Chapter 27: Reluctant to Come and Pay Respects

Chapter 27 Unwilling to Come Pay Respects

When the Imperial Household Department delivered the lychees, Fang Yu was a bit surprised because she was not short of fresh fruits. The servant from the Imperial Household Department said it was a reward from the Emperor, so she accepted it with a smile.

The lychees delivered were large and round, and Fang Yu liked eating them very much. However, lychees tend to cause heatiness, so she wouldn’t eat too many at once.

"Mistress, these lychees are truly delicious. I never thought I would get to taste lychees rewarded by the Emperor. Mistress treats me so well." After eating a dozen lychees, Xiao Fangzi quickly wiped his sticky hands on his clothes and said flatteringly.

Pan Liu laughed beside him, "It’s only because we serve you, Mistress, otherwise you probably wouldn’t have gotten to eat lychees in this lifetime."

"Exactly! The Mistress is kind and generous. Being able to serve the Mistress is a blessing from multiple lifetimes for me."

Xiao Fangzi meant these words sincerely. His Mistress never took her anger out on servants and would reward them with delicious treats. In the short time he had been serving her, he had noticeably gained weight, all because he ate well.

"I feel the same," Hong Ye added.

Fang Yu smiled and said, "Alright, I’ve heard these words so many times I have calluses on my ears. As long as you all do your duties honestly and remain loyal, I will not treat you poorly."

The three of them knelt down and said in unison, "We would never betray the Mistress and will serve the Mistress wholeheartedly."

So far, Xiao Fangzi and Hong Ye had shown no unusual behavior. They worked honestly and diligently without any mistakes. Fang Yu was satisfied with both of them, but only time would tell their true hearts.

That evening, the Emperor went to Kun Ning Palace, and the Empress attended to him for the night.

...

There were only a few days left until the Mid-Autumn Festival. The Imperial Household Department distributed festival provisions to each palace and each mistress. Fang Yu received both specially made mooncakes from the imperial kitchen and tribute mooncakes, as well as fresh fruits like citrus fruits and grapes. She also received two bolts of Yun brocade and two bolts of Song brocade, both fabrics tributed from the Jiangnan Textile Bureau.

Xiao Fangzi inquired around and reported to her that some less favored ladies only received a few mooncakes, while the festival provisions she received were much more generous.

Fang Yu asked what Attendant Nala had received, and Xiao Fangzi hesitantly said she only got mooncakes.

Although Yingshan had been chosen by the Emperor once, the servants in the palace saw clearly that one night of service didn’t mean much. Especially since Yingshan, like her, came from an unremarkable family background. Fang Yu was now a Noble Lady, while Yingshan was still an Attendant. The servants of the Imperial Household Department would certainly not go out of their way to please Yingshan and only distributed festival provisions according to her rank.

"Xiao Fangzi, take these two bolts of Yun brocade to Attendant Nala. Say that the weather is turning cold and these fabrics can be used to make autumn clothes. Make sure it's noticeable; it’s best if people in Yanxi Palace see it."

Not long after, when Xiao Fangzi returned, Nala Yingshan and her personal maid, Fang Qiao, followed him over.

"You must think the festival provisions I received are too few and pity me, which is why you sent me Yun brocade. I’m just an Attendant; how could I use such fine fabric?"

Fang Yu denied it, "Sister, you’re overthinking it. I just thought that autumn clothes made from those two bolts of Yun brocade would suit you very well. It would be a waste on me, so I wanted to give them to you."

Nala Yingshan said helplessly, "I’m not favored, yet I have to trouble you to supplement me. As your elder sister, I feel embarrassed, but I’ll accept the Yun brocade. I won’t stand on ceremony with you."

Fang Yu linked arms with Yingshan and said with a smile, "I was afraid you would be too polite with me. I’m glad you accepted. Actually, I just wanted those servants to know that you have me, so they won’t dare to bully you."

The two sat down to chat. Fang Yu peeled lychees for her to eat as they talked about what festival provisions each palace and each mistress had received.

