Chapter 302: Chapter 302: Phoenix Seal
Changchun Palace.
This is the residence of Consort Li.
Although the Empress holds sole power in the imperial harem, the influence of Consort Li is not to be underestimated.
She is the concubine whose status is second only to the Empress.
Eunuch Fu walked in, followed by a little eunuch carrying a tray.
The tray was covered with red silk, beneath which was the Phoenix Seal that the Empress had just relinquished.
Consort Li was eating swallow’s nest, listening to the palace attendants gossip about Princess Shouning being thrashed thirty times by the Emperor.
Though the reason for the beating was still unclear, the outcome was certainly appetizing.
The usually mundane swallow’s nest tasted exceptionally delicious today.
The little eunuch ran in and said, "Your Ladyship, Eunuch Fu is here."
Consort Li was briefly taken aback, hurriedly putting down the swallow’s nest.
Eunuch Fu came in.
Consort Li smiled and said, "What brings Eunuch Fu here?"
"I am here to convey the Emperor’s decree," Eunuch Fu replied.
Consort Li quickly rose and knelt.
Eunuch Fu said, "The Empress has failed to educate her daughter properly. While she is reprimanding Princess Shouning, all matters of the harem will temporarily be overseen by Consort Li."
Consort Li was stunned.
Stunned for quite a while.
"Your Ladyship, please accept the Phoenix Seal," Eunuch Fu said.
Consort Li hurriedly lifted her hands above her head, respectfully accepting the Phoenix Seal.
Nanny Zhao quickly turned around and fetched a fine Jade Pendant to present to Eunuch Fu.
Eunuch Fu smiled and said, "I have delivered the decree. I will now return to report to the Emperor. The affairs of the harem are numerous; Consort Li must attend to them diligently to assure the Emperor’s peace of mind."
Consort Li repeatedly agreed.
After Eunuch Fu left, Consort Li asked Nanny Zhao.
"Am I dreaming?" she asked.
Nanny Zhao replied happily, "It’s not a dream."
Still uncertain, Consort Li pinched herself; it truly hurt.
She placed the tray on the table, lifted the silk, and opened the brocade box to see the Phoenix Seal inside.
This was something she had longed for in her dreams.
Had it really fallen into her lap so unexpectedly?
The palace maids and eunuchs of Changchun Palace all stepped forward to offer their congratulations.
Outside, a little eunuch came in, panting heavily, "It’s been found out."
"What exactly happened?" Consort Li quickly asked.
The little eunuch caught his breath before saying, "Princess Shouning disguised herself as a man and sneaked out of the palace, and was caught by the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion and sent back."
"Continue," Consort Li said.
"... ."
"That’s all," the little eunuch lowered his voice.
Consort Li frowned, "Just disguising herself as a man and sneaking out of the palace isn’t enough to anger the Emperor so much. Princess Shouning must have caused trouble outside the palace."
"I’ll go and inquire more," the little eunuch turned to leave.
"Come back!"
Consort Li stopped him.
The little eunuch turned around to look at her.
Consort Li said, "There’s no need to inquire about this anymore; lest it displeases the Emperor. Now that the Phoenix Seal is in my hands, plenty of people curious about this matter will surely tell me."
Nanny Zhao flattered, "Your Ladyship is indeed thoughtful."
"The harem rules are so thick, they could keep Princess Shouning occupied for two months," Nanny Zhao laughed.
Consort Li looked at the Phoenix Seal, finding it both laughable and lamentable, "Even after competing with so many concubines, I couldn’t surpass the Empress, yet the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion effortlessly delivered the Phoenix Seal to me. She really is the nemesis of the Empress and Princess Shouning."
The palace maid covered her mouth and laughed, "If she’s the nemesis of the Empress, then she’s Your Ladyship’s lucky star. In the future, Your Ladyship should invite the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion to the palace more often. There’s no way the Empress can take back the Phoenix Seal."
Consort Li thought about being stung by the bees.
It’s uncertain if she’s her lucky star, but she’s definitely the Empress’s nemesis.
