Double Queens GL - Chapter 20

Chapter 20

As soon as Yu Changping sat down, the servants of the Central Palace—much like those at the Eastern Palace—served her hot tea. Still feeling the chill in her bones, she immediately took a sip. It was, predictably, excellent tea, but she didn’t dare drink too much. She already felt the urge to use the restroom, having already consumed three cups at the Eastern Palace.

Liu Hening was delighted to hear a new beauty had come to see her and emerged immediately. She saw Yu Changping slowly sipping her tea—what a “pitiable beauty” she was. Indeed, no one suited the phrase “evoking pity at first sight” better than her. The beauties of this harem truly came in a thousand forms, each unique.

Seeing Liu Hening, Yu Changping stood up at once. She wasn’t as oblivious as Zhang Qingyu and recognized Liu Hening instantly. The cinnabar mole between the Empress’s brows was particularly striking, and her bright eyes were exceptionally clear. Even when not smiling, her eyes seemed to carry a grin; when she did smile, it felt like the warmth of April sunshine—completely comfortable. In terms of raw beauty, she was perhaps a fraction behind the Lady of the Eastern Palace, but in terms of aura and temperament, no one in the harem could compare. It was no wonder she was nicknamed the “Little Guanyin”; she truly possessed that ethereal quality.

“This servant pays respects to Your Highness. May you enjoy eternal peace,” Yu Changping said, bowing respectfully.

“What is your name?” Liu Hening asked with a smile. She could tell the woman was clever, having recognized her in a single glance.

“This servant is Yu Changping, a talent who entered the palace during the Jianping era,” Yu Changping answered properly.

“Delicate greens and tender reds cannot withstand the wind’s bullying; you look so fragile it truly moves one to pity,” Liu Hening said sincerely. With a beauty like this, one feared that speaking too loudly might startle her.

“Your Highness is joking,” Yu Changping replied softly, lowering her brows with a hint of shyness. She thought to herself: How does this Empress seem more protective of “fragrant jade” than a man? If a man said this, it would seem flippant, but from Liu Hening, it felt entirely natural.

“Yan, am I right?” Liu Hening asked Liu Yan, who was standing nearby.

“Lady Yu is indeed someone who evokes pity,” Liu Yan echoed, thinking to herself: Thank goodness my mistress is a woman. If she were a man, she’d be a total playboy, praising every beauty she sees.

“If it were possible, Changping would rather have a healthy body. This ‘pitiable’ look is something I’d gladly give up,” Yu Changping said with a touch of melancholy. She didn’t like being called fragile; she’d rather be told she looked healthy. One always desires what one lacks.

Liu Hening sensed the sadness in her words and felt a wave of empathy. She reached out and patted Yu Changping’s hand.

“It will get better. It surely will!” Liu Hening said firmly. Surely heaven would show mercy to such a beauty.

Yu Changping had never heard anyone say she would “surely get better” with such conviction. She froze for a moment; this woman truly had a way of making people feel at peace.

“Thank you for your kind words, Your Highness.” Yu Changping bowed again.

“Why are you so formal as well? Did you learn that from Huachao?” Liu Hening asked with a laugh.

“Perhaps. After all, I have just come from the Lady of the Eastern Palace,” Yu Changping admitted, watching Liu Hening’s reaction. Since she went to the Eastern Palace first, she expected Liu Hening might be bothered if she were the jealous type.

“Really? She’s so busy—did she kick you out before your seat even got warm?” Liu Hening asked eagerly. She wanted to know if Huachao was just as unapproachable to everyone else.

“The Lady of the Eastern Palace has an excellent temperament. She is approachable and vastly learned. She drank tea with me and discussed ancient prose,” Yu Changping began her “rainbow farts” (lavish praise) of Ye Guichen. Good words are best spoken behind someone’s back; that way, when they inevitably reach the subject’s ears, they are doubly effective. After all, there are no secrets in this palace.

Hearing this, Liu Hening felt a twinge of jealousy. Why was Huachao treating people so differently? If Huachao wanted to talk about ancient prose, she could do that too! So Huachao likes ancient prose… Liu Hening made a mental note. Next time she saw her, she’d find some texts to discuss.

“It seems Lady Yu is quite well-liked. Not only do I like you, but even Huachao likes you,” Liu Hening said, her tone a mix of envy and slight sourness.

“Not at all. It is only that the Empresses do not find me bothersome,” Yu Changping replied. Did I just hear a hint of jealousy? she wondered. Must be a delusion.

“What specific texts did Huachao discuss with you?” Liu Hening asked, wanting to be prepared so she wouldn’t say the wrong thing and upset her again like yesterday.

“I am not sure if the Lady of the Eastern Palace would mind others knowing. I dare not speak out of turn,” Yu Changping deflected. She had already aligned herself with the Eastern Palace; even if this Empress looked harmless, she couldn’t let her guard down.

“Fine, I won’t press you,” Liu Hening said, not wanting to force her.

