Chapter 9: ⑨ A Fortune
Although Jin Li felt something was off, she couldn't pinpoint the problem, so she had to temporarily let Shen Yuqing go and return to report.
However, the emperor, upon hearing Jin Li's report, did not believe the nonsense of Concubine Shen. But he felt that he probably wouldn't be able to get the truth out of it himself, so he had Jinli convey the message to the Empress.
As long as Shen Yuqing doesn't tear up the agreement to the queen's disadvantage, then let her be. Her intentions will eventually be revealed.
After receiving the emperor's tacit approval, Shen Yuqing found it easier to act.
The daily routine is to go pay respects early in the morning and then scrounge for some breakfast.
Unfortunately, the goal of mooching lunch hasn't been achieved yet, but Concubine Shen isn't in a hurry.
That day, she was holding Adult in the courtyard, basking in the sun, when the young eunuch Qingzhou returned from outside and whispered something in Que Ri's ear. Que Ri nodded and walked over to Shen Yuqing's side.
"Reporting to the Noble Consort, His Majesty stayed at Liu Shuyuan's Changzui Palace yesterday."
The newcomer has been in the palace for over ten days now. During this time, the emperor has spent most of his days favoring the harem, and the remaining days resting in the Hall of Purple Splendor. As for the favored concubines, except for those in high positions, the rest have basically been promoted.
As the daughter of the Minister of Justice, Liu Shuyuan originally had a good chance of gaining favor in the first few days, but she had previously offended Consort Rong by saying the wrong thing.
In front of everyone, he pointed out Consort Rong's title "Rong" and the palace "Yunxiang Palace." Even though others did not know the ins and outs of the matter, Consort Rong felt very embarrassed. Thus, under the intentional and unintentional obstruction of Consort Rong, Liu Shuyuan only received favor yesterday, being promoted from a fifth-rank Xiurong to a fourth-rank Shuyuan.
At first, before she entered the palace, the Empress planned to grant her a rank of Fifth Rank. However, the Empress Dowager saw that she was a good girl and promoted her to a rank of Fifth Rank. Who would have thought that upon entering the palace, she would offend a powerful figure? Fortunately, it's not too late to receive favor now.
"Liú Shúyuàn has received the emperor's favor; I should send some gifts." Shen Yuqing leisurely groomed the master's fur, "Manxing, go for a walk."
In the palace, there are rules: when a newcomer first gains the emperor's favor or when a concubine is promoted, high-ranking concubines must send some congratulatory gifts. The amount of the congratulatory gifts depends on many factors; generally, it is based on the rewards from the emperor, empress, and dowager empress, and it is best not to exceed theirs. However, the closeness of the relationship also has an impact. If the concubine is close to oneself, one can give a thicker layer of gifts.
Concubine Shen was a particularly fair person. Guided by the idea of "equality for all," she decided to give similar gifts regardless of whether the recipients were high-ranking or low-ranking. So, Manxing, well-acquainted with the route, quickly prepared the gifts and set off with the young palace maid Qingyan.
Although the gift from Consort Shen was modest, the capable head palace maid by her side personally made the trip, which was already a gesture of respect towards Liu Shuyuan. Liu Shuyuan personally received Manxing with a beaming smile, and only after the guests left did she angrily tear the handkerchief.
"Is the Noble Consort sending beggars away? With just this little bit, it's not even as good as what Concubine Shu sent!” Liu Shuyuan said sarcastically.
The accompanying maid quickly reassured, "Don't be angry, my lady. Actually, the gifts from the noble consort are quite generous, even thicker than those from the Consort Rong of Yunxiang Palace."
“Mentioning Consort Rong makes me angry. Consort Rong is so unreasonable. I go out of my way to please her, and she completely ignores me. Then she turns around and targets me. What kind of logic is that?"
This palace maid didn't know, so she could only remain silent.
"And that Shen Yuqing, giving such small gifts to everyone. Those low-ranking concubines in the past were one thing, but I'm a fourth-rank Shuyuan, not some lowly seventh or eighth-rank noble! How can I have the same amount as them?”
The women in the palace take their ranks very seriously; even the slightest difference in rank is a world apart in their eyes.
No matter how resentful and dissatisfied Liu Shuyuan was, Concubine Shen was not affected at all. She lazily stretched and said, "The weather is nice today, perfect for a nap."
Last night, the Noble Consort climbed over the wall again to have some fun, and Manchen, with a stern face, brought her a cup of strong tea.
Shen Yuqing squinted her eyes and took it over, looking half-asleep and dazed. As soon as she took a sip, she almost choked on the bitterness.
"Pah, you girl, what are you doing!"
Manchen wasn't afraid of her and calmly said, "If the Noble Consort is feeling sleepy, just drink some more tea."
Indeed, I felt immediately awake after drinking it.
Shen Yuqing silently glared at her twice, angrily rubbed Adult’s small belly, and got her hand bitten. It didn't bite too hard, but it couldn't be easily shaken off.
"Even you are bullying me." Concubine Shen was not happy and decided to cut today's dried fish in half.
After a while, the master glanced at the small dried fish on the plate and immediately meowed in protest. The cat slave princess glared at the little palace maid, Bi Ran, who was responsible for taking care of the cat, without saying a word: "What's wrong with you? How come my lord's dried fish is only half left? No hiding it, hand it all over!”
"......" Your Highness, you were the one who said to cut it in half!
With no regard for the situation, Man Chen pulled Bi Ran and turned to leave: "You go and restock the dried fish."
