THE IMPERIAL CONSORT'S RISE TO POWER

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Translator's note: Finally there are advance chapters availaible on Kofi

Chapter 87

Today was the fifteenth. Lu Yu arrived at Kunning Palace at the end of the You hour. The Empress had long prepared a table of food and wine waiting for him.

Lu Yu raised his eyes to glance at the wine on the table. Sitting down, he asked with concern:

"You've been unwell recently. Can you drink?"

The Empress smiled gently and warmly. With powder and rouge on her cheeks, enhanced by the flickering candlelight, she gained some beauty. One couldn't see much haggardness or illness. Seeing her like this, Lu Yu asked no more questions and shared wine and food with her.

Midway through the meal, Lu Yu heard the Empress say:

"I only learned the other day that Noble Lady Zhao's birthday is on the seventeenth of June. Last year at this time she was participating in the selection. She must have missed her coming-of-age ceremony. I was thinking, in a couple days I'd hold a grand birthday celebration for Noble Lady Zhao to make up for this regret."

Lu Yu's chopsticks paused. He'd already picked up a piece of food. After a moment, he set down the chopsticks, relaxed his back against the chair, and waited quietly for the Empress's next words.

The Empress seemed not to notice this at all. She shook her head gently, her tone unchanged:

"But Noble Lady Zhao had some reservations and declined my proposal."

Lu Yu truly didn't know about this, though he could guess why Gu Han would refuse. Any banquet inevitably meant many people with mixed motives.

But the Empress's phrase "missed her coming-of-age ceremony" Lu Yu kept in mind. After a pause, he wiped his hands and said calmly:

"I'll discuss this matter with Noble Lady Zhao."

The Empress's emotions remained smiling: "In Noble Lady Zhao's heart, others' congratulations no matter how flowery can't compare to a single word from Your Majesty."

At first hearing, this sentence seemed fine, but somehow Lu Yu felt uncomfortable. He raised his wine cup and drained it in one gulp, then glanced at the window.

The window was tightly shut.

Tonight was somewhat stifling.

The next day, as soon as Gu Han woke, she heard the Empress had canceled morning greetings.

Gu Han was completely confused. One should know, in her year since entering the palace, morning greetings at Kunning Palace basically proceeded rain or shine.

Jiu Si muttered quietly beside her: "I heard the Empress couldn't get out of bed today, so had no choice but to issue this order."

Gu Han was half-convinced. When news came at noon, Gu Han completely stopped believing this explanation.

Gu Han looked at Little Fang Zi who brought the message in shock:

"You're saying the Empress claimed illness, and His Majesty had Consort Shu assist in managing the six palaces?"

Little Fang Zi also found it unbelievable.

The Emperor had been on the throne for four years. Including from when the Empress married into the prince's residence, it had been a full thirteen years. The Empress had never delegated this power of managing the inner household and harem, and the Emperor had never even mentioned it.

This was a first in her life, the Emperor actually had Consort Shu assist the Empress in handling six palace affairs. Though the power wasn't fully transferred, it still let everyone in the harem see hope.

Gu Han was somewhat stunned: "Tell me, is the Empress truly ill or not?"

Little Fang Zi stammered, unable to answer.

Gu Han rubbed her forehead with a headache. She truly couldn't figure it out, but she felt that if the Empress were only physically unwell, the Emperor wouldn't go so far as having Consort Shu assist with the six palaces. What exactly happened yesterday?

Gu Han couldn't figure it out no matter how hard she tried. The rest of the harem was equally bewildered.

In the evening, news came from the Emperor's quarters, tonight he would stay at Yian Palace.

Gu Han felt this was expected. The Emperor had just issued an edict having Consort Shu assist with the six palaces. At this time, going to Yian Palace was more than reasonable.

After receiving the news, Changchun Hall retired early.

Tomorrow would be Gu Han's birthday. Perhaps because of the Empress's proposal that day, Gu Han felt somewhat unsettled. At night, she tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

Jiu Nian heard the sounds and lit candles. The candlelight was covered by lampshades, the hall bathed in dim light that wasn't harsh on the eyes.

"My lady can't sleep?"

Gu Han casually found an excuse: "I slept too much during the day."

