On The Self-Cultivation Of A Favored Concubine - Chapter 3

The palace maid opened the censer with the intertwining lotus pattern, placed the spices just presented by the Supervisor of Palace Servants inside, and carefully lit it.

Behind the thin, light blue gauze, the recently awakened woman was half-reclining. She had read books late last night and had casually rested on the hibiscus couch.

The sunlight outside shone on a porcelain vase by the window with peach blossoms in it. Xie Xuanzhao rested her head on her hand, admired it for a while before getting up, and let the palace maids wait on her as she washed and dressed.

A snow white little fuzz ball stumbled out from behind the gauze curtain. Xie Xuanzhao bent down and picked it up, hooking up her red lips and smiling, “Little thing, running around again.” Her voice was low and soothing, carrying the shallow, gentle, and lingering tone of a woman’s clear and moist voice.

This snowball was a Persian cat Xie Xuanzhao had raised after entering the palace. Its eyes were as blue as sapphires, and its fur was glossy and smooth, raised with utmost care.

Xie Xuanzhao gently stroked its snow white fur with her hand as she walked out. “Have the esteemed ladies had their breakfast before coming over?”

“They have had it before coming, and are all sitting outside now,” the palace maid respectfully stood with her hands down, lifting the pearl curtain for her.

Ever since Autumn Zhaorong fainted during the morning greetings because she hadn’t eaten breakfast, Xie Xuanzhao ordered them to eat breakfast before coming for greetings. She preferred them to be late rather than come with an empty stomach.

When the ladies later learned that the Empress liked to sleep in, they became much more at ease. They didn’t have to wake up early, which naturally made them happy.

Xie Xuanzhao sat in the main seat in the hall, looking at the assembled women of various shapes and sizes, like beautiful, singing birds and narrowed her eyes in enjoyment. Her mood brightened.

This was considered an eye pleasing sight in the boring and tedious palace. Therefore, every few days, she would host a tea party or a flower gathering, inviting them to sit or go for a stroll in the Imperial Garden in groups.

Whether it was food or clothing, Xie Xuanzhao never treated these concubines poorly, making sure to manage her own territory to be prosperous and ensure everyone enjoyed excellent benefits.

It was a pity, however, that not everyone was satisfied with this. Xie Xuanzhao recalled that not long ago, someone, in a bid to gain the Emperor’s favor, had secretly reported her to the Emperor, claiming the Empress was abusing national treasury funds and pursuing a luxurious lifestyle.

The Emperor seized this pretext and issued an edict to reduce the expenditure of the Chenxin Palace.

Xie Xuanzhao knew she had been set up by someone but had never found out who the snitch was.

Thinking of this, she rubbed her temples with a slight headache. These little ingrates couldn’t distinguish good from bad.

Consort Kang, who was sitting the closest, saw her rubbing her forehead in distress and quickly leaned closer, saying in a somewhat ingratiating tone, “Sister, may I massage your shoulders?”

Xie Xuanzhao put down her hand and looked at the elegant woman in front of her with a little reservation. Since the last time she helped her severely punish the corrupt official who had been harassing her, Consort Kang’s gaze had changed.

It was too fervent.

Xie Xuanzhao knew what this meant. She felt even more troubled; she had accidentally bent a girl. This was purely a mistake!

Out of a sense of responsibility toward Consort Kang, Xie Xuanzhao waved her hand and spoke coolly, “No need. Consort Kang, sit back down.”

Consort Kang sat back in her seat, feeling a little disappointed, but her eyes were still fixed on the Empress, undisguised.

This was the first person who was genuinely good to her. When Consort Kang saw the Empress stand up dominantly to advocate for her, right her wrong, and then flog that disgusting man to death, she was devoted to the Empress.

It turned out she had misunderstood her before. Consort Kang felt very remorseful when she recalled the hostility she had towards the Empress when she first entered the palace.

Xie Xuanzhao avoided looking at Consort Kang, scanned the concubines who had come for greetings, and finally landed her gaze on a young girl sitting in the corner.

This girl was Noble Lady Yu. She had been in the palace for a while. Like the other concubines, the Emperor’s favor for her was fleeting, and she was quickly thrown aside, forgotten.

Xie Xuanzhao had actually been paying attention to her. It was difficult for a young Noble Lady with no relatives, friends, or family background to survive in the palace. Therefore, Xie Xuanzhao ensured her monthly clothes, accessories, and monetary rewards were prepared and specifically ordered her capable palace maid to deliver them personally, fearing they might be intercepted by malicious people along the way.

Logically, Noble Lady Yu should have been living a life free of worries about food and clothing. Yet, after not seeing her for a few days, her complexion seemed significantly haggard. A faint dark aura subtly surrounded her eyes, and her whole person seemed shrouded in a “jinxed” atmosphere.

Xie Xuanzhao sensed something was wrong and was about to inquire, when the palace maid outside the corridor suddenly announced loudly, “Consort Yue has arrived.”

Consort Kang looked at the water clock beside them and reminded the Empress, “Sister, it is already Sishi (9 AM to 11 AM).”

It was almost lunchtime.

Several concubines also began to whisper, “Too much, to come so late. She is clearly disrespecting the Empress.”

“So arrogant on her first time greeting; her ego is too high.”

Xie Xuanzhao listened to the discussions, her delicate eyebrows slightly furrowed. It seemed this was yet another difficult concubine.

Xie Xuanzhao married the Emperor when he was still a prince. On their wedding night, the groom did nothing but go straight to sleep.

Xie Xuanzhao initially thought he was not keen on romantic affairs. Later, she stumbled upon him in the study, flirting and doing those things with a handsome young pageboy, only then did she realize that the Emperor was the same kind of person as herself.

