The Lady didn’t wear heavy makeup, as she naturally embodied the style of a delicate beauty. Her smoky brows and autumn eyes would not be complemented by deep red lipstick.
Soon enough, Yun Jiao figured out the answer.
"How is it that Concubine Lan came so late? Wasn’t anyone there to instruct her on the proper hour to pay respects?"
Concubine Jiang remarked sourly.
It turned out everyone had dressed extravagantly to avoid being outdone by Concubine Lan!
"It’s not that she’s truly late, but she did make the sisters wait a long time."
Concubine Li was also visibly displeased.
Concubine Lan benefited from the marriage alliance, entering the palace directly into the rank of a Concubine, standing on equal footing with them. Although it was reasonable, it was unsettling. The Lady wasn’t very concerned, knowing the Emperor would never let a Prince of mixed blood become the Crown Prince. Concubine Lan was at most a change of taste, and in theory, even the Empress should be unbothered, excited at the chance to divert favor from these foreign concubines.
But...
The Lady glanced at the woman on the top throne, convinced that she wasn’t the least bit happy.
At that moment, the eunuch outside the tent announced, "Concubine Lan has arrived."
As Concubine Lan walked in, all eyes present focused on her.
Her face was slightly pale, yet it did not detract from her beauty. She had shed the Kesha people’s traditional attire for the Yan Chi’s palace dress, hiding her graceful figure and presenting a stark contrast to her boldness from last night, stirring countless fantasies.
"This servant greets the Empress."
Concubine Lan spoke fluent Yan Chi language to pay her respects, committing no faux pas in her decorum.
She was prepared.
The Empress, with a pleasant expression, told her to rise and granted her a seat.
Concubine Lan’s induction into the harem symbolized the friendship and submission of the Kesha people. No matter how displeased the Empress was, she had to represent the harem with friendliness and warmth. Before the Empress could explode, the Lady, disinterested, averted her eyes.
"Concubine Lan is so late today, yet the Empress didn’t utter a word about it. Truly merciful." Once Concubine Lan sat down, Concubine Jiang began speaking sarcastically.
There was no choice; among the three concubines present, she was the only one without a title.
Those with a title had slightly higher prestige than her, so she sat on the far right.
Concubine Li said with a tinge of acidity, "Concubine Lan served the Emperor last night, so she must have been very tired, and her lateness is understandable."
On the Grassland, their intelligence network within the harem failed and they could scarcely gather the Emperor’s movements. Hearing this sarcastic remark, Concubine Lan’s expression slightly changed, clenching her handkerchief. "Rising late was my fault, and I ask the Empress’ forgiveness." She stood to admit her mistake.
"Sit down quickly; there’s no need for that," said the Empress. "You have not missed the hour. Concubine Jiang is strict with rules and did not mean to fault you."
The Lady interpreted internally—
You weren’t late, but Concubine Jiang intended to fault you.
"Thank you, Empress,"
Concubine Lan realized that even in the noble Yan Chi harem, there is rivalry over one or two-night affairs. However, it wasn’t her fault to bear. "Concubine Jiang, it was other concubines who served the Emperor last night. It was thinking about leaving home and truly becoming a woman that kept me awake."
Concubine Jiang raised an eyebrow, "So, did I misunderstand?"
"Yes, you misunderstood."
Hearing such a straightforward response, Concubine Jiang’s anger surged. "So did I falsely accuse you?"
"Yes, you falsely accused me."
Concubine Lan was fluent in the Yan Chi language but it wasn’t her everyday speech. The one teaching her wasn’t a native Yan Chi either, so her language skills were inevitably simpler and more direct than those of a native-born official’s daughter. Although both sides were equals and could refer to each other directly, if there was a misunderstanding, the other should extend some courtesy in the explanation. Concubine Lan thought she was speaking normally, but Concubine Jiang, embarrassedly flushed, felt this uncouth woman might as well be slapping her with a shoe!
Concubine Lan seemed unaware of her hostility.
Or perhaps she sensed it but saw no reason to indulge her.
Hearing their circular dialog, even Concubine Li couldn’t help but chuckle, "Oh my, Concubine Lan’s speech is very amusing."
At this point, the Empress intervened to stop the farce, "That’s enough. Last night, the Emperor favored Attendant Lady Xi, so Concubine Jiang shouldn’t linger on questioning Concubine Lan."
With this, she confirmed the conjecture that the Emperor visited Yun Jiao last night.