Shen Yanshui had Quanshou place the two pots of golden-edged daphne in the courtyard, somewhere they could be seen as soon as one entered the gate. It would neither appear neglectful nor cause much inconvenience thereafter.
Unless, of course, someone happened to be particularly sensitive.
“My lady, shall I have breakfast brought in?” Chunping came forward with a smile and bowed as she asked.
Shen Yanshui’s eyes lit up, and she temporarily set the matter aside. “Yes. The dishes you suggested yesterday were all quite good. From now on, add one or two extra dishes to each meal in addition to my regular allowance. I’ll try them all first.”
As a Zhaoxun, her allotted meals were meager—only two meat dishes, two vegetable dishes, a soup, and a serving of fruit per meal. It was hardly enough to fill her stomach.
Although Chunping smiled, she replied in her usual composed manner, “You flatter me, my lady. When I was serving in the Imperial Food Bureau, I happened to hear all sorts of idle talk. I know a little about the specialties of nearly every head chef in the palace kitchens. So long as you enjoy the food, that is all that matters.”
Shen Yanshui smiled and nodded. She then had Qiuru open the cash box and sent someone to order breakfast.
Chunping smiled from the side. “My lady, I’m afraid we won’t need that money today. The servants in this palace are most prone to fawning on the powerful and trampling on the weak. You were just favored by His Highness last night. How could the kitchen staff possibly accept our money now?”
Things turned out exactly as Chunping had predicted. When Dongyi and Quanshou entered carrying two food boxes, their faces were full of unconcealed delight.
Dongyi was young. Though she could not be called flighty, neither was she particularly steady. At once, her joy showed plainly on her face as she said, “My lady, the kitchen staff not only refused to take our money today, they even sent you many extra dishes. One food box couldn’t hold them all.”
Shen Yanshui smiled but did not speak for a moment.
Looking at the two three-tiered, octagonal red sandalwood food boxes in their gaudy mother-of-pearl inlay, Chunping could not help frowning.
“My lady was favored only yesterday, and you are already behaving like this. Others will think that now our mistress has gained His Highness’s favor, she has become arrogant and conceited. They will look down on her.”
Quanshou jumped in fright. Lowering his head, he stammered, “My lady, Quanfu-gege already told me just now. I won’t dare do it again.”
When he had first been reprimanded, he had not taken it entirely to heart. He had even felt a little dissatisfied at being lectured by Quanfu, who was younger than he was.
But Chunping was different. Even before coming to serve Shen Yanshui, she had been more experienced and better connected than any of them. Now she was one of their mistress’s trusted attendants, and her words immediately made him tighten up with fear.
Seeing this, Dongyi’s face turned pale as she dropped to her knees. “Please forgive me, my lady! I—I know I was wrong!”
Shen Yanshui slowly straightened in her seat and looked at the two of them. “Call everyone else in.”
Before long, all the servants had assembled. Shen Yanshui’s expression grew stern.
“Besides what I told you yesterday, there is one more thing I wish to make clear today. My household has no place for arrogant, reckless people.”
“Not to mention that I was only favored for the first time yesterday. No one knows what the future will bring. Even if I were favored for several days, so what? Flowers do not bloom for a hundred days, and no one enjoys good fortune for a thousand. You should understand that better than anyone.”
“Yes, my lady. We will keep it firmly in mind.”
After she finished speaking, everyone’s thoughts naturally varied. Chunping and Quanfu still appeared fairly calm, and even seemed relieved.
After all, acting with restraint was much more reassuring than behaving loudly and ostentatiously.
As for Dongyi, she was still young and had not experienced much of the world. Having spent all this time at the very bottom of the palace hierarchy, she had been unable to control herself when someone suddenly flattered her and had begun to let her pride show.
It was only human nature. Someone who had lived in poverty and been looked down upon for years would likely be unable to resist showing off after suddenly winning the lottery.
Shen Yanshui understood this. In fact, she had anticipated it beforehand. After studying everyone’s reactions, she was reasonably satisfied.
Chunping had worked in the Imperial Food Bureau, a place where she had dealt with all kinds of people. She was experienced, steady, and not easily carried away. Quanfu had received proper guidance; he was clever without lacking tact.
Quanshou was timid, but honest and obedient. After this incident, he should have learned his lesson.
Xia’an and Qiuru were not as steady as Chunping, but for now they seemed dependable enough. Dongyi, however, was the youngest and therefore the most impetuous.
