Chapter 210 - 182: Reaping the Leeks

Not many people knew the full story of Gu Zhaoyi and the Emperor’s "love affair."

Their first meeting was in the Plum Garden on a snowy day. In the Emperor’s eyes, it was just him and this snow-white Immortal, viewed as if through a perfect beauty filter, alone in the world. But in reality, the Emperor was never truly alone. The cleaning eunuchs and palace maids on duty in the Plum Garden saw everything clearly. It was the kind of backstory that newly arrived concubines could pay to unlock.

It was just that few people thought to inquire about it.

After all, anyone who had seen Gu Zhaoyi would think it was perfectly normal for her to be favored.

With looks like hers, it would be stranger if she were left on the shelf.

"Before catching the Emperor’s attention, Gu Zhaoyi went to the Plum Garden to dance every single day. That was when the snow was at its heaviest. Some eunuchs even started a betting pool on how many days it would take for her to catch a fatal cold. But she persisted and finally won the Emperor’s favor."

After hearing the information she’d bought from a eunuch who had been on duty, Consort Ji mused, "It seems that besides her beauty, it was her persistence that moved the Emperor."

"My Lady..."

"If Gu Zhaoyi can dance, so can I."

Consort Ji, believing she had figured out the underlying logic behind how Gu Zhaoyi had won favor, set out to become the most beautiful sight in the harem. The recent autumn weather was crisp and refreshing, so putting her plan into practice wasn’t too grueling. She didn’t just dance in the Plum Garden; she also spent silver to find out the Emperor’s general whereabouts. Though she only guessed right three times out of ten, she had at least managed to appear within his line of sight.

However, the Emperor’s gaze never once fell upon her.

What brought Consort Ji a small measure of comfort was that it wasn’t just her who had failed to receive the Holy Favor; none of the other new concubines from her cohort had either.

After half a month, she grew impatient. At Xin Daying’s urging, she once again decided to follow Gu Zhaoyi’s path.

She went to Bihua Palace to request an audience with Gu Zhaoyi.

Standing outside the gate, Consort Ji was calm and composed, waiting for Zhenqiu to welcome her inside, when she saw someone peeking out. The person was dressed as a concubine, with a face like a silver platter. One could roughly tell that she had been a Beauty when she was thinner, but she wasn’t unattractive even now. Her bright, lively eyes gazed at Consort Ji with curiosity. When their eyes met, she curtsied to Consort Ji as etiquette required.

It turned out to be Chen Cairen, who lived in a side hall of Bihua Palace.

"Please rise, sister," Consort Ji said, stepping forward to help her up. Unlike the formerly arrogant Guo Xiao Yi, she was gentle. "In fact, you are my senior, sister. I was only granted the position of Noble Lady because my father has some minor achievements at court. I don’t have any close sisters in the palace, but now that I’ve met you, I feel we have a real connection."

Just as Consort Ji was speaking with great sincerity, her smile like a blooming flower, Zhenqiu came out.

"Her Ladyship is a bit tired right now. We must ask you to return, My Lady."

Hearing that Gu Zhaoyi would not see her, Consort Ji didn’t press the matter. She performed a curtsy toward the inner palace from the main gate of Bihua Palace and then departed.

Once they were a good distance away, Lu Qi said indignantly, "Mrs. Chen is merely a Cairen. Why did you have to be so nice to her, My Lady? You said so much to her, and she didn’t react at all." What really made her feel it was unfair to her mistress was that Gu Zhaoyi had refused to see them, but she didn’t dare say it aloud, mindful of the other’s high rank.

"Lu Qi, watch your words. I have only been in the palace for a few days. A Noble Lady is nothing in this harem, and I haven’t even received the Holy Favor. What reason do I have to be arrogant? Being kind to others is the best strategy. For Chen Cairen to move into Bihua Palace with Gu Zhaoyi, she must be someone Gu Zhaoyi values highly. Since Gu Zhaoyi was unwilling to see me, I treated Chen Cairen with courtesy for her mistress to see."

Consort Ji looked back at Bihua Palace.

