CHAPTER 33: CHAPTER 33: THE PETTY ATTENDANT LADY XI TRIUMPHANT

When they arrived at the Hanyang Hunting Ground, Yun Jiao’s eyes were still red.

Seeing Attendant Lady Xi step out with her eyes like a rabbit’s, Concubine Jiang couldn’t help but curse her as a vixen in her heart. Even during the day on the carriage, she entangled herself with the Emperor. Meanwhile, Concubine Jiang had been added to the entourage by the Empress Dowager at the last minute but didn’t even get the chance to ride with the Emperor.

The Empress, who knew well in advance that Xie Zhixing had appointed two people to accompany the Emperor, didn’t even look in that direction.

But her hand hidden under her wide sleeves was clenched into a fist, and her nails dug into her palm.

Luckily, the whispers at the hunting ground did not reach the Empress’s ears.

"Is that the favored Attendant Lady Xi?"

"Lady Shufei and Attendant Lady Xi went to accompany the Emperor. Lady Shufei returned to her own carriage first, leaving Attendant Lady Xi alone with the Emperor... quite a cunning move!"

"Even without cunning, she deserves favor. Attendant Lady Xi is so beautiful."

After Yun Jiao got off the carriage, she returned to her spot.

Qiu Lie is not an occasion for the Emperor’s amusement. During the four critical steps of forming, waiting, surrounding, and dispersing, officials skilled in mounted archery were summoned from all over the country. Members of the Royal Family and leaders of some nomadic chiefdoms would also showcase their prowess to create a deterrent effect.

And the concubines traveling along, apart from keeping the Emperor company at night, also had to undertake the responsibility of external relations, interacting with the ladies of the tribes, making it a very formal occasion.

Of course, that was the Empress’s concern.

If the sky fell, the ladies would bear it; it wasn’t anything an Attendant Lady should worry about.

Having a low rank had its benefits; they thought Attendant Lady Xi was not presentable, while Yun Jiao didn’t want to be dolled up for the occasion; she just wanted to sleep in lazily beneath the stage.

"Attendant Lady Xi, you should know when to seek favor. The Emperor will be busy until evening; you should have rested well in the carriage. If you delay official matters, it will be your fault."

As they were allocating accommodations, a tall woman strolled over and said melodiously.

Yun Jiao curtsied: "Greetings to Concubine Jiang."

Initially, only Concubine Li was on the travel list.

Concubine Jiang had average favor but was highly regarded by the Empress Dowager. She was added to the list at the last minute, hoping to increase her chance of staying overnight with the Emperor during Qiu Lie when the selection of concubines was significantly reduced. However, Lady Shufei and Attendant Lady Xi had already gotten ahead... She didn’t dare to provoke Lady Shufei, but bullying an Attendant Lady was within her power.

"I thought you didn’t know any manners," Concubine Jiang chuckled. "Everyone wants to come to the hunting ground. You must have already realized it’s not as pleasant to live here as you imagined."

Taking a deep breath, the smell was full of grass and horse manure.

The conditions in ancient times were objective, with no five-star hotels to enjoy, only countless tents. The size and comfort of the tents were determined by one’s status. The tents for the Attendant Ladies were small and crude, and combined with the differing climate, it was indeed torturing.

"Speaking of which, I wonder if the charcoal rations for Attendant Ladies are sufficient for you to bathe and stay warm, so you don’t bring an unpleasant scent before the Emperor."

After saying so, Concubine Jiang made a classic gesture.

She pinched her nose with two fingers, as if she truly smelled something from Yun Jiao.

"Huh?"

Yun Jiao was shocked.

There actually was someone who used this gesture in real life!

Seeing her dazed little face, Concubine Jiang thought she was insignificant, mocked her, and left. It was only after she departed that Yun Jiao belatedly realized that Concubine Jiang had insinuated that she had a smell! That she stank! Her occipital was throbbing, and her lack of focus led to missing the best time to fight back.

For others, they would only toss and turn sleeplessly, regretting not having a proper verbal fight that day.

Luckily, saving data had become an instinctive action.

After pondering on the spot for a while, Yun Jiao resolutely reloaded!

"In response to Concubine Jiang, I don’t think I’ll delay official matters,"

she said in a sweet voice, with flushed cheeks, "The Emperor is just too mighty, too robust! I’m merely a weak woman, accompanying him for a moment doesn’t take much of His Majesty’s energy and won’t affect official duties. However, I did work up a fragrant sweat. Thankfully, His Majesty didn’t mind and didn’t blame me! If it bothers Concubine Jiang, I apologize to you now."

Yun Jiao used a sing-song tone, successfully portraying herself as a femme fatale doted on by a powerful Emperor.

The more sincere her tone, the more infuriating it was.

Concubine Jiang was caught off guard by Yun Jiao’s display, and was equally disgusted by the term "fragrant sweat."

Who describes their own sweat as fragrant?!

Concubine Jiang was very curious about how robust the Emperor really was!

She truly had not expected Attendant Lady Xi to have this style, given that Yun Jiao was always docile when she came to Jianzhang Palace for greetings and seemed easy to bully. Concubine Wei would mock her, and she would take her snacks.

"You, you, you..."

Yun Jiao: "I’m here, Concubine Jiang."

Hitting people is about face, cursing them points out their shortcomings.

No matter what, stepping on the opponent’s most sensitive spots is the way to go.

Just when Concubine Jiang was about to explode with anger, Ying Lu waddled over: "Oh dear, Mistress, here you are, making me search everywhere!" After greeting Yun Jiao, he acted as if he had just noticed another person: "Oops, an oversight of mine, greetings to Concubine Jiang."

"What do you need Attendant Lady Xi for?"

Concubine Jiang’s expression shifted slightly, but she remained polite to Ying Lu.

After all, Ying Lu was the Chief Eunuch under the Emperor, and his presence usually meant carrying out the Emperor’s orders.

"There aren’t many concubines on this trip, so some of the previously prepared tents are empty. The Emperor, thinking of Attendant Lady Xi’s exhausting journey and having promised that her experience wouldn’t be inferior to that in the palace, instructed me to escort Attendant Lady Xi to a tent cleaned and prepared by His Majesty’s order, so she need not stay in the previously assigned one."

Eunuchs are particularly adept at reading people’s expressions.

As Ying Lu approached and observed the look on both women’s faces, he deduced the situation and guessed that Attendant Lady Xi was being bullied. Hence, he clearly explained the Emperor’s intentions, also venting a little for Attendant Lady Xi.

Not for anything else, just so Attendant Lady Xi would think well of him!

"I understand, this concubine thanks His Majesty for the grace."

Yun Jiao performed a proper gesture of gratitude, her lips curled up, and saved the data.

Letting Concubine Jiang bully her, saying she had a scent!

Yun Jiao had to admit, she was a commoner at heart. The Emperor’s actions felt like a senior covering for her in kindergarten, intimidating an upperclassman trying to bully her.

"Thank you for going to the trouble, Your Lordship."

Gong Mei, who was behind Yun Jiao, stepped forward with a pouch to reward Ying Lu.

He didn’t say much more, gratefully accepting the reward with a smile.

"Since His Majesty has arranged the tent, I dare not delay. May I proceed now?"

Yun Jiao looked at Concubine Jiang, with no trace of the previous feigned shyness on her face.

While Concubine Jiang glared at her, her smile stretched almost to her ears, causing her eyeballs to nearly pop out, and she gritted her back teeth tightly: "Then hurry along."

There actually existed a woman who would get so smug over such minor victories in this world!