CHAPTER 60: CHAPTER 55: DRAFTING THE EDICT (SECOND UPDATE)

Concubine Jiang was filled with confusion in her heart.

Could it be that they were not looking at the same painting?

Even putting aside her disdain for Attendant Lady Xi, this Birthday Celebration Painting was the most ordinary kind one could find in the market, undeserving of any praise. It should not have even been qualified to be sent into the palace. Whichever family chose this for a birthday celebration would be laughed at for half a year, and laughed at again on their next birthday.

Yet this unremarkable painting was praised to the skies by more than half the harem.

If the Empress hadn’t left early, Concubine Jiang really wanted to ask her—Is this Birthday Celebration Painting really that well done? She truly was able to paint better than this when she was six!

At this moment, Concubine Jiang’s poor reputation in the palace became evident.

No one among the seated dared to remind her about the Jade Seal on the Birthday Celebration Painting.

Concubine Jiang turned to look, contemplating the composition and technique, finding them merely basic. She carefully examined it from right to left until her gaze landed on the small Jade Seal in the upper left corner.

At first glance, she was stunned.

She couldn’t help but rub her eyes and looked again...

Then her knees went weak!

"This painting, this painting..."

Concubine Jiang’s face lost its color; to speak disparagingly about an imperial painting is a grave disrespect!

Had she not been already seated, and with palace maids quickly stepping in to support her as the situation seemed dire, she would have slid off the chair. The more traditional the aristocratic family lady, the more the reverence for imperial power was ingrained in her bones. Her eyelids twitched slightly, almost fainting.

Below, Concubine Li, who had been kept entirely in the dark, murmured softly:

"Are they all blind? What’s so good about this painting?"

Yun Jiao’s expression was enigmatic: "Concubine Li sister, you just don’t understand; this is what I call true talent hiding its brilliance."

Concubine Li was skeptical.

She had no interest in things that required sitting down to practice. She couldn’t paint, her calligraphy was ordinary, and hearing even Concubine Wei praise it made her half believe it. She leaned closer to Yun Jiao and whispered, "Then you draw one for me when you get back."

"Sure, just wait for it to appreciate in value."

The two whispered conspiratorially.

Nearby, Concubine Wei was also whispering to Consort Xu: "Concubine Jiang figured it out, didn’t she?"

"Based on her reaction, she must have."

"Should have figured it out long ago, with such big eyes," Concubine Wei’s gaze raked over Concubine Jiang’s face: "Won’t she be scared to death? A birthday turning into a death anniversary; that would truly be a double celebration."

After a moment, Concubine Jiang seemed to regain her composure and sat up straight again.

Seeing her revive, Concubine Li quickly said, "Since Concubine Jiang doesn’t like it or appreciate it, I’ll apologize to Attendant Lady Xi on your behalf, and this painting will be returned to her. I’ll complement it with another birthday gift later!"

Since it was a good thing, Concubine Li wasn’t very willing to give it away.

Concubine Jiang naturally disagreed.

This was a Birthday Celebration Painting with the Emperor’s Jade Seal!

Yet she had just regained her breath, still feeling weak, when Concubine Li stepped forward, snatched the painting from the palace maid, packed it up neatly, and ordered her palace maid: "Go to the storage room and get my pair of treasured jade earrings; the gift is exchanged. They are also made from rare jade material. If you still find them unsatisfactory, I’ll only send Silver Taels."

When it came to family background and culture, compared to the other three concubines, Concubine Li was a bit lacking.

She was often criticized and looked down upon by them behind their backs.

Today she was adamant that it was unjust. The three of them from Xianfu Palace came to celebrate properly, with gifts not lacking, but were taken out by Concubine Jiang for public humiliation, which equaled trampling the face of Xianfu Palace. She couldn’t tolerate it.

"Concubine Li Lady, this..."

The palace maid beside Concubine Jiang hadn’t expected Concubine Li to take back the painting personally and didn’t dare defy her, so she let go.

There was no need to wait for Concubine Jiang to expel them; Concubine Li directly took her leave, not forgetting to take the two young ones with her as she departed.

