Chapter 24: Women’s Society
That afternoon, Xue Yueying selected the best clothes and jewelry from her chests and meticulously dressed herself. Amidst the envious gazes of the Eighth and Ninth Misses, she left the mansion for the Ping Le Women’s Society.
Associating with Princess Ping Le was something Xue Yueying took great pride in.
The current dynasty’s customs were open, and women were not restricted from participating in social activities. Women’s societies were a new form of female association, mostly established for worshipping Buddha and doing good deeds—
but the Ping Le Women’s Society was different.
Initially, Consort Xiao intended for her to engage in charitable activities to mitigate the repercussions of the Peacock Feather Robe incident, which had led to impeachment by Great Scholars for depleting public funds, and to salvage her reputation.
Later, Ping Le gradually discovered a unique kind of pleasure within the Women’s Society—
the joy of men wielding power, that was true bliss.
Women were not involved in state affairs. Although the Emperor had permitted her to establish her own residence and appoint officials, even the most favored princess could not touch even a sliver of court politics.
Ping Le had been passionate and unrestrained since childhood, never believing herself inferior to her Imperial Brother, Li Huan. Unwilling to be confined to the inner chambers, she desired to achieve something that would make her Imperial Father, Imperial Mother, and Imperial Brother look at her with new eyes.
The Women’s Society, coincidentally, opened this door for her.
Which prince, duke, or minister did not have a rear court?
Approaching through the men’s rear courts was not only a shortcut but, at critical moments, could be a way to cut off the roots of their power.
By the time Xue Yueying arrived at Ping Le Square, most of the Women’s Society members had already arrived.
These were the Madams, Wives, or Young Ladies from the households of the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers, princes, dukes, and ministers, but they were still divided into ranks.
Lu Xi, Xie Weilan, Xue Yueying, and Xiao Qing’er were among the few most “favored” by Ping Le, allowing them to be close to her.
Xue Yueying placed the gifts she brought under her aunt’s guidance, then respectfully entered and bowed to Princess Ping Le, who was reclining on a soft couch.
Princess Ping Le enjoyed immense imperial favor, which had remained unchanged for years. Her expression habitually carried a lazy, dismissive air, which, combined with her naturally elegant and noble face, made it seem as if nothing in the world could capture her attention.
Upon seeing Xue Yueying, she merely raised her hand in acknowledgment and then, continuing her previous conversation, teased Lu Xi.
“Your grandfather is truly senile. The Eastern Palace is in decline, and everyone avoids it like the plague, yet he actually wants to push you into a fiery pit…”
Lu Xi wore a pained expression. “Grandfather said that the Crown Prince was tutored by him and possesses a pure heart and great ambition. He also said that the Crown Prince is still young and his actions may be a bit harsh and rash now, but he will become more steady as he ages.”
Ping Le tutted, glanced at her face, and a playful smile curved her lips. “Putting aside other matters. If we only speak of appearance, my Crown Prince brother is indeed handsome. For you to be the Crown Princess would truly be a disservice to him.”
In Ping Le’s eyes, everyone present was equally lowly. Mocking them with veiled sarcasm was a daily occurrence.
Lu Xi’s cheeks flushed slightly, and she bit her lower lip. “Mother also advised me this way. But when a woman marries, can she only consider appearance? It’s common knowledge that the Crown Prince dislikes me. The Eastern Palace is like King Yama’s purgatory to me; they aren’t afraid I’ll die young.”
Ping Le said, “To die under the peony, even as a ghost, one can still be romantic.”
Lu Xi heard the sarcasm and could only smile and flatter.
“How could we have the Princess’s blessings, marrying the most outstanding Imperial Son-in-law in the court? The Imperial Son-in-law, for a smile from the Princess, willingly resigned his official post and devoted himself to the Princess’s Mansion, showing utmost care. They have a pair of twins, who are also intelligent and well-behaved. That truly makes others envious…”
As she spoke, she couldn’t help but sound a little sour.
Heaven was truly unfair to people.
Ping Le was born into royalty, showered with affection, and enjoyed honor from childhood. That was enough, but she also married Lu You’an, the grandson of the former Prime Minister and the top scholar of Chongzhao Year 3, a renowned talent of the Daliang Dynasty, a man like jade and orchid, with the bearing of pine and bamboo. Such a celestial figure actually resigned his post to marry a princess. After marriage, their conjugal affection was deep, and their two children were as beautiful as figures in a painting, with rosy cheeks and jade-like skin, extremely adorable…
Ping Le’s life had been blessed by heaven.
