Chapter 90: Rouge Balm

Chapter 90: Rouge Balm

Talent Lady Yu

Before Shen Huai could speak, the Empress frowned slightly.

She turned her head, her expression quickly softening into a gentle smile, and said, "If Your Majesty is willing to show mercy to Noble Lady Xiang and her child, that would be wonderful. I am also happy for Noble Lady Xiang and the Second Prince, as this is the first child born in the palace in three years."

"However—Your Majesty has already promoted Noble Lady Xiang twice, this time even surpassing the ranks of Talent Lady and Beauty, elevating her to Noble Lady, a rank higher than Beauty Xiao, and bestowing her with a title. If you further grant her the special favor of allowing her to raise the young prince herself, I fear it may lead to gossip and be detrimental to the prince's upbringing."

Noble Consort Mi sneered, "It's been nearly four years since the palace last welcomed a new prince. What harm is there if Your Majesty dotes on him a bit more? The First Prince's health is still compromised, and the Second Prince is the healthiest child in the palace. Noble Lady Xiang has made such a great contribution; if she cannot raise her own child, even with a higher rank, it would still break her heart. Rather than that, why not let Noble Lady Xiang raise the child herself? No matter how attentive others may be, who can compare to a mother's love?"

These last words struck a chord with Shen Huai.

Indeed, no matter how careful others may be, a mother's love is irreplaceable.

Shen Huai looked up and saw Su Jiaojiao's glistening eyes, which warmed his heart even more.

"The Empress makes a valid point, but Noble Consort Mi also speaks the truth. Noble Lady Xiang has made a great contribution and is the mother of the Second Prince. In this world, there is no one more gentle and loving than a mother. I also do not wish to see Nan Xi separated from his mother so soon after birth. Let Noble Lady Xiang raise the child herself. If it truly becomes unsuitable, we can always make changes later."

With the Emperor's decision made, no one else had any objections.

The nanny carried the Second Prince out from the inner room and bowed, "The Second Prince greets His Majesty, the Empress, and all the noble ladies."

Shen Huai's eyes held a hint of a smile as he said, "Come, let me see him."

The nanny brought the child before the Emperor. The tiny bundle in the swaddle was sleeping soundly, eyes closed.

Though wrinkled and not particularly handsome, the child was warm and soft, lying in Shen Huai's arms.

He had few heirs, and this first child in several years brought him particular joy.

It was a pity, though. If Noble Consort Zhen had borne a royal heir, he would have been even more delighted.

The newborn's body was delicate, and Shen Huai, worried about any mishap, handed the child back to the nanny after showing him to the Empress, Noble Consort Mi, Noble Consort Zhen, and Shu Jieyu, instructing her to return the child to Noble Lady Xiang.

Shen Huai then ordered Cai Shan, "Have the Imperial Household Department select a few experienced nannies to ensure Noble Lady Xiang is well taken care of. Once the Second Prince reaches one month old, have her mother come to the palace to accompany her."

Cai Shan bowed and said, "Your servant obeys. Your servant thanks Your Majesty on behalf of Noble Lady Xiang."

With that, Shen Huai said, "Tomorrow is the Lantern Festival. We will celebrate the Second Prince's full moon together with the festival. When he reaches one hundred days, we will hold a proper banquet."

The birthing room was still filled with the scent of blood, so Shen Huai could not enter. He stood up and said calmly, "There are many memorials piling up in the Tai Chi Hall. I will visit Noble Lady Xiang and the Second Prince another day."

Everyone respectfully saw the Emperor off. Only after he left did Su Jiaojiao, with a smile in her eyes, rise with the help of Yu Ying.

The Empress glanced around the room. Besides Noble Consort Mi, Noble Consort Zhen, and Shu Jieyu, there was no one else left who was under her command.

She had once been in high spirits, but she had repeatedly suffered defeats at the hands of Noble Consort Zhen. Underestimating Su Jiaojiao had been her mistake, but it wouldn't be long before she, the Empress, would once again stand at the pinnacle of the harem.

