From the Palace of Gathered Elegance to the Eastern Palace’s Palace of Everlasting Celebration, Shen Yanshui walked in the middle of the group, silent all the way.
Among the Crown Prince’s wives and concubines, aside from the Crown Princess, the ranks followed the ancestral system. In descending order, they were Liangdi, Liangyuan, Chenghui, Zhaoxun, and, at the very bottom, Fengyi.
Of the four newcomers, she had been given the rank of Zhaoxun.
Above her were a Liangyuan and a Chenghui, while below her was a Fengyi.
After thinking over the family backgrounds of the other women, she realized that, apart from herself, not one came from a family of military nobles or generals. Their fathers and elder brothers were almost all civil officials.
This did not surprise her. The Great Yong Dynasty’s preference for civil officials over military men was hardly a recent development.
After passing through several covered corridors, they heard the eunuch leading them exchange a few cheerful words with the palace maids at the entrance. Before long, their party was ushered inside.
Looking up, Shen Yanshui saw a main hall five bays wide, flanked by side rooms on either side. The courtyard was paved entirely with gray bricks, their intricate patterns spreading out like rippling water.
At the center of the courtyard stood an artificial mountain assembled from Taihu stones. Its unusual contours were elegant and graceful, while a clear stream trickled melodiously down between the rocks. Several clusters of exotic flowers grew from the crevices, their names unknown to her, though they were blooming beautifully.
“This servant pays his respects to the Crown Princess. May Your Highness enjoy perfect health.”
“Rise.” A warm, gentle voice carrying a hint of laughter rang out.
The Crown Princess wore a pale violet jacket embroidered with winding flowers and edged in gold. Beneath it was a fresh-colored skirt decorated with flowers and strings of pearls. A peony crown adorned her head, along with a jeweled golden hair ornament fitted with hanging pearl strands. Her bearing was dignified and gentle, and she shone with magnificence.
As soon as she finished speaking, Hongling, the senior palace maid beside her, stepped forward with a smile. Dressed in a brown, patterned round-collared robe, she had tied her hair with a gold-dusted, color-fading ribbon adorned with a golden bead. She slipped a small purse into the eunuch’s hand.
“Thank you for your hard work today, Eunuch Zhang.”
Zhang Fu accepted the purse with a broad smile and tucked it into his sleeve. “Your Highness needn’t worry. Everyone admitted to the Eastern Palace has personally received His Majesty’s approval. They are all sure to be fine young women and will certainly not cause Your Highness any trouble. The several young ladies are still waiting outside. What does Your Highness think...?”
The Crown Princess smiled. “Then let them all come in. It is time I became acquainted with my new sisters.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Before long, the four women were led into the hall by Matron Zhao. They passed around a huanghuali screen embroidered with landscapes representing the four seasons.
Shen Yanshui quickly raised her eyes to glance at the Crown Princess seated at the front. She was a woman of dignified, gentle, and noble bearing.
The palace maids on either side lifted the pearl-studded brocade curtains. Matron Zhao of the Palace Administration Bureau led the women in one after another. They bent at the waist and paid their respects.
“Greetings to the Crown Princess. May Your Highness enjoy peace and good health.”
Shen Yanshui stood in the middle, her eyes lowered to the tips of her shoes as she followed the others in making a perfectly proper salute.
“Rise, all of you. There is no need for such ceremony.” The Crown Princess looked at the group of striking, radiant newcomers before her, and the flawless smile on her face stiffened for an instant.
Matron Zhao bowed and introduced them one by one. “Your Highness, this is Lady Zhang. Her grandfather is Minister Zhang of the Ministry of Rites.”
Lady Zhang had a quiet, scholarly face. She wore a sandalwood-colored long robe of plain satin, subtly embroidered with silver designs, and a jade hairpin in her hair. At a glance, she looked every inch the dignified and well-bred young lady.
The Crown Princess nodded and asked with a smile, “Then the lady beside her must be Lady Wu, daughter of Minister Wu of the Dali Temple?”
“I had long heard that Miss Wu of the Wu family was a beauty of surpassing grace, possessing the allure of a sinking fish and falling geese. Seeing you today, I find the rumors were not exaggerated. At first glance, you are so beautiful that even I nearly forgot myself.”
At those words, Lady Wu instinctively lifted her chin slightly, the corners of her lips curling upward.
She had a striking and dazzling face, wearing a pomegranate-red skirt patterned with entwined chrysanthemums. A jade hibiscus pendant hung from the sash around her waist, while gold, jade, and agate ornaments adorned her hair. She was radiant and eye-catching.
Having received the Crown Princess’s praise, she grew even more pleased with herself. With an ingratiating smile, she said, “Your Highness is too kind. My beauty is not even one ten-thousandth of the Crown Princess’s.”
