Watching the rewards flow into Lianxin Courtyard like water, the people in the back wing were simply dumbstruck.
In secret, their eyes turned red with envy, and more than a few handkerchiefs were nearly torn to shreds.
This Shen Zhaoxun—could she really be some fox spirit reborn?!
The Crown Princess had only just received the news when she heard the commotion of the Crown Prince’s arrival, and hastily composed the expression on her face, rising to greet him.
After the Crown Prince had looked in on the child and finished his evening meal, the Crown Princess took the initiative to bring up the matter of Wu Chenghui.
Her brows knit lightly, and she sighed. “The newcomers this time have repeatedly behaved without decorum—it is my failure to discipline them properly. I had thought, seeing how young they were, that they simply needed more guidance, but I never expected that I had instead indulged them into growing ever more brazen and unruly. This is my fault.”
Cui Yu held his cup, took a shallow sip, and said nothing.
Seeing this, the Crown Princess continued, “I truly never imagined that Consort Liu would be so bold—daring to spy on Your Highness, bribing those who serve at your side. I will see to it that she is strictly disciplined from now on, so that she dares not offend again.”
Cui Yu’s expression eased slightly, his tone calm. “Mn. You’ve gone to great trouble, Crown Princess.”
A smile came to the Crown Princess’s face as well, and she said softly, “Wu Chenghui is proud by nature, and Chenghui Liu is reckless and ignorant of propriety. I have already sent nannies over to instruct them.”
Cui Yu set down his teacup and gave a slight nod.
The Crown Princess glanced at the Crown Prince without changing expression, then gave a helpless little laugh, her tone as though making idle conversation. “Speaking of which, it was quite a coincidence—the selection happened to fall right when Mother Empress’s health took a turn for the worse and she couldn’t oversee it herself, so it was left to Noble Consort Lan to choose these people. Looking at it now…”
She paused, her tone gentle, as if merely mentioning it in passing. “Aside from Liangyuan Zhang, who is well-read and knows her place, none of the others seem to give much peace of mind.”
Cui Yu raised his eyes, his tone calm. “The Crown Princess manages the affairs of the Eastern Palace day to day. Where discipline falls short, if the Crown Princess finds herself unable to manage, Nanny Rong may assist from the side hereafter.”
The Crown Princess’s expression shifted. Nanny Rong was the Crown Prince’s wet nurse—in the first year after she had married into the Eastern Palace, it was that old hag who was forever meddling and dictating things around her. Fortunately, due to an old ailment in her hand, Nanny Rong had taken leave from the Crown Prince the following year, and now lived out her years in comfortable retirement within the Eastern Palace.
What did His Highness mean by this?
Was he trying to strip her, the Crown Princess, of her authority over the Eastern Palace?
She pressed her lips together, her expression somewhat strained, then lowered her head and said softly, “Nanny Rong is now enjoying her well-earned rest—there’s no need to trouble her. I will discipline them properly from now on and see that they do not break the rules again.”
If she truly let that old hag Nanny Rong start meddling in the affairs of the Eastern Palace, who knew how the other consorts of her rank would mock her behind her back. His Highness didn’t consider her position at all.
Cui Yu’s brow and eyes were cool and distant, but he did not bring up Nanny Rong again.
The Crown Princess dared not press further to test the waters. But when she had assumed the Crown Prince would stay the night, he left without so much as a mention of it, and her heart sank a little.
At least His Highness had gone to the front hall, not the back wing.
Nanny Zhou, standing nearby, saw that her expression wasn’t good and quickly stepped forward to comfort her, her gaze falling on the Crown Princess’s belly, which had not yet begun to show. Smiling, she said, “Your Highness’s body isn’t suited for attending to the Crown Prince right now anyway. It’s just as well that he’s gone to the front hall.” | BLACK LOTUS Novel Translations — Black Lotus
Hearing this, the tightness in the Crown Princess’s chest eased somewhat.
“Your Highness…”
The Crown Princess looked at her, puzzled. “Nanny? What is it?”
Nanny Zhou had some private worries, and couldn’t help speaking up again. “Your Highness, the pregnancy is nearly stable by now—why not inform His Highness and the Empress? The day after tomorrow is the Duanyang Festival, and with so many eyes and ears about, it would be such a shame if someone were to disturb you.”
The Crown Princess lifted her chin slightly. “There’s no need to worry, Nanny. With the physician my mother specially sent watching over me, no one else knows of my pregnancy this time. Who would dare disturb me?”
“If word of this got out to someone with ill intentions, it would only cause trouble. Better to give His Highness… and Mother Empress a surprise the day after tomorrow.” If it were announced too early, someone might prepare and scheme against her and the child in her womb.
Noble Consort Lan, Consort De, and the others were none of them easy to deal with.
As things stood, Mother Empress could barely look after herself, let alone help her—so what difference did a day sooner or later make?
Besides, Mother Empress had never liked her, simply because she hadn’t given His Highness a healthy child. Even now that she paid her respects and inquired after her health every day, the Empress still looked at her with displeasure.
