chapter 9

Chapter 9

Elder Sister Noble Consort gave birth to a little princess.

Jing Rong and I were both a bit disappointed, but the Noble Consort and the Emperor were very happy.

Seeing the two of us with drooping faces,

the nanny gave each of us a flick on the forehead.

“You two little girls aren’t very old, but why are your thoughts so old-fashioned?”

Jing Rong was disappointed because only with a prince in the palace could one’s position be secure.

I was simply disappointed because the little princess was ugly.

Her little face was all wrinkled, and she didn’t even have teeth yet.

But soon, our thoughts changed.

The little princess grew more and more adorable, like a snow-white dumpling, smiling at everyone she met, making people feel joyful.

The Emperor was not really a devoted man, but he always treated the Noble Consort a bit differently.

He named the little princess Yongle,

hoping she would always be happy.

Consort Shu came to see Yongle every day.

She looked so eager that I couldn’t help but suspect she might snatch the child at any moment.

Not long after, she became pregnant too.

During that time, Consort Shu was like a proud peacock, strutting around the entire palace.

After her rounds, she never forgot to come to the Noble Consort to show off.

“I will definitely give birth to a little princess even more beautiful than Yongle.”

Yongle, who was playing nearby, heard her name and grinned at Consort Shu.

A gleam flashed in Consort Shu’s eyes.

She rushed over to hug Yongle, calling her “my darling” over and over.

A few days before the New Year, Consort Shu gave birth to a prince.

When Consort Shu learned it was a prince, she looked utterly defeated.

She disliked the little prince very much.

She spent all day coming to the Noble Consort’s palace to play with Yongle.

Once, she even said she wanted to exchange the little prince for Yongle.

The Emperor named the little prince Yongzhang.

Perhaps influenced by Consort Shu, Yongzhang liked to follow Yongle around from a young age,

calling her “sister” in a childish voice.

When Yongle was five, Elder Sister Noble Consort became pregnant again.

This time, it was a little prince.

The Emperor named him Yongan.

Peace and happiness… it was the best blessing he could give to his children.

All the consorts in the palace were promoted in rank this time.

Consort Shu was promoted as she wished to Noble Consort.

The Noble Consort became Imperial Noble Consort.

I also benefited and received the title of Consort De.

Sometimes I wonder, if more women enter the palace in the future, will they look at me from afar and think, just as I once did about Consort Shu, that my Consort Rank was bought?

Thinking about it, I laugh.

Laughing, I start to cry.

I suppose I’m not a clever person.

I clamored all my life to win favor, but never truly received it.

The Emperor still occasionally liked to come sit in my palace.

He said that when I first entered the palace, I was still young, and every time I blinked at him, it made his heart soften.

Just like seeing a younger sister admiring her elder brother.

The Emperor asked if I wanted to leave the palace; he could arrange it for me.

I refused.

There are still people I care about in this palace.

My lifelong dearest friend.

I want to stay here and watch the people I care about find fulfillment in this life.

The Empress never had children in her life.

It wasn’t until she fell seriously ill that I learned the truth.

Noble Lady Zhao, in order to strike a decisive blow, had put Musk in the Empress’s food, tea, even her clothes and jewelry.

Over time, the Empress’s body was harmed, and she could never conceive again.

Fine lines had already crept up at the corners of her eyes.

She no longer had the radiance of her youth.

But she still smiled at me.

“Ah Ning, I actually envy you.”

“Carefree… living out this life.”

The Empress didn’t love the Emperor; she had a young man she adored.

But for the sake of her family, she had to enter the palace.

The Empress died on the day when the spring sun was at its brightest.

I looked at the sun, squinting, a smile tugging at my lips as tears fell unconsciously.

It’s just as well; the Empress was always afraid of the cold.

Unknowingly, I’ve been in the palace for thirty years now.

From a naive young girl, I became Consort De, whom everyone bows to upon meeting.

One winter, the Emperor fell ill, and never recovered.

On his deathbed, he called me over.

The Emperor’s features were no longer as handsome and gentle as they once were.

When did he become so old?

The Emperor looked at me and smiled.

“Ah Ning, you’ve become a little old lady.”

I smiled too.

“Your Majesty is a little old man now.”

“In the end, I’ve let you down.”

I shook my head and held the Emperor’s hand.

“Your Majesty has treated Ah Ning very well. Meeting you in this life has been my greatest fortune.”

He smiled and asked me to call in the Imperial Noble Consort.

After the Emperor passed away, the Imperial Noble Consort visibly aged.

It was as if the faith that sustained her life had collapsed.

She truly loved the Emperor.

That encounter in youth was enough to dazzle a lifetime.

Yongan’s ascension to the throne was a matter of course.

The Imperial Noble Consort became Empress Dowager.

I also benefited and became Imperial Consort Dowager.

The Noble Consort left for the fief with Yongzhang, and never returned to the capital.

Both the Empress Dowager and I knew.

She wanted Yongan to feel at ease.

A year after the late Emperor’s passing, the Empress Dowager followed him.

I looked at her peaceful sleeping face.

In a daze, I remembered the sea of blooming crabapple flowers, the Noble Consort in a red dress.

She said to me with wild abandon,

“Come with me, I’ll make sure you eat meat every meal.”

Now, I suppose I should go with her too.

Otherwise, she’d be so bored down there all alone.

I had no children in my life.

Before I died, Yongle and Yongan cried pitifully at my bedside.

Yongle had grown into a beautiful young lady,

looking just like her mother.

She cried and clung to my hand.

“Your Ladyship, don’t go. Mother is already gone, you can’t leave us too.”

I struggled to lift my hand and stroked Yongle’s head.

“Good child, I must go keep your mother company. She’s always been afraid of the dark.”

I felt my strength fading bit by bit.

But a bright light appeared before my eyes.

At the end of the light stood Meng Shang, bold and carefree in her red dress.

We shed all the shackles of honor and disgrace.

As Jiang Ning and Meng Shang, we met again.

If there is a next life, I will not let Changning down.