...
The carriage slowly stopped in front of Duke Zhen’s Mansion.
Xie Jingchen got off first and then helped Su Jin down.
The two walked up the steps together.
Just as they were about to step into the mansion, Manager Li greeted them, "Young Master has returned. The Ministry of Justice just sent someone with a message; Marquis Dongxiang wants you to visit the Ministry of Justice."
Xie Jingchen’s head immediately started to ache.
Su Jin wanted to laugh. Was he traumatized by her father?
Xie Jingchen went to the Ministry of Justice, while Su Jin took Xingxing to the inner courtyard.
They had just entered the second gate and were walking along the corridor when they heard two maids gossiping on a small path nearby.
"I heard the Eldest Young Madam came back to the mansion, the Second Miss will surely be in trouble," said one maid.
"For sure, the Second Miss has some nerve, daring to frame the Eldest Young Madam," said another maid.
"With the Eldest Young Madam’s temper, I’m afraid the Second Miss will have to kneel in the Buddhist Hall for three hours."
Xingxing looked at Su Jin, "Miss, it’s the Second Miss of the Third House who framed you."
When Xingxing spoke, the two maids looked over and saw it was Su Jin, their faces turning ashen.
Hmm.
The acting was quite good.
In recognition of their good acting, Su Jin decided to indulge them a little.
"Tell me in detail about what you were just discussing," Su Jin said.
The two maids, trembling with apprehension, recounted to Su Jin how Xie Jinxiu had been punished by Princess Nanzhang to kneel for three hours.
The two maids thought Su Jin would be furious and charge off to the Buddhist Hall to confront Xie Jinxiu.
Instead, Su Jin simply said, "Is the Second Miss standing up for the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion for me?"
Xingxing, "... ."
The two maids, "... ."
The Second Miss framed the Eldest Young Madam.
Yet the Eldest Young Madam wasn’t angry; she even seemed a bit touched?
Does her mind work differently from normal people?
"How long has the Second Miss been kneeling?" Su Jin asked.
"Not two hours yet," a maid replied.
"You two go to the big kitchen and take some meat buns to the Buddhist Hall, tell the Second Miss they’re from me," Su Jin said.
The two maids, "... ."
Watching Su Jin walk away, the two maids looked at each other.
Once they had walked a bit further, Xingxing looked at Su Jin and asked, "Miss, aren’t you angry that the Second Miss framed you?"
"Of course I’m angry," Su Jin replied.
"Then why did you have the maids take buns to her?" Xingxing asked, puzzled.
"Having the maids deliver the buns is more effective than going myself," Su Jin smiled.
"... ."
The two maids went to the big kitchen, got four meat buns, and took them to the Buddhist Hall.
As soon as they walked in, they were stopped by a maid.
"You are not allowed to give the Second Miss any food!" the maid said sternly.
One maid said, "The Eldest Young Madam asked us to bring these for the Second Miss to eat."
The Eldest Young Madam?
How could it be that the Eldest Young Madam sent them?
The maid was still in a daze when the little maid had already placed the buns in front of Xie Jinxiu.
Xie Jinxiu said coldly, "What poison have you put in these buns?!"
The little maid hurriedly said, "There’s no poison. We brought these from the big kitchen; they haven’t passed through the Eldest Young Madam’s hands."
"Why would she send me buns?" Xie Jinxiu gritted her teeth and asked.
"The Eldest Young Madam said that the Second Miss stood up for the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion, so she sent a few buns as a token of thanks," the maid’s voice wavered a little.
Xie Jinxiu’s face turned livid with rage.
If she thinks about it, wasn’t she indeed helping her?!
In her fury, Xie Jinxiu grabbed a bun and smashed it to the ground.
After smashing three, she glared at the last bun in her hand, biting her lips.
Hunger gnawed at her stomach.
She furiously took a bite.
That expression made it seem like she was gnawing on Su Jin’s flesh instead of eating a bun.
The maid keeping watch looked on with contempt, never having seen the Second Miss act so spinelessly.