The Job of an Imperial Concubine

Chapter 25: The Emperor and the Empress Dowager (皇帝太后)

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If one were to say what’s different between today and yesterday, it would be that the self-proclaimed sick-for-many-days Ronghua Ye had finally come to pay respects to the empress. The empress’ expression was the same as usual, seemingly unchanged even after the empress dowager had left seclusion. 

Zhuang Laoyan sent a curious gaze at Ronghua Ye. Shurong Ye, who had suffered a miscarriage, did not yet appear. However, her demoted younger sister, Ronghua Ye, actually showed her face. Whom the empress dowager favored the most was unknown to Zhuang Laoyan.

“Shurong Ye has arrived!”

As everyone heard this announcement, they shifted their attention to the person standing by the entrance. Yet because Zhuang Laoyan happened to look at Ronghua Ye instead, she saw that other woman’s expression was somewhat strange. It did not appear happy. In fact, it gave off an impression of ridicule.

When it came to appearance, Ronghua Ye was more beautiful than Shurong Ye. Not to mention, she was more vivacious. If Zhuang Laoyan were a man, she would favor Ronghua Ye more than her sister. Ronghua Ye was considered to be flippant and impudent in the imperial harem. However, she knew her limits. So why did she wear such a strange expression today?

Could she be jealous that her sister’s rank was now higher than her own? But that seemed far-fetched.

Because of her miscarriage, Shurong Ye had not appeared in public for a while. Although it could be said that she had recovered a little if she were able to appear in public today, her complexion seemed more wan and sallow than it had before.

“This concubine greets Her Majesty, the empress.” After Shurong Ye paid respects to the empress in a well-behaved manner, she moved to the side. When her gaze fell upon Ronghua Ye, she quickly averted her eyes.

The empress smiled. “It’s been a while since we last met. Have you recovered?” She turned to He Yu. “Present a seat to Shurong Ye. Place her… next to Ronghua Ye. I think you two sisters have not had a good chat in a long time.”

Zhuang Laoyan directed her gaze at the gentle-faced empress. She truly deserved to be called the empress. She even knew whether the Ye family sisters had met up or not. No wonder all the women who used to be favored never dared to be arrogant in her presence. It was apparent how skilled the empress’ measures were.

“Thanking Your Majesty, the empress, for the concern. This concubine has already recovered.” Shurong Ye’s expression was somewhat stiff. Whether she was thinking about the child she had no fate with or something else was anyone’s guess.

Ronghua Ye glanced indifferently at Shurong Ye, who was sitting next to her. In a slight manner, she leaned her body to the side. With a smile, she said in a soft voice, “After so many days, Elder Sister should in fact have recovered.”

A light smile spread across Shurong Ye’s face. She could not help but forgive Ronghua Ye. “Is Younger Sister blaming Elder Sister for not visiting you those days?”

Once Ronghua Ye had heard those words, she lifted her head. Looked at Shurong Ye. Looked like she wanted to determine if her sister’s words were sincere. Suddenly, she flashed a smile that could put flowers to shame. “We share an intimate sisterly bond. Elder Sister’s health is not good, so how could Younger Sister blame you? Younger Sister has grown up these past few years. How could I still be like those little children, ignorant and not sensible?”

Noble Consort Shu lifted her teacup. Her gaze fell upon the Ye family sisters’ act of sisterly affection. Then she shifted her gaze to the other people in the hall. Most of the imperial concubines sipped their tea, as if they did not notice the two sisters. However, they kept looking at the Ye family sisters from the corner of their eyes. Only the young Chongyi Zhao seemed different, just drinking her tea in a well-behaved manner. It was unclear whether she truly had no interest in those two, or was just putting on an act.

Last year, the Ye family caused some trouble. The empress dowager used the excuse that she was praying in seclusion to not deal with the matters of the imperial harem for one year. And the emperor only lightly punished the Ye family. Then during the start of this month, the Ye family did two things that could be praised by others, and the empress dowager finally left seclusion.  It was unclear if it was a coincidence or something else entirely.

