31 - Liangdi

Chapter 31 – Liangdi

Shangguan Yan was silently thinking. From the moment she entered until now, Consort An had made her kneel to offer her greetings but did not permit her to rise which showed Consort An harbored some prejudices against her.

“Tell me Ran Momo , are all the noble daughters in our Gong Hou Mansion, not beautiful and young as well? But why does Yin’er have to like her?”

“Replying to Niangniang , His Highness, the Ninth Prince must be momentarily overcome with desire for a fresh change. Although those noble ladies are good, they were brought up under strict discipline and are always gentle and courteous, so they are a little restrained. It is inevitable that His Highness finds them uninteresting.”

“Isn’t it good to be gentle and courteous? Comparatively, one from a small humble family will find it difficult to ascend an elegant hall *.”

(Ascend an elegant hall means climbing up in society and mingle with the wealthy.)

“Of course the girls from humble families can’t be compared with those princesses. However, since His Highness had seen many of those nobles ladies, he will feel tired of them. It isn’t difficult to understand why His Highness takes a liking for this kind of pretty daughters from small humble families.”

“ Ai….. Yin’er is too much. Even if he wants to choose, he should have chosen someone younger but instead, he chose someone three years older than him. If this news spreads, wouldn’t he become a laughing stock?”

Yin’er is only seventeen years old and has not married his Wangfei yet but he is already clamoring to take this twenty-year-old businesswoman as a concubine which is simply frustrating.

“ Niangniang is right but it’s also good to be older. She will be steadier and perhaps she can help to curb His Highness’s impulsive temper.”

Consort An and Ran Momo were cross-talking and singing in harmony as they criticized Shangguan Yan for her low status, ridiculed her for wanting to climb up in status, resented her for being too old, and at the same time, mocked her for being inferior to those princesses.

All the while, Shangguan Yan kept her eyes lowered but sneered in her heart and let them carry on with their singing.

Although the words spoken were meant to demean her, somehow they seemed to be for other intentions.

The Shangguan Family is a royal merchant family and their status is not low because the Emperor placed high importance on business. However, to these royal families, marrying daughters from aristocratic families are deemed more valuable.

First, it gives them power, and second, it gives them influence. Although the Shangguan Family is rich, they have no power nor influence. So, what is Consort An’s plan?

“Ran Momo ’s words also make sense. Since it’s Yin’er’s wish, it’s hard for me as a mother to refuse him. So, just let her be Yin’er’s Liangdi* .”

(Liangdi is the title of a low-ranking concubine.)

Liangdi?

Shangguan Yan was stunned at first and then she could not control herself and laugh. Her reaction shocked both Consort An and Ran Momo .

Ran Momo rebuked loudly. “Audacious! What are you laughing at? Niangniang bestowed favor upon you and allowed you to be a Liangdi of His Highness, the Ninth Prince! You didn’t kowtow to show your gratitude and instead, you dare to laugh?!”

Shangguan Yan hurriedly stopped laughing. Just now she involuntarily thought of Junior Sister, Bai Yuxiao. In the beginning, Junior Sister had willingly become a concubine and entered Ling Wang Mansion as a Liangdi . Now that Consort An also wants to bestow the position of Liangdi on her, she suddenly finds this coincidence to be very funny.

She raised her head to look at Consort An on the seat and it was only then she saw Consort An’s face clearly. Sure enough, Consort An is charming and lovely, a great beauty. It seemed that the Ninth Prince’s good looks were largely inherited from her.

“Thanks for Niangniang ’s kindness but this girl thinks she is not worthy of His Highness, the Ninth Prince. She doesn’t dare to climb high.” After speaking, she lowered her head, seemingly to display a humble appearance but how can her calm and unhurried appearance be a show of inferiority?

It’s not that I dare not climb high…….it’s because I don’t want to!

Consort An became angry and sneered. “Are you thinking that the position of a Liangdi is too low and you’re not satisfied?”

“No. This girl really feels that she doesn’t even have the qualifications to enter the palace and requests for Niangniang to withdraw her order. This girl really doesn’t harbor this thought.”

Shangguan Yan had spoken sincerely, but how could Consort An tolerate the refusal of a small businesswoman to become her son’s concubine? Feeling unhappy about her son taking this woman into the palace was one matter but being rejected was another different matter. Moreover, this matter was related to the face of the royal family. If she could not even fulfill this small wish of her son, how will her son look at his Consort Mother?

