THE IMPERIAL CONSORT'S RISE TO POWER

———
~ Please support this site by disabling your ad-blocker ❤️ ~
______
Translator's note: Finally there are advance chapters availaible on Kofi

Translator's note: I would like to give a big shoutout to Stephnora and Anxiousempathx for supporting me. you made me so happy guys. A big thank you to all my dear readers who stayed even with the caotic posting schedule. you all have my heart.

Chapter 130: Borrowing Flowers to Offer to Buddha
Perhaps because everyone knew the Emperor was in a foul mood, no one dared to stir up trouble during the mourning period. It took seven full days before the Empress was finally buried in the Imperial Tombs.
What was startling was that as soon as the Empress was interred, an Imperial Edict was issued from Cining Palace. Zhao Xiu-rong was promoted to the rank of Consort (Fei). In less than fifteen minutes, the news had spread throughout the entire palace.
In Yi’an Palace, a set of teacups accidentally crashed to the floor. Consort Shu lowered her eyes and stared at the ground without any visible emotion, while Ya Luo, trembling with fear, ordered the palace servants to clear away the shards.
Ya Luo knew what her mistress was thinking, and because of that, she didn't know what to say. After a long while, she uttered words that even she herself didn't believe:
"This Consort rank was granted by the Empress Dowager's edict; in the end, it cannot compare to Your Ladyship’s."
Consort Shu said expressionlessly, "If the Emperor hadn't nodded his head, the Empress Dowager would not have interfered in the affairs of the harem at all."
She knew all too well what kind of person the Dowager was. The Dowager clearly disliked her, but even so, the Dowager had never done anything to her, she had even allowed her to manage the harem after the Empress claimed illness.
That was a woman who believed that children and grandchildren have their own luck and didn't want to involve herself in anything. How could she, for no reason, promote Zhao Xiūróng to the rank of Consort?!
It was precisely because she saw everything so clearly that Consort Shu felt a wave of coldness in her heart. It was as if a hole had been torn in a window during the dead of winter, allowing the freezing wind to howl inside, freezing her until her whole body was stiff. A single tear fell without warning.
"Is he really in such a hurry?"
Ya Luo’s breathing suddenly tightened.
She knew very well how her mistress’s position had been obtained; to put it bluntly, it was merely a transaction made with the Emperor. She was a pawn used to restrain the Empress. Now that the Empress was gone, what use was this pawn anymore?
Consort Shu remembered again the moment in Kunning Palace when the Emperor had suspected her. She smiled mockingly at herself:

