Double Queens GL - Chapter 29

Chapter 29

“Miss, I heard that yesterday Lady Yu was caught bad-mouthing Lady Zhang behind her back, calling her an ‘idiot beauty.’ She apologized to Lady Zhang in front of the Empress, and everyone thought the matter was settled. Who would have guessed that once they left the Central Palace, Lady Zhang beat Lady Yu? Many people saw it! This Lady Zhang has become so arrogant since siding with the Central Palace; she actually dared to assault Lady Yu in front of all those palace servants. She’s simply lawless!” Ye Meng spoke of the gossip currently sweeping the palace. Since Lady Yu had just sought refuge with the Eastern Palace, Ye Meng felt that Lady Zhang hitting her was equivalent to hitting someone under their own protection; they couldn’t let it slide.

“Did Yu Changping send anyone to complain, or did she summon the imperial physicians?” Ye Guichen asked. Given Yu Changping’s obsession with self-preservation, if she were truly beaten, she would have called a doctor immediately. Furthermore, Yu Changping was no pushover. Having just turned to the Eastern Palace for shelter, she would surely want Ye Guichen to preside over justice. Although she lacked the Emperor’s favor, her father’s rank was not low; she wasn’t someone people could bully at will.

“No, she hasn’t. But so many servants saw it—surely it can’t be a total fabrication?” Ye Meng asked.

“People love to make a scene more dramatic than it is. They likely had a verbal spat and some pushing. It shouldn’t have come to actual harm, or Yu Changping would have come here to complain,” Ye Guichen said indifferently. Although she managed the six palaces, she preferred not to involve herself in matters outside her strict duties unless necessary, lest she attract unnecessary trouble.

“Could it be that Lady Yu feels she has no power and is just swallowing her pride because she’s afraid of Lady Zhang?” Ye Meng pressed.

“You underestimate Yu Changping. If she came to us, I would have to intervene. The fact that she hasn’t suggests she can handle it herself. Don’t worry about it, A-Meng. That Zhang Qingyu, no matter how much she rants, can’t overturn the heavens.” The only person who truly worried her was Liu Hening.

…

Meanwhile, Liu Hening was in an excellent mood, enjoying a bath after the other beauties had finally worn themselves out and gone home.

“At first, they were quite constrained, but by the second half, they were really into the game. We should hold more activities like this so they can truly let go,” Liu Hening said happily to Liu Yan and Yu Zheng while bathing.

“In a while, the ladies of the harem will be completely corrupted by you,” Liu Yan joked.

“How is that corruption? I’m helping them rediscover their true selves so they can live a bit more happily in this palace. There are so many women and only one husband; if they spend all day thinking only of how to please him when most of them won’t see him once in a fortnight, how dismal and boring their lives must be,” Liu Hening sighed. Many here, like Huachao, were not living happily.

“That’s true. They did seem much happier playing with you today,” Liu Yan agreed.

Yu Zheng, listening nearby, was stunned. She had thought the new Empress gathered the beauties just for her own amusement, but it turned out she wanted everyone to be happy.

“Actually, I think Huachao is the unhappiest person in the palace. I want her to be happy most of all, but she won’t come—she disdains playing with a crowd. She’s too serious. Even when she’s unhappy, she doesn’t want anyone to know. Such a proud woman,” Liu Hening mused. She thought back to Ye Guichen coming to warn her this morning; she had been so angry, yet she couldn’t even vent properly and ended up pretending to be sweet. Recalling Ye Guichen’s reluctant “coaxing,” Liu Hening couldn’t help but smile.

“Miss, what exactly did the Eastern Empress come for this morning?” Liu Yan asked, her curiosity piqued.

“That is a secret between me and Huachao. I won’t tell you!” Liu Hening laughed. She knew Huachao wouldn’t want others to know, and she refused to do anything that would make her unhappy.

“By the way, Yu Zheng, has anything interesting happened in the palace lately?” Liu Hening asked the usually quiet guard.

“This servant does not know what Your Majesty considers ‘interesting,'” Yu Zheng replied honestly. Liu Hening’s perspective was far from ordinary.

“Just say whatever.”

“Everything is just daily trifles, though there is one rumor: they say Lady Zhang beat Lady Yu after they left here yesterday.”

“Yu Zheng, do you think Qingyu would actually hit Changping?” Liu Hening smiled.

“I did not witness it, so I cannot draw a conclusion,” Yu Zheng replied strictly.

“Yan, what about you?”

“Hard to say. Zhang Qingyu is simple-minded but has a fiery temper. If provoked, she might lash out,” Liu Yan said.

Liu Hening shook her head with a smile. “Qingyu is a paper tiger. It’s already good enough if Changping doesn’t bully her. If she managed to bully Changping, the sun would have to rise in the west. Sometimes weakness is a weapon. With someone as frail-looking as Lady Yu, could you really bring yourself to strike her? Qingyu only looks tough; her heart is actually the softest. Strength isn’t always about outward appearances. Right, Yu Zheng?”

“Your Majesty is correct. One must not look only at the surface,” Yu Zheng agreed.

…

After the bath, Yu Zheng brought over new winter clothes and ceremonial robes from the Palace Clothing Bureau for Liu Hening to try on.

“I have so many clothes already, why more?” Liu Hening asked. She hated palace attire for being too cumbersome.

“It is the custom to provide new clothes before the Winter Solstice. This time, the Eastern Empress specifically instructed the bureau to tailor yours to be simple and elegant, matching your personal style,” the head of the bureau explained.

“Let me see.” Liu Hening’s interest flared at the mention of Ye Guichen’s personal involvement. She took the clothes; indeed, while they maintained the imperial patterns, the design was much lighter and more refined—simple yet dignified.

“Huachao truly handles everything flawlessly,” Liu Hening sighed with genuine admiration. Huachao didn’t want her to lose the dignity of an Empress by dressing like a commoner, yet she respected her preferences. She is truly the perfect helpmate for Junshen, Liu Hening thought. She almost envied Yang Zhao for having such a wife, but then she remembered that Huachao didn’t actually love him, which made him seem a bit pitiful. Of course, she momentarily forgot that Huachao didn’t like her much, either.

“The Eastern Empress also said that the Winter Solstice banquet involves all the officials and represents the majesty of the royal family. Therefore, the ceremonial robes could not be modified. She asks that you bear with them for the occasion,” the official added.

“I understand. I will listen to Huachao,” Liu Hening nodded.

“Miss,” Liu Yan said after the official left, “you’ve given away almost all your jewelry. You don’t have anything decent left for such a grand banquet! What will you do?”

“I don’t care,” Liu Hening said.

“But you are the Empress! Even if you don’t care, you have to consider the Emperor’s face!”

“I agree with Liu Yan,” Yu Zheng added.

“Being a plain Empress isn’t so bad. And if it really comes down to it, I have a way,” Liu Hening said brightly.

“What way?”

“I’ll borrow some from Huachao. She must have plenty of treasures.” Liu Hening was delighted. Now she had a legitimate excuse to go see Huachao again. If she couldn’t give her things, surely she could borrow from her?

Liu Yan and Yu Zheng looked at each other. Is this really okay? To give away all your own treasures and then have the nerve to borrow from the woman you’re supposed to be ‘competing’ with?

“She will definitely lend them to me!” Liu Hening said with absolute certainty.

Well, the maids thought, if you have the face to ask, she probably won’t have the heart to say no.