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CHAPTER 4 - HIDDEN SECRETS OF KARETSU
The Forbidden City — a palace of unprecedented scale with over five hundred buildings.
Its grounds were surrounded by towering walls. It served as the residence of the emperor and those who attended to him.
To the south of the main gate lay the Outer Court, where the emperor conducted political affairs, while to the north was the Inner Court, dedicated to private life.
The first prominent building upon entry was the Hydrangea Palace, a venue for crucial national ceremonies and diplomatic activities. Nearby stood the Bellflower Palace, hosting grand halls for receiving guests and lodging facilities. Behind them rose the Forsythia Palace, one of the three palaces in the Outer Court, and adjacent to it was the Pomegranate Palace, serving as the emperor's retreat.
In the center was the Phoenix Flower Palace, where daily political matters were attended to.
Lined up behind it was the Inner Court, where the emperor's consorts, known as the hou gong, resided.
"There are a total of five in the Inner Court. The Lily Palace for the empress, the Peony Palace for the four consorts — the Magnolia Palace for the noble consort, the Osmanthus Palace for the graceful consort, the Lotus Palace for the virtuous consort, and the Lantern Palace for the wise consort."
Hongyu, assigned to oversee and monitor Sango, explained the internal structures of the Forbidden City as they traveled in a carriage towards the harem.
While sensing that she was being informed about something important from the atmosphere, Sango took out her notebook and began jotting down the words she could pick up. However, understanding only half, she ended up tilting her head in confusion.
"Hey, listen carefully. I'll only say this once."
Inside the carriage with only the two of them, Hongyu began to speak.
They were headed to the residence of one of the four consorts, a woman called Star Noble Consort.
"You have been sentenced to palace punishment. In other words, you'll work in the harem until you die."
Sango understood only the punishment term 'palace punishment' and the part about working until death. She noted it down in her notebook.
"Your status is a palace official, and your job is to assist me and perform various tasks."
Those living in the harem had different statuses. At the top was the empress, followed by the four consorts.
Star Honghua, also known as Princess Hoshi, holding the position of a noble consort, was twenty five years old and the eldest among the four. She was a person of high pride, and those working in the Peony Palace often had trouble dealing with her.
Jing Li Rin, holding the position of a graceful consort, was an eighteen-year-old woman of few words, and there were many mysteries surrounding her as she rarely left the Magnolia Palace.
Sui Bai Quan, holding the position of a virtuous consort, was the youngest at fifteen, a carefree and lively girl who often ventured out of the Lotus Palace to play.
Yuu Ran Ka, holding the position of a wise consort, was a bright seventeen-year-old woman, and lively music was always heard from the Lantern Palace.
"Within those serving the consort, there are inner officials, below them are palace officials, and further down are the female officials called the Inner Palace Bureau who handle various minor tasks."
The works around the emperor, empress, and the four consorts were done by inner officials, while palace officials assisted them. All other miscellaneous tasks were handled by the female officials of the Inner Palace Bureau.
"Now, pay attention. This is crucial information, so don't tell anyone, understand?"
In a rapid-fire succession of words, Sango became bewildered. She couldn't comprehend the explanation at all.
Unaware of her confusion, Hongyu continued speaking.
"The emperor of this country has passed away. The crown prince, the emperor's brothers, and those with the second and third rights of succession all died. For the past six months, the throne has been vacant."
Having spoken slowly, Sango understood the meaning. It was a grave secret. The moment she heard it, she thought she could never return to her country.
It was a tragic event. A succession dispute had been unfolding for about three years, a prolonged and internal conflict. The most significant incident occurred about six months ago during a royal gathering, where poison was administered. Successive male members of the royal family perished one after another.
A brutal search for the culprit ensued, leading to a fierce conflict, and causing a lot of bloodshed. In the end, there were no longer any men that were direct descendants from the emperor. The perpetrator remained unidentified.
The Central Secretariat, known as the Zhongshu Province, decided not to leak information about this event to the outside world. Discussions took place for a full month on how to proceed in the absence of the emperor. During this time, young girls from various regions were gathered, distant relatives of the imperial family: Hoshiki from the wealthy family in Qing, Lirin from the family in Hui, Hakusen from the family in Sui, and Ranka from the family in You.
These girls were given the status of the four consorts under the empress.
"The Zhongshu Province made an incredible decision in the absence of the emperor."
It involved impregnating one of the four consorts and making the firstborn male the emperor. It was an unimaginable decision, but with the difficulty of determining who should become the emperor, they adopted this proposal as a last resort. The consort chose a suitable man to conceive the emperor's child from among the wealthy individuals within the country. Some wealthy families aware of the situation competed to send their relatives into the harem.
"I am just one of the candidates to provide that seed. Of course, you are too."
Hearing this, Sango furrowed her brow. She wasn't keeping up with the conversation again. Since it was declared that the information would be shared only once, she didn't ask for clarification.
