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Chapter 138.2
Jin Wang Dotes on His Concubine Ch 138 Pt. 2
Translated by gingercat
Edited by gingercat
Wang Shuying was quick-tempered and wanted to refute her words on the spot, but Wang Defang had already turned her head to look out the window. Only the back of her head was facing them. On top of that, Wang Shuyan pulled on her sleeve again, so she could only shut her mouth, unable to express her anger.
When it was finally their turn to enter the palace, Wang Defang got out of the carriage first. Wang Shuying finally couldn’t hold herself back and said, “Who does she think she is? Hasn’t she only entered the palace a few times more than us?!”
Wang Shuyan’s temper was milder and she persuaded her sister in a low voice. “Enough. Don’t quarrel with her. Remember what mother told us before leaving.”
Wang Shuying hasn’t forgotten. Once the two of them got off the carriage, both of them had smiles on their faces. The two sisters standing there, seemingly to have been carved out of the same mould, attracted the attention of many people.
After going through Xuanwu Gate, Yaoniang saw Consort Qing.
Walking together, Yaoniang asked, “Why did you bring her along?”
This her naturally referred to Side Consort Han.
Consort Qing pursed her lips and whispered, “According to customs, she’s supposed to be here.”
She wasn’t wrong. After all, she was a side consort recorded on the jade slip. Otherwise, given Jin Wang’s temperament, there was no way he would’ve brought Side Consort Xu and Side Consort Liu. But since Yaoniang wasn’t a consort, she naturally didn’t need to be responsible for these two. On the other hand, not far behind Consort Qing, trailed Side Consort Han.
The last time they met was at Wu Wang Manor. Yaoniang learned from Consort Qing that she and Qing Wang had already settled their previous misunderstandings. She was happy for Consort Qing, but remembering what Jin Wang had said, she still had some misgivings. But in the end, this matter had nothing to do with her. The only thing she was truly concerned about was being on good terms with Consort Qing. As for this mess between the wife and concubine, she acted like she wasn’t aware of it, not wanting to poke at Consort Qing’s wound.
“Then bring her along. It’s not like we have anything to say that couldn’t be talked about.” But Yaoniang still found the presence of Side Consort Han to be annoying. It was to the point that she didn’t even say ‘Side Consort Han’, but simply ‘her’.
“No need to worry. She behaves herself very well during occasions like this.” Consort Qing said with a smile.
At first, Yaoniang didn’t know what she meant. They went to Kunning Palace to greet Empress Wei, before going to Jiaotai Hall for the banquet. During this period, Side Consort Han didn’t say a single word. Seemingly aware of Consort Qing’s dissatisfaction, she didn’t mingle with others or talk to anyone.
Yaoniang took a few glances at her and was reminded of this daughter-in-law from a family that used to live near hers. That daughter-in-law was always silent. Unless one specifically paid attention to her, her existence was easily negligible.
This Side Consort Han was completely different from the woman at the Zhua Zhou banquet that day!
Once the banquet was over, it was time for the main event.
In the imperial garden, glazed lanterns were hung everywhere, making the area brightly lit. Lush trees dotted the landscape along with rocks and mountains of all sorts of shapes and sizes. One could see the buildings with carved pillars and marble steps in the distance, appearing to be almost ethereal.
Emperor Hongjing led a group of princes, ministers, and young masters to Fubi Pavilion. On the other side, Empress Wei and several imperial concubines led a group of noble ladies and young misses to Chengrui Pavilion.
Facing east and west, the two pavilions were located in Qin’an Hall. Although they were simply known as pavilions, calling them giant waterside pavilions would be more accurate. They were huge and spanned over a large area. The two pavilions were located on a bridge that spanned across a lake.
Both of them had an open-air platform built on the water, cast in white marble, and surrounded by fences. Standing on the platform, one would face the waters and see the bright moon hanging in the sky. It was a good place to admire the moon.
At this time, many colourful lotus lanterns were floating on the water, illuminating the surface of the lake. Looking east, one could make out the edge of the waters where Fubi Pavilion was. However, one could only vaguely make out the shape and not much more, and the distance served as a divider between the opposite sexes.
Today’s banquet was mainly for entertainment, so Empress Wei wasn’t decked out in full imperial glory but was in a simpler dress. At first glance, one might even mistake her to be a noble lady from some family.
Not only Empress Wei, but also Consort Shu and several others were dressed in simple clothes. This was also not the first moon admiring banquet for the majority of the princes and officials’ female family members. Treating this like a flower admiring banquet that the noblewomen frequently hosts, everyone was relaxed.
There wasn’t any seating arrangement in the pavilion, but tables and chairs could be seen everywhere. All sorts of fruits, snacks, wine and tea were on the table including moon cakes.
Most of these items served only as decoration since they had just eaten at the banquet. Many people even ate their fill before coming to the palace. After all, they didn’t come here to eat.
Empress Wei and several imperial concubines were accompanied by noble ladies of similar age. Standing by the railings, they appeared to be chatting. High-ranking noblewomen could enter the pavilion to accompany them, but the lower-ranking women and young misses could only be scattered outside the pavilion.
Xiaobao, Yan Ge’er, and Zhuzhu followed their fathers and were staying at Fubi Pavilion, so Yaoniang and Consort Qing didn’t have anything to do. The two of them stayed inside the pavilion for a while before getting bored, then they went outside and found a place to sit and talk.
While they were chatting, a servant girl from Qing Wangfu, carrying Zhuzhu, was led over by a little eunuch.
Zhuzhu couldn’t sit still and clamoured for her mother, so Qing Wang had no choice but to have someone bring Zhuzhu over.
“Little imp, you no longer want to play with Brother Xiaobao?” Consort Qing poked her daughter’s little nose and teased her softly.
“Brother Xiaobao is being held by the imperial grandfather. He’s not playing with me.” Zhuzhu pouted, looking pitiful as if she’d been abandoned.
Yaoniang doted on Zhuzhu the most and immediately said, “When Brother Xiaobao comes back, I’ll properly discipline him. How can he not play with our darling Zhuzhu?”
“Fifth aunt, don’t beat Brother Xiaobao. Have him come to my house to accompany me to play and I won’t be angry with him,” said the little girl in a milky voice.
Yaoniang was amused. “Alright, alright. Aunt won’t beat him. He’ll go to your house to play with you.”
“Then fifth aunt must keep her word.”
“Of course.”
Yaoniang and Consort Qing looked at each other and laughed. Xiao Zhuzhu couldn’t understand what the adults were laughing at, and her cute puzzled appearance made the two adults laugh again.
Then Zhuzhu said she was hungry, so Consort Qing asked a maid to bring over some snacks. After feeding her some snacks, and giving her some water, Zhuzhu announced she needed to go pee. Consort Qing then brought Zhuzhu away, leaving Yaoniang alone.
The night breeze was cool and Yaoniang leaned against the stone fence, looking at the lanterns floating on the water.
At this moment, a eunuch hurried over and said, “Your Highness Side Consort Su, His Highness invites you to go over. The little master is making a fuss about wanting to see you.”