14 Demons and Monsters

Within the blink of an eye, the young ladies had been in the palace learning the rules for several dozen days.

This time, the selection of concubines was personally overseen by the Empress Dowager herself, so all the palace consorts behaved with unusual restraint. Even after days of bustling activity, no one dared to spread any gossip or jokes.

Kunning Palace

Early in the morning, palace consorts came to pay their respects.

Due to a well-known but unspoken reason, Emperor Chong of Ming’s harem was quite large.

Even though the standards for paying respects had been raised and the number of consorts allowed into the hall reduced, no one dared to be reckless in front of the Empress—the official wife, who had lived in the central palace for over a decade and carried herself with great dignity.

Yet with so many gathered in the hall, even a whisper could sound like noise.

After finally seeing off the consorts who came to pay respects, the Empress, too busy with palace affairs to rest, briefly closed her eyes to recuperate. Then Dong Ying, the lady in charge of Kunning Palace, entered quietly.

Seeing the Empress with eyes closed, Dong Ying did not speak, gently lifting the now-cold teacup on the table.

Just as she was about to leave, she heard the Empress call her name: “Dong Ying.”

Dong Ying turned around and whispered an apology, “It is this servant’s fault for disturbing Your Majesty’s rest.”

The Empress kept her eyes closed and waved her hand, “What is it?”

Dong Ying handed the teacup to a palace maid and bowed before replying, “Your Majesty, Consort Rong wishes to select an auspicious day to invite the ‘Child-Delivering Granny’ into the palace for blessings.”

“Child-Delivering Granny?”

What sort of thing was this all of a sudden?

The Empress opened her eyes and looked at Dong Ying.

Dong Ying hurriedly explained, “Your Majesty, this ‘Child-Delivering Granny’ arrived in the capital from the provinces two months ago. What matters most is that she recites sutras to pray for fertility and safe pregnancies. It is said she is very effective.”

“...”

The Empress raised her gaze towards Dong Ying, who spoke so earnestly about this matter. After a moment of silence, she shook her head and let out a small laugh.

This was truly something.

Seeing the Empress shake her head with a smile, Dong Ying felt somewhat awkward but stepped forward nonetheless.

“Your Majesty, when I first heard of this, I did not believe it and even thought it absurd, but this granny truly has some ability.”

“You know that Lady of Jianning has had no children with her second husband for three years. They have sought help from gods and buddhas everywhere and tried countless medicines... This time, after inviting this spiritual granny into the residence, the Lady of Jianning is indeed pregnant within a month.”

If this were any other matter, reporting such absurdity would be beyond belief, and the Empress would surely take it upon herself to dismiss it.

But this involved offspring.

Even the smallest hope mattered.

Especially with an ancestor above who had been desperately striving for years over this very issue...

“Consort Rong has truly gone through much, nearly ten years in the palace and still so persistent,” the Empress said with a slight sigh.

Whenever new ladies entered the palace, there was always a commotion, but the Empress did not expect Consort Rong to lose patience first.

Rubbing her brow, the Empress said, “Very well, let it be as she wishes.”

“Just no grand fuss.”

She glanced at Dong Ying, “You personally oversee this spiritual granny from the moment she enters until she leaves.”

“Watch closely.”

“Yes, Dong Ying understands.”

After agreeing, Dong Ying mentioned something else, “Your Majesty, last month after Consort Ning moved palaces, everything else was settled, but she wishes to invite the Child-Delivering Goddess from Xifu Nunnery for worship.”

If even an unheard-of ‘spiritual granny’ could enter the palace openly, let alone a clay effigy of a deity?

Various Child-Delivering Goddesses had been frequently invited to the palace.

The Empress nodded in approval but frowned slightly from shoulder pain.

Seeing this, Dong Ying quickly stepped forward to massage her shoulder, “Your Majesty, palace affairs are important, but your health is even more so. Perhaps we should call the imperial physician?”

The Empress straightened her back, “It is an old ailment. Imperial Physician Cai examined me recently and said I must not sit for long and should rest quietly.”

Rest quietly?

All palace affairs were handled personally by the Empress now.

If she were to rest, would she have to appoint someone else to assist with palace matters?

Dong Ying did not press further on rest and quickly spoke of another matter, “Your Majesty, Crown Prince Cheng’s wife wishes to enter the palace to pay respects. She has two peony plants of exceptional quality—not the usual Jade Tower Spring—but the rare exotic Wu Qing Ni, which she wishes to present to Your Majesty for enjoyment.”

Emperor Chong of Ming had no sons and had yet to adopt any royal relatives as heirs.

As his reign lengthened, the matter of succession became increasingly pressing, though still somewhat veiled.

Last year, a memorial concerning the heir was submitted through the cabinet to the emperor—

The veil was lifted.

Among the popular candidates for heir was Prince Cheng’s son.

The Empress, who had been resting with eyes closed, slowly opened them—

Outside, the red sun hung high, and the golden glazed tiles shone almost painfully bright.

Seeing the Empress’s expression, Dong Ying lightened her movements, “Your Majesty, these past days you have been tirelessly busy with the selection of concubines. It is unfortunate that Crown Prince Cheng’s wife comes now...”

“After the selection is over, let her enter the palace,” the Empress said with a smile. “It has been some time since I last saw the Crown Prince’s wife.”

Dong Ying did not dare to respond but nodded carefully.

Speaking of Prince Cheng’s son, one could not help but recall the recent widespread legend of the “Dragon-Seeking Grandson from the Commoners.”

“The emperor mentioned before that Uncle Wang would soon bring the found grandson into the palace to be named heir. Has he set out now?”

Dong Ying’s expression relaxed considerably, “Your Majesty, the found prince injured his leg and is recuperating. Palace supervisors say he is unlikely to arrive in the capital before the Mid-Autumn Festival.”

Upon hearing this, the Empress sighed, “That child is also pitiful.”

“Prince Cheng and his wife left early. He himself wandered among the common people and suffered much hardship. Fortunately, the heavens showed mercy and Uncle Wang found him.”

“The timing coincides with the selection; it is fitting to choose a gentle and considerate lady to care for him well.”

Speaking of this selection, one could not avoid mentioning the pair known as the ‘Crouching Dragon and Hidden Phoenix.’

Although it was known that the Empress Dowager directed the arrangements for this selection, Dong Ying could not help but whisper, “Your Majesty, aside from others, there is a pair of young ladies in this selection who are particularly, particularly...”

Before she could finish, the Empress interrupted, “Particularly lively.”

“You know...”

The Empress, who had been solemn and stern, now relaxed, leaning against the rosewood Lotus Cloud desk.

There was even a faint smile in her eyes.

“In this palace, who with sharp ears has not heard of these two clever ones?”

“Since the Empress Dowager favors them, let them enter the palace. With so many consorts coming and going, is there no room for these two?”

Glancing at the blue-and-white porcelain vase in the corner, adorned with children and grandchildren motifs, the Empress’s voice softened, “I only hope the Bodhisattva blesses that this time, everything will truly go as Her Majesty wishes.”

...