The Empress did not intend to say much. Calmly, she placed her hand on Yu He's wrist and prepared to leave.

Only as she passed by Su Jiaojiao did she say lightly, "Noble Consort Zhen is truly kind-hearted. I had underestimated her. But those who betray once may betray again. Keeping someone with impure intentions by your side, once trouble arises, even the Bodhisattva cannot save you. Noble Consort Zhen is so wise; surely she understands that water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it."

Su Jiaojiao curtsied and smiled, "Your Majesty's teachings are well noted. However, I believe that even cats and dogs have the will to survive in desperate times. Flowers and grass know the principle of repaying a drop of water with a spring. I only seek to act with a clear conscience, so I am not afraid of spilt water being hard to retrieve."

The Empress glanced at her, straightened her back, and walked out of the Painting Bamboo Hall.

She left with a final remark, "Very well, I will wait and see."

After the Empress left, Su Jiaojiao bowed to Noble Consort Mi and said in a low voice, "Thank you, Your Highness, for speaking up for me several times. I am eternally grateful."

After seeing Noble Consort Zhen's true colors and experiencing those events, her relationship with Noble Consort Zhen was no longer the simple alliance it once was.

It was more of a partnership than a faction.

Moreover, after the New Year's banquet, she had already placed her full trust in Su Jiaojiao's intelligence and wit. It was merely a matter of shared interests.

But Su Jiaojiao was so well-mannered, still treating her with the same respect as before, which made her like Su Jiaojiao even more.

Noble Consort Mi was momentarily taken aback, then somewhat awkwardly turned her head away, saying, "I said back then, if you were sincere, I would help you. Saying these things now just makes my scalp tingle."

Su Jiaojiao smiled and said, "Then it must be my mistake."

With the Empress in decline and Noble Consort Wang keeping a low profile, one faction held sway in the palace.

It was a good thing, but also a bad thing.

Moreover, there was a deadly feud between Noble Consort Mi and Noble Consort Wang, and Su Jiaojiao needed to discuss the future situation with her, advising Noble Consort Mi not to act rashly.

She glanced inside the Huizhu Hall and said, "Noble Lady Xiang has just given birth and shouldn't be disturbed. Why don't I invite Your Highness to the Yaoxian Palace for a brief visit and some tea?"

Noble Consort Mi eyed her suspiciously, wondering if she had something to say, then nodded and said, "Since Noble Consort Zhen has invited me, I naturally have no reason to refuse."

The group left Yong'an Palace in a grand entourage, unaware that in Tongxin Hall, Concubine Lian was sitting by the wide-open window, coldly gazing in the direction of the door.

After Noble Lady Xiang gave birth, the palace finally experienced a period of peace.

Shortly after the Lantern Festival, the Empress feigned illness and stopped making appearances, leaving all palace affairs solely in the hands of Noble Consort Mi.

In the past hundred days, the Emperor had favored Noble Consort Zhen the most, followed by Noble Consort Mi and Concubine Lian.

Those who had previously enjoyed some favor, such as Noble Consort Lan, had also spent one or two nights with the Emperor. Notably, Yun Baolin, who had performed a breathtaking dance under the peach blossoms in mid-March, regained favor, and the Emperor would summon her every few days thereafter.

Now, at the end of April, it had been over a month since then.

Yun Baolin had already attended to the Emperor three or four times, and a few days ago, she was promoted to Talent Lady Yu, with the Emperor bestowing upon her the title "Yu," indicating his affection for her.

Although she couldn't rival Noble Consort Zhen's immense favor, she still enjoyed considerable favor.

However, Su Jiaojiao remembered that Talent Lady Yu had originally betrayed Noble Consort Mi to side with Noble Consort Wang. Noble Consort Mi had once beaten her so severely that she was nearly killed. With such a deep grudge, Talent Lady Yu was unlikely to forgive and forget.

She was somewhat curious whether Talent Lady Yu's recent favor was due to Noble Consort Wang's behind-the-scenes machinations or if it was truly Talent Lady Yu's own doing.

