Dual Queens GL - Chapter 9

Most people who live in the palace are well-informed, and upon hearing that the harem was still managed by Ye Guichen, they realized that the former Empress had not lost power after all. Indeed, the older the ginger, the spicier it is.

“Your Highness, Consort Su, Lady Li, Beauty Wang, Beauty Zheng, and others have come to pay their respects to Your Highness.”

The palace attendant reported this just as Ye Guichen finished her breakfast.

“Their actions are much quicker than I expected,” Ye Meng said with a slightly sarcastic laugh.

“Ask them to come in,” Ye Guichen said calmly, without much emotional fluctuation.

The ten or so young and beautiful women who entered bowed respectfully to Ye Guichen.

“All sit down. Give them tea,” Ye Guichen’s attitude towards these women was no different from the past. Her tone and pace were measured just right: a little less would be too soft, a little more would be too forceful. It was gentle yet commanding.

“A few days ago, I caught a slight cold and was resting in my chamber. I dared not come to pay my respects to Your Highness, for fear of passing the illness to Your Highness,” Su Qingqing was the first to speak, offering an excuse for her absence in the preceding days.

“Your health is most important. Paying respects is secondary. Is Consort’s body better now?” Ye Guichen seemed to believe Su Qingqing’s excuse and instead showed concern for her health.

In fact, during the first two years of Yang Zhao and Ye Guichen’s marriage, perhaps because Emperor Wen and Empress Wenxian were still alive, the couple were quite affectionate. After Yang Zhao became the Emperor, he no longer exclusively favored Ye Guichen. Officials and others always sought to send beauties to the harem, and Su Qingqing was one of them. Yang Zhao, as the Emperor, naturally enjoyed spreading his favor and trying out various beauties. After trying many, the degree of affection naturally varied. Su Qingqing, who entered the palace two years ago, was relatively favored by Yang Zhao and was promoted the fastest. After the number of times Yang Zhao stayed in her palace became fewer and fewer, Ye Guichen grieved in secret but still held expectations for Yang Zhao until Yang Zhao tried to depose her and establish another Empress, which completely broke her heart. She originally harbored some hostility towards Su Qingqing but had always maintained an air of generosity. Now, looking at Su Qingqing, she no longer felt any turmoil; she had become genuinely generous.

“Yes, I have recovered completely,” Su Qingqing quickly replied. It was strange—Ye Guichen treated people generously, properly, gently, and virtuously, yet she still felt a sense of awe toward the woman before her. This was likely because Ye Guichen had an excellent background, grew up in the palace from a young age, and displayed an air of grace and nobility in every gesture.

“That’s good,” Ye Guichen said with a slight, seemingly relieved smile.

“Thank you, Your Highness, for your concern,” Su Qingqing felt slightly relieved seeing that Ye Guichen’s attitude had not changed much from the past.

“It’s a coincidence to mention, but I also had a rash a few days ago…” Lady Li quickly chimed in, afraid that others would use up the excuses. The first one or two could say it, but if too many people did, it would be awkward even if Ye Guichen didn’t expose them.

“It is the depths of winter, cold and freezing. You all must take good care of yourselves. Later, this Palace will have the Imperial Physician prepare some preventative medicine and send it to each of your halls,” Ye Guichen said with a smile, hoping that these people would stop there. She was tired of listening to them rack their brains for excuses, and she was already fed up with it even if they weren’t embarrassed.

“Thank you, Your Highness, for the medicine,” the group of concubines stood up and expressed their gratitude.

“Right, have you been to Changqing Hall to pay your respects yet?” Ye Guichen asked.

“Not yet, we specifically came to pay our respects to Your Highness first,” Beauty Wang said, clearly indicating their intention to side with Changle Hall.

“She is the Empress of the Central Palace, ranking above me. In the future, when you pay your respects, go to Changqing Hall first, and then to Changle Hall. You were not sure about the situation today, so it doesn’t matter, but remember it for the future. I, too, have just returned from paying my respects at Changqing Hall,” Ye Guichen stated. Since Yang Zhao wanted to elevate Liu Honing’s status as the Central Palace, she would grant his wish and help elevate her.

The women exchanged glances. They had expected Ye Guichen to be unwilling, but they couldn’t detect any hint of dissatisfaction or anything unusual in her seemingly calm and resigned attitude, acting as if she was willing to be inferior. Whether she was truly that virtuous or simply that capable of forbearance, either way, it was intimidating.

“Understood,” the women answered obediently.

After Ye Guichen chatted casually with the concubines about some unimportant matters, she dismissed them.

After leaving Changle Hall, they all went together to Changqing Hall to pay their respects. In truth, they did not want two Empresses. Who would want another mistress to fawn over? However, they were genuinely curious about this new Empress, who had been betrothed to the Emperor for many years and whom the Emperor had never forgotten. Previously, the Emperor had forbidden them from disturbing her, so they had never met her. Now, although she held the esteemed title of Central Palace, she lacked the actual authority of the Empress, appearing to be merely a title. Hence, after a private discussion, they decided to pay their respects to Ye Guichen first.

“Miss, a group of concubines have arrived and say they are here to pay their respects to Miss,” Liu Yan told Liu Honing.

Yang Zhao had left Changqing Hall after breakfast to attend to political affairs. Liu Honing, having nothing to do, began copying Buddhist scriptures.

