AWB Chapter 29 Roses and Camellias
Chapter 29 Roses and Camellias
After the concubines paid their respects to the Empress, all but Hailan dispersed.
Yingluo, accompanied by two clever eunuchs, stood at a respectful distance behind Bai Ruiji, keeping track of her movements through a live broadcast.
Ruyi said to A'Ruo, "Hailan hasn't come out yet. Let's go for a walk in the Imperial Garden and enjoy the snow scenery."
Bai Ruiji, accompanied by Lüzhi, a young palace maid from Changchun Palace, approached Ruyi and said, "Your Highness, please wait. Your Highness has such refined tastes! I also wish to go to the Imperial Garden to enjoy the snow. Would you mind joining me?"
Ruyi said, "If we go to enjoy the snow together on our first meeting, I'm afraid that the scenery we see will be different, and we won't be able to have a good conversation."
Bai Ruiji insisted, "Whether we agree or not can only be known after the conversation. Why don't you let me go with you?"
Ruyi chuckled and said, "Alright."
The two arrived at the Imperial Garden. Yingluo stood near the garden, her mind still racing with Bai Ruiji's movements. If anything unexpected happened, she, as the head maid of Changchun Palace, could still act in the Empress's name if she was nearby.
At this moment, the plum blossoms in the Imperial Garden were in full bloom. Bai Ruiji asked Ruyi, "Does Consort Xian like plum blossoms?"
Ruyi nodded in agreement.
Bai Ruiji sighed, "The plum blossoms in this palace are in full bloom, but it's a pity that there are no green plum blossoms like the ones I saw in Suzhou when I was young."
Aruo asked curiously, "How did Miss Bai know that our master likes green plum blossoms?"
Ruyi then asked, "You've been to Suzhou too?"
Bai Ruiji said, "When I was young, I studied in Suzhou. Because I was good at playing the moon lute, I was bought from Suzhou."
Ruyi asked, "Aren't you skilled at playing the pipa?"
Bai Ruiji: "After I entered the Southern Palace, the instructors there said that the late Emperor liked to listen to the pipa, so I switched to learning it. What one likes and what one is fond of is all decided by others."
Ruyi smiled and said, "Miss Bai is already a concubine in preparation and has gained the Emperor's favor. Judging from your tone, is there anything you're upset about?"
Bai Ruiji looked at A'ruo, who was picking plum blossoms under the tree, and said, "This concubine dares not feel wronged. However, even though I am deeply favored by the Emperor, I still feel like a floating duckweed. How can I compare to Consort Xian, who is so noble and precious, and whose favorite flower is the rare green plum with its unique and elegant form? In comparison, I am nothing more than a willow catkin in the wind, with the fate of a willow catkin."
Looking at this scene, Yingluo couldn't help but think to herself: Why does liking a flower have to do with a person's background, status, and character? Liking a green plum blossom is considered noble and precious, but if you saw that our Empress likes jasmine, let's see how you praise her!
At this moment, Consort Gao suddenly appeared: "This green plum is indeed rare, but anything too unique cannot last long in the world. Don't you think so, Consort Xian?"
Yingluo stopped complaining and became alert, giving the little eunuch a wink. The little eunuch understood and pretended to go to pick some flowers, ready to rush in as soon as a conflict broke out between the two sides.
When Consort Gao saw Bai Ruiji, she said in a bad mood, "A scholar should be viewed with new eyes after three days of separation. So you are talking about Miss Bai."
Bai Ruiji retorted, "When we meet again, your beautiful face and elegant demeanor remain unchanged."
Consort Gao continued her sarcastic remarks: "If you're so good at talking, why didn't your Southern Palace choose you to sing, but instead chose you to play the pipa?"
This is her way of intimidating others. Yingluo stepped into the Imperial Garden and quietly hid behind a tree.
Sure enough, Consort Gao broke off a flower branch, held it to her nose and smelled it: "Rui Ji, Rui Ji, what a nice name. It sounds like it's meant to be admired and enjoyed."