And the moment Chu Liangdi had become pregnant, the Empress had immediately sent an experienced nanny from her own side to look after her—yet when she herself had been carrying Zhang’er, she’d received no such careful attention.
How could she not harbor resentment in her heart?
Nanny Zhou, being the person closest to and most trusted by the Crown Princess, heard her reasoning and, though still somewhat worried at heart, felt there was some sense to it, and said no more.
The next morning, as the sun rose in the east and pale golden light broke through the clouds, Shen Yanshui, already dressed and groomed, stood in the main hall of Xiefang Hall to pay her respects to the Crown Princess.
The Crown Princess wore a light purple gauze robe with wide sleeves, her hair done up in a crystal-and-glass tiered crown adorned with gold beads. Wearing a face full of gentle smiles, she looked at them and said, “Rise, all of you. Seats for everyone.” Only, as her gaze swept past a certain figure, the smile at the corners of her mouth faded slightly.
“Thank you, Crown Princess.” Only then did everyone slowly take their seats.
Shen Yanshui noticed that, aside from Consort Liu, who was confined to her quarters, and Wu Chenghui, who was being punished with copying the女訓 (Women’s Instructions), everyone else was more or less present.
There was only one person she had not yet met—Sun Zhaoxun, who had recently miscarried.
Sun Zhaoxun was very thin, her cheeks sunken, but it was clear her appearance had been carefully done up—likely to look more lively, she had even applied rouge to her face, which made her look a little more like a normal person.
The others were naturally taken aback as well.
The Crown Princess frowned with concern. “How did you grow so thin? Are the ones attending you not being conscientious enough?”
Sun Zhaoxun tugged a smile at the corners of her mouth. “In reply to the Crown Princess, this humble one can already walk about out of bed. I’ve recovered a good deal already, and in a few more days I should be fully well. Thank you for your concern, Your Highness.”
The Crown Princess smiled as well, saying gently, “That’s good to hear, then.”
Nearby, Liangyuan Wang smoothly changed the subject, and everyone’s attention shifted away from this Sun Zhaoxun, who looked rather unsettlingly thin.
Tomorrow was the fifth of the fifth month—the Duanyang Festival—and everyone’s thoughts were stirring today, certain the Crown Princess would settle on the two who would accompany her.
Shen Yanshui wore a fittingly modest smile, sitting properly upon a yellow pear-wood rose chair. Seeing that Chu Liangdi had also made a rare appearance today, she couldn’t help glancing at her a second time.
She then listened as the others chatted and laughed with the Crown Princess, one remark after another, while she reached for a piece of peach blossom pastry from the side table to eat.
After listening for a good while, the conversation finally turned to tomorrow’s Duanyang Festival banquet at Jinming Pond, and her eyes brightened at once—she knew the main event of the day had finally arrived.
Sure enough, the Crown Princess said with a smile, “This year, let Liangyuan Zhang and Zhaoxun Shen accompany me to the Duanyang Festival banquet at Jinming Pond.”
The moment she said this, expressions around the room shifted in various ways.
Some hid it well and quickly composed themselves; others’ faces did not look pleased at all.
The Crown Princess’s eyes deepened slightly, and she smiled.
Liangyuan Zhang and Shen Yanshui both rose with smiling faces to offer their thanks.
Though the others felt disappointed or displeased, most dared not say anything—it was plain for all to see that Zhaoxun Shen was favored, so it wasn’t strange that she would be chosen to go this time.
As for Liangyuan Zhang, her rank was high and her family background excellent; within the Eastern Palace, her status was second only to the Crown Princess and Chu Liangdi. It was only reasonable that she should go as well.
Just then, Song Chenghui—a woman a couple of years older, dressed in a light blue long skirt patterned with five-blessing motifs, of middling but elegant looks—pressed her lips together and said with an air of grievance, “Your Highness, in years past it was always Sister Chu and Sister Wang who accompanied you. Their ranks are higher than the rest of us sisters, so naturally they were more qualified than any of us. But…”
As she spoke, she glanced at Shen Yanshui, the words trailing off unsaid.
Shen Yanshui: “…” Was that a jab at her?
Everyone present caught the implication behind Song Chenghui’s words, and glances, open and covert, immediately turned toward Shen Yanshui.
Shen Yanshui kept a smile on her face, pretending not to notice. Things would proceed as they proceeded—the woman hadn’t named her outright, so why should she rush to jump in and defend herself?
Seeing that she wouldn’t take the bait, and that she just kept sipping her tea with that easy, smiling look, Song Chenghui couldn’t help but seethe inwardly.
She had never been particularly favored in the Eastern Palace, but before the new arrivals came, she’d still managed to catch a glimpse of the Crown Prince once every month or two—back then, his visits to the back wing were already few, at most two or three times a month.
She knew her own looks were only middling, nowhere near a match for Chu Liangdi, so she hadn’t felt too much resentment over it—she’d even been grateful the Crown Prince wasn’t the type of man who cared only for beauty.
As for Liangyuan Wang, she had once been the Crown Princess’s maid and had the Crown Princess’s backing—not someone she could afford to offend, so she’d never had much inclination to compete with her either.
