The Job of an Imperial Concubine Chapter 49

Before they knew when Changfeng Country’s crown prince would arrive at the nine states surrounding their nation, winter had already set foot. The imperial concubines changed into many different styles of winter attire. Every palace received coal to keep warm. When it came to the women of the harem, a little Changfeng Country coming to pay homage wasn’t as important as whom the emperor bestowed items again to today.

Peeling a tangerine, Zhuang Luoyan sighed in a lazy manner. Stared at the snow tumbling from the sky. She placed the tangerine into the porcelain plate full of tangerines. She received a handheld brazier from Yunxi. “The snow is growing heavier and heavier today.” The place where she had used to live in her previous life seldom snowed. Even if it did, there would only be a thin layer;  one could not see a sight where a cover of white stretched throughout the lands.

“Master is bored?” Yunxi picked up the half-peeled tangerine, gently peeling the rest before placing it back on the porcelain dish. A smile graced her lips. “If Master isn’t afraid of getting cold, we can take a trip to the plum blossom garden and admire the flowers. This slave has heard that His Majesty also likes to admire the plum blossoms.”

Zhuang Luoyan shifted her weight, finding another comfortable sitting position. With a fake smile, she said, “It’s best to admire the plum blossoms in silence. It just so happens that the plum blossoms in that garden are beautiful. Seems the other sisters of the palace often go there. I will not join in the excitement.” 　　　　

Yunxi parted her lips. But in the end, she did not say anything. She had followed this master for a long time. Sometimes her master seemed head over heels in love with the emperor. Sometimes, it was hard to tell whether her master truly loved the emperor.　　

“Master, the Department of the Palace has sent the allotment of silver coal¹ and seasonal fruits for the next few days,” said Tingzhu as she entered the inner chamber. In her hands was a plate with black grapes that came as tribute. 

“During the cold of winter, it’s hard on the eunuchs to deliver things. Give them some money and a cup of hot tea.” Zhuang Luoyan knew that these black grapes had come from another country. It was truly difficult to maintain their freshness. That Xihe Palace could obtain a plate of it was already hard to come by.　　　　

“Master, be at ease. This slave has already rewarded them.” Tingzhu placed the plate down. When she had talked with the eunuchs, she heard a small rumor. Although she could treat it as untrue, it was boring in the palace, so she used it to chase away the boredom.　　　　

“You said that yesterday, Noble Imperial Concubine Yan coincidentally encountered the emperor?” asked Zhuang Luoyan with much interest after Tingzhu had relayed what she had heard.

“Reporting to Master, word has it that last night, His Majesty stayed overnight at Noble Imperial Concubine Yan’s residence. Early this morning, she received many bestowments.” Tingzhu sent a careful glance at Zhuang Luoyan. And saw that her expression was normal, before mentioning what Noble Imperial Concubine Yan had received.　　　　

Zhuang Luoyan sneered in her heart. As the emperor, in his eyes the women of the harem were merely playthings. One would fear that as the women wracked their brains to gain favor, it was merely a joke for him.　　

“Master, an eunuch from the interior department has said that His Majesty flipped your honored self’s name tag tonight,” said Fubao after he entered the room, face bright with joy. 　　

“I know.” Zhuang Luoyan tried her best to show a shy and joyful expression. Following that, she turned to look at the snowy scene outside the window, hiding the calmness in her gaze.　　　　

“Your Majesty the empress, tonight the emperor flipped Chongyi Zhao’s name tag,” said He Yu. She sneered. “One would fear the crowd of masters who visited the plum blossom garden today would be disappointed.”　　

“These women of the harem try every method to obtain favor. However, this Chongyi Zhao has some ability. His Majesty has seen many beauties yet still remembers her.” The empress flipped the page on her book, never looking up. “Back then, this palace truly underestimated her.”　

He Yu could not help but open her mouth. “Then—”　　　　

“It’s just a bit of measures. In this imperial harem, it’s nothing much. Rather, the one in Anqing Palace² is His Majesty’s most treasured thing.”　　

“But after Assistant Minister Su accused Assistant Minister Zhuang of misconduct in official affairs, didn’t His Majesty not act on the Zhuang family?” He Yu couldn’t understand. 　　

“That is the emperor. How could the matters of the outer court and inner court be the same?” The empress smiled bitterly as she set down the book. “Apart from her, who else in the palace has the rank of noble consort? If it weren’t for His Majesty taking care of this palace’s reputation, I’m afraid her bestowments would be grander than mine.”　　

He Yu’s throat tightened. She recalled the favor Noble Consort Shu had obtained these past few years, and couldn’t help but agree with the empress’ words.