In contrast, she…
Lu Xi was not unwilling to become the Crown Princess.
It was just that the situation was uncertain, and she feared the Crown Prince could not secure his position as Crown Prince.
Once the Eastern Palace fell, there would surely be corpses everywhere.
Her grandfather was the Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince and was deeply entangled with the Eastern Palace. If she were to marry the Crown Prince, she would likely perish with him in the Eastern Palace, and her life would be ruined.
Lu Xi thought that by clinging to Princess Ping Le, her family could play both sides.
Ping Le smiled and said, “On the first day of the third month, the Empress will host a spring flower viewing banquet in the Imperial Garden. It is said that she will be selecting a suitable young lady for the Crown Prince, a maiden of virtue, grace, talent, and accomplishment, to reside in the Eastern Palace. If you do not wish to marry the Crown Prince, I might have a way to help you…”
“I trouble the Princess to plan for me; I will agree to anything.”
Lu Xi replied readily, but her heart felt bitter.
Her family was not united with her.
She associated closely with Ping Le, seeing the rise of Prince Duan.
Her family, led by her grandfather, considered themselves loyal ministers who would serve the Crown Prince wholeheartedly.
Ping Le gave her a lukewarm glance, a faint smile on her lips, her gaze chillingly sharp, having long seen through her thoughts.
But she did not expose it. Seeing Xue Yueying, who had been silent since entering the room and frequently lost in thought, she couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow and ask her.
“Fourth Miss Xue, why are you mute today?”
Xue Yueying sighed. “Your Highness, you may not know, but recently Xue Liu returned to the mansion and has been causing unrest…”
She recounted everything, pouring out her grievances to Princess Ping Le.
After listening, Ping Le burst into laughter, pointing at her with a fingertip, full of disdain.
“Fool, you let that lowly slut Xue Liu control you? Or has my little plaything grown capable after ten years apart?”
Xue Yueying felt annoyed by her but had to rely on her.
“To be honest, Princess, Xue Liu has indeed become much more cunning. Currently, I truly don’t know what to do.”
Princess Ping Le looked at Xue Yueying’s subservient demeanor and smiled.
“Isn’t the household in turmoil? Then let it become more chaotic, even more so.”
Xue Yueying frowned slightly. “This humble one does not understand. I beg the Princess to enlighten me…”
Ping Le smiled faintly, like a cat playing with a mouse, beckoning her.
“Come, I will show you a clear path…”
Xue Yueying listened intently, and after a moment, her expression drastically changed.
–
In the following days, observant people in the mansion noticed that Fourth Miss Xue had become much more affluent.
It was said that she had gained the Princess’s favor at the Ping Le Women’s Society, and Princess Ping Le had bestowed upon her a large amount of jewelry and silk to prepare her dowry. The pieces of pure gold hair ornaments and mutton-fat jade were dazzling, making the two unmarried young ladies very envious.
Ru Yi entered with tea, huffing indignantly.
“With Princess Ping Le backing her, Fourth Miss has become quite arrogant. Even that maid Qing Zhu’s tail is practically in the sky. Earlier, this servant went to the main kitchen to get some coarse flour to make pastries, and they mocked me with veiled sarcasm. It made me so angry.”
Xue Sui smiled. “Xiao Zhao, fetch my ink brush and ink.”
Xiao Zhao’s eyes lit up. Her mistress enjoyed writing, sometimes writing things Xiao Zhao couldn’t understand, but when her mistress wrote and thought, she might be planning something deadly.
Shortly after Xue Sui sat down, a servant reported that the Master had summoned Sixth Miss to the main courtyard’s study room.
Xue Qingzhi had returned from the Ministry of Personnel, his face dark. Xue Sui knelt and paid her respects before him. He sat at his desk and scrutinized her for a long time before allowing her to rise and speak.
“Regarding the matter of advising the Imperial Consort, I heard it was you who gave the Princess Consort the idea?”
Xue Sui appeared bewildered. “I did not. How could I possess such wisdom and cunning? I suppose it was merely a coincidence that some old matters were brought up, and it was all due to the Princess Consort’s exceptional intelligence.”
Xue Qingzhi pondered for a moment and nodded slightly. “Originally, the Prince’s Mansion selecting a few concubines was a trivial matter. Even if it were another Imperial Prince or grandson, it would be ordinary. However, the Eastern Palace’s rear court remains empty, and in comparison, with the instigation of certain individuals, Prince Duan’s reputation would be tarnished.”
Xue Sui did not understand why Xue Qingzhi was telling her about court matters.
But not every father was worthy of being a father.