Consort An’s captivating voice was laced with a cold warning. “What an arrogant girl and she’s putting on airs as well! Such courage! Ran Momo , does she think she has room for rejection? Bengong is not discussing this with her! She doesn’t even know the immensity of the sky and the vastness of the world*!”

(Immensity of the sky and the vastness of the world mean the seriousness and importance of matters.)

Ran Momo quickly responded. “ Niangniang is correct but Niangniang is broad-minded and won’t dispute with her.” She smiled and comforted Consort An. When she turned to face Shangguan Yan, she had an expression of admonishment. “ Niangniang will give face to His Highness, the Ninth Prince, and won’t argue with someone less knowledgeable. Why are you still not giving thanks?”

Even if thanks are given, this matter still can’t be changed. Even though she may be punished, Shangguan Yan still won’t agree to this matter!

“This girl begs Consort An to show mercy. This girl really doesn’t want……..”

“Presumptuous!” Consort An slapped on the table and reprimanded loudly. She had already run out of patience. She had spoken nicely to this businesswoman but this girl refused to view it favorably and accept it, failing to appreciate the kindness shown to her. If this girl is not made to suffer some hardship, this girl would not take her order seriously!

“Ran Momo , take her away and punish her with spanking to teach her the rules!”

“Yes, Niangniang ! Servants, take her away!” Ran Momo immediately called over two strong palace ladies. They stood on the left and right sides of Shangguan Yan and holding on to her arms, they pulled her away.

Shangguan Yan did not resist nor begged for mercy and allowed the palace ladies to drag her out.

Just at this time, Ling Wangfei , Bai Yuxiao suddenly arrived.

As soon as Bai Yuxiao received the news from Xi Lang, she had immediately ordered for the carriage and entered the palace. She came straight to Lotus Palace and even exempted the maids from announcing her arrival. Unexpectedly, when she hurried in, she saw two palace ladies escorting a woman out and that woman was her Eldest Senior Sister, Shangguan Yan. Her face sank immediately.

“Wait! Why are you holding on to her, what do you intend to do?”

When the two palace ladies saw Ling Wangfei had arrived, they hurriedly greeted her.

“This woman had offended Consort An, so we are going to give her the punishment of spanking.”

Bai Yuxiao did not believe that her Eldest Senior Sister would be so stupid as to offend Consort An. There must be a reason for her to do it.

“Let her go!”

“ Niangniang ……..”

“ Bengong said to let her go! Do you hear?!”

The two palace ladies were not easily frightened. Although they were intimidated by Ling Wangfei , they were still Consort An’s palace ladies and had to obey the orders of their mistress.

“ Niangniang , please forgive us. These slaves are only following orders and if Niangniang has any objections, please speak to our Mistress.”

“Audacious!” Bai Yuxiao’s eyes were extremely piercing and the two palace ladies were overcome with guilt and timidity by her glare.

At this time, Consort An’s voice floated over accompanied by sounds of footsteps.

“Who is making so much noise in Bengong’s courtyard?”

When Bai Yuxiao heard Consort An’s voice, she threw a glance at her Eldest Senior Sister and whispered. “Eldest Senior Sister, don’t worry……with me here, I’ll never let her touch a strand of your hair.”

Shangguan Yan said softly. “Be careful and don’t be impulsive. After all, this is the palace.”

“I understand.”

Bai Yuxiao nodded towards her Eldest Senior Sister then glared at the two palace ladies before giving orders to the two personal maids she brought with her.

“Both of you stay here. Keep your eyes on them and don’t let them be impolite to Eldest Senior Sister.”

“These slaves will obey.” Her two maids were not easy to deal with either. Both of them were trained in martial arts and were specially picked by Wangye to protect his Wangfei .

Bai Yuxiao turned around and immediately seek out Consort An to discuss this matter. The other party is the imperial concubine and for her to use her power to suppress others, who does not know how to do that as well? If Consort An dares to bully her Eldest Senior Sister, she will use her power to press her down! Anyway, she still has Wangye as her backer!

So, the two noble women quarreled.

Consort An realized that this Shangguan Yan had not only captivated her son, but even Ling Wangfei had also spoken up for her and it stirred up Consort An’s stubborn arrogance.

If she is unable to punish that girl today, will she still have face if the news spreads out?!