The Head Maid
CHAPTER 4
14
The main wife (Wángfēi), Lady Zhao, was a very easy person to get along with. She never made things difficult for the young miss and often kept her company.
Lady Zhao said that the women in the inner courtyard were all foolish concubines who weren't worthy of respect, and that only our young miss was truly intelligent. She couldn't understand why these women were always vying for Prince Cheng's affection and squabbling over petty things, and didn't understand why they would stake their entire lives on a man's love.
The young miss said to Lady Zhao, “You and the Prince have been together since you were young. To say such things is rather heartless.”
Lady Zhao replied, “The shallower the feelings, the more stable the position.”
I don't understand the minds of the women in the inner courtyard, but Prince Cheng was clearly a master at balancing things. He visited Lady Zhao every fifth day and the young miss every seventh, with the other concubines once a month.
But I vaguely felt that Prince Cheng favored the young miss more, because he always came to have lunch every day. Once or twice might be coincidental, but month after month, he arrived precisely at lunchtime. It makes one think…
But the young miss complained that Prince Cheng ate too much and secretly asked the steward of the Prince's residence for Prince Cheng's food expenses.
Naturally, this reached Prince Cheng's ears, so he didn't come the next day. The young miss and I didn't think much of it, but Li Mámā was anxious as an ant on a hot pan.
The young miss secretly told me that Prince Cheng was stingy and miserly; he came every day to eat for free, but as soon as she asked for money, he stopped coming.
Somehow, this also reached Prince Cheng's ears, and in the end, the young miss's monthly allowance was increased.
Then, not only did Prince Cheng come for lunch on time, he also arranged for dinner, eating three bowls at each meal, which made the young miss's face darken.
One day, the young miss had a craving and ordered the small kitchen to cook a bowl of small wontons for a late-night snack. In the dead of night, Prince Cheng rushed over anxiously, afraid that the young miss would eat everything before he arrived, leaving not even a drop of soup.
I really question the Master's judgment. This Prince, who prioritizes food above all else, is he really worth the young miss's sacrifice of marrying into this position as a cèfēi?
But Master was indeed the Master. The second year after the young miss married, the Emperor passed away, and Prince Cheng ascended the throne.
The young miss was made a Guìfēi (Noble Consort) by the Emperor, and our fortunes rose with hers. I also became a senior palace maid.
15
“Xi'er, add a dish of stir-fried bitter melon to today's lunch. The Emperor dislikes bitter melon the most.”
“Yes, niángniang.”
Even after the young miss married into the Prince's residence, I didn't change my way of addressing her. But after entering the palace, things were different. I changed my address to call the young miss, “Guìfēi niángniang.”
After Prince Cheng became Emperor, he was no longer a master of balancing things. Now, everyone in the palace says that Shen Guìfēi is the Emperor's sole favorite.
It's fake, just an appearance.
His Majesty never misses a meal in Shen Guìfēi’s palace—breakfast, lunch, and dinner, right on schedule. And when he’s too full to eat, he works it off by engaging in a bit of ‘bedroom boxing’ with Guìfēi niángniang to help with digestion.
Later, Shen Guìfēi complained to Empress Zhao, asking her to advise the Emperor to share his affection equally, not to be picky about his food, and to eat from the ‘hundred homes,’ instead of always focusing on her.
The utterly unambitious Empress Zhao readily agreed verbally, but actually did nothing.
At last, Shen Guìfēi, under the guise of admiring flowers, instructed me to dye several white peonies in various hues. She then invited all the concubines for tea.
As soon as everyone was gathered, Shen Guìfēi began lecturing them: “You all have such pretty faces, yet you can't even keep the Emperor's attention. Is that how you repay your parents?”
Gāo Měirén whispered, “In terms of beauty, who can compare to Guìfēi niángniang?”
Shen Guìfēi sighed, “Everyone knows they're not naturally gifted, but why can't they put in more effort?”
At this point, Huì pín spoke up, “Guìfēi niángniang, have you considered that perhaps the skill of your small kitchen is too good? Maybe you should try eating light and simple dishes for a couple of days.”
Shen Guìfēi pondered for a moment and thought Huì pín's suggestion made sense. She rewarded Huì pín with a pair of jade bracelets and instructed me to handle the matter.
That evening, the Emperor looked at the white porridge and salted vegetables on the table and said, “Indeed, you are the one who truly understands my heart, My Beloved. The weather has been hot lately, so it's better to eat lightly at night for a better sleep.”
“You might sleep soundly, but I can't sleep at all,” Shen Guìfēi said with a hint of annoyance as she served the Emperor another bowl of porridge.
The Emperor took the bowl and ate happily. After finishing, he took Shen Guìfēi's hand and strolled around the courtyard, admiring the moon.