Actually, the Imperial Household Department hadn’t gone too far. At the very least, they ensured every mistress received mooncakes. After all, even the least favored mistress wouldn’t starve in the palace.

On the fifteenth day of the eighth month, the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival, it was also the day to pay respects to the Empress. Early in the morning, Fang Yu was roused from bed by Pan Liu. After washing up and dressing, she headed to Kun Ning Palace.

Fang Yu arrived not too early nor too late. Several mistresses had already arrived in the main hall of Kun Ning Palace. Their seats were not close to each other, so they exchanged nods as a greeting.

People arrived at Kun Ning Palace one after another. Fang Yu hadn’t eaten breakfast yet. While waiting for everyone to arrive, she took a crystal osmanthus cake and nibbled on it, finishing one quickly.

When the Empress arrived, everyone stood up to pay their respects.

"Rise," the Empress said before glancing at the first seat below. "Why didn’t Consort Tong come today?"

They looked around, but no one knew why Consort Tong hadn’t come. However, shortly after the Empress finished speaking, a servant came in to announce that Eunuch Hai, the eunuch serving Consort Tong, requested an audience.

"Let him in."

Eunuch Hai entered, bowed, and paid his respects. "Greetings to the Empress. Greetings to all the mistresses."

The Empress said gently, "Where is your mistress?"

"Replying to the Empress, Consort Tong was taken ill this morning and fears she cannot come to pay respects to the Empress."

The Empress put on a concerned expression and asked calmly, "Has a court physician been summoned? What did the physician say is wrong with Consort Tong?"

"Consort Tong first sent me to Kun Ning Palace to ask for leave on her behalf. The court physician is still on the way."

"I understand. Since Consort Tong is unwell, she is excused from paying respects. Let your mistress rest well. She probably won’t be able to attend the Mid-Autumn palace banquet tonight either. If there is time, I will visit Consort Tong later. You may withdraw."

Eunuch Hai bowed and withdrew.

The Empress quickly turned her gaze to them and said with a faint smile, "Today is Mid-Autumn Festival, and there will be a palace banquet tonight. If you sisters have nothing else, you may kneel and take your leave."

For a moment, everyone withdrew.

The Empress also returned to the eastern warm chamber of Kun Ning Palace. She sat down on the heated kang, her expression darkening.

"Mistress, Consort Tong was fine a few days ago. How did she suddenly become unwell today?" After handing her a cup of tea, Nanny Gui couldn’t help but say.

The Empress snorted coldly, "She’s not unwell. She just didn’t want to come pay respects to me."

"Don’t be angry, Mistress. Since she can’t attend the palace banquet tonight, she must be fuming in Chengqian Palace. Would Mistress like to have a meal served?"

Tongjiashi entered the palace and was quickly appointed Noble Consort by the Emperor. As the Emperor’s cousin, she relied on her family background and the Emperor’s favor. Several times, she had shown disrespect to the Empress, just like today when she deliberately skipped paying respects. Yet, there was nothing the Empress could do about it.

"Bring the medicine first. I want to drink it."

Nanny Gui immediately signaled the palace maid Linglong to bring the prepared decoction.

The Empress rarely showed a trace of sorrow. "Nanny, I have been drinking decoction for several months. Why is there still no good news?"

"Don’t worry, Mistress. Look, the harem hasn’t had any good news for almost a year. Noble Lady De is so favored, yet there’s no sign of pregnancy either. Mistress just needs to wait a little longer."

The Empress thought of the favored Lady Wuyashi. The Emperor truly cared deeply for Lady Wuyashi, showing her the most favor and many rewards. She was quickly promoted from Attendant to Noble Lady. If Lady Wuyashi continued to be favored, she would inevitably have good news sooner or later. The Empress had heard the Emperor had begun promoting the Wuya Clan. She wondered what fortune Lady Wuyashi had to make the Emperor so partial to her.

The warm decoction was brought over. The Empress smelled the bitter medicine and couldn’t help but frown, but she drank it without hesitation. As long as she could bear a son, a rightful heir, she would willingly drink any amount of decoction.