“Just wait and see. The most beautiful flowers will also wilt one day. Yet this palace will always be the master of the harem. It’s not worth wasting energy on them.” Once again, a smile blossomed on the empress’ lips. But it was uncertain whether it was of relief or acceptance of no alternative.　　

After she had entered the imperial harem, from the start she felt grief, indignation, and unwillingness, until the present, where she helplessly accepted things merely because she learned to compromise.

Compromise about her fate, compromise for her family, and… compromise for the rest of her life.　　　　

Whether a Noble Consort or a Beautiful Lady, they were all confined within the imperial harem. They would bury their emotions. There were too many women in the imperial harem, and there was only one emperor. If she minded these things every day, letting her sorrow run free, wouldn’t life be miserable?

In the frigid night, wrapping oneself in a warm duvet felt more satisfying than usual. Zhuang Luoyan lay over the emperor’s chest. She listened to the rustling of falling snow in silence. And it felt even more quiet in the residence.　　

Feng Jin stroked the hair of the woman in his arms. This was a habit he had gained whenever he stayed with Chongyi Zhao overnight. His heart grew peaceful from the silence in the room. As an emperor, he was busy every day. Occasionally, he would experience this kind of peace. Truly a wonderful thing.　　

“Does beloved concubine understand the matters of Changfeng Country, whose envoys will be arriving soon?”　　　　

The emperor’s sudden question thrust Zhuang Luoyan into a bout of surprise. She didn’t have much goodwill toward this Changfeng Country. 

A few days ago, during a period of boredom, she thumbed through a history book. And she discovered that this country had defrauded others.

After a bit of hesitation, she decided to say, “This concubine doesn’t know much about Changfeng Country, and only knows they are our vassal state. The country cannot be considered vast, and the only things of note are that it’s rich in rubies and has great scenery.”　　

“Many court officials are stumped on how to receive this vassal state on its way to pay homage. Some felt they should receive Changfeng Country grandly as in the past. Some felt they should receive them according to the precedent of the previous dynasty. As if they were a feudal prince.” Feng Jin stared at the woman in his arms. “Which method does beloved concubine think is suitable?”

Under the candlelight, Feng Jin’s gaze proved very tranquil.  Zhuang Luoyan raised her head and looked into his eyes, but could not find any emotion in them. Without the slightest hesitation, she opened her mouth, but she had changed her mind many times already. “This concubine thinks that since it is merely a vassal state, then it is our subject. The rites in which a sovereign should receive its subject should be how we receive them. Additionally, it will seem cordial. Changfeng Country should understand our intention.”

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“Beloved concubine is right. The most important part of the relationship between the empire and its subjects is their fellow trust, and not these meaningless courtesies.” Feng Jin smiled, his expression when looking at Zhuang Luoyan extremely gentle.

 After Zhuang Luoyan heard the emperor emphasize the word “our,” a wave of relief washed over her. She had guessed correctly. From her observations, Feng Jin was an emperor with ambitions and aspirations. He hated the style of showing off from grandiose achievements. Therefore, Changfeng Country’s method of borrowing the name of paying homage to receive benefits would not work.

However, until a warm kiss was placed on her forehead, and the proper business was done, Zhuang Luoyan did not figure out why the emperor suddenly mentioned matters of the outer court to her. Could it be that the snow was too heavy, causing him to fall ill and his brain to muddle?　　

As she puzzled over this, Feng Jin felt the woman in his arms was speaking too frankly. If he had asked the empress or Noble Consort Shu about their thoughts on this affair, they would definitely say that both choices were right. Then, after carefully probing for his intention, they would choose the choice that he most likely agreed with. Who would answer so honestly, without a trace of politeness like her? Did she actually treat the emperor as her “own people,” and didn’t even try to hide anything?　　　　

The person in his arms had already fallen asleep. He brushed aside her bangs. Saw a peaceful sleeping face. Truly a foolish woman. She only knew that he was her man, but forgot that he was also the emperor.　　

When Zhuang Luoyan woke up the next morning, the emperor had already left like usual. She drank a cup of hot milk tea and asked, “Has it stopped snowing yet?”

“Reporting to Master, it hasn’t stopped yet. Rather, the snow has grown heavier. Master must wear more clothes once we head to the residence of Her Majesty the empress.” Yunxi draped a white fox fur cloak over Zhuang Luoyan’s shoulders. “Master looks truly beautiful wearing this fox fur cloak. No wonder His Majesty only bestowed it to your honored self.” 　　

