Chapter 22: The Beauties of the Inner Palace
Translated by algoo | Proofread by algoo
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After finally finishing making ice for the Empress’s Palace of Eternal Peace, Lin Xiu had no time to rest before being led to the Palace of Everlasting Spring.
This was the Noble Consort’s residence. Upon entering, Lin Xiu noticed the eunuchs around him were much more nervous. Before they entered, Chief Eunuch Li had repeatedly warned him to be extremely careful in his words and actions within the Palace of Everlasting Spring. Offending the Noble Consort would mean no one could save him.
As Lin Xiu stepped through the palace gates, he saw a beautiful woman in palace attire standing in the courtyard, holding a creature that resembled a cat yet wasn’t quite one.
The creature’s fur was snow-white. It had the body of a cat, but a pair of small, white wings sprouted from its back. It was the first time Lin Xiu had seen a winged cat.
Lin Xiu wasn’t particularly surprised. He already knew the species of this world were different from those on Earth.
Besides humans, this world also had Spiritfolk, Barbarians, Seafolk, and other races. The appearance of animals not found on Earth wasn’t strange.
The woman in palace attire was strikingly beautiful, with an air of nobility. Her figure was graceful and alluring, her chest high and prominent, making one want to replace the cat in her arms.
This type of woman was fatally attractive to men.
Fortunately, when it came to women, Lin Xiu had weathered countless storms and didn’t show any unusual reaction.
After entering, Chief Eunuch Li hurried forward and bowed. “Your servant greets the Noble Consort.”
The woman glanced at him indifferently, then looked at Lin Xiu, asking, “Who is he?”
Chief Eunuch Li quickly explained, “Your Highness, he is a student of the Arcana Academy. His Majesty summoned him specifically to make ice for the consorts.”
The woman gently stroked the fur of the spirit beast in her arms, no longer looking at Lin Xiu. “Go on, be quick about it. Nannan is afraid of strangers. If you frighten it, I’ll have your heads.”
Chief Eunuch Li repeatedly said, “Yes, yes, yes, we’ll leave as soon as we’re done, as soon as we’re done…”
This Noble Consort was clearly not someone to be trifled with. Not only were Chief Eunuch Li and the other eunuchs obsequious, even the palace maids and eunuchs of the Palace of Everlasting Spring were trembling, moving cautiously and walking without making a sound.
After finally finishing making the ice and leaving the Palace of Everlasting Spring, the eunuchs, including Chief Eunuch Li, wiped the cold sweat from their foreheads with lingering fear, looking as if they had just survived a great ordeal.
The Great Xia Emperor had countless consorts. Among them, the five most esteemed were the Empress and the four consorts.
The Empress was the mother of the nation, naturally the head of the inner palace.
Below the Empress were the four consorts: the Noble Consort, the Virtuous Consort, the Pure Consort, and the Consort of Virtue. Below them were the nine consorts, the Jieyu, the Cairen, and the Meiren. Led by Chief Eunuch Li, Lin Xiu visited each palace according to the consorts’ rank.
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After the Noble Consort was the Virtuous Consort. This consort only came out to take a look and didn’t say anything, so Lin Xiu and the others completed their task smoothly.
Leaving the Virtuous Consort’s Palace of Tranquil Summer, Chief Eunuch Li finally breathed a sigh of relief. “The mistress of the Palace of a Thousand Autumns has a very good temper and never makes things difficult for the palace staff. You can rest assured.”
The Palace of a Thousand Autumns was the residence of the Pure Consort. From what Chief Eunuch Li said, this consort seemed to have a good reputation in the inner palace.
A while later, within the Palace of a Thousand Autumns, Lin Xiu placed one hand on the ice mold, wiping the sweat from his forehead with the other. Making ice this way consumed a lot of Yuanli. He could originally make fifty blocks, but now he probably couldn’t even make half that.
He could visit at most one more palace before his Yuanli was depleted.
Just as Lin Xiu was gritting his teeth and persevering, a fragrant breeze wafted over. A palace maid approached, holding a bowl of ice, inside which were a dozen peeled, translucent grapes.
She smiled at Lin Xiu. “You’ve worked hard. This is a reward from the Pure Consort.”
After handing the bowl to Lin Xiu, she returned with light steps.
Lin Xiu looked at the grapes in the ice bowl, ate a few himself, then turned to see the three eunuchs swallowing hard. He handed the bowl to them, smiling. “This is a reward from the Pure Consort. Let’s share it.”
Being able to eat iced grapes in the summer was a luxury only nobles in the palace could enjoy. Chief Eunuch Li swallowed, shaking his head. “No, no, this is a reward for you, Young Master Lin, we can’t have any…”
Lin Xiu waved his hand. “You eunuchs have worked hard running around with me. How can I eat alone…”
Seeing Lin Xiu’s generosity, Chief Eunuch Li didn’t insist, laughing heartily. “In that case, we’ll also enjoy the Pure Consort’s kindness along with Young Master Lin…”
He didn’t know what variety these grapes were, but they were juicy, fleshy, seedless, and incredibly sweet. After being chilled, eating one was incredibly refreshing. Lin Xiu put down the bowl, sighing, “These grapes are truly delicious…”
Chief Eunuch Li smiled. “These are tribute grapes from the Western Regions. Even the Empress only received two bunches. Only the Pure Consort would bestow such precious tribute upon us.”
Lin Xiu looked towards the inner palace. The Pure Consort was indeed kind. The mistresses of the previous three palaces hadn’t even looked at him directly, let alone given him a reward.
Everything in the palace had rules. If the Empress received ten blocks of ice, the four consorts could only receive half that amount. Lin Xiu had a good impression of the Pure Consort, so he made two extra blocks for the Palace of a Thousand Autumns. Chief Eunuch Li didn’t say a word about it.
After sharing the Pure Consort’s reward, the distance between them lessened. Leaving the Palace of a Thousand Autumns, Chief Eunuch Li gave Lin Xiu a meaningful look. “Next, we’ll go to the Palace of Auspicious Winter. That was originally Consort of Virtue’s palace, but after she passed away a few years ago, only Princess Minghe resides there. When we go there later, Young Master Lin, remember not to speak carelessly and be careful not to offend the princess.”
Lin Xiu knew that Chief Eunuch Li’s words meant this Princess Minghe was not to be provoked.
He nodded. “I understand.”
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