Chapter 46 - Everybody fit into the chain of causality

It didn’t take long for Noble Consort Shu to come after being invited. She apparently heard Consort Yue’s accusation to her on the way. After she entered the hall and saluted the Empress, she said with a faint smile before she sat down, “I heard that many puppets were found in the pool of Ning Bi Hall, cursing all the hostesses in the Imperial Harem except Consort Yue, even including my tribe sister, but Consort Yue insisted I did it. Are you dizzy or something?”

Consort Yue sneered, “It must be you. Without your support, Yun Fenghuang is nobody. How dare this bitch turn against me, a consort, as soon as she joined the Imperial Harem?!”

“What are you talking about?” Noble Consort Shu giggled, glanced at Yun Fenghuang, and said in a gentle voice, “My tribe sister has always been virtuous and gentle. If she was really unruly as you said, I’m afraid that she would have been punished by Your Highness, then how could she be promoted again and again?”

Everyone in the Imperial Harem knew what Consort Yue cared about the most, and how to hurt her deep, so Noble Consort Shu added on purpose, “Besides, since the newcomers joined the Imperial Harem, my tribe sister ranks the top to be summoned to serve His Majesty. It can be seen that His Majesty also thinks that Gui Ren Yun is a good person. You have been serving His Majesty for so many years, but how can you not even like the person His Majesty likes? As a concubine, you should be at least generous to other concubines!”

Consort Xin sneered and supported Noble Consort Shu, “I agree with Noble Consort Shu. We joined the Imperial Harem when His Majesty married Her Highness. It has been almost ten years since then. However, we are too useless to give birth to any child for His Majesty except for Noble Consort Gui who is pregnant now. Finally, the newcomers joined the Imperial Harem and they are all young and beautiful. Consort Yue should learn from them instead of occupying His Majesty alone! Anyway, you can’t even give birth a child!”

Consort Xin was particularly delighted after saying these words. There was a story between them. Several years ago, according to the arrangement of the Empress, Emperor Chunjia rested in Cheng Yue Palace. Consort Yue who was just pregnant at that time excusing that her belly was uncomfortable and sent a maid to forcefully call away the Emperor who had already lain down on the bed… Consort Xin felt shameful and not pleased, but she did not want to speak out to abreact like a complaint because of her high-hearted character. Moreover, she didn’t even mention it when she paid respects next day.

But someone spoke out this thing on behalf of her. Any concubine who was in Consort Yue’s shoes would be wise enough to insist that she was indeed uncomfortable and afraid, so she sent someone to call the Emperor, and then apologized to Consort Xin on the spot. If so, their contradiction wouldn’t have gone so far.

However, Consort Yue said at that time, “All of us get in the Imperial Harem together. His Majesty goes to Consort Xin’s palace a few times every month, but she hasn’t been pregnant at all until now. Given the case, why bother to have her occupying His Majesty?”

Consort Xin always felt regretted that she had not rushed up to tear Consort Yue’s mouth on the spot. It was because her character developed by generations of scholars didn’t allow her to act as a shrew.

Now after a few years, she finally avenged herself, and there was even a smile on her impassive face.

Empress Ji watched the scene of bustle with a smile. Seeing Consort Yue jumping from the ground to fight with Noble Consort Shu but was pressed by the maids, she touched the step shake gold beside her temple and said lazily, “Consort Yue, you insisted that Noble Consort Shu framed you. Now she is here, do you have any evidence? You should know that you are only a consort, but Noble Consort Shu is one of the noble consorts! If you defame the high-grade noble consort without reason, even if I want to spare you, you will be punished according to the palace rules!”

Consort Yue said angrily, “Since all of you have colluded to frame me, is there any significance to ask me these things now?!”

“If you think it is insignificant, you got anything significant to say?” Noble Consort Shu sneered lightly, “You said those words back and forth. Even though you are not bored, we are all tired of listening. What you can say is either ‘all of you are bullying me together’ or ‘I definitely didn’t do these things, and someone must have framed me’. As a woman at your age, can you be a little bit more mature? Don’t always lie and tell nonsense. Seeing you, our young sisters might think that the rest of us elder concubines are all like you. If so, it’s really shameful for us!”

Consort Yue struggled again and was about to fight with Noble Consort Shu… But she was pressed again.