"The Emperor clearly knows that this Consort is the person least likely to murder the Empress, yet when Noble Lady Lin slandered me, his first instinct was still to doubt me."
Ya Luo could only try to soothe her: "Your Ladyship has been in the Prince’s estate for eight years now. Even if it is only for the sake of these eight years of sentiment, the Emperor will not mistreat you."
"The 'not mistreating' you speak of is him being so impatient that he promotes Zhao Xiūróng the moment the Empress is buried, letting her take the power from my hands?" Consort Shu looked coldly at Ya Luo, the sharpness in her words unclear whether it was aimed at Ya Luo or at herself.
The fall of the Empress meant the harem was without a leader. The power to govern the Six Palaces was currently entirely in her hands. For the Emperor to promote Gu Han at this time, his intentions were as clear as day.
He had never intended to hand over the authority of the Six Palaces to her; it could even be said that he was fundamentally guarding against her!
Now that there was someone in the harem whom the Emperor wanted to protect, he was worried that once she held power for a long time, it would be disadvantageous to the person he wanted to shield.
Therefore, the Emperor was going to cut off that possibility from the very beginning!
Her finger guards dug into her palms; the pain brought clarity. Consort Shu asked Ya Luo calmly:
"In what way am I inferior to her?"
Ya Luo lowered her head and did not speak. Thus, she did not see the flash of obsession that crossed her mistress’s eyes.
---
At that time, Gu Han and Zhou Bin were both in Yihe Palace. As soon as the palace servants who delivered the edict left, Zhou Bin complained:
"It’s one thing for my Aunt not to tell me about Ling Zhāoróng’s affair, but how could she not even reveal a whisper of a hint about your promotion to Consort?"
Yihe Palace was brimming with joy. Gu Han was also staring blankly at the Imperial Edict. Hearing this, she couldn't help but peek at Zhou Bin: "The Empress Dowager clearly knows you are close to me. If you knew, wouldn't it be the same as me knowing?"
Zhou Bin curled her lip, finally accepting the explanation. she raised an eyebrow slightly:
"Although the Four Consorts are one grade higher than ordinary Consort ranks, you have a formal title. That makes you only half a level lower than Consort Shu. With such imperial favor, what is the new Consort Zhao thinking in her heart right now?"
Gu Han was teased for no reason and made a move to hit her. Zhou Bin laughed and dodged. After playing around for a bit, the two looked at each other, and the smiles on their faces gradually faded. Gu Han gently squeezed the little Princess's hand and lowered her eyes.
Zhou Bin practically loved the little Princess as her own. Seeing this, she slapped Gu Han’s hand away and said distressedly:
"Her bones haven't even fully formed yet, why are you squeezing her?"
Gu Han’s thin eyebrows couldn't help but knit slightly. Zhou Bin took a look and comforted her with a lack of confidence: "Don't think too much. My cousin dotes on you; the little Princess’s placement might not necessarily fall to you."
Zhou Bin was advising her, but in her heart, she was also a bit uncertain. The timing of her cousin's promotion of Gu Han was indeed a bit sensitive.
During the mourning period, Gu Han had not seen the Emperor, so she had no way of knowing his thoughts.
The next day, an Imperial Edict came from the Emperor's presence: Consort Zhao was to manage the affairs of the Six Palaces on his behalf. As soon as this news came out, the entire palace was in an uproar.
The focus of the consorts was not that Consort Zhao had gained power, but that Consort Zhao had bypassed Consort Shu to obtain the authority to manage the Six Palaces. This proved one thing: the stage where Consort Shu’s favor reigned supreme over the harem had passed.
Even if Consort Zhao’s rank was still slightly lower than Consort Shu’s, in the Emperor's heart, Consort Zhao was the one who came first.
For a time, the number of people going to Yihe Palace to offer congratulations was countless. Not just the consorts, but the managers of the Imperial Kitchen, the Embroidery Bureau, the Internal Affairs Department, and all the various courtyards came to Yihe Palace to pay their respects to Gu Han, ultimately leaving behind piles of case files.
This event seemed to erase the sorrow brought by the Empress's death; the harem quickly returned to its usual bustling state.
Gu Han flipped through these case files. She had learned how to manage affairs from her mother at home, but comparing the management of a single household's backyard to the entire harem was like comparing a small witch to a great wizard. For a moment, Gu Han was quite at a loss.
Xiao Fang-zi rubbed his hands happily in the hall:
"Congratulations to Your Ladyship! Now, who doesn't know that Your Ladyship is this in the palace!"
He pointed his thumb upward. Gu Han only felt a headache. She cooled her gaze and said with lowered eyes: "Make sure the people in this palace watch their behavior when they go out. If any of them act recklessly, don't blame this Consort for being impolite!"
Xiao Fang-zi bowed solemnly:
"I know the importance of this; I will certainly not let them cause trouble for Your Ladyship!"
Gu Han had always been at ease with how Xiao Fang-zi handled things. The scrolls sent from each palace had been sorted, and the people below had already done the exhausting work; Gu Han only needed to look them over.
Gu Han picked up a scroll and after flipping through a few pages, her eyes suddenly flashed. She put down the scroll and ordered:
"Prepare the procession."
Jiu Nian looked up and asked blankly: "Where is Your Ladyship going?"