It was also unclear what the always kind and virtuous empress thought. Noble Consort Shu lifted her teacup once more and covered her smile. Blew at the tea leaves floating at the surface. It was just watching several plays. She definitely wouldn’t believe that the emperor would only want this Ye family to grow in importance.

“Since we have all gathered, come with this palace to pay respects to the empress dowager.” Using He Yu’s hand as support, the empress rose to her feet steadily. She swept her gaze through the crowd, and was the first to leave the hall.

Zhuang Laoyan followed the other women to her sedan, to travel to the empress dowager’s Kang’an Palace. The empress’ sedan was carried by twelve strong eunuchs. It appeared extremely dignified. The high-ranking consorts had eight strong eunuchs carrying their sedans. Those imperial concubines of the third rank and above only had four. Those of the fifth rank and above had two. The rest walked. It was apparent that there were many differences between the ranks of imperial concubines.

Kang’an Palace was in southeast direction. It was far away from the emperor’s Qianzheng Palace. From the interaction between the emperor and the empress dowager last night, Zhuang Laoyan could not discern much affection between them. However, judging by Emperor Chengxuan’s behavior, perhaps he would not allow the empress dowager to put a hand in the court and the imperial harem.

“Stop!”

After the eunuch’s shout, the sedans slowly landed on the ground. Zhuang Laoyan placed her hand on Tingzhu’s for support. She rose to her feet, and took a look at Kang’an Palace, the residence of every empress dowager in the past. It indeed gave off a more noble and dignified impression than those of the imperial concubines. 

As they entered Kang’an Palace, Zhuang Laoyan did not yet see clearly the empress dowager’s appearance. She followed the other women in performing the full ceremony of paying respects. Because the empress dowager had relieved them of doing so for so long, the imperial concubines not only knelt but bowed several times. 

“Hurry and rise. This grieving one does not find these conventional courtesies important,” said the empress dowager with a smile. Then she told the higher-ranked imperial concubines to sit. Whoever saw the expression on her face would undoubtedly praise it as kind. However, for a woman in her forties to reveal such an expression seemed uneasy and fake in Zhuang Laoyan’s opinion.

Although her position could not be considered low, she did not have the privilege to be in the front. While she had the honor of sitting, she sat farther away.

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The empress dowager took in the beautiful women in the hall. She patted the empress’ hand and said, “It’s been a while since I have managed the harem. There has in fact been a few more beauties added.”

The empress looked at Zhuang Laoyan and two other lower-ranked imperial concubines that had entered the palace this year. In a courteous manner, she said, “His Majesty is working hard, diligent in attending to state affairs. Daughter-in-law should naturally arrange for more people into the harem.”

The empress dowager grunted in acknowledgement. “You are virtuous and kind. This grieving one has heard that a cousin of yours has entered the palace. This grieving one has yet to see her. Give this grieving one a look.”

The first half of her words praised the empress as being virtuous and kind. The second half reminded her that she had arranged for her own cousin to enter the palace. Was the empress dowager praising the empress or making things difficult for her? Zhuang Laoyan saw a charming and pretty young woman in a pink blouse and tight-waisted wrap-around skirt step forward. She appeared to be seventeen or eighteen years old. If one looked at her alone, she would appear beautiful. But among all these beauties in the harem, she seemed ordinary. No wonder ever since she had entered the palace, she was still only a huiji¹.

Huiji Sun paid respects to the empress dowager once more. The empress dowager then bestowed her a bracelet, face neutral. After that, she no longer held interest for Huiji Sun.

“The emperor originally has few children. Now that Shurong Ye has miscarried, this grieving one is heartbroken.” The empress dowager turned to the empress. “Empress, you and the emperor have been married for many years. You should talk to him about this more.” 

