Double Queens GL - Chapter 39

Chapter 39

Once the Winter Solstice passed, the weather turned increasingly treacherous. For Yu Changping, who had been deathly afraid of the cold since childhood, the lunar months were a trial. Even buried under layers of quilts, she shivered. Fortunately, the century-old ginseng Ye Guichen had given her was incredibly potent; by eating just a tiny sliver every day, she hadn’t fallen ill once in a month, and more than half the root remained.

Tucked away like a silkworm in her cocoon, Yu Changping was currently listening to her maid, Shou’er, gossip about the latest palace drama. The arrival of the new Empress had certainly provided plenty of entertainment. Speaking of the New Queen, Yu Changping missed the intense, charcoal-fed warmth of the Central Palace. She missed it so much she’d be willing to move there as a lowly servant just to stand near a brazier.

“Miss, that Lady Zhang is truly a ‘straw-bag beauty’ (pretty but brainless),” Shou’er remarked. “While everyone else is trying to distance themselves from the Central Palace, she runs straight there. Isn’t she afraid of offending the Eastern Palace?”

“The Central Palace has already bowed to the Eastern Palace,” Yu Changping mused, a faint smile playing on her lips. “The Eastern Empress won’t hold a grudge against Lady Zhang for that. Besides, with Lady Zhang’s level of intelligence, she isn’t important enough to be a threat. By luck, she’s ‘offering charcoal in the snow’ to the New Queen; the Central Empress will only like her more for it.”

Yu Changping found herself missing that vibrant, lively face. “Shou’er, how is the weather outside?”

“It’s actually quite nice today. The sun is out,” Shou’er replied, confused. To her mistress, winter weather usually only came in two flavors: “freezing” and “slightly less freezing.”

“Prepare my thickest clothes. I’m going to the Eastern Palace to pay my respects.”

Shou’er was shocked. Her mistress usually refused to leave her bed. “Why the sudden visit, Talent?”

“The charcoal in the Eastern Palace is top-grade. If I can stay for an hour or two, I’ll be much more comfortable. Plus, if the Eastern Empress is in a good mood, she might gift me another piece of ginseng. After leaving there, we can detour to Lady Zhang’s place and spend the afternoon. That way, we can save our own charcoal for the night.”

Yu Changping had been waking up from the cold lately. As a Talent, her ration of silver-silk charcoal was limited. To keep her room warm enough to sleep through the night, she had to be meticulously frugal during the day. Her plan was simple: go out and “mooch” off the warmth of the higher-ranking palaces. The Central Palace was closed for confinement, so the Eastern Palace was the next best thing—though she couldn’t overstay her welcome there. That’s why she needed the “straw-bag beauty” as her secondary destination.

…

Half an hour later, bundled up until she could barely move, Yu Changping set off. She even swallowed a tiny crumb of a “Restoration Pill” just to be safe. “I can’t risk catching a draft,” she muttered.

In the Eastern Palace, Ye Guichen was in a rare good mood. Without Liu Hening’s constant “harassment,” the harem had returned to its usual orderly state. She was busy pruning her flowers when the servant announced Yu Changping’s arrival.

“Changping pays respects to Your Majesty. May you have ten thousand years of peace.”

“Rise,” Ye Guichen said, noting her healthy glow. “Your complexion looks much better lately.”

“It is all thanks to your grace. I have been taking the ginseng you gave me every day,” Yu Changping said, hoping for a refill.

“It is good that it was put to use. Unfortunately, I have no more of that specific ginseng in my private stores,” Ye Guichen said. She did have a thousand-year-old root, but that was too precious to give away. “However, I have some Cordyceps. A-Meng, fetch some for her.”

Yu Changping was delighted. If I get supplements every time I visit, I should come every day! she thought.

Ye Meng, meanwhile, was a bit more protective of the stores. She grabbed a handful of the expensive Cordyceps but then paused, thinking: If she comes every day, we’ll go broke. She put half of them back and handed a modest portion to the Talent.

Yu Changping spent the next half-hour chatting with Ye Guichen about books and trivia. When she sensed the Eastern Empress was losing interest, she gracefully took her leave.

“That Talent Yu is quite something,” Ye Meng noted once they were alone. “She managed to keep you talking for half an hour.”

“The talk was just a cover,” Ye Guichen said, puzzled. “I felt like she just wanted to linger here. I wonder what she’s after? Liu Hening lingers because she’s… well, because of her preferences. But Yu Changping doesn’t give me that vibe.”

“It’s simple, Miss,” Ye Meng said. “She’s currying favor. She came to the Eastern Palace early and clearly. She wants the supplements and the protection.”

Ye Guichen nodded. It made sense. Neither of them realized that Yu Changping didn’t care about the power—she just loved the heated floors.

…

Next, Yu Changping arrived at Lady Zhang’s Xiyu Hall. To her disappointment, it wasn’t much warmer than her own room. Zhang Qingyu was naturally athletic and hated stuffy rooms; she kept the windows cracked and the charcoal low.

“Changping pays respects to the Beauty.”

Zhang Qingyu was currently playing a game of Pitch-Pot (Touhu) with her servants. She was a woman of action who hated embroidery and poetry. Seeing the delicate Yu Changping, she felt the need to lower her voice. “What brings you here?”

“The Beauty helped me with those unruly eunuchs last time. I am deeply grateful and came to thank you properly.”

Zhang Qingyu beamed. She liked people who showed gratitude. “It was nothing! Don’t be so formal!” She gave Yu Changping a hearty, robust slap on the shoulder.

Yu Changping winced, her thin shoulder aching. This woman has a grip like a blacksmith, she thought.

“To you, it was a small gesture; to me, it was a great kindness,” Yu Changping said earnestly. “I have no way to repay you, but if you don’t mind, I would love to be close to you. I shall think of you as my own elder sister.”

Zhang Qingyu was touched. No one in this palace had ever asked to be her “sister” before. Most people looked down on her for being a “straw-bag.” She immediately took the bait. “Fine! From now on, you are my little sister. I’ll look after you!”

Her maid, Xiao Xuan, sighed deeply. My mistress is too easy. A few sweet words and she’s ready to die for her. If this Talent has a hidden agenda, my mistress is going to be sold and will probably help the buyer count the money.

“Thank you, Sister! I shall rely on your care,” Yu Changping said with a sweet, brilliant smile.