frightfiction Chapter 26 No Matter a Little Small at the Dinner Table
Chapter 26 No Matter a Little Small at the Dinner Table
While the Emperor was writing the plaque, the trio was watching a video of him listening to a pipa performance in the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Having watched the live stream before, the three weren't concerned about the skill level of Consort Gao and the pipa player; it was only because Qin Li had mentioned that the Emperor often summoned pipa players from the Southern Palace that Consort Gao started arguing with the pipa player.
She was usually willful, arrogant, and proud of her position and unique favor. Yet today, she dared to lower herself and engage in a pipa duel with a musician, which was quite unusual. And the fact that music was being performed during a period of mourning was undoubtedly a result of the corruption of the natural order. Therefore, there was probably some hidden secret among these pipa players.
Therefore, the three contacted Yuan Yi, found all the records of the pipa players after they arrived at the Hall of Mental Cultivation, and studied them together with Yuan Yi.
After reading it, even Yuan Yi, who is usually serious and solemn, couldn't help but exclaim, "According to the main world's standards, this emperor is really strong!"
Yingluo asked, "What does this mean?"
Yuan Yi: "This is a foreign language used in Chinese, meaning that he is pretentious and thinks he is very great."
Yingluo agreed: "Indeed, when people say 'If the tune is wrong, Zhou Lang will notice,' it's either because they've messed up and want to curry favor, or because they see him as the emperor and want to flatter him. He really thinks he's the handsome Zhou Lang!"
Mingyu said, "Alright, stop joking. I think the Emperor is quite fond of this one who played the wrong note. Look, the Emperor is reciting poems and giving pointers, and she even used an ivory-inlaid phoenix-neck pipa the second time!"
Rongyin listened to the voice message in her mind, finished embroidering the flower, snapped the thread, and sent a voice message: "I think the Emperor is also interested, but it is still the mourning period. Although people in this world ate meat and performed music during the mourning period of the late Emperor, it is too much to take a concubine during the mourning period!"
Yingluo said, "Given this emperor's character, we can't rule out that possibility. Let's discuss a plan so that we can deal with it if the emperor really wants to do this."
As everyone was having a lively discussion on the team's frequency, a eunuch suddenly came to report that the Emperor had made his way to Changchun Palace to have dinner with the Empress.
The three had no choice but to adjust their mindset and instruct the kitchen to prepare the emperor's favorite dishes in preparation for receiving him.
Rongyin sent a voice message to Yingluo in her mind: "Yingluo, I'll find an excuse for you to leave after receiving the emperor today. Otherwise, Wang Qin might make trouble for you again."
Yingluo replied, "No need, Your Highness. Wang Qin has already taken that kind of medicine, so he must be a lecherous man. If I'm not around, he'll probably harass the other palace maids. I can stop him from taking advantage of them, but the others might not be able to handle him. Anyway, with the Emperor and you here, he won't dare to go too far."
Rongyin replied, "Then you must be very careful. If anything happens, call me and Mingyu immediately."
When the emperor arrived at Changchun Palace, after everyone had paid their respects, the emperor strolled to the dining table and saw that on the table were fatty chicken and cabbage, shredded mutton, and braised pork knuckle, with four side dishes in silver dishes. The staple food was bamboo-rolled steamed buns and millet rice. In the center of the table was a pot of braised duck and tofu, which was steaming hot.
The emperor sat down with great satisfaction. Rongyin was about to stand aside and serve the meal as required by custom, but the emperor waved everyone away and said, "Today it's just the two of us, husband and wife. Let's not stand on formalities and sit down to eat together."
Seeing that it was just the two of them, Rongyin figured that the emperor probably had something to tell her that couldn't be told to others, so she sat down, poured the emperor a cup of wine, and pretended to listen attentively.
After the two had eaten for a while, the emperor spoke up: "These past two days, I have summoned pipa players to play in the Hall of Mental Cultivation. The Imperial Concubine also came to join in the fun. Hearing that the pipa players did not play well, she played a piece herself."
Rongyin continued, "As for the pipa, the Imperial Concubine is a master, so naturally she wouldn't look down on the performance of a mere musician."
The emperor said, "There is a musician named Bai Ruiji. Although she does not play the pipa as well as the imperial concubine, she is quite cultured in her speech and knows how to behave appropriately."
Rongyin was startled: the Emperor actually intended to take a concubine during the mourning period. She still said, "If Your Majesty appreciates this Miss Bai, perhaps you could bestow some rewards upon her another day as a sign of commendation."