Bai Ruiji smiled slightly: "It is a predestined fate that can bring Your Majesty a moment of pleasure, which is the greatest blessing for this concubine."
Consort Gao sneered, "Don't think that just because you've become a well-mannered woman, you can rise to a higher position. With your pipa skills, the Emperor can only listen to you chatter like a sparrow in his spare time. Do you really think you're a phoenix singing its praises?"
Bai Ruiji: "This servant knows that my pipa skills are inferior to those of the Noble Consort, and my appearance is even more incomparable. But has the Noble Consort ever thought about why the Emperor ignores your superb pipa skills and prefers to listen to my meager skills?"
Consort Gao angrily retorted, "Isn't it all because you seduced me with your vixen and used every despicable means you could!"
Bai Ruiji smiled defiantly: "What tricks could this servant possibly have? I'm just a few years younger. Time flies and waits for no one."
Upon hearing this, Consort Gao flew into a rage and pointed at Bai Ruiji, shouting, "How dare you!"
Ruyi also said, "Miss Bai, you must not be disrespectful or disrespectful in front of the Imperial Concubine and me."
Why didn't you say these words of mediation before the conflict between the two people escalated, Consort Xian! Yingluo complained, preparing to go over and calm things down.
Bai Ruiji said, "Your Highness, please don't be upset. How could time have been so cruel to you? You know who I'm talking about."
Shuangxi said in a deep voice to Consort Gao, "Your Highness!" Consort Gao shouted, "Shuangxi, what are you waiting for? Hurry up and slap her for me!"
Shuangxi agreed and immediately stepped forward. Moxin also grabbed Bai Ruiji's arm. Lüzhi had never seen such a scene before and was stunned on the spot.
Ruyi suddenly said, "Your Highness, Bai is a woman who has studied etiquette but does not yet understand it. If she is punished now, the Emperor may be displeased if he finds out."
Yingluo sent a voice message to Rongyin and quickly walked over.
Consort Gao said, "I am a Consort personally appointed by the Emperor! Besides, how dare she offend me? Shuangxi, what are you waiting for? Beat her!"
Shuangxi raised his hand to strike, when he suddenly heard a shout: "Shuangxi, how dare you!"
Shuangxi was taken aback when she saw Yingluo walking over with two eunuchs.
The young eunuch blocked Shuangxi's way. Yingluo first pulled Moxin's hand away from Bai Ruiji's, then curtsied to Consort Gao: "Your Highness, Bai is now a palace servant of Changchun Palace. If Bai makes a mistake, you should report it to Her Majesty the Empress and let Her Majesty punish her!"
When Consort Gao heard the word "Empress," she was momentarily intimidated, but seeing that it was just a palace maid, she still mustered her courage and said, "She was the one who spoke offensively first, committing insubordination! Today, I will teach her a lesson on behalf of Her Majesty the Empress!"
Bai Ruiji was furious and shouted, "The Imperial Concubine is nothing more than a bondservant who was promoted to a higher banner by serving the Emperor. How is she any different from me!"
Consort Gao turned pale with anger: "How dare you be so reckless! Shuangxi, strike her!"
Seeing that the Imperial Concubine was truly enraged, Shuangxi disregarded even the presence of the Empress's men. With a swift movement of his shoulders, he skillfully pushed aside two eunuchs and rushed forward to slap Bai Ruiji's face several times, instantly causing it to swell. Lüzhi tried to stop him but was also pushed and fell to the ground.
Just then, a loud voice was heard: "Her Majesty the Empress has arrived!"
Everyone was startled. Seeing the Empress's grand procession enter the Imperial Garden, they had no choice but to lower their banners and bow first: "Your Majesty, we, your humble servants, pay our respects!"
Rongyin's face was frosty at this moment, completely unlike her usual kind and approachable demeanor, and she appeared even more dignified.
She glanced at everyone present and asked Yingluo, "Yingluo, what's going on?"
