THE IMPERIAL CONSORT'S RISE TO POWER - CHAPTER 19

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 Chapter 19

When news arrived that His Majesty had spent the night at Changchun Pavilion, the sound of shattering jade echoed through Chaoyang Palace.

Liuyue trembled as she had the palace servants clean up the mess on the floor. She glanced worriedly at Her Ladyship, whose emotions had been wound tight as a bowstring ever since Talented Lady Gu entered the palace. She tried to soothe her in a low voice:

"Your Ladyship, please calm yourself."

Consort He suddenly shook off her hand. "How am I supposed to calm down? The moment she entered the palace, she's disrupted my peace. Even His Majesty has been lured to her quarters time and again!"

The words touched upon His Majesty himself. Liuyue's heart jumped, and she quickly dismissed the others. Only then did she speak a bit more loudly:

"Your Ladyship! She's merely a Cáirén. Why let her throw you into such chaos?"

Liuyue bit her lip, stealing a glance at Her Ladyship's expression before continuing carefully, "Your Ladyship, aren't you making too much of this? Gu Cáirén is Gu Cáirén, and Gu Tang is Gu Tang, they're not the same person after all."

Consort He's face remained cold, unmoved:

"If not for Gu Tang's mistake all those years ago, would I be in this position? Since Gu Tang herself is gone, it's only fitting that ‘she’ satisfies my grievances!"

Liuyue fell silent.

That incident from years past, whose fault was it really?

That year, there was a palace banquet. Her own mistress and Gu Tang, the legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Rongyang, both attended. Though the banquet was nominally for viewing lotus flowers, everyone knew it was truly for selecting consorts for the various princes.

Back then, Second Master Xie of the Xie family was renowned throughout the capital, a gentleman like jade who captured the hearts of countless noble ladies. Naturally, Her Ladyship was no exception.

During the lotus viewing, an accident sent both Her Ladyship and Gu Tang tumbling toward the lake. Second Master Xie reacted swiftly, stepping forward to catch Gu Tang by a hair's breadth. In the same perilous moment, Her Ladyship could only fall into the water.

Fortunately, His Majesty saved her.

However, Second Master Xie had not been far from Her Ladyship at the time. Yet when danger struck, he completely bypassed her and went straight to save Gu Tang. Her Ladyship had already admired Second Master Xie, how could she accept such a reality?

But this very incident caused Her Ladyship's wet clothes to bring her into physical contact with His Majesty. With so many witnesses to this intimate contact, the Late Emperor had no choice but to issue an edict for His Majesty to take Her Ladyship into his household.

Her Ladyship's tender feelings came to nothing. Moreover, that day was too extraordinary, others all believed Her Ladyship had schemed deliberately. Her family background was unremarkable; among those who should have entered the prince's household that day, it should never have been her turn.

Unable to voice her suffering, Her Ladyship became somewhat obsessed. She kept wondering: if Gu Tang hadn't been there that day, or if Gu Tang were absent, would Second Master Xie have saved ‘her’ instead?

Would the Late Emperor's edict have granted ‘her’ marriage to Second Master Xie?

Would her devoted heart have finally gotten what it desired?

But no, because of Gu Tang's existence, it was all wishful thinking.

These years, Her Ladyship's life had been difficult. After entering the household, she neither competed nor fought, which finally dispelled His Majesty's displeasure. Only when the harem was formally established did she gain her current position as mistress of a palace. Just when life seemed to hold some hope, Gu Cáirén entered the palace.

Liuyue knew full well that the incident back then wasn't Gu Tang's fault.

Gu Tang and Second Master Xie had been betrothed since childhood. Seeing Gu Tang in danger, it was only natural for Second Master Xie to save her. But logic was merely logic, the heart was always biased. Over these years, Liuyue had witnessed Her Ladyship's suffering. If blaming Gu Tang could ease Her Ladyship's heart even a little, Liuyue wouldn't try to dissuade her.

Liuyue could only hope in her heart that since Gu Cáirén had just entered the palace a few days ago, even if she held some novelty, His Majesty wouldn't rebuke a palace mistress of the third rank for her sake.

Sadly, an imperial edict the next day dashed Liuyue's hopes to pieces.