At the end of April, during the late spring, the weather was neither too hot nor too cold, ideal for going out.

After three months of peace, with the Empress feigning illness and canceling the morning and evening courtesies, Su Jiaojiao's life had truly become comfortable.

Tomorrow was the hundred-day celebration of the second prince, Shen Nanxi. Spring had not yet ended, and the flowers were still in full bloom.

Noble Consort Mi requested the Emperor's permission to combine the Hundred Flowers Banquet with the second prince's hundred-day celebration. It would save Noble Consort Mi some trouble and reduce palace expenses, and for Noble Lady Xiang, it was an added joy. The Emperor readily agreed.

The Spring Banquet was already an annual event, and Noble Lady Xiang naturally agreed wholeheartedly.

Since the birth of the second prince, Noble Lady Xiang had changed completely, spending all her time with the child, rarely leaving her quarters, and showing no interest in competing for favor. But the Emperor, concerned for the second prince, often visited the child, so Noble Lady Xiang didn't need to compete for favor to see the Emperor and receive rewards.

She had risen in status due to her child, now holding a higher position than Beauty Xiao, which made many envious, all hoping they too could bear the Emperor's child.

If one were as fortunate as Noble Lady Xiang to bear a prince, would there be any concern about not enjoying a life of wealth and honor?

The Ministry of Internal Affairs recently sent some new cosmetics, prioritizing the best for Noble Consort Mi's Jiangyun Palace and Su Jiaojiao's Yaoxian Palace.

Su Jiaojiao lounged lazily on the chaise longue, with the palace servants from the Ministry of Internal Affairs standing respectfully in front of her.

The leading eunuch smiled and said, "Your Highness, please come and see, these are all the finest new tributes from various regions. His Majesty has decreed that the finest items be reserved first for you and Noble Consort Mi. This spring, amidst blooming flowers and fragrant air, the cosmetics crafted are both exquisite and delightful. Only the finest items are worthy of Your Highness's stunning beauty."

Su Jiaojiao smiled gently and remarked, "Eunuch Chen, you always know how to flatter. Naturally, I won't let your efforts go unrewarded. The spring air is dry, Yu Ying, please take Eunuch Chen to the side hall for a cup of tea."

Eunuch Chen acknowledged and instructed his subordinates to carefully place the cosmetics on the table in Yaoxian Palace. Then, after some consideration, he smiled and said, "Your Highness's kindness, this servant is deeply grateful."

"But Your Highness, you might not be aware, earlier when I visited Jiangyun Palace, I was coldly received by Noble Consort Mi. It seems that Talent Lady Yu had bypassed Noble Consort Mi and directly requested His Majesty for a palace relocation. His Majesty, preoccupied with his duties, instructed Talent Lady Yu to consult Noble Consort Mi. As you know, Noble Consort Mi naturally could not agree and even said..."

Su Jiaojiao's smile didn't waver, treating the matter lightly, and she glanced up, "What else did Noble Consort Mi say?"

Eunuch Chen replied, "She also said that His Majesty had given some new tribute cosmetics to Talent Lady Yu and instructed the Ministry of Internal Affairs to be sensible and send last year's stock to her. This has put me in a difficult position."

"The tribute cosmetics from various regions are all top-quality, and there's barely enough to go around, let alone leftovers. Noble Consort Mi is now in charge of the six palaces and enjoys His Majesty's trust, but Talent Lady Yu also has some favor. You tell me, isn't this putting me in a difficult position?"

Su Jiaojiao reached out and casually played with a box of rose-colored rouge, smiling softly, "The palace is never short of difficult situations, but there must always be a balance of priorities, right?"

"Talent Lady Yu wants to relocate her palace, probably because the late Lady Liu died there, and she finds it inauspicious. It's not a big deal. The quality of cosmetics is secondary; Talent Lady Yu is beautiful, so why would she care about the cosmetics? As for you, Eunuch Chen, the duties of the Ministry of Internal Affairs are already challenging. If you offend Talent Lady Yu, it might be manageable, but if you offend Noble Consort Mi, would there be any good days ahead?"