Zhuang Luoyan smiled. “This isn’t because of my contributions. Rather, it’s because the arctic fox is very rare.” No wonder the interior supervision eunuch had yet to send a bowl of birth control medicine. Seemed like it was because the snow was too heavy.　

Yunxi smiled. “Then let’s go with the reason that this fox fur suits your honored self impeccably.”

However, the interior supervision eunuch still had not arrived when Zhuang Luoyan left to pay respects to the empress. She was shocked. Did the emperor want her to have a baby? 　　　　

She frowned slightly, unhappy and on the contrary worried.

Feng Jin flipped the page in the memorial in his hands. All of a sudden, he remembered the woman at Xihe Palace. He found her special in his heart. This time, even he didn’t know if not giving her the birth control medicine was to favor her or to harm her. It’s hard for women in the harem to get pregnant. Giving birth was even more difficult. That he didn’t have birth control medicine served to her showed how much tenderness he felt toward her. As for whether Chongyi Zhao could give birth to a son to protect herself, that was up to fate.

If Zhuang Luoyan knew the emperor’s thoughts, she would definitely curse in her heart. Getting pregnant wasn’t that easy. It’s not like when you plant a squash, you’d get a squash, and when you plant beans, you’d get beans. In fact, last night was one of her safe days. The chance of conceiving was even lower. 　　　　

No matter what thoughts lay in the emperor’s mind, Zhuang Luoyan was still eating well and drinking well. Although it was a cold winter, if she was in the mood, she would freeze fruits before eating them, craving stimulation. It made Tingzhu and Yunxi ask for forgiveness each time she did³.　　

“This is my only hobby.” Zhuang Luoyan ate a piece of iced pear. The chill ached her teeth, yet also carried a comfortable feeling that could not be put into words. Setting the bowl down, she grabbed the handheld brazier to warm her hands. Because she had eaten too many cold things recently, her period was late.　　

After a moment of thought, Zhuang Luoyan sent someone to the Imperial Academy of Medicine to summon a physician specialized in gynecology. Every few days, a physician would come to check her pulse, so there should be nothing wrong.　　　　

One hour later, an old imperial physician arrived. Zhuang Luoyan looked at his appearance and felt he had some ability. And she felt reassured to let him check her pulse.　　

Not long after, Zhuang Luoyan saw the fingers on top of the handkerchief over her wrist tremble. Then watched as the old imperial physician nimbly knelt. “Congratulations to Chongyi Zhao. Your honored self is with child.”　　　　

With child? 

 Zhuang Luoyan stared at him suspiciously, before taking in the jubilant expressions of everyone in the room. She had a faint impression that something was wrong. That elderly person’s fingers trembled even stronger than a pulse. Was he truly not mistaken?　　

Although the old physician clearly congratulated her, Zhuang Luoyan’s sixth sense was not happy about being pregnant. Restraining her doubt, she had someone reward the old imperial physician and support her into the inner chamber to rest. 　　

“Chongyi Zhao is pregnant?” asked Feng Jin, shocked. Even his voice was higher than usual.　　　　

“Reporting to Your Majesty, it is true.” Gao Dezhong carefully examined the emperor’s expression. He could not tell if he was happy or angry. “Imperial Physician Mao was the one who diagnosed her. This slave heard that even Chongyi Zhao was surprised. It has already been more than a month. Congratulations to Your Majesty.”　　

Was this the Will of Heaven?　　

Feng Jin smiled. “Since Chongyi Zhao is with child, she must be conferred a great reward.” Then he had people bestow many gifts to Xihe Palace. Just as he was about to send some imperial physicians specialized in gynecology to Xihe Palace, he heard that the Minister of Rites was asking for an audience.　　

Gao Dezhong stealthily raised his head, unable to see true happiness or anger from his liege’s face.

“Let him enter.” He set aside that matter for now. A glimmer to his expression.

The Minister of Rites had asked for an audience because of Changfeng Country. The envoys of Changfeng Country had already arrived, earlier than planned. They said that in three days, the crown prince of Changfeng Country would arrive at the capital. Although they would only receive the crown prince of Changfeng Country with the rites of a feudal prince, the Minister of Rites didn’t dare to slight him. Once he had received the news, he came to report it.　　

“Since this is the case, then the Ministry of Rites should receive him in such a way,” said Feng Jin slowly. “It’s only a small vassal state. In all likelihood, the Ministry of Rites would manage this well.”　　

The Minister of Rites quickly saluted, not daring to even breathe too loudly.　　　　

Compared to the calmness of the outer court, the imperial harem was in an uproar due to the news of Chongyi Zhao.