CHAPTER 87: CHAPTER 82: GUIDANCE IN COMPETING FOR FAVOR

"The Empress Dowager wants to summon me?"

Yun Jiao looked bewildered.

The last time she was "summoned" by the Empress Dowager, it was actually a trap laid by villains pretending with a fake edict. At that time, a eunuch bit his tongue and committed suicide in front of her, causing her to have sleepless nights for three days. Upon hearing the Empress Dowager’s summon again, her PTSD was triggered.

"Yes, my lady, please prepare yourself quickly."

"Alright, I’ll go tidy up immediately, please wait a moment."

Yun Jiao saved her game, feeling much more composed before heading out.

This time, she traveled by palanquin, making it difficult for anyone with ill intentions to harm her. She soon arrived at Changle Palace, she set aside her scattered thoughts and walked in with a slight bow.

As she approached the palace doors, a faint hint of incense could be detected. The scent of sandalwood was even stronger in the main hall, and a palace maid opened a window to let the aroma diffuse outside.

"Your servant Yun of the Yun Family greets the Empress Dowager, wishing the Empress Dowager peace and longevity."

Yun Jiao performed the ceremonial greeting properly.

The Empress Dowager did not immediately ask her to rise, which she had anticipated.

After entering the palace, the fastest lesson Yun Jiao learned was that the trope in historical novels where a long delay in being invited to rise was a form of torment wasn’t entirely true. Of course, it was a common tactic to cause discomfort, but more often it was because the person in a higher position was distracted or observing someone, so allowing someone to kneel for a little longer wasn’t a big deal, and no one thought it strange.

Amidst these small details, Yun Jiao truly realized she was in the Imperial Palace.

"Come sit over here."

The Empress Dowager raised her head, and the old lady beside her prepared a cushion for Yun Jiao to sit on.

After paying her respects, Yun Jiao sat down beside her.

Once she was seated, the Empress Dowager scrutinized her carefully.

In the selection event, many women were brought in to enhance the Imperial Family’s prestige. The Emperor was not keen on the harem, and the Empress Dowager never lowered herself to get to know a bunch of Attendant Ladies, even Consorts did not catch her eye. If one considers the harem a family, then to rise to the rank of Concubine was merely to be barely considered a member of that family.

Those below the rank of Concubine were like temporary workers, not on the official roster.

Like modern temp workers, good things never come their way, but they are always the ones blamed for the bad.

The last time she saw Concubine Xi in the Imperial Garden, she was heavily made-up, looking no less beautiful than Concubine Li. Privately, when she removed her heavy makeup and applied just a light layer of powder, she appeared even more charming than during her performances, no wonder the Emperor favored her.

"You’ve been in the palace for a while now, are you accustomed to it? It’s quite different from home, isn’t it?"

"Everything in the palace is far better than at home, with palace maids and eunuchs at my service. There’s hardly any labor required of me, but I occasionally think of home."

The two chatted about everyday matters for quite a while.

Yun Jiao held her saved game, thinking that if she misspoke, she could simply start over, unafraid of making mistakes. Thus, she displayed none of the timidity or fear expected from the daughter of a lower official facing a superior, which greatly surprised the Empress Dowager herself.

Consort Jiang previously described Concubine Xi to her as what?

Uneducated, uncouth, petty.

Previously, the Empress Dowager knew what kind of person her niece was. She didn’t fully believe the defamation of the Yun Family, but hearing much of it could still cause doubt. Now, having met Yun Jiao in person...

She was clearly a most gracious, poised, and genuinely simple-hearted good girl!

After getting a general sense of Concubine Xi’s character, the Empress Dowager finally got to the point: "It’s good that you’re comfortable living in Xianfu Palace, but why haven’t you sent soups or snacks to Qiankun Palace lately? You’re young, you need to be mindful of these things, or else you’ll fall behind the other concubines and not even know it."

Yun Jiao was taken aback.

She had considered every possibility but never imagined the Empress Dowager would urge her to vie for favor.

Does the Empress Dowager also have a KPI for palace intrigues?

Seeing Concubine Xi’s reaction, the Empress Dowager sighed inwardly.

In these times, the Emperor is unenthusiastic about the harem, and the concubines he favors are the same!

"Your Majesty, it’s rather embarrassing to say, but the snacks and soups sent daily from the Kitchen are consumed entirely by me, leaving nothing to send to Qiankun Palace."

Yun Jiao lowered her head, blushing.

The Empress Dowager thought she was shy, but in fact, she was furious.

What kind of person is this!

Asking to take food from her portions and expect her to save some to send to the Emperor!

"A good appetite is a blessing,"

The Empress Dowager was momentarily stunned, then laughed: "How can you send leftover food to Qiankun Palace! Surely, you should order a separate portion from the Kitchen, or watch over the servants to prepare a snack and stew a pot of soup yourself, so you can remind the Emperor of you. You probably don’t know, this is how the other concubines do it!"

Yun Jiao first saved her game, then straightforwardly asked: "Empress Dowager, why do you instruct me to vie for favor?"

The question was blunt, truly saving the trouble of beating around the bush or guessing intentions.

Upon asking, Yun Jiao understood that the Empress Dowager was anxious because the Emperor was not turning over his sign.

The Empress Dowager was a reasonable person; she knew sending concubines he disliked to his side was futile since the Emperor didn’t want to enter the harem. One needed to choose someone he already favored, hence the summoning of Concubine Xi.

After chatting for a while longer, realizing she was a girl with a good disposition, the Empress Dowager felt at ease sending her to the Emperor’s side.

Understanding the reason, Yun Jiao loaded her saved game.

...

"Empress Dowager, I understand your intention,"

Yun Jiao smiled slightly, astutely taking up the responsibility: "Being lifted by Your Majesty’s favor, how can I possibly refuse! I’ll go back and personally make snacks for the Emperor! However, Xianfu Palace lacks the conditions for such endeavors..."

Establishing a small kitchen is costly, most concubines cannot afford it.

Yun Jiao cannot afford it, and Concubine Li has no such needs.

She maintains her slim figure by eating very little, hence she pays little attention there. Since her relationship with Yun Jiao improved, most of the sweets from the main hall’s portions ended up in Yun Jiao’s stomach.

The task assigned by the Empress Dowager cannot be declined, so make the most of it.

"Such a small matter! How could I let you go hungry?"

With a single command from the Empress Dowager, the eunuchs moved bricks like creating sparks.

She looked kindly at Yun Jiao:

"You are a good child. As for Consort Jiang... you don’t have to bother with her too much, I have it all balanced in my heart. Relationships have their closeness and distance, but one must follow the rules, or it truly harms her. The Emperor demoting her to Consort also has my intention in it."

Yun Jiao chuckled inwardly, her voice dripping with sarcasm: "I don’t blame Consort Jiang, it’s all my fault, causing her to misunderstand me."

"You don’t need to speak for her; I know her nature."

"Empress Dowager, you are so kind and gentle. Being your niece is truly fortunate, I envy her. If I had an elder like you, I’d certainly listen to you and cherish your teachings."

Before the reigning champion of palace intrigue, do green tea platitudes work?

They actually do!

The Empress Dowager found it music to her ears.

She could see that Concubine Xi had more patience and was more composed than the average concubine, yet she indeed had little deceit. Could such an innocent child lie? Clearly, it was sincere.

She patted Yun Jiao’s hand and instructed: "I’ve brewed some soup here; you help me send it to Qiankun Palace."