THE IMPERIAL CONSORT'S RISE TO POWER - CHAPTER 6

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Chapter 6

The Empress managed the inner palace. No matter how favored Pure Consort was, Lin Hai was merely a servant. With the weight of her authority bearing down upon him, he fell instantly silent..

Lin Hai glanced at the Empress, no longer daring to object, and bowed his way out of Kunning Palace.

This exchange fell into Gu Han's eyes, leaving her thoughtful.

From her elevated seat, Virtuous Consort watched the spectacle unfold. She sipped her tea unhurriedly before saying with a smile, "Pure Consort's health has always been delicate. With the imperial physicians attending her, Your Majesty needn't worry excessively. As for the sisters who just entered the palace yesterday, each one lovelier than the last. The palace hasn't seen new faces in so long. Even I, find it delightful."

With one sentence, she redirected everyone's attention in Kunning Palace back to the new consorts.

Just from the seating arrangement, Gu Han could guess the speaker's identity. The only person who could sit opposite Pure Consort was Virtuous Consort.

Unlike Pure Consort's monopoly on favor, Virtuous Consort had borne a son, her position was secure. She was among the first to serve His Majesty, and though imperial favor had long since faded, everyone in the palace treated her with respect.

His Majesty was stingy with titles. In the early years of his reign, he'd only conferred the rank of consort on two women, the Empress and Virtuous Consort. Even Pure Consort, despite her overwhelming favor, had never received such an honor.

To safely bear a child in this palace and remain in His Majesty's memory, could such a woman be simple?

As Virtuous Consort spoke, the Empress's face also brightened with a smile. She raised her eyes to look at the lower seats, her gaze landing on one person in particular. Gu Han followed her line of sight and saw Lady Miao.

She sat upright in her position, wrapped in a dark blue palace gown. Her slender neck curved slightly, yet her spine remained perfectly straight. Though her brows showed traces of fatigue, they couldn't conceal a certain allure. Seeing the Empress look her way, she rose and curtsied respectfully.

The Empress stopped her. "Rise quickly. You just served His Majesty last night. Earlier, His Majesty even sent someone to say you should rest well. Why did you still come to pay respects?"

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Lady Miao lowered her eyes slightly.

"His Majesty and Your Majesty are considerate, but this concubine cannot forget propriety."

Her emotions were subdued, without any ingratiating warmth in her smile. She remained standing before her seat, every gesture graceful. She came from the Zhang family, her grandfather had countless students under his tutelage, and even His Majesty could be called one of them. The refinement of an aristocratic household meant that even without speaking, she carried an inherent aloofness in her bones.

Virtuous Consort raised her eyebrows and casually looked away. She hadn't expected Lady Miao to have such a temperament. She raised her teacup and took a light sip, using it to hide the smile at the corner of her lips.

The Empress only looked at Lady Miao once more before allowing her to sit as usual. After bestowing the customary rewards, she showed no signs of making things difficult.

Some people couldn't help feeling somewhat disappointed.

They had rushed over so early this morning only to watch such an anticlimactic show.

The Empress delivered a few words of instruction to the new consorts, then smiled warmly:

"The palace hasn't admitted new people in quite some time. You must all serve His Majesty well and bear heirs for the imperial family soon."

Even after the morning court session ended, the Empress never mentioned Liu Ruoqian's matter. Gu Han lowered her eyelids and withdrew from Kunning Palace along with the other consorts.

Outside Kunning Palace, another drama unfolded.

Gu Han had long heard that Virtuous Consort rarely involved herself in palace conflicts, so when she saw Virtuous Consort board her palanquin and leave directly, she wasn't surprised. The high-ranking consorts departed one after another.

Only after the primary consorts had scattered did the others finally dare make a move.

Gu Han witnessed with her own eyes Noble Lady Lin about to leave when Consort Yuan swept past from behind, deliberately colliding with Noble Lady Lin's shoulder. The pain twisted Noble Lady Lin's face for a moment. She turned cold instantly:

"Consort Yuan, what's the meaning of this?"

Gu Han glanced back at Kunning Palace. They hadn't even left its grounds yet, surely these two wouldn't start quarreling right here?

Rong Ling stood beside her, shocked into pressing her handkerchief over her lips.

Gu Han frowned almost imperceptibly and caught Rong Ling's eye, discreetly moving aside with her. Even so, they still heard Consort Yuan's response.

Consort Yuan showed Noble Lady Lin absolutely no respect, even bordering on contempt. She merely glanced at Noble Lady Lin before saying with affected insincerity:

"This concubine was in a hurry to return to her palace and accidentally bumped into Noble Lady Lin. Noble Lady Lin won't blame this concubine, will she?"

Noble Lady Lin's eyes went cold.

But Consort Yuan wasn't intimidated at all, looking back mockingly. Noble Lady Lin had long fallen from favor, if not for Pure Consort's backing, how could she have any room to be smug in this palace?