Jiu Nian didn't know whether she believed it or not. She sat cross-legged on the floor mat, chattering:

"Tomorrow this servant will cook my lady a bowl of longevity noodles, though it'll have to wait until evening meal. Didn't Zhou Měirén say she would come to keep my lady company for dinner?"

Gu Han's cheek rubbed against the brocade quilt. Listening to Jiu Nian's chatter, warmth appeared in her eyes. She knew why Jiu Nian was saying all this, she was telling her that even deep in the palace, these people would always accompany her.

She was never alone.

When Gu Han closed her eyes again, drowsiness suddenly surged over her.

Far away at Yian Palace, Lu Yu was somewhat distracted. He wore loose underclothes hanging carelessly on his body. Consort Shu knelt on the bed, her gorgeous face full of allure and lingering charm.

Lu Yu didn't lift his eyes to look.

Consort Shu's gaze flickered slightly. She said as if nothing had happened: "This consort has never handled harem affairs before. I don't know if I'll make a laughingstock."

Lu Yu said indifferently:

"What you don't understand, go ask Mother Empress."

Consort Shu's smile froze. She looked up carefully at the Emperor, confirming his mind wasn't at Yian Palace at all.

Otherwise, knowing the Empress Dowager didn't like her, why would he suggest she go to the Empress Dowager for advice?

After a slight pause, Consort Shu snorted lightly, appearing quite naive and pampered: "Your Majesty is too much. Clearly lying beside me, yet your thoughts have drifted who knows where."

As soon as the words fell, she seemed genuinely curious. Her hand propped against her forehead, she reclined at Lu Yu's side and asked:

"What is Your Majesty thinking about?"

Consort Shu was born gorgeous, her figure indescribably graceful and exquisite. As she lay on her side, her body's curves were fully displayed. The silk underclothes slipped down her shoulders. This scene falling into any man's eyes would probably make him lose control.

Lu Yu remained unmoved. Perhaps because Consort Shu's usual conduct put him at ease, Lu Yu also relaxed his guard somewhat and didn't hide much:

"Tomorrow is Noble Lady Zhao's birthday."

The day the Empress proposed the banquet, Consort Shu had happened to take leave and not gone. Now hearing the Emperor say this, the charm in Consort Shu's features grew bland for a moment, but before the person before her noticed, she'd covered it well.

Consort Shu covered her lips in surprise: "So that's it. Noble Lady Zhao's first birthday since entering the palace, will Your Majesty hold a grand celebration for her?"

Lu Yu shook his head. Consort Shu was somewhat surprised, then heard the Emperor say:

"She's unwilling."

This "she"—Consort Shu naturally knew who it was. She couldn't help gripping her handkerchief tight. For a moment, she very much wanted to ask, could Your Majesty remember her birthday?

But ultimately reason overcame impulse. She raised an eyebrow lightly: "Why is that?"

Lu Yu didn't elaborate to her, saying briefly:

"As you said, this is her first birthday since entering the palace. How can I make her spend it happily?"

The curve of Consort Shu's lips flattened somewhat. After a moment, she shook her head as if nothing had happened:

"This consort also doesn't know Noble Lady Zhao's preferences. If I suggest something wrong, I'll end up being blamed by Your Majesty."

Lu Yu only nodded perfunctorily, clearly not actually planning to take her opinion.

The servants extinguished the candles. Consort Shu turned over very lightly, her back to the Emperor. In the darkness, she opened her eyes in irritation, without a trace of sleepiness. Her gaze passed through the window crack, falling on the dying moonlight outside. After a long moment, something like desolation flashed through her eyes.

Gu Han didn't know what happened at Yian Palace. She slept well all night.

Because she didn't need to go to Kunning Palace for morning greetings, she slept until the end of chen hour before someone woke her. Gu Han opened her eyes drowsily. When she saw clearly who was before her, she froze and called out groggily:

"...Your Majesty?"

She thought she wasn't fully awake yet.

Jiu Nian directly applied a cool cloth to her face. Gu Han immediately became alert with a shiver. Coming to her senses, she saw Lu Yu truly standing before her, frowning disapprovingly at Jiu Nian.

Gu Han blurted out in shock:

"Your Majesty?!"

She turned her head to look at the water clock in the hall, confirming it was still chen hour. She was somewhat confused, at this hour, shouldn't the Emperor have just dismissed morning court and be handling state affairs in the imperial study?