“The Lady of the Eastern Palace was concerned for my health and gifted me a hundred-year-old ginseng,” Yu Changping said gratefully. She brought this up intentionally to hint that Liu Hening should also offer a welcoming gift—specifically, the Restoration Pill she gave that “idiot beauty” yesterday. The pill was her primary goal for coming out today, even if the ginseng was a fantastic surprise.

Liu Hening understood the hint. Indeed, this sickly beauty needed the Restoration Pill more than Lady Zhang. But there had only been one.

“Unfortunately, there was only one Restoration Pill, and I already gave it to Lady Zhang,” Liu Hening said regretfully. She couldn’t very well ask for it back.

“Lady Zhang is truly fortunate to receive such a gift,” Yu Changping said with a face full of envy, her heart sinking. I guess the pill wasn’t meant to be.

“I still have a jade bracelet and a golden hair-pendant (step-shake). Which would you like?” Liu Hening asked generously.

“The golden hair-pendant, please.” Aside from the pill, everything else was the same to Yu Changping. She picked one at random; at least it could be sold for money to buy more tonics later.

“Yan, go fetch the golden hair-pendant for Changping,” Liu Hening instructed. Though Yu Changping looked normal, Liu Hening could sense a hidden disappointment, much like what Lady Zhang had displayed before receiving the pill.

“Um… where is the latrine?” Yu Changping asked awkwardly, suddenly hit by the urge. If she had known, she wouldn’t have drunk so much tea at the Eastern Palace.

“Lady Yu, follow me,” Yu Zheng offered, leading the mistress and maid away.

…

Meanwhile, Zhang Qingyu had taken the Restoration Pill yesterday. After a good sleep, she had woken up full of energy and vigor. She was still thinking about the ruby Liu Hening had promised her. So, after breakfast and a full toilette, she had hurried back to the Central Palace.

Because she had been sick for two days, she hadn’t eaten much. Now that she was better, she was starving and had gorged herself that morning. No sooner had she arrived at the Central Palace than she felt a sharp pain in her stomach—she needed to go.

Liu Hening’s latrine was certainly popular today.

Being familiar with Changqing Hall from yesterday, Lady Zhang headed straight for the restroom with her maid, Xiao Xuan.

When she arrived, she found it occupied. While waiting outside, voices drifted from within.

“The Restoration Pill is gone. I’m wondering if I should take the golden hair-pendant the Empress gave me and trade it with that ‘idiot beauty’ for the pill,” Yu Changping said to Shou’er while washing her hands.

“That is for you to decide,” Shou’er replied. Personally, she preferred the gold jewelry, but she knew her mistress well: no matter how valuable a thing was, if it didn’t help her health, it was useless to her.

“Who is this ‘idiot beauty’?” Lady Zhang whispered to Xiao Xuan. She didn’t know there was such a person, someone who—like her—had received a gift from the Empress.

“Um…” Xiao Xuan hesitated, not daring to speak.

“Once we leave the Central Palace, we’ll go to Xiyu Hall and find that idiot to trade. That blockhead will probably be willing,” the voice inside continued.

Zhang Qingyu’s face turned several shades of red and purple. “Is she talking about me?” she hissed, teeth gnashing.

Xiao Xuan nodded. Who is this person speaking ill of my mistress in the Empress’s own bathroom? They’ve been caught red-handed!

“She better outrank me, or I’ll shove her head into the latrine myself! How dare she call me an idiot beauty!” Zhang Qingyu was fuming. She knew she wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed, but she absolutely loathed being called an “idiot” or a “blockhead.”

When Yu Changping and Shou’er stepped out, they were stunned to find Zhang Qingyu standing right there. It was a classic case of “speak of the devil.” To be caught gossiping in a bathroom was incredibly unlucky. Although Yu Changping hadn’t met Zhang Qingyu, Shou’er’s descriptions made her easy to identify.

Zhang Qingyu didn’t recognize Yu Changping, as she had entered the palace later and Yu Changping was rarely seen.

“What is your name? What is your rank?” Zhang Qingyu demanded.

Yu Changping quickly composed herself. “This servant is Yu Changping, a humble talent,” she said with extreme submissiveness, her eyes lowered as if she weren’t the one who had just been insulting her.

“Don’t you dare speak ill of me behind my back again, or I won’t be polite!” Zhang Qingyu warned fiercely.

Yu Changping kept her head down and remained silent, appearing cowed and guilty. She gave a respectful curtsy and hurried away.

“I thought you said if she outranked you, you’d shove her in the pit? Why did you let her go so easily?” Xiao Xuan asked, confused.

“Look at her! She looks like a gust of wind would blow her away,” Zhang Qingyu huffed. “If I actually laid a hand on her, it would look like I’m a bully. I don’t want to look like a bad person.”

“Oh!” Xiao Xuan replied. Her mistress was a typical paper tiger. Physically, Lady Zhang was the strongest woman in the palace, but survival in the harem required brains, not brawn. That Lady Yu, on the other hand, clearly wasn’t as simple as she looked.