"Then I should thank you for the compliment." Tianmiao smiled, "If there’s nothing going on today, shall we play together?" Concubine Rong was quite the expert at having fun, but ever since entering the palace, she’d been holding back, not enjoying herself as she did back home. Life in the palace was boring, not just for the concubines but also for Tianmiao, so she had to find some fun for herself.
Huh? Play together?
Concubine Rong doubted her ears, had she heard it wrong? The Empress invited her to play together, but play what?
Soon enough, Concubine Rong knew what the Empress wanted to play.
Chess, pitch-pot, archery...
After Concubine Rong lost all the silver in her purse, she was still a bit dazed.
How did she end up gambling with the Empress?
At first, the Empress mentioned hearing of her impressive chess skills and wanted to play chess together. Okay, they played chess. Then the Empress said they should have some stakes. Okay, let’s have stakes. And just like that, the stakes became real money—lose and pay, win and collect, simple as that.
In the first game, she lost and felt unconvinced, so she continued, still losing.
Then they switched to pitch-pot, and she still lost.
Archery!
God knows how the Empress managed to set up a small training ground in her garden, with several targets and bows suited for ladies. She had learned archery from her brother as a child, but had forgotten most of it. So, she lost again.
"Thank you for the gifts, Concubine Rong! Let’s play again tomorrow. Next time, we’ll play tug-of-war." Tianmiao said with a smile, "Each person brings ten people—five palace maids and five eunuchs, no external help allowed." Tug-of-war was a popular game in Great Zhou Country, embraced by both commoners and nobles alike. It’s simple: a thick rope and an equal number of people on each side, just pull and compete.
External help, that term was somewhat new, but she understood it immediately. It meant only people from within one’s own palace. Concubine Rong used to play tug-of-war often at home and never thought she could play it after entering the palace. Hearing this, she got excited.
"Empress, I’ll come again tomorrow. I’ll bring enough silver." Concubine Rong clenched her fists, left behind a bunch of gifts, and departed with her entourage.
"Come early tomorrow. Also, have people prepare things for the Summer Palace." Tianmiao almost waved a handkerchief in farewell. Of course, Tianmiao kept all the gifts Concubine Rong brought. Besides some beautiful silk fabrics, precious medicinal herbs, there was a pair of jade bracelets, a red coral pendant, a box of agate rings, and more notably, beneath the box containing the jade bracelets was a hidden compartment with five thousand taels of silver. Receiving such a generous gift, Tianmiao certainly put Concubine Rong’s name on the list.
As she left Zhaoyang Palace, Concubine Rong walked and pondered, only then realizing, what was happening? What was the Empress up to? How did she end up playing with the Empress without even noticing? Moreover, she was having a great time. Even losing all the silver in her purse didn’t ruin the fun.
How long had it been since she had such carefree fun? Concubine Rong couldn’t remember.
But today, she truly had a lot of fun, a lot of fun!
After returning, Concubine Rong found five strong eunuchs, and also five strong palace maids, training them one afternoon. Preparing to "redeem herself" against the Empress the next day.
The next day, Concubine Rong arrived at Zhaoyang Palace bright and early, but someone was even earlier, Qing Guiren.
Qing Guiren was busy feeding Bai Ming, watching Bai Ming pace around its territory.
Seeing Concubine Rong arrive, Qing Guiren hurriedly greeted her.