Being schemed against by her own father was also common.
Xue Sui said, “Daughter is frightened. Father, I truly do not understand what you are saying. The Crown Prince has just reached adulthood, and he is entirely different from Prince Duan, who is already an adult. How can they be compared?”
Xue Qingzhi frowned.
She did not understand.
She seemed genuinely ignorant.
Xue Sui paused slightly; she couldn’t pretend to be too pure and naive.
She then added, “Daughter heard that Imperial Consort rewarded Eldest Sister, and Eldest Sister was happy, so she wanted to add to my dowry. If that is the case, then His Majesty would not blame the Imperial Consort and Prince Duan…”
Xue Qingzhi rubbed his forehead, appearing somewhat flustered. “The Emperor’s heart is unfathomable. Those in high positions are often capricious, capable of changing the situation in an instant. The Xue family’s honor and disgrace now rest entirely on Prince Duan. You must know the gravity of the situation and not act recklessly, lest you implicate the family.”
Xue Sui sneered inwardly, her tone indifferent. “Father is joking. With Princess Consort Eldest Sister bringing glory to the family, and Eldest Brother inheriting the family business, I, a concubine’s daughter about to become a concubine, will hardly be able to affect the family’s rise or fall…”
Xue Qingzhi’s face darkened. “How are you speaking to your father?”
Xue Sui hastily performed a curtsey. “If Father has no further instructions, this daughter will take her leave.”
With that, she turned away. Xue Qingzhi was so angry he couldn’t speak for a long time.
Upon further reflection, it seemed this was the reaction she was expected to have.
What Xue Sui wanted was for him to think this way…
If an abandoned daughter showed no resentment, that would be truly suspicious.
–
Xue Sui returned to Li Xiang Courtyard and saw Ru Yi standing under the eaves, talking to a slightly plump old woman.
The old woman said, “This old servant saw Third Master return to the mansion. I heard he injured his foot and went to Old Madam’s room…”
Ru Yi rolled her eyes.
The old women in Li Xiang Courtyard were all sent by the First Madam. The young lady had already instructed them to be wary.
So Ru Yi smiled. “What does Mama Zhang need Sixth Miss for? Sixth Miss is not a doctor.”
The plump old woman said, “Hasn’t Sixth Miss met Third Master yet? Old Madam dotes on Third Master the most. Now that Third Master is injured, if Sixth Miss goes to visit, it would bring good fortune, wouldn’t it?”
Ru Yi narrowed her eyes at her. “Mama Zhang is so kind, looking out for our Sixth Miss?”
The plump old woman nodded and bowed repeatedly, her face creased with a fawning smile.
“This old servant used to work in the garden doing menial tasks and always endured others’ anger. Now that I’m serving in Li Xiang Courtyard, someone finally treats me like a person. This old servant is deeply grateful and hopes Sixth Miss will achieve great success…”
Ru Yi saw that her words were too sincere and remained unmoved.
Her mistress had said that when someone intends to harm you, they will show kindness and solicitousness beforehand.
“Mama Zhang, do your job well and don’t meddle in your masters’ affairs.”
Xue Sui entered with Xiao Zhao, casting a casual glance at the old woman. “Thank you, Mama Zhang. Xiao Zhao, give her a reward.”
She then instructed, “Ru Yi, go get two boxes of the wound medicine I brought back from the Old Mausoleum Swamp, and we’ll go see Third Uncle.”
Ru Yi was startled. “Is Miss really going?”
Xiao Zhao exchanged a look with Ru Yi and whispered in Xue Sui’s ear, “This old woman used to work in the flower garden and had little contact with Qing Lan Courtyard. But this servant believes her intentions may not be good.”
Xue Sui couldn’t help but smile. “Third Uncle is injured; it is only right that I go visit.”
Prevention is not always effective.
It is better to be open than to guard. Giving people an opportunity is also giving yourself an opportunity.
Pigeon: Let the storm come more fiercely! On the vast sea, the wind gathers dark clouds. Between the dark clouds and the sea, the white pigeon flies proudly like black lightning…
To explain the inquiry from a reader about why someone as cunning as Xue Yueying would be swayed by the words of a young maid.
In fact, it wasn’t the young maid who swayed Xue Yueying, but rather that the maid’s words touched upon her inner thoughts and pleased her. The devil was always within her… The maid praised her, and her words did not incite her to scheme against Gu Jie. For example, if a maid said, “Your boyfriend works at a bank, counting money every day, how wonderful that is,” it doesn’t mean she’s telling her to embezzle money from the bank. They are two different things.
