THE IMPERIAL CONSORT'S RISE TO POWER

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

Translator's note: I would like to give a big shoutout and thank you to Everyone who stayed till the very end. A big thank you to all my dear readers who stayed even with the chaotic posting schedule. you all have my heart. These are the last few chapters please drop your comments and what you think i should do better or any novel you want me to translate or post more chapters on.

Chapter 154

Gu Han chose to leave before Lu Yu emerged—not because she was afraid of being caught eavesdropping, but because she simply didn't know how to face him. Upon hearing the movement of someone exiting the hall, her subconscious reaction was to slip away quietly.

Suddenly, a leisurely voice called out from behind:

"Noble Consort."

Gu Han’s body stiffened. She didn't turn around; instead, she ordered Xiao Fangzi to raise the sedan immediately. Cold sweat was nearly dripping down Xiao Fangzi’s brow, but under his mistress's urgent prodding, he closed his eyes and actually ordered the bearers to carry the sedan away.

Liu An stood there, mouth agape.

Lu Yu’s eyebrows twitched slightly; he was almost laughed to the point of anger by Gu Han's behavior.

Coming back to his senses, Liu An hurriedly asked, "Your Majesty, shall we head to Yihe Palace?"

Xiao Wenzi and the other personal attendants had already brought the imperial carriage and were waiting to the side.

Lu Yu looked back at the plaque of Yian Palace, his eyes filled with unreadable emotions. After a moment, he shook his head:

"Back to the Imperial Study."

Inside Yian Palace, Yao Xiūróng learned that the Emperor had departed. Her eyes darted around, and she suddenly summoned a servant before standing up to leave. Looking at the direction she was heading, she was actually going toward the side hall.

Yao Xiūróng whispered to her servant:

"What do you think Concubine Wei and the Emperor talked about?"

The servant didn't know and didn't dare to guess wildly.

As Yao Xiūróng approached the side hall, she found it exceptionally quiet, as if not a single servant was attending it. The hall door wasn't tightly shut; she leaned in to take a peek, but the very next moment, she let out a sharp cry and stumbled backward.

The door had been accidentally pushed open by her, and the servants finally saw the scene inside, Concubine Wei was hanging from a beam by a length of white silk, her body dangling straight down, her face a terrifying shade of blue and purple.

The servants were also startled. Yao Xiūróng hated her own curious nature to death; she and her maid practically had to lean on each other for support as they scrambled back to their own quarters.

These are the last few chapters please drop your comments and what you think i should do better or any novel you want me to translate or post more chapters on.

Gu Han received the news at noon.

Hearing that Yao Xiūróng had been so frightened she had called for a physician, Gu Han furrowed her brow:

"Knowing that Concubine Wei was to be executed today, what business did she have joining the commotion?"

Jiu nian served a cup of tea and said slowly, "Perhaps she went to see her rival's downfall."

After all, there had been friction between Concubine Wei and Yao Xiūróng; it wasn't surprising that she wanted to kick her while she was down.

Gu Han shook her head speechlessly. She tossed the records in her hand onto the desk and softly instructed:

"Have someone arrange for Concubine Wei’s burial."

Jiunian hesitated slightly. "At what rank should the burial be held?"

Gu Han paused, then raised her eyes with a flat tone:

"The Emperor did not demote her to a commoner. Bury her with the honors of a Concubine (Pin)."

Once a person is dead, the lamp goes out; Gu Han saw no need to be petty about funerary matters with a corpse.

After Jiu nian withdrew, Gu Han picked up the records again, but she couldn't stop thinking about the conversation she had overheard at Yian Palace. Her mind remained restless for a long time, and she unconsciously bit her lip.

She toyed aimlessly with the bracelet on her wrist. This was a gift from the Emperor; he had one himself and wore it often.

Gu Han wondered: ‘What exactly is the Emperor thinking?’

This matter troubled her so much she didn't sleep well that night. Lu Yu did not enter the harem today, which gave Gu Han a sigh of relief; otherwise, she truly wouldn't have known what attitude to take with him.

Jiu nian, who was on night watch, heard her mistress tossing and turning. She stood up quietly and asked in a low voice:

"Can Your Ladyship not sleep?"

