"I'm sorry, I accidentally knocked over the cup just now. It didn't hurt, did it?" Xia Ruqing said, even getting down from her bed to check.
You're all telling bald-faced lies, aren't you? You certainly know how to exaggerate, don't you? Well, let's see who can outdo the other!
"How could I bear to strike you two after you've followed me for so long? Get up," she said, and personally helped them to their feet.
The expressions on Qiu Hong's and Qiu Tong's faces were priceless. Doubt? Confusion?
They weren't afraid of being hit or scolded, but what was their master planning now? Suddenly, they felt a sense of fear and profound unease.
Xia Ruqing, meanwhile, had a plan forming in her mind.
She had now made an enemy of Noble Concubine Shih, an irreversible fact. These two servants were likely connected to the Empress somehow. Keeping them might prove useful!
The news of Lady Xia's recent favor and her promotion to Honored Lady had spread throughout the harem in less than a day.
The sound of breaking porcelain echoed in succession from various palace chambers, with the most enduring and spectacular cacophony emanating from Noble Concubine Shih's Xifu Palace.
"That bitch! She merely knelt for a short while, then feigned illness, making sure everyone knew, as if I had mistreated her. What a cunning scheme!" Noble Concubine Shih was livid, her floor littered with the fragments of shattered cups and dishes.
"Noble Consort, please calm your anger!" the Senior Palace Maid Ying Yue urged, trembling with fear.
"How can I calm down? She has practically climbed on top of my head! How can I possibly calm down?"
"My Lady, you know her temperament well; she cozies up to whoever is favored," Ying Yue said, gesturing towards Jiaofang Hall. "Regarding this incident, it's highly probable that the one over there informed the Emperor!"
Ying Yue then added, "As for Lady Xia, you have even less to worry about. The Emperor will tire of her novelty in a few days. After she loses favor, won't you be able to do as you please with her?"
Noble Concubine Shih considered this. Her mood improved somewhat, and she scoffed coldly, "I knew it! Just a mere Honored Lady—so what if she falls ill? How dare she make such a fuss? It turns out that one was pulling the strings!"
"My Lady, the most important thing right now is to retain the Emperor's affection. Ultimately, it is the Emperor who holds the power in this palace."
Noble Concubine Shih narrowed her eyes and nodded in agreement. "That's right. The Emperor only has two daughters so far. If I give birth to a Prince, who knows what the future might hold!"
The Empress hasn't even managed to birth a princess yet. As for who will ultimately triumph, it's far too early to tell!
As for Xia Ruqing, her promotion to a Sixth Rank Honored Lady meant she could have one more attendant.
Early one morning, Steward Hai from the Ministry of Internal Affairs brought over a dozen Palace Maids for her to choose from.
"These are all new arrivals to the palace this year, Honored Lady. You may select whomever catches your eye!" Hai Dasheng said with a beaming smile.
Xia Ruqing slowly surveyed them all, then returned to her seat.
"Any of them would be fine; I'm spoiled for choice. Please, Eunuch Hai, could you pick one for me?" she said, casually opening a small casket, from which she took out a warm, mutton-fat jade bracelet and began to toy with it.
Steward Hai was momentarily stunned before chuckling. "Honored Lady, please feel free to choose whomever you like!" His words were impeccably diplomatic.
Xia Ruqing looked up and carefully examined the Palace Maids again, her gaze finally settling on an inconspicuous girl at the very back.
Steward Hai, with his head bowed, subtly shook it. Xia Ruqing's expression remained unchanged as she then indicated another maid. This time, Hai Dasheng gave a slight, almost imperceptible nod of approval.
Xia Ruqing smiled. "Very well, then I shall just pick one at random."
Standing, she walked over to the Palace Maid she had first noticed. "Are you willing to serve by my side?"
The Palace Maid's face lit up with joy, and she quickly knelt. "This servant is willing!"
"Good! Then it shall be you!"
Hai Dasheng offered a few flattering remarks before leading the remaining maids away. A few days later, the weighty casket was delivered into his hands.
Indeed, the saying 'men die for wealth, and birds perish for food' holds true.
Xia Ruqing named the new palace maid Zi Yue. As for the other two, she had them serve in the outer quarters.
With Zi Yue and Xiao Xizi by her side, she could finally ease her mind a little.
The Mid-Autumn Festival was the day after tomorrow, and preparations in the palace had been underway for some time. Zhao Junyao had been so busy that he hadn't set foot in the harem for nearly ten days, having been constantly summoned away for the better part of a month.
Initially, some had mocked Xia Ruqing for losing favor, but such talk gradually faded, since, after all, no one was particularly favored at the moment.
Early that day, Zi Yue entered carrying a large tray.
"My Lady, your autumn palace attire was finally completed before the festival! We need not worry about the banquet the day after tomorrow!"
Xia Ruqing examined it. The stitching was fine and the craftsmanship excellent. She sighed inwardly, The difference between being favored and unfavored is indeed as vast as heaven and earth!
"Put it away for now," Xia Ruqing said with satisfaction.
"Yes!" Zi Yue replied and deftly did so.
Xia Ruqing selected a beige palace gown she often wore, chose two pearl-studded hairpins, applied a light touch of makeup, and, dressed simply, headed out with Zi Yue.
As an Honored Lady of the Sixth Rank, she was now required to pay her respects to the Empress daily. Her attire was neither too eye-catching nor inappropriate. After all, to live well, one had to remain inconspicuous and minimize one's presence as much as possible!
Upon arriving at Jiaofang Hall, many people were already present. The Empress sat on her high seat, speaking graciously and eloquently about something.
Xia Ruqing approached, performed her salutations meticulously, and after paying her respects, sat quietly in a back-row seat, sipping her tea.
However, no matter how low-key she tried to be, someone would inevitably seek her out.
"Little Sister Xia is truly a peerless beauty. Even in such simple attire, one can't take their eyes off you!"
The speaker was Honored Lady Hu, seated next to her. Among their cohort of Fine Ladies, she had been the first to be promoted to the rank of Honored Lady.
"Sister Hu, you flatter me. Speaking of peerless beauty, how could this little sister possibly compare to you!" Xia Ruqing gently demurred.
Though Honored Lady Hu might not have possessed a beauty that could topple nations, she was undeniably striking.
The Emperor, while not one to indulge excessively in women, certainly wouldn't settle for less. Bland or unattractive women held no interest for him; the women of his harem were, without exception, beautiful.
"Little sister, you are young and in your prime; how could an old woman like me compare? I fear we old-timers have long been forgotten by the Emperor!" Honored Lady Hu said, covering her mouth with a handkerchief as she laughed.
Suddenly, as if recalling something, she clapped her hands. "Oh, dear! I almost forgot, Little Sister and I entered the palace at the same time!"
Xia Ruqing's lips curved slightly. She's mocking me for only being summoned to the Emperor's bedchamber a full year after entering the palace.
Unfortunately for her, she had miscalculated.
Apart from the two of them, who were last year's Fine Ladies, the others present were indeed true 'old-timers.'
As expected, someone took offense.
"If Little Sister Hu still considers herself an old-timer, then shouldn't the rest of us be preparing our coffins?" Consort Zheng Pin remarked, glancing sideways in their direction.
"We are naturally the old ones, destined to be forgotten by the Emperor. We can only hope Little Sister Hu will soon achieve unparalleled favor in the harem!" Consort Yun also said sarcastically.
This exchange left Honored Lady Hu's face ashen as she realized her misstep. She hastily rose and knelt.
"This servant misspoke. Please, Your Highnesses, do not take my foolish words to heart!"