Bihua Palace consisted of three courtyards, surrounded by red walls. Even without going inside, one could see the palace’s opulence and bright, stately grandeur from the outside. In contrast, her own Yizhu Pavilion, even after spending silver to have the Imperial Household replace the furnishings, could only be described as "cozy." It wasn’t even as nice as the rooms of a legitimate daughter in the Ji Mansion.

"If she could walk that path, then I definitely can too."

...

After watching Consort Ji leave, Chen Cairen slipped back into her room.

"Is Her Ladyship in the main hall? I’m going to go see her."

He Xiang reminded her, "Her Ladyship is tired and was about to take an afternoon nap."

"That’s just what she says to outsiders. The entire Bihua Palace could be asleep, and she still wouldn’t be resting," Chen Cairen said with great certainty. And sure enough, when she went in, she saw Jiang Xian reviewing palace affairs.

Jiang Xian wasn’t surprised to see Chen Cairen enter. She looked up. "Did you see Consort Ji?"

"I did."

Chen Cairen repeated their conversation.

After listening, Jiang Xian smiled faintly. "She’s a bit smarter than Guo Xiao Yi, but just too impatient."

It was no secret in the palace that Consort Ji was copying Gu Zhaoyi’s old methods for winning favor, even imitating her style of dress. There was just one difference. Back then, apart from Mrs. Chen who lived with her in Yizhu Pavilion, Jiang Xian had no other friends. Consort Ji, however, came from an impressive aristocratic family and shared common ground with other concubines from similar backgrounds. In less than half a month, she had made quite a few good sisters and had companions for everything she did.

Even the self-important Guo Xiao Yi had started associating with her after Consort Ji paid her a visit.

"I think her temperament is better than Guo Xiao Yi’s was."

"Having smallpox is an ordeal. The fact that it left no marks on her skin shows she has great endurance," Jiang Xian commented. "When it comes to vying for favor, she’s much more serious than you are. You were only proactive for, what, less than five days?"

Chen Cairen chuckled.

Everyone has their own way of life, and she felt perfectly free and at ease now. Bihua Palace had been a bit quiet before, but with the Eldest Prince’s arrival, Chen Cairen now had a playmate.

Chen Cairen asked, "Listening to you, it sounds like you’re not only not worried about her, but you actually admire her?"

"It’s neither of those."

"She’s copying you to vie for favor. Shouldn’t we make the first move...?"

Chen Cairen raised a hand and made a throat-slitting gesture at her own neck.

He Xiang shot her a sideways glance. ’For someone who hasn’t schemed a single day in the palace, her suggestions are surprisingly ruthless.’

The people in the inner room were unaware that a figure in bright yellow had silently arrived outside. A crowd of Palace Attendants knelt on the ground, their knees pressed to the floor in complete silence.

Liang Yuyin broke out in a cold sweat. ’Chen Cairen is far too bold with her words!’

Separated by the wall and window, he couldn’t see Chen Cairen’s throat-slitting gesture. Otherwise, his assessment wouldn’t have been limited to just "bold with her words."

Xie Che had come over right after changing out of his court robes. He’d overheard the entire conversation and understood the whole situation. But it took him a good while of thinking outside the window before he could even remember who this Consort Ji was.

It wasn’t that he was heartless; he was in charge of all the civil and military officials of the court, and he never let his personal affairs interfere with public duty.

For a concubine he had yet to favor, he could only recall the aristocratic family behind her.

At that moment, the image that surfaced in Xie Che’s mind was the old face of Consort Ji’s father.

Liang Yuyin peeked at the Emperor’s expression.

’Hearing one concubine plot to harm another, the Emperor actually showed a hint of delight on his face?’

’Xian’er is jealous,’ Xie Che thought, his heart filled with tenderness. ’She loves me so much. As for Consort Ji, isn’t this still just the plotting stage? I just need to coax Xian’er and get her to give up the idea. One should be judged by actions, not intentions. Xian’er is only making a mistake that all lovers in this world make, simply because she loves me too much.’

The next second, however, Gu Zhaoyi’s laughter rang out from inside the room: "The Emperor is going to live to be over a hundred. There’s a selection of new concubines every few years. If I have to make a preemptive strike every time, what does that make me? A living Yama, wielding a scythe to reap leeks, one harvest after another?!"