57 Is She Human? (1/2)
GRAND CONSORT SHU
HOUGONG
”Your Highness, we have to list the women that may serve His Majesty for the week,” Court Lady Park quietly said. ”Please note that it has been a while since the emperor slept with anyone.”
Grand Consort Shu gently brushed the long silky hair that softly caressed her fingers as she ran along its length. She then neatly placed back the hair by her sleeping maid's face. The contrast of black against her pale skin made her look ghostly. Li Lian had the most beautiful hair she had ever seen.
Grand Consort Shu was in her sleeping chambers, sitting next to the mattress made for Li Lian when they had picked her up beaten at the Punishment Bureau.
Grand Consort Shu sighed as if remembering that her court lady just spoke to her. ”What now? I should force him to sleep with those vipers?”
”But it is Her Highness' job to ensure everything runs smoothly in the Dragon Palace. If Her Highness does not prove herself worthy, Grand Dowager Empress may give back the responsibility of the place to Dowager Empress Wang.”
Grand Consort Shu flinched at those words. The only thing that made her feel significant was the power she held over her son's palace as the elder of the harem.
”Alright then,” she finally agreed.
She had promised to grant Consort Wang one night with her son. But what use was that promise when the woman delayed her from rescuing her maid in time. She exerted herself to consider which concubines had been recently good to her and deserved to be rewarded.
”Her Highness must also speak to the emperor about this duty. Court Lady Nam attests that it has been a while since he visited any palace woman.”
She rolled her eyes, the problem about being the elder of the harem was having to chastise her son about matters she'd rather have him continue to do. Grand Consort Shu listed a few names from the back of her mind excluding Consort Wang. What that woman was entitled to from her was punishment for her sins. She had one chance to do something right but cunningly muddled it up.
Consort Shu bent herself over Li Lian, reaching for her maid's hand.
”A week has passed since they beat you up, but why do you still have this persistent fever?” Grand Consort Shu picked a cotton cloth and wiped the collecting sweat on her servant's forehead. ”Li'er, do you not want to dance for this mistress of yours now that she has failed you?” The woman breathed out sadly, feeling overwhelmed by her subject's condition.
After the beating, she had been swollen with some patches of bruising looking worse than she did now. The pertinacious problem was her persistent fever though pretty much of the wounds had healed. And the limp that she had whenever she tried to walk. The physicians had said it would go away with time, which was good news for the dance performance that would take place at Grand Consort's birthday celebration. She needed Le-anne to be at her best or her banquet would be shunned and looked down upon. They would spit the ground and whisper how she would always be a low-born no matter what.
”Your Highness did all she could.” Court Lady Park tried to comfort her.
She shook her head. ”But it was not enough.”
At that moment Li Lian stirred a little, her eyes slightly opening.
”Li Lian?”