Shen Yanshui stood with lowered eyes, her expression meek and proper. She seemed to feel, with perfect clarity, the instant of sudden silence that descended around them.
She could not help sighing inwardly. Lady Wu had probably tried to flatter the wrong person and ended up striking a sore spot.
Lady Wu was indeed beautiful, with bright, flamboyant features that made her a genuine beauty. But as for the Crown Princess’s appearance...
It was not bad, but compared with Lady Wu, it could only be called delicate and refined.
Hearing Lady Wu’s words, no one would take them as praise. They sounded much more like mockery.
The Crown Princess’s lips stiffened for a moment. After looking Lady Wu over, she said, “Lady Wu, did you have honey on your lips today?”
Lady Wu failed to catch the sarcasm. Beaming, she replied, “It is only because Your Highness was born with such natural beauty.”
From the corner of her eye, Shen Yanshui could almost see the Crown Princess’s lips growing rigid.
Matron Zhao gave a light cough and resumed the introductions, though this time she made them much more quickly and succinctly.
Whether the Crown Princess was exhausted from poor health or for some other reason, she did not show any particular favor toward the others.
When Matron Zhao introduced Shen Yanshui, the Crown Princess merely praised her with a sigh, saying that she had a lovely face.
She made no mention of Noble Consort Lan or Shen Yanshui’s elder sister, Lady Shen.
Seeing Lady Wu’s unfriendly gaze upon her, Shen Yanshui smiled at her, not taking it particularly seriously.
At the sight of that smile, Lady Wu immediately frowned in displeasure.
After the introductions, Shen Yanshui learned that the last of the four newcomers, Lady Lin, was the daughter of the magistrate of Xuzhou.
The Crown Princess’s palace maids brought in several cups of tea. Beginning with Lady Zhang, each woman stepped forward to offer tea to the Crown Princess.
When it was Shen Yanshui’s turn, she followed the rules, lowered her eyes, and began to present the tea. At the same time, she felt a gaze descend upon her from above.
After two breaths, the Crown Princess finally lifted the cup and lightly touched it to her lips. Her lowered eyes rested on the face before her.
Shen Yanshui’s beauty was in no way inferior to Lady Wu’s; if anything, it was even more striking. The sight made the Crown Princess deeply uncomfortable.
But when she remembered Shen Yanshui’s connection to Noble Consort Lan, that suffocating feeling eased somewhat.
Besides, the Crown Prince had never been particularly fond of women. Even if Shen Yanshui possessed beauty capable of toppling cities, what difference could it make? She still could not stir up any great waves.
After everyone had finished offering tea, the Crown Princess followed protocol and delivered several solemn admonitions. Then her expression softened, and she said with a smile, “I hope all of you will serve His Highness the Crown Prince wholeheartedly and give him many children as soon as possible.”
“Yes, Your Highness. We will remember your instruction.”
“All right. I have been feeling somewhat unwell these past few days, so I will not keep you here to talk today. I would not want to pass my illness on to you.” The Crown Princess smiled and continued, “Matron, lead the ladies to their respective courtyards so they may settle in.”
Matron Zhou respectfully replied, “Yes, Your Highness.”
*
The place where the Crown Princess lived was called the Hall of Gathered Fragrance, located in the rear hall of the Palace of Everlasting Celebration. The front hall, the Hall of Honored Roots, was where the Crown Prince discussed affairs with the officials of the Eastern Palace. The main hall of the Palace of Everlasting Celebration was where the Crown Prince usually studied and attended to his daily affairs.
Behind the Hall of Gathered Fragrance was a series of rear rooms where the Crown Prince’s consorts lived. Five small courtyards stood side by side across the rear quarters.
Matron Zhou led Shen Yanshui to the one on the far left.
With a smile, she said, “Lady Shen and Lady Liu will be living in Lotus Heart Court from now on. Lady Shen will take the eastern side room, and Lady Liu the western. If you lack anything in your daily provisions, simply send someone to inform us. This old servant will make sure everything is arranged properly for both of you.”
Shen Yanshui turned sideways to return a half-courtesy.
When it came to official ranks, the head matron serving the Crown Princess held a higher status than her, who was only a Seventh-Rank Crown Prince's Lady of Training.
She stepped forward with a warm smile, quickly supporting Matron Zhou's arm as she said, "Thank you so much for your trouble today, Matron Zhou." As she spoke, she handed over a purse she had prepared long in advance.
Matron Zhou did not decline it at all. She accepted it with a smile, all the while saying that Her Ladyship was being too polite.
