Divine Doctor: Daughter of the First Wife (Yang Shi Liu) 801

963

Counter a Plot With a Plot?

Noble Lady Yuan had entered the palace before Imperial Concubine Li. She was also a few years older. Although they were sisters, Imperial Concubine Li did not have many profound memories of her time in the Liu manor. With Noble Lady Yuan also having entered the palace early, she did not have too much of an impression of this elder sister.

While Imperial Concubine Li was unable to remember, Noble Lady Yuan had many things that she could recall. This included the fact that Imperial Concubine Li liked to watch plays. She said to Imperial Concubine Li: “I still remember right before I entered the palace, the family hosted a banquet and brought in a play troupe. Once the final play was concluded, the performers had received their pay and were about to leave; however, you caused a fuss over not wanting to let them leave. You wanted to watch their plays for a few more days. For this, you were even punished by father. Later on in the palace, there was also a theatre. I could see the joy in your eyes, but how could it possibly be that we would be able to watch a few plays when we wanted to, much less over the past two decades. Forget it, let’s not speak about this. The third gift that elder sister was speaking of was a small play troupe. The day before yesterday, I spoke about it to His Highness the eighth prince, and His Highness the eighth prince found a troupe from the south to be brought into the palace. Doesn’t Zhang Ning Palace have a small stage? Younger sister, during these few days, enjoy your fill in your own palace!”

Imperial Concubine Li did indeed enjoy watching plays, and she could recall the few times that the family had brought in performers. Each time, she would find that she had not enjoyed enough of their performances. Today, Noble Lady Yuan’s gift really had hit the spot. Not only was she given money, but there would also be a play to watch. No longer thinking about how His Highness the eighth prince had selected this troupe, she quickly told the servants to begin making arrangements. At the same time, she extended an invitation to Noble Lady Yuan: “I am preparing to host a small banquet on the day after tomorrow in this palace. Elder sister must come.”

Naturally, Noble Lady Yuan accepted. After sitting for a little while longer, she left after seeing that the stage had been set up. Imperial Concubine Li invited her to watch with her; however, she found an excuse and left, not staying no matter what was said. Right before leaving, she reminded Imperial Concubine Li: “Younger sister, it’s fine to invite some more of the sisters in the palace. The banquet will be the day after tomorrow, and things can get a little more lively over the next few days. Of course, don’t forget to invite Her Highness the Empress. After all, Zhang Ning Palace is so close to Jing Ci Palace. With a play being performed here, Her Highness the Empress will definitely be able to hear it from her palace. It would not be good to not invite her.”

Imperial Concubine Li also reached this conclusion, thus she sent a few palace servants to invite the other members of the imperial harem, while she personally went to invite the Empress.

The Empress initially did not have any intention of participating in Imperial Concubine Li’s matters, but after some more thought, she felt that the Emperor had shown initiative in promoting Imperial Concubine Li back to her position. Zhang Ning Palace had also been arranged by the Emperor. Although she had already analyzed that this was for the sake of angering Noble Lady Yuan, she was the Empress. Regardless of what was said, she needed to stand on the Emperor’s side. Since the Emperor wanted to put on a play, she would cooperate! Thus she accepted this invitation and just told Imperial Concubine Li to go ahead. She would head over a little later.

As for Noble Lady Yuan, who had returned to Cun Shan Palace, palace maid Yue Xiu was asking her: “Master treats Her Highness Imperial Concubine Li too well. Even if it’s for His Highness the eighth prince, there’s no need to arrange for a performance troupe. It’s a little too thorough. It’s not that this servant does not want to see your sister do well, but I am worried that master will feel grief.”