Yet the empress respectfully agreed. When Zhuang Laoyan saw this, she felt that the job of an empress was difficult. Not only did she have to help her husband manage his concubines, she also had to arrange for the concubines to have kids. Now that the concubines gave birth to too few children, the mother-in-law wittingly or unwittingly lectured her. Whether there were few or many children was all up to Emperor Chengxuan. What good would the empress advising the emperor do?

“Daughter-in-law is useless.” The empress did not respond to the empress dowager’s request, and only asked for punishment.

The empress dowager nodded understandingly. “You’ve been managing the matters of the harem all day and must be busy. This grieving one also knows that you are virtuous and kind. However, the matters of the harem are never-ending. The most important thing is to show more concern for the emperor.”

The empress quickly agreed. Yet she never mentioned the matters of the imperial harem, as if she could not tell the hidden meaning of the empress dowager’s words.

Zhuang Laoyan watched this show, sighing with emotion in her heart. Those two were indeed worthy of being the empress and empress dowager. Such words were so pleasant and beautiful to the ear, yet which of them weren’t hiding needles within?

“His Majesty, the emperor, has arrived!”

Oh good, the emperor was here. Perhaps this show would become even more lively. Zhuang Laoyan stood. Watched as Emperor Chengxuan walked through the doors. Everyone curtsied.  

“It is quite lively at Imperial Mother’s residence today.” After Feng Jin paid respects to the empress dowager, he sat by the seat to her left. He looked at the variety of beauties in the hall. Then his gaze swept through the Ye family sisters. He turned to the empress dowager. “The weather is sweltering. Imperial Mother should take care.”

“This grieving one is healthy.” She smiled. “That the emperor cares for this grieving one brings this grieving on joy.”

“As long as Imperial Mother is of good health, Son-Official will be at ease.” Feng Jin lifted a teacup from a gold-threaded nanmu²small table³ with flowers engraved into it. After a small sip, he said, “If Imperial Mother feels lonely, have Shurong Ye and Ronghua Ye accompany you more often.”

The empress dowager nodded and smiled. Still, she said doubtfully, “What wrong did Wanmei commit to have actually been demoted to a ronghua?”

The emperor set down the teacup in a neither a light nor heavy manner. “Imperial Mother has stayed in seclusion in prayer, and naturally is not clear about the matters in the imperial harem. Your son has many memorials to look through still. Once Imperial Mother asks Shurong Ye, the circumstances will become clear.” Then he rose to his feet, performed the ceremony, and left.

Zhuang Laoyan glanced at the somewhat stiff smile on the empress dowager’s face. She lowered her head, making sure no one saw her do so. Did the emperor come here to pay respects to the empress dowager, or to warn her? It truly was… hard to tell.

After the emperor had come to say a few words, the empress dowager was no longer in the mood to act like a mother-in-law who was close to her daughter-in-law. Shortly after, she dismissed everyone. Even the Ye family sisters did not stay.

On the surface, the emperor told the empress dowager to have the Ye family sisters accompany her when she was lonely. In reality, he was telling the empress dowager that he knew she was also part of the Ye family. That whatever she did, she had to think of the Ye family. Although the emperor’s actions made others think he was heartless, it was effective. 

If the emperor was useless, the empress dowager would not need to worry. But if the emperor was strong, the empress dowager still would not need to worry, since she would not have the chance to do anything. It would be a different kind of show.

Zhuang Laoyan sat on her sedan. In front was someone she had never interacted with before, Zhaorong Xu. She seemed as delicate as a swaying willow. Just a breeze and she would be blown away. Her appearance greatly resembled that of a daughter of a scholarly family.

She lifted her head and looked at the blinding sun. This imperial harem truly had many skilled masters. Without so many schemes and measures, one would not be able to survive.

After sighing with emotion, she watched as Zhaorong Xu, in a gentle and demure manner, wiped the sweat on her face. Her action made even Zhuang Laoyan find her lovable.

Translator’s notes:

LOL. Feng Jin’s backing up the empress in front of his mother because she’s his shield against the empress dowager. The empress dowager wants to regain control of the harem after hiding in seclusion for a year…

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