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Chapter 5
The next morning, before the hour of the dragon had even arrived, Gu Han was roused from sleep.
Newly selected consorts had to pay their respects to the Empress at Kunning Palace today, an important matter that couldn't be delayed even a moment. Everyone at Changchun Pavilion rushed about frantically.
Gu Han sat drowsily before the bronze mirror, her fingertips gently pressing her temples.
Yesterday had been her first day in the palace. Arriving at an unfamiliar place, even someone as composed as Gu Han had tossed and turned until nearly midnight before falling asleep. Being woken so early now, she inevitably felt groggy.
Little Fang looked troubled, but Jiu Nian frowned and, instead of using the hot water the palace maids had brought, dampened a silk cloth with cold water and wiped Gu Han's face. Gu Han gasped, her mind instantly clearing.
She shot Jiu Nian a reproachful look and complained softly, "You don't pity me even a little."
Jiu Nian gazed back with slight accusation in her eyes. If she didn't care for her mistress, why would she think of her welfare at every turn?
Changchun Pavilion was neither far from nor close to Kunning Palace, a quarter hour's walk through the Imperial Garden. The newly selected consorts had all met during the selection period. Along the way, Gu Han encountered many familiar faces.
The new consorts were clearly distinguishable from those who had followed His Majesty from his old residence. Even from a distance, without seeing their faces, one could identify the newcomers.
Just observe whether someone walked with a hint of constraint, that was usually enough to tell.
As they neared Kunning Palace, someone hurried up from behind and bumped Gu Han's wrist. Startled, she turned to see who it was, then relaxed with relief. "Why are you trying to frighten me?"
Rong Ling also realized her behavior had been improper. Looking somewhat apologetic, she said in a low voice, "Sister Gu, I heard something yesterday."
Her expression seemed off, conflicted, yet unable to suppress the urge to speak now that she had seen a familiar face. Gu Han sighed inwardly at her temperament. Though she had only just entered the palace, even Gu Han knew that cautious words and careful conduct were the way to survive in the inner palace.
Gu Han glanced at Kunning Palace in the near distance, finally slowing her pace slightly. "Don't rush. Wipe the sweat from your forehead, we're about to see Her Majesty. We mustn't be discourteous."
She didn't ask Rong Ling what the matter was. After half a month living together day and night, she knew very well that Rong Ling wouldn't be able to help blurting it out without being asked.
As she spoke, Gu Han took a handkerchief from Jiu Nian and passed it over. The incident with Liu Ruoqian had taught her a lesson, she would never casually give her personal belongings to others again.
Rong Ling didn't notice these details. Reminded by Gu Han, she realized she couldn't enter Kunning Palace dripping with sweat. She quickly took the handkerchief to wipe herself, gave Gu Han a grateful smile, then said quietly:
"I heard that after the selection ended, Lady Liu went missing!"
The moment the words left her mouth, Gu Han's eyelid twitched violently. But she only showed an appropriate measure of astonishment and shock. After a moment, she said, "Which Lady Liu?"
Liu was a common surname, there had been three among the candidates this time. So Gu Han's question was perfectly reasonable.
"The Vice Minister of Revenue's legitimate daughter, the one who lived next to us at Chuxiu Palace. Liu Ruoqian."
Afraid Gu Han wouldn't remember, Rong Ling provided every clue she could think of. Gu Han immediately knitted her delicate brows. "How could a perfectly fine person just disappear?"
Rong Ling was about to say something when she noticed Kunning Palace looming before them. She quickly fell silent, only managing to add:
"I heard His Majesty ordered Her Majesty to thoroughly investigate. I'm just afraid Her Majesty will suspect us consorts who entered the palace at the same time."
After all, when it came to contact, they, the ladies from the same selection,had interacted with Liu Ruoqian the most.
Gu Han's heart thundered, almost deafeningly loud. She nearly wrinkled the handkerchief in her sleeve beyond recognition. But outwardly, she only frowned briefly and said with complete candor, showing not a trace of guilt:
"It has nothing to do with us. Why panic?"
Rong Ling glanced at her, envying such steady composure when she herself could never manage it.
But Rong Ling didn't know that until the very moment of stepping into Kunning Palace, Gu Han's heart had been racing uncontrollably. Ice had been placed in Kunning Palace, a wave of coolness washed over her, clearing her mind considerably.
Setting aside the fact that she'd had little interaction with Liu Ruoqian at Chuxiu Palace, making a living person disappear in the inner palace, was that something they could accomplish so easily?
If she were the Empress, even if she suspected this batch of candidates, she wouldn't believe they had such audacity or capability.
