CHAPTER 78: CHAPTER 77: ADDING TROUBLE

Zi Yue’s words made her anxious at the prospect of ruining the garment, and she tensed up. Her lips pursed, and the tip of her nose began to bead with sweat from the exertion!

Xiao Xizi, standing by, couldn’t bear to watch any longer and cautiously suggested, "Mistress, why don’t you take a break? I’ll go brew a pot of fine tea for you..."

It was the first time he’d seen his Mistress struggle like this. She was clearly an official’s daughter, so how could she be so clumsy? Ai, but one couldn’t blame the Mistress. Who wouldn’t want to be deft and clever? With her mother passing away early and no one to teach her, the Mistress was truly pitiful...

After a while, Xia Ruqing finally managed to cut out the pattern for one sleeve. Straightening her already stiff back, Xia Ruqing couldn’t help but wipe the sweat from her brow.

"Finally, it’s done!"

With that, she immediately asked Xiao Xizi to brew tea and fetch some pastries.

Zi Yue took the sleeve to examine it. "Although the corner here isn’t cut very well, if I trim it a bit, it will be almost perfect..."

Perhaps because she hadn’t held high hopes, Zi Yue actually thought it turned out quite passable. With a bit more confidence, she smiled. "If both pieces are finished early, we might even embroider some patterns on them. The Emperor would like that even more..."

Xia Ruqing nearly choked on her tea. She hurriedly wiped her mouth with a handkerchief and pleaded, "Sister Zi Yue, please spare me! If I ruin a perfectly good garment with my embroidery, then what?"

Zi Yue considered this but insisted, "You still need to learn some basic stitches..."

Seeing that Zi Yue couldn’t be persuaded, Xia Ruqing simply dropped the topic. "Forget it, forget it, we’ll talk about it later. I’m exhausted right now and need to rest..."

Zi Yue shook her head helplessly and ceased her persuasions.

Xiao Xizi, however, stepped forward to say, "Sister Zi Yue, our Mistress doesn’t rely on embroidery for a living. She needs to take things slowly and not rush..."

This comment made Zi Yue feel a bit embarrassed, and she playfully tapped Xiao Xizi. She reproached, "What do you mean by that? It sounds as if I’m the one at fault."

Xiao Xizi chuckled, "How would I dare suggest such a thing?"

Reclining on the couch, Xia Ruqing watched them, one red-faced with embarrassment and the other playing the conciliator, a sweet contentment blooming in her heart.

Zi Yue cared for her, she knew that. Xiao Xizi cared for her too, she knew that as well. Yes, it made perfect sense. If they didn’t genuinely care for her, why would they try so hard to persuade her?

With that thought, she declared, "Just for the way you two treat me, I have to finish this garment..."

Zi Yue was torn between laughter and tears. "Mistress, you’re making this garment not for us, but for the Emperor..."

"Fine, fine, for the Emperor..." Xia Ruqing conceded.

For her Emperor husband, she had to finish it, didn’t she?

「Jiaofang Hall」

Having lost face at the spring banquet, the Empress seethed with anger, a pain akin to her liver aching.

Sister Ji came forward to console her. "Empress, she’s only become arrogant because she’s pregnant. I imagine the Emperor certainly wouldn’t like that."

"Just be patient. The Emperor is well aware. When he returns in a few days..."

Hearing this, the Empress finally managed to calm her emotions. "You’re right, Sister Ji. It was just a momentary lapse on my part."

"On that day, she had just punished Honored Lady Lan and Honored Lady Xi when the Emperor promoted them shortly after..."

"Neither of them is particularly favored, so it’s unlikely they truly have the Emperor’s grace. It must have been to spite the Noble Consort. It seems the Emperor is very displeased with her."

The Empress finally smiled. "The Emperor being displeased is precisely what pleases me..."

"Precisely, Your Majesty. Don’t let this matter affect your health. Taking good care of yourself is what’s important; you’re still young!"

The Empress’s smile faded slightly, a flicker of worry in her eyes, but then she nodded.