Seeing this, Lady Liu, who was standing beside her, suddenly slipped the gold-inlaid jade bangle off her wrist and said with a grin, "I will surely have to rely on your guidance a great deal in the future. Please do not take offense at this small gesture."
Matron Zhou still accepted it with a beaming smile. After exchanging a few more polite remarks, she said, "If the two young mistresses have no further needs, this old servant will take her leave first to report back to Her Highness the Crown Princess."
"Take care, Matron."
It was not until Matron Zhou's figure had vanished completely from sight that Shen Yanshui withdrew her gaze, and turned to look at the several palace maids and eunuchs who had been waiting respectfully at the side.
One of the maids, dressed in a blue round-collar robe with a pale yellow sash tied around her waist, stepped forward nimbly at once, curtsied again and greeted her, "This servant Cuiyun pays her respects to her master. The east side chamber has already been tidied up properly by us. Would Her Ladyship like to go inside first to rest for the noon nap?"
"Very well, lead the way," Shen Yanshui replied with a clear, bright laugh.
She was in no hurry to tour the small courtyard just yet. She had been walking, standing, and kneeling nonstop all morning, so she wanted to sit down and rest first, and get to know the staff assigned to serve her.
Before walking off, she looked over at Lady Liu and said politely with a smile, "Please make yourself at home, Lady Liu. I will head in to rest first."
Lady Liu was momentarily dazzled by her bright, lovely smile, and unconsciously curtsied back. By the time she came to her senses, she could only catch sight of Shen Yanshui's graceful, swaying figure from behind.
All of her original mood to wander around the courtyard had vanished in an instant. She turned around and walked straight into the west side chamber.
After entering the room, Shen Yanshui glanced around at the furnishings, and found nothing particularly surprising about them. After all, she had lived a life of wealth and luxury for more than ten years.
The several maids and eunuchs behind her watched as their new master lifted her feet and headed straight for the soft couch placed under the window in the eastern warm pavilion.
Once seated, she casually pulled over two soft pillows printed with heavenly fragrance patterns, and leaned back against them. Her movements were so familiar and comfortable as she reclined lazily, as if all the strength had suddenly drained from her body, that the servants were momentarily taken aback.
Even so, their new mistress was still so stunningly beautiful that no one dared to look at her directly.
Shen Yanshui leaned against the soft couch, letting out a soft sigh of relief. She looked at the four maids and two young eunuchs before her and said with a smile, "All of you, introduce yourselves one by one."
Cuiyun, the maid who had stepped forward first, was the first to kneel down. She said respectfully, "This servant greets Her Ladyship. I am Cuiyun. I entered the palace three years ago, and used to serve in the Imperial Food Bureau."
The rest followed her lead, kneeling down and speaking respectfully one after another. "This servant greets Her Ladyship. I am Liu'er. I entered the palace three years ago, and was assigned to work in the Imperial Laundry Bureau before."
"This servant is Xiuzhu. I entered the palace three years ago, and was in charge of sweeping and cleaning the Imperial Garden."
"This servant is Chun'er. I am fifteen years old, and have only been in the palace for a year. I have been studying palace rules and etiquette under the guidance of matrons all this time."
After the four maids kneeling at the front had finished introducing themselves, the two young eunuchs at the back, dressed in crow-blue narrow-sleeved round-collar gowns with side slits and wearing crow-black headscarves, spoke up.
One of them was Little Lu, eighteen years old, with a rather honest and slow-witted look on his face. He used to tend to flowers and plants in the palace of a certain Beauty, but after that Beauty was demoted and sent to the Cold Palace for violating palace rules, he was reassigned back to the Palace Eunuch Service.
The other was Little Fu, sixteen years old. He had a small round face, with two dimples showing when he smiled, and fair, clean features that made him look very delicate and endearing.
"This servant used to be in the Pavilion of Literary Profundity, in charge of drying and airing books. I can recognize a few characters."
Shen Yanshui looked a little surprised when she heard that. There were not many palace maids and eunuchs in the imperial palace who could read.
"Are any of the rest of you able to read as well?"
As expected, the chance of finding another such useful talent one after another was very slim. Even so, she was not disappointed. She looked at all of them with her smile unchanged, saying, "It does not matter if you cannot read. As long as you are willing to learn, that is enough."
After all, someone had to take care of all kinds of work, right?
Understanding the implication in her words, all of them could not help feeling overjoyed. "Thank you for Your Ladyship's great kindness!"
It was not that they were unwilling to learn to read, but without the explicit permission of the master they served, no one in the palace would teach the palace maids and eunuchs how to read.
And if they wanted to advance to a better position, being able to read was an essential skill.
Seeing their excited and grateful expressions, Shen Yanshui smiled. "Do not knock your heads and hurt yourselves while kowtowing. Since this