But in this past month since the new arrivals had come, of the six nights the Crown Prince had visited the back wing, a full three of them had been spent in this Zhaoxun Shen’s chambers!
How could this possibly please her?
She tugged at the corner of her mouth and said, “I wonder what Zhaoxun Shen thinks of this?”
Shen Yanshui kept her expression unchanged, lowering her brows with a faint smile. “This humble one simply follows whatever the Crown Princess decides.”
Chu Liangdi smiled, glanced at the Crown Princess, and leaned back a little, watching the scene unfold before her—she’d known there would be a good show today, otherwise she wouldn’t have bothered coming out at all.
For some reason, she’d been feeling dizzy and tight in the chest lately whenever she stayed indoors too long; the physician’s prescriptions hadn’t helped at all, but stepping out this once had actually left her feeling somewhat more refreshed.
The Crown Princess glanced at the faint shadows beneath Chu Liangdi’s eyes, the corner of her mouth curving slightly. Before she could speak, Liangyuan Wang, seated at her lower right, raised her round fan to half-cover her mouth, a meaningfully knowing smile tugging at her lips, and said in a soft, delicate voice, “Sister Song, don’t be jealous now—this is simply the standing Sister Shen has earned for herself before His Highness. How could Her Highness go against that?” | Black Lotus Novel Site — Black Lotus Novel
At these words, Song Chenghui’s face stiffened.
Shen Yanshui’s expression remained composed; she merely turned her eyes toward Liangyuan Wang, seated beside the Crown Princess.
Then she finished off the small remaining piece of pastry in her hand in two bites, still wearing a proper, fitting smile.
“Sister Liangyuan’s words leave this humble one quite alarmed.”
Her voice was neither too loud nor too soft, very mild and gentle. “This humble one has been in the Eastern Palace only a short while, and is still learning many of the rules and courtesies—how would I dare claim to have earned any standing before His Highness? It is only that His Highness showed pity, and the Crown Princess is generous, granting this humble one the chance to attend.”
Liangyuan Wang’s fan paused in her hand, the smile at her lips fading somewhat.
Shen Yanshui’s smile deepened, her tone growing gentler still. “Besides, this humble one thinks—when His Highness and Her Highness settle the list of attendants, they surely have their own considerations. The rest of us need only accept the decision with a peaceful heart, so as not to fail the intentions of His Highness and Her Highness.”
Liangyuan Wang’s face changed slightly, and with the fan still covering her lips, she found herself at a loss for a reply.
Chu Liangdi gave a low chuckle. “Sister Shen speaks sense.”
The Crown Princess, who had been holding her teacup and watching from the sidelines, finally spoke, her tone light. “That’s enough.”
She glanced at Liangyuan Wang. “Zhaoxun Shen speaks rightly. The list of attendants was decided between His Highness and myself after discussion—naturally there is reasoning behind it.”
Liangyuan Wang hastily rose and bowed. “This humble one spoke out of turn.”
The Crown Princess waved a hand, gesturing for her to sit, then looked toward Song Chenghui, her tone softening somewhat. “Song Chenghui need not dwell on it either. There are still many days ahead—what should come to you will come.”
Song Chenghui’s face flushed with embarrassment, and she dared not say anything further.
Shen Yanshui still wore that same mild, smiling expression, but by now the way the others looked at her had clearly changed.
So this Zhaoxun Shen truly wasn’t someone easy to deal with… but then, if she really had no ability at all, how could she have risen above all the other newcomers, her reputation unmatched?
The Crown Princess said, “This matter is settled. Tomorrow morning, Liangyuan Zhang and Zhaoxun Shen will come with me first to pay respects to Mother Empress. The rest of you sisters may take your leave for today.”
Shen Yanshui lowered her head with a demure expression and followed the others in bowing to take their leave, thinking that if looks could kill, she’d probably have been stabbed through with knives several times over by now.
As everyone left Xiefang Hall, Chu Liangdi naturally walked at the very front. Shen Yanshui happened to find herself beside that terribly thin Sun Zhaoxun, and seeing her take the steps down very slowly, let her go ahead first.
Seeing this, Sun Zhaoxun smiled at her. “My body just won’t cooperate—I’m afraid I must look a sight to you, sister.”
Looking at how thin she’d become, skin practically stretched over bone, Shen Yanshui couldn’t help saying earnestly, “Sister Sun is still young, and there are many days ahead. From now on, eat more good food each day to nourish your body, and get out and move around more each day—your health will naturally improve bit by bit.”
Sun Zhaoxun startled slightly, as if she hadn’t expected such words from her. The smile at her lips grew a touch more genuine, and looking at her, she said gently, “Thank you.” With that, she smiled at her once more and left with the palace attendants at her side.
Beside her, Xia’an looked somewhat puzzled. “My lady?”
Shen Yanshui let out a soft sigh. “Let’s head back.” Could a single miscarriage really reduce a woman in the prime of her youth to such a withered, lifeless state?
She didn’t quite understand it. To her, nothing mattered more than one’s own health.
