CHAPTER 58: CHAPTER 53: A TATTERED PAINTING (SECOND UPDATE)

Concubine Li truly deserves her title; today she dressed up meticulously and was dazzlingly beautiful.

A beauty with striking features always has the upper hand at events where glamour is required. She catches the eye instantly with her bright red lipstick and peach blossom-shaped eyes.

In such a setting, Yun Jiao should have been somewhat lacking.

Her features are exquisitely beautiful, but as one’s appearance reflects their inner self, her soul remains youthful. Her bright and lively eyes carry a hint of playfulness, and unless she could sit silently all day, no matter how beautiful she may be, she could not attain the status of a renowned beauty worldwide. The advantage, however, is that she appeals to people of all ages, and she caught the Empress Dowager’s eye during the selection.

But today, everyone’s gaze inadvertently shifted past Concubine Li and landed on Yun Jiao.

She was draped in an orange and black tiger skin coat, a symbol of the top of the food chain, yet tailored perfectly to her figure. The coat came with a hood, worn over her head, topped with a pair of adorable tiger ears.

Those tiger ears were truly a masterstroke of design!

This coat originally didn’t suit her at all. After all, how majestic and imposing a creature is a tiger? Moreover, the one caught by the Emperor was an adult tiger. But with the addition of the tiger ears, when her lively eyes peeked out from under the hood, she resembled a fearless little tiger.

However, once seated, the hood had to be lowered.

Without the hood as support, there was somewhat of an air of pretended grandeur.

"Where did Attendant Lady Xi get this tiger material?"

"Is there still a portion of the tiger skin left?"

Those who hadn’t gone to the Hanyang Hunting Ground murmured among themselves.

At the head of the table, the Empress’s expression subtly changed. Her gold-clawed nails lightly scratched the table. So, the tiger skin personally hunted by the Emperor wound up on her! Yet he never even asked if she wanted it.

She knew the Emperor was always like this.

Gifts to the harem were first handed to her for distribution. She would take the best, aside from what went to the Empress Dowager, and he wouldn’t inquire further. She held the palace power firmly. However, those who received his personal gifts were always the favored concubines.

Although what those concubines received was less than a thousandth of what the Queen of the Central Palace held.

Yet here, the Empress was perturbed.

She already had palace power, but she also desired the Emperor’s special affection and love.

What others thought could only remain at the thought stage for now, as Yun Jiao took her seat, flanked by Concubine Wei, Consort Xu, and Consort Ji.

"Attendant Lady Xi, where did you get this tiger skin coat?"

Consort Xu couldn’t help but ask.

Concubine Wei glared at her.

Why give Attendant Lady Xi this chance to show off!

Yun Jiao smiled slightly, "In response to sister’s question, this tiger skin was hunted by me personally."

Similarly, Consort Ji, who accompanied the Qiu Lie event: ?

Consort Xu was shocked, "How do you have such skill?"

"Each person’s constitution is different."

"Then tell me how you caught the tiger." Consort Xu was skeptical.

"At that time, I did a sliding tackle, slicing it open from below its belly with a knife."

Consort Xu, having lived sheltered, had never seen a real tiger, only pictures of them, envisioned the scene, found it plausible, and half-believed: "Really?"

"No."

"Attendant Lady Xi!"

"Sister, don’t be mad, I just made up a story to amuse you because I was afraid you’d get bored waiting."

The little tiger shook its head.

Luckily, the banquet started soon. Since it was a concubine’s birthday, it wasn’t as grand as a state banquet. The food was served while still hot. There were marinated fish, crab meat dumplings, stuffed shrimp balls, steamed knife fish, grilled eel, crystal meat... Concubine Jiang spared no expense, and the kitchen provided everything money could buy.

Consort Xu chuckled, "Is this tiger skin coat really tiger skin? It doesn’t seem like something the Yun Family could afford."

Yun Jiao was eating crab.

Consort Xu, a bit irritated, said, "Attendant Lady Xi, I’m talking to you!"

Yun Jiao, holding a shrimp ball, looked up in confusion.

Why call her? She’s just a little tiger who only knows how to eat.

Concubine Li glanced at her, frustrated, "You’re eating so fast, are you that hungry?"

"Hungry! I didn’t eat the previous meal for this feast. Since I’ve brought a gift, I must eat my fill. Could we have another two plates of these particularly expensive dishes later? I haven’t had enough."

What could Concubine Jiang’s palace maids say?

They could only agree, fearing to embarrass their lady.

Some of the Attendant Ladies and Servant Consorts present couldn’t help but glance over at those words. Someone whispered, "I really envy Attendant Lady Xi. Let’s serve ourselves a bit more; we shouldn’t spend money in vain."

For low-ranking concubines, life in the palace meant having enough to eat and wear, but just barely. There was no income, and they survived on the meager allowance. Originally living in peace as transparent figures in the palace, Concubine Jiang decided to throw a grand feast and invited them to be unpaid extras. Naturally, they should eat well to make it worth their while.

But their upbringing prevented them from letting loose, even while dining.

Indeed, they weren’t freeloading; they brought gifts.

Those birthday gifts were bought with Silver Taels pinched from the gaps between their teeth. Their already modest lives became tighter. Seeing Attendant Lady Xi take the lead, they too dropped their burdens and joined in with their chopsticks.

At this moment, Attendant Ladies and Servant Consorts were filled with gratitude towards Attendant Lady Xi.

Just when they thought this was the limit, halfway through the meal, Yun Jiao turned and instructed, "Later, pack up those two cold dishes and three desserts into a new portion for me to take back to the palace to share Concubine Jiang’s joy."

The little Servant Consorts: "..."

Taking food to go, that was something they couldn’t do.

Concubine Li was puzzled, "Is there not enough for you to eat and drink in my palace?"

"How could it be, my lady," Yun Jiao elegantly wiped her mouth, "This is the joy of a progressive feast."

The Empress only sat for a short while, sipping wine, congratulated Concubine Jiang, and left the event.

She valued her dignity highly; her appearance today was merely to curry favor with the Empress Dowager.

...

Before the meal, Concubine Jiang had a palace maid read out the gift registry.

The palace maid read in a deliberate tone, and the gifts from those with concubine rank or higher were all quite generous, with each person giving several items. Especially the gift lists of the harem’s three Grand Buddhas, which took considerable time to read through, until finally reaching the Attendant Ladies’ portion.

The palace maid announced, "Xianfu Palace Attendant Lady Xi: One Birthday Celebration Painting."

Concubine Jiang was intrigued.

She always cared about appearances and expected others to make her look good. If a gift wasn’t lavish enough, she’d note it in her little book. The concubines all knew Lady Jiang’s temperament, mostly gifting precious fabrics and ornaments to avoid error.

But a Birthday Celebration Painting?

Concubine Jiang knew Attendant Lady Xi was dirt poor, with only a father who was a small-time official.

To Concubine Jiang, Attendant Lady Xi’s father’s position was merely a menial role, not worthy of being called a proper official.

"Oh? Attendant Lady Xi is quite original. I wonder which master created it?"

Being named publicly, Yun Jiao could only stand up and respond, "In response to Lady’s question, the Birthday Celebration Painting was not created by a master, but is a token of my own thoughts."

"A token of your thoughts?"

Concubine Jiang raised an eyebrow and looked at Yun Jiao with disdain, "Before entering the palace, Attendant Lady Xi was not famous for any talent in the capital. A token of your thoughts is merely a poor excuse to cover up the meager and shabby gift! A worthless, untalented, and insignificant painting, it’s a wonder Attendant Lady Xi dares to present it!"