I Am the Chief of the Imperial Bedchamber - Chapter 2

Chapter 2

On the first night, Consort Yu’s green name tablet was placed in the center spot.

The Old Emperor said nothing and flipped it over.

On the second night, Consort Yu’s green name tablet was one size larger.

The Old Emperor frowned slightly, then flipped it over.

On the third night, Consort Yu’s green name tablet had been dusted with a layer of holographic glitter.

The Old Emperor finally lost it and overturned the entire tray.

He stared at me in disbelief. “How dare you? How much did Consort Yu pay you?”

Between slipping to the ground and kneeling, I chose to slide straight into a kneel.

“A modest amount. Only about one thousand taels.”

The Old Emperor laughed. “That’s rather expensive. Back when your godmother was around, Consort Hui only paid eight hundred taels of gold. It seems the older I get, the more desirable I become.”

I refuted him on instinct. “How is that expensive? I only took one thousand taels of silver, and that includes seven nights.”

The Old Emperor stopped laughing.

In that moment, an old nanny who had said the wrong thing quietly shattered into pieces.

I secretly asked the System, “Tell me, if I admit my mistake now, what are the chances he’ll forgive me?”

The System said mildly, “One to nine. As in, one wave of his hand, and you’ll be dragged out to have your nine generations executed.”

I didn’t want to die, but the Old Emperor had already raised his hand.

Drenched in cold sweat, I said, “Your Majesty, I’ve learned my lesson. Please let me off.”

“Give me one reason.”

“This old servant does many good deeds in daily life.”

His hand lowered, only to rise again a moment later.

“I haven’t noticed.”

I burst into tears. “No, Your Majesty! For the Empress Dowager’s sake, spare this servant just this once!”

“I wasn’t aware you were acquainted with the Empress Dowager. What is your relationship?”

“I am the household servant of her son from a different father and a different mother, Your Majesty!”

“…”

Perhaps because he had never seen anyone as desperate to live as I was, the Old Emperor ultimately lowered his hand after confiscating the bribe money and docking half a year’s wages.

As for Consort Yu, by the time she came out, she had dropped two ranks and become Noble Lady Yu.

She looked like she was about to fall apart, shivering in the cold wind.

My heart softened, and I draped the cloak the Old Emperor had rewarded me with over her shoulders.

Noble Lady Yu immediately started cursing. “It must have been you, you old bitch, wagging your tongue in front of His Majesty!”

I decisively took the cloak back off her. Noble Lady Yu seemed to have plenty of energy. A little freezing wouldn’t kill her.

But I never expected that not only did Noble Lady Yu not freeze to death, she got pregnant instead.

The Old Emperor was already advanced in years, and he had only a sparse handful of children. Now that he had suddenly gained a child in his old age, rewards poured in nonstop, and Noble Lady Yu naturally stole the limelight.

She herself made no effort to keep a low profile. Yesterday, she saw Imperial Noble Consort Su and didn’t curtsy. Today, she snatched Consort Hua’s allotted portion of bird’s nest. The day after tomorrow, she found an excuse to make Beauty Wang kneel as punishment.

With her strength alone, she ignited the inner palace, which had been quiet for far too long.

The ladies all believed Noble Lady Yu and I had a grudge, so they freely poured out their grievances to me. After they finished complaining, they didn’t forget to ask me, ever so discreetly, how Noble Lady Yu had managed to get pregnant.

I said, “Huh? I wasn’t the one sowing the seed. How would I know?”

Consort Hua coughed twice. “Crude as that was, Nanny Ji does have a point. Still, that was far too crude.”

Imperial Noble Consort Su looked around and lowered her voice. “Stop pretending. Offer us a guaranteed-pregnancy package. It’s not like we can’t afford it.”

I couldn’t be bothered with them.

Lately, my reputation for doing business had gone rotten, my purse was flat as could be, and going home was looking utterly hopeless. Worse yet, the person I’d offended was thriving more by the day, making me terrified of running into Noble Lady Yu wherever I went.

But after they pestered me beyond endurance, I still gave them a detailed account of what had happened that day.

Beauty Wang slapped her thigh and decided the problem lay with that cloak.

“There’s a saying in my hometown. If you keep a man’s intimate belonging close at hand, it’s very easy to conceive.”

Good grief, feudal superstition at its finest!

“Nanny Ji, think of something. We’ll pay one thousand taels for one.”

“I’ve tried this method before.” I raised my thumb and flashed a broad grin. “Guaranteed pregnancy.”