Empress Ji smiled and glanced at the maid beside her. The maid understood and came over to report in a low voice, “Queen Mother of Mercy had got the news just now and was about to go to Hu Zhu Palace to help Consort Yue, but she felt dizzy as soon as she stood up… An imperial doctor has been summoned and is making a diagnosis and giving treatment for her now!”

“It’s really hard for her.” Empress Ji hummed softly, “She has been making efforts for so many years…”

The Empress did not go on and only said, “It seems that she definitely will not come over. If so, there is no need to waste time with this stupid woman.”

Therefore, the Empress directly charged Consort Yue for the crimes of cursing the concubines in the Imperial Harem and condemning Noble Consort Shu. “If someone else had done such a thing, I would never be so lenient! However, for one thing, I should think of the decency of Queen Mother of Mercy; and for another, Consort Yue has accompanied His Majesty even before His Majesty ascended the throne. In the final analysis, she is not like us. I can’t bear to punish her in accordance with the rules exactly even if His Majesty didn’t speak for her.”

The Empress pondered for a while and finally decided to demote Consort Yue as Jie Yu, accompanying her screaming and weeping.

“My Lady, you are really kind.” Hearing this, Noble Consort Shu said with a smile, “However, the palace rules stipulate that only a concubine with a grade of Fu Ren or above can keep her title, so will her title ‘Yue’ retain?”

Empress Ji glanced at Consort Yue, who was still howling, and said casually, “After all, she was a hostess of a palace, so just leave it to her as a comfort.”

Hearing this, both Noble Consort Shu and Consort Xin laughed together.

Because when Yuan Lianniang was promoted to be a consort, she should have a title in accordance with the rules. However, several titles proposed by Emperor Chunjia were rejected by the Empress for various reasons. The word “Yue” was determined to be her title after a lot of negotiations between the Emperor and the Empress.

Originally, this word was not bad, and Emperor Chunjia explained to Yuan Lianniang that it represented she was the woman he truly loved in the Imperial Harem… However, when Yuan Lianniang was still happy to get the title, she heard indirectly the Empress mentioned this title when she was chatting with Noble Consort Gui, Noble Consort Shu, etc., “Of course, the titles His Majesty proposed are excellent, but I don’t think Yuan is worth them. In the end, I finally persuaded His Majesty to choose the word ‘Yue’. After all, she is only a small thing His Majesty used to like. He just brought her into the Imperial Harem for fun, so she doesn’t worth so many attentions.”

Yuan Lianniang was furious!

She wanted to resign the title, but how could the Empress allow that to happen. After all, she had made so much efforts to persuade Emperor Chunjia to accept the title.

Later, the Emperor coaxed her several times, saying that no matter what kind of malice the Empress held, he really felt that Yuan Lianniang was the only person he really loved, so he agreed to use this word as her title… Finally, she reluctantly accepted it.

Now this title was mentioned by the Empress in public, so Yuan Lianniang was angry, hateful and regretful. Under intense emotions, she suddenly closed her eyes and even fainted!

Seeing this, other concubines didn’t show any sympathy on their faces, and Noble Consort Shu even reminded the Empress, “My Lady, Jie Yu Yue is still grounded. Since she is degraded now, should the punishment continue?”

“My Lady, I think we’d better keep her grounded.” Consort Xin immediately said, “After all, although Jie Yu Yue was grounded in Hu Zhu Palace for the past two days, she still framed me and Noble Consort Gui. If she is released, I’m afraid there would be a big mess in the Imperial Harem.”

Noble Consort Shu said, “I agree with Consort Xin… Actually, I think that it’s fine that Jie Yu Yue condemned me and other concubines, but for Her Highness, she dared to… She is really a sinful person! It’s better for her to copy the Buddhist scriptures to pray for blessings for My Lady so that she could slightly compensate for her mistakes. How does it sound?”

… When the story went here, Yun Fenghuang had already got nothing to do.

But Empress Ji accepted Noble Consort Shu’s suggestion and decided to let Yun Fenghuang supervise Jie Yu Yue to copy the Buddhist scriptures.

Yun Fenghuang was speechless.

Asking her to work as a supervisor was really… great!

However, she was afraid that Queen Mother Yuan and Emperor Chunjia would act too fast that her work as a supervisor wouldn’t be long!

