Chapter 160: Winds and Clouds Rise Again (1)

As Yunqing had been feeling unwell these past few days, I accompanied Zhang Bitong to the Palace of Earthly Tranquility to pay our respects to the Empress.

Having spent quite some time caring for Han Feiyue in the Palace of Flowing Brilliance, it had been a long while since I last witnessed such a grand assembly.

"Please partake of some tea, honored consorts. Her Majesty the Empress will be with you shortly!" Minghe announced before withdrawing from the main hall.

"There is no need for Her Majesty to rush. It is quite pleasant for us sisters to chat here in the meantime," Jiang Ziqian remarked.

"Indeed," Minghe replied, then retreated once more into the Empress's chambers.

"These past few days, have any of you younger sisters visited the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility to pay respects to the Grand Empress Dowager?" Jiang Ziqian asked with a smile.

Lin Tanwei answered, "Because of... because of Lady Feiyue's miscarriage, Her Ladyship the Grand Empress Dowager has been deeply grieved and long ago issued an imperial decree exempting us from paying respects at the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility. Even when the Emperor has gone there on several occasions, Her Ladyship has not permitted him to stay long. It seems she is truly heartbroken."

I observed Lin Tanwei closely, yet could detect no trace of anomaly in her demeanor.

For the most part, however, the women of this inner court lived behind masks, never allowing their joys or sorrows to show upon their faces. To attempt to guess their true thoughts was entirely futile.

"The Grand Empress Dowager always held Lady Feiyue dear. Now that Lady Feiyue has been stripped of her rank and reduced to a commoner, it would be strange indeed if Her Ladyship were not heartbroken," Jiang Ziqian chimed in.

"Sister Jun," Lin Tanwei turned her gaze toward Meng Pingjun, "Your zither music has always possessed the power to soothe the soul. Has the Grand Empress Dowager not summoned you to play for her?"

Meng Pingjun lowered herself in a slight curtsy and replied, "This younger sister is shallow in learning and utterly ordinary in her zither skills; I fear I would be of no use to the Grand Empress Dowager."

Lin Tanwei covered her mouth and smiled. "Sister, you jest. Even His Majesty speaks of you in glowing terms—how could your zither skills be merely ordinary? Ah, that reminds me: I heard that two days ago, Elder Sister Tong also went to the Hall of Southern Fragrance to accompany the Emperor in listening to the zither."

Zhang Bitong gave a lazy, indifferent response, "And what if I did? It was Sister Jun who invited me to go."

Lin Tanwei continued, "Of course, it is nothing at all. Yet Elder Sister Tong has fallen to such a state that she now requires Sister Jun's invitation merely to see the Emperor? No wonder I wondered why His Majesty had not specifically summoned Sister Jun to play the zither at the Palace of Slight Fragrance!"

"If Sister Jun is willing to invite me, it is because she gives me ample face. Could it be that you are merely jealous because you were not invited, and thus sit here uttering sour remarks?"

Jiang Ziqian laughed heartily and said, "Consort Tong, why trouble yourself to grow angry? Consort Tan was merely making a joke. On that day, Sister Jun invited no one else yet specifically called upon you; surely that demonstrates the deep bonds of sisterhood between you. Consort Tan was merely speaking in jest—how could such sisterly affection ever be a matter for jealousy?"

"Quite right," Lin Tanwei seized the momentum. "Elder Sister Tong, you have always been benevolent and kind of heart; how could you quibble over such trifles with this younger sister? Besides, you are not the only one who has basked in this younger sister's reflected glory. Sister Ru, who also resides in the Hall of Southern Fragrance, must surely have had several more opportunities to see the Emperor on that account. To be able to dwell within the Hall of Southern Fragrance—Sister Ru is truly blessed indeed!"

Ever since entering, I had noticed that Xiao Ru had already arrived. She remained seated in the very place closest to the door, just as I had seen her on previous occasions. In such circumstances, she was invariably silent, keeping to her own quiet corner.

Hearing Lin Tanwei call her name, Xiao Ru rose, executed a slight curtsy, and replied, "Sister Tan jests. If His Majesty had no desire to see this younger sister, how would I ever dare to presumptuously disturb His Majesty's leisure?"

Now that Xiao Ru had fallen from favor, Lin Tanwei held her in no regard. Hearing such a respectful answer, she remarked, "True enough. When I last visited the Hall of Southern Fragrance, I saw that you kept your doors tightly closed, Sister; you truly live up to your gentle and quiet reputation."

With that, she shifted her gaze away from Xiao Ru, and Xiao Ru quietly resumed her seat.

"Enough, why speak of such things? We would do better to discuss happier matters," Jiang Ziqian suggested. "When I was coming here today, I happened to encounter Imperial Physician Gu, who informed me that Consort Yun has less than two months remaining until her time of confinement. The Imperial Household is about to be blessed with yet another prince or princess. Is this not a cause for great joy and congratulation?"

