The Mute Wife Who Brings Prosperity-Chapter 686 - 648: Entering the Game (First Update)
"What’s there to congratulate for something bound to happen sooner or later?"
Eunuch Sanbao was annoyed at Song Yuanbao and said this on purpose, but in fact, he was overjoyed and was just about to go to Kunning Palace to report the news.
Thinking of this, Eunuch Sanbao looked at Zhao Xi, "Your Highness, I haven’t gone to Kunning Palace yet. Should I report to the Empress now about how to officially recognize Miss Wan Qiu or assign her a position in the future? There needs to be a specific arrangement, otherwise, she can’t just stay like this."
Zhao Xi nodded. He knew that he had to pass the trial marriage sooner or later, and now that it was over, he didn’t plan on keeping many people by his side before the grand wedding. So he said, "No need to wait for Mother’s decision. Just tell her that we’ll only keep Wan Qiu; the others should be assigned to positions in various departments within the Inner Court."
Eunuch Sanbao nodded, "When does Your Highness plan to have them leave?"
"The sixth day of the new year."
Driving people away during the New Year is ultimately inauspicious.
Eunuch Sanbao noted it down, "And what about Aunt Gu Yu? How should she be arranged?"
Zhao Xi instructed, "First, arrange for several little female officials to be reassigned."
"Yes."
Eunuch Sanbao accepted the order and headed straight to Kunning Palace.
Once he left, only Song Yuanbao and Zhao Xi were left outside Chengming Hall.
Song Yuanbao said, "Your Highness, are you no longer angry with me?"
"Why should I be angry?"
"After all, that Hai Dongqing was yours, and I gave it to someone else right in front of you—which was indeed inconsiderate."
Zhao Xi replied, "If you came here because of that, then you can leave now."
"Of course not!" Song Yuanbao hurriedly said, "I came to catch up on my studies. It’s been too long since I’ve been to the Upper Study Room; I feel completely out of it. Could you talk to me about current affairs and court politics, so I can write about them when the time comes?"
"There are books in the study room; go read them yourself."
"I don’t want to read. Reading is boring, and I always fall asleep. I want to hear you explain it."
Zhao Xi glanced sideways at him, "When have you ever remembered anything I’ve told you? Since you can’t remember, there’s no point in me wasting my breath."
With that, he didn’t wait for Song Yuanbao’s reaction and walked straight out.
Song Yuanbao called after him, "Your Highness, I know you must be angry. You’re my elder; can’t you forgive me just this once?"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Xi paused but didn’t turn around, "Elders are busy. I don’t have time to waste on you."
"Then I’ll leave."
Song Yuanbao sighed, stepped out of the Eastern Palace gates, and left.
Zhao Xi did not speak to stop him. When Song Yuanbao was far away, he left the Eastern Palace and took a sedan chair to Qianqing Palace to see Emperor Guangxi, to discuss how to integrate the cultures of Great Chu and West Yue quickly.
Kunning Palace.
Eunuch Sanbao explained in detail how Wan Qiu successfully served in the bedroom last night.
Empress Qi was delighted upon hearing this, "Is that really true?"
"Your Majesty, absolutely true. I wouldn’t dare lie about such things!"
"Wonderful!" Empress Qi’s face lit up with a smile. She asked Eunuch Sanbao again, "Did the Eastern Palace distribute the reward money yet?"
"This..." Eunuch Sanbao was a little confused, "I didn’t know this required a reward, so I haven’t distributed it yet."
Empress Qi was in a good mood and didn’t hold it against him. "Xixi is young, and it’s his first time. You’re about the same age, so it’s normal not to know. Since Gu Yu manages the affairs over there, have her allocate Silver upon your return to reward the servants, tripling their monthly salary."
After a pause, she instructed Jingzhe, "Since the Eastern Palace is giving rewards, we can’t fall short. Follow their example and give each person triple their monthly salary."
Jingzhe and Eunuch Sanbao both thanked her simultaneously.
Empress Qi’s smile was unconcealable, "I originally thought Gu Yu might have some clever idea, but it turns out Wan Qiu took the lead. But this is good; Wan Qiu is only two years older than Xixi, so he won’t feel too burdened."
Jingzhe also smiled, "Congratulations, Your Majesty."
——
Eunuch Sanbao returned from Kunning Palace with two pieces of news.
One was that the Crown Prince favored Wan Qiu last night, and the Empress decreed to distribute reward money.
The other was that the Empress had agreed that only Wan Qiu would remain by His Highness’s side. Everyone else would be assigned to positions within the Inner Court Department and would leave on the sixth day of the new year.
In the West Courtyard, when Gu Yu heard the news, she furiously smashed a teacup.
That wench, even serving the bed she has to make it known throughout the whole palace!
