Chapter 126 (1/2)

The concubines look at her in disbelief.  They feel like they are in the middle of a dream, ”Your Ladyship, your joke is a little too much.”

Mo Qi Qi looks at them earnestly, ”Bengong is not joking.  As long as one of you managed to serve His Majesty, and perhaps receive his continual favour, just like Yang Guifei, bengong will let you use the phoenix seal and exercise authority as the Empress for a month!”

The concubines look at her, stupefied.

Mo Qi Qi raises her eyebrows playfully at the crowd, ”Is there anyone amongst you who is interested in bengong's offer?”

All eyes fall on the beautiful and tempting phoenix seal.

Just how many women in history willingly forfeited their lives just for the chance to wield this seal and to sit on the phoenix seat?   Dying will be worth it if it means they can hold both for a month.  Just—– why exactly is the Empress doing all this?

Doubts begin to rise inside their hearts.  They are worried that the Empress is only doing this to test their hearts.

One of them speaks up, ”Your Ladyship, since you love His Majesty, why would you let us serve him?  Won't you get angry?  Won't you get jealous?”

The rest nod at that; that is exactly what they have been worrying about.

A sweet smile is formed on the Empress' lips as she pats her flat stomach, ”It is true that bengong loved His Majesty.  Bengong went through a lot just to marry him.   But now, things are different.  Bengong is now with a child.  A lot of things have become clear to bengong now that bengong is pregnant.  In the past, bengong used to get very jealous whenever someone tried to approach His Majesty.  But now that bengong think about it, what was there to be jealous of?  It's not like His Majesty belongs to bengong alone.  Being graced by His Majesty alone is a great honor.  Bengong is very lucky to be gifted with this child.  Now that bengong is happy, bengong can now clearly see what is happenning around bengong.  What you are going through now is what bengong had been going through before.  The tormenting wait for even one chance.   Bengong's heart aches for you.  Bengong regrets making things hard for you back then.  Although our ident.i.ties are different, we are all collectively known as one thing: His Majesty's women.  Now that bengong has gotten what bengong wished for, bengong wants to help you next.   Bengong is pregnant and cannot serve, and His Majesty cannot always only favours Yang Guifei.  Everything is just too unfair for the rest of you.

Bengong knows that all of you are feeling down right now.  You feel like as long as Yang Guifei is around, no one will get the chance to serve.  To tell the truth, that is merely your own brain taunting you.  You put yourself down, causing you to lose your confidence.  You let yourself go.  How could the Emperor possibly like you now?  That's why all of you must be strong, you must continue to fight for favor.  Now that you have changed your style, all that is left for you to do is to seek His Majesty.  He will definitely like your new image.  You must discuss it amongst yourselves.  Go to His Majesty in groups of twos or threes; there will definitely be one that catches His Majesty's eye.  Do not give up, as long as there is even a sliver of hope.”

Under Mo Qi Qi's encouragement, the concubines' spirit to fight begins to lift.

But still, there is one of them who still worries, ”Your Ladyship, His Majesty released an edict that forbade concubines from entering his palace without summons.”

Mo Qi Qi rubs her nose, ”Don't be afraid, bengong has a way!  Bengong has this one pendant that allows one to enter Yu Jing Palace.  No one will dare to stop you!”

The concubines are ecstatic when they see the pendant.

”This was given by bengong's father when bengong first entered the palace.”

Duke Zhen was worried that his daughter would get mistreated inside the palace and no one would know; and so, he gave her the pendant that the late Emperor bestowed him.  If anyone dared to pull anything with her, she would have the authority to leave and enter the palace as she pleased.  This pendant not only allowed her to enter the Forbidden City, but also every single palace in the back palace.   This goes on to show just how much the late Emperor trusted Duke Zhen.

The fact that Duke Zhen gave this precious pendant to his beloved daughter, on the other hand, shows just how much he dotes on her.

And so, when the sun sets, a crowd of concubines gather outside Yu Jing Palace.  They enter in group of twos, one by one.

When each group walks in, Jun Qian Che only utters one word, ”Out.”  He only gives them a simple glance, as though he does not even want to give them the chance to approach him.

By the time the last of the groups walk in, they keep their heads down, not daring to look at him.