The Job of an Imperial Concubine

Chapter 67: Women Are Like Flowers

Men always liked the new and hated the old, whereas women always cherished the past. As such, when these two types of creatures were together, their lives in reality resembled family dramas rather than fairytales.

Zhuang Laoyan personally attached a jade medallion to the emperor’s belt, maintaining a half-squatting position as she looked up at him.

“We know that you have not been in good health recently. So you should be even more careful.” Feng Jin reached out and supported Zhuang Laoyan to her feet. Stroked her loose and fine black hair that draped over her shoulders. “A few days ago, We already had the Department of the Palace tidy up the lotus pond. This year’s lotuses should be as quiet and exquisite as before.”

All of a sudden, Zhuang Laoyan widened her eyes. “Your Majesty!” Then she averted her gaze at once. “This concubine always gives Your Majesty trouble.”

“Why does Beloved Concubine think this? In Our heart, how could you be troublesome?” Feng Jin pulled her into an embrace. “You are Our beloved person. You shouldn’t say such things anymore. There are many women in the imperial harem. You have a pure and virtuous heart, so it’s hard to avoid others’ envy. We trust your temperament, therefore you shouldn’t be too worried.”

He released the woman he was embracing from his arms, reached out to wipe the tears at the corners of her eyes. Feng Jin smiled. “It’s getting late. We ought to leave for morning court. Go rest some more.”

“Respectfully sending off Your Majesty.” Zhuang Laoyan leaned against the side of the door, gazing at the emperor’s back figure, broken-hearted that he had to leave.

Feng Jin looked back. Caught sight of Zhuang Laoyan still gazing at his back figure in such a way that spoke of reluctance for his departure. The corners of his lips curved upward. Then he turned his head back around and left Xihe Palace.

January fifteenth. The day of the Lantern Festival. This was the first lively holiday of the new year. Every master of a palace would have their servants make a beautiful lantern for them. Come night, they would light those lanterns and hang them on a tree to pray for blessings.

The imperial concubines racked their brains on how to make their lanterns beautiful, in hope of obtaining the emperor’s attention. For the emperor would choose the most prepossessing lantern on the night of the Lantern Festival. And he would reward the owner of it.

Within the imperial gardens were the perfumed clothes and gorgeous hairstyles of the imperial concubines. They brought their personal attendants, smiles gracing each of their lips. Like paradise on earth.  

The emperor and empress walked to the center of the garden together. They gazed at the lanterns hanging from all around, judging each of them.

“The lanterns of this year are even more beautiful than those of the last.” The empress pointed at a delicate lantern in the shape of an immortal child holding a peach of immortality. “This lantern seems true to life. Who made this?”

An eunuch standing in attendance at the side of the lantern approached it and checked the name plate. Then he approached the empress. “Reporting to Your Majesty the empress, this lantern was made by Xiuyi Su.”

“Xiuyi Su was actually attentive.” The empress’ smile weakened a shade. “Reward her.”

Feng Jin looked at that lantern. He did not express an opinion. Then he took in the surroundings. All of a sudden, he pointed at a certain plump lantern. “Take down that lantern and let Us have a look.”

The little eunuch rushed forward to take down that lantern. Once Feng Jin received it and took a look at it, he neither seemed happy nor angry.

That lantern was in the shape of a piglet. However, it was not as ugly as the ones peasant families raised. Rather, it was plump and adorable. There were even two lines of poetry on its belly. The handwriting was decent, though the poem itself was a bit inappropriate.

“This pig only exists in the Heavens; not many knew of it in the mortal realm.” Feng Jin coughed with a smile. Looked at the name plate hanging underneath it. “Xianrong Zhao, how could such a good poem be ruined like this by your hands?”

Among the crowd of imperial concubines, Zhuang Laoyan had watched as the emperor removed her lantern from the rest, the corners of her lips twitching. Under everyone’s strange and mocking gaze, she saluted to the emperor. “Responding to Your Majesty, this concubine believes this pig is adorable. Other pigs cannot compare to it. As such, this concubine thinks only this poem can match this pig.”

“So it turns out ordinary poems cannot match this pig lantern.” Feng Jin lifted this lantern for another look. “It can be considered a novel idea. Gao Dezhong, store this lantern away so that it would not frighten others.” 

The empress glanced at a lantern in the shape of a chimera, then looked at the retreating back of Gao Dezhong. Wasn’t he headed toward Qianzheng Palace? 

“Xianrong Zhao’s lantern is indeed special.” Xiuyi Su shifted her gaze at Zhuang Laoyan, a fake smile to her lips. Before Zhuang Laoyan could respond, she walked to the rear of Noble Consort Shu in quick strides.

Zhuang Laoyan sighed in her heart. Other people who had transmigrated used their comic-drawing skills, awing others by drawing adorable things. So why was it that when it was her turn, things would turn out so miserable?