The eunuch delivering the message carefully watched Gu Yu, "Aunt, should I notify the servants to come for their reward?"
"Reward for what?" It was the first time Gu Yu had been so reluctant to receive a reward.
Seeing the little eunuch in fear and trepidation, Gu Yu belatedly realized her overreaction and quickly suppressed her anger, "There’s no rush for the reward, let’s wait."
At the very least, she had to calm down first, "Go to the East Courtyard, if they haven’t received the news, tell them that His Highness has already decided to keep only Wan Qiu for the Eastern Palace’s bed service. If they have received the news, then ask them when they’re moving."
She didn’t believe that Zhi Xia would have no reaction after hearing the news.
As long as she pushed her, she’d definitely get the result she wanted.
Thinking about the fate that awaited Wan Qiu, Gu Yu’s mood improved just a bit.
When the little eunuch arrived at the East Courtyard, all the ladies had already heard the news.
Though Nian Chun and Xiu Dong were regretful, they didn’t complain, knowing full well that even if they stayed, they wouldn’t have any official status, and once the Crown Princess Consort and concubines entered, the bedroom maids would be kicked away as far as they could go. It was better to take a position in the Inner Court Department while still virgins and find a good match to marry once they came of age.
Contrarily, Zhi Xia felt utterly frustrated when she learned she would soon have to move out of the East Courtyard and the Eastern Palace.
From the moment she saw Wan Qiu outside Chengming Hall in the morning until now, a series of blows had come one after another, making her head feel muddled, as if she were dreaming.
She didn’t want to go to the Inner Court Department and didn’t want to be a food companion to the eunuchs!
The more she thought about it, the more twisted Zhi Xia’s mind became. She stood up, took out the two sets of eunuch robes she’d hidden in her wardrobe, and walked to Wan Qiu’s door, knocking on it.
The door opened, and when Wan Qiu saw that the person outside was Zhi Xia, she was momentarily stunned, "Sister, come in."
Knowing Zhi Xia was in a bad mood since the morning, Wan Qiu tried her best to smile, attempting to take her hand, but saw she was holding a silk bundle full and didn’t know what was inside.
Wan Qiu looked puzzled, "What are you holding?"
Zhi Xia pursed her lips, "Sister Wan Qiu, may I ask you for a favor?"
"Just say what you need."
"It’s just that... I have a cousin who grew up with me, and he snuck into the palace with some silver to see me, but I don’t dare to go alone. Could you come with me?"
Wan Qiu asked doubtfully, "If it’s your cousin, why wear this?"
Zhi Xia whispered, "He’s disguised as a eunuch. We’re from the Eastern Palace, so we can’t just see him, or else if someone finds out, I’ll be done for."
Then she looked at Wan Qiu, teary-eyed, "Good sister, I’m about to move out of the Eastern Palace. Whether my future marriage works out depends entirely on you."
Wan Qiu really didn’t understand how she could influence her marriage, but she couldn’t refuse out of sympathy, so she nodded and asked when they should go.
Zhi Xia said, "Right now."
"In such a hurry?"
"My cousin is waiting over at Qingfang Palace."
"Then wait for a moment." Wan Qiu took the eunuch robe handed by Zhi Xia, "Change and let’s go."
Zhi Xia smiled so her eyes curved, "I knew, Sister Wan Qiu is the best."
Wan Qiu said, "When we leave the Eastern Palace, let’s take the small path, or else we’ll really have a hard time explaining ourselves if someone discovers us on the main paths."
"Hmm, hmm." Zhi Xia nodded, adopting the demeanor where whatever Wan Qiu said was how it should be.
After the two changed clothes behind the screen and confirmed that Nian Chun and Xiu Dong weren’t in the yard, they lowered their heads and walked outward, dodging many servants along the way. Following Wan Qiu’s mentioned small path, they quickly headed towards Qingfang Palace.
Wan Qiu was actually quite puzzled; she had never heard of Zhi Xia having a childhood sweetheart cousin, let alone an arranged marriage, and now suddenly such a person appeared, even sneaking into the palace to see Zhi Xia.
But she knew that if she didn’t agree, Zhi Xia would surely resent her.
The small path was closer, and with the two of them afraid of being discovered, they moved quickly and soon arrived outside Qingfang Palace.
Wan Qiu scanned around, seeing the dilapidated and broken hall filled with cobwebs and overgrown weeds. Except for the exterior resembling a palace, the inside was no longer suitable for habitation.
"Zhi Xia, where is your cousin?"
Just after Wan Qiu asked, she felt a heavy blow to the back of her head.
As she fell into unconsciousness, Wan Qiu only hazily heard a sentence, "It’s not that I intended to harm sister, but sister doesn’t have the fate to be in favor. I can only send you here; from now on, sister must fend for yourself!"