The emperor picked up some shredded mutton and put it in his bowl: "I was thinking that if I could bestow upon her the title of 'Consort' so she could stay by my side, it would be a great honor. However, she is currently in mourning..."
Rongyin thought to herself: Although Your Majesty has made it clear that you want me to help you solve the etiquette problems caused by taking a concubine during the mourning period, you still remember that you are in mourning and at least have some reverence for the law, so you are not completely beyond redemption.
Recalling today's discussion, she quickly considered the matter and said, "Well... after all, we are still in mourning, so taking a concubine is indeed against propriety. However, the late emperor abolished the status of lowly people, and musicians are now considered commoners. If Your Majesty can wait a few months, why not transfer her from the Southern Palace to my palace as a female servant learning etiquette? On the surface, it will just be that my palace has another maid, and no one will gossip. I can also teach her some palace etiquette first. After the mourning period, if Your Majesty still has the desire, it won't be too late to take her as a concubine."
The emperor was very pleased to see the empress so willingly take over the task: "Good, good, the empress truly understands my heart."
Having said that, a sense of guilt and unease arose in his heart, so he promised many rewards and said that he would send a good teacher to instruct Fu Heng.
Rongyin rose and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, I thank you for your grace. It is my duty to share Your Majesty's burdens."
The Emperor said, "Your Majesty, there's no need for such formalities. Please continue with your meal."
After the meal, the emperor was about to summon the eunuchs back to the palace when Rongyin suddenly spoke up: "Your Majesty."
The emperor asked gently, "What is it, Empress?"
Rongyin asked a palace maid to bring her a simple yet elegant flint pouch embroidered with lotus patterns using deer tail thread.
Rongyin said, "When Your Majesty returned, you mentioned the old custom of using deer tail wool as decoration before our ancestors entered the pass. I thought of making a tinderbox embroidered with deer tail wool for Your Majesty. Today, Your Majesty has come, so I present this tinderbox to you. I am clumsy and the embroidery is not good. I hope Your Majesty will not find it distasteful."
The emperor took the flint pouch and fell silent.
He suddenly remembered his birth mother.
His birth mother was originally a palace maid at the Rehe Imperial Palace. She was favored by the Emperor when he was still Prince Yong, and that's how he was born. She had neither a good family background nor good looks. In fact, she was even reprimanded by the Emperor after the Emperor favored her, so she was never liked by the Emperor. As a result, her son was also disliked by the Emperor from a young age and lived a difficult life.
In his memory, his birth mother was a silent, obedient, and ordinary woman. After giving birth to him, she remained nameless and without status, staying by his side only as a palace maid. He didn't know if his birth mother ever resented him for not allowing her to rise in status through her son, just as he resented his birth mother for not helping him and not letting him live a good life. In his memory, his birth mother simply took care of his daily life in silence, and when she occasionally spoke to him, she always referred to herself as a "servant."
He remembered a day in his childhood, for reasons he had forgotten, when he angered his third brother, Hongshi. During their fight, the third prince tore his purse. Back then, the third prince's mother was still favored, so in the end, he was punished. He remembered being punished by copying Buddhist scriptures, many, many characters, which had to be written neatly. If even one stroke was wrong, he had to start over. He couldn't bear it, and while writing, he fell asleep on the table.
When he woke up, his birth mother was not there. He was wearing a robe, and on the table in front of him was a sewn-up purse with small flowers embroidered on the seams with ordinary wool thread.
The purse had long been lost, and his birth mother had also passed away. Only a desolate grave in the countryside near the Rehe Imperial Palace buried her remains, becoming a secret and hidden pain that he dared not utter.
Seeing this flintlock pouch now, his mind was filled with a myriad of emotions, and only two trembling words came to his lips: "Good, good."
He took a deep breath and said, "I am reminded of my birth mother, who once sewed me a purse. The Empress is very thoughtful. I like this gift very much."
For a fleeting moment, he seemed to see pity in the Empress's eyes.
This is impossible. He didn't know why he suddenly felt a little flustered. He could only try to calm himself down by thinking: The Empress was a lady from a prestigious family. She was pampered and cared for by her family and grew up without knowing the dangers of the world. How could she understand his many hardships and bitterness?
He was now the emperor, ordained by Heaven. The empress was his wife and his subject. She had always looked up to him and obeyed him; how could she possibly show him pity like a god?
