Ming Dynasty: Is a mere unruly commoner rebelling against heaven?

Chapter 90: Beautiful Scenery, Delightful Events!

Eunuch Liu had already explained to Zhang Wan'er what 'calling the time' meant.

It was to prevent the Emperor from overexerting himself. After a certain time, the eunuchs of the Office of Rituals would have to shout outside the Emperor's bedroom, 'Time's up.'

The first two calls could be ignored, but by the third call, the concubine had to leave the Emperor's bed.

But everyone knew that being disturbed while sleeping was extremely annoying.

So this rigid rule could only be applied to weak emperors.

When facing powerful emperors, the eunuchs of the Office of Rituals would often ask the Emperor in advance when to call the time, so as not to spoil the Emperor's mood.

And Zhu Youcheng was precisely a powerful emperor with great authority.

Fu Dahai really didn't dare to annoy Zhu Youcheng, so he asked this question.

But clearly, Zhu Youcheng didn't even want to hear the sound of the time being called.

Zhu Youcheng stared at Fu Dahai and sneered, "Tonight, if anyone dares to make the slightest noise outside the palace, I will tear out their tongue!"

A fine layer of cold sweat immediately appeared on Fu Dahai's forehead.

"This servant understands, this servant takes his leave."

As he spoke, Fu Dahai retreated repeatedly, bowing as he left Qianqing Palace.

After coming outside, Fu Dahai took a deep breath of cold air. The cold sweat on his body became even colder after being blown by the cold wind.

While still frightened, Fu Dahai was also grateful that he had asked that extra question, saving his tongue.

At the same time, he quickly called the junior eunuchs of the Office of Rituals and relayed Zhu Youcheng's order.

"From now on, no sound is allowed outside the palace when His Majesty is sleeping!"

"Whoever dares to make a sound will have their tongue cut out, do you understand!"

The junior eunuchs of the Office of Rituals nodded repeatedly, "We understand, thank you for the reminder, Eunuch!"

Inside the east side room of Qianqing Palace, Zhu Youcheng got into bed first, narrowed his eyes, and instructed, "The lights are too bright, extinguish two of them."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The palace maids attending to him extinguished the two lanterns closest to the bed out of the eight lanterns lit in the east side room.

The lights near the dragon bed immediately dimmed, and the atmosphere began to become ambiguous.

Zhang Wan'er's heart pounded, feeling both shy and expectant.

Even a little impatient.

Zhu Youcheng lay half-reclined on the bed and beckoned to Zhang Wan'er.

Zhang Wan'er said shyly, "Your Majesty..."

She slowly climbed onto Zhu Youcheng's dragon bed, nestled into Zhu Youcheng's arms, and pressed her face against Zhu Youcheng's chest.

Zhu Youcheng put his arm around Zhang Wan'er's shoulders and gently squeezed, eliciting a soft cry.

The palace maids on both sides quickly stepped forward to lower the curtains of the dragon bed, then knelt on the ground, waiting for orders.

Inside Qianqing Palace, red candles flickered, and soft moans could be heard.

Inside Jingren Palace, Chen Yuanyuan suddenly woke up from a dream.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty..."

Gu Hengbo, who was guarding her, quickly lifted the bed curtain, her voice anxious, "My lady, what's wrong?"

Chen Yuanyuan looked at Gu Hengbo, and tears suddenly flowed down.

"Hengbo, I dreamed of His Majesty."

Chen Yuanyuan looked out the window, towards the direction of Qianqing Palace, and murmured to herself, "Consort Kang should be in Qianqing Palace, receiving the Emperor's favor, right now?"

Gu Hengbo felt a little sorry for Chen Yuanyuan, seeing her so distraught.

Looking at it this way, wasn't it a kind of luck that I wasn't chosen by His Majesty back then?

Without hope, there would be no expectation, no extravagance, no disappointment.

Just like Chen Yuanyuan now, because she had the hope of serving His Majesty.

She expected His Majesty to summon her, hoped that His Majesty would favor her.