But Yun Fenghuang had no need to worry about this. As soon as Empress Ji dealt with the matter and dismissed other concubines, she immediately went to Chun Yong Palace to complain to Queen Mother Yuan tearfully, “I don’t care whether she prays for me or not. I don’t believe this. I mainly want to take advantage of this matter to soften Jie Yu Yue’s tempers… After all, she did such things in public. How could I not deal with the matter impartially even if I wanted to support her? I know I have little talent and learning, and am not beautiful enough to please His Majesty. It’s fortunate that Jie Yu Yue is in the Imperial Harem to share the cares and burdens of His Majesty on behalf of me… I care about her so much. How can I bear to punish her?”

Before Queen Mother Yuan spoke, she continued to cry, “Actually, there are not many hostesses in the Imperial Harem now, and Gui Ren Yun is just a concubine! If Jie Yu Yue had only cursed other concubines, I would have given up my dignity and persuaded them one by one, trying to decrease the influence of this matter. But Noble Consort Gui is different, she is now pregnant! His Majesty hasn’t had any child so far, so the unborn child in Noble Consort Gui’s belly is so important… Previously, when Jie Yu Yue ordered to flog the Cai Nv who secretly slept with His Majesty to death, Grandmother was furious!”

“If this matter is known by Grandmother again, I don’t know how to explain… Mother, I know that Jie Yu Yue must hate me very much at this moment, and she certainly thinks that I did this deliberately to punish her!”

“But how could I think like that? I, I really am out of choice! Waah, waah…”

Queen Mother Yuan was speechless.

What could she do?

In accordance with the palace rules, after Jie Yu Yue cursed so many concubines, and publicly slandered the consort whose grade was higher than hers, it was natural if she was sent to the Cold Palace… Now, she was only degraded to Jie Yu, and the Empress also mentioned the history that Jie Yu Yue had flogged the Cai Nv who had been pregnant to death. Also, the Empress Dowager… Even as the Queen Mother of Mercy, what could she say?

She couldn’t even say anything to reverse the verdict.

After all, the Empress had been so lenient and now she even came over to explain to her, an insignificant mother-in-law. Any questioned and opposed words Queen Mother Yuan said now would make her seem to be very clumsy.

Indeed, Yuan Lianniang had been frivolous and insatiable before, but that was because she was protected by her aunt Queen Mother Yuan and Emperor Chunjia. Now Queen Mother Yuan herself was now in her own palace, so who could protect her?

“…” Queen Mother Yuan finally sighed and said softly, “You are a good wife of His Majesty. Lianniang is always self-willed. You are really aggrieved!”

She pretended to be kind and gentle when she talked with the Empress for a while, and finally pulled the topic back to the matter about sending Yun Fenghuang to supervise Jie Yu Yue to copy the scriptures, “I’m afraid it’s improper. The reason why the group of concubines including Gui Ren Yun joined the Imperial Harem is to give birth children for His Majesty. In particular, Gui Ren Yun has been frequently asked to serve His Majesty. If she goes to supervise Lianniang, isn’t it a delay if the Emperor summons her?”

Empress Ji smiled and said, “Mother, you can rest assured. His Majesty have been staying in Gui Ren Yun’s residence for long enough these days. If he goes on like this, I’m afraid I wouldn’t be able to suppress the grievances of the other concubines who joined the Imperial Harem with Gui Ren Yun at the same time… Therefore, I intend to go to see His Majesty in a few moments and request him to summon other concubines one by one as the rules stipulated.”

She thought secretly, “So, just rest assured. Gui Ren Yun has lots of time to supervise your niece!”

Seeing Queen Mother Yuan stunned, Empress Ji fanned the flame, “Besides, I’m doing this for the sake of Jie Yu Yue. Although Jie Yu Yue is degraded, she is still the hostess of her palace and Gui Ren Yun is just a Gui Ren! The reason why I send her to supervise Jie Yu Yue is just to ease the anger of Noble Consort Gui, Noble Consort Shu and Consort Xin, or they would say that I always favor Jie Yu Yue! In fact, even if Gui Ren Yun will go to Ning Bi Hall, she has to serve Jie Yu Yue to copy the scriptures. Mother, am I right?”

“…” Queen Mother Yuan was silent for a while, and then chuckled, “You’re right. It’s time for Lianniang to learn some lessons.”

The problem was that Yuan Lianniang didn’t think so!

After she woke up and saw that Yun Fenghuang standing not far away, holding the scroll and ink in her hand, and arrogantly urging her to copy the scriptures quickly without delay, she almost went crazy!!