67 Chapter 9: Imperial Dr. Yen, Rumors of a white woman (2/2)
”So, could you mean that she hated the redeeming talk?” Consort Gina asked.
”Probably. The other party was a large patron, but he had not just wife and children, but even grandchildren. Moreover, if she worked for another year, her term of service would be over. As many wander after they had extreme stress, you can give them a combination of calming drugs and scents, but, well, you only calm them down.”
”Hmm.” Ren rested his hands on his chin, looking amused. ”Is there anything after that?”
”Don't Know” Yen remember the so-called ghost consort whom she had briefly met.
The Consort had the social status of one who attained the rank of high-ranking consort. She danced as a hobby but was timid and easily nervous. She failed when she had an audience with the emperor. Excluding her dancing, there was nothing about her that stood out in particular. Two years after entering the court, she had yet to be chosen. She was eventually bestowed to her childhood friend, a military official, and she should be happy right now, Since, the emperor never touched her.The docile, fair-skinned consort passed through the central gates with flushed cheeks, no matter what anyone said the day she left was when she was at her most beautiful.
Consort Gina had dismissed Ren and her maids a little while after. It was just Yen, Princess Wuying and Herself in the room. ”Isn't it fine to talk to me at least?” Consort Gina asked
”Not a word to anyone then,”
”My lips are sealed,” Consort Gina promised. Yen began her tale of another sleepwalking courtesan.
”She got ill due to the redeeming talks that came up and got canceled. However, the sleepwalking didn't stop after that. Prescribing medicine like last time didn't calm her down. A new redeeming talk came up for that courtesan. The brothel owner couldn't bring themselves to allow an ill person to be redeemed, but even so, he wanted to redeem her. Reluctantly, she was arranged to a contract that was half the amount of silvers of the previous redeeming talk. But this turned out to be a form of swindling,”
”Swindling?”
”The man from the previous redeeming talk was an acquaintance of the man who came afterward. When he understood that the courtesan was faking her illness, he canceled it. And then, the destined man redeemed her for half the amount. The courtesan still has her terms of service left. The man's redeeming silver was not enough to pay for it.”
”So, the Consort is similar in this case.”
”The childhood friend military official didn't have the social position to propose. He had planned to come for her one day by going up the ranks through the feat of arms.”
”The official who came for her was her childhood friend!” Consort Gina exclaimed
”However, due to politics, the consort was made to enter the inner palace. She still had feelings for the military official. So, she failed at her specialty dancing on purpose. So, she wouldn't attract the attention of the emperor. As she had expected, her body stayed clean within the two years she didn't sleep with anyone. Around the time the childhood friend collected his feat of arms and had the consort bestowed to him at his next merit, it reached the point where the consort was wandering about suspiciously.
It was so that the emperor would never valuable pick her. Were she to be chosen, the bestowing will be postponed. The consort, who prized her maidenhood, wouldn't be able to face her childhood friend again if she slept with another. She was dancing for the sake of prayers to her childhood friend who was coming back for her. For a prayer that he comes back unharmed.”
”How do I say this? Since it could be true concerning the emperor, I won't say anything.” Consort Gina looked slightly troubled. She was unable to say that the lustful emperor didn't hold any interest to the consort who desired the military official to that extent. ”If I say that I'm jealous of her, would I be a cruel woman?”
”No,” Yen said as the little Princess had been fallen asleep in her arms.