Chapter 16

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Author: Xiao Yao

Chapter 15 – Title – Chapter 17

Even though Hui Ming was surprised at Su-gonggong sudden change of attitude, but since Su-gonggong had already opened his mouth to expel the guest, she naturally had to stand up, then after thinking about it, nevertheless with a thick face and somewhat helplessness: “Then, I will not disturb Gonggong’s meal, otherwise, I, will come again tomorrow?” Please read at insidethemirror translations. DO NOT REPOST.

Hui Ming became embarrassed when she said this, these words that she had uttered would seemingly sound shameless when heard by others, the same as trying to climb up through sharing food with Su-gonggong.

It’s just that the chaos that would happen during the Ghost Festival was close at hand, and the situation with Su-gonggong had still not progressed in the slightest, so no matter how embarrassing it was, thinking about Su-gonggong’s kindness towards herself, Hui Ming couldn’t just ignore it, as long as Su-gonggong didn’t find her troublesome, and completely shut her out.

Su Jin heard Hui Ming’s earnest plea, but he only felt bitter, it’s not that he hadn’t seen Hui Ming’s hesitation to speak and worry over the past few days, but because this sudden surprise was so beautiful, he’d rather deceive others and himself, to believe that Hui Ming was really concerned about him, rather than feared and loathed him in her heart, but had to pretend to be perfunctory on the surface to curry favor.

Su Jin tightly held the ruyi on his waist, and though he originally wanted to tell the other party not to trouble themselves in the future, but when he raised his head and saw Hui Ming, the words got stuck in his throat, thinking of when he would get up every morning, counting the days, a moment of strife becoming a moment of eager anticipation, thinking of the excitement and delight when Hui Ming really came, unexpectedly this refusal was reluctant to leave his mouth.

If not… then just defer it for two more days? After all, in the future, there would be no such opportunity anymore… Su Jin clenched his palms tighter, he lowered his eyes to hide the self-loathing look on his face, then got up and bowed his head and said: “Alright, I will trouble you.”

Seeing that Su-gonggong didn’t directly refuse her, Hui Ming let out a long sigh of relief, then lest Su-gonggong go back on his word she hurriedly responded, and immediately turned around to leave.

After Hui Ming had already left for a quarter of an hour, Yuan Bao who was wandering around went to the teahouse and slowly returned to the room, he thought that when he came back, he would go ahead and send the cup of tea and take a look, if Master hadn’t finished his meal yet, he would immediately come out and not become an irksome eyesore, but he never would have thought that when he entered the door, he would see his master sitting straight in front of the table without any expression on his face.

Yuan Bao was somewhat surprised: “Hui Ming-gugu has left?” As soon as his voice fell, Su-gonggong’s cold eyes made him understand that he had said something wrong, and he quickly lowered his head, not daring to say any more.

Su-gonggong lowered his eyes and took out his handkerchief, then he slowly wiped the corners of his mouth, and with a cold look: “Take it away.”

Seeing Master’s back disappear behind the curtain, Yuan Bao shrank his neck, looking forward, he saw that today’s afternoon meal almost didn’t move the same as before, the dish and soup were still full, and only a plate of bamboo shoots were cleanly consumed.

Since when did Master love to eat bamboo shoots… Yuan Bao secretly wondered, but just thinking about Su-gonggong’s attitude when he left, he did not dare to delay, so he tidied up the dishes, and following Master also left in a hurry.

Before taking his afternoon rest, His Majesty invited Xin-wangye from Kunhe Palace to come over for a word after finishing his afternoon meal, and at this moment, counting the hours, it was almost time for him to arrive, Yuan Bao hurried back to the front hall, and sure enough he saw Master guarding outside the door, and when he caught sight of him coming over, he slightly looked up and motioned for him go inside to serve.

Knowing that his master had never liked the two princes, Yuan Bao kept his calm and bowed in response, he asked the small inner attendant beneath that Xin-wang had just arrived, and since he was still able to serve the tea in time, he hurriedly carried it in person, after he stepped inside, he made a respectful salute then placed it on the cedar table beside Xin-wang, after that he bowed and stepped back, standing beside the large pomelo green Ru1 pottery vase on the side, waiting for instructions.

