Volume 3, Chapter 26: Affinity (1/2)

Red and white white-powder flowers bloom en masse.  Some also have black, round beads that were dropped by the flowers. Maomao went beyond it. A field of long grass extended out. Ring, ring. She heard the bell-like sound of insects.

Maomao eased her way through the grass. There was the shadow of someone squatting in the centre of the field. The girl, who was tall yet innocent, was catching insects and putting them inside the insect cage. She had put in one, two, three, when she finally noticed Maomao standing behind her.

What is it? You want to gather them together?

Shisui smiled in satisfaction as she showed her the insect cage. Maomao shook her head, then slowly dipped her head. When she looked up and was about to speak, Shisui shook her head and pressed her index finger to her lips.

Can we stay like for a little longer? Weve just become close.

Shisui had garnered something Maomaos attitude. A somewhat forlorn expression gave rise in her innocent smile.

I guess that cant do.

She heard a voice call calling for someone at a distance. The court ladies were searching for Consort Rouran.

Shisui stood before Maomao and held out the insect cage. A bell sound ensued.

This insect, you know. When the female lays eggs, she eats the male. Yet they make such a pretty sound.

Lashes lowered, Shisui whispered into Maomaos ear.

Its as if, it is just like here.

That wasnt the innocent voice of a young girl. It was a slightly hoarse womans voice. And then.

Bad insects carry calamity. Its up to the doctors to stop it.

Shisui passed by Maomao. When Maomao turned back, the innocent young girl was nowhere to be seen. The dignified woman was surrounded by several maids. A stunning gown was draped over her shoulders. Rouge was applied to the make-up-indifferent lips, a huadian was pasted onto her forehead. When she put on the coronet that had the feather of a curious foreign bird, the court lady Maomao recognised disappeared right there.

Consort, lets return in haste.

I know.

The womans wooden voice left Maomao behind.

There was a clear wall. A mere court lady and a high ranked consort, if they werent master and servant, there is no tangent.

And, Maomao and the consort wearing the feathered coronet had no tangent.

As the long feather wavered in the wind, the consort and her entourage left.

Treating Maomao as though she wasnt there.

And then, only the bell sound resounded in the insect cage.

Bad insects carry calamity.

What was the thing that Shisui said at the end supposed to mean? Maomao groaned as she polished the silverware. Were her hands to stop while she was groaning, the head maid Honnyan could turn up out of nowhere and scold her so her hands cannot stop. Lately, her fists that seem to hollow out were rapidly improving and came quite often.

(Bad insects and calamity?)

Was this some sort of metaphor? Or was the meaning as it is? Maomao could go either way for calamities and like. In this world, bad things happening could be due to anything.

However, speaking of doctors for calamities, that could also be said as a kind of disease.

(There are also diseases carried by insects.)

That meaning?

(Or she could be teasing me?)

It can be taken either way. However, Maomao considered the young girl who is called Shisui. Regarding her, speaking of knowing nothing, she knew nothing. Speaking of knowing to a certain extent, she knew.

In other words, she had no idea.

While knowing nothing, night approached, and the emperor came. When she saw Consort Gyokuyous swelled abdomen, she made a complicated expression. She heard that he had been diligently visiting Consort Rifa recently.

Maomao slurped the congee that was added with aromatic vinegar and glanced at the emperor. He was looking at his daughter, Princess Rinrii, with affection.

Once, the emperor asked Maomao when Consort Gyokuyou wasnt around. About whether there was a method to tell the sex of the child in the abdomen. I dont know. Maomao could only shake her head.

She recalled the emperor saying, I see as he lowered his gaze slightly.

With the two high ranked consorts having a child in their abdomen at the same time, when it becomes like this, the gender distinction and order of birth was important. The first to be born will be Consort Gyokuyous child, however, the gender is unknown. If the child is female, what could become of it?

Honestly stating her impressions, it seems the emperor wanted Consort Gyokuyou to give birth to a boy. This doesnt necessarily mean that he is slighting Consort Rifa. It seems that between Consort Gyokuyou and Consort Rifa, more than the difference in favour, Consort Gyokuyou is more convenient to the emperor one way or other on the political side of things.

With Princess Rinrii on his knee, playing with her by blowing the pinwheel, he appears to be a good father, but he is a court official. For the noble ones, blood relatives are allies and enemies at the same time. Historically, the relatives of consorts even if she gave birth to a son whose fathers become a hindrance, get erased, are very many.

At least, regarding Consort Gyokuyou and Consort Rifas relatives, that concern is less, must be the emperors consideration.

(What a cunning old man.)

And he also heads to other consorts places.

Yesterday, he should have gone to Consort Rouran.

.

What is it?

The movement of the spoon scooping the congee had stopped. Honnyan asked with a slightly dubious expression.

No. Its nothing.

Maomao placed the congee bowl down on the table and rinsed her mouth. And then she started on the next side dish.

Maomao worked as a food taster in the Jade Palace like this, but what about the Crystal Palace. She was concerned about whether the maids at Consort Rifas place have become decent.

Glancing at Consort Gyokuyou, Maomao closed her eyes. This time, she thought of trying to ask even Gaoshun.

The next day, Gaoshun turned up alone; he had various previous arrangement with Honnyan. Jinshi seemed to be busy as he was working on something in the imperial court again.

According to Gaoshun, the court lady that was newly assigned to Consort Rifa was a middle-aged woman who has passed her forties plus another three young court ladies. It seems she was the person who had educated Consort Rifa and her former head maid in the past he said that they didnt overlook that point.

Maomao somehow imagined Honnyan and Suiren together split into two, and put her hands together for the Crystal Palace maids.

Leaving that aside, Shaomao.

Gaoshun said, the wrinkles of his brow creased more than usual.

Maomao had a somewhat unpleasant feeling and subconsciously knitted her brow as well.

This is about Consort Rourans older sister.

Maomao gave a start.