The Beloved Imperial Consort

Chapter 153: Not allowed

 

 

  His Highness was back? He Lian Min Min was startled suddenly.
Her first reaction was not surprise, but panic.

“Mistress, why do you look like this? Isn’t it something happy? With the backbone of the mansion here, you don’t have to endure other people’s gossip!” Feng momo didn’t understand why He Lian Min Min was worried, and she could only comfort her according to her own thoughts.

Laughing twice, the pale-faced He Lian Min Min sighed helplessly at Feng momo.
“His Highness can make decisions for me.
But if the Imperial Physician diagnoses me as sterile, how will His Highness treat me then?”

At that time, Zhong Zheng Lin’s little affection for her will also cease to exist.

Feng momo panicked, “No, how could Mistress think like this? Didn’t the health nurse and the imperial physician both didn’t find out something wrong?” These words were baseless, and a bit self-deceiving.

“The physicians declined to comment and requested a specific date for the diagnosis.
This can not be a simple matter”.
He Lian Min Min replied while feeling even more frightened.

Thinking about it before and after, the indifferent attitude of the He Lian family, and their running around, afraid they were too busy taking care of themselves to be able to take care of her.
It showed everywhere that the He Lian family had made very bad plans.
Perhaps the He Lian family got the news that she was ill early on?

He Lian Min Min clasped her hands tightly, her mind clearer than ever before.
That’s right, how can she sit still and wait for death? If it’s really…
He Lian Min Min closed her eyes in pain.
Afraid that being honest with His Highness was her only way out.

The most important thing was the true condition of her body.
She also thought about hiding it, but after all, she didn't have the guts to face Emperor Yuancheng's questioning.
Even if she wanted to use medicine to conceal it, the Imperial Hospital still would know it.
Instead of being dealt with by Emperor Yuancheng, it was better to confess to His Highness early on, perhaps there was still a glimmer of life.

 

 

In the main house of Danruo Courtyard, behind the screen, Zhao momo lowered her head to report to the two masters inside the room, “Your Highness, Consort He Lian is outside”.
Normally, there would still be a reply but this time even after a long while there was no response back.

Inside, the dazed and panting Mu Xi Yao had rosy cheeks and wet eyes.
Hearing Zhao momo’s voice, she softly pulled Zhong Zheng Lin’s hair and pushed his head out from her chest.

Seeing the man ignoring her and lingering in her bosom, Mu Xi Yao was both ashamed and annoyed, “Your Highness! The Principal Consort is here!”. 

This man had been away for nearly a month and was like a beast, the second they got together he very quickly pulled away her dudou and busied himself.
After all, it had been a long time without getting a taste of her.

Zhong Zheng Lin’s phoenix eyes were as deep as ink.
Mu Xi Yao’s repeated interruption of their intimacy made him unhappy as he felt reluctant to part away from her.
Annoyed, he grasped her plumpness and kneaded it.
In return the little woman went limp in his arms, sighing in a delicate voice.

“No more, there are people outside.” Mu Xi Yao’s beautiful face was flushed, and her lips which were originally pink were now red and shiny.

“Does Jiao Jiao remember what she promised bendian in the letter?”

Mu Xi Yao was embarrassed.
Boss, such a good memory was not necessary, alright? Also, can’t that promise be regarded as polite talking?

Zhong Zheng Lin had a faint smile on his face, but his eyes were scorching hot.
“Jiao Jiao, don’t try to fool me.
When bendian returns, bendian won’t let Jiao Jiao go a second time.” 

The sixth Highness’s phoenix eyes slightly closed, and he forcefully suppressed the throbbing in his lower abdomen.
When he opened his eyes again, they were sharp and sober.

“Be good and eat lunch.” Zhong Zheng Lin patted the top of her hair, settled the person properly, and kissed her watery eyes with satisfaction.
He got up and straightened his robe, then walked away.

As soon as Zhong Zheng Lin left, Mu Xi Yao’s blinked.

Snort! The aura of the boss was so strong every time, it was really annoying.
However, that military uniform made the boss look heroic and stern.

Feeling the fluttering heart that was dancing happily, the corners of Mu Xi Yao’s mouth curled up mischievously.

Whoever was cleaned up at his return was not certain! His Royal Highness was now unable to withstand provocation, when the time came, she only needed to do this…
that…
The idea of an enchanting female spirit flashed through her mind, and the more Mu Xi Yao thought about it, the smugger she felt.

As for He Lian-shi who intercepted Zhong Zheng Lin midway, Mu Xi Yao declared graciously that she had no interest in fighting against a cornered woman.
Besides, He Lian Min Min came here to invite someone, didn’t that mean she had finally realized something was wrong?

