His Majesty And I ✔️

Imperial Concubine

Shi is an ancient chinese measuring unit.

1 shi = 60kg.
¼ shi = 15kg.

Chapter 34

Noble Lady Wei
Hougong

Li Lian was bitter that Yuwen Hong did not sleep over last night. So people did not have to rub it in her face. Self consciousness was not something she struggled with before but the pressure around Hougong was making her question whether that was actually the case.

"Li Lian had the least number of garments made, can you believe it?"

"This has been a habit of hers to be shameless. I wonder if she has self respect. All talk and no actions. She is a dog that cannot bite." Two concubines blatantly gossiped behind her back, literally. The Hougong women were walking back from the Fabric Department where each woman of the harem submitted the clothes they sewed.

Grand Consort Shu won with about fifty garments, therefore she had gone to the treasury with her entourage for the allocation of her reward. A quarter of shi gold had been set as a gift by the emperor for whoever sewed the most. Li Lian made half of what Grand Consort Shu made. What a shame.

"I agree. She has no self respect. What kind of woman throws herself at the dragon to the extent that he had to leave the Dragon Palace to sleep somewhere else because she wouldn't let him be?"

"This makes me love the emperor more. He could have killed her but he chose to respect her and save her household the shame."

"The only reason he tolerates her wanton behavior is because the South Wing is a clan that has made great contributions to this nation."

"Yoh." Concubine Pi joined the two women mocking. "What use is it to talk about her? Li Lian is history. She is not worthy to be a woman living in the Inner Court. A slave that had no virtue when the emperor took her, she is a female dog. That's why she didn't redden her sheets."

Ai strongly held back Li Lian's fisted hand and supported her to keep walking further, to never turn and do the regrettable. "Please hold it in just a little more, I beg of you." 

They were cunning to try her like this. She was going to repay it seven fold.

"Elder Sister is right." The two concubines elated, surrounding Concubine Pi at each side. "Let's not talk about her to upset the baby. How is he? Does our prince cause you problems?"

"He is no trouble. I think he already knows of his great fate, how could he misbehave?" Concubine Pi coyly said.

"Indeed! Indeed it will be a prince." The concubines cheered her on.

There was shuffling as Consort Wang passed through and separated the noisy three. "Don't speak too soon, the egg hasn't hatched yet. Who knows? Maybe it's a headless chick inside."

Here we go again.

"Consort Wang! Are you calling the prince a deformed child? Those words are treasonous!" Now that Concubine Pi knew she was with child, she was the only woman who dared stand up to Consort Wang's bullying. It's because she was seen as an angel in front of the Grand Dowager, the grandmother that anxiously waited for another grandchild. Concubine Pi could do no wrong, recently.

The fact that Concubine Pi stood up to Consort Wang made her the bullied concubines' heroine. Also, due to many speculations that she carried a prince, people thought she was going to be the future empress. Even though that didn't end up manifesting, still, she would live on to be a Grand Consort Pi when her unborn 'son' sat on the throne.