Chapter 23: Beautiful As If a Fairy

“An imperial decree has arrived! Yao Zhen Ting, receive the decree!” An Bing Shan held a jade gold scroll with one hand as he leaped off the horse and strode into Yao fu, then immediately unfolded the decree. Yao Zhen Ting and the others heard and uniformly knelt on the floor, bowing their heads to listen respectfully.

“Having received the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor gives an imperial decree. Li fei Yao Su Luan is dignified and virtuous, her nature beautiful and intelligent. Having long served in the Inner Palace, she is well able to handle the matters of the inner palace so she shall be conferred the title of imperial gui fei*……” On the ground, the originally excited Yao Su Luan’s expression darkened upon hearing the three words imperial gui fei. The Emperor had hinted before that he would make her Empress, how did it change to becoming an imperial gui fei? And why is it Father that’s receiving the imperial decree?

the word 皇 (huang) is added to her title which is commonly used as part of the word Emperor or stuff related to the Emperor, so I’m guessing that’s a status only one step down from the Empress. I chose to translate it as imperial to make it easier on you guys to remember though all the concubines of the Emperor are imperial consorts as well. And I’m leaving it in lowercase because capitalizing the pinyin looks bad, at the same time, just leaving Imperial capitalized looks bad as well. I’ll be italicizing the entire thing, so just remember the entire phrase is a title.

Hearing this, Yao Zhen Ting’s heart slightly sank. Just as he was about to rise up to receive the decree, he was stopped by An Bing Shan.

“Minister Yao is being too impatient, za jia* still hasn’t finished reading yet. Yao fu’s third daughter is of ethereal beauty that is both magnificent and tranquil, with a gentle temperament that soothes zhen’s(imperial ‘our’) heart. She is conferred the title of gui fei, bestowed the character Yao*! Decided by the Emperor himself, thank His Majesty for his grace.” After An Bing Shan finished reading the imperial decree, a fawning smile appeared on his wrinkled face and he stepped forward to hand the edict into Yao Zhen Ting’s hands. At this moment, Yao Su Luan who was kneeling on the floor had her eyes wide open, her eyes were scarlet as thistle. It was as if she was struck by lightning. Her blood froze, His Majesty actually bestowed a title to that fool! Why? Dou Xiang Lan who was kneeling to one side was already unable to hold herself back, it was just that she couldn’t very well flare up with An Bing Shan here.

1. Za jia is how palace eunuchs refer to themselves. A quick search said it was at first a way for monks to refer to themselves and has a humble tone and connotation of the speaker simply leads a peaceful and plain life.

2. Also, like how Yao Su Luan also has the title of li fei, Yao Mo Wan now has the title of yao fei, which is the same yao as her name. It means good-looking/handsome.

“Congratulations imperial gui fei, congratulations High Minister Yao! Za jia will thicken his face to ask High Minister to bestow a reward. This is a joyous occasion, please let za jia have receive some of the cheerful atmosphere as well!” An Bing Shan smiled towards Yao Zhen Ting.

“Of course.” Yao Zhen Ting forced back the shock in his heart and glanced towards Yao Tu. Yao Tu naturally understood tacitly and handed the hundred tael banknotes that he usually kept in his sleeves respectfully to An Bing Shan.

“As expected of the High Minister, every act is magnanimous and generous. Then za jia will take leave first.” An Bing Shan glanced at the figure on the banknote, smiled and left.

Just as An Bing Shan took the first step out of Yao Xiang fu, Yao Su Luan immediately snatched the imperial decree and read through it in fragments. As expected, it did have the decree to make Yao Mo Wan yao fei.

“How could His Majesty name that fool as an imperial concubine? What in the world happened?!” Dou Xiang Lan hastily went to Yao Su Luan’s side and exclaimed.

“Yao Tu! What exactly happened last night? His Majesty wouldn’t name that imbecile without a reason!” Envy high as the sky burned in Yao Su Luan, her severe eyes turned towards Yao Tu.

“This old servant really doesn’t know ah!” Yao Tu put on a look of innocence as he faced Yao Su Luan.

“Cai Ying! Arrange the carriage, we are returning to the palace!” Yao Su Luan fiercely flung the imperial decree onto the ground and rushed out the fu doors with a vicious air about her. Seeing Yao Su Luan leave angrily, Dou Xiang Lan looked puzzled towards Yao Zhen Ting.

“Lao ye, what does this mean?”

“Means that I, Yao Zhen Ting, have more than just Yao Su Luan as my daughter! Hmph!” Yao Zhen Ting fiercely shot a glare at Dou Xiang Lan and strode into the main hall with large steps, leaving a startled Dou Xiang Lan to stand in place alone.

The air after the rain had the faint aroma of the earth. Yao Mo Wan lifted her eyes to fix her gaze on the three large words ‘Guan Osprey Palace’ in front of her, her lips curling into an almost perceivable arc. The rising sun gently spilled sunlight onto her nation-arousing features. It was almost as if a layer of radiance was applied, it was beautiful as the immortal fairies in the paintings.

“‘Guan guan’ ospreys cry, on the island within rivers. Sweet virtuously lady, nobleman greatly seeks.* Third Miss, His Majesty seems to really like you!” At the side, Ting Yue looked at Guan Osprey Palace, feeling extremely emotional.

