29 - Consort An

Chapter 29 – Consort An

Madam Shangguan laughed and gave her a light slap on her bottom. “You only know to talk back.”

“Mother can hit a few more times……..as long as Mother feels happy.”

“You, ah…….” Madam Shangguan reprimanded her lightly and her tone was full of affection.

After both mother and daughter talked and laughed for a while more, Madam Shangguan’s tone turned serious. “When Autumn arrives, that child, Zeming’s mourning period will come to an end. The marriage can’t be delayed anymore. After choosing a date, your Father and Mother will go to the Pan Residence to deliver the message to confirm the marriage, is that understood?”

The eyes of Shangguan Yan that were previously closed slowly opened. After keeping silent a while, she said. “Mother, Brother Pan, he……seemed to have stirred up a major problem……..he was a little impulsive……..”

“Impulsive?” Madam Shangguan asked in puzzlement.

Shangguan Yan thought for a while and then decided to tell her Mother about Pan Zeming going to seek help from the Ninth Prince and the ruckus they caused inside the Yamen . After listening, Madam Shangguan smiled and said. “That’s good. It means he cares for you and is willing to go all out for you. This kind of man is good.”

“I know he was worried about me but his method was not considerate………what I mean is that although he has the heart, once this matter is not handled properly, it can lead to a disaster.”

“Silly child, what disaster will there be? If you remain unmarried, that will be a disaster.”

Shangguan Yan only laughed and did not continue to speak. She knew her mother would not understand.

After this incident, she realized that Pan Zeming is a straightforward person who does not know how to weigh the pros and cons. If he encounters a small matter, it will not result in a big disaster but once he encounters a major issue…… Based on his temperament…….. ai, she could not help but shake her head.

She recalled when the Ninth Prince left at that time, his eyes looked different from before and besides, there was something more in his eyes that she was worried about.

After being acquainted with the Ninth Prince for a long time, she understood that he is a person who once had decided to do something, a six-horse carriage would not be able to pull him away. She did not blame Pan Zeming for leaking her identity, after all, she was the one who had not handled the matter well. When she left the imperial city, she should have sent someone to hand him a letter to inform him not to visit her in prison to avoid any problems.

She was worried that once the Ninth Prince had come up with an idea, it would be unfavorable to Pan Zeming.

How can a small business family resist the royal family? This is not something that can be settled by giving gold and jewels…….

She hoped the Ninth Prince would only feel surprised for a while and the matter would not become as serious as she envisioned.

However, it was a pity that Shangguan Yan’s guess had always been correct.

Not long after, her hunch came true.

A palace eunuch came to Shangguan Mansion to look for Shangguan with a decree from Consort An.

Consort An is actually An Xianfei. After the Empress, the four most respected consorts were ranked as Guifei, Shufei, Defei, and Xianfei. An Xianfei* was originally An Shupin* and after she gave birth to the Ninth Prince, Si Liuyin, she was promoted to one of the four respected ranks.

(Xianfei is the fourth place in the consort ranks and below that would be the lower-ranked imperial concubines.)

(Shupin is the title of a low-ranked concubine. A concubine’s position can rise in ranks once she gives birth to children and giving birth to a prince can even push her position higher.)

Over the years, no matter how many women were in the harem of the inner palace, Consort An remained the favorite and the Ninth Prince’s beautiful features were inherited from her.

Among all the princes, only Ling Wang, Si Liujing’s magnificent and handsome looks could match his.

The person who came to deliver the decree was a eunuch from Consort An’s palace, Jin Gonggong* . Behind the sedan chair that Jin Gonggong was sitting in, there was another empty sedan chair and four other eunuchs following.

(Gonggong mentioned here is the title for a eunuch. The word can also mean grandfather.)

“Autumn is arriving soon and Niangniang* wants to add some new autumn clothes. It is heard that the Shangguan Fifth Miss has good taste, so Niangniang wants Shangguan Fifth Miss to choose some new fabric patterns to show NIangniang in the palace. If the patterns are good and Niangniang likes them, the rewards would not be any less. Did Fifth Miss hear clearly?” Jin Gonggong said in his high-pitch thin voice.

(Niangniang is the same as ‘my lady’ and this title is only used during ancient times to address the Empress Dowager, Empress, imperial concubines, and married female royalties.)

“Yes, this commoner heard clearly.” Shangguan Yan knelt and replied respectfully.

“Then we will wait here. Fifth Miss, please make preparations to return to the palace with us to meet the Niangniang .”

“Yes.” Shangguan Yan received the decree and the maid helped her to stand up. “ Gonggong , please wait a while for this commoner to make preparations.”

After speaking, she threw a glance at her parents and then turned around to enter the house.