Initially, they kept their distance and were at peace, so Xie Xuanzhao didn’t care. However, not all the male favorites kept by the Emperor were gay most were forced or did so for glory and wealth. Once, a male favorite dared to set his sights on Xie Xuanzhao’s personal palace maid and, relying on the Emperor’s favor, started to harass her.

Upon learning of this, Xie Xuanzhao was furious and immediately took out her rarely used python skin long whip, thoroughly beating the male favorite until he was covered in wounds.

When the Emperor found out, he merely thought the Empress was jealous and, harboring resentment, successively took in many beautiful women, specifically to annoy his wife and try to anger her to death.

Xie Xuanzhao just smiled without a word. If those male favorites dared to reach their claws into the inner palace, she would beat them all the same, and if they offended again, she would simply have them executed.

This time, the Emperor used the same old trick, taking in another beauty to cause her trouble.

After several attempts, it was almost the same pattern creating a willful and arrogant favored concubine to confront her. Xie Xuanzhao was getting tired of it.

Just like now, this newly promoted favored concubine deliberately showing up late was just the same old trick.

Xie Xuanzhao yawned a little out of boredom, then signaled the concubines to be quiet, “Let Consort Yue come in.”

Several palace servants rolled up the pearl curtains, and a large entourage filed in.

These were all palace maids sent by the Emperor, so they knew how to act to enhance the favored concubine’s presence.

However, Liu Qinglan’s attention was entirely on the melon seeds in her hand, completely unaware of the Emperor’s good intentions.

So, everyone in the hall, who was holding their breath and waiting for the newly favored concubine to appear, witnessed this scene: a girl in a pale-green palace dress bounced in, clutching a handful of melon seeds.

Lulu (Green), her maid, belatedly realized, and her neck stiffly turned to see her mistress happily cracking melon seeds and spitting the shells onto the ground!

Several concubines, who were born into noble families, twitched their mouths in disgust. Just an ill-mannered little girl.

Liu Qinglan saw everyone staring blankly at her, completely oblivious to how different her behavior was. She hesitated and stretched out her hand, revealing her palm, “Do you want to eat melon seeds? I can only share one with you, no more!”

Her fair, tender face showed a tangled, reluctant expression.

Xie Xuanzhao’s eyelid suddenly twitched. Where did the Emperor find such a girl, so innocent that she seemed completely uneducated?

She was utterly out of place in the strictly regulated palace.

Lulu gently tugged at her mistress’s sleeve, “Don’t forget to pay your respects.”

Liu Qinglan reluctantly tucked the handful of melon seeds into Lulu’s palm, asking her to keep them safe. Only then did she pick up the jade ruyi and walk toward the Empress seated at the top.

She finally saw the rumored head of the palace.

Sitting on the magnificently carved, golden seat was a woman in a phoenix robe, with elaborate hair, phoenix-like eyes, and red lips beautiful and elegant, strikingly stunning.

Liu Qinglan widened her eyes slightly, her whole person frozen in place.

This Empress was far more beautiful than in the paintings, like an immortal fairy. Crucially, a faint wisp of purple aura enveloped her.

The Purple Qi from the East this was the most auspicious aura. The fact that she could make the Purple Qi gather around her for protection showed that her fortune and wealth in this life were immeasurable.

This was the blessing acquired after cultivating for several lifetimes.

Liu Qinglan, holding the ruyi, was completely mesmerized. She was truly too beautiful!

Xie Xuanzhao slightly narrowed her eyes, feeling a little displeasure. This little favored concubine looked soft and tender, but she turned out to be simple-minded. The Emperor was too much for bullying a little fool.

The little fox spirit, Liu, who was unaware that she had been categorized as simple minded by the other party, couldn’t help but move closer, wanting to rub against the Empress’s Purple Qi from the East. Touching this aura would benefit a demon spirit’s cultivation.

When Liu Qinglan thought that she could interact with the Empress from now on, she swallowed hard and entertained the thought of clinging to this powerful figure.

At this moment, she had completely forgotten her identity as a little spy sent by the Emperor and was solely focused on pleasing this stunning great beauty!

Xie Xuanzhao’s gaze slowly became sympathetic, and she spoke in a tone used for talking to children, “Consort Yue, what are you holding in your hand?”

Her voice was so nice, too! The fox spirit, Liu, feeling utterly softened, moved forward a few more steps and said sweetly and softly, “Sister, this is a gift for you.”

Consort Kang glanced at her, snorted, “How presumptuous, calling her ‘Sister’ already.”

Xie Xuanzhao loved being called “Sister” by girls. She narrowed her eyes with some pleasure and beckoned the fair-skinned girl, “Bring it here, let me see.”

Liu Qinglan went over eagerly, holding the ruyi like she was offering a treasure. If she were to show her white tail now, it would definitely be wagging happily up and down!

Xie Xuanzhao took the fine quality jade ruyi. It was warm and very comfortable to the touch. She played with it for a while, quite satisfied, “This is a good gift, Consort Yue, you…”

She turned her head to look at Liu Qinglan, who was standing next to her, and suddenly noticed her face was fair and smooth, with a faint blush on her cheeks whether from rouge or her natural skin color. At this moment, Liu Qinglan’s bright, dark, spirited eyes were looking at her full of anticipation.

A strange feeling rose in Xie Xuanzhao’s heart. The previous displeasure vanished, replaced by a wave of gentle affection.

She did not know how gentle the look in her phoenix eyes was at that moment.

Liu Qinglan trembled. Oh no, she probably drew the “Gentle and Sincere” talisman into the “Tender Affection” talisman!

It was all her fault for her poor skills!

Just as Liu Qinglan was feeling frustrated, the great beauty in front of her suddenly opened her lips, revealing white teeth against red lips, and said, “Consort Yue, why are you blushing?”