Consort of a Thousand Faces - Chapter 411

Chapter 411

CHAPTER 411 (1): JADE PENDANT

The next day, Tan Ge’s body had mostly recovered, and she felt energised after regaining all her strength . She had also finished sewing the handkerchief, and was just waiting for Su Xi-er to come to the Imperial Library to collect it . It was red with an orchid flower sewn at the bottom corner .

This flower reflected the impression Tan Ge had of Su Xi-er .  A rare elegant and lofty demeanour, attracting others with her unique disposition .

She had sincerely sewn the handkerchief, every thread encompassing her blessings towards Su Xi-er . Even if the two of them were walking on different paths, she still respected Su Xi-er .

With her body almost recovered, Tan Ge decided that it was time for her to get to work . Hence, she placed the handkerchief beneath her pillow and left the room .

Grand Tutor Kong happened to pass by and see her . “How are you feeling?”

“Much better . This servant can work now . ” Tan Ge respectfully replied .

Grand Tutor Kong nodded . “Do something light then . Go and get two new brooms from the Imperial Household Department . ”

“This servant obeys the order . ” Tan Ge bowed and went on her way .

Looking at the Imperial Library, Grand Tutor Kong sighed .  Due to the pouring rain, Ruo Yuan and Hong Li had to quickly take down the red silk .  The Chinese geomancy[1] master did say that it wouldn’t rain for the next few days after observing the meteorological occurrences though, so I should ask them to hang it back up today .

Just as the idea crossed his mind, he saw Ruo Yuan and Hong Li carrying some red silk in their hands, preparing to hang them up .

~~~

Meanwhile, Tan Ge had arrived at the Imperial Household Department . After explaining the purpose of her visit, the eunuch at the entrance let her in .

“The brooms are in the storage room located in the backyard of the Imperial Household Department . ” The eunuch pointed in a direction .

Tan Ge thanked him and made her way to the backyard, overhearing two palace maids grumble while moving some things in another room . “We have to wipe off all the dust on the shelves today, but it’s not like the things inside are valuable . ”

“Don’t say that . These are items that every palace maid brings from home when they enter the palace . When I arrived, I brought a hairpin passed down by my ancestors . ”

“How much money can you exchange the hairpin for?”

“Even if it’s not valuable, it’s a memento . ” The palace maid walked forward, preparing to retrieve a feather duster from the storage room .

Tan Ge saw both of them departing while leaving the doors to the room they were in wide open . A glint flickered across her eyes, and after verifying nobody else was around, she quickly slipped in .

There were rows of tall and large shelves with the name of each palace maid attached to small cloth bundles lining them . Each section was labelled by the names of the various palaces .

Tan Ge immediately spotted the section for the Imperial Library . As there were only a few palace maids in the Imperial Library, it took her no effort to find Su Xi-er’s cloth bundle .

Since the two palace maids had yet to come back, she immediately took the cloth bundle down .

Tan Ge knew that apart from the items brought from their home, each palace maid’s cloth bundle would also contain a piece of paper stating their birth information, home address, and circumstances of their parents .

She wanted to become stronger, but she understood that she was currently very far away from her goal .  I must pretend to obey Xie Yun, so I must finish the tasks given by him . Only then can I make him lower his guard .

Swiftly opening the cloth bundle, Tan Ge saw that there was a small pouch in it, containing a small and refined dark green jade pendant[2] . It was exquisitely crafted, and very smooth and round .

She tried to take a closer look at an indiscernible character carved on the edge of the jade pendant, but it was too faded for her to make out anything .

1 . Also known as Feng Shui .  

2 . There are many designs, but I tried to find an example based on the description .  

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CHAPTER 411 (2): JADE PENDANT

I have to hurry up; there’s not much time before those palace maids return .  She quickly took out the piece of paper within the bundle and skimmed through it, her eyes widening .  An impoverished family, and a tragic childhood . Someone with such a background shouldn’t possess this kind of jade pendant!

During the Tan Residence’s former glorious days, Tan Ge had become skilled at distinguishing jade and hairpins as the Eldest Young Miss . She identified that the jade pendant was of a superior quality as soon as she laid her hands on it .

However, how is it possible for a family that couldn’t even satisfy their basic necessities to own a jade pendant like this?! Baffled, Tan Ge placed the jade pendant in her sleeve, tied the cloth bundle, and quickly returned it to its original position on the shelf .

The two palace maids had returned with a feather duster, and were stunned when they saw Tan Ge .

Immediatelyr, one of the palace maids asked . “Why are you here? You’re not a palace maid from the Imperial Household Department . Don’t you know that normal people can’t come in here?”

Tan Ge pretended to be fearful . “I’m a maidservant from the Imperial Library . Grand Tutor Kong ordered me to come and pick up some brooms, but I didn’t know where the storage room was . When I saw the door left open with a bunch of shelves inside, I thought this was the correct place . I apologise for entering the wrong place . ”

”Entering the wrong place? You are really too bold . If Eunuch Zhang finds out, you’re definitely in for a beating with the planks . Quickly leave, I’ll just treat it as if I never saw you . ” Another palace maid raised the feather duster, glaring at her in an attempt to frighten her .

Tan Ge repeatedly nodded . “I’ll go out right now . ” She swiftly darted out of the room and went to the storage room .

“Why are you not reporting this Eunuch Zhang? No one is allowed to enter this room without permission . ”

The palace maid who had scared off Tan Ge just now shook her head at her companion . “She’s a maidservant from the Imperial Library; Princess Consort Hao is a court lady from the Imperial Library . What if they have a good relationship? Are we able to offend Princess Consort Hao’s people?”

Her companion immediately understood . “You are indeed more meticulous . I almost wanted to beat her . ”

Suddenly, a tall man entered the room .

When the two palace maids turned around and saw who it was, they immediately bowed . “This servant pays her respects to Commander Wu . ”

Wu Ling raised his hand to signal them to rise . “Quickly clean the place and tidy things up . ” He then walked to a shelf at the side .

Pei Qianhao had ordered him to come and collect Su Xi-er’s belongings . Having once been sent to investigate Su Xi-er, Wu Ling had naturally come here before, thus discovering Su Xi-er’s tragic background from the cloth bundle and the records in the Imperial Household Department . He had even gone as far as to make a trip to Su Xi-er’s hometown to verify the information .

However, Wu Ling wasn’t aware that there was a jade pendant in the cloth bundle, as his attention had been focused on the piece of paper that contained Su Xi-er’s personal information .

Wu Ling found Su Xi-er’s cloth bundle and brought it down from the shelf .  Prince Hao ordered that all proof of Su Xi-er’s background is to be destroyed .

With all the evidence burned, he naturally had to hand the cloth bundle to Pei Qianhao for safekeeping .

After folding the cloth bundle, Wu Ling placed it in his wide sleeve and left the Imperial Household Department, catching sight of Tan Ge in front of him .

She was walking at a slower pace since she hadn’t fully recovered yet, allowing Wu Ling to catch up and call out to her .

Tan Ge was lost in her thoughts when the sudden call brought her back to reality . Returning to her senses, she immediately bowed . “This servant pays her respects to Commander Wu . ”

Wu Ling looked at the brooms in her hands . “You haven’t completely recovered yet, but Grand Tutor Kong is already ordering you to collect things from the Imperial Household Department?”

“There are few people in the Imperial Library . Now that this servant has gotten better, I should start work right away . ” There was a sliver of a smile at the corners of her mouth . “Ruo Yuan and Hong Li should be hanging the red silk today . ”