RATMOFANF: Chapter 69

 Glossary

·Fu Xi (福熹): Grand Princess Fu Xi, Li Ling's mother.

·Emperor Ming (明帝): The current Emperor.

·Meng Guifei (孟贵妃): Imperial Concubine Meng, mother of Prince Zhao Jin.

·Empress Cao (曹后): The current Empress, mother of Crown Prince Zhao Bi.

·Qingluan (青鸾): Ninth Princess, Li Ling's cousin.

·Zhao Bi (赵璧): The Crown Prince, Empress Cao's son.

·Zhao Jin (赵晋): Prince Jin, Imperial Concubine Meng's son.

·Nanny Ju (菊嬷嬷): A servant attending Grand Princess Fu Xi.

·Zijin Gong (紫微宫): Imperial Concubine Meng's palace residence.

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Chapter 69: This Palace Is Anything But Tranquil These Days

The Grand Princess shot her brother a glare and replied with a cold laugh, "Save your breath. My son has no taste for that sort of thing."

Emperor Ming sensed the hidden meaning in his elder sister's words. He took a sip of tea and said, "Bi'er and Jin'er often speak of their elder aunt in my presence. They're grown now and think of their aunt, always wanting to show you their filial respect."

The 'Bi'er' the Emperor spoke of was Empress Cao's legitimate son, Zhao Bi. 'Jin'er' was Zhao Jin, born of Imperial Concubine Meng.

The Grand Princess lifted her teacup and said mildly, "It's rare that they have such regard for their aunt. However, I have my own sons and daughters, so they needn't trouble themselves. It's enough that they are filial to you."

That her nephews wished to be filial to her—Fu Xi believed it. After all, gaining the support of an aunt like her and the Zhenguo Duke Manor would be a significant asset in the struggle for the throne.

In the battle for succession between these two nephews, she, Fu Xi, and the Zhenguo Duke Manor were a prized trophy.

Empress Cao came from the Chancellor's household, and Zhou Yi was her own maternal uncle. It was precisely these two powerful backers that propelled her son onto the throne of Crown Prince. Yet, in his heart, Emperor Ming favored Prince Jin, born of Imperial Concubine Meng.

"Elder Sister, what do you think of the child Jin'er?" the Emperor asked privately, hoping his sister would stand on his side.

How could Fu Xi not know her brother's thoughts? She scoffed lightly, "The son of a songstress? How does Your Majesty expect this princess to comment?"

The Emperor knew his sister had held a grudge all these years over the matter of the former Empress. He defended, "Sister, I know you've never been able to let go of Ah Xian's death." The Emperor's eyes darkened. "It was I who failed Ah Xian. It has nothing to do with the Meng woman."

If her brother hadn't shifted his affections and betrayed her sister-in-law, how would Empress Li have passed away in despair? Although Fu Xi resented Emperor Ming, he was, after all, her closest kin. No matter her resentment, she still cared for him. It was just that Imperial Concubine Meng—Fu Xi had never given her a pleasant look.

Seeing her brother speak up for that Meng woman again, the Grand Princess said impatiently, "This princess has no wish to hear of such things. She is your consort; dote on her as you please."

She paused, a cold glint in her phoenix eyes as she warned the Emperor, "However, there is one thing. As the master of our Zhao family's empire, do not neglect state affairs for the sake of a Meng woman."

A trace of shame flickered across the Emperor's face. "Where did that come from, Sister? No matter how much I favor Meng-shi, I know my limits. Furthermore, Meng-shi is a sensible woman who knows what's important. It's only that you are prejudiced against her. If you spent time with her—"

Before the Emperor could finish, Fu Xi cut him off. "It's good that she knows her place. However, the matter of the heir is of utmost importance. Since you have established the legitimate son, focus on nurturing him properly. Your wavering heart only destabilizes the court. Moreover, prolonged rivalry between the brothers is a recipe for disaster."

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Hearing his sister's words, Emperor Ming fell silent.

Fu Xi rose. "It's getting late. I shall return to rest."

The Emperor replied, "It's been a while since you last stayed in the palace, Sister. Why not remain for a few days?"

Fu Xi said, "No. I have matters to attend to at the Princess Manor." With that, she exited the Qinzheng Dian, boarded her sedan chair, and ordered, "Return to the manor."

Nanny Ju replied, "The hour is late, Your Highness. Perhaps you should stay the night in the palace."

The Grand Princess waved her hand. "No. It's more peaceful back at the manor."