Seeing that Dongyi and Quanshou were trembling uncontrollably, Shen Yanshui did not continue frightening them.
“No matter the circumstances, remember to act cautiously and discreetly whenever you are outside. Do not show off, and do not cause trouble.
“But just because we do not want trouble does not mean we fear it. If anyone bullies you outside, report it to me. I will not let you be mistreated for nothing.”
“Now get up. There is no need to keep kneeling.”
“Yes! Thank you, my lady.”
Hearing her words and sensing her softened tone, Dongyi and Quanshou both breathed a sigh of relief. When they realized that their mistress truly had no intention of punishing them, they hurriedly kowtowed in thanks.
After sending the others away, Shen Yanshui kept Chunping and Quanfu behind. As she ate breakfast, she looked at them with a smile.
“Do you think I made too much of a fuss?”
“We would not dare,” the two of them replied at once, bowing their heads.
Quanfu said respectfully, “A tree that rises above the forest will be battered by the wind. My lady is wise.”
Chunping answered seriously, “It is best to correct them early and make sure they know what may and may not be done. Otherwise, they may cause trouble and resentment for you when they are outside.”
Though palace servants’ lives were worth little more than weeds, even the smallest people could sometimes play a crucial role, in ways no one could imagine. It was always better to make friends than enemies wherever possible.
Hearing this, Shen Yanshui was even more satisfied. She smiled and said, “The kitchen staff saw that I had gained His Highness’s favor and sent an extra dish or two of fresh food. There was nothing wrong with that. But in everything we do, we must keep our judgment. We must not be so easily flattered that we lose all sense of propriety and make ourselves a laughingstock.”
“Yes, my lady. We understand.”
The two bowed and withdrew. Chunping noticed that Dongyi still looked uneasy, so she called her into the room.
Dongyi’s eyes were red, and her voice trembled with tears. “Sister Chunping… I know I was wrong. Yesterday, when I went to collect the food, I bumped into a palace maid and eunuch from the neighboring courtyard. The people in the kitchen made several cutting remarks at me. Then today, after hearing a few pleasant words, I couldn’t stop myself from feeling happy. I really know I was wrong. I won’t dare do it again…”
Chunping had not expected there to be such a reason behind it. Her expression turned serious.
“It is good that you understand your mistake. Our mistress is kind and generous, which is why she did not punish you. From now on, you must act even more steadily and cautiously outside. Other than our own people, no one else is to handle our food at any point. Do you understand?”
Dongyi hurriedly nodded again and again. “I’ll remember it all!”
*
The main hall of Haoyue Study, the residence nearest the Moonlight Gate, was furnished with exquisite luxury. Gold and jade articles could be seen everywhere. Fuguang brocade, which would have been impossible to buy even for a thousand gold pieces outside the palace, had been spread over the daybed as a mattress and made into cushions. Its extravagance was self-evident.
Four pots of golden-edged daphne had been placed far away in the courtyard.
Even with the matrons sent by the Empress keeping watch over her, and imperial physicians coming to check on her health every other day, Lady Chu did not think the Crown Princess would dare to tamper with that potted flower. Still, to err on the side of caution, she had the flower placed far away from her quarters.
"Master, that Lady Shen..." a maid at Lady Chu's side suddenly spoke up in a soft voice.
Lady Chu rested her hand gently on her belly, first frowning slightly, then said nonchalantly, "What's the rush? It's only been a day. Now that there are new concubines in the Eastern Palace, even if it weren't her, there would be others."
Among the four new women, Lady Wu was clearly a sharp, overambitious sort. For all her good looks, she was no threat at all.
As for the leading Lady Zhang and Lady Liu, whose petty schemes were written all over her face, Lady Chu did not spare them a single thought.
When it came to that Lady Shen, Lady Chu let out a soft chuckle. "What a pity..."
Her personal senior maid stepped forward with a cup of tea, having missed the soft murmur under Lady Chu's breath, and said with a smile, "The most important thing now is the little imperial grandson in your belly. Once you give birth to a healthy, fine little imperial grandson, your good days are still to come. Even the Empress will surely look at you with new respect then."
Lady Chu stroked her belly tenderly, a look of determined triumph on her face. "Imperial Physician Zhao has already confirmed that the child in my womb is a little imperial grandson, no doubt about it. When my son is born..."
A look of proud glory came over her as she patted her belly gently. "My son is bound to be bright and clever. He must strive to do well in the future, and crush that sickly boy into the dirt..."