 Sure enough, reality and transmigration novels were different. The ancient people and modern people had different tastes in aesthetics.

“Who made this lantern that’s in the shape of a beauty holding a lantern? It follows the theme of happiness during the Lantern Festival extremely well,” said Feng Jin, pointing to it. In a flash, a servant took it down.

“Waiting, she finds her silk stockings soaked with dew drops, glistening on the marble palace steps. Finally, she moves to let the crystal-woven curtain fall, when she casts one more glance at the glamorous autumn moon,” said Feng Jin, reading the poem on the lantern aloud. He turned his gaze to the imperial concubines behind him. He did not say much, and merely had an eunuch by the side store it away.

Noble Consort Shu looked at that lantern in the shape of a beauty. Glanced behind her. Her expression carried a trace of contempt.

“This poem is truly sorrowful.” Xiuyi Su snickered. But in the end, she had not dared to speak too loudly.

Nevertheless, the empress seemed to have heard her words. She turned her head and looked in the direction of Noble Consort Shu. Noble Consort Shu looked up and met gazes with the empress. She did not have the intention to look away at all.

In no time at all, they averted their gazes. But Zhuang Laoyan, who had just caught this sight, sighed with sorrow. The two people only needed to use a gaze to fight a war.

The next day, everyone in the imperial harem asked about the newest news from Qianzheng Palace. The emperor had flipped Zhaorong Xu’s nametag last night.

Once Zhuang Laoyan had heard this news, she couldn’t help but raise her brows. Was Zhaorong Xu favored again, or did the emperor just have a passing interest in her? If it’s the first, then it wasn’t a good thing for Zhuang Laoyan. After all, that person held an unspeakable enmity toward her.

After waking up early in the morning, Feng Jin spread his arms wide for Zhaorong Xu to straighten out his clothes. Then he watched as she knelt and adjusted his shoes and socks. He reached out to support her to her feet. “The floor is cold. Such things should be given to the palace maids to do.”

“This concubine is perfectly happy to do anything for Your Majesty.” After she had finished adjusting his shoes, Zhaorong Xu placed her hand onto his, slowly getting to her feet.

“If you catch a cold, We will be heartbroken.” Feng Jin extended a hand. Stroked her hair. However, he felt that this fine black hair was not as smooth as Xianrong Zhao’s. In a flash, he took back his hand. “We ought to leave.”

Once he reached the doorway, Feng Jin looked back. And he only saw Zhaorong Xu bowing in a deferential manner. Although it was very respectful, he found the sight dull.

Following the emperor’s departure, Zhaorong Xu raised her head. In her gaze, an unwillingness to see him leave. But there was no other choice.

In the morning, Zhuang Laoyan took a stroll on the green stone path, cold air striking her face. It made her take a deep breath. Although at this moment, it no longer snowed, it was chilly during the early spring. It was so cold in the early morning that it was difficult to bear.

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“Your Highness, it’s this cold outside. Your honored self should have ridden a sedan out.” Tingzhu adjusted the cloak around Zhuang Laoyan tighter. “Otherwise, one would harm the body.”

“How could I be that delicate?” A smile graced Zhuang Laoyan’s lips. She looked up, and by coincidence, saw the emperor’s bright yellow imperial sedan pass by far away. Expressionless, she watched as the crowd of people gradually disappeared into the distance. Only then did she say in a faint voice, “Let’s go.”

With worry, Tingzhu gazed at her master. She carefully supported Zhuang Laoyan’s hand. “Your Highness, watch your step.”

Once January had passed, the Birthday of the Flowers on the second day of February arrived. And it was also the day of the official promotion ceremony for the imperial concubines who had been promoted.

Zhuang Laoyan wore formal apparel the color of red Chinese crabapples meant for xianrongs. She received the official stamp of a xianrong, given personally by the empress. Performed a grand ceremony of paying respects to the empress, which consisted of three bows and nine kowtows. Following that, a court scribe recorded this scene at the side. And she was now officially considered a xianrong.

As the empress watched her kowtow, Zhuang Laoyan’s long earrings and golden dangling hair ornament swayed slightly. Her bearing was proper to the extreme. A smile on her lips, the empress said, “I hope that your heart will always be on the emperor. Do not slack off.”

“This concubine will remember with reverence the teachings of Your Majesty the empress.” Then Zhuang Laoyan saluted once more.

The empress grunted in acknowledgement and nodded. “You may return.”

Without a sound, Zhuang Laoyan retreated to the side. As she heard the next imperial concubine receive her official promotion, she thought somewhat absentmindedly, the higher the ranks, the fewer spots there are. At present, there are already many high-ranking imperial concubines. Who knew how many people would fall from grace and rise the ranks in the future?

After the promotion ceremony, the empress led the imperial concubines present to the imperial gardens to appreciate the flowers. The imperial garden had long since been filled with exquisite fake flowers. One glance, and it seemed like true flowers in bloom.

