Chapter 35: It’s My Duty as a Concubine

Helian Qi glanced at her coldly, “This is what she should do as the assistant in managing the Six Palaces.”

The power of the Six Palaces also came with responsibilities, including taking care of pregnant concubines.

Pausing, Helian Qi continued, “I didn’t want to trouble anyone, but you have almost had accidents twice. How can I be at ease with such carelessness?”

The Emperor would blame others for harming Concubine Shun, but he would also blame Concubine Shun for her carelessness.

Concubine Shun’s face turned pale instantly. Ignoring her discomfort, she quickly knelt down and apologized:

“This concubine is incompetent, I almost lost the dragon fetus…”

“If you know you are incompetent, then follow my arrangements and don’t be clever.” Helian Qi warned coldly, and instructed Chunque:

“Help your mistress up. She has just been injured, take good care of her with medicine.”

After saying this, the Emperor got up and walked out.

He had no affection for Concubine Shun, he only cared for her because he wanted to protect the child, but it didn’t mean that Concubine Shun could speak to him.

The Emperor’s entourage left Changchun Palace.

Concubine Shun got up with Chunque’s help, her eyes slightly red. She felt very wronged by the Emperor’s reprimand.

“How can Your Majesty blame Your Ladyship? Your Ladyship hasn’t even stepped out of the door since she became pregnant, she has been very careful to protect the dragon fetus.” Chunque said angrily.

A hint of resentment and a wry smile appeared on Concubine Shun’s face: “Since ancient times, it has always been like this, if you can’t keep the child, it means you are incompetent.”

“It’s clearly Tang Meiren who deliberately tried to harm you… This servant heard that the Emperor showed mercy and only confined her. It’s all because of that vixen’s plea, the Emperor even asked her to take care of Your Ladyship, wouldn’t it be easier for her to harm Your Ladyship in the future?” Chunque complained dissatisfied.

Concubine Shun pondered for a moment, then shook her head and said, “Since she has been assigned this task by the Emperor, if anything happens to me, she will be held accountable. Of all the people in the palace, she is the least likely to harm me…”

“Your Ladyship, how can you trust an outsider?” Chunque urged.

A hint of melancholy flashed in Concubine Shun’s eyes, “It’s not about trust, it’s her duty, she’s tied to me. I know the Emperor is doing this for my own good, he just doesn’t want her to use me to curry favor, or rather, use the dragon fetus in my belly to curry favor.”

“Curry favor? Your Ladyship means…” Chunque suddenly realized, “Ning is using your matter to seduce the Emperor?”

“Otherwise, why would she take on this hot potato? Now that she has the task of protecting the fetus, she can use this opportunity to see the Emperor for the next half year.” Concubine Shun’s voice was tinged with a hint of resentment.

She hasn’t even used her pregnancy to curry favor yet.

How could she let someone else take advantage of it.

This was the reason why Concubine Shun thought Ning Wanyin would accept this task. After all, everyone knew that it wasn’t an easy task, unless there were enough benefits.

Ning Wanyin is very favored now, but the favor of women in the palace is temporary, no one can guarantee that they will always be favored.

With this child, Ning Wanyin will have enough opportunities and reasons to see the Emperor before she gives birth.

Besides this reason, Concubine Shun couldn’t think of any other reason why Ning Wanyin would be willing to accept this task.

“This woman is really cunning. Tang Meiren poisoned you… Maybe she was the one who instructed her…” Chunque speculated maliciously.

“Whether she instructed her or not, the Emperor didn’t investigate, did he?” Concubine Shun sighed, “Anyway, she shouldn’t dare to do anything now…”

“Even so, we still have to be careful ourselves. After all, she’s an outsider, she can’t be trusted.”

“Yes, this servant will take good care of you. I’ll find a chance to get rid of her!” Chunque said.

As the two were talking, a eunuch came to report from outside, “Lady Ning requests an audience.”

…

Ning Wanyin left Xianfu Palace and went straight to Changchun Palace.

On the way, she encountered the Emperor’s entourage coming from the direction of Changchun Palace. Ning Wanyin stood far away on the side of the road and bowed…

The palanquin stopped in front of her.

The man on the dragon chariot looked down at her, “It’s a bit far from Yonghe Palace, why don’t you move to Changchun Palace?”

“Concubine Shun’s pregnancy is important, if I live with her, it will inevitably be noisy and disturb her rest.” Ning Wanyin bowed and politely declined.

