Chapter 13: Demotion
"Consort Yi’s zither playing has always been lovely. It’s not just His Majesty—even I enjoy it very much," said Consort Shu with a smile.
Consort Yi smiled bashfully.
Qi Yixiu personally poured her tea. "Consort Yi has a low tolerance for alcohol—tea is better."
No one paid any attention to Miao Cairen, who returned to the banquet with a pale face.
That dance earlier had been nothing short of a joke.
Yao Baolin leaned close to Shen Chuliu and whispered, "Pretty pitiful."
It was a statement, not a question—she didn’t expect a reply.
Shen Chuliu thought, if we’re talking about pity, there are plenty of pitiful people in the harem.
Miao Cairen had wanted to enter the palace. The imperial harem was cruel by nature. What one ended up with all depended on skill and luck. There was no room for pity here—everyone was the same.
For all she knew, she might not even do as well as Miao Cairen in the end.
Thinking that, she laughed.
Qi Yixiu hadn’t originally been looking her way, but when he glanced over, he happened to catch the little concubine smiling prettily.
She was wearing a light green ruqun today—a cross-chested robe and skirt—her hair in a simple lily bun. The look was fresh and clean, perfect for summer.
"Shen Baolin, what are you laughing about?" Qi Yixiu suddenly asked.
Shen Chuliu was startled and stood up. "Your Majesty, I was admiring how beautifully the lotus flowers are blooming."
Qi Yixiu gave a sly smile. "You dare lie in front of me?"
Shen Chuliu grew embarrassed. "Your Majesty, I misspoke. I was actually thinking whether there were fish in the pond. Just a passing thought… and then I accidentally started thinking about how to cook them, and laughed at myself for being greedy..."
Qi Yixiu chuckled. "That is greedy. But the fish here at Consort Shu’s place can’t be eaten. If you’re craving some, I’ll have the kitchens prepare a dish for you."
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Shen Chuliu curtsied and sat down again.
She didn’t say more. Trying to attract the Emperor’s attention at this moment would only be a mistake.
Even so, she’d already drawn quite a few looks.
Consort Shu didn’t bring her up again either, not wanting the Emperor to actually remember her.
When the banquet ended, the Emperor took Consort Yi with him to the Taiji Palace.
The Empress and the others all returned to their respective palaces.
On the way back, Miao Cairen was mocked again. With Cao Meiren around, she could hardly expect peace.
It had only been a minor thing, but someone bumped into Miao Cairen, and she lost her balance, falling straight toward Cao Meiren.
Cao Meiren’s Qiushui Pavilion was just behind Consort Shu’s Fuyang Palace, while Miao Cairen’s quarters were on the opposite side of the palace. They were about to part ways.
But it was also Cao Meiren’s own fault for stirring up trouble with Miao Cairen.
They hadn’t gone far when the Empress calmly ordered her attendants to carry Cao Meiren back to Qiushui Pavilion and detain Miao Cairen.
Miao Cairen pleaded her innocence, but she had indeed fallen onto Cao Meiren—there was no way to refute that.
She said someone had pushed her, but no one had seen anything. And even if someone had, they wouldn’t speak up.
Who in the harem was actually hoping Cao Meiren would carry her pregnancy to term?
The imperial physician was quickly summoned to Qiushui Pavilion, and the Emperor returned as well, still accompanied by Consort Yi.
Although Cao Meiren was in pain, she had not miscarried. The physician let out a sigh of relief.
"For the next month, she must rest completely. Absolutely no stress or agitation," the old physician advised.
He knew none of the women in the harem were easy to deal with—there was no need to say more.
Cao Meiren cried bitterly, accusing Miao Cairen of attempting to harm her.
Qi Yixiu sighed. "You’re a perfectly fine beauty—why must you always tangle with someone like her?"
His tone was soft, as though filled with deep affection for Cao Meiren.
In the back, Shen Chuliu thought to herself that the Emperor played the role of the devoted lover far too easily.
Kneeling outside, Miao Cairen was in tears. She knew the truth of what had happened, but she also understood now that the Emperor would never take her side.
So she didn’t bother begging anymore. What was the point? Whether she said anything or not, the Emperor already knew.
She had barely gained her footing in the palace—why would she risk everything to harm an imperial heir?
After consoling Cao Meiren, Qi Yixiu walked to the door. "You may rise. Go back and reflect. Don’t act on impulse again."
Miao Cairen felt like she had been granted a great pardon. "Yes, Your Majesty. Thank you."
So she had gotten off with barely a slap on the wrist.
Everyone began to reevaluate how favored Miao Cairen really was.
But Cao Meiren had indeed stirred her pregnancy into danger, so she no longer dared to move about freely.
Yet she was naturally restless and temperamental. Since becoming pregnant, she’d acted out in all sorts of ways.