The movement on the bed stopped instantly. Jiu nian covered her mouth to stifle a giggle; she could roughly guess what was on her mistress's mind:

"Your Ladyship shouldn't overthink things. In this world, there are heartless men, but naturally, there are also men of feeling. In this servant's view, the Emperor truly has a sincere heart for Your Ladyship. Even outside the palace, few men could achieve this."

Even the Marquis might not always side with his wife every single time.

Sometimes, people need to be a little muddled; being too clear-headed is just looking for trouble.

After a long silence, Gu Han’s muffled, buzzing voice came from the bed:

"But he is the Emperor."

Hearing the lack of sleepiness in her voice, one could tell how long she had been agonizing over this.

Jiunian shook her head. "The Emperor is also human."

Humans are prone to developing feelings. Moreover, in Jiu nian’s eyes, her mistress was the best of the best; she didn't think there was anything wrong with the Emperor falling for her. Jiu nian didn't want her mistress to go down a rabbit hole, and having seen many tragedies in the harem, she simply wanted Gu Han to be happier:

"If Your Ladyship feels hesitant, why not just let nature take its course? There is still plenty of time."

She would spend her whole life in this palace; why be in such a rush after only three or five years?

Gu Han felt that Jiu nian was right. She had been struggling with whether or not to give the Emperor a response, but if the Emperor couldn't even wait for her to confirm her own heart, then all her current hesitation would be in vain. Having resolved her inner conflict, Gu Han finally fell into a good sleep.

The next day, Lu Yu came to Yihe Palace for lunch as usual. He didn't mention a word about the previous day's events. Gu Han felt relieved and interacted with him just as she always did. Little did she know that when no one was looking, Lu Yu watched her back and shook his head with a trace of amusement.

---

After three days had passed, Gu Han finally received news of Xie Chang'an.

Xie Chang'an had passed away.

He had collapsed in front of Gu Tang’s tombstone. Plum blossoms that were still in bud had been carefully arranged on the ground. Plum blossoms were Gu Tang’s favorite flower during her lifetime.

When the people from the Marquis estate found him, his body was clean, his elegant eyes were peacefully closed, and there was even a smile on his lips.

When Jiu si delivered this news, she was a bit sad. They had all followed Xie Chang'an around the capital in the past; unfortunately, fate is a cruel player.

Gu Han was stunned for a long time. She looked at the letter sent by her mother, which stated that the Marquis estate had buried Xie Chang'an beside her elder sister. It also mentioned that the estate's physician had examined his body; he had long been at the end of his tether, and every day he lived was an ordeal.

Gu Han found it hard to understand. She said blankly:

"So, I shouldn't have stopped him from leaving the palace then, right?"

Jiunian gently stroked her mistress's back and whispered, "Your Ladyship only wished for him to live well."

Gu Han put the letter away. She truly found it difficult to understand the bond between her elder sister and Xie Chang'an. In her view, nothing was more important than life itself.

Her mood became somber, and even Lu Yu noticed something was wrong. After learning about Xie Chang'an’s matter from Liu An, he looked toward the winter orchids in the corner with unreadable emotions. After a long while, he said calmly:

"Issue a decree: permit the Noble Consort to leave the palace to visit her family."

Liu An was shocked; this was a grace never before granted to a harem consort.

When the news reached Yihe Palace, Gu Han was also stunned, momentarily putting the matter of Xie Chang'an aside. She hurried to ask Liu An: "Why has the Emperor suddenly given such an order?"

Liu An looked at the Noble Consort and, after a thought, spoke a good word for the Emperor:

"The Emperor saw that Your Ladyship has been in low spirits these past few days and thought you were homesick, so he wished to make you happier."

After Gu Han sent people to see Liu An off, she still couldn't quite wrap her head around it. Was she homesick? Naturally, she was, but she saw her mother and father a few times every year, so it wasn't too bad. She was just a little sad and wanted to go back to see her elder sister.

A Noble Consort visiting her family was no small matter; the palace began grand preparations. Zhou Xiurong couldn't help but run to Yihe Palace, saying sourly:

"Cousin is so good to you. I haven't been home in a very long time either."

