Chapter 426: A complicated situation (2/2)
Once they had reached the palace, Long Feiye headed for the imperial study while Han Yunxi went for the empress dowager’s Palace of Heaven and Earth. Before they parted ways, he left her with the words, “Let’s go back together afterwards.”
Han Yunxi’s ambitions to go out and play were thoroughly crushed by this statement of his. By the time she arrived at the Palace of Heaven and Earth, all of the imperial harem concubines were already there, sitting in their appropriate seats along both sides of the hall. The scene reminded Han Yunxi of the very first time she’d visited the palace, though the people had changed. The empress dowager was still sitting in the seat of honor, but she was flanked on her left by the most favored Noble Consort Xue instead of the empress. Next to Noble Consort Xue was the crown prince’s consort, Mu Liuyue. On the right of the empress dowager sat Noble Consort Ning, and next to her was an empty seat meant for Chu Qingge.
With Han Yunxi’s status, she was at least equal to the four Noble Consorts, but no one had left her a seat in this room. However, she’d long expected this sort of thing from these women. She’d start worrying if Empress Dowager Li had actually offered her a chair. After finishing her greetings, Empress Dowager Li bade her sit. Gui mama placed a chair next to Mu Liuyue, and Han Yunxi sat down without a fuss, her perfect composure a match to any of the members present.
As if I couldn’t read Empress Dowager Li’s intentions! Her eyes swept over the other sitting above her and took it all in. The Noble Consort Xue by Empress Dowager Li’s side was the Li Clan’s daughter by a concubine. Although favored, her birth status and the recent scandal with the Li Clan’s embezzling ways made it impossible for her to be empress. She only had the right to vie with Chu Qingge for favor and not the throne. Now that Chu Qingge was here, Empress Dowager Li’s greatest fear was that the girl would claim the throne. The empress might be insane and the Li Clan fallen, but the empress dowager was still here! The crown prince still needed to consolidate his strength to take the throne.
As long as the imperial harem existed for one more day without an empress, the empress dowager had the full right to call the shots. But if Chu Qingge really gained the position, it would be only natural for the girl to assume command over the various palaces. By then, Empress Dowager Li might as well turn into Grand Concubine Yi, eating vegetarian meals and praying to Buddha day after day!
Han Yunxi withdrew her gaze and glanced over at Mu Liuyue. As the crown prince’s consort, it was very possible this girl would be the future empress. In a sense, she too, had to compete with Chu Qingge “for the throne.” If Chu Qingge became empress and gave birth to a son, then the crown prince’s claim to the throne would be in danger.
The power struggles of the imperial harem was a complicated web that implicated everyone! However, none of this had anything to do with Han Yunxi. She wasn’t some imperial concubine, but the Duke of Qin’s one and only consort. Empress Dowager Li had most likely summoned her here for her to tussle with Chu Qingge. Then she could snatch up a victory between their fights.
Han Yunxi could admit that she greatly disliked Chu Qingge, but she’d come today to see a show, not fight with the imperial harem. She picked up her teacup and slowly enjoyed its taste, allowing the empress dowager, Noble Consort Xue, Mu Liuyue and the rest to chat and joke amongst themselves while remaining silent.
Very soon, there was an announcement from outside the door. “Noble Consort Chu arrives!”
The next thing they knew, a splendidly attired Chu Qingge stepped into the hall. The long train of her dress was held aloft by two servant girls specially employed for the task. Two more servants flanked her on her left, while an old eunuch supported her hand on the right. Her bearing and presentation was almost akin to Empress Li back in the old days. It had to be said that a delicate and pretty girl like her looked quite charming and elegant when dressed in such resplendent palace robes.
However, it didn’t seem like Chu Qingge had spent the past six months very well, because she was much thinner than she was before. Han Yunxi was quite wicked as she mused that Emperor Tianhui must adore Chu Qingge in her current getup right now.
It was only Chu Qingge’s second day in the palace, but she was already putting on such airs to greet the empress dowager. Empress Dowager Li hide her displeasure in her heart as she maintained an amiable expression.
“Noble Consort Chu, hurry and rise. Come to this Dowager’s side so I can have a good look at you.”
Han Yunxi smiled coldly. Didn’t she say the same words to me when I came to pay her respects?
Chu Qingge came to sit by Empress Dowager Li’s side, shooting a hateful glare at Han Yunxi. Han Yunxi had nothing to do with this, does she? Why is she here? To see what a big joke I am?
Empress Dowager Li clasped Chu Qingge’s hand and examined her closely, before sighing with emotion. “It’s no wonder the emperor likes you so much. There isn’t anyone else in the imperial harem who can compare with your looks.”
Chu Qingge was an arrogant mistress. She didn’t shy from the compliment, but only smiled slightly. Han Yunxi grinned from her seat as well. The empress dowager’s words were calculated to exaggerate Chu Qingge’s charms, thus making her an enemy of every other woman in the imperial harem.
Noble Consort’s smile was cold. “Imperial Mother, none of the women in the imperial harem can measure up to the size of Noble Consort Chu’s dowry, either!”
Before Chu Qingge had arrived, her older brother Chu Tianyin had already told her about the complex relationships in Tianning’s imperial harem. He also made clear that her mission was to snatch the position of Tianning’s empress. She was quite clear on what Empress Dowager Li and Noble Consort Xue were trying to do, and was about to reply when Mu Liuyue suddenly spoke up.
“There’s also only one person with no dowry at all.”
“No dowry? Does such a person exist?” the empress dowager was bewildered.
“Imperial Grandmother, didn’t Qin Wangfei have no dowry when she married? Whether or not we’re comparing people to people or things to things, the former always dies and the latter gets thrown away eventually. There’s no point in such comparisons. Let’s talk about something else, instead.”
Han Yunxi was sitting right next to Mu Liuyue, but she simply brought up topic like it was nothing and laughed obnoxiously loud. It really was a blatant provocation. Still, Mu Liuyue’s speaking skills really had improved. Her words not only pushed Han Yunxi down, but resolved Chu Qingge’s little problem as well. Unfortunately for them, Han Yunxi remarked unaffected by her remarks. If she could be defeated that easily, she wouldn’t be Han Yunxi at all.
Empress Dowager Li and Noble Consort Xue both exchanged significant looks without a word. Chu Qingge only felt puzzled. What does that Mu Liuyue girl mean by this? What’s her position in all this? Is she trying to help me? Naturally, she knew how Han Yunxi had ruined Mu Liuyue’s reputation in a bet. Although her brother had told her time and again not to clash against Han Yunxi, Chu Qinggestill couldn’t swallow her grudge. She’d do her best to get that empress title for her brother’s sake, but she’d never forgive Han Yunxi, either!
“No dowry? That’s impossible, right?” Chu Qingge couldn’t resist as she looked over at Han Yunxi.
Han Yunxi was really too sick of such pointless topics. She picked up her tea and drank another sip, refusing to say a word. Let’s see how Mu Liuyue keeps the farce going this time!