---

Before sleeping last night, Gu Han had changed the medicine once. Lu Yu finally saw clearly what those hands looked like. Even after half a day had passed, they were still somewhat red and swollen. When the woman changed the dressing, she quietly turned aside to avoid him, as if afraid he would feel disgust.

Lu Yu wasn't so heartless as to demand she serve him in bed while injured. Besides, he'd already noticed that day, Talented Lady Gu's body ran somewhat cool. In this sweltering summer heat, sleeping close to her was a rare pleasure.

Only after leaving Changchun Pavilion did Lu Yu remember Xiuyi He. His mood grew somewhat indifferent.

To punish a third-rank consort over a newly entered Cáirén was rather conspicuous. But Lu Yu's personality had never been one to care about such things, so he gave his orders quite calmly:

"Since Xiuyi He is so fond of oleander, have the greenhouse send more to her. Let her care for them properly."

Liu An responded with a mumble.

Oleander was poisonous, how could Xiuyi He possibly like it? Yesterday she had probably just been deliberately making things difficult for Talented Lady Gu. But with this verbal decree from His Majesty, whether Xiuyi He liked it or not, she had to like it now. Moreover, these were imperially bestowed items, Xiuyi He could only tend to them with utmost care.

Thinking of the Gu Cáirén’s hands, Liu An mused that Xiuyi He would likely suffer some hardship in the days ahead.

Suffering was secondary. Being punished over a mere Cáirén, Xiuyi He was probably too ashamed to show her face. After all, this was a silent but stinging slap to the face.

---

After one night, the marks on Gu Han's hands had mostly faded. She still applied the ointment and wrapped her hands. Only after finishing these tasks did she head to Kunning Palace to pay her respects.

Unlike yesterday, when others' gazes swept over her without restraint, Gu Han clearly noticed that the concubines' examining looks had become much more discreet. Imperial Noble Consort De even spoke up herself, glancing reproachfully at Xiuyi He:

"Xiuyi He truly has a hard heart, to let such a beauty touch something like oleander."

Knowing that His Majesty had spent the night at Changchun Pavilion, and that these people all wanted to see her humiliated, Xiuyi He felt impatient. Her expression turned cold:

"This consort merely wished to consult Gu Cáirén on a matter. I didn't know beforehand that Gu Cáirén was so delicate."

Gu Han lifted her eyes to glance at Xiuyi He. Her brows and eyes were gentle, as if she wanted to say something, but ultimately said nothing. In truth, she was somewhat amused inside, Xiuyi He felt no guilt whatsoever, and even her disdain for Gu Han's delicacy was completely genuine.

Imperial Consort De raised an eyebrow, momentarily at a loss for words.

When the Empress emerged and saw Gu Han's hands, she immediately said, "If you're unwell, you could have sent someone to Kunning Palace to request leave. Why come in person?"

Toward the Empress, Gu Han was always respectful. She lowered her eyes gently:

"This consort's hands merely look unsightly, I fear they might offend Your Majesty's eyes. But it doesn't hinder me. Coming to pay respects to Your Majesty is both proper etiquette and a blessing. This consort dares not forget."

The Empress's smile deepened. If all the harem concubines understood propriety like this, why would she be driven to such vexation?

Gu Cáirén was gentle and obedient. Combined with information received earlier, the Empress tilted her head slightly to look at Xiuyi He:

"In this palace, there can be no order without rules. Yesterday you broke an imperially bestowed item and must be punished. You are fined one month's stipend. Do you object?"

The Empress's words were reasonable and well-founded. This wasn't taking Gu Cáirén's side, but punishing her for the imperial gift. Though Consort He felt somewhat embarrassed, she could accept it. She immediately rose and bowed:

"This consort has no objections."

The Empress caught the relieved look on her face and guessed what she was thinking. She felt somewhat bemused. She had given such a light punishment because His Majesty had already issued his own. Once His Majesty's verbal decree spread, she wondered if Consort He could still remain so relaxed.

The Empress casually withdrew her gaze and spoke of proper business:

"The Empress Dowager has already been practicing Buddhism for nearly three months. Word has come from Mount Wutai that she will soon depart for the palace. In these coming days, you must all prepare. When the time comes, you'll leave the palace to welcome her return."