After just a few days of being confined, she began finding fault again and ordered her maid to summon Miao Cairen for conversation.
The maid tried to dissuade her, but failed.
Of course, Miao Cairen didn’t want to go—but Cao Meiren outranked her.
If it had been anyone else, rank wouldn’t have mattered. If she didn’t want to go, she wouldn’t.
But she didn’t dare. Her background had been too humble.
For three days straight, Miao Cairen was summoned by Cao Meiren and made to stay the entire day—without even lunch.
On the fourth day, Miao Cairen couldn’t get out of bed.
This time, the Emperor pretended not to know anything and didn’t get involved.
Cao Meiren took it as permission to vent her anger. When Miao Cairen didn’t show, she sent her head maid to Zilin Pavilion to hurl insults.
And so it went for seven days. Miao Cairen hadn’t collapsed yet, but Cao Meiren did.
It was the middle of the day. The physician was called urgently, but before he arrived, she had already started bleeding.
At not even three months, once bleeding started, the pregnancy was likely lost.
Sure enough, the physician shook his head. "I’ll write a prescription. The remaining tissue must be cleared from the womb so Meiren can recover properly."
Cao Meiren was still unconscious and unaware.
When the Emperor and Empress arrived, Cao Meiren had just woken and was wailing uncontrollably.
Qi Yixiu’s face betrayed nothing, but he showed no inclination to go inside.
The Empress and Consort Shu entered to check on Cao Meiren and offered a few words of comfort.
"What happened?" Qi Yixiu asked the physician. He sat quietly, seemingly calm.
But the physician could sense the Emperor’s silent rage.
"Your Majesty, the previous incident wasn’t well tended to, and lately her temper’s been too fiery. It’s summer—easy to disturb the fetus..."
So this child had been lost due to Cao Meiren’s own temper?
Qi Yixiu nodded and tapped the table lightly. "Issue my decree. Miao Cairen endangered the imperial heir—demoted to gengyi rank, stripped of title. Cao Meiren failed to protect the heir—demoted to cairen."
With that, he rose. "Cairen Cao will need time to recuperate. Remove her name tag for now—resume it in six months. Let the Empress know I’m leaving."
The palace staff all answered in unison.
And just like that, Qiushui Pavilion turned cold and desolate.
Everyone had expected Cao Meiren to be promoted to Jieyu—a step closer to the Nine Consorts. No one imagined she’d be demoted instead.
Clearly, the Emperor had grown disgusted with her inability to behave properly even while pregnant—insisting on provoking that Miao… no, Wei Gengyi.
Consort Yi smiled bashfully.
Qi Yixiu personally poured her tea. "Consort Yi has a low tolerance for alcohol—tea is better."
No one paid any attention to Miao Cairen, who returned to the banquet with a pale face.
That dance earlier had been nothing short of a joke.
Yao Baolin leaned close to Shen Chuliu and whispered, "Pretty pitiful."
It was a statement, not a question—she didn’t expect a reply.
Shen Chuliu thought, if we’re talking about pity, there are plenty of pitiful people in the harem.
Miao Cairen had wanted to enter the palace. The imperial harem was cruel by nature. What one ended up with all depended on skill and luck. There was no room for pity here—everyone was the same.
For all she knew, she might not even do as well as Miao Cairen in the end.
Thinking that, she laughed.
Qi Yixiu hadn’t originally been looking her way, but when he glanced over, he happened to catch the little concubine smiling prettily.
She was wearing a light green ruqun today—a cross-chested robe and skirt—her hair in a simple lily bun. The look was fresh and clean, perfect for summer.
"Shen Baolin, what are you laughing about?" Qi Yixiu suddenly asked.
Shen Chuliu was startled and stood up. "Your Majesty, I was admiring how beautifully the lotus flowers are blooming."
Qi Yixiu gave a sly smile. "You dare lie in front of me?"
Shen Chuliu grew embarrassed. "Your Majesty, I misspoke. I was actually thinking whether there were fish in the pond. Just a passing thought… and then I accidentally started thinking about how to cook them, and laughed at myself for being greedy..."
Qi Yixiu chuckled. "That is greedy. But the fish here at Consort Shu’s place can’t be eaten. If you’re craving some, I’ll have the kitchens prepare a dish for you."
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Shen Chuliu curtsied and sat down again.
She didn’t say more. Trying to attract the Emperor’s attention at this moment would only be a mistake.
Even so, she’d already drawn quite a few looks.
Consort Shu didn’t bring her up again either, not wanting the Emperor to actually remember her.
When the banquet ended, the Emperor took Consort Yi with him to the Taiji Palace.
The Empress and the others all returned to their respective palaces.
On the way back, Miao Cairen was mocked again. With Cao Meiren around, she could hardly expect peace.
It had only been a minor thing, but someone bumped into Miao Cairen, and she lost her balance, falling straight toward Cao Meiren.