As the conversation turned to Honored Lady Lan and Honored Lady Xi, the Empress thought, "Now that they have been promoted to Honored Ladies, it’s somewhat inappropriate for them to continue squeezing into Xihuai Palace with Consort Zheng Pin—and there are still two Ladies there."

After thinking for a moment, she instructed, "Yu Lan, have them move to Yaoyue Palace. Consort Yun still has empty side halls there; clean out two side halls for them to move into."

Yaoyue Palace, where Consort Yun resided in the main hall, was situated just in front of Xifu Palace and indeed very close to the Noble Consort.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Yu Lan responded and went to pass on the message.

Sister Ji then smiled. "The Empress is truly wise."

Yaoyue Palace was so close to the Noble Consort’s Xifu Palace. Living there would be perfect to aggravate the Noble Consort. If the Noble Consort found them an eyesore, let her torment them as she pleased.

The Empress also smiled coldly, offering no comment.

Hmph! The lives and deaths of two Honored Ladies are not important. What matters is that they can frustrate the Noble Consort! If the Noble Consort is truly cruel enough to torment one or two of them to death, that’s none of my concern. However, the Emperor might not let her off so easily! This arrangement is simply perfect—a good strategy for both offense and defense, killing two birds with one stone!

The Empress nodded, sipped her sweet soup, and a satisfied smile touched her lips.

「Xifu Palace」

Upon hearing this news, Noble Concubine Shih was indeed furious. "The Empress is truly being so ’benevolent and kind,’ so ’generous and compassionate’!"

"Hmph! Just promoted to Honored Lady, and they already need to move residences. Lady Xia has been in her position for so long, and I haven’t seen the Empress show such solicitousness towards her," she added.

Ying Yue also said, "Lady Xia is favored, though. Even though she’s sickly, the Empress still keeps a close eye on her!"

The Noble Consort sneered as well. "Hmph! Since she herself isn’t favored, naturally she can’t bear to see others favored. A mere sickly woman, yet the Empress still takes such pains to guard against her..."

Ying Yue looked somewhat worried. "Now that Honored Lady Lan and Honored Lady Xi are staying in Consort Yun’s palace, Your Highness..."

She feared that Her Highness, in a moment of anger, would punish the two Honored Ladies, which the Empress would surely seize upon as a mistake!

Noble Concubine Shih smiled coldly. "Don’t worry, I’m not that foolish!"

After saying this, she changed the subject. "I’m feeling vexed; I want to watch a performance. Tell the Ministry of Internal Affairs to summon the best theatrical troupe in the Capital City. Also, send out invitations to the sisters in the palace to come to Xifu Palace and enjoy the play."

Hmph! So the Empress wants to get under my skin? I’ll just have to live even more splendidly. In any case, the Crown Prince is growing inside my belly. Empress, oh Empress, your mistake was that you should never have taken my place as Empress. In terms of family background, you are the Great General’s daughter, and I am the Grand Preceptor’s precious daughter. Both are families of first-rank officials in the Imperial Court; you are no more noble than I. In terms of looks, you still cannot compare to me. As for affection, there’s no need to even mention it—my cousin and I are childhood sweethearts. So, by what right do you have it?

Her crimson-painted nails dug into the flesh of her palm. Noble Concubine Shih clenched her teeth, yet felt no pain.

Cousin... Cousin...

Hearing her intentions, Ying Yue hesitated for a moment. "Your Highness, the idea is good, but the Emperor has always valued frugality. For something like inviting a theatrical troupe from the Capital City, apart from the Empress Dowager and the Empress, for us to do so..."

Generally, it was only during grand imperial feasts that theatrical troupes from the Capital City were invited, and usually by decree of the Empress Dowager or the Empress. After all, such an event would cost a considerable amount of silver. Who would spend that kind of money for mere ostentation?

Usually, if any noble lady in the palace felt bored and wanted to watch an act or two, the palace had its own theatrical troupes. The female dancers and singers were all top-notch, selected from among the common people. They were by no means inferior to those outside the palace!