Gu Han's brow smoothed. A palace attendant led her to her seat. Rong Ling, appointed as Precious Grove this time, sat just below Gu Han's position. Few people were in Kunning Palace yet, mostly newly entered consorts. The two women exchanged glances and fell silent in unspoken agreement.
When the empty seats were mostly filled, movement finally came from the inner chamber. Gu Han immediately stood and curtsied along with all the other consorts. During this time, she discreetly raised her eyes to look at the Empress.
She had seen the Empress during the palace selection, but hadn't dared look closely then. The Empress had sat high above, and Gu Han hadn't been able to see her clearly.
Speaking of beauty, the inner palace was full of beautiful women, the Empress truly couldn't be called outstanding among them. But Her Majesty could absolutely be called dignified and noble. That was the majesty bestowed by years of high position, a refinement bred into her very bones.
She commanded awe without even trying.
Gu Han lowered her eyelids appropriately.
Jiu Nian helped her return to her seat. Gu Han glanced at the only empty seat in Kunning Palace. She wasn't alone, many had noticed it. When the Empress saw that vacant seat, she'd also paused noticeably, the smile on her face dimming somewhat.
The only person in the entire inner palace who dared arrive late to pay respects, well there was only one candidate.
For a moment, Kunning Palace was quiet. Then someone spoke, her tone impossible to read as either mocking or bitter: "Yesterday wasn't even Pure Consort sister's night serving His Majesty. How is it that she still overslept today?"
Gu Han couldn't help but look toward the speaker. To dare stick her head out at this moment, even directing her barbs straight at Pure Consort, that took some confidence. When she saw clearly, the woman wore luxurious robes and gold hairpins, her beauty striking and ostentatious. Overly obvious emotions made her seem somewhat improper.
Such a temperament gave Gu Han some guesses about the woman's identity.
The moment the woman finished speaking, someone across from her chuckled and picked up the thread: "Pure Consort was unwell yesterday. Sleeping late today can certainly be understood. Consort Yuan shows such concern for Pure Consort, if Her Majesty knew, she would surely be comforted."
Consort Yuan's expression immediately changed.
She had only dared be so presumptuous toward Pure Consort precisely because Pure Consort wasn't here.
Consort Yuan quickly frowned and looked away guiltily. "Noble Lady Lin only remembers that Pure Consort is unwell, but forgets that the hour for paying respects has passed by a quarter. Arriving late to pay respects is disrespectful to the Empress."
Consort Yuan didn't dare confront Pure Consort directly, but she had been favored recently, while this Noble Lady Lin had long since fallen from grace. That she dared come out and mock her at this moment, Consort Yuan couldn't swallow such an insult now, so she snapped back.
Though she still remembered to drape herself in the Empress's authority as cover.
The Empress glanced at Noble Lady Lin. Noble Lady Lin was twisting her fingers, about to say something, when suddenly a palace attendant entered and whispered something in the Empress's ear. The Empress frowned delicately before saying mildly:
"Let him enter."
Soon, the curtain to Kunning Palace parted and a eunuch entered. He knelt and bowed, neither servile nor overbearing:
"Her Majesty was unwell yesterday. The imperial physician said she must rest more. This morning when Her Majesty tried to rise to pay respects to the Empress, she nearly collapsed. Her Majesty had no choice but to send this servant quickly to request leave. We beg the Empress's understanding."
That eunuch's word "understanding" made even Gu Han raise her eyebrows slightly. When a consort was unwell, how could the Empress, as mistress of the inner palace, not show understanding?
To refuse would be to earn a reputation for pettiness.
And this particular consort was especially favored by His Majesty.
That a mere servant from Yian Palace treated the Empress with such faint disrespect spoke volumes about his mistress's usual conduct.
Gu Han glanced at the Empress, curious to see what she would do.
Today was the new consorts' first day paying respects. Pure Consort's prolonged absence, even requesting leave outright, was clearly meant as a challenge to the Empress. If Her Majesty did nothing, it would inevitably diminish her in the new consorts' eyes.
The Empress's expression didn't change at all, her tone remaining gentle with only a trace of concern:
"If Pure Consort is unwell, she must certainly recuperate properly. Have the Office of Palace Attendance remove Pure Consort's tablet. When Pure Consort has fully recovered, it can be replaced."
The eunuch's face immediately changed. "Your Majesty, the imperial physician said Her Majesty only needs to rest briefly—there's no need to remove her green tablet."
The Empress raised her eyes, her expression cooling slightly:
"His Majesty's imperial body is precious. If your mistress's illness were to spread to him, could you bear the responsibility?”
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Author's Note:
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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