Since she had been raising the Eldest Princess, seventy percent of her heart was devoted to the child, and she visited Yihe Palace less frequently than before. This time, she brought the Eldest Princess with her.

Zhou Xiurong’s thinking was simple: the Noble Consort was favored, and her children saw the Emperor often. By bringing the Eldest Princess frequently to interact with Gu Han's children, they would share more affection than others, making things easier in the future. Though not her biological child, Zhou Xiurong’s devotion to the Eldest Princess was not lacking in the slightest.

Gu Han gave her a reproving look. "You and your big mouth."

Zhou Xiurong hummed and hawed, then had the wet nurse take the Eldest Princess to play with the princes before lowering her voice:

"Now that Concubine Wei is gone, the Youngest Princess's placement is still vacant. Does Your Ladyship have any thoughts?"

Gu Han’s eyelids fluttered slightly. She said calmly:

"I have An'er under my care; I wish I could give him more than a hundred percent of my love. If the Emperor truly gave the Youngest Princess to me, I wouldn't lack in providing for her, but my level of devotion would never match what I give to An'er."

To ask her to treat An'er and the Youngest Princess equally was a fool's dream. The Emperor was a doting father; he surely knew how much damage an elder's favoritism could cause a child.

Xiurong Zhou understood clearly. Thinking it over, if she were Gu Han, she probably couldn't do any better. She decided to drop the subject and instead hooked her arm through Gu Han's:

"Since you're leaving the palace, remember to bring me hibiscus cakes from Hanshi Residence. It's been three years in the palace; I've almost forgotten the taste of my favorite pastry."

Gu Han naturally agreed.

After Zhou Xiurong left, Gu Han knit her brows slightly. When Consort Ling passed away, the Eldest Princess was taken by the Empress Dowager, while the Eldest Prince, being older, resided in the Princes' Quarters. The Emperor didn't seek another foster mother for him; in other words, his birth mother and foster mother were both Concubine Chen.

Concubine Chen was overjoyed and had rarely caused trouble since then. After all, her current rank was low, and she was terrified the Emperor would remember her and hand the First Prince to someone else.

Thinking it over, in the current harem, only the Youngest Princess had no home. Regardless of the Empress, the Emperor doted on the Youngest Princess and would surely find her a good place. Gu Han had a grievance against the princess's birth mother; she had told the truth to Zhou Xiurong, her palace was not the best choice. Surely the Emperor knew this too, but Gu Han didn't know who he would eventually choose.

The Youngest Princess had been raised well by Concubine Wei before her death and was no longer as frail as she was at birth. There were plenty of ambitious concubines in the harem eyeing the position.

But before the princess's placement could be finalized, the day arrived for Gu Han to visit her family.

On the eve of the visit, Gu Han wrapped her arms around Lu Yu’s neck, tilting up her fair face to ask:

"Does Your Majesty want to come with me?"

The moment she asked, Gu Han regretted it. The Emperor accompanying a consort on a family visit was a privilege usually reserved only for the Empress. Moreover, she was going back to pay respects to her elder sister. When the Xie family fell, even if it was a matter of political stance, the Emperor was indeed involved. Gu Han didn't know if her sister would want to see him. If the Emperor really went to the Marquis estate, everyone would likely be uncomfortable, and she wouldn't be able to have a heart-to-heart with her mother.

So, before Lu Yu could answer, Gu Han's eyes began to dodge.

Lu Yu bit her neck in annoyance. It didn't hurt, but Gu Han still made a big show of gasping, staring at him with wide, pitiful eyes. Lu Yu was speechless; he knew exactly how much force he used—how could it have hurt her?

Since she didn't want him to follow, he naturally wouldn't make himself unwelcome. After a moment, Lu Yu let out a cold snort:

"Only for one day. By evening, I expect to see you back in the palace."

Gu Han’s eyes curved into a smile, and she gave a soft response.

The next day, Lu Yu personally saw Gu Han off. As the procession disappeared from sight, Liu An spoke in a low voice:

"Your Majesty, the carriage is ready."

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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