But in the end, she was deeply disappointed.

Gu Hengbo sighed softly, not knowing how to comfort Chen Yuanyuan, she could only hug Chen Yuanyuan and gently stroke her back.

Chen Yuanyuan wasn't the only one who couldn't sleep in the harem.

Liu Rushi was also unable to sleep. She sat on the soft couch in the palace, quietly leaning on the window frame, looking out the window, not knowing what she was thinking.

Then she blinked, got up from the soft couch barefoot, and walked to the desk.

Pen, ink, and rice paper were already laid out on the desk.

She picked up the brush and wrote delicate characters on the rice paper.

In dreams, it is a path of sorrow.

Hibiscus tears, cherry words.

Full curtains of flower petals, all misunderstood by the heart.

Perhaps tonight, the wind and rain will speak.

Wanting him to come, can he come?

Arranging endless soul-stirring events.

Polished red paper, cyan silk quilt.

No way to keep him, let him go as he pleases.

Calculating, there is still much time, when people are near, the place of sorrow returns.

The poem was finished, but it only caused the beauty to sigh.

Suddenly, a faint Kunqu opera sound came from Zhongcui Palace, where Dong Xiaowan lived.

"Such beautiful scenery, what a beautiful day, whose courtyard has such delightful events?"

"Flying in the morning and rolling in the evening, clouds and rosy clouds in the emerald pavilion, rain threads and wind slices, misty painted boats."

"The brocade screen people see this beautiful time as cheap!"

This was a passage from "The Peony Pavilion".

Among the eight of them, only Dong Xiaowan sang Kunqu opera the best.

And "The Peony Pavilion" was Dong Xiaowan's masterpiece.

"If only mutual love is not betrayed, the Peony Pavilion is the path of three lives."

The virtuous lady, Gu, sat by the window, gently reciting this line of poetry.

She smiled slightly, like a sigh of relief, like a sigh.

"I wonder which concubine has such refined interests."

"This 'Peony Pavilion' is sung so well."

"It's just a pity that the person who should have heard it the most, didn't hear it."

...

The next day.

The morning light was faint.

Zhang Wan'er woke up from her dream, and recalling what happened last night, her cheeks were flushed with娇 red.

Leaving aside how intense the wind and rain were last night, even after the storm had calmed down, when Zhang Wan'er was about to get up to sleep on another bed.

She was also pulled back by Zhu Youcheng, who made her sleep in his arms all night.

Looking at Zhu Youcheng's eyebrows and eyes beside her, Zhang Wan'er couldn't help but chuckle.

"What's so funny?"

When Zhu Youcheng opened his eyes, what he saw was a flower-like, delicate face.

"It's not that anything is funny, it's just that this concubine feels very happy to be with Your Majesty."

"Heh, you certainly know how to talk."

"This is this concubine's true feelings, I wouldn't dare to lie."

Outside Qianqing Palace, the morning bell of the Bell and Drum Division rang.

A large number of eunuchs from the Directorate of Imperial Cuisine and palace maids from the Bureau of Imperial Clothing had already entered the east side room.

"Your Majesty, it's already three quarters past Mao hour."

"Understood."

Zhu Youcheng patted Zhang Wan'er beside him, "Get up, let's have breakfast together."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Zhang Wan'er smiled sweetly and obediently followed Zhu Youcheng to get up.

Under the service of the palace maids of the Bureau of Imperial Clothing, Zhu Youcheng and Zhang Wan'er changed into casual clothes, and then had breakfast together.

Afterwards, Zhang Wan'er bid farewell to Zhu Youcheng and left Qianqing Palace.

The first record was also made in the Office of Ritual's "Record of Favors".

On the 13th day of the tenth month of the first year of Hongzhi, the Emperor favored Consort Kang.

If Zhang Wan'er were to become pregnant with the Emperor's child, the record in this "Record of Favors" would accurately determine Zhang Wan'er's time of pregnancy.

On the way to Hongde Hall, Zhu Youcheng suddenly remembered something, "Fu Dahai."