Old Master Shangguan was thinking to himself that the prison matter had just ended, but why is Yan’er summoned into the palace after a few days had just passed?

However, he still ordered the servant to bring forward a silver tray that had a piece of red cloth laid over it with two pieces of ingots sitting on the red cloth. Old Master Shangguan smiled respectfully to Jin Gonggong and said. “It has been troublesome for Gonggong to deliver the decree. This is a little to express our thanks. Please take this to drink tea* with the rest of the Gonggong .”

(Drink tea is a common practice among the Chinese especially the Cantonese people who love to drink tea and enjoy their dim sum. But here the meaning is different. Old Master Shangguan is tipping Jin Gonggong and to put it nicely, Old Master Shangguan had to say the money is for Jin Gonggong to drink tea.)

When Jin Gonggong saw the bright shining ingots, he hurriedly said. “Old Master Shangguan is courteous. Delivering the decree is a part of our duties as a Gonggong but since Old Master Shangguan has shown heartfelt intentions, then thanks are offered to Old Master Shangguan on behalf of the other Gonggong .”

Old Master Shangguan hurriedly showed a smile. “I don’t dare. For Gonggong to accept this, it means giving face to this old man.”

Jin Gonggong let out a cough and ordered the little eunuchs behind him to put away the ingots. He secretly said to himself that this Old Master Shangguan is truly worthy of being the royal merchant. Just a gift from this old man is two ingots……..this time, he is going to be rich!

When he saw the other party accepting the ingots, Old Master Shangguan continued to smile. “Can I ask Gonggong what is the reason that Consort An wants my daughter to enter the palace?”

A discerning person does not speak with hidden meanings. The reason for choosing fabrics for autumn clothes is only just an excuse. For this Consort An to suddenly summon Yan’er, there must surely be something else.

Since Jin Gonggong had received the benefits and according to the rules, naturally, he has to give some news in exchange. In a low voice, he whispered to Old Master Shangguan. “Old Master Shangguan doesn’t need to worry. According to what I gathered, this is something good.”

“Something good?” Old Master Shangguan was still puzzled.

“Don’t worry. Niangniang just wants to have a look at her. The Fifth Miss is blessed and perhaps, this noble mansion will be holding a happy event soon.”

Old Master Shangguan was shocked.

A happy event soon? For a girl, other than the big event of a marriage, what other happy events can there be? But Yan’er usually dresses up as a man, so how did she catch the attention of Consort An without reason? Speaking of this, Consort An is the Consort Mother of the Ninth Prince……..can it be that the Ninth Prince likes Yan’er?

With Yan’er’s status, at most, she can only be a concubine. To most people, they might think that it is an honor to the Shangguan Family. After all, as the concubine of a Prince, her status is very much higher than the main wife of other big wealthy families.

Jin Gonggong may think that this is a good thing but Old Master Shangguan’s heart became very heavy. He understands his daughter’s character very well. His daughter would never be willing to become a concubine, let alone be a wife of the royal family.

Old Master Shangguan still showed a smile on his face as he chatted with Jin Gonggong but without any reason, his heart was filled with gloom.

In the end, he could only watch as his daughter got onto the sedan chair and was forced to enter the palace to meet Consort An.

On this trip into the palace, Shangguan Yan only picked a few rolls of fabric and did not bring a lot with her for she knew that Consort An would not show any interest in them. This matter definitely had something to do with the Ninth Prince.

This matter came too suddenly and she did not have time to make preparations in advance. So before leaving, she hurriedly sent someone to give a letter to Xi Lang that instructed him to find a way to pass the news to Ling Wangfei.

Shangguan Yan knew very well that the reason the Shangguan Family could sit firmly in the position of the royal merchant, besides having a good reputation and a good name, was due to her Father’s smooth way of handling matters. He never offended any faction in the imperial court nor developed any deep relationship with any faction. At the same time, her Father had also warned her two brothers and her never to get too close to any factions.

The friendship between the Ninth Prince and her was a matter related to only her. Moreover, the Ninth Prince would occasionally smash the tables and chairs in her inn. When the news spread outside, the people who did not know the facts would only assume that she was unlucky and would not put the two of them together.

Well, perhaps Consort An is just curious and wants to take a look at her. When they meet, she can only counter whatever moves thrown at her with caution.

When the sedan chair entered the side door of the palace, she had to change to another soft sedan. This soft sedan chair was not covered by curtains, so all the palace maids and eunuchs along the way could see the person sitting on the sedan chair.

When Qiu Dan passed by, he saw the sedan chair approaching and had initially wanted to step aside to give way. However, the person sitting on the sedan chair seemed to be familiar, so he took another look and was startled.