Lu Yu wore casual clothes, dark blue as base, dark red silk thread embroidered with patterns. It made his angular features stand out even more. He had thin lips and thick brows, seemingly gentle but actually quite cold. His spine was straight. Even just wearing casual clothes, one could see his extraordinary nobility.

Gu Han looked at his outfit with a blank face, asking in a daze:

"Is Your Majesty leaving the palace?"

Lu Yu nodded slightly. Seeing the woman still curled in the brocade quilt, he couldn't help urging: "Hurry and get ready."

Gu Han was helped up. When her bare feet touched the carpet, reason began returning. Realizing something, she suddenly opened her eyes wide:

"Your Majesty is taking me out of the palace?"

Since entering the palace, she'd never dared hope to leave.

Though if one day she received the favor, she could leave the palace to visit her family at the marquis household, at least at this stage, she didn't dare fantasize about it.

Lu Yu was frank: "Today is your birthday. You refused the Empress's proposal. I thought and thought, there's nothing good to reward you with. I might as well take you to the vacation palace."

It wasn't that he hadn't thought of taking Gu Han back to the marquis household, but with his status, going to the marquis household would only make the Marquis of Rongyang's household uncomfortable.

Moreover, court power relationships were widely entangled. Currently, he was indeed happy to lavish favor on Gu Han, but he hadn't yet wanted to give the Marquis of Rongyang's household this face.

The vacation palace wasn't as magnificent as the imperial palace, but it excelled in refinement. This trip would be like an outing, just right for her to relax.

Having the chance to leave the palace, Gu Han naturally didn't want to miss it. She glanced at the Emperor's outfit and chose a loose robe dress that wasn't very conspicuous. Though not conspicuous, anything sent to her palace, which one wasn't exquisite?

At least when she wore it, standing gracefully, she captured all the spring brilliance of the room.

A comfortable carriage left from the palace gate's side.

At Changning Courtyard, Zhou Měirén had just finished preparing to go to Changchun Hall when she saw Little Fang Zi running over hurriedly. Zhou Měirén was surprised and couldn't help misunderstanding, saying with amusement:

"Is Noble Lady Zhao so impatient? She sent you to rush me?"

Little Fang Zi smiled sheepishly: "My lady had just woken when the Emperor took her away. My lady feared Měirén would make a wasted trip and specially had this servant come tell you."

He was ultimately clever and tight-lipped, not revealing where the Emperor had taken his mistress. Zhou Měirén froze:

"Took her away?"

She scrutinized Little Fang Zi's expression but didn't continue asking. Only somewhat disappointed, she waved her hand, having Little Fang Zi leave.

When the carriage first left the imperial palace, Gu Han couldn't help lifting the embroidered curtain to look back. The towering palace gates still stood in their original place. Pedestrians watched from afar, not daring to approach.

Gu Han released the embroidered curtain and asked somewhat curiously:

"What does the Vacation Palace look like?"

Lu Yu glanced at her calmly: "When we arrive, you'll know."

Gu Han couldn't help glaring at him reproachfully.

The carriage headed toward the vacation palace and didn't pass by the Marquis of Rongyang's residence. Gu Han couldn't help feeling somewhat disappointed. She hid this emotion well. At this moment, the carriage suddenly stopped. Before Gu Han could wonder long, Liu An quickly reached into the carriage, passing in a brocade box.

Lu Yu pushed the box toward Gu Han:

"Before I ascended the throne, I loved eating their pastries most."

And Gu Han, on ordinary days what she craved most were those few plates of sweets in the palace.

Lu Yu had been watching all along. Rarely coming out, he'd long instructed Liu An to stop here.

Author's Note:

Kunning Palace: Empress

Yi'an Palace: Consort Shu

Xianleng Palace: Imperial Consort De

Zhaoyang Palace → Main Hall: Xiuyi He

Zhaoyang Palace → Side Hall: Rong Baolin

Yihe Palace → Changchun Pavilion: Female Lead

Rongcui Hall: Beauty Miao

Cuizhu Pavilion: Beauty Lin

Changning Courtyard: Zhou Meiren

Hanleng Palace → (Main Hall transferred to Side Hall): Talented Lady Yuan

Also appearing: Noble Lady Lin, Liu Baolin

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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