Gu Han did not answer. Today she wore a rouge-colored cloud-woven brocade palace dress, which made her skin look fair and her face like a blossoming peach. A touch of happy spring color was in her eyes, and her waist was particularly slender, making her figure look exquisite and exceptionally beautiful. She adjusted her collar in front of the bronze mirror before being supported out by Jiu Nian.
After she sat on the palanquin, she asked:
"Where is the Emperor?"
Xiao Fang-zi followed at her side and hurriedly said: "The Emperor has been busy these few days; if he’s not in the Imperial Study, he’s in Yangxin Hall."
Gu Han understood. During the previous period of the Empress's mourning, many government affairs must have accumulated at the front for the Emperor to handle.
The procession went directly to Yangxin Hall. Sure enough, she saw Liu An on the veranda in front of the hall. Knowing she hadn't found the wrong place, Gu Han stepped off the palanquin and interrupted Liu An’s salute:
"There is no need for such formalities, Eunuch."
After a pause, Gu Han glanced into the hall and then covered her lips to ask: "Does the Emperor have time to see me now?"
Liu An didn't dare guarantee anything; he respectfully invited her onto the veranda to avoid her being sunburnt before entering the hall to report. However, the result was no different; Liu An came out quickly:
"Your Ladyship has come at a perfect time; the Emperor invites you in."
Gu Han had already noticed the food box on the veranda that had not been taken away yet. She raised an eyebrow and asked naturally: "Did someone come just now?"
Liu An followed her gaze. When he saw that food box, he cursed the servants below for not knowing how to work and said sheepishly:
"It was sent by Noble Lady Yao from Yi’an Palace."
Now, Liu An did not dare to be even slightly negligent toward Gu Han.
Noble Lady Yao had perhaps been frightened that day and didn't dare show her face to the Emperor, so she sent a servant with food. It had been two consecutive days now, but this food box couldn't even enter Yangxin Hall; the food inside eventually ended up in the stomachs of servants like them.
The moment Her Ladyship arrived today—when he had just gone in to report—the Emperor had frowned, feeling disturbed. But after hearing it was Consort Zhao, his expression relaxed, and he told him to invite her in.
With such obvious differential treatment, as long as Liu An wasn't blind, he wouldn't neglect Consort Zhao in the slightest.
Inside Yangxin Hall, Lu Yu was truly busy. Several days of government affairs had piled up, leaving him so busy he didn't even have time to eat. But when he heard the hall door being pushed open, Lu Yu still put down his pen.
Seeing Gu Han coming in with a food box, Lu Yu couldn't help but raise an eyebrow:
"You are quite the timely rain; how did you know I happened to be hungry?"
Gu Han gracefully stepped up the stairs and placed the food box on the imperial desk. Hearing this, she shook her head: "The timely rain is not this concubine."
Lu Yu looked at her, not understanding. Gu Han gave a light huff before saying:
"This is the food box left by Noble Lady Yao."
Lu Yu’s brow furrowed. Gu Han acted as if she didn't see it and continued: "Eunuch Liu told me that the Emperor hasn't eaten all day. I thought that if I had the Imperial Kitchen prepare food now, I wouldn't know how long we would have to wait, so I brought this food box in."
Having said that, Gu Han shot him a sidelong glance: "The Emperor is truly lucky."
Lu Yu felt uncomfortable being spoken to like this and couldn't help but defend himself:
"What do you mean I have good luck?"
"With so many sisters in the harem worrying about the Emperor, racing each other to send you soup and pastries—is this not good luck?" Gu Han’s almond eyes widened as she teased him. In the time it took to exchange those few playful words, she had already laid out the contents of the food box.
Noble Lady Yao indeed had a clever mind. There was no elaborately brewed soup in the food box; instead, there was a jar of sour plum soup. Since it was now early summer, the Emperor, after a busy day, would feel comfortable all over after drinking a bowl of sour plum soup in his irritability.
It was accompanied by several plates of exquisite pastries; worried that the Emperor wouldn't have time for a meal, they were perfect for staving off hunger. It could be said that she had considered every aspect thoroughly.
Gu Han took the easy way out by using the food box Noble Lady Yao had prepared, but Lu Yu felt uncomfortable using something sent by someone else in front of her. He didn't even look at the pastries and said directly:
"I’m not hungry. Lingcheng sent several crates of cherries; I remember you like them. I’ll have Liu An send them to your palace later."
Gu Han accepted with a beaming face and conveniently served him a bowl of sour plum soup. Seeing that her hands didn't stop moving, Lu Yu touched his forehead:
"You came to imperial study; is there something you want from me?"
Gu Han paused for a moment before looking up as if nothing were wrong, her almond eyes falling on him with captivating grace: "The Emperor promoted my rank; I wanted to come and thank the Emperor personally."
The awkwardness Lu Yu felt vanished instantly, and he said coolly:
"Your way of thanking me is to directly borrow flowers to offer to Buddha?”

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

Read only on https://royaltywrites.com.ng/

TRANSLATOR

please vote on novel updates

Hi guys, please if you have any questions about a character or i made a mistake somewhere, please do not hesitate to let me know in the comment section. i currently have no editor.