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Chapter 4
In the eastern section of the imperial palace, at Kunning Palace.
The Empress flipped absently through the roster of newly selected ladies, her gaze lingering for a moment on the first few names before she set it aside. She propped her head up lazily. "Have all the new consorts entered the palace?"
Muqiu stood respectfully at her side. "The attendants at the palace gates sent word, everyone has been settled."
The moment the words left her mouth, Muqiu hesitated. The Empress caught it and knew exactly what she was uncertain about. She pressed her temples irritably. "Still no sign of Lady Liu?"
This was the first major selection since His Majesty's ascension, entrusted entirely to the Empress's management.
And after it concluded, she had been left with this humiliating mess.
The Vice Minister of Revenue's legitimate daughter, Lady Liu—a living, breathing person, had vanished during the selection process!
Three days ago, when the selection ended, all chosen ladies had been sent home. The Empress had thought the matter concluded. Who could have imagined that the next morning at court, after the assembly dispersed, the Vice Minister of Revenue would approach His Majesty in trepidation:
"Has my humble daughter committed some offense during the selection? Why has she not returned home?"
When news reached the Empress, she had immediately sent people to question the governess from the selection. But everyone insisted all the ladies had been sent out of the palace.
For three days now, the entire palace had been searched top to bottom. Still no trace of Liu Ruoqian.
Only after the Empress questioned them more carefully did she learn that indeed, no palace maid had escorted Liu Ruoqian out.
The woman had truly vanished within the palace walls.
The Empress rubbed her aching temples. That day when His Majesty had questioned her, his expression had been cold, clearly displeased with her negligence. The Empress felt utterly wronged, unable to voice her grievances.
What did one missing lady-in-waiting have to do with her?
But it just so happened that she'd been overseeing the selection. If something went wrong with a candidate, the fault was hers.
His Majesty wouldn't care about a lady who hadn't even officially entered the palace, but once word of this spread, it would damage the imperial family's reputation. They had no choice but to take it seriously.
The Empress was removing her finger guards when Muqiu finally said hesitantly, "The lady at Yian Palace didn't come to pay respects today. I heard she's feeling unwell, she summoned the imperial physician at the hour of the dragon. Just now, servants from Yian Palace went to the Imperial Study."
The Empress's movements paused. After a moment, she continued nonchalantly. "His Majesty is in foul spirits and hasn't entered the inner palace for three days. If she can summon him over, that's her own skill."
Muqiu immediately fell silent.
Yian Palace housed Pure Consort. She'd enjoyed His Majesty's favor since their days at the old residence, and she'd monopolized his attention countless times.
His Majesty indulged her temperamental nature, nine times out of ten, he yielded to Pure Consort's whims.
It was nearly mid-July now, the weather sweltering. Aside from Yian Palace, which consort would be foolish enough to summon His Majesty at high noon?
Only Yian Palace dared act so presumptuously.
Muqiu stole a glance at her mistress. The Empress kept her eyes lowered, her thoughts unreadable, but she'd been fiddling with that finger guard for quite some time, her emotions had already slipped through. Muqiu couldn't help herself:
"In His Majesty's heart, Your Majesty is supreme. It's only because Your Majesty is virtuous and never troubles His Majesty over trifles that others have room to preen."
The Empress shot her a sidelong glance, her features relaxing into a slight smile. "Look at you. This little thing isn't worth my concern."
She paused. "However, today is the day new consorts enter the palace. I recall this selection produced quite a few eye-catching beauties. I wonder if His Majesty will go see his ailing Pure Consort, or visit these newly arrived sisters instead."
The Empress delivered this speech at a measured pace, her tone growing increasingly mocking toward the end.
How absurd, really.
Competing for favor against the newly selected consorts.
Then again, Pure Consort had been in the palace nearly five years. No matter how beautiful her face was, His Majesty must be tired of it by now. With fresh faces arriving, even if the Emperor just wanted a taste of novelty, he'd likely favor them for some time.
Certain people must be getting anxious.
Muqiu caught her mistress's implication and smiled knowingly. "A wild chicken wearing peacock feathers is still just a chicken. Just like some people, no amount of fine clothes can hide common origins."
Not just Kunning Palace was waiting to see His Majesty's decision. The entire inner palace was watching.
By evening, at Changchun Pavilion.