"This servant is here."

Fu Dahai quickly stepped forward to listen to the order.

"Go to the Imperial Treasury and pick out some jewelry and send it to Consort Kang, send... ten boxes."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Zhu Youcheng did not stop walking and went straight into Hongde Hall.

Fu Dahai first ran to find the eunuch of the Imperial Horse Administration, made a registration, and then brought him into the Imperial Treasury to select jewelry.

In Zhu Youcheng's Imperial Treasury, there were thousands of boxes of jewelry obtained from the confiscation of the Eastern Depot's assets these days.

Fu Dahai was dazzled. After selecting ten boxes of jewelry, he quickly led the junior eunuchs under his command to Xianfu Palace.

Fu Dahai had just entered the gate of Xianfu Palace when he saw Runqiu, the chief palace maid of Ciqing Palace, leading a group of junior eunuchs, moving boxes of gifts into Xianfu Palace.

"Consort Kang, these are the rewards from Ciqing Palace, especially this jade bracelet. Empress Dowager specifically instructed this servant to personally hand it to you."

"This was brought by Empress Dowager from her home when she entered the palace. Empress Dowager has worn it for more than twenty years, it's very precious!"

As Runqiu spoke, she took out a small wooden box from her bosom.

Opening the wooden box, revealing a jade bracelet inside.

Zhang Wan'er opened her mouth in surprise and declined, "This is too precious, how can this palace receive such an honor?"

Runqiu presented the wooden box to Zhang Wan'er, "Empress Dowager and Consort Kang hit it off at first sight, and specifically sent this servant to deliver it."

"If Consort Kang doesn't accept it, it would be impolite."

Zhang Wan'er had no choice but to accept it, "Empress Dowager's kindness is making this palace feel overwhelmed by favor."

Seeing that Fu Dahai had also brought gifts, Runqiu did not stay any longer, exchanged a few pleasantries, left the gifts, and left.

Fu Dahai followed closely and stepped forward, "Just now, His Majesty ordered this servant to bring gifts to Consort Kang, does Consort Kang think they are to her liking?"

As Fu Dahai spoke, a junior eunuch stepped forward and opened the box in his hand.

"Here is a pair of cloisonné bracelets, four gold and silver rings, five pairs of jade earrings, two strings of pearl necklaces..."

While Fu Dahai was reporting the names of the gifts, people came to deliver gifts again at the gate of Xianfu Palace.

This time, it was the chief eunuch of Renshou Palace who came, also bringing a full load of gifts.

There were scented incense, sachets, hand warmers, vases, and various silks.

In Xianfu Palace, palace maids and eunuchs came and went in an endless stream.

They were all here to give gifts to Consort Kang, such a grand occasion, how lively.

Compared to the liveliness of Xianfu Palace, the palaces of the other four concubines were much deserted.

Changchun Palace, one of the West Six Palaces, was the closest to Xianfu Palace, and was the clearest about the grand occasion of Xianfu Palace.

"It's so noisy, it doesn't let people have a moment of peace in the morning."

Chunya, who was sweeping snow in the courtyard, complained with dissatisfaction.

But she was immediately stopped by Lady Gu behind her, "Chunya, be careful what you say!"

"Consort Kang has received the Emperor's favor for the first time, we younger sisters should also show something."

"Chunya, send the box of Luozidai on my dressing table to Xianfu Palace."

Chunya widened her eyes, "But that box of Luozidai is very precious, this was still brought by the young lady from home..."

"Go quickly!" Gu Shunu urged.

"Oh."

Chunya pouted and had no choice but to take Gu Shunu's Luozidai and go to Xianfu Palace to congratulate her.

Chen Yuanyuan, Liu Rushi, and Dong Xiaowan also sent palace maids, with gifts, to Xianfu Palace to congratulate her.

In just one night, Zhang Wan'er showed a trend of dominating the six palaces with favor.

The difference in status between Zhang Wan'er and the other concubines was already as different as clouds and mud.