Head Eunuch Li had seen her, of course. He had to keep his eyes and ears open while he was serving the Emperor. Quickly, he replied, "Replying Your Majesty, your humble servant did, in fact, see that girl in question. You must be referring to the maid from the Palace of Accumulated Purity. While we were heading towards the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility the other day, you ordered two of my disciples to help her move her sack of charcoal."
Xuanye nodded as he recalled the memory of that day. The mention of the Palace of Accumulated Purity reminded him of the youngest princess's mother, and he felt a little sorry for having neglected them for so long. Turning to Head Eunuch Li, Xuanye said, "Pick an auspicious day, and get the Imperial Household Department to draw up an imperial edict. Have Consort Zhao preside over the ceremony, too. On that auspicious day, I shall promote Second-Class Female Attendant Bu to a First-Class Female Attendant, and reward her family heavily."
Head Eunuch Li reminded him cautiously, "Noble Lady Rong is pregnant, too. If you only promote Second-Class Female Attendant Bu, she might not be very happy..."
However, Xuanye had other plans. Sitting on the heated brick bed beneath the large screen windows, he flipped through the officials' memorandums listlessly before looking up at Head Eunuch Li. "The Grand Empress Dowager has issued an edict. Noble Lady Rong is poorly blessed—if I reward her too handsomely now, it might chase away what little luck she already has. It'll be better to wait until she gives birth. As for other concubines...it hasn't been a year since Empress Xiaochengren passed away. There's no need for too much celebration."
His eyes darkened again. Afraid that Xuanye might sink into another depressive episode, Head Eunuch Li quickly changed the topic to distract him. Thankfully, after a great deal of effort on his part, Xuanye finally seemed to cheer up.
The imperial edict on Second-Class Female Attendant Bu's promotion was released to the six palaces very soon. Since the promotion ceremony hadn't been carried out yet, the Grand Empress Dowager excused her from going to the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility to thank her.
However, that didn't stop the other concubines from flocking to Second-Class Female Attendant Bu's residence to congratulate her, and even those who looked down on her or felt jealous of her made sure to show up. Second-Class Female Attendant Bu was timid by nature, so she didn't hold any grudges against them.
Jixin dropped by on Noble Lady Rong's orders. Smiling, she said, "My mistress says she doesn't want to have anything to do with you in the future. Lanqi just went there, but she's sent me here with more gifts! You're making my poor mistress so busy. Anyway, she congratulates you on your promotion, and asks you to come over in a few days when she's feeling a little better."
Second-Class Female Attendant Bu got Lan Qi to fetch two pieces of silver. She tucked them into an embroidered pouch she had made herself before passing it personally to Jixin. "Your mistress is kindest to me, and I'm very thankful towards her. I'll be praying for her safe delivery everyday. Jixin, I'll have to trouble you to take good care of her."
Jixin curtseyed and thanked her for the silver. After she exchanged a few more pleasantries with Second-Class Female Attendant Bu, Lanqi walked her out to the gates. Jixin snuck a piece of silver into her pocket and whispered, "When you arrived just now, Consort Zhao's maid was there too. My mistress rewarded her maid with some silver but only gave you a couple of copper coins. Don't take it to heart—my mistress knew Second-Class Female Attendant Bu would reward me too, so she ordered me to split my reward with you. See how kind my mistress is!"
Lanqi had been happier than anyone at the news of Second-Class Female Attendant Bu's promotion. Noble Lady Rong and Jixin were both people whom she was indebted to—although Jixin had been rather stiff with her the other day, she had brought her to the Palace of Heavenly Purity without complaint. Lanqi wasn't one to hold grudges, and wouldn't kick up a fuss over a few pieces of silver or copper coins.
After sending Jixin away, Lanqi turned around, only to see Aunt Wang scowling from where she stood on the corridor. Since she had been excluded from today's excitement, and hadn't gotten any rewards from the mistresses, Aunt Wang was probably furious.
Afraid that Aunt Wang might torture her again in the days to come, Lanqi walked over to her with Jixin's silver in hand. Offering it to Aunt Wang with both hands, she said, "Aunt Wang, you must have been very busy these past few days. Please accept this silver and let me pay my respects to you."
Aunt Wang's eyes lit up when she saw the silver. Besides, Lanqi was the most good-tempered out of all the maids, and Second-Class Female Attendant Bu would be very displeased if Aunt Wang picked on her again. Aunt Wang snatched the silver from her and said impatiently, "Good on you for knowing how to show me some respect! I've had more palace salt than you've had rice. Just because our mistress favors you doesn't mean you can step all over me! Otherwise, I'll make sure to make things difficult for you."
At that moment, a few eunuchs stepped through the gates. Recognizing one of them as Head Eunuch Li, Aunt Wang was so frightened that she put the silver away and ran up to welcome him. Bowing obsequiously, she murmured, "What brings you here, Head Eunuch Li?"
Head Eunuch Li hated it when old hags like Aunt Wang tried to suck up to him. He swept a cold gaze around the court. When he spotted Lanqi, his eyes lit up immediately. However, he didn't address her. Instead, he said to Aunt Wang, "His Majesty has rewarded Second-Class Female Attendant Bu with some gifts. She must come out and receive them now."