Mu Xi Yao lay on her back with her eyes closed.
If He Lian Min Min had still continued to be idle, she could’ve only invited her back to have a talk.
This matter was truly “the emperor was not in a hurry but his eunuch was” [1]… 

After all, if He Lian-shi was in fact infertile and couldn’t give birth to a di son, in other’s people’s eyes, it was her scheme.
Mu Xi Yao felt she was really wronged.
Zhong Zheng Lin had never favored other women, so why did she need to scheme? Wasn’t this utter bullshit?

 

Waiting anxiously in the main hall was He Lian Min Min.
Suddenly, she saw a tall and handsome man stepping in.
Dressed in a military uniform there was still some vague fatigue on his cold face.

“Your Highness.” He Lian Min Min hesitantly went up to meet Zhong Zheng Lin and blushed when she was in front of him.
“Your Highness, qie has no face to see you.”

Zhong Zheng Lin was slightly surprised.
It was rare for He Lian-shi to show her emotions like this, it seemed that the pressure these few days was not small.

“Follow bendian.” 

He patted her hands soothingly and then led her outside.
Helping her climb the palanquin outside the main hall, he let go of her and turned to walk ahead.

“Your Highness!” He Lian Min Min called softly.
“His Highness has traveled for a long time, why don’t you ride with this concubine so that you can rest for a while.” Zhong Zheng Lin had come directly to Danruo Courtyard as soon as he returned home.
Although He Lian Min Min was worried about the current crisis, she still felt a little uncomfortable.

“No need.
The journey was long and the dust will only stain your clothes.” Then, with a straight face, the sixth Highness strode away.

He Lian Min Min had come looking for him in such a hurry, Zhong Zheng Lin knew all too well why.
This one should have a lot to say to him.
And most importantly, he only enjoyed the intimacy of this type of ride with the little woman.
His Sixth Highness had sinful thoughts, and the curled corners of his lips made Wei Zhen, who hadn’t seen his Master for a long time, shiver.

Seeing him walking away, He Lian Min Min felt particularly bitter as she recalled his excuse.
Both of them were his women but in front of Mu Xi Yao, he was relaxed and caring.
When it came to her, he so was polite and aloof, the difference in treatment was so clear, how could it not be chilling? He so clearly adored Mu-shi, at the end of the day, how could she ever come close?

At this time, He Lian Min Min was jealous of Mu Xi Yao for being favored by Zhong Zheng Lin, but she didn’t know that Mu Xi Yao had always been sincerely envious of her status, for her, now, that was a deal.
Compared to Mu Xi Yao’s calculated efforts to compete for favor and hug Zhong Zheng Lin’s thighs, He Lian Min Min’s life was really too easy! Looking at the ledger and taking care of the back house, as long as you didn’t make big mistakes, you could eat and drink for the rest of your life.
Mu Xi Yao could not imagine a more comfortable life.

Pity that with her modest family background, the best option for her was to be a favored concubine.
Mu Xi Yao felt that the God of Transmigration didn’t seem to like her very much, otherwise, she wouldn’t be left here alone to fend for herself from beginning to the end. 

 

The entirety of her life was so inspiring, it could be made into the book “Records of the Great Wei: Workplace Adventures” [2].
Every now and then she was stabbed and if it were not for her thick skin, her blood tank [3] would’ve already been emptied and bottomed out.

So, Mu Xi Yao couldn’t stand He Lian Min Min’s pity party.
As for whether His Sixth Highness would be sympathetic, it depended on whether He Lian-shi’s ability was good.

Following Zhong Zheng Lin all the way back to Chanruo Courtyard.
He Lian Min Min fell to the ground with her eyes down.

Zhong Zheng Lin felt really uncomfortable seeing her like this, and his attitude softened.
It was normal for He Lian-shi not to speak up when encountering this matter.
He didn’t know how the little woman would react where she in the same situation.
His Highness the Sixth Highness was very interested in finding out about all the unexpected things that Mu Xi Yao may do.

“What did the Imperial Physician say?” After sitting down, Zhong Zheng Lin raised the teacup to break the silence first.

He Lian Min Min let go of the embarrassment in her heart, calmed down, and answered.
“They asked me to stop all the medicine.
As for whether the situation is good or bad, they didn’t say.
It just said that they will come back for a consultation in three to five days.” This attitude had already shown her respect for Zhong Zheng Lin, and her trust and reliance on him.
A wife talking to her husband without concealing anything, it can be seen that she had been cornered.

Zhong Zheng Lin never expected her to be in such a difficult situation.
He Lian Zhang, that old fox, always knew exactly what he was calculating.
Yet now things have come to this point, it had to be said that the He Lian family had brought it onto themselves, their greed caused them trouble.

“Have you thought it through? Bendian will let you see a doctor.
What are your plans if there’s something really wrong with your body?” Zhong Zheng Lin looked at the woman who was sitting dignifiedly, and his phoenix eyes flickered with mirth.

How would the well-educated daughter of the He Lian family make her “last” plea?