Today was an important day. Though everyone at Changchun Pavilion knew His Majesty probably wouldn't summon its mistress to his bed, they'd prepared everything anyway, waiting anxiously for news.
Gu Han had just finished bathing. Jiu Si stood behind her, carefully drying her hair with a silk cloth.
Inside the chamber, besides Jiu Si and Jiu Nian, stood two palace maids. A Talented Lady's rank entitled her to two personal maids brought from home, plus six palace servants, two maids and four eunuchs.
The eunuchs usually served outside the hall, the two palace maids could attend the outer chambers. In these inner quarters, the only ones Gu Han truly trusted were still Jiu Si and Jiu Nian.
Changchun Pavilion had previously been managed by a eunuch called Fang Yun. Gu Han had just entered the palace and didn't yet understand the situation, the servant seemed competent enough, so she'd let him continue.
Little Fang stood in the inner chamber now, outwardly calm but unable to stop his eyes from drifting toward the entrance.
Gu Han caught his reflection in the bronze mirror. She didn't think him unstable, every servant in the palace hoped for their master to win favor.
Little Fang stepped out briefly. When he returned, his expression had changed so obviously that Gu Han couldn't pretend not to notice. She raised her eyes slightly.
"What's happened?"
Meeting Talented Lady's gaze, Little Fang's anxiety eased somewhat. He lowered his voice. "In answer to my lady, this servant just heard that servants from Yian Palace went to the outer court earlier."
Gu Han's expression shifted almost imperceptibly. Her fingers tightened around the wooden comb.
Little Fang had been watching her. Seeing her emotional reaction actually put him at ease.
A servant's life was hard, especially in the inner palace. If you served a good master, you had some hope. But if you got stuck with a foolish, brainless one, you never knew when you'd be dragged down to your death.
Fortunately, his mistress seemed clearheaded.
After a long moment, Gu Han rubbed her temples with troubled emotions. She exhaled deeply and lowered her eyelids. "We wait, then."
She could only hope His Majesty wouldn't come to Changchun Pavilion.
Gu Han and Little Fang exchanged glances, both understanding the other's thoughts.
Everyone knew which lady resided at Yian Palace. Pure Consort had enjoyed favor for years, even the Empress sometimes avoided confronting her. If she had summoned His Majesty today and he went to Yian Palace, that would be fine. Pure Consort and the new consorts would coexist peacefully.
But if His Majesty didn't go to Yian Palace and instead visited one of the newly entered consorts...
The humiliated Pure Consort wouldn't blame His Majesty. The one bearing her fury would be that new consort.
When word came that lamps had been lit at Rongcui Hall, Gu Han immediately looked to Little Fang.
It wasn't that Gu Han particularly trusted Little Fang, but Jiu Si and Jiu Nian had only just entered the palace with her, they probably knew even less about palace affairs than she did. Little Fang, being clever, immediately said in a low voice:
"Rongcui Hall houses Lady Miao."
Lady Miao was the only consort from this selection to receive an honorific title, surpassing both the Empress Dowager's niece and the Empress's own sister to become the highest-ranked consort of this selection.
Gu Han naturally knew of her.
The legitimate granddaughter of the current Grand Tutor. The Grand Tutor had been His Majesty's teacher before his ascension, with that connection, being appointed as a Beauty wasn't surprising. As for the honorific title, Gu Han had her suspicions.
During the palace selection, Lady Miao's talent performance had been singing while playing an instrument. Gu Han had to admit, the lingering melody had been exquisite.
No wonder His Majesty remembered her and specifically bestowed an honorific.
Still, summoning Lady Miao to his bed at this particular moment would only make her a target for everyone's resentment.
Gu Han's delicate brows knitted together imperceptibly. His Majesty's behavior truly puzzled her. She couldn't fathom his intentions. If he had no deeper meaning, it could only mean their Emperor was a man who followed his whims.
In other words, he didn't care much about others' feelings.
Little Fang carefully observed his mistress. Seeing that her mood hadn't soured, he breathed easier.
"The evening meal was delivered long ago. Perhaps my lady should eat first."
Since His Majesty wasn't coming, there was no need to wait.
Gu Han smiled faintly in agreement. She glanced through the latticed window, then let herself be helped to her feet without hurry.
Less than a day in the inner palace, and already she had witnessed such drama. If His Majesty's temperament was truly as she suspected, palace life from now on would certainly be interesting.
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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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