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In this situation, she remained unaware that she was being mistaken for a man. Hongyu, also oblivious to his misunderstanding, continued speaking.
"The person we serve is Star Noble Consort, the highest-ranked in the harem. Several months have passed, but no one has opened up to her yet."
To impregnate the consorts, beautiful men were gathered from all over the country. Hongyu represented the Wang family.
"I was originally a military officer. Being ordered to do something like this is humiliating..."
However, he spoke bitterly, acknowledging that he couldn't defy his elder brother, the head of the Wang family. He half-heartedly encouraged Sango to do her best.
"This absurd harem has rules."
Firstly, forcibly assaulting the four consorts was strictly prohibited. If exposed, it would lead to public punishment followed by execution.
"Do you know what public punishment is?"
Asked slowly, Sango managed to understand the meaning somehow. However, she didn't comprehend the term 'public punishment.'
Seeing Sango's puzzled expression, Hongyu explained, "Public punishment refers to the brutal punishment of cutting off the genitals with an axe."
It was named so because of the stench of decay after the punishment. Of course, even if one incurred the displeasure of the four consorts, there was a possibility of receiving public punishment.
"It's terrifying and not something you can easily approach the consorts with."
Therefore, men must handle themselves carefully to avoid upsetting the four consorts and make efforts to be liked. Muttering to himself, Hongyu expressed, "The harem is like hell..."
It seemed like the end of the conversation. Sango only grasped a small part of it. First, the punishment she received was 'Imperial Sentence,' working eternally in the harem. Her status was 'Imperial Officer.' Furthermore, the emperor and empress were absent, and there were no surviving members of the imperial family. The solution devised by the upper echelons was to designate distant relatives of the imperial family, and the male children born to them would become the emperor.
Men working in the harem had the potential to become the father of the emperor. However, if they incurred the displeasure of the distant women, there was a significant risk of receiving the punishment of public execution and death.
Some words were picked up and strung together. There wasn't much confidence in the understanding, but Sango was aware that she must not incur the displeasure of the Star Noble Consort she would now serve.
"I won't help you if you fail in front of the Star Noble Consort," Hongyu warned.
"Understood, sir."
"Do you really understand?"
The man in front of her, Wang Hongyu, appeared better than her initial impression. While he seemed cold in front of Wang Shangshu, he now looked like a troubled young man. During the conversation, she noticed expressions of hesitation and anxiety on his face. She sensed that he was going through a tough time in the harem and, forgetting her own situation, involuntarily cast a sympathetic glance.
"Hey."
"Yes?"
"By the way, how old are you? I can't tell the age of foreigners."
Unable to comprehend Hongyu's words, Sango tilted her head.
"Age! Your age! How many years?"
"Ah, age..."
Since counting age differently between countries could be confusing, she answered in days since birth.
"About 7,300 days since birth... so, I'm around 20. I'm five years older than you... Surprisingly, you seem older."
"Hm?"
Sango had thought Hongyu was two or three years younger. Everyone in Karetsu tended to look young.
Without confirming properly, the conversation moved on. Sango had sworn to treat Hongyu kindly, just like Vire. Naturally, Hongyu never realized the misunderstanding.
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**Terminology Explanation:**
**Emperor:** Currently vacant. The first-born male child of the four consorts inherits this position.
**Empress:** Currently vacant. The first-born daughter of the four consorts becomes the empress.
**Four Consorts:** The terms representing the four consorts are Noble Consort, Virtuous Consort, Benevolent Consort, and Wise Consort. These are the female relatives of the imperial family.
1. **Noble Consort:** Star Honghua/ Princess Hoshi, Hoshikihi (Sei Koka)
2. **Virtuous Consort:** Scenic Lirin (Kei Ririn)
3. **Benevolent Consort:** Jade Hakusen (Sui Hakusen)
4. **Wise Consort:** Gentle Ranka (Yuu Ranka)
**Harem Maids:**
- **Imperial Officer:** Male role serving the consorts. Mainly tasked with procreation with the four consorts. Sons of wealthy families are sent for this role.
- **Imperial Aide:** Position given to males assisting the imperial officer.
**Harem Attendants:** A group of female attendants called the Inner Chamber Section.
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**Character Introduction:**
**Sango/ Shanshan/ Coral:** 20 years old, height 175 cm. Given the name "Shanhong" in Karetsu. Mentored by the Wang family head. In her home country, her height was considered slightly tall, but in Karetsu, she appeared as tall as a man. (The average height for women in Karetsu is around 145 cm. Overall, petite.) Unaware of being mistaken for a man. Positive and easygoing personality.
**Wang Hongyu/ Hiroyu/ Kou:** 25 years old, height 177 cm. Second son of the Wang family. Exemplary appearance and skilled in martial arts. Initially gave a cold impression in front of Wang Shangshu, but now appeared as a troubled young man. Young-looking despite a rigid demeanor.
**Vire Ellenrace:** 16 years old, height 173 cm. A former colleague in Coral. The son of a duke. Cheerful young boy.
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