Chronicles of the Qin Dynasty

Chapter 58, Section 57: Such Favoritism
Qin Shi hesitated for a moment: "With the lady here, should I not disturb Your Majesty's enjoyment?"

The woman hesitated for a moment, but Yi Ming quickly said, "Your Majesty... do you really have the interest?"

This is a good question.

Remembering that even a beauty like Lady Chu was not favored, Qin Shi decisively got out of the carriage: "In that case, we might be able to enjoy a dance together at noon."

Lady Chu's dance was graceful and beautiful, truly stunning.

However, upon entering the side hall, a woman was seen being escorted by maids and servants quickly exiting. She wore a crimson blouse with a flowing hem, and her hair was adorned with a golden pine tree and a black bird hairpin, a large pearl dangling from the bird's beak; judging by its color, it seemed…

Qin Shi stopped abruptly, then subtly tugged at her skirt to cover her pearl-embroidered shoes.

Your Majesty! She was only blinded by wealth and status for a moment. Why give her the pearls that others wore in their hair to make shoes!
Now that they meet again, even the most elegant beauty would feel awkward.

The Red Maiden Doctor and others quickly bowed and greeted her, saying, "Greetings, Madam Zheng."

Qin Shi instantly knew who this was—it was obvious that the only person who would dare to enter Zhangtai Palace, besides Lady Chu who had a child, was another Lady Zheng.

Lady Zheng was originally a beauty presented to the court by the state of Zheng, and was known in the palace as "Lady Zheng." Unfortunately, the state of Zheng was also conquered by the king. Thus, like Lady Chu, she became a lady without a homeland.

Qin Shi took a closer look at Lady Zheng. Compared to Lady Chu's delicate and graceful appearance, she possessed a greater air of heroism.

She doesn't even look like she's had a son and a daughter; she looks to be at most twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, but she actually has a very mature charm.

She didn't even wear thick white powder on her makeup; her eyebrows were slightly raised, her eyes were large and bright, her lips were slightly full, and even her figure appeared plump but not fat.

From this perspective, it should be quite in line with the aesthetic standards of the Qin state today.

No, to be precise, it also fits her aesthetic.

It is a healthier and more vibrant beauty, quite different from the delicate beauty of Lady Chu, who was as slender as a willow branch.

She looked at Madam Zheng, and Madam Zheng also looked her over.

Lady Zheng had long heard that the King of Qin had brought back a woman during his western tour, and that he not only treated her as an honored guest, but also arranged for her to stay at the Orchid Pond, and bestowed upon her various favors and rewards.

She wasn't stupid, so naturally she wouldn't look down on the other person.

After all, when it comes to nobility, given the king's standards for employing people, it's hard to tell who is who.

but--

So angry!
The golden crown of the four seasons on the other person's head was clearly presented to Xianyang along with her. How come she couldn't get it even after so much hardship, but now the other person is wearing it on her head!
That beautiful golden crown was originally commissioned by the prime minister of Zheng to be made by skilled craftsmen. Nominally, it was Zheng's way of seeking peace, but in reality, it was the prime minister's surrender...

Now, now!
Madam Zheng's eyes were practically burning with fire!

What is the meaning of her life if she cannot wear the golden crown of the four seasons?
Ah ah ah ah ah!

Qin Shi hesitated.

Because the other person's eyes were filled with resentment, staring at him with obvious displeasure, and even their cheeks were tense.

She subconsciously looked down at her shoes—the pearls weren't showing!

Madam Zheng took a deep breath, and the maid beside her looked at her with concern, hesitant to speak.

However, the other person puffed out their cheeks twice and finally couldn't help but take a step forward, causing Qin Shi to subconsciously move again.

Madam Zheng was slightly taller and stronger than her—she had a larger frame, was taller, and had a fuller figure.

As they drew closer, before Qin Shi could even feel nervous, he saw that the other person's round, dignified face was now filled with red, aggrieved eyes!
"Even if you wear this golden crown, you, my lord, are not as large and beautiful as I am, you cannot show my domineering presence!"

With a sore nose, she finished her harsh words, snorted, and was about to leave haughtily.

However, she stumbled, and the long, curved hem of her skirt brushed against Qin Shi's feet, revealing the large, lustrous pearl on her silk shoes.

Madam Zheng's bowed head froze.

The pine and pearl tassels of the black bird hairpin hanging from her head drooped down, gently brushing against her cheek, reflecting the icy chill in her heart. Then her eyes reddened, and her once spirited face was instantly shrouded in sorrow. She choked out a sob and then, with her head held high, hurriedly left with her maids.

Qin Shi: ...

孽 孽!
Fortunately, she wasn't in the King's harem; otherwise, she might have made enemies without having done anything.

The woman comforted her, saying, "Lord Qin, there's no need to worry. Madam Zheng is only temporarily upset; she is not a petty or domineering person."

Qin Shi sighed: "I wasn't worried. I just..."

I feel really bad for unintentionally hurting the beauty's self-esteem.

……

Meanwhile, on this side...

Madam Zheng nimbly stepped onto the carriage from behind her servants, and then finally couldn't hold back any longer, and a large tear fell down her cheek.

"lady!"

The maidservant beside her quickly took out a handkerchief and gently wiped away her tears, comforting her, "His Majesty has always been like this, rewarding whoever is useful generously, and has never cared about personal feelings."

Another maidservant chimed in, "That's right. The noble lady is useful in the imperial court, and the madam is the only one in the harem with both a son and a daughter. We'll see in the future..."

She didn't finish her sentence, but Madam Zheng's tears continued to flow, so she quickly wiped them away.

Surrounded by maids, Madam Zheng's "large and robust" body slumped down, now looking as resentful as a mushroom: "Don't wait until tomorrow, I dare not even think about it today..."

The king is so domineering and tyrannical. If he had given birth to a son, he would have dared to dream of such things. Now, it is unknown whether he can be both dead and alive!

only……

She couldn't help but shed tears again: "Look at that noble lady, even her face powder is better than mine! How could the King be so cruel..."

He doesn't use makeup, so even if he had something good, what difference would it make if he gave it to the mother of a prince or princess!

She looked in the mirror and saw that her already uneven makeup was now patchy from crying, which made her even more heartbroken.

Her skin wasn't as fair as Lady Chu's to begin with, and in their state of Zheng, fair skin was considered beautiful. It was only because she'd heard that the Qin people preferred tall, strong, and naturally beautiful women that she was given the opportunity.

Having been in the palace for many years, she had always been obsessed with having fair skin, and she gradually realized that the king did not dislike fair-skinned and beautiful women, but was just a little picky.

However, due to the limitations of her natural skin, even though she applied the best skin-nourishing cream prepared by the imperial physician every night, her skin never became any whiter.

This already left Madam Zheng feeling extremely frustrated.

She doesn't wear heavy, white makeup because it would look very strange on her skin. So she comforts herself by only using natural colors.

But now...

now……

She let out a loud "waa," then burst into tears—the maids covered her mouth—and began to sob.
"That noble lady's makeup powder wasn't snow-white either, but it was so delicate, adhered so well, and complemented her complexion. Her lipstick was even more vibrant red than mine."

She then recalled the golden crown adorned with the four seasons' gods and the pearl-studded shoes, and couldn't help but weep:

"Your Majesty is so biased!"

The two ladies are actually quite different in spirit from in appearance. But I love it, haha!

I write in the morning and then in the afternoon, and in the afternoon and then in the evening.

Why does it look like a donkey pulling a millstone?
There isn't even a holiday yet...

[By the way, I'd like to mention I need to take a few days off at the end of the month or the beginning of May...]