Chapter 612 Drawing Lots
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Fu Zifei, upon seeing Mingzhu, looked quite anxious. She first bowed to Empress Dowager Min and then to Mingzhu, whispering, “Aunt.” Even her voice trembled, as if Mingzhu were a tiger about to eat her, and she was a helpless little rabbit.
Empress Dowager Min looked very pleased and deliberately said, “Zifei, you must learn a lot from your aunt. She used to be pampered at home, but now she can handle everything on her own. You must learn from her!”
Fu Zifei lowered her head and said meekly, “Yes, Empress Dowager.”
Min Baoyun snorted disdainfully from her nostrils, muttering, “Birds of a feather flock together.”
Empress Dowager Min smiled and wiped the corner of her mouth with a handkerchief, then kindly led Fu Zifei away, holding her hand with one hand and Min Baoyun’s with the other, saying to Mingzhu, “These two also need to broaden their horizons. I’m entrusting them to you as well. Since you’re their aunt and also a Shenniang, right?”
Mingzhu’s face twitched. The future main consort Anle County Princess was sitting there, yet Empress Dowager Min was arranging for these two future concubines to broaden their horizons? This mother-in-law was truly considerate. Even before the daughter-in-law entered the door, she had already started fighting. Admirable, admirable! Since the person herself didn’t mind, she naturally didn’t mind either. She smiled gently and said, “Of course, since the Empress Dowager has ordered, I will naturally obey.” She glanced at Anle County Princess, who had her eyes lowered but clenched her hands tightly on her knees.
After pushing everyone who needed to participate in this big show out, Empress Dowager Min found an excuse to leave. She only allowed the female attendants around her to open a warm pavilion for Mingzhu and the others, saying, “The banquet is about to begin soon. Starting today, you will all enter the palace every day to handle affairs. I will have the floor heating in the warm pavilion lit for you, and the kitchen will prepare delicious food for you so that you won’t be hungry or cold.”
Entering the palace every day? Eating and drinking? Mingzhu found it all very strange. If Yuwen Chu were to do something outside, would these people essentially be confined and isolated in the palace? Would they become hostages overnight? She firmly opposed this. “Thank you, Empress Dowager, for your kindness, but there are many things to do in our mansion. My child is young, and my mother needs someone to take care of her. Staying in the palace every day, I’m afraid it will upset you.”
Empress Dowager Min raised a long eyebrow, smiled insincerely, and said, “I forgot. Other mansions have concubines and such, but yours doesn’t. So when you’re gone, no one takes care of the mansion’s affairs. Not to criticize you, Mingzhu, but you’re being overly cautious. Why don’t you appoint someone like Zhou Nushi or Ping Nushi as a concubine? When you’re out, someone will help manage the mansion’s affairs and take care of your child and Ying Wang, right?” When it came to concubines, the Wusun Princess’s mansion also didn’t have any, but she conveniently chose to forget about that, just to disgust Mingzhu.
If you meddle in others’ affairs, don’t blame me for not giving you face. Since Yuwen Chu had already played the little emperor, and she had already played against Min Baoyun, there was no need to pretend so hard. Mingzhu joked, “Is Your Majesty testing me? I’ve never heard of a concubine or mistress in any mansion who can manage the affairs of the mansion and take care of the legitimate son and the master. That’s mixing the ranks of legitimate and illegitimate! You’ll be laughed at.”
Anle County Princess let out a sigh of relief, and Min Baoyun’s nose twisted in anger. Wasn’t she the one being talked about? How was she a mistress? How was she a mistress? As one of the Four Consorts, how could she be compared to an outsider mistress? Thinking of this, she couldn’t help but hate Mingzhu even more. If it weren’t for Fu’s meddling, would she have lost her position as Empress?
“Alright, alright, nobody talks more than you do. Since you refuse to enter the palace with them on time, then do as you please. Anyway, don’t delay the important matters.” Empress Dowager Min smiled coldly, and her gaze shifted away from the Wusun Princess.
Mingzhu held her tea cup, smiling at the group of women in the warm pavilion. It was quite something to stir up such a fuss over a Winter Solstice banquet. If this Winter Solstice banquet went smoothly, that would be strange indeed. Or perhaps Empress Dowager Min never intended for this Winter Solstice banquet to go smoothly?
As Mingzhu thought about this, she couldn’t help but tighten her grip on the cup. She always felt like there was someone’s gaze on her back, making her extremely uncomfortable. She quickly stood up and walked to the window behind her to look outside, but all she saw were bare branches and a few sparrows. She couldn’t see anything else.
Min Baoyun walked over, smiling maliciously, “What is Ying Wangfei looking at?”
Mingzhu replied lightly, “Nothing, just getting some fresh air.”
Min Baoyun glanced at her and whispered, “Wait and see, one day, I’ll make you pay double for all the shame you’ve brought upon me.”
Mingzhu smiled back, “I’ll be waiting.”
Dai Wangfei raised her voice, “Come sit down, let’s divide the tasks.”
Consort Xiao said lightly, “There’s nothing to divide. This kind of thing, if done well, sounds good, but if not, someone will be held responsible. Everyone wants to do light work and avoid the hard stuff. Let’s draw lots.”
Dai Wangfei objected, “Although what Her Consort said makes sense, there are several people here who have no experience. What if they draw something big?”
Consort Xiao said, “Dai Wangfei, you don’t understand what I mean. I’m saying we can divide the tasks into heavy and light. You Shenniangs can do the heavy work, while Anle and the others can do the light work. I’ll be here to assist you, to clarify any palace rules or disobedient servants, just come to me for coordination.”
The Wusun Princess, Fu Wang’s Concubine Ji, and Min Baoyun all agreed with Consort Xiao’s opinion, as the majority ruled. Dai Wangfei had no choice but to ask Mingzhu softly, “What do you think, Sixth Sister-in-law?”
“Fine, let’s go with Consort Xiao’s suggestion.” Mingzhu smiled faintly. It was all aimed at her anyway. She wanted to see what kind of task they wanted to assign her.
The paper balls were placed in a small golden basket and shaken, then lots were drawn in order of seniority. First was Fu Wang’s Concubine Ji, who got the task of guiding the noble ladies to their seats; then came Dai Wangfei, who was assigned to care for the elderly and the young noble ladies, as well as arrange rest for them; it was Mingzhu’s turn, and she got the task of managing the dishes and food.
This was the task most prone to mistakes and conflicts. Mingzhu unfolded the paper and laughed. Huayang Wangfei leaned over to take a look but didn’t bother to draw the remaining paper. She said indifferently, “Who wrote this note? In my opinion, guiding the noble ladies can be handled by one person alone. The main focus should be on the food. How can one person handle everything? Whatever is left, I’ll help Sixth Sister-in-law with it.”
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