Quick Transmigration: Underdog Turns out to be Untouchable

Chapter 918: Chapter 829: Refusing to Be a Slave 49

Jing Jieyu’s attire today was rather loose, with a hairpin slant inserted in her jet-black hair bun, and tassels of rice-grain pearls swaying gently. Her palace dress in sapphire blue hung loosely on her body, lacking the solemn magnificence of formal wear, yet it exuded a lazy, ethereal charm.

As the only pregnant woman in the harem, Jing Jieyu’s sedan chair specifications were second only to the Empress and Emperor, carried by sixteen people. This was for stability, as the pregnant were esteemed. Now that the Empress had no children, perhaps the dragon embryo in Jing Jieyu’s belly would be the future Emperor.

Jing Jieyu first had to visit Furong Palace to pay her respects to the Empress Dowager and offer birthday congratulations, presenting a birthday gift at the same time. Although Jing Jieyu resented the Empress Dowager, she still had to rack her brains to prepare a birthday gift for her.

Today, Furong Palace was bustling with activity. Besides the concubines of the harem, the titled ladies from various families also entered the harem to offer birthday greetings and gifts to the Empress Dowager.

This process can be summed up in one word: tiring, incredibly tiring. Fortunately, Jing Jieyu had a child with her, so the entire ceremony was simplified, and most of the time, there were seats available. Even the servants attending Jing Jieyu found it much more relaxed.

After performing the courtesies, presenting birthday gifts, and completing various affairs, more than half the day had passed. Next, it was time to watch a play. On the first day of the Empress Dowager’s birthday, only titled ladies of fourth rank and above, along with harem concubines, were eligible to accompany the Empress Dowager to watch a play.

The Empress Dowager’s birthday plays spanned eighteen consecutive days. Although the lower-ranking concubines could not watch on the first day, they would be free to attend from the second day onward.

The grand theater in the palace was located in the eastern corner of the Imperial Garden, and it covered a large area, built to be extremely luxurious. The late Emperor loved theater, and a great deal of money was spent on this stage, making it resplendent with grandeur. The stage’s front and both sides were flanked by pavilions for viewing.

Of course, the best seats were in the pavilion directly facing the stage, reserved exclusively for the Empress, Emperor, and Empress Dowager, offering the best view. The pavilions on both sides were for the high-ranking concubines and Princes and Princesses to watch the play.

Specially favored low-ranking concubines, granted exceptional privileges by the Emperor, could also watch from the side pavilions, although they had to take the last seats.

The most sizeable group was made up of the low-ranking concubines who did not receive much favor, or those whose favor lasted only a couple of days before being forgotten by the Emperor. They could only gather on the first floor of the pavilion to watch the play.

The stage was quite high, mainly to provide a clear and comfortable view for those seated on the second floor of the pavilion. However, it made it necessary for those watching from underneath the pavilion to crane their necks to see the play, not as comfortable as watching from the pavilion.

Moreover, the chairs on the first floor of the pavilion were very simple, and there were few fruit platters, with only a cup of tea and some nuts. Luckily, this pavilion was vast, accommodating all the many concubines of the Emperor’s harem.

Of course, today the first floor of the pavilion wasn’t reserved for these low-ranking concubines, but for the third and fourth-rank titled ladies. The first and second-rank titled ladies would watch the play along with the concubines from the side pavilions.

Only the Princesses and the Ladies of superlative titled ladies, like their superiors, could accompany the Empress Dowager at this time, watching the play in the pavilion directly opposite the stage.

Jing Jieyu, being a pregnant concubine, was specially allowed to watch the play with the Empress Dowager today. This was actually customary; pregnant concubines would receive special attention everywhere, such as being allowed to sit with the three most noble in the harem during banquets of all sizes.

This was certainly to give pregnant concubines dignity, but also to encourage concubines, showing the harem concubines that as long as you can conceive, you would receive special privileges and even rise in status.

Although Nangong Shuangshuang never understood the use of encouraging women with pregnancy, without the Emperor’s cooperation, no matter how motivated the concubines were, they would not be able to conceive.

The Empress Dowager was not particularly old, in her forties but not yet fifty. However, she looked still quite young, with jet-black hair and only a few fine lines on her face, well-maintained like a middle-aged beauty in her thirties, exuding an aura of kindness.

Although the plays lasted eighteen consecutive days, only on the first day were the titled ladies retained to watch with the Empress Dowager. And even then, it was not the whole day, just from morning to noon.

After lunch, the titled ladies could leave the palace. By the afternoon, those low-ranking concubines who were not originally allowed to watch could follow in and watch the play together.

Today’s play was a lively martial drama, very bustling indeed. The Empress Dowager’s temperament was rather cool, and she didn’t particularly enjoy such lively plays, but a birthday play couldn’t be too bland, so the Empress Dowager chatted with the noblewomen beside her as she sat.

The Emperor left halfway through the play. It was mainly because this place was filled with titled noblewomen, and it was natural for the Emperor to accompany the Empress Dowager for a while out of filial duty. However, staying too long wouldn’t be appropriate, as the Emperor was, after all, a man, and shouldn’t linger too long in female company.

Once the Emperor left, he took a large contingent of guards with him. The Empress’ health wasn’t good, and should she accompany a play for the day, while she might not fall ill, she’d certainly feel unwell for several days.

The Empress Dowager, out of kindness, also had the Empress return to rest after the Emperor left. After several refusals, the Empress thanked the Empress Dowager and left, taking another group of guards and palace maids and eunuchs with her.

The Empress Dowager, disliking too much attendance, was only closely accompanied by her confidante, Nanny Tang, who had served her since the days of being a palace maid. Other palace maids and eunuchs served at a distance from the Empress Dowager, with superlative titled ladies around her.

These superlative titled ladies were mostly of similar age to the Empress Dowager, and their conversations often aligned. The Empress Dowager always remained kind in front of the titled ladies.

While everyone was watching the play or chatting, no one noticed a swarm of tiny black dots appearing on the distant horizon.

The sound of these black dots flying together was not small, with a loud hum of wings beating, but unfortunately, the sound of drums and gongs from the stage was too loud, so no one heard it.

By the time everyone sensed something was amiss overhead, a swarm of bees had already appeared over them, swooping down like a black cloud!

Although bees are small, they are quite intimidating. A single sting from a bee could hurt for days, let alone countless bees capable of stinging someone to death. At this moment, whether onstage or offstage, whether it was the Empress Dowager or the performers, they all panicked.

After the bees came, perhaps because the Empress Dowager’s side of the stage was too conspicuous, a swarm headed straight for them, and chaos ensued around the Empress Dowager. At first, the Empress Dowager had only Nanny Tang by her side, who could barely manage on her own.