“What exactly is it that you want, my beloved Guìfēi?” the Emperor suddenly asked. Standing to the side, I was startled and quickly retreated with the others.
I don't know how Shen Guìfēi responded to the Emperor, but under the moonlight, I saw that the Emperor's usually calm eyes were shining brightly.
Of course, the time when he was startled on their wedding night doesn't count.
16
“Xi Gu-gu, what are you going to do?” The Eldest Princess, her large eyes sparkling, clung to my leg, acting spoiled.
The Eldest Princess's appearance is exactly like Shen Guìfēi's. The regret I felt for not being able to accompany Shen Guìfēi during her childhood has been comforted here with the Eldest Princess.
Lifting the delicate little girl, I said, “Guìfēi niángniang has asked me to do something for her. I'll be back to keep you company, okay?”
The Eldest Princess pouted—a miniature version of Shen Guìfēi when she's displeased. I patiently coaxed her, then let the Eldest Princess's wet nurse take her for her midday nap.
I've been with Shen Guìfēi for exactly twenty years now. This length of time has been enough for me, a once mischievous little maid, to grow into the most capable senior palace maid by Shen Guìfēi's side, careful in everything, and always considerate.
Li Mama, seeing that I had grown increasingly steady, mature, and well-behaved with age, was extremely satisfied, and retired to her hometown after I chose not to leave the palace at the age of twenty-five.
Palace maids can leave the palace at twenty-five. Shen Guìfēi also asked if I wanted to leave the palace and find a good family to marry into. I smiled and shook my head, “I said I would accompany Guìfēi niángniang for a lifetime.”
The Eldest Princess, somehow getting the news, ran to find me, crying, “I don't want Xi Gu-gu to leave!”
It is said that the Eldest Princess was afraid I would say I wouldn't leave just to trick her, so she secretly went to find the Emperor, crying and throwing a tantrum.
The Emperor had no choice but to come to Shen Guìfēi's palace to ask about the situation: “You two are both like this... Back then, when I was with you in the hunting grounds, you gave me a cold shoulder right on the spot because of Xi Gu-gu.”
Shen Guìfēi, smiling, was peeling an orange on the side, leisurely replying, “In this world, true sincerity is the rarest. Surely Your Majesty understands this!”
The Emperor looked at me standing to the side and asked, “How do you answer Guìfēi's words, Gu-gu?”
I replied, “In this world, only true sincerity can exchange for true sincerity.”
The Emperor pondered for a moment and said “good” three times in a row. His originally serious face twisted into a grimace due to the sour orange that Shen Guìfēi had stuffed into his mouth.
Shen Guìfēi tossed aside the orange and said, “Is this orange really that sour? Then I won't eat it.”
Watching this scene, I helplessly reminded, “Guìfēi niángniang, please pay attention to moderation.”
Shen Guìfēi reluctantly picked up a handkerchief and put it to the Emperor's mouth. “Your Majesty, spit it out quickly.”
But the Emperor said, “I've already swallowed it.”
I quietly withdrew. Firstly, to give them some private time, and secondly, because I was afraid I wouldn't be able to stop myself from laughing out loud.
Actually, the harem wasn't always peaceful. In the years after the Emperor's ascension to the throne, the General was frequently and inexplicably reported. Later, it was discovered that this was because Shen Guìfēi was the Emperor's sole favorite. At first, the General was quite proud, but he couldn't bear being constantly picked on, so he had his wife enter the palace.
The General's wife, naturally happy to see her daughter favored in the palace, didn't quite understand the subtle meaning in her husband's words. She directly brought several small booklets into the palace to share her experience with Shen Guìfēi.
Coincidentally, at that time, some concubines were jealous of Shen Guìfēi, spreading rumors that she was a seductive consort, skilled in the art of enchanting men, which angered Shen Guìfēi greatly.
Shen Guìfēi, holding the booklets sent by the General's wife, slammed the table. “They call me a seductive consort? Then, I’ll show them just how seductive I can be!”
And so, Shen Guìfēi's title of ‘seductive consort’ wasn't confirmed, but she successfully achieved the General's wife's goal of having two children in three years.
After giving birth to a son and a daughter, the rumors subsided. Everyone could see that Shen Guìfēi's position was as stable as a rock.
After all, Empress Zhao is currently just the Empress, but Shen Guìfēi could potentially be the future Empress Dowager.
With Shen Guìfēi's rise to power, my status also rose. Whenever I casually strolled through the palace, people would secretly stuff things into my sleeves. At first, it was silver coins and gold leaves, but later, a rather robust concubine directly put a ten-jin gold bracelet on my hand—I think the shackles in the prison aren't even this heavy.
17
By the time I successfully reached the level of a respected nanny (mama), Shen Guìfēi's second son was made Crown Prince.