He Lian Min Min’s complexion turned pale.
She took a deep breath, clenched his fists, and her voice visibly trembled as she answered, “Qie also knows that this matter is tricky and will almost certainly not end easily.
If the situation is extremely bad and the Imperial Physician diagnoses that qie can’t bear a son for His Highness, qie asks His Highness to send qie to the ancestral shrine.
Qie is not willing to let this last dignity to also be ruined by others.”

Sending He Lian Min Min to the ancestral shrine would allow her to kept her status.
After this, all the women who enter the Mansion will have to kowtow to her  whether they be his future wife or concubine [4].
This could be regarded as the last dignity that He Lian Min Min fought for himself.

 

[4] I explained this better on the footnotes below.
But what she is suggesting is retiring from her position of wife, and letting another woman marry Zhong Zheng Lin as her succesor, except, that woman would still had to kowtow to her.
This would make Mu Xi Yao have two women on top of her instead of only having He Lian Min Min.

 

Zhong Zheng Lin had more appreciation for her for having such a bold idea.
Indeed, instead of waiting passively to finally being abandoned and abolished, it was better to be knowledgeable and ask him to be merciful.

It’s just that her proposal to enter the ancestral shrine cannot be accepted by him.
The little woman had schemed everybody ten thousand steps, and this was not the way to go.
If the benefits that Mu Xi Yao calculated were disturbed by He Lian Min Min herself, that woman would certainly be furious.

Zhong Zheng Lin felt amused by Mu Xi Yao’s “careful calculation”.
Did this woman not trust his ability and insisted on icing the cake; or did she go out of her way to find trouble with He Lian-shi’s family and so relieve her anger? According to her petty temper, afraid it was the latter.
In addition, the little woman must be determined not to let the people behind the scenes take an inch.
This strong temper was… really stubborn and cute.

“You don’t need to mention the matter of entering the ancestral shrine.” Zhong Zheng Lin didn’t want to think too much, and directly rejected her proposal.

He Lian Min Min’s body trembled, and her eyes were full of despair.

“He Lian-shi, bendian doesn’t care about whether you can have children or not.
But bendian wants you to firmly occupy the position of the Principal Consort”.
Zhong Zheng Lin said indifferently.

It was enough to have one woman on top of Mu Xi Yao’s head.
Another one, Zhong Zheng Lin couldn’t bear Mu Xi Yao’s salute and tea!

After He Lian-shi was abolished, Emperor Yuancheng would definitely point him another woman for him to marry.
Mu Xi Yao’s background was far from enough for bearing the title of Principal Consort.

Even if it wasn’t for taking care of Mu Xi Yao’s little abacus, Zhong Zheng Lin wouldn’t accept He Lian Min Min’s proposal.

He Lian Min Min had already given up hope and looked withered.
Hearing Zhong Zheng Lin’s stern declaration, she stared at the condescending man in front of her like a fool.
For a moment, she was lost in thought.

 

___________________

▲ Footnotes

This Chinese TikToker is how I imagine Mu Xi Yao.
Perhaps not her exact appearance, but her voice when she acts cute and spoiled, lol.

 

[1] 皇帝不急太监急 huáng shàng bù jí tài jiàn jí.
idiom.
“The emperor is not worried, but the eunuchs are worried to death.” → one himself does not worry but another person worries in vain

[2] 整个一大魏职场历险记.
I translated it as “Records of the Great Wei Workplace Adventures”.
Lowkey inspired the Chinese TV Series “Records of Kangxi’s Travel Incognito” (1997).

[3] 血槽早就清空见底: The blood tank had already emptied and bottomed out.
It’s from a meme.
According to Xuehua: “The term originally refers to the fact that the life of the protagonist of most games currently uses a blood tank to indicate the current state.
If the blood tank is empty, it means that the protagonist of the game has no life, that is, he is dead.
// It can also be used to mean that one’s heart has been hit and collapsed at seeing a beautiful person.”

[4] Raw: 祠堂.
TL: Ancestral shrine, hall or temple. 

What He Lian Min Min is suggesting is retiring from her position of wife, and letting another woman marry Zhong Zheng Linas her succesor, except, that woman would still had to knowtow to her.
This would make Mu Xi Yao have two women on top of her instead of only having He Lian Min Min.
Lowkey but He Lian Min Min really asked to be enshrined. 

Wikipedia says: “[In] traditional weddings, the ancestral temple serves a major symbolic function, completing the transfer of a woman to her husband's family.
During the wedding rites, the bride and groom worship at the groom’s ancestral shrine”.

As explained by Wikipedia: “The bride would be led along the red carpet in a festive atmosphere.
The groom, also in a red gown, would kowtow three times to worship the heaven, parents and spouse.
Equivalent to exchanging vows in the west, the couple would pay respect to the Jade Emperor, the patron family deities (or patron buddhas and bodhisattvas), paying respect to deceased ancestors, the bride and groom's parents and other elders, and paying respect to each other.
Then, the new couple would go to their bridal chamber and guests would be treated to a feast”.