THE IMPERIAL CONSORT'S RISE TO POWER

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Chapter 147

As the night deepened within Yian Palace, Yaluo stared blankly at the figure who had just been sent away.

If Gu Han were here, she would certainly recognize that departing silhouette—it was Fu ling, who had later become the Empress’s personal maid. When the Empress died in childbirth, the matter was suppressed under the guise of the death of Commandery Lady Zhao, and everyone had overlooked Fu ling.

Yet today, Fu ling’s sudden appearance at Yian Palace was unusual, no matter how one looked at it.

After a long while, Yaluo finally snapped back to reality when she heard her mistress call her name. She knew she should no longer address her master as "Her Ladyship," but a habit formed over so many years was not something that could be changed overnight.

Yaluo cast one last glance toward where the figure had disappeared, closed her eyes, and hurried back inside.

"Mistress?"

Concubine Wei did not even raise her head, seemingly oblivious to Yaluo’s complicated emotions. She gave a calm command:

"The weather is turning cold. Close the lattice windows."

Ya luo briskly shut the windows. In the candlelight, her hesitation was glaringly obvious, but Concubine Wei was determined to pretend she didn't see it. Finally, Ya luo bit her lip, unable to hold back:

"What did Fu ling say to you?"

When Fu ling was speaking with her mistress, Ya luo had been dismissed from the hall, so she had no idea what was discussed. But whatever Fu ling had said, it certainly wasn't out of goodwill. Ya luo was terrified, her heart thumping uncontrollably; she felt a deep sense of unease.

That was the Empress!

Perhaps in the eyes of the concubines who entered during the last selection, the Empress seemed to have fallen easily. But Ya luo knew better—all of that happened only because the Empress knew her time was short and had to make early plans for the heir in her womb; only then did she commit those absurd acts.

Having weathered the Emperor's coldness and fought a battle of wits against her mistress for years, the Empress's position hadn't been shaken even when Consort De had a son. Ya luo did not believe such a woman would pass away so suddenly without making any arrangements for her affairs after death.

Fu ling’s appearance proved her suspicion.

When the Empress suffered that difficult labor, she had no strength left to give Fu ling instructions. These arrangements must have been made *before* the Empress gave birth. And since all the Empress's schemes were based on the assumption that her child would be a prince, it was easy to guess who her target was.

Ya luo turned pale at her own thoughts. Seeing Concubine Wei remain silent, she grew so anxious she was nearly in tears: "Mistress, no matter what Fu ling said, she cannot be trusted!"

If it was a plot to harm Noble Consort Zhao—something even the Empress couldn't achieve while alive, it certainly wouldn't be an easy task now. Ya luo was going frantic. The Empress and her mistress had been at odds their entire lives; why would she send Fu ling to find her now?!

Yaluo pleaded fervently, but after a long silence, Concubine Wei only said one thing calmly:

"As you said, the Empress was very clever."

No wonder they say no one understands you better than your enemy. Concubine Wei thought she had hidden her feelings for the Emperor well, yet she hadn't escaped the Empress’s eyes. The Empress knew that she would choose to believe Fu Ling's words.

Yaluo’s voice stopped abruptly. She wiped away a tear: "Is Your Ladyship truly willing to sacrifice yourself for this?"

"Even if you are only a Concubine now, you have survived it all. It’s not like when we first entered the estate. You have the little Princess; no matter what others think, they must show you respect on the surface. Isn't this life good enough?"

Now that she was no longer being held up as a target by the Emperor, her mistress could finally be herself. Yaluo didn't understand, were love and romance really that important? More important than life itself? Her mistress used to value her life above all else; what happened to her?

Ya luo suddenly didn't know if the Emperor was a blessing or a curse for her mistress.

Concubine Wei offered Yaluo a smile that made the maid's heart ache. She said softly:

"But I am not reconciled."

She had stayed by the Emperor's side for so many years. Why should she have to step aside the moment Gu Han arrived?! In this palace, whether one is favored depends on one's own means. If Gu Han truly fails to dodge this calamity, it is simply her poor fate.

Concubine Wei wiped Yaluo's tears. Recognizing her mistress's choice, Yaluo knelt on the ground, wiped her eyes, and kowtowed deeply. She said respectfully:

"Your Ladyship saved my life back then. No matter what you do, I will accompany you. I only beg that you do not leave me behind to go through those dangerous things alone."

Concubine Wei suddenly turned her head away and squeezed her eyes shut, refusing to let Ya luo see the surge of emotion about to pour out. In truth, having a loyal servant like Yaluo made this entire journey into the palace worth it.

But she was not reconciled!

---

Gu Han was entirely unaware of the happenings in Yian Palace. She was being led somewhere by the Emperor, her eyes bound with a silk scarf. Unable to see the path ahead, she felt an inevitable sense of unease and instinctively gripped Lu Yu's hand tighter.

"Where is Your Majesty taking me?"

Gu Han reached out helplessly to feel the air in front of her, her world a void of darkness.

Lu Yu squeezed her hand and then guided her by the shoulders. Seeing her rare display of vulnerability, a smile welled up in his eyes: "We are almost there."

After walking a bit further, just as Gu Han was about to complain, a voice came from behind her:

"We have arrived."

The scarf was removed. Gu Han was about to speak, but the moment she looked up, the words died in her throat.

Before her stood an ancient osmanthus tree. Its trunk was as wide as two Gu Hans put together, draped in a blanket of golden blossoms. The fragrance was so intense that Gu Han felt as if she were drowning in the sweet scent.

But that wasn't why she was shocked. The tree was covered in countless red silk ribbons, and red lanterns were hung all around. Combined with the bright moon and the sea of stars, the sudden sight was breathtakingly beautiful.

Gu Han eventually came to her senses. She turned her head, looking somewhat dazed:

"...Your... Your Majesty, what is this?"

In truth, Gu Han had a guess.

Outside the capital, there was a Qingming Temple with a century-old ginkgo tree in the courtyard covered in red silk ribbons, mostly used for making wishes. Later, it became a place for men and women to pray for marriage and fate. Before entering the palace, Gu Han had gone to see that famous sight.

But knowing she was destined for the palace, she had never hung a ribbon of her own.

The scene before her was so similar—so similar that she recognized immediately what Lu Yu was trying to do. And because of that, she was speechless.

She felt a sense of bewilderment. She knew Lu Yu felt some romantic affection for her, much like how Xie Chang'an felt for her elder sister, but perhaps because he was the Emperor, Gu Han had never felt it was entirely real. Was a mere feeling worth the Emperor going to such great lengths?

Lu Yu rarely went to much trouble for a woman, especially when it came to pleasing them. One could say this was a first. Usually, it was the concubines who offered up their hearts, hoping for a drop of his pity.

Thus, when Gu Han asked, Lu Yu couldn't help but feel a bit nervous. He fingered the thumb ring in his sleeve and said with feigned calmness:

"Go and see for yourself."

Gu Han looked back at him. Amidst the thousands of lights, her almond eyes seemed to hold countless stars, causing Lu Yu's breath to hitch for a moment.

Gu Han stepped forward and plucked a red ribbon. She chose one at a perfect height, reachable by standing slightly on her tiptoes. She saw the words written in ink on the silk.

A few short words made her eyelashes tremble imperceptibly.

*Lu Yu, Gu Han.*

Gu Han’s throat tightened. For a moment, the ribbon felt as if it were burning her hand. In all the world, who would dare call the Emperor by his personal name?

Realizing something, she plucked a few more ribbons. The content was identical.

Gu Han was stunned.

This entire tree of splendor... was it all written by the Emperor’s own hand?!

A warm presence covered her from behind as a pair of arms wrapped around her waist. Knowing who it was, Gu Han turned her head in a flurry, whispering:

"...Your Majesty?"

Lu Yu gave a low hum of affirmation.

Gu Han swallowed hard, her mind a bit scrambled. She managed to say: "This... this is against the rules."

It seemed every time she faced Lu Yu’s confession of his feelings, she had to say those words.

But Gu Han was right. Aside from the Empress, no one was allowed to stand side-by-side with the Emperor—not even as ink characters on a piece of silk.

Lu Yu felt a mix of irritation and annoyance, irritated by her ill-timed remark and annoyed by her deliberate feigning of ignorance. He lightly bit the woman’s neck. The moment his teeth brushed her skin, her body trembled visibly, and a layer of crimson quickly flushed over her delicate, fair neck.

Lu Yu’s eyes darkened. He said hoarsely:

"Han'er, you know my heart."

Lu Yu had never been so serious with a woman, yet she didn't seem to take him to heart. Several times he had revealed his feelings, only for her to dodge them. Now, he had laid his heart almost entirely bare before her, giving her no chance to hide.

He whispered in Gu Han’s ear:

"Han'er, I truly love you (朕心悦你)."

Gu Han opened her mouth, but for a long time, she remained silent.

---

Author's Note:

Gu Han: ...

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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