Helian Qi’s gaze lingered on her for a moment, “The weather has been hot lately. Wang Degui, give Lady Ning half a set of ceremonial regalia.”

In the Great Yan imperial palace, concubines of Lady Consort rank and above could travel by sedan chair or carriage, with ceremonial umbrellas, fans, etc., which were called ceremonial regalia.

Concubines below Lady Consort rank, if they were given special rewards, could only be given half a set of ceremonial regalia, which was the same as the Lady Consort’s travel specifications, but the decorations on the carriage and other items were halved.

It was different from the Lady Consort, so it wasn’t considered an overstep.

Ning Wanyin could ride in a sedan chair, of course she didn’t want to walk, especially as the weather was getting hotter, and she would have to travel back and forth under the scorching sun…

“Thank you for Your Majesty’s grace!” Ning Wanyin immediately bowed to express her gratitude. After receiving the favor, she naturally had to let the Emperor see her attitude towards her task:

“This concubine will definitely do her best to take care of Concubine Shun!”

Helian Qi listened to her clear, crisp, and energetic voice, his thin lips slightly pursed.

Ning Wanyin was always very sensible.

That’s why he liked to promote her.

He had long wanted someone to share Noble Consort Shu’s power, but he had originally favored two other people. Now, he found that Ning Wanyin was unexpectedly useful.

…

When Ning Wanyin arrived at Changchun Palace, Chunque, the head palace maid, immediately welcomed her in.

This was Concubine Shun’s order.

If she dared to leave Ning Wanyin waiting, Ning Wanyin would complain to the Emperor, and she would be the one who would suffer.

Concubine Shun wasn’t particularly smart, but she wasn’t completely naive, so she naturally put on a good show.

“This concubine greets Concubine Shun!” Ning Wanyin bowed and greeted her with proper etiquette.

Concubine Shun leaned back on the couch, her gaze scanning this rumored new favorite, a kind smile appeared on her face, “Lady Ning, please rise. I heard from the Emperor that you are coming to take care of me, I am very touched, it really puts you to trouble.”

“Your Ladyship is too kind, this is my duty as a concubine.” Ning Wanyin replied neither arrogantly nor humbly.

The smile on Concubine Shun’s face froze, she was just a beauty, how dare she say that taking care of a concubine was her duty, she was really arrogant.

But the Emperor also said the same thing. The Emperor was indeed, as rumored, very fond of this woman.

Since she was the Emperor’s darling, Concubine Shun didn’t want to directly conflict with her. Even if she wanted to drive Ning Wanyin away, it wouldn’t be on her first day in Changchun Palace.

Otherwise, wouldn’t that be a slap in the face of the Emperor?

“This palace is feeling unwell, everything in Changchun Palace is entrusted to you.” Concubine Shun said politely.

“With Your Ladyship’s words, this concubine can rest assured.” Ning Wanyin replied politely, she didn’t want to be polite with her, she went straight to the point:

“The Emperor has ordered me to take care of Your Ladyship’s pregnancy, all the palace maids in Changchun Palace are under my command. Of course, if Your Ladyship thinks I’m doing a bad job, you can also ask the Emperor.”

Then, she looked directly at Chunque and ordered, “Order all the palace maids in Changchun Palace to gather in the courtyard.”

Chunque didn’t react for a moment, she was stunned, “You’re ordering me around?”

“What else?” Ning Wanyin asked matter-of-factly.

“This servant is Concubine Shun’s palace maid, Lady Ning can’t order me around…” Chunque retorted with hostility.

Ning Wanyin said calmly, “Lianrui, go and ask the Emperor, Concubine Shun’s palace maids are disobeying orders, change them.”

Lianrui accepted the order and was about to leave.

Concubine Shun recovered from her daze and quickly said, “Wait… This girl is just slow to react, please forgive her once.”

Then, she winked at Chunque, seemingly scolding her, “Didn’t you hear clearly? The Emperor has allowed Lady Ning to command the palace maids, how dare you disobey the order?”

Chunque suddenly realized, she reluctantly knelt down and apologized, “This servant is stupid, this servant is guilty.”

“Chunque is this palace’s personal maid, without her to serve me, I can’t eat or sleep well, please forgive her once.” Concubine Shun looked nervously at Ning Wanyin.

She would never let Ning Wanyin replace her personal maid.

Ning Wanyin was just making a statement, she accepted the situation and said, “Since Concubine Shun likes her, then keep her.”

“Thank you, Lady.” Concubine Shun had to thank her, she felt inexplicably stifled.

She was even more determined to drive Ning Wanyin away.