Chapter 8
To surprise the harem—and the Emperor—
I had the Noble Consort claim illness and receive no visitors for a month.
Consort Shu became pregnant again.
That month, the Emperor spent most nights with the Empress.
Thrilled, the Empress rewarded me with cosmetics for keeping the Noble Consort occupied.
“That damned Empress gave you gifts again?” The Noble Consort’s gaze chilled.
“This servant… this servant…” I smiled awkwardly.
At times like this, just smile. A smile eased every embarrassment.
“Hmph! What good things could she own? Choose anything from my table. You are forbidden to use her rouge.”
Apparently that wasn’t enough.
“And you are forbidden to wear her hairpins!”
Meanwhile, a small border kingdom grew restless. The Emperor sent the Noble Consort’s family to war, and they won a tremendous victory.
The Emperor eagerly came to see her, but she would not even let him through the door.
“Mei’er, let me look at you just once. Let me come in and see you, all right?”
“Your Majesty, this consort is truly ill. If I infected Your Majesty, my crime would be unforgivable. Once recovered, I will greet Your Majesty every day!”
The old Emperor left with his tail between his legs.
Three days remained before the banquet. After a month of effort, the Noble Consort’s face was smooth and white as a freshly peeled egg.
Not just her face—her whole body was a shade fairer.
Though she had spent more than ten years in the palace, she was only twenty-six. Without endless scheming, her skin would never have lost moisture so quickly.
After a month of care, she positively glowed.
“Chief Ah Shuang, am I dreaming?” She stared at the mirror in disbelief.
“Shall this servant pinch you?” I asked cautiously.
“Impudent!” she snapped. “Pinch gently… I fear pain.”
I twisted her tender cheek. She screamed like a pig at slaughter.
“Outrageous! I shall punish you! Your punishment is… no dinner tonight!”
“May I eat vegetables, Your Highness?”
“No!”
At the Mid-Autumn banquet, the Emperor and Empress had not yet arrived.
Every consort was already seated.
I hid behind Consort Shu, stealing an osmanthus cake now and then, perfectly content.
Everyone kept covertly studying the Noble Consort’s face.
At last, one consort rose to ask. The Noble Consort cut her off: “What? How did you notice my skin had improved?”
Every consort fell speechless.
After all the princes arrived,
the Emperor entered hand in hand with the Empress and took the main seat.
The sharp-eyed old Emperor immediately noticed the Noble Consort.
Why did she alone seem to glow among all his consorts?
Why did she alone possess such elegance?
Why was she alone the most beautiful?
The Emperor feasted his eyes.
I simply feasted.
The banquet was boring. Halfway through, the impatient Emperor led the Noble Consort away somewhere.
I had no desire to know where.
The Empress sat above with a dark face. His Majesty had watched only that damned woman; even during the Empress’s best guzheng performance, he offered two perfunctory compliments.
And the smug look the Noble Consort gave her while leaving—infuriating!
When the Empress’s gaze landed on me, my body stiffened.
Oh no. Disaster. Was it too late to run?
That faithless Noble Consort used me and tossed me aside without taking me along. What was I supposed to do? I was doomed!