What infuriated Consort Yuan was that the new consorts had barely entered, yet Noble Lady Lin had already embarrassed her right there in Kunning Palace.

The quarrel between the two made all the consorts preparing to leave stop in their tracks. Only a few who wanted to avoid trouble hurried away. Gu Han did the same, her temples throbbing as she walked.

Noble Lady Lin outranked Consort Yuan by one level. Yet Consort Yuan, relying on enjoying slightly more favor than Noble Lady Lin, didn't regard her in the slightest.

This showed just how important His Majesty's favor truly was in the inner palace.

Only after they had left the sounds of quarreling far behind did Gu Han gradually slow her pace. Rong Ling followed close at her heels, though with some regret:

"Sister Gu, why did we leave so quickly?"

She had wanted to watch the show, but she thought Gu Han was cleverer than her, so when Gu Han left, she had followed without thinking.

Gu Han glanced at Rong Ling. Their relationship couldn't be called particularly close.

It was merely an acquaintance formed during their time at Chuxiu Palace. But Rong Ling was unguarded around her, during their time at Chuxiu Palace, she had shared countless pieces of information. Perhaps because of this, even after entering the palace, Rong Ling still had some trust in her.

Gu Han lowered her eyes, concealing the emotion that flashed through them, and said softly:

"Others' disputes aren't worth getting involved in. If word reached His Majesty or Her Majesty's ears and we gained a bad impression, that would truly be a loss."

The hour of the dragon hadn't yet passed. The scenery in the Imperial Garden was exquisite, hundreds of flowers in full bloom, the peonies particularly brilliant. Jiu Nian stood at her side, fanning Gu Han with a round fan. The two of them were in no hurry to return to their palace, so they strolled leisurely and chatted.

Gu Han asked, "Which palace are you residing in?"

At this question, Rong Ling's mood dampened. She pursed her lips, revealing some emotion before Gu Han:

"Chaoyang Palace."

Little Fang had told Gu Han about the palace situations yesterday. After thinking carefully, she recalled that Chaoyang Palace housed a Lady He of the Cultivated Deportment rank. Earlier at Kunning Palace, she hadn't noticed this Lady He speaking.

Upon learning Chaoyang Palace had a primary consort, Gu Han was somewhat puzzled:

"Then why didn't you go pay respects together with Lady He today?"

Normally, when several consorts shared a palace, they would come and go together with the primary consort. In other words, while the Empress managed the entire inner palace, Chaoyang Palace would be under Lady He's authority.

Rong Ling also shook her head in confusion. "When I went to pay respects to Lady He this morning, I was told she had already left for Kunning Palace."

Gu Han was momentarily at a loss for words.

She rubbed her temples, unable to understand what Lady He was thinking. Rong Ling should have first paid respects to Lady He, then accompanied her to Kunning Palace, that was proper etiquette. But Lady He hadn't waited for Rong Ling at all.

Did she simply not want to acknowledge her?

Gu Han glanced at Rong Ling, only hoping this Lady He wasn't the type to torment people.

Rong Ling looked somewhat envious. "I heard Sister Gu is staying at Yihe Palace, where there's no primary consort."

This envy wasn't just for the present. If Gu Han gained favor in the future and was promoted to the third rank, she could directly become a palace's primary consort. Since Yihe Palace had no primary consort, she wouldn't even need to move between palaces.

Gu Han didn't know how to respond to this. Just then, the sound of three claps echoed from the distance.

Gu Han and Rong Ling's eyes met, both filled with surprise. Without a word, they quickly stepped back and lowered themselves in a curtsy.

After only a brief moment, Gu Han heard measured footsteps approaching. A shadow fell over her. Her heartbeat quickened bit by bit. She knew who was passing by, and she knew that her future prosperity, peace, and happiness all depended on this one person.

But Gu Han only kept her eyelids lowered, making not the slightest move to attract his attention.

After handling state affairs today, Lu Yu had been seized by a whim and brought his attendants into the inner palace. From a distance, he'd noticed two beauties standing by the pavilion. The woman on the right wore rouge-colored palace robes. Though she didn't outshine the surrounding profusion of flowers, those blossoms seemed to serve merely as her backdrop.

Like a spring brook flowing through the forest, gentle and clear, without the slightest aggression, yet inexplicably drawing attention.

Hearing the clap signal, she didn't look around curiously but immediately lowered herself in a bow. Even when Lu Yu walked right up to her, she didn't tentatively raise her head. Lu Yu lifted his eyelids, thinking casually,

Was this following the rules, or being too rigid?

The shadow lingered before her too long. Gu Han couldn't help nervously gripping her embroidered handkerchief, a small gesture she thought subtle, but it fell entirely within the man's notice. Lu Yu suddenly felt intrigued. He extended his hand:

"What's your name?"

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Author's Note: Liu Ruoqian: Really following the rules (smile)

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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