His Majesty hasn’t gotten up yet, nonetheless Xin-wang came to wait early to express reverence, but as a matter of fact this really wasn’t anything at all, it was merely sitting on the chair and intentionally or otherwise stroking the lid of the tea cup on the table, and for a long while, apparently became overcome with boredom, then he turned his gaze to the side where Yuan Bao was standing, and made idle chatter in a gentle manner: “Looking at it you are somewhat familiar, how long have you been serving before the emperor?”

As a servant inside the palace, even if you’re standing with your head down, one had to leave an eye on the top of their head to listen to commands, Yuan Bao hearing this did not delay, and stepped forward to respectfully reply: “Responding to Wangye, less than a year.”

Xin-wang slightly lowered his head and moistened his throat with the tea, but contrary to what one might expect he had the appearance of knowing very well about the situation in the palace: “Oh? Still young… who are you following?”

Yuan Bao replied: “This lowly one’s master is the person serving the emperor, Su-gonggong.”

Hearing the words Su-gonggong, Xin-wang’s casual and leisurely movement nevertheless paused, and wearing a somewhat indescribable mood said: “Su Jin?”

For some reason, he felt panic in his heart, Yuan Bao bowed, and replied more carefully: “Yes.”

Xin-wang lowered his head and really gave him a quick look, then once again restored his usual gentle and courteous appearance: “Being able to enter Su-gonggong’s eyes, you are very good.”

It was clearly the good-natured Xin-wang renowned inside the palace, and using such gentle words of praise, but Yuan Bao’s knees softened, and he couldn’t help but kneel down, replying with uneasiness: “The lowly one thanks Wangye.”

Fortunately, Yuan Bao did not feel uneasy for too long, because when Xin-wang was about to speak again, another servant came in from the door, saying that His Majesty was awake, and had called for Xin-wang to go in.

Yuan Bao breathed a sigh of relief, he promptly got up and respectfully led Xin-wang into the inner hall.

His Majesty was indeed awake, he was at this moment standing in front of the mirror, being served by a eunuch that was combing his hair, having seen Xin-wang kneeling to pay his respect in the mirror, he made a sound without looking back.

Hui Ming held the lacquer tray in her hand and stood quietly aside, but her mind nevertheless was divided and her attention perturbed as she took note of the Imperial father and son in front of her.

In the previous life the person who schemed to rebel and force the emperor to abdicate was Rui-wang, this meant that His Majesty was finally inclined to pass on the throne to Xin-wangye, otherwise, Rui-wang didn’t need to undertake such a risk.

But Hui Ming was watching with a detached point of view these days, only to realize that for some reason, His Majesty was admittedly indifferent to Rui-wang, but towards Xin-wang, this person that he had set his choice on to be the heir, apparently didn’t seem to be very close with either. Please read at insidethemirror translations. DO NOT REPOST.

Just like this moment, although Xin-wang had been summoned, His Majesty towards this subsequent di2 son, the slightest amount of affection towards his children couldn’t be seen, and only slowly asked: “How is the Empress’ body?”

Ever since the empress gave birth to Xin-wang inside the palace, she fell from an incompletely remedied illness, her body weakened and she would often lay in bed, the reason why Xin-wang entered the palace today was also because Kunhe Palace urgently summoned the Imperial physician yesterday, so he especially came to pay respect, while on His Majesty’s side, he received a report from Su-gonggong early that morning, so he ordered Xin-wang to come so he could ask him.

Xin-wang respectfully replied: “It is a former affliction, and she has been much better after taking the medicine, Empress Mother has been worried about Emperor Father’s imperial body, and she specifically instructed not to visit as not to spread anything to you, I never thought that Emperor Father was aware of this, if Empress Mother finds out, she will definitely blame herself.”

It just so happened that it was time for His Majesty to put on the crown, so Hui Ming respectfully stepped forward and presented the gold fretted crown on the tray with both hands, then by chance happened to catch sight of His Majesty slightly close his eyes, but nevertheless the corner of his mouth exposed a bit of undisguised sarcasm: “She has always been careful.”

Hui Ming didn’t dare to look any more, and when the palace maid who was about to bind his hair took the crown she retreated again, then heard Xin-wang humbly say: “Empress Mother is often upset with this son, saying that her body is useless and cannot accompany Emperor Father and share his worries when ill, this is indeed bearing the Emperor’s benevolence.”

