Chapter 9: Covered by Beauty Cao

“Mm, today is the fifteenth. Those below the rank of Beauty can return now. Those above will come with me to pay respects to the two Dowager Empresses. Beauty Cao, you should go back too—resting for your pregnancy is most important.”

Everyone exited Fengzao Palace, first sending off the high-ranking consorts with the proper respect, then departing individually according to their ranks.

It seemed that Beauty Cao had set her sights on Miao Xiaoyi, and deliberately had one of her maids bump into her.

Miao Xiaoyi barely managed to stay upright, only to see Beauty Cao seated in her sedan chair, sneering coldly: “As expected from such lowly origins—you still haven’t learned proper manners?”

Miao Xiaoyi knew this was deliberate, but she didn’t dare talk back. “Your servant admits her mistake.”

“If you know you were wrong, then kneel here for two hours. Will you accept that?” Beauty Cao didn’t believe that the Emperor would always come to the aid of this wretched woman.

“Yes,” Miao Xiaoyi replied, deeply aggrieved, and knelt.

But who cared about her grievances? She had angered the entire court—everyone would’ve been glad to see her dead.

When Shen Chuliu passed by, she let out a cold snort—not loud, but loud enough for everyone to hear.

People couldn’t help but think that Shen Baolin really wasn’t good at keeping her temper.

Still, that might be a good thing—what people feared most in the harem were those with hidden, deep thoughts. The ones who were easy to read were easier to deal with.

Besides, Shen Chuliu wasn’t highly favored, so no one paid much attention to her.

Even Lu Baolin was a greater threat, being from a prestigious literary family.

And now, there was the newly pregnant Lady An. Judging by the Empress’s attitude, she intended to ensure Lady An’s pregnancy was carried to term.

If the Emperor, the Empress, and both Dowager Empresses all wanted to protect a pregnancy, no one would dare make a move against it.

On the way back, Yao Baolin said quietly, “Back in the residence, there were pregnancies too. Only He Xiuyi successfully gave birth. When Beauty Liu was pregnant, she went through one hardship after another. That child wasn’t healthy and died young. Still, she made it into the palace—not insignificant at all.”

If the child had died before entering the palace, it likely wouldn’t even have been remembered. Only by dying after entering could it be counted as a prince.

“Beauty Liu was heartbroken, wasn’t she? That’s why she rarely shows herself now,” Shen Chuliu asked. That consort had long claimed illness and was rarely seen.

“Exactly. She hurt both her body and spirit. She used to be quite favored,” Yao Baolin shook her head.

“After Noble Consort Shu got pregnant, it wasn’t long before she entered the palace—right as the Emperor ascended the throne. With both Dowager Empresses working together, that pregnancy was definitely protected,” Yao Baolin said, full of emotion. “If Beauty Cao and Lady An can give birth safely, that would be a different story. The mourning period has lasted more than a year, and there still aren’t any children.”

Any child born now would be seen as incredibly lucky.

Shen Chuliu nodded. “Yes, it’d be great fortune. I used to think that since Consort Yi was so favored, she’d be the first to conceive.”

Yao Baolin smiled. “I thought so too. Just shows—having a child isn’t something you can control. Beauty Cao aside—just look at Lady An. How many times has she served His Majesty in a whole year? And yet here she is, pregnant.”

Shen Chuliu personally poured tea for Yao Baolin. “It’s not something one can will to happen. Lady An and I entered the palace in the same batch, but we aren’t close. I only know she’s shy and speaks little.”

“No one’s truly simple,” Yao Baolin smiled as she held the tea. After a few sips, she suddenly added, “There was once a favored Liangyuan back at the residence. One day, she just disappeared. Turned out she was pregnant. She tried to hide it, but it didn’t work…”

It was getting into dangerous territory, so Shen Chuliu changed the topic to clothing, jewelry, and other things.

After seeing Yao Baolin out, Shen Chuliu propped her head on her hand and sighed, “Why does she keep telling me these stories every time?”

“I don’t think it’s a bad thing,” said Zizhu as she helped remove Shen Chuliu’s makeup. “Yao Baolin probably doesn’t expect to gain the Emperor’s favor anymore, but you, Baolin, still have a bright future ahead. In this harem, everyone needs a way to get by. If you can earn favor and have a child, that’s best. If not, you still need allies. Haven’t you seen? Even Lu Baolin is cozying up to Jieyu Li. Yao Baolin knows she can’t gain favor, and no one else will pay attention to her. But you live in the same pavilion—she’s probably hoping you’ll rise so she can benefit too. It’s her way of picking a side.”

“Well, that’s just perfect. Zirui always says I lack ambition…” Shen Chuliu wasn’t unaware of these things. Still, she appreciated her maids thinking things through.

Zirui happened to walk in and caught that last sentence. She sighed, “And I don’t even know who I’m doing this all for!”

Meanwhile, Shen Chuliu had already made herself comfortable lying down. With nothing else to do during the summer, sleeping more wasn’t a bad idea.

Outside Fengzao Palace, when the Empress and others returned from paying respects, they saw Miao Xiaoyi still kneeling and frowned.

The Empress didn’t say a word—she just let her maid support her and walked straight inside.

Seeing that the Empress didn’t care, naturally, no one else did either.

Miao Xiaoyi clenched her fingers so hard they nearly broke, but she had no choice but to keep kneeling.

It wasn’t that she didn’t understand her situation—she simply had no solution.

She had the title of Xiaoyi, but had only been in the palace a few days and was already being bullied everywhere.

The Emperor might offer comforting words, but he never took real action.

She couldn’t even control her own maids.

When the appointed time was finally up, she was helped up by her maid and said, “Let’s go to Taiji Palace.”

The maid wanted to persuade her otherwise but held back.

She knew that a personal maid couldn’t be easily swapped. Since she served Miao Xiaoyi, she had to stay loyal.

The other palace maids were restless—if she couldn’t hold herself together, the whole palace would fall into chaos.

Outside Taiji Palace, Miao Xiaoyi requested an audience, only for Chu Si to come out smiling, “Xiaoyi came at a bad time. His Majesty is busy today—there are many memorials to review. But he said Xiaoyi should return for now. There will be a reward later.”

No matter how frustrated she was, Miao Xiaoyi couldn’t disturb the Emperor while he reviewed court documents, so she had no choice but to return.

She assumed the reward would just be another piece of jewelry, but by midday, a decree echoed through the entire palace.

Miao Xiaoyi was promoted to Miao Cairen.

It was like a stone thrown into a pond—waves rippled everywhere. Many in the harem had spent years trying to earn a promotion, and she had gotten one in just a few days.

The decree didn’t mention her grievances, nor did it punish Beauty Cao, but it promoted her all the same.

When Miao Xiaoyi became Miao Cairen, even Zirui seemed concerned. “Baolin, are we going to be okay?”

“With Beauty Cao still ahead of me, what would happen to me?” Shen Chuliu laughed. “Do you think that new Cairen is some kind of peerless beauty?”

“I shouldn’t say this, but although her looks are outstanding, she’s still far from matching you.” Her mistress hadn’t even grown into her full looks yet. All the Shen family men were handsome, and the women took after their fathers.