“Let them in first. I’ll go out after I finish this scroll,” Liu Honing instructed Liu Yan, seeing that she was close to finishing the scroll.

“Her Highness is copying scriptures. Please wait a moment,” Liu Yan had the women come in and sit down, serving them tea and pastries.

Soon, fifteen minutes passed. In the past, when they paid their respects to Ye Guichen, they had never been kept waiting for so long. They thought this new Empress was putting on airs.

Nearly half an hour later, Liu Honing finished copying the scroll and immediately came out. Liu Honing was dressed as she was when she saw Ye Guichen in the morning, without any makeup, wearing a simple, elegant outfit. The only difference was that her hair was no longer loose; it was simply tied back with a ribbon. Her whole person was naturally graceful and transcendentally elegant, and the bright red cinnabar dot in the center of her forehead added a touch of vividness and a spiritual aura. She was unstained by any vulgar makeup, yet she was a picture of beauty.

When Liu Honing appeared in such attire, Su Qingqing, Lady Li, and the others were very surprised. In stark contrast to Ye Guichen’s dignified propriety and motherly demeanor, Liu Honing didn’t look like an Empress at all, but rather like an immortal who had mistakenly wandered into the mortal world from the mountains.

“Greetings to Your Highness,” the concubines quickly stood up as if waking from a dream, and simultaneously bowed to Liu Honing after she sat down on the main seat.

“I don’t go in for these formalities. In the future, when you are here, there’s no need to bow. It’s best to be natural,” Liu Honing announced. She had quickly surveyed them—there were a total of fifteen women. Looking at these women, each with her own charm, Liu Honing felt as if she was in a garden admiring flowers, which was pleasing to the eye and heart. There were so many beauties that Liu Honing felt she was nearly mesmerized, thinking that entering the palace was not as boring as she had originally imagined. The women in the palace, apart from the Empress—that is, Huachao—all seemed quite idle. If she could be surrounded by these beauties every day in the future, it would be a great joy. Liu Honing, who was always adaptable and optimistic, had already found the fun in entering the palace. Of course, it would be better if these beauties weren’t as reserved as Huachao. They were all young and beautiful women, and their nature was lively. Liu Honing believed that after spending some time together, these women would all show their true selves around her. They didn’t seem like Huachao, who wrapped herself up securely, layer after layer, tightly and stiflingly. Thinking of Ye Guichen, Liu Honing couldn’t help but smile slightly. She had the Flower Empress, and various other flowers as well. The thought made her happy, as if her personal garden had gained so many famous varieties.

“We are of low rank and humble status; how dare we be so casual!” Su Qingqing was one of the highest-ranking besides the two Empresses, so she usually spoke first. Having been in the palace for over two years, she knew how to maintain some propriety. Even if she didn’t, regularly seeing Ye Guichen naturally taught her a few things.

“What is your name?” Liu Honing had only glanced briefly earlier, but now she examined Su Qingqing closely. This flower was truly vibrant. ‘Vibrant’ was Liu Honing’s first impression. Different from Huachao’s bright and dignified vibrancy—Huachao’s vibrancy was cool—Su Qingqing’s was more direct and ardent.

Su Qingqing felt Liu Honing looking at her with appreciation and fondness in her eyes, but it was a very clean and pure liking and admiration. Only men had ever admired her looks; few women looked at her with such appreciation. Most women weren’t very fond of her appearance. Her mother had told her that her looks were too dazzling to be a wife, lacking dignity and likely unable to control a household, and that it would be too unjust for her to be a concubine. Thus, she was sent to the palace, where she ultimately became a concubine, but to the man with the most noble status. However, after entering the palace, she realized that there was always someone better; a single Ye Guichen suppressed her beauty, and seeing this new Empress today made her feel even more ordinary.

“Your humble subject is called Su Qingqing,” Su Qingqing replied truthfully, thinking: No wonder the Emperor likes this new Empress. She seems to possess something that makes people feel at ease and want to be close to her, like a clear breeze and bright moon in the mountains, making one feel completely comfortable.

“Interesting. Your name is like new leaves supporting a new flower. Simple leaves, vibrant flower, a beautiful contrast,” Liu Honing greatly praised.

Su Qingqing originally thought her name was nothing special, but with the new Empress’s compliment, she felt her name instantly became sophisticated, and her beauty was also complimented in the process. She was a little embarrassed by the praise. Su Qingqing grew up among the common folk and had been in the palace for less than two years, being only eighteen years old. She wasn’t overly guarded against people and still relied on her feelings. She had a genuinely good feeling about this new Empress.

“Your Highness is too kind,” Su Qingqing said humbly, feeling a little shy. Which young girl doesn’t like being complimented?

“You are young and so vibrant; it is the most lovable age and the most beautiful time for a woman. You must not follow Huachao’s example. Huachao restricts herself too much. What good is it to be so perfectly neat and proper? You should follow your true nature. I believe your time in the boudoir was certainly your most beautiful time,” Liu Honing held Su Qingqing’s hand and spoke with a face full of sincerity.

Su Qingqing’s mouth twitched slightly upon hearing this, thinking: Is the new Empress trying to harm me? Compliment me all you want, but why drag the other Empress out to step on her? She might not be afraid of offending Ye Guichen, but I am! Indeed, excessive flattery must hide an ulterior motive. It seems the new Empress is not a good person either!