Extended translation of the poem = “Guan guan” the osprey(river hawk) sings on that little island in the river. Kind hearted beautiful young ladies are the ideal of young men. Guan guan is apparently the sound they make. It’s a romantic poem, depicting an infatuated young man who’s like passionately wooing the target of his love.

“Hereinafter, address ben gong as niang niang. This is the Imperial Palace, otherwise we’d be breaking the rules here.” Yao Mo Wan indifferently said, a difficult to conceal exhausting showing on her face. After a night of repeated torment, finally it had bore fruit. But she never thought the result would come so fast, so suddenly. When Ye Hong Yi said he wanted to bring her into the palace, she didn’t know what kind of expression she should use to respond to him. In the end, she just gave Ye Hong Yi’s thin lips a kiss then dumbly nodded her head.

“Yes, Ting Yue obeys!” See Yao Mo Wan walk into Guan Osprey Palace, Ting Yu naturally also following in happily. Although the decoration of Guan Osprey Palace wasn’t as lavish as that of Changle Palace, but it still didn’t lose in grace and luxuriousness. Even Ting Yue who had seen quite a few rare treasures in Xiang fu still felt her eyes dazzled.

“Ting Yue, do you still remember that hamster we saw when we went past the Imperial Garden?” Yao Mo Wan languidly laid against the snow fox fur spread over the gui fei chair, her eyes lightly closed.

“Remember ah! Wonder whose hamster it is, why would they hang it in the pavilion?” Ting Yue recovered her gaze and trotted to Yao Mo Wan’s side.

“The Imperial Garden is not far from here. Go over and see if it’s still there? While at it, make some inquiries to find out whose plaything it is?” Yao Mo Wan’s eyes narrowed and she exhorted calmly.

“Yes, this servant will go right away!” Hearing this, Ting Yue put down the bundle in her hands and immediately jogged out Guan Osprey Palace.

Hearing the footsteps gradually fade away, Yao Mo Wan slowly opened her eyes. She looked in the direction which Ting Yu disappeared pensively. The Imperial Palace has always been a place that ate people whole without even spitting out the bones. If she wanted to have a footing here, just relying on the pampering of the Emperor is not enough, she still needs a capable helper. Although what she sent Ting Yue to do was something small, but perhaps small beginnings will show how things will develop. Then, she can judge whether or not Ting Yue will be able to be like a fish back in water amongst these palace maids and eunuchs in the Imperial Palace.

Perhaps she really was tired. As Yao Mo Wan was contemplating she had actually fallen asleep. It wasn’t until Ting Yue covered her with a gown that she finally woke up.

“How long have you been back?” See that it was Ting Yue, Yao Mo Wan fiercely exhaled in relief. Then she got up and walked to the table, pouring a cup of tea for herself.

“Only just came in. Seeing niang niang was sleeping, this servant didn’t dare to disturb.” Ting Yue cautiously responded. At that time in Yao Xiang fu, she had never known that her family’s Third Miss actually had such a ‘not angry yet still awe-inspiring’ atmosphere. At this time, even though Yao Mo Wan’s expression did not have a ripple, she was still a little tense.

“What have you heard?” Yao Mo Wan held the cup with one hand; her fingers pinched the lid of the cup and brushed aside a few leaves floating on the surface.

“Replying niang niang, when this servant got to the Imperial Garden, this servant saw an imperial physician continuously pricking that hamster with needles. His mouth was even counting. This servant didn’t dare to disturb him and waited until he pricked it fifty times and put away the needles before daring to approach. That imperial physician’s mouth was very strict, this servant wasn’t able to get anything out of him. This servant actually bribed a palace maid that came later and was able to find out from her mouth that the hamster belonged to Eldest Miss…… It was the pet the Empress raised when she was alive. After the Empress passed away the Emperor started raising it. According to His Majesty’s meaning, the hamster got a foul ailment, and not only must it be hung in the pavilion to ventilate, everyday it must be stabbed with needles fifty times in order for it to keep living.” Ting Yue enumerated in detail all that she heard.

The sound of a cup shattering suddenly rang out. Yao Mo Wan sat silently next to the table, her vision flickering between light and dark. Her heart, actually turned into a flaming sea. Ye Hong Yi, even a hamster, you can’t let off even a hamster!?

“Niang niang? Are you alright?” Ting Yue only knew that Yao Mo Wan was distressed for that hamster and worriedly called. Not waiting for Yao Mo Wan to speak, Yao Su Luan had already stomped into Guan Osprey Palace with ruthless steps.

“Yao Mo Wan! Get your ass out here! You lowly common concubine-born thing, how in the world did you seduce His Majesty?!” Seeing Yao Su Luan charge in like a vicious tiger, Ting Yue immediately stepped in front of Yao Su Luan and blocked her way.

“Se…… Second Miss! What are you doing?” Without waiting for Ting Yue to finish speaking, a sudden drone sounded next to her ear, closely followed by a burst of scorching pain. Ting Yue suddenly felt her head spinning.

“What status do you have! To actually dare to block ben gong‘s path! Scram!” Yao Su Luan’s ferocious eyes were like those of a wild beast as they exuded dark green light. Just as Yao Su Luan wanted to act again, Yao Mo Wan unhurriedly got up and walked with gracefully swaying steps to Ting Yue’s side.