Double Queens GL - Chapter 33

Chapter 33

“I heard that she actually pushes the Emperor away. Just the other day, the Emperor stayed the night in Lady Zhang’s hall. Once the other halls found out, they all flocked to the Central Palace to curry favor with her, hoping she’d put in a good word for them. Don’t you think she’s afraid that the Emperor’s favor for others will surpass her own?” Ye Meng asked, genuinely perplexed.

“She is the person who nearly replaced me,” Ye Guichen replied, looking at herself in the mirror with an indifferent air. “If she were so easily replaced by others, wouldn’t that imply that anyone could have replaced me as well?”

“A-Meng misspoke!” Ye Meng slapped her own mouth several times. My brainless mouth really needs a lesson, she thought.

“That’s enough. It’s not a major issue,” Ye Guichen said, stopping her.

Ye Meng stopped, but her heart remained full of questions. “I still don’t understand. You keep the Emperor at a distance because your hearts have drifted apart and you no longer desire his favor. But why is she so willing to give that favor away to others?”

“It’s simply because she doesn’t love him,” Ye Guichen mused. “Where he sleeps doesn’t matter to her. She’s using the Emperor’s presence as a favor to hand out, making everyone indebted to her. It’s a brilliant calculation.”

In Ye Guichen’s eyes, Liu Hening lived with total clarity. Men were fickle; only by not loving them could a woman survive well in this palace. I was the fool in the early years, Ye Guichen thought, hoping for his love, fueled by the memory of my aunt and uncle’s devotion and my own pride. Reality slapped me awake. Liu Hening, however, has been clear-headed from the start. That clarity makes my past hopes look even more pathetic, which is… incredibly irritating.

“Even if she doesn’t love him, isn’t more favor always better? Favor equals power and glory,” Ye Meng argued. “Good things should be gripped tightly in one’s own hand.”

“By that logic, A-Meng, I am just as ‘stupid’ for pushing him away,” Ye Guichen said with a slight smile.

“How can you be the same? Even without favor, you are the niece of Empress Wenxian and the foster daughter of the late Emperor. With that identity, the Emperor could never mistreat you.” Ye Meng paused. Unless the Central Empress also detests being touched by him?

Ye Guichen only smiled. She knew all too well that “when the tea cools, people leave.” If Yang Zhao chose to be unkind, no one would dare speak up for her. But she didn’t want to explain the cruelty of the world to Ye Meng. “She isn’t worried, so why are you worrying for her?”

“Who’s worried about her? I just think she’s a strange person,” Ye Meng grumbled.

“She is indeed strange,” Ye Guichen agreed. The thought of seeing her again at the banquet brought a flicker of annoyance to her chest. “Enough about her. Prepare to head to Linde Hall.”

…

Outside Linde Hall, Ye Guichen’s procession encountered Liu Hening’s group.

The moment Liu Hening saw Ye Guichen, she beamed as if she had run into an old, dear friend. She took in Ye Guichen’s grand attire—the phoenix step-shake, the lotus gold hairpin, the intricate forehead makeup, and the jade pendants. On anyone else, it might look overbearing, but Ye Guichen wore the majesty with effortless grace.

In contrast, Liu Hening’s outfit was simpler. Had she not borrowed the jewelry from Ye Guichen, she might have appeared too plain for an Empress.

“No matter when I see you, Huachao, you are always so beautiful,” Liu Hening said sweetly.

“Hening is also exceptionally elegant. You surpass me in refinement,” Ye Guichen replied with polite flattery. It wasn’t entirely a lie; the jewelry she had lent her suited Liu Hening’s ethereal air perfectly.

“You are too modest. Among the many flowers of the harem, you are the ‘Flower Sovereign,’ the most beautiful of all,” Liu Hening continued.

Flower Sovereign? Ye Guichen thought the title had a nice ring to it, though she didn’t realize that Liu Hening was the type of person who could find something to praise in almost any woman.

“The banquet is about to start. Let us go in,” Ye Guichen said, not wanting to stand at the door trading compliments.

The two Empresses entered Linde Hall side-by-side. The assembled officials, their wives, and the concubines watched them enter, whispering about how harmonious the two palaces seemed.

Ye Guichen took her seat to the right of the central throne, leaving the more prestigious left side for Liu Hening. Once seated, Ye Guichen scanned the concubines. She noticed a few “disobedient” ones who had ignored her decree about the jewelry, and a cold, thin smile touched her lips. Behind her, Ye Meng was busy memorizing every face that wore a prohibited ornament.

Liu Hening, meanwhile, kept glancing at Ye Guichen. She noticed that Huachao looked at everyone except her. If she won’t look at me, I’ll just keep staring at her, Liu Hening decided. I want to see how long she can hold out before her curiosity gets the better of her.

Ye Guichen felt the gaze. She was baffled. There are hundreds of people here to look at; why is she staring at me? The more Liu Hening peeked, the more stubbornly Ye Guichen looked straight ahead.

When the Emperor arrived, the music began. Everyone stood as Yang Zhao took his seat. “Sit, everyone.”

As the atmosphere loosened with wine and dancing, Liu Hening leaned toward Yang Zhao. “Junshen, sitting here, I can only talk to you. I can’t talk to Huachao. May I sit next to her? Women have more to talk about.”

Ye Guichen, though she wasn’t looking, didn’t miss a word. When did we have ‘things to talk about’?

“Does Hening love beauties more than she loves me?” Yang Zhao teased.

“Yes, I do,” she admitted frankly.

Yang Zhao laughed. He loved showing his officials that his household was in order. “Huachao, what do you think of Hening’s request?”

Ye Guichen knew Yang Zhao was in a good mood and would indulge Liu Hening. She couldn’t refuse without offending the Emperor. “Since Hening likes beauties, this servant likes them as well,” she said skillfully.

Delighted, Liu Hening stood up and moved to sit right next to Ye Guichen. Now, Huachao had no choice but to look at her.

As Liu Hening pressed close, Ye Guichen shifted slightly to make room. She realized that Liu Hening’s “informality” and the Emperor’s favor were the perfect cover for doing whatever she wanted.

“Huachao,” Liu Hening whispered. Because she was so close, her voice—using that intimate nickname—brushed right against Ye Guichen’s ear. She even rested a hand affectionately on Ye Guichen’s arm.

The sound of her name spoken so closely felt like a pillow-talk whisper. The thought startled Ye Guichen, and she instinctively pulled her head back an inch, though she kept her posture perfectly upright. Only Liu Hening could sense the underlying coldness; to everyone else, they looked like the best of friends.

“Mmh?” Ye Guichen replied softly. Her voice and expression were incredibly gentle, perfectly playing the part of the sisterly Empress.

No one watching would doubt their bond. Even the other concubines were baffled: When did the two Empresses become so close?