Yingluo said, "This servant originally came to the Imperial Garden with Chen Fu and Li Hai as Your Highness instructed, to pick some flower branches for Your Highness to put in a vase. Unexpectedly, I heard that the Imperial Concubine and Miss Bai had a quarrel. After that, the Imperial Concubine got angry and asked Shuangxi to beat Miss Bai."
"I first had Chen Fu and Li Hai stop Shuangxi, but Miss Bai's words were offensive, which angered the Imperial Concubine. Shuangxi then pushed them aside and hit Miss Bai."
Consort Gao panicked and said, "Your Majesty, please understand! It was Lady Bai who spoke disrespectfully first. She mocked me for being of humble origin and old and faded!"
Bai Ruiji said, "Your Majesty, I only lamented the fleeting years, and I never said that the Noble Consort is old! As for her background as a bondservant, it is precisely because of her background that the Noble Consort enjoys such favor today, and that is not wrong! If Your Majesty does not believe me, you can ask Consort Xian!"
Rongyin shouted, "Enough! A mere quarrel, and you two show no mercy, yet you start fighting in this imperial garden! Do you have any respect for palace rules or the dignity of the royal family?"
Then he said to Mingyu, "Mingyu, ask about Shuangxi!"
Mingyu immediately stepped forward and shouted, "Shuangxi, did you hit Miss Bai despite Yingluo and the others' attempts to stop you?"
Shuangxi was now ashen-faced with fright. He knelt down and said, "This servant has been wrong! Please forgive me, Your Majesty!" He then pleaded with Consort Gao, "Consort Gao, please save this servant!"
Rongyin said, "Then it is! Shuangxi, although you were ordered by the Imperial Concubine, she acted impulsively. Not only did you, who served her, fail to advise her, but you also did something foolish. You are to blame and will be fined one month's salary!"
Shuangxi had expected to be severely beaten, but upon hearing this, he felt as if he had been pulled out of the water, and kowtowed repeatedly: "This servant thanks Your Majesty for your forgiveness, Your Majesty!"
Rongyin then said to Consort Gao, "Consort Gao, as the head of a palace, it is not appropriate for you to be too cruel. Besides, Bai is a girl who studied etiquette in Changchun Palace. Even if she has made a mistake, she should have reported it to me first so that I could punish her! You are currently agitated and have caused trouble. I punish you by making you copy the Diamond Sutra five times and send it to Anhua Palace in three days. You should spend these few days cultivating your character!"
Before Consort Gao could retort, Rongyin continued, "Bai Ruiji, I will have the imperial physicians and the Imperial Household Department examine your injuries. As for your punishment, you claimed it was unintentional, but your words were indeed disrespectful to the Consort, so you deserve punishment. You will also copy the Diamond Sutra five times. I will also instruct the headmistress to be even stricter with you!"
Anyone present today who was pushed or bumped by Shuangxi should have their injuries examined by the Imperial Household Department!
Upon hearing this, Consort Gao panicked.
The Imperial Household Department's examination of the injuries meant the matter would be documented and reported to the Emperor. Although Lady Bai came from a humble background, the Emperor currently favored her; if he were to learn of today's events...
Thinking of this, Consort Gao hurriedly said, "This concubine accepts the punishment! But this Bai woman is of humble origin, a musician, and is far less pampered than us. Why should we let the Imperial Hospital and the Imperial Household Department treat her injuries?"
Rongyin stared at her intently: "You mean, you broke the rules and hit someone, and you can cover it up with the excuse that 'the Bai family comes from a lowly background'?"
Consort Gao stammered, "That's not what I meant..."
Rongyin took a deep breath and said, "Consort Gao, Mencius said, 'Without rules, there can be no order.' Since the rules have been broken, I must punish you. Mencius also said, 'A gentleman cherishes benevolence and propriety in his heart. The benevolent love others, and the courteous respect others.' I am telling you this so that you will think it over carefully, and in your future interactions with others, remember the principle of being kind to others!"
Consort Gao dared not argue further and could only reply, "This concubine will respectfully follow Your Majesty the Empress's teachings," before storming off with her entourage.