Just as the Grand Princess's sedan chair began to move, a woman dressed in lavish attire, followed by a retinue of palace maids, was seen approaching from a distance. Nanny Ju glanced at the Grand Princess's expression, but the princess merely said calmly, "Proceed."

That woman was Imperial Concubine Meng.

She walked up to the Grand Princess's sedan and performed a slow, graceful curtsey. "This humble consort learned that Elder Sister had entered the palace and came specifically to pay her respects."

Though Imperial Concubine Meng was past thirty, her graceful bearing remained peerless. Her every casual gesture seemed to ripple with boundless charm.

Fu Xi sat upright in her sedan chair, not even bothering to lift her eyelids.

Nanny Ju stepped forward, performed a curtsey to the Imperial Concubine, and said with a smile, "Your Highness, the Princess is tired today and must hurry back to the Princess Manor."

Still unwilling to give up, Imperial Concubine Meng gazed with a smiling face at the lofty Grand Princess seated high in the sedan and continued, "The night is dark, Elder Sister. Why not stay in the palace for one night? His Majesty and I think of you daily, living alone in the Princess Manor. Just the other day, I was speaking with His Majesty, suggesting you move back to reside in the palace. That way, I could attend to you daily, fulfilling a part of His Majesty's filial duty on his behalf. I hope—"

Before her rambling speech could finish, Fu Xi impatiently uttered a cold command, "Go!"

The sedan chair slowly moved away, leaving Imperial Concubine Meng grinding her teeth in fury where she stood.

However, not long after they had started moving, Fu Xi's sedan was halted once more. This time, it was a first-rank female official from the Empress's side.

The official stepped forward and bowed respectfully to Fu Xi. "Her Majesty the Empress, having learned of the Grand Princess's arrival at the palace, specifically ordered this servant to deliver some fragrant tea for Your Highness's appreciation." As she spoke, she took a tea caddy from a palace maid at her side, knelt, and presented it to Fu Xi. "This tea is called 'Snow Summit Jade Dew.' It was offered as tribute from the Kingdom of Duoluo. Only two boxes were presented in total. Her Majesty, knowing the Grand Princess appreciates fine tea, ordered this servant to deliver one box to you."

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Fu Xi replied mildly, "The Empress is thoughtful. However, I have recently been taking medicine and must abstain from tea." With that, she gave a light wave of her hand. "Let's go."

The sedan chair finally resumed its journey. After exiting the palace gates, the Grand Princess transferred to her royal carriage. Once Nanny Ju had settled the princess inside, she couldn't help but remark, "No wonder you dislike coming to the palace. It's truly anything but tranquil these days."

The Grand Princess let out a soft sigh. Perhaps she was genuinely tired from the day's events. Unlike her usual poised posture, she leaned her head gently against the carriage wall. Closing her eyes lightly, the familiar yet weathered figure she had glimpsed from the military review platform that day suddenly surfaced in her mind.

In the end, the Grand Princess did not stay overnight in the palace. Empress Cao's dignified and solemn Jiaofang Dian and Imperial Concubine Meng's resplendent Zijin Gong also gradually quieted down with the deepening night. However, the mistress of the exquisite Yilan Dian in the southwestern part of the inner palace remained unable to sleep.

The night was deep. The Yilan Dian, permeated with a faint scent of medicine, was still lit. Palace maids stood on both sides, holding their breath. In the silent hall, the only sound was the anxious shushing noise of Ninth Princess Qingluan's gold-threaded clogs pacing back and forth on the marble floor.

Anxiety was written all over Qingluan's face. It wasn't until the female official she had sent to the Zhenguo Duke Manor that day hurried in from outside, one hand holding a glass lamp and the other a scroll painting, that her expression eased.

Before the official could perform her greetings, Qingluan hurried forward to meet her. "Is it finished?" she asked, directly taking the scroll from the official's hand and eagerly unrolling it.

It was a portrait of a woman. Looking at the painting, Qingluan's willow-leaf eyebrows couldn't help but furrow. "Why is she painted with her head lowered?"

She lifted her eyes to interrogate the official. "How is this princess supposed to see her face clearly?"

The official quickly knelt. "Reporting to Your Highness, today when this servant delivered gifts to the Zhenguo Duke heir's wife on your orders, it was only for a very brief moment. The heir's wife kept her head half-lowered the entire time. This servant truly could not see her face clearly."

(End of Chapter)

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Translator's Note: check out my other work— My Younger Sister Insisted On A Marriage Exchange Wanting To Make Me The Wife Of A Marquis and The Marquis’s Beloved is a Black-Hearted Lotus (⁠*⁠＾⁠3⁠＾⁠)⁠/⁠～⁠♡

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