Let's just say I was surprised; Shen Guìfēi was even more incredulous. She held the second prince for a long time, saying, “Son, tell your mother how you managed to get the position of Crown Prince? Your father, I still haven't quite figured out how he became the Emperor.”
The second prince also looked bewildered, “Was it really that hard to choose between the two?”
The Eldest Princess chimed in, “Father just likes good-looking people. Maybe it's because of their looks!”
This remark left Shen Guìfēi speechless, but she was actually persuaded by this reasoning. After all, the Emperor does appreciate good looks; he could eat two extra bowls of rice just looking at Shen Guìfēi's face.
But the imperial family had few heirs; there are three in total, and they are all born by Shen Guìfēi. Every year there was a draft of new concubines, but the Emperor found them all ugly, so no one new entered the palace. The concubines gradually lost their intrigue; there were only four of them, so poisoning one would leave them unable to play mahjong.
But Shen Guìfēi quickly stopped thinking about the matter of the Crown Prince. She said that with the Emperor's current healthy and happy state, it's uncertain who would outlive whom in the end.
So, those stories from the common people are unreliable. Palace intrigues aren't about scheming; it's purely about physical endurance.
Empress Zhao never had any children. Shen Guìfēi always felt it was a pity that Empress Zhao had spent her entire life in the palace; the days in the palace are long and quiet.
Empress Zhao’s palace is filled with peonies. I always thought Empress Zhao loved peonies most, but Shen Guìfēi said Empress Zhao was probably allergic to pollen. Perhaps it's just a case of seeing an object and thinking of a person.
In the end, Empress Zhao fell ill from worry and passed away in the spring of her 44th year. That year, the spring in the imperial palace, except for Empress Zhao's courtyard filled with colorful peonies, was covered in white cloth.
Upon hearing the news of Empress Zhao's death, Shen Guìfēi stood in the courtyard for a long time. She told me, “When I first entered the Prince's mansion, the Empress was very accommodating to me. If I remembered to pay my respects, I would go; if I overslept, she wouldn't mind. She praised me for being sensible, saying I was very much to her liking.”
I supported Shen Guìfēi back inside. “We naturally remember these things, niángniang. The Empress was always kind and fair in everything she did.”
Shen Guìfēi said, “Because she didn't care, she could be fair.”
A year later, Shen Guìfēi was promoted from Guìfēi to Empress.
18
In the winter of the 34th year of Pingqing, Empress Shen contracted the epidemic and didn't survive the winter.
I knelt beside the Empress, combing her hair. My skill in combing hair had become exquisite, but even if I were as careless as I was when I was young, she wouldn't feel it anymore.
The Emperor held the Empress's hand tightly for a long time. He said to me, “She's finally not so beautiful anymore.”
I said, “A beautiful woman's beauty fades, and a youthful face changes; it's simply the way of things.”
The Emperor shook his head but didn't speak again. After a moment, he left.
Later, a eunuch delivered an imperial decree, bestowing the posthumous title of ‘Xi’ (曦) upon the Empress.
I took the imperial decree and placed it beside the Empress, then said to Eunuch Yuan who delivered the decree, “Eunuch, please pass a message to the Emperor for me. This old servant wishes to be buried with the Empress; please grant my request.”
Eunuch Yuan was stunned for a moment, then pushed back the silver I offered. “Mama, rest assured, I will certainly deliver your message.”
But unexpectedly, the Emperor rejected my request. He told me, “If I let you be buried with her, Zhilan will hate me.”
Late at night, I stood alone in the empty courtyard.
Someone said to me, “You have no worldly attachments left, why don't you come with me?”
The day I left the palace, snow fell heavily. The tall palace gates slowly closed before my eyes. Thinking back on my life, I touched my bald head and smiled.
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T/N: Ughhh, their friendship? Absolute chef’s kiss. From childhood mischief to wrinkly old age—it’s the kind of bond that makes you laugh through tears and clutch your heart like a dramatic side character. I was mid-translation, minding my business, when BAM—emotions. Nearly yeeted my laptop from the sheer feels.
Bittersweet? Honey, it’s sugar-dusted heartbreak with a side of emotional whiplash.
But hey, you know me—I live rent-free in the angst corner, sobbing glamorously. Not because I enjoy suffering (…okay, maybe I do a little), but because all the sweet fluff HE novels are already claimed! I can’t bring myself to translate something I don’t love—I’d disappear into hiatus-land faster than you can say “where’s the next update?”
We’ve still got three delicious extra chapters coming, so strap in! Our once-cool prince is about to unleash his inner golden retriever—clingy, devoted, and helplessly head-over-heels. Another simp male lead for your trophy shelf. You’re welcome. 🤭
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