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 157: Extra 1

In September of the sixth year of Hanyu, a lingering chill gradually settled into the wind. Coinciding with this year's selection, new concubines had entered the palace, bringing a noisy stir that rarely quieted down until nearly noon.

Inside Yihe Palace, the concubines had just finished their morning greetings and departed.

Before the dressing table, Jiu nian used the bronze mirror to help Gu Han remove the superfluous hair ornaments from her head. To the side, Jiusi giggled softly:

"Yesterday, Noble Lady Lin went to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, claiming she wanted to see the Youngest Princess, but the personal attendants barred her outside the hall."

The draft candidates who entered the palace this time generally held low ranks, with Noble Lady Lin holding the highest among them. The Emperor had granted full authority over the selection process to the Imperial Noble Consort. Outsiders might not know, but everyone in Yihe Palace was well aware that the titles and ranks of these candidates had all been drafted by Her Ladyship’s own hand.

Among the court ministers who had pushed the Emperor for a selection, the Lin clan had been subtly leading the charge. Furthermore, the Lin clan had previously tried to embarrass Gu Han during the Mid-Autumn Festival by making a fuss over a musician’s negligence, ensuring that Gu Han had taken note of Noble Lady Lin long before the selection even began.

Noble Lady Lin hailed from a Duke’s estate. Reasonably speaking, a rank of Noble Lady (Cairen) was not particularly high for her, but she happened to be born of a concubine, having only recently been written into the lineage under the main wife’s name. Rising overnight to become the highest-ranking concubine among the newcomers naturally made many people feel uncomfortable.

The Youngest Princess was the bloodline left behind by the late Empress, tracing back to the same lineage as Noble Lady Lin. Given her status, going to visit the princess should have been taken for granted. Unfortunately, the Emperor’s sudden refusal directly delivered a slap to Noble Lady Lin’s face.

After the newcomers entered the palace, Gu Han had ignored Noble Lady Lin entirely; this was the first setback Noble Lady Lin had suffered.

Beside her gloating, Jiu si couldn't help but feel a touch worried as well. Noble Lady Lin was the Youngest Princess’s maternal aunt. Could the Emperor truly keep barring Noble Lady Lin from seeing her forever?

Gu Han cast a chiding look at Jiu si through the bronze mirror, saying unhurriedly:

"Pay her no mind. She wanted to use the Youngest Princess as a stepping stone to draw close to the Emperor, she thinks herself clever."

Knowing that Noble Lady Lin entered into the palace under the main wife's lineage, Gu Han didn't even need to think to realize that she shouldered a grand responsibility. The Lin family had once produced an Empress; how could they bear to let that honor be severed?

The Emperor had gone a long time without summoning the new concubines for night service, causing Noble Lady Lin to grow anxious enough to take a risky move. However, her attempt to use the Youngest Princess as a pawn directly transgressed the Emperor's taboo. Forget about reminding the Emperor of her existence, it would be a blessing if she didn't earn his disgust instead.

As Jiu nian combed Gu Han's dark tresses, she knit her brows and murmured softly:

"Still, keeping the Youngest Princess at the Hall of Mental Cultivation isn't a long-term solution."

The Emperor valued his offspring and sincerely wished to find a good home for the Youngest Princess, but unfortunate delays had left her staying at the Hall of Mental Cultivation to this day. Humans are inherently biased; Jiu nian often spent time with the Second Princess, so she always hoped that the Emperor's most beloved princess would remain the Second Princess.

Gu Han harbored similar thoughts, yet she did not urge the Emperor to hurry and find a home for the Youngest Princess. First, the child had lost her birth mother right at birth, making it inevitable for the Emperor to grant her an extra measure of pity. Second, no matter what, the Youngest Princess was a girl; the Emperor could not keep her at the Hall of Mental Cultivation forever. There was no need for Gu Han to push the matter, nor was she inclined to create friction with the Emperor over it.

Gu Han took a sip of tea, resting her chin on her hand lazily:

"Send word to Yian Palace to inform Noble Lady Lin: the legitimate princess holds an exalted status. If she wishes to visit the Youngest Princess in the future, she must first send someone to report to the Emperor before going to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, lest she disturb the princess's peace."

Jiu si covered her mouth with a smile: "This servant understands."

Once news of Yihe Palace reprimanding Noble Lady Lin spread, the harem grew quite a bit livelier.

Xiurong Yao cast a disdainful glance toward the direction of the side hall, curling her lip:

"I thought these newcomers entering the palace would shift the dynamic a bit, but every last one of them turns out to be more useless than the next."

A palace maid handed her a cup of tea: "Please calm your anger, Your Ladyship."

Xiurong Yao disliked tea and took an insipid sip before speaking:

"Tell her she doesn't need to come for morning greetings tomorrow. I am sick of looking at her."

Yihe Palace held morning greetings once every three days, but since Noble Lady Lin resided in the side hall of Yian Palace, she was expected to pay her respects to Xiurong Yao daily. Previously, Xiurong Yao had extended her a shred of courtesy, but after today's commotion, the Imperial Noble Consort had not only reprimanded Noble Lady Lin, but also signaled a warning to her.

In essence, it meant that since Noble Lady Lin belonged to Yian Palace, Xiurong Yao was responsible for reining in her every move and ensuring she abided by palace rules.

