Without mentioning how Concubine Miao would react upon returning from her horseback ride to Consort Ning’s cutting remark, Qi Daiyu was genuinely at her limit. Her legs were trembling uncontrollably. Seeing the red marks from friction on her thighs, Shiliu was heartbroken and carefully applied ointment for her. Qi Daiyu couldn’t even muster the energy to feel embarrassed—her entire body ached so much she didn’t want to move a single finger.
She hadn’t expected this body to be so delicate. Resigned, she said, “Go and ask for leave from Her Majesty the Empress. I won’t be attending the banquet tonight.”
Since she wasn’t going out, Qi Daiyu wore only her inner garments, her hair loosely tied up. Thinking of the hunting grounds, she found Animal World and began watching leisurely.
When dinner arrived, Shiliu set up a small table by her bed and laid out the meal. Qi Daiyu looked at the spread—eight skewers of roasted lamb, half a roasted lamb leg, two roasted rabbit legs, along with some vegetables and a cooling soup.
The chunks of lamb on the skewers were enormous, sizzling with oil, looking irresistibly delicious. With the first bite, the rich, savory flavor of the lamb burst in her mouth.
Not a hint of gaminess!
Is it strange to watch Animal World while eating barbecue? Qi Daiyu suddenly wondered.
It wasn’t until the next day that Qi Daiyu learned something major had happened at last night’s banquet.
Chaoyun County Mistress’s husband, Yuan Zishi—the younger brother of Concubine Shu—had gotten drunk during the banquet and quarreled with her. The County Mistress, overwhelmed with anger, had even started bleeding! The Emperor was furious and ordered Yuan Zishi to kneel on the sacrificial horse platform.
“He knelt all night and still hasn’t gotten up!” Noble Lady Qin said cheerfully. “The Grand Princess is furious at his recklessness and hasn’t interceded for him. Minister Yuan knows his son is at fault and can’t bring himself to plead for leniency either.”
Having heard that Qi Daiyu was also unwell, Noble Lady Qin had come to visit her and share this juicy piece of gossip.
“I also heard that the reason Yuan Zishi got drunk at the banquet was because he and Chaoyun County Mistress had already argued before it. She even scratched his face! At the banquet, someone teased him about it, and he felt humiliated, drowning his anger in alcohol—which led to what happened later!”
“Guess why Chaoyun County Mistress quarreled with him?” Noble Lady Qin teased, drawing out the suspense.
Qi Daiyu was genuinely curious and played along. “Why? Tell me already!”
Gossip-tellers loved nothing more than an eager audience, and Noble Lady Qin’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “Because Yuan Zishi visited a brothel, and Chaoyun County Mistress found out!”
“You might not know this, but Chaoyun County Mistress is the eldest daughter of the Grand Princess. She was raised in luxury, pampered beyond measure, and can’t tolerate even the slightest offense. When she married into the Yuan family, it was only because they promised that Yuan Zishi wouldn’t take a concubine unless she bore no children by the time he turned forty. The County Mistress always took pride in this, mocking noblewomen whose households were filled with concubines and maids. Who would’ve thought Yuan Zishi would sneak around behind her back?”
“Other families at least take concubines properly, but Yuan Zishi was carousing with courtesans! Chaoyun County Mistress’s pride was utterly shattered—no wonder she was so furious. If she were unharmed, they might have reconciled, but if she loses the child… the Yuan family and the Grand Princess’s household will likely clash even more.”
Noble Lady Qin mused that even if a conflict did arise, the Grand Princess might not come out on top. Though she bore the royal title, the Emperor didn’t hold her in high regard, whereas Minister Yuan was currently indispensable to the court.
Qi Daiyu hadn’t understood these intricacies before—her sources of information were so limited she hadn’t even known Chaoyun County Mistress was married to Concubine Shu’s brother. Now, after hearing such explosive gossip, she couldn’t help but sigh.
“Chaoyun County Mistress was naive to believe such a promise.”
Qi Daiyu had learned that in this dynasty, officials faced strict restrictions on taking concubines, requiring various conditions to be met. Even the highest-ranking ministers could have no more than two concubines. Violating these laws could lead to dismissal from office.
But where there were rules, there were loopholes. If concubines weren’t allowed, what was stopping men from keeping maids as bedmates? The censors couldn’t exactly pry into people’s bedrooms. And if children born to these maids couldn’t be registered in the family records or official registers? Well, they could always be recorded under a concubine’s—or even the wife’s—name.
Such tricks were all too common.
Even in Qi Daiyu’s own family, her father, Qi Caishang—a minor eighth-rank official who didn’t meet the requirements for a concubine—had still carried on with a maid. What could her mother do? Nothing, except help cover it up.
Such was the way of this male-dominated era.
That was why Qi Daiyu thought Chaoyun County Mistress was naive.
Noble Lady Qin gave her a look. “I think you’re the naive one. No other woman would dare make such demands, but this is Chaoyun County Mistress—the Grand Princess’s own daughter! Even if the Grand Princess is… well, as long as she holds that royal status, who would dare cross her? Think about it—the Grand Princess only has two daughters, but has the Grand Princess’s consort ever been involved in any scandals? It’s not that he doesn’t want to—he simply doesn’t dare.”
If the Grand Princess’s consort did step out of line, even if the Grand Princess wasn’t favored, all she had to do was kneel before the palace gates. Would the Emperor ignore her? Not when it would shame the royal family.
Qi Daiyu realized she was right—she still didn’t fully understand this era.
“I didn’t think deeply enough,” she admitted. Glancing at Noble Lady Qin, she couldn’t help but feel there was more to her than met the eye. Noble Lady Qin seemed to live for food and drink, carefree and blunt, yet her understanding of court politics and the Emperor’s inclinations was anything but superficial. Was she playing the fool? Or was she simply wise in an unassuming way?
Every woman in the harem was far from simple.
Unaware of Qi Daiyu’s scrutiny, Noble Lady Qin was still laughing about last night’s events. “What a pity I wasn’t there to see it firsthand.”
Qi Daiyu blinked. “You didn’t attend either?”
Noble Lady Qin looked slightly embarrassed. “I overate the day before and had terrible indigestion. I was so uncomfortable I had to beg off.” She sighed. “What a waste—finally out of the palace, and I didn’t even get to hunt or ride.”
This was something Qi Daiyu could relate to. “I wanted to ride too, but after just an hour of practice yesterday, I could barely move today. Who knows how much fun the others are having out there…”
The two chatted in the tent for a long while, until Qi Daiyu began to look drowsy. Only then did Noble Lady Qin take her leave.
Once outside, the smile Noble Lady Qin had maintained for so long finally faded. She rubbed her cheeks. “All that talking has left my throat dry. Bring me a bowl of milk later.”
Xiangchun hesitated. “...You already drank plenty of tea in Concubine Qi’s tent.” Not to mention all the nuts she’d eaten.
Noble Lady Qin waved it off. “It’s fine. Milk won’t give me indigestion.”
She gazed toward the distant woods, where faint cheers could be heard—perhaps the Emperor had bagged a good hunt.
And Concubine Qi… she really had been too unwell to attend the banquet.
It seemed she’d overthought things. Noble Lady Qin’s eyes grew distant.
With a laugh, she said, “When the Emperor returns, I’ll ask him for a fine fur!”
