone, "Alright, I won't say it anymore." But inwardly, she lamented that if she had her sister's beauty and the same two years, Zhuyan would not have been a concern.

Having only seen Zhuyan once at the previous banquet, she could tell that Zhuyan was stubborn, her waist never bending. Men might find it novel at first, but over time, they would not tolerate it. However, Zhuyan's beauty filled her with intense jealousy.

Truth be told, she had always envied any woman more beautiful than her.

Given the chance, she would prefer to see them disfigured, their screams of agony were music to her ears.

"Remember, this is the palace; you must not act recklessly," Li Fei warned her sister.

Consort Chu, relaxed and smiling, replied, "I know, I know. I plan before acting. I'm not impulsive." She stood out from the many beauties in Princess Chongyang's household not just because of her sister, but also due to her intelligence, winning the Princess’s favor. With so many people in the palace, there was no need for her to act directly.

——

In Minghua Palace, Su Wanzheng heard the news and muttered, "A bunch of useless people."

She never paid attention to these women in her past life, and even less so now. Currently, aside from ensuring her pregnancy’s health, she focused on two variables: Lady Zhu and the Li Fei sisters. Neither had been present in her previous life.

——

The area in front of Fuhua Palace's gates was now quiet.

Zhu Yan thought the Emperor's methods were harsh, but she had to admit they were effective. Since then, even with the Emperor staying in Fuhua Palace, no one came to visit, and even the Empress’s apology memorials were delivered through Chief Steward Zhang.

The first day of each month is when the imperial concubines visit Fengyi Palace to pay respects to the Empress.

Zhu Yan was mentally preparing for a tough battle.

Surprisingly, as she was getting ready to leave early in the morning, Xing En was sent by the Emperor to stop her, saying that Chief Steward Zhang had already informed the Empress the night before that her visit was excused for the day.

Zhu Yan...

Felt the urge to curse.

The Emperor's ruthless methods, entertaining when applied to others, felt suffocating when used on herself.

Would it have killed him to tell her in advance?

He had to wait until she was about to leave to inform her.

She was so angry that she didn't speak to him for the entire day.

The Emperor, however, seemed to enjoy himself. Late at night, he summoned musicians and dancers from the Music Bureau to perform, critiquing and mocking as he watched, "Not as pretty as Li Niang, nor can they dance as well as her."

The head of the Music Bureau, Yue Kuan, stood beside him, sweating bullets, not daring to respond.

After Zhu Yan and the others left, he ventured, "If Your Majesty wishes to see Li Fei dance, you could visit her directly at Qingyang Palace instead of staying here."

The Emperor, annoyed that Zhu Yan hadn’t spoken to him all day, spoke harshly. Realizing he might have said the wrong thing, yet believing he was stating facts, thought her jealousy was too intense. He resolved to avoid mentioning it next time, yawning and excusing himself to retire to Mingyue Pavilion.

He never summoned the Music Bureau performers to the palace again.

Only after the splint was removed did the Emperor step out of Fuhua Palace.

The first thing he did upon leaving was to issue an imperial decree to Yunlin Pavilion in Nanshan Garden, ordering the execution of Wei Shuren.

Author's Note:

Today's update~~ Good night~~