*
"Your Highness, the Empress told us to bring Little Prince to her to see him long ago. We have already declined twice. If we refuse again this time... I am afraid it will make the Empress feel displeased."
Inside the Hall of Fragrant Gatherings, Matron Zhou pleaded in a low, earnest voice. "The imperial physicians also said that the Empress's ailment was brought on by long-term overexertion, and it is not contagious. Little Prince has been in better health lately, so it should be quite safe."
But the Crown Princess rejected the idea without the slightest hesitation, frowning and saying, "The Empress has been ill for ages and has not recovered. She knows full well that Zhang'er has been frail since he was a child, so she should be all the more careful of his health. What if he catches a chill when going out? What if the sickness passes to him?"
"Besides, the Empress has long disliked me because I failed to give the Crown Prince a healthy child. Now she has bestowed new concubines on the Eastern Palace, and no doubt she is eagerly looking forward to those women giving birth to heirs for the Crown Prince soon. If that's the case, why bother to trouble my son?"
Matron Zhou's face fell, and she tried to persuade her again, "Your Highness..."
"Say no more, Matron. That little life in Lady Chu's belly is the apple of the Empress's eye now. It's only been a few months, but the rewards being lavished on Lady Chu flow like water, all to prop that lowly woman up at my expense." The Crown Princess said coldly. "I'd like to see just what that belly of hers can produce."
Seeing that the Crown Princess was full of resentment toward the Empress and stubbornly refused to yield, Matron Zhou had no choice but to give up.
...
"Your subject greets Your Majesty, may Your Majesty live a thousand years in peace and prosperity." The Crown Princess stepped into the Palace of Earthly Tranquility, bowed her head, and greeted the Empress respectfully.
Seated at the top was the Empress, dressed in a plain purple informal robe with wide sleeves, no makeup on her face. Even so, one could still tell she had been strikingly beautiful in her youth, though now her face was pale and lined with exhaustion.
The Empress's eyes, which had been full of hope a moment earlier, darkened when she saw the Crown Princess and the retinue behind her.
"Where is Zhang'er?"
This was the first time the Empress had not told her to rise immediately. The Crown Princess felt even more certain that the Empress was deliberately making things difficult for her. Her heart filled with rising resentment, and the tone of her voice unconsciously turned stiff.
"Replying to Your Majesty, the imperial physicians say Zhang'er's illness has not yet healed, so it is not suitable for him to go out, lest he be invaded by cold pathogenic air. Your subject did not bring Zhang'er here, and asks for Your Majesty's forgiveness."
Seeing the look of resentment that the Crown Princess could not hide even with her head bowed, the Empress closed her eyes for a moment, then waved her hand to dismiss her, deciding that out of sight was out of mind.
The Crown Princess's face froze slightly. She had come to pay her respects and tend to the Empress during her illness, but she had been sent away only moments after arriving. If word of this got out, her reputation and dignity would be completely ruined.
She forced a stiff smile. "Your Majesty..."
The Empress looked at her with a solemn, expressionless face. "There is a concubine in the Eastern Palace who is with child now. It is your duty to look after her with all your care. You do not need to come here every day to pay me respects for the next few months."
At those words, the Crown Princess's face changed slightly, but looking after the heirs of the Eastern Palace was indeed the responsibility of the Crown Princess.
The Crown Princess bowed her head. "As Your Majesty commands. But while Your Majesty's illness has not healed, and the Crown Prince is busy with government affairs, tending to Your Majesty with care and performing the duties of a daughter-in-law is what my filial piety demands. Otherwise, I would never be able to rest easy."
The Empress frowned, and Nanny Fan at her side said with a gentle smile, "The Empress naturally knows of the Crown Princess's filial piety. But the imperial physicians say Her Majesty's illness requires quiet rest above all, and keeping a cheerful mind is the most important thing."
The Crown Princess's expression did not shift, but her hands clenched tightly under her sleeves. That old hag was implying that her visits to pay respects were making the Empress unhappy!
Nanny Fan seemed not to notice her reaction, and continued speaking in the same unhurried, pleasant tone. "Now that the Crown Prince has very few heirs, the Crown Princess should take good care of her own health, so that she may soon give birth to another child for the Crown Prince."
The Empress raised a hand to rub her forehead. "Nanny Fan is right. From now on, you only need to come to see me once every ten days. You may leave now, Crown Princess."