Hearing this, Zhang Bitong smiled and said, "Elder Sister Zi, your own child is gone, yet you are remarkably diligent about worrying over other people's children. No matter how fine a child may be—whether prince or princess—in the end, it belongs to someone else. Why must you busy yourself with such excitement?"

"You—" Children had always been Jiang Ziqian's most tender and painful spot. Stung by Zhang Bitong's words, Jiang Ziqian instantly turned pale.

"Consort Tong's words are truly heartbreaking to hear!" Lin Tanwei intervened. "Whether prince or princess, they are all the Emperor's children. You and I, as sisters, serve the Emperor together; should not an occasion of joy for His Majesty also be a matter of joy for us?"

***

Zhang Bitong immediately turned her gaze toward Lin Tanwei and smiled. "Sister Tan is just like Elder Sister Zi, overly invested in matters that do not concern her own flesh and blood. Oh, could it be that, being unable to bear children of your own, you hope to borrow a little auspicious fortune from another's child? If Sister had made her intentions clear earlier, then this elder sister might at least have been able to understand."

"Consort Tong, of whom are you speaking when you say one cannot bear children?" Jiang Ziqian demanded, springing to her feet and pointing an accusing finger at Zhang Bitong.

"Elder Sister Zi, do not let anger consume you," Lin Tanwei soothed Jiang Ziqian before turning back to Zhang Bitong. "Consort Tong's words are somewhat venomous indeed. Among us sisters who serve the Emperor, for Consort Tong to speak thus is not merely to curse her fellow sisters, but to curse the Emperor himself. You must realize, regardless of which sister brings forth a child in this inner court, that child remains the Emperor's dragon seed. In truth, this younger sister can understand your mindset: you desperately wish that none of the other sisters could bear children, so that your Ninth Prince might monopolize the Emperor's favor. This maternal anxiety of yours is something we can comprehend. Yet Sister must not forget: your son is the Ninth Prince, but there are already several older princes and princesses above him. The Ninth Prince is the Ninth Prince, and he can never become any other prince—"

For Lin Tanwei to lay bare Zhang Bitong's hidden designs so overtly was a remarkably bold move. At the same time, it struck a chord of resonance among the others. Jiang Ziqian, in particular, instantly felt she had found a weapon to assail Zhang Bitong, and chimed in, "No wonder! Lately, I have constantly heard that His Highness the Crown Prince and the Ninth Prince rarely associate with one another anymore. It seems some people are simply too impatient to wait for the soup to cool."

"Are these matters for the likes of you to discuss?"

At the sound of this majestic and solemn voice, everyone stood up at once, folding their hands and curtsying as they spoke in unison: "This concubine pays respects to Her Majesty the Empress!"

"Rise, take your seats!"

"We thank Her Majesty the Empress!"

The Empress seated herself upon the soft couch and said, "Three women make a marketplace; it is in the female nature to gossip and chatter idly. Ordinarily, when you indulge in casual talk, this Palace chooses to let it pass unheard. Yet within the Palace of Earthly Tranquility, you dare to discuss the succession of the realm—this truly shows a complete lack of propriety."

Everyone rose once more, bowing their heads. "We have spoken rashly and transgressed. We beg Her Majesty the Empress to mete out punishment!"

"Punishment is unnecessary; this Palace has no desire to issue penalties on a morning when you have all specially come to pay your respects. Let this serve as a lesson to you all; never again shall you speak presumptuously on such matters. Do you take heed?"

"We thank Her Majesty the Empress for her instruction!"

After the consorts had resumed their seats, the Empress continued, "These days, His Majesty has been laboring body and mind over affairs of state. As consorts, you should instead be considering how best to bring peace and comfort to His Majesty's heart."

Lin Tanwei rose to her feet and said, "Replying to Her Majesty, we were just now discussing Consort Yun. Her time of confinement draws ever closer, and surely if she were to present His Majesty with a prince or a princess, it would cause His Majesty's dragon countenance to beam with joy."

The Empress nodded. "That is indeed a matter of great joy. It has been quite some time since a dragon seed was born into the inner court, and His Majesty attaches great importance to this child carried by Noble Lady Yun."

Lin Tanwei then proposed, "Noble Lady Yun has all this time been recuperating at the Palace of Assembled Purity, and this concubine frequently visits her when time permits. Yet I have observed that Noble Lady Yun often wears a look of anxiety, which causes one no small degree of concern. Fortunately, under the care of the imperial physicians, the child within her womb remains stable. However, as the day of confinement approaches, the mother's state of mind is of the utmost importance. Therefore, this younger sister wishes to propose that over the next few days, we sisters should together visit Noble Lady Yun at the Palace of Assembled Purity, so as to lift her spirits. Rest assured, Your Majesty, we certainly shall not disturb her for long; we will merely stay to converse with her. No doubt Noble Lady Yun longs to see us all gathered in lively company, though she is physically inconvenienced."