The empress received a five-colored lantern from a palace maid. She tied a red string to it and hung it on a sprig. Seemed deeply moved. “This palace remembers that each time the Birthday of the Flowers rolls along, this palace would hang a five-colored lantern on a sprig. Now, many years have passed. And the flowers and trees are as beautiful as ever. However, with each day that passes, this palace loses color.” She looked at the imperial concubines behind her. “You all should hang one as well.”

 Receiving one from a palace maid, Noble Consort Shu smiled as she said, “If Your Majesty the empress is losing color, then wouldn’t we imperial concubines not have color altogether?” Fingers that were as white as scallion roots tied a beautiful knot with red string, hanging the five-colored lantern on a sprig.

In Zhuang Laoyan’s opinion, the empress was implicitly saying there would be a day when they would also grow old. However, women from the start would grow old. People who used their appearance to serve others would definitely see a day when their appearance declined. And at that time, they would no longer be favored. She wanted to pass the later half of her life in comfort. Furthermore, she needed to think of more plans to secure her future.

After carelessly tying a knot with the red string, Zhuang Laoyan received a handkerchief from Tingzhu and wiped her hands. She admired these realistic paper flowers.

It had to be said that the talents of the ancients astonished others. In her previous life, she had never laid eyes on such beautiful paper flowers.

“Today is the Birthday of the Flowers. Later, this palace will bring you sisters to offer sacrifices to the flower deity. Noble Consort Shu may burn one extra stick of incense,” said the empress in an unhurried pace. “If you are sincere in your prayer, your wishes will come true. Noble Consort Shu mustn’t squander today’s opportunity.”

“For Your Majesty to care about this concubine like so truly overwhelms me with favor. How about this concubine burn an extra stick of incense for Your Majesty the empress?”

“This palace is different from Noble Consort Shu. It’s better if Noble Consort Shu prays for yourself,” said the empress, a smile on her lips as she looked at a clump of green grass. Her bearing gave off a sense of grace that could not be put into words.

The corners of Zhuang Laoyan’s lips twitched. At the start, she did not understand what the empress meant. But a good while later, she did.

In the ancients’ ingrained way of thinking, the Birthday of the Flowers was the day celebrating the birth of the flower deity. And flowers represented the female reproductive organs. Therefore, the flower deity could bless one to have a child. When married women knelt and worshipped the flower deity, they would give birth to children. The empress’ words from prior were mocking Noble Consort Shu as a hen that couldn’t lay eggs.

Rather sympathetic, Zhuang Laoyan looked at Noble Consort Shu’s somewhat stiff smile. Beauties were beauties. No matter how stiff their smiles were, those women still proved beautiful.

“His Majesty has arrived.”

Hearing that announcement, Zhuang Laoyan knelt with the others. She had known early on that the emperor wouldn’t let such an opportunity to see flowers and beautiful women slip by.

Feng Jin told them to stand and looked at the imperial concubines. “Today is a good day to appreciate flowers. We already had people select some. You all can choose a flower hairpin that catches your eye.”

A few palace maids carried a few trays of flower hairpins over. Zhuang Laoyan could clearly see all kinds of flowers on those trays. However, they weren’t real. Rather, they were made from all kinds of colorful paper. If one did not look at them carefully, one would not be able to tell they were fake at all.

After the emperor had personally selected a Moutan peony hairpin and slipped it into the empress’ hair, the others were allowed to choose a hairpin. However, they all avoided choosing one with a Moutan peony. 

Zhuang Laoyaon chose a pink lily hairpin in passing. Just as she had slipped it by her temple, she heard someone say behind her, “Xianrong Zhao truly is elegant and calm. Choosing a pink lily is the most suitable for you.”

Zhuang Laoyan turned her head. The person who had spoken was actually Jieyu Zhuang, someone who she hadn’t seen in a while.

The poem “Waiting, she finds her silk stockings soaked with dew drops, glistening on the marble palace steps. Finally, she moves to let the crystal-woven curtain fall, when she casts one more glance at the glamorous autumn moon” is a poem by Li Bai translated as “A Concubine Waiting at Night” by Qiu Xiaolong.

Someone wanted me to add “zhaorong” to the power ranks list. I will when I have the time; semester just started picking up.

Oh, so Zl’s sister trying to start something?

For those of you still interested in advanced chapters please read this post carefully! There are no advanced chapters left this month, so if you pledge a tier that gives 2+ chapters now, you’re basically my suga daddi.

Bit of an announcement here! Since there are 5 Saturdays in October, if you pledge between October 1-2 during PST time, you’ll get a bonus chapter for whatever tier your pledge (other than Wide Awake). Make sure it is after 12:00 am October 1 on PST. More detail will be available on a Patreon post of October’s release schedule, which will be out in a couple days.

Also! Sixth chapter of The Times Spent in Pretense is out, if you haven’t already checked it out. Read it here if you’re interested in another novel by TJOAIC’s author.

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