Quick Transmigration: Underdog Turns out to be Untouchable

Chapter 898: Chapter 809: Unwilling to Be a Slave 29

In the past, the Emperor did not show how much he valued Gao Jieyu in front of the Empress, as the Emperor did not want the Empress to become suspicious, but being the person who has been with the Emperor the longest, Song Lin knew how satisfied the Emperor was with Gao Jieyu.

The Emperor was always stingy with the ranking promotions for the harem concubines, otherwise, the harem wouldn’t have countless beauties but only a few high-ranking concubines that could be counted on one hand.

However, this time the Emperor personally elevated Gao Jieyu’s rank, which clearly shows how pleased he was with her performance, suggesting that the Emperor exhibited more satisfaction with the Empress than with Gao Jieyu in Fengchen Palace.

But only Song Lin knew that the Emperor’s sentiments were the exact opposite of his behavior with the Empress; he was far more pleased with Gao Jieyu than with the Empress.

For years, the Emperor had been annoyed by the constant need to donate the trinkets given to the concubines and harbored a subtle resentment that the Empress couldn’t perceive his troubles and take the initiative to relieve them. None of the harem, including the Empress, knew of this, but as the Emperor’s close eunuch, Song Lin did.

Now, Gao Jieyu had discovered the Emperor’s troubles and took the initiative to resolve them. She discerned his worries but did not seek credit in front of him; instead, she reported the matters to the Empress and adhered to the protocols and rules.

This silent way of alleviating the Emperor’s concerns without seeking credit pleased the Emperor greatly. He even remarked to Song Lin on his way to the morning court that the Noble Consort had him in her heart, a praise the Emperor had never given to any concubine, including the Empress.

Whether Gao Jieyu genuinely cared for the Emperor or was simply acting, to elicit such thoughts from him, Gao Jieyu’s skillful maneuvers had reached a superb level. Song Lin made up his mind to hold Gao Jieyu in higher regard in the future, for her cunning and schemes would undoubtedly lead to continued favor.

In Yingyue Palace, Gao Jieyu was trying on her formal Jieyu attire, adorned with golden silk and silver threads, accompanied by pearls and jade, the dress was incomparably luxurious. Gao Jieyu looked at herself in the full-length copper mirror with left and right glances, feeling immensely excited.

What she wore was not just a set of clothes. She was delighted not because her Jieyu formal attire was more splendid than the Noble Consort’s formal attire, but because of the status it represented. She had been stuck at the Noble Consort’s position for a full four years.

The Emperor was frugal with the rank promotions for concubines; the higher the rank, the more difficult it was to ascend. Even highly favored ones like Lady Xuan and Lianpin had been stuck in their positions for many years without advancement. Now, she had managed to advance first, becoming a Jieyu, which left Gao Jieyu feeling quite proud.

According to the rules, a concubine’s promotion ceremony required not only the receipt of the Holy Decree but also an expression of gratitude in front of the Empress and the hosting of the elevation ceremony by the Empress. Only then was the promotion considered complete. Without the Empress’s advancement ceremony, it was not recognized by the Empress, and even if the Emperor decreed it, the concubine could not advance in rank.

The Empress was responsible for managing the harem, being its principal figure. All concubine promotions needed her approval. It should be said that while both the Emperor and the Empress could issue decrees for concubine promotion, an Empress’s decree allowed direct advancement, whereas an Emperor’s decree required the Empress’s consideration.

This wasn’t about the Emperor’s authority being lesser than the Empress’s, but rather a stipulation set by former Emperors, regarding the proper respect and authority the Empress should possess. Though in reality, this authority meant little if the Emperor chose not to respect it, as in the time of the late Emperor.

However, the current Emperor was different. He respected the Empress far beyond any concubine, meticulously adhering to etiquette and regulations. If the Empress genuinely refused a concubine’s promotion, the Emperor would never scold the Empress for it; he would act only according to the Empress’s wishes.

Upon learning of Gao Noble Consort’s promotion to Jieyu, the Empress realized that the Emperor valued the matter more than she had anticipated. However, the Emperor offered more rewards to the Empress, extending favor to her family by bestowing her brother with a fifth-rank title, which, although it held no real power, was a matter of great honor.

Therefore, although the Empress thought the Emperor quite concerned with Gao Jieyu, she did not take it too much to heart. She was overall pleased and warm towards the visiting Gao Jieyu. Consequently, Gao Jieyu’s elevation ceremony faced no delays or suppression; the preparations were meticulous, acting as a courteous, respectful gesture towards Gao Jieyu.

Nangong Shuangshuang, being a servant maid, had no qualifications to mingle amidst the grand occasion of Gao Noble Consort’s promotion ceremony, but she was glad to have the ease since such ceremonies could exhaust even the main figures and were even more taxing on the servants.

Because this promotion of Gao Noble Consort from Noble Consort to Jieyu relied entirely on Nangong Shuangshuang’s strategizing, Gao Jieyu rewarded her with five hundred taels of silver.

Nangong Shuangshuang took out ten taels of silver and went to the Food Bureau for two very elaborate dishes, enjoying a fine meal with her mother, Luo Yueying.

The palace’s Food Bureau was specifically responsible for extra meals and various nighttime snacks for everyone, from the Empress Dowager to the concubines. Although it didn’t rival the skill of the Imperial Kitchen chefs, it still boasted rare culinary artistry.

Although prices were exorbitant, with ten taels of silver lasting an entire year for a large family outside the palace, it was undoubtedly worth the cost, utterly delicious.

Gao Jieyu’s elevation ceremony lasted for a good half of the day, and by the time everything had concluded and Gao Jieyu returned to Yingyue Palace, she was so exhausted that her legs wobbled even when standing. Her feet were sore, and her knees ached from all the kneeling and bowing.

Lanying and a few other capable palace maids of Gao Jieyu, along with the Chief Eunuch of Yingyue Palace, Chun Sheng, accompanied her to the ceremony, leaving only a few little palace maids and little eunuchs in Yingyue Palace. Nangong Shuangshuang directed them to heat up water for a bath so that upon Gao Jieyu’s return, she could soak and ease her fatigue.

Although Nangong Shuangshuang was a servant maid, all her rewards for food and drinks were akin to those of a First-class Palace Maid. It was clear she was favored by her master, so the little palace maids and little eunuchs of Yingyue Palace followed Nangong Shuangshuang’s orders. When she instructed them to heat water, they obeyed even if their rank was higher.

As for the meals, Nangong Shuangshuang did not have anyone prepare them. Today was Gao Jieyu’s elevation ceremony, and according to custom, the Emperor was bound to visit Yingyue Palace. With the Emperor’s impending visit, the Imperial Kitchen would naturally send over the evening meal meant for the Emperor.

Soon after Gao Jieyu finished her hot bath, the Emperor’s meal was delivered by a eunuch, and its arrival signaled that the Emperor would soon be there as well.

Gao Jieyu hurried out of the bath, dressed, and made herself up. Today Nangong Shuangshuang applied a light makeup for Gao Noble Consort, with light pink eye shadow and pale lips. Gao Jieyu’s large eyes could be shaped into lively cat’s eyes, exuding spirit and vitality.

She wore a palace outfit in white interwoven with peach red, her hair styled in a loose bun with a simple tassel hairpin inserted at an angle on one side, and small peach blossom hairpins on the other. She adorned her forehead with a floral ornament of peach blossoms. This attire wasn’t ethereal but had a fresh, extraordinary appeal, with a look of the girl-next-door beauty.