Having heard this, the Empress nodded and said, "What you say is entirely reasonable, Consort Tan. I, too, am preparing to offer incense and pray for blessings, wishing that Noble Lady Yun's child may safely enter this world. Since you all wish to visit her, you shall take full charge of this matter. You have a proper sense of discretion in your dealings, and naturally I trust you."

"Understood, this concubine obeys the imperial will."

When we filed out from the Palace of Earthly Tranquility, Zhang Bitong's expression was plainly one of displeasure.

"Elder Sister Tong," Lin Tanwei called out from behind.

Zhang Bitong halted, turning back to ask with ill-concealed irritation, "What business do you have with this Palace?"

"Elder Sister Tong is a senior member of the palace. This younger sister is handling such a matter for the first time, and I fear there are aspects I do not fully understand, so I must ask for your guidance."

A cold snort escaped Zhang Bitong. "Do not wave a chicken feather as an imperial arrow! It is merely a visit to Noble Lady Yun—why inflate it into some momentous affair?"

Lin Tanwei spoke with earnest gravity, "Although this matter is not vast, it is certainly no triviality. How could anything concerning the Emperor's dragon seed be considered small? Moreover, the Empress herself has given her approval. Judging by Sister's tone, do you perhaps not intend to go? In that case, this younger sister will go straightway to inform the Empress that all arrangements must unfortunately burden Her Majesty instead—"

As Lin Tanwei spoke, she made a motion as if to turn back toward the Palace of Earthly Tranquility. Zhang Bitong's voice carried a note of reluctant concession as she snapped, "Who said this Palace is not going? No matter what, Noble Lady Yun and I are sisters who share the same lord; since she is approaching her confinement, ensuring her mind is at ease is not something I find displeasing. Since the Empress has entrusted this matter to you, then carry it out. When the time comes, simply give this Palace a notification; there is no need to come asking me about every triviality—I have no such idle time. Little Xiao, return to the palace."

"This younger sister respectfully bids Elder Sister Tong farewell!"

***

Three days later, Xiaojing, a palace maid in Lin Tanwei's service, delivered a missive to Zhang Bitong detailing the schedule for the visit to the Palace of Assembled Purity, along with the small gifts and entertainments prepared.

Zhang Bitong merely glanced over it with an air of utter indifference, letting out a cold scoff. "It is nothing more than a trifle, yet they make such a grand and ostentatious display of it. Showing off their eagerness for no one knows whom—they truly have far too much time on their hands."

"If Your Ladyship has no further instructions, this servant will withdraw," Xiaojing said.

"Go."

"Understood."

At that exact moment, Zhang Bitong picked up the cup of tea on the table and took a sip. Suddenly, Xiaojing's foot seemed to slip, and she stumbled directly into Zhang Bitong's hand, knocking over the teacup. The water splashed out, a portion landing on Zhang Bitong's skirt, while the greater share spilled directly across the missive lying upon the table.

"This servant deserves death! This servant deserves death! This servant deserves death! Let this servant wipe it clean for Your Ladyship—"

"Step aside!" Yunqing uttered sharply, rushing forward to inspect Zhang Bitong. "Has Your Ladyship suffered any injury?"

Zhang Bitong's face was fraught with displeasure as she declared, "I am unhurt. Fortunately, the tea was no longer boiling. What a clumsy slave—such ineptitude can only come from this sort of palace!"

"This servant deserves death! This servant deserves death!"

"Your Ladyship, this missive—" Yunqing picked up the paper; a significant portion of it was already soaked through.

"Pay it no mind. In any case, I have already memorized the hour; the rest is of no consequence to me."

"Understood. Will you not withdraw yet? Do you await His/Her Ladyship's punishment? Her Ladyship is benevolent and will spare you," Yunqing said to Xiaojing.

"Thank you, Your Ladyship! Thank you, Your Ladyship!"

Trembling all over, Xiaojing hastily retreated from the room.

After serving Zhang Bitong her evening meal, Lan Yan, Xiao Yunzi, and I quickly prepared a simple bite for ourselves in the small kitchen. I finished in haste, thinking to relieve Yunqing since she had not yet eaten.

Upon returning to the quarters, however, I discovered the room was entirely empty.

Neither Zhang Bitong nor Yunqing was to be found.

While I stood there in quiet perplexity, Lan Yan emerged from the inner room and said, "They must have gone to the Palace of Assembled Purity. Is it not today that several consorts are visiting Noble Lady Yun together?"

I nodded. "Sister Lan Yan is clever indeed. Let us simply keep watch at the doorway until Her Ladyship returns."

"Mm!"

Less than half an hour later, a sudden commotion broke out outside the Palace of Slight Fragrance. Lan Yan and I exchanged a glance, hurried outside, and caught hold of a passing eunuch to demand, "What has happened?"

Panic-stricken and breathless, the eunuch replied, "A great disaster has occurred! Noble Lady Yun has been suddenly seized with violent discomfort—it appears she is going into premature labor!"