Attendant Lady Sun hesitated internally!

The Sun Family had a good relationship with the Jiang Family; she didn’t want to offend Concubine Jiang.

But with one look from Concubine Li, she tucked her tail and followed along.

The three walked away elegantly, not taking a single cloud with them, leaving Concubine Jiang and the seated concubines facing each other amidst the wreckage.

"Is it over already?"

Concubine Wei was surprised.

The attendants and servant consorts, who were invited to fill the seats, felt a bit awkward, not as carefree as Concubine Wei. Seeing Concubine Jiang both angry and scared, about to faint again, they were all nervous, just hoping to safely disperse.

But some were not done enjoying the drama.

Concubine Wei exclaimed, in a volume Concubine Jiang could hear, "Can’t even appreciate a painting with the Emperor’s seal. What a waste of the Emperor’s intention; Concubine Jiang sure has high standards... No, we should call her Concubine Jiang sister. Able to publicly criticize the Emperor’s Jade Seal, Concubine Jiang completely deserves my calling her sister, truly remarkable!"

You’re impressive; I give you my thumbs up!

"I just didn’t notice the Jade Seal earlier, mistakenly spoke; surely the Emperor wouldn’t be angry with me."

Concubine Jiang was extremely upset.

"Where is the momentary slip of the tongue; that was obviously a truth spoken,"

Concubine Wei seized the rare opportunity to dampen her spirit.

And although she was angry, having made a big mistake earlier, she dared not be stubborn on the matter and could only repeatedly concede: "Please, Concubine Wei, don’t make fun of me. I said the wrong thing earlier, and I regret it very much. I wish to confess to the Emperor, but the Emperor is busy. Even sent only gifts to my birthday banquet, I am deeply anxious yet dare not disturb the Emperor in Qiankun Palace..."

Concubine Jiang spoke, and tears actually fell.

Upon seeing her cry, it was difficult for Concubine Wei to pursue further. She changed to a merciful face and consoled her hypocritically: "Alas! What a pity, Attendant Lady Xi wholeheartedly prepared a gift for you and even got the Emperor to use his seal. Speaking of this, it is indeed your fault, sister. I shall plead well for you when the Emperor visits my palace someday."

Concubine Jiang longed to shred her face to pieces but could only bite her molars and express gratitude.

With such commotion, the feast soon broke up after a while.

...

At this time, Yun Jiao lifted her head on the palanquin and asked Concubine Li, "Sister, why did you take that Birthday Celebration Painting back?"

"Isn’t this your masterpiece? They all said it was good."

Yun Jiao then realized that Concubine Li didn’t know about the Emperor’s Jade Seal: "Sister, do you know which part on it is worth the most money?"

"Just tell me; don’t keep me in suspense; my knowledge of painting isn’t high."

Not high in this was an understatement.

Yun Jiao said, "It’s valuable because the Emperor stamped it."

Concubine Li: "..."

She nearly slid off the palanquin as well.

Meanwhile, the grand farce of Concubine Jiang’s birthday quickly spread throughout much of the harem.

It’s no wonder; Concubine Jiang wanted a splendid birthday banquet, invited too many guests, and dispatched numerous palace attendants to serve the generational feast, unable to keep everyone’s mouth shut. The thing Concubine Jiang feared the most inevitably happened—it reached the Emperor’s ears.

However, the Emperor didn’t take it seriously.

"Attendant Lady Xi’s painting is indeed ordinary, but Concubine Jiang criticizing her publicly is quite unbecoming."

Thinking of this, Xie Zhixing even lost the thought of sending someone to comfort her and allay her fears.

Holding the position of a concubine, yet treating a mere attendant lady so severely.

If she were promoted to the rank of concubine, how much more could her arrogance grow? Her respect for the Empress, surely, would not be great.

On the other hand, Yun Jiao evoked some sympathy from Xie Zhixing.

She was so naive as to request his use of the seal, only for Concubine Jiang to disregard her intentions completely.

"Summon someone; I want to draft a decree."