Once the others left, Concubine Shen quickly reported to her master, "Don't worry, I've already told her to bring back the dried fish. No one dares to steal your food!"
The cat lord patted the litter box cleaner's face, very satisfied.
——This situation is like a cat owner entrusting a friend to take their cat for neutering. After the procedure, the owner immediately rushes in to reclaim their cat and helps the cat attack the "bad" friend, ultimately leading the cat to be very grateful to the owner while harboring a grudge against the friend who removed its testicles.
In short, the consequence of Concubine Shen's actions was that the innocent girl Bi Ran was unilaterally given the cold shoulder by Adult for three days.
(Bi Ran: Wronged.jpg)
In order to prevent their own concubine from doing anything eye-popping again, Manchen decisively signaled the recently returned Manxing to divert the attention of Concubine Shen. Manxing glared at her unhappily, why should she go? She even wanted to go over and kick Manchen, but she didn't dare. In the end, under Man Chen's principal-like cold face, she sulkily moved over to stand beside Concubine Shen.
"Your Highness." Manxing racked her brains and finally thought of a topic, "Why didn't we see those lower-ranking concubines during today's morning greetings?"
Shen Yuqing casually replied, "There are too many people in the palace now, and the side hall of Fengyi Palace can't accommodate everyone. The Empress has decreed that concubines of the fourth rank and below no longer need to pay their respects.”
The act of paying respects, despite its bloody and treacherous nature, is still a symbol of status and position within the palace. Low-ranking concubines originally had no right to pay respects, and even if they went to Fengyi Palace, they could only stand, with no seat.
Previously, there were few people in the palace, but now there are more, so this rule has been reinstated.
In the morning when they were paying their respects, Shen Yuqing was dozing off and didn't pay much attention to their chatter, so naturally, she didn't know that they had been repeatedly discussing Liu Shuyuan's night duty. Liu Shuyuan was just below the fourth rank before, so she couldn't go for the morning greeting, thus escaping a disaster.
After finishing this topic, Manxing thought for a moment and picked up another topic, "After serving the Emperor, Liu Shuyuan was promoted to the fourth rank. Why didn't she go to pay her respects today?"
"Maybe it's just that she’s not feeling well." Shen Yuqing replied casually.
After finishing speaking, she was momentarily taken aback.
No wonder that group of women kept dissing Liu Shuyuan today; it turns out it's because she's been spoiled by favoritism.
If you feel unwell after serving in bed, you don't have to pay your respects. This rule has always existed, but most people still don't openly enjoy it. First, by going to pay respects, one can enjoy seeing the envy and jealousy of other women; second, if one doesn't go to pay respects, it would instead seem like they are taking their favor for granted. After all, others have served the emperor, and none of them were as spoiled as she was.
Shen Yuqing shook her head; this woman was so stupid that she might be the first to be cannon fodder among this batch of newcomers.
She rushed to take sides as soon as she arrived, without even understanding the situation in the palace. Now she is relying on her favor and being arrogant. I'm afraid that without the high-ranking consorts taking action, the low-ranking consorts around her could secretly harm her.
"Don't mind her, just wait and see the show." Shen Yuqing stood up while holding the adult, "Alright, enough small talk. If you have nothing to do, go deliver something to the Empress for me. Summer is almost here, and I have some fabric woven from ice silk here ......"
Shen Yuqing entered the inner hall, then, without changing her expression, took out a few pieces of cloth from the NPC's system backpack and handed them to Manxing.
Manxing was slightly surprised: "This..."
The feel of it is quite similar to Shen Yuqing's armguard.
Shen Yuqing's arm guard is worn on her left arm, with fine chains wrapped around it. The iron chains were forged by the second young lady's friend using floating iron, the outer armguard material was "kindly" provided by Poison Sister's friend, then the final product was crafted by Show Sister's friend, and finally, Cannon Sister's friend embedded the iron chain mechanism.
The main purpose of this armguard, besides protecting the arm, is to facilitate Shen Yuqing's use of lightness skills, after all, the Ming Sect's lightness skills require the assistance of chains. The material of the arm guard, ice silkworm silk, is a very rare and valuable item.
Ice silkworm silk is impervious to knives and guns, and immune to water and fire. In Shen Yuqing's original world, apart from the Wudu Sect disciples who raise ice silkworms, no one else could obtain this item. A thin layer can not only be used to make protective garments but also keeps warm in winter and cool in summer, providing warmth and heat resistance.
However, the disciples of the Five Poisons don't like to share the Ice Silkworm Silk with others, and buying it with money won't work either.
Given that her sister's friend is so stingy, Shen Yuqing had no choice but to unleash her assassination skills.
——If she can't get it openly, wouldn't she steal it?
So, this pile in Manxing's hands is actually all stolen goods...
"This fabric makes clothes that are cool to wear in summer. Take it to Han Qiu and have her make two sets of undergarments for the Empress."
"Your Highness, how do you have so much..." Manxing's red lips parted slightly, her eyes lost in thought, murmuring.
In Dayan, ice silkworm silk fabric is even rarer. In the original world, there were at least a group of people who raised ice silkworms and could mass-produce ice silkworm silk. In this world, however, the ice silkworms are all wild animals, and humans cannot domesticate them. Therefore, ice silkworm silk is rare and hard to come by, and saying it's worth its weight in gold wouldn't be an exaggeration.
Now, her family is going to use "golden cloth" to please the future daughter-in-law, and the reason is "this thing is cool to wear in summer"?!
What?! Do you dare to say that again?! Why???!
Comments
Post a Comment