As soon as the words fell, some commotion stirred in the hall, especially among the newly selected concubines. Even Gu Han couldn't help but furrow her delicate brows imperceptibly.

During the selection, the Empress Dowager hadn't been in the palace, so these new consorts had yet to meet her. Hearing suddenly that the Empress Dowager would return, they all felt somewhat anxious and nervous. After all, none of them knew what kind of person this Empress Dowager was.

Only one person was an exception, Zhou Měirén. She made no effort to hide the brightening of her eyes.

The Empress Dowager's return meant her backer was returning. She broke into a smile. After the incident with  Yuan Cáirén, she had wished the Empress Dowager were in the palace right then. Otherwise, how would these people dare bully her?

Gu Han glanced at her once before looking away.

She didn't believe that a woman who could rise to the position of Empress Dowager would blindly favor Zhou Měirén without reason.

Rather, it was the Empress's attitude that made Gu Han somewhat curious. Currently, all harem authority rested with the Empress. The Empress Dowager's return meant someone would be placed above her. Under such circumstances, the Empress actually wore a smile, as if genuinely delighted by the Empress Dowager's return?

Gu Han didn't dare speculate wildly. After the Empress finished speaking of this matter, she dismissed them from morning greetings.

---

Upon returning to Changchun Pavilion, Gu Han found Liu An in the palace. Perhaps he'd been waiting for some time. Gu Han was startled, but after Liu An explained his purpose, she learned of His Majesty's edict regarding Chaoyang Palace.

Gu Han froze, then in the next moment, lowered her head with a trace of shy embarrassment.

In her heart, though, she wasn't surprised. Yesterday, His Majesty's reaction had clearly shown he intended to stand up for her. But Gu Han hadn't expected His Majesty to be so sharp, returning like for like, treating others as they had treated her.

With this decree, Xiuyi He would serve as a warning. In the future, consorts of higher rank than her would think twice before oppressing her without cause. It must be said that Gu Han's heart truly held some gratitude toward His Majesty.

But Gu Han didn't understand, was just this matter worth Liu An coming personally to tell her?

However, in the next moment, Liu An beamed as he presented an imperial edict:

"Gu Cáirén, receive the decree!"

Gu Han's eyes widened in shock. Nudged by Little Fangzi, she suddenly came to her senses and led the servants of Changchun Pavilion to kneel. She had some inkling of what the edict might be, and couldn't help but grip her handkerchief tightly.

Here are the ranks of imperial consorts:

- Empress (皇后 Huánghoù) — Head of the Imperial Harem

- Imperial Noble Consort (皇贵妃 Huáng Guìfēi) — Rank 1

- Noble Consort, Pure Consort, Virtuous Consort, Worthy Consort (贵妃、淑妃、德妃、贤妃 Guìfēi, Shūfēi, Défēi, Xiánfēi)** — Senior Rank 1 (The Four Consorts, with Noble Consort as the highest)

- Consort (妃 Fēi) — Junior Rank 2

- Bright Deportment, Bright Countenance (昭仪、昭容 Zhāoyí, Zhāoróng) — Senior Rank 3

- Cultivated Deportment, Cultivated Countenance (修仪、修容 Xiūyí, Xiūróng) — Junior Rank 3

- Noble Lady (贵嫔 Guìpín) — Senior Rank 4

- Imperial Concubine (嫔 Pín) — Junior Rank 4

- Beauty (美人 Měirén) — Senior Rank 5

- Talented Lady (才人 Cáirén) — Junior Rank 5

- Precious Grove (宝林 Bǎolín) — Senior Rank 6

- Imperial Woman (御女 Yùnǚ) — Junior Rank 6

- Palace Maid (宫女子 Gōngnǚzǐ) — Senior Rank 7

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TRANSLATOR

I reposted chapter 17

Hi guys, i hope that you are enjoying this novel because i am, i am already in chapter 74, i had so many sleepless nights because i just wanted to know what happens next all the time😁 if you have any questions about a character or i made a mistake somewhere, please do let me know in the comment section. i currently have no editor.

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