After hearing the Empress take a deep breath, he said, "Actually, there is something I haven't told you before. Thinking about it these past few days, I feel really uneasy. Today, I am deeply grateful for Your Majesty's grace, and I feel even more ashamed. Therefore, I must apologize to Your Majesty."
Yes, yes, she wasn't pitying herself; she was just trying to please herself.
The emperor, as if grasping at a straw, asked, "What is it? Why are you making it sound so serious?"
Then he heard the Empress's reply: "When Lord Lang was painting, I was waiting for Your Majesty at the Ruyi Pavilion that day when Wang Qin came to convey Your Majesty's decree and told me what Consort Xian and you had said. I reprimanded him, but I have been thinking about it for some time now. Wang Qin carelessly spread the conversation between Your Majesty and Consort Xian in private. Such a matter should not be handled by me, but should be left to Your Majesty to decide."
"Your Majesty, I was inconsiderate that day and failed to report this before finally bringing it to light. I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness."
The emperor's chaotic thoughts gradually calmed down.
He comforted the Empress, saying, "You were busy during that time and it's understandable that you might not have thought of it at the moment. It's nothing to blame you for. I'm glad you told me about this. Alright, I'll head back to the Hall of Mental Cultivation now. It's cold at night, so please see me to the door."
Back in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, he ordered someone to change him into civilian clothes. He casually leaned against the couch, flipping through a book, and casually asked Wang Qin, "Has the plaque I inscribed been sent to the Imperial Concubine?"
Wang Qin said solicitously, "It has been sent to the Imperial Household Department. Please have them frame it as soon as possible. The Imperial Concubine will be very happy to receive the Emperor's favor."
The emperor suddenly said, "You're very attentive to the Imperial Concubine." His tone was rather cold.
Wang Qin sensed the emperor's hidden anger and replied meekly, "This servant serves all the ladies and consorts of the palace with utmost diligence."
The emperor raised his eyes and said, "The ladies and consorts of the palaces should naturally serve you diligently. But Wang Qin, you must remember that there is only one cloud above your head, and that is me."
Wang Qin didn't know why the emperor suddenly said that, but seeing the emperor's cold and sharp eyes, he was so frightened that he knelt down and said, "This servant will remember Your Majesty's teachings."
The emperor said coldly, "I see you are busy with many things and may not remember. From today onwards, you will serve me personally. As for the affairs of the inner palace, leave them to Li Yu."
Wang Qin had no idea what kind of underhanded trick he had used to displease the Emperor, nor did he have time to think about it. He immediately bowed his head, and despite it being winter, his back was soaked with cold sweat. He trembled as he said, "Yes, Your Majesty, this servant obeys."
In Changchun Palace, Rongyin finished bathing and changing her clothes, and lay on the bed, but she was not sleepy.
Yingluo tiptoed in and sat on the edge of the bed.
"Your Majesty, did you say anything to the Emperor today?"
Rong Yin smiled and sighed, "You really can hide anything from me!"
Her gaze was deep: "After thinking about it, I realized that although the Emperor might not punish Wang Qin for your sake, he certainly wouldn't tolerate his personal servants revealing his private matters. So, I told the Emperor about what happened with Giuseppe Castiglione."
Yingluo bent down and took Rongyin's hand: "Your Majesty, thank you."
Rongyin reached out and stroked Yingluo's hair: "Silly girl, why are you thanking me? How could I let you face such a dangerous person alone?"
She spoke in her mind: "I remembered my past life. Once I heard the emperor talk about the old customs of the Manchus, so I made a flint pouch for him by hand. The emperor was very happy at that time. Today, I followed the memory of my past life and thought that since we have the same status, I should make a flint pouch as a gift, just like in my past life. Maybe it will make the emperor happy as well, and I will be able to speak more smoothly."
Unexpectedly, when the emperor saw the flint pouch, it stirred up his memories of his birth mother.
Suddenly, I realized that this emperor, whose birth mother died young, whose father didn't care for him, whose adoptive mother wasn't as loving as the Empress Dowager in his previous life, and whose childhood sweetheart was a chosen one, despite his absurd and cowardly nature, unlike a true ruler, did have some pitiable aspects.
Yingluo pouted: "Everyone here is about to be buried with this absurd world. If we're talking about pitiful people, apart from that chosen one and those non-human beings whose identities we can't yet determine, they are all pitiful."
Rongyin said, "That makes sense. I was just being sentimental. Alright, let's go to sleep early. We still need to prepare for Miss Bai's visit to Changchun Palace tomorrow."