Hearing this, His Majesty only calmly replied: “Since she is frail, don’t let her imagination run wild, and just rest at ease.”

“Yes.”

Looking at the situation, the details that Hui Ming didn’t take seriously before also emerged one by one.

Indeed, although she was the proper empress of the palace, His Majesty rarely paid a visit to Kunhe Palace in person, even on the fifteenth day of Lunar month, this was also because the empress was “sick”, and he would mostly rest in Yang Qian Hall, but usually when giving regards and attending to the sick, soup and medicine would be sent, and even more so by Imperial Concubine Xian, not to mention showing up at Kunhe Palace, but she had never seen someone send anything over before.

So it seems that, the empress was actually unfavored.

Hui Ming didn’t show it on her face, and secretly remembered this in her heart, since she was able to return to serving the emperor, she had been doing this, unfortunately, time was too short, even if it happened again, she was unable to tell anything in that short time.

She was muddled in her last life, and she never cared about these little details in front of her eyes, but looking back at it now, regarding these two princes that were competing for the throne, such a major event as Rui-wang forcing the emperor to abdicate, in the end what was the reason and was there any signs, after several twists and turns, how much danger had Su-gonggong experienced, nonetheless she was completely ignorant about all this, it had been seemingly fine the day before, then the next day Rui-wang suddenly revolted to overtake the throne, and she spent the night guarding His Little Highness in fright, when the dust had settled, the two princes suffered a loss, and His Majesty sent people to check the condition of His Seventh Highness.

While waiting to come back to her senses, Su-gonggong’s ashes had already been swept into the ancient well by the eunuch attending the furnace, and everything was too late.

Thinking of this, Hui Ming couldn’t help but slightly raise her head and look at Su-gonggong, who was quietly standing aside in attendance, he was dressed in a eunuch’s purple satin robe, tall and steadfast, elegantly refined——

Most importantly, he was still alive.

As if sensing Hui Ming’s gaze, Su Jin, who originally had his eyes hanging down, suddenly looked at her.

Hui Ming was taken aback, she quickly lowered her head, and stepped forward once again to present the ornamental thumb ring, jade pendant and other accessories, then heard His Majesty slowly say towards Xin-wang: “Next month, it will be Empress Qi Sheng Chun’s death anniversary, since the Empress is ill, act on your mother’s behalf to handle it, and offer sacrifices to the ancestors.”

The current empress was the succeeding one, and Empress Qi Sheng Chun was His Majesty’s first wife, the crown prince who passed away a few years ago was also the proper di son of the previous empress, even Hui Ming, who had never been inclined to worry about other people’s business, had heard of this, His Majesty and the previous empress, were married in their youth, and were very much in love, any beauty and virtuous concubine nowadays couldn’t compare with the deep affection His Majesty had for the first empress.

Unfortunately, both mother and son’s fate were bad, and they died young, if not, there wouldn’t be any conflict between the two princes today.

Sure enough, after listening to this command, Xin-wang went on his knees, and responded in a very solemn and humble manner: “This son obeys His Majesty’s command.”

His Majesty slightly nodded, he turned around, and his eyes swept towards Su-gonggong who was standing aside, then as if having thought of something, he paused for a moment, and inadvertently ordered: “If you encounter inconveniences in accessing anything outside the palace, hand it over to Su Jin.”

The matter of offering sacrifices to the ancestors was usually the responsibility of the empress consort’s residence, nowadays it was rare to hand it over to a prince, not to mention asking a eunuch serving the emperor to personally handle it, and so having heard what was said everyone paused.

In the silence, only Su-gonggong’s voice was as clear as jade, and replied with exceptional calmness: “Yes.” Please read at insidethemirror translations. DO NOT REPOST.

TRANSLATOR’S NOTES:

1. 汝窯: Ru ware, Ju ware, or “Ru official ware” is a famous and extremely rare type of Chinese pottery from the Song dynasty, produced for the imperial court for a brief period around 1100. Visit here for more information ↩

2. 嫡: born of the legal wife ↩

If there are any mistakes, please do not hesitate to point it out.

Chapter 15 – Title – Chapter 17

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