Cao Meiren’s Qiushui Pavilion was just behind Consort Shu’s Fuyang Palace, while Miao Cairen’s quarters were on the opposite side of the palace. They were about to part ways.
But it was also Cao Meiren’s own fault for stirring up trouble with Miao Cairen.
They hadn’t gone far when the Empress calmly ordered her attendants to carry Cao Meiren back to Qiushui Pavilion and detain Miao Cairen.
Miao Cairen pleaded her innocence, but she had indeed fallen onto Cao Meiren—there was no way to refute that.
She said someone had pushed her, but no one had seen anything. And even if someone had, they wouldn’t speak up.
Who in the harem was actually hoping Cao Meiren would carry her pregnancy to term?
The imperial physician was quickly summoned to Qiushui Pavilion, and the Emperor returned as well, still accompanied by Consort Yi.
Although Cao Meiren was in pain, she had not miscarried. The physician let out a sigh of relief.
"For the next month, she must rest completely. Absolutely no stress or agitation," the old physician advised.
He knew none of the women in the harem were easy to deal with—there was no need to say more.
Cao Meiren cried bitterly, accusing Miao Cairen of attempting to harm her.
Qi Yixiu sighed. "You’re a perfectly fine beauty—why must you always tangle with someone like her?"
His tone was soft, as though filled with deep affection for Cao Meiren.
In the back, Shen Chuliu thought to herself that the Emperor played the role of the devoted lover far too easily.
Kneeling outside, Miao Cairen was in tears. She knew the truth of what had happened, but she also understood now that the Emperor would never take her side.
So she didn’t bother begging anymore. What was the point? Whether she said anything or not, the Emperor already knew.
She had barely gained her footing in the palace—why would she risk everything to harm an imperial heir?
After consoling Cao Meiren, Qi Yixiu walked to the door. "You may rise. Go back and reflect. Don’t act on impulse again."
Miao Cairen felt like she had been granted a great pardon. "Yes, Your Majesty. Thank you."
So she had gotten off with barely a slap on the wrist.
Everyone began to reevaluate how favored Miao Cairen really was.
But Cao Meiren had indeed stirred her pregnancy into danger, so she no longer dared to move about freely.
Yet she was naturally restless and temperamental. Since becoming pregnant, she’d acted out in all sorts of ways.
After just a few days of being confined, she began finding fault again and ordered her maid to summon Miao Cairen for conversation.
The maid tried to dissuade her, but failed.
Of course, Miao Cairen didn’t want to go—but Cao Meiren outranked her.
If it had been anyone else, rank wouldn’t have mattered. If she didn’t want to go, she wouldn’t.
But she didn’t dare. Her background had been too humble.
For three days straight, Miao Cairen was summoned by Cao Meiren and made to stay the entire day—without even lunch.
On the fourth day, Miao Cairen couldn’t get out of bed.
This time, the Emperor pretended not to know anything and didn’t get involved.
Cao Meiren took it as permission to vent her anger. When Miao Cairen didn’t show, she sent her head maid to Zilin Pavilion to hurl insults.
And so it went for seven days. Miao Cairen hadn’t collapsed yet, but Cao Meiren did.
It was the middle of the day. The physician was called urgently, but before he arrived, she had already started bleeding.
At not even three months, once bleeding started, the pregnancy was likely lost.
Sure enough, the physician shook his head. "I’ll write a prescription. The remaining tissue must be cleared from the womb so Meiren can recover properly."
Cao Meiren was still unconscious and unaware.
When the Emperor and Empress arrived, Cao Meiren had just woken and was wailing uncontrollably.
Qi Yixiu’s face betrayed nothing, but he showed no inclination to go inside.
The Empress and Consort Shu entered to check on Cao Meiren and offered a few words of comfort.
"What happened?" Qi Yixiu asked the physician. He sat quietly, seemingly calm.
But the physician could sense the Emperor’s silent rage.
"Your Majesty, the previous incident wasn’t well tended to, and lately her temper’s been too fiery. It’s summer—easy to disturb the fetus..."
So this child had been lost due to Cao Meiren’s own temper?
Qi Yixiu nodded and tapped the table lightly. "Issue my decree. Miao Cairen endangered the imperial heir—demoted to gengyi rank, stripped of title. Cao Meiren failed to protect the heir—demoted to cairen."
With that, he rose. "Cairen Cao will need time to recuperate. Remove her name tag for now—resume it in six months. Let the Empress know I’m leaving."
The palace staff all answered in unison.
And just like that, Qiushui Pavilion turned cold and desolate.
Everyone had expected Cao Meiren to be promoted to Jieyu—a step closer to the Nine Consorts. No one imagined she’d be demoted instead.
Clearly, the Emperor had grown disgusted with her inability to behave properly even while pregnant—insisting on provoking that Miao… no, Wei Gengyi.
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