Xiurong Yao felt a pounding headache. Not daring to complain about the Imperial Noble Consort, she could only vent her frustration on Noble Lady Lin, who had dragged her into this mess.

In the side hall, Noble Lady Lin respectfully saw off the servants from Yihe Palace. Lowering her head to conceal her emotions, the slender contour of her fair neck remained graceful, yet the lighthearted arrogance and pride she had displayed back at the Mid-Autumn Festival had vanished within a mere month of entering the palace.

The atmosphere in the hall was stiflingly quiet. Noble Lady Lin had gone silent for a long while, her eyes holding a trace of confusion.

Life after entering the palace was completely different from what she had envisioned. She had merely been a concubine-born daughter who relied on her fine zither skills to be elevated by her father to the status of a legitimate daughter before being selected for the palace. When she entered with the highest rank among the candidates, her father had placed immense expectations on her. Yet, after a full month in the palace, she had not even caught a single glimpse of the Emperor's face.

She had been rather full of herself upon first arriving, but only now did she realize what was wrong.

The concubines who had entered alongside her harbored grudges against her, while the veteran palace consorts looked down on her. Since entering the palace, Noble Lady Lin rarely had anyone to walk with, spending her leisure time only talking with her maids. She found this atmosphere overwhelmingly oppressive.

By evening, word arrived from the Emperor's presence: he would be spending the night at Yihe Palace.

Upon receiving the news, Noble Lady Lin’s breathing grew slightly heavier. She closed her eyes with a heavy heart. The Imperial Noble Consort possessed such deep imperial favor that others could not hope to face her sharp edge. Moreover, the Emperor going to Yihe Palace at this time indicated that he agreed with the Imperial Noble Consort’s afternoon directive.

The Emperor did not want her contacting the Youngest Princess, this was by no means good news for Noble Lady Lin.

After a long silence in the hall, Noble Lady Lin’s voice finally sounded:

"Zhiyuan, grind the ink for me."

Zhiyuan looked at her in confusion, only to see Noble Lady Lin place the palace rules in front of herself. Zhiyuan immediately hushed her lips and quietly prepared the paper and brush.

Three days later, during morning greetings, Gu Han looked at Noble Lady Lin, who had made no moves for a long while, and subtly raised her eyebrows. Glancing imperceptibly at the water clock, she then looked toward Noble Lady Lin:

"It is nearly noon. Why has Noble Lady Lin not returned yet?"

Noble Lady Lin glanced at Zhiyuan, took a stack of paper sheets from Zhiyuan's hands, and presented them to Gu Han, speaking with humble respect:

"A few days ago, this concubine rashly requested to see the Youngest Princess. Under Your Ladyship's guidance, I realized how impolite my behavior was. I have punished myself by copying the palace rules three times, and I will keep this lesson in mind in the future, never to repeat it."

Gu Han flipped through the sheets before her. The handwriting was elegant and composed entirely of a single person's script. Gu Han understood that Noble Lady Lin had not relied on anyone else to help copy these rules. The more this was true, the more Gu Han grew wary of her.

Having just entered the palace and barely six months past her fifteen birthday, to possess such composure was not something to be taken lightly.

Without looking too closely, Gu Han handed the copied rules to Jiu nian, shook her head, and said warmly:

"You are certainly strict with yourself. Copying these rules must have taken a great deal of your time. I recognize your sincerity; return early to rest."

Noble Lady Lin bowed respectfully, refusing to linger, and promptly departed.

Jiu nian whispered in a low voice: "Looking at her, she seems quite a bit sharper than the former Lady Lin, bearing somewhat the shadow of the late Empress."

Her Ladyship reprimanded her once, so she punished herself threefold. This stack of palace rules was a full finger thick; Noble Lady Lin was truly ruthless enough to push herself.

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 glanced at the palace rules in Jiunian's hand and murmured softly:

"I would actually prefer if she were a bit dumber."

Noble Lady Lin punishing herself by copying the palace rules was never meant for Gu Han to see in the first place, and this news could not be hidden from Lu Yu. That very night, when Lu Yu arrived at Yihe Palace, he saw the copied rules sitting right on Gu Han’s desk.

Lu Yu swept a glance over them and withdrew his gaze:

"Why leave these sitting here?"

Lu Yu did not spell it out, but Gu Han understood what he meant. Resting her cheek on her hand, she said unhurriedly "When Noble Lady Lin delivered these, I noticed bandages wrapped around her wrists, showing her remorseful heart."

Gu Han gently blinked her eyes

"With such dedication, how could I have the heart to hide it from Your Majesty?"

Her words bore not a hint of displeasure. Lu Yu cast her a subtle second glance, instructed Liu An to clear away those eyesores, and said neither warmly nor coldly

"If she were truly smart, she shouldn't have set her sights on the Youngest Princess in the first place."

Pausing slightly, Lu Yu personally cracked a walnut kernel for her before continuing slowly: "Speaking of which, it is time to choose a foster mother for the Youngest Princess again. Han'er, do you have any thoughts?"

Please check out: I CULTIVATED BY TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE DEMON LORD

Why you should read: FL transmigrates and decides to seduce a pitiful good-looking youth, using him to boost her cultivation... But oops! Who would've thought — that's the novel's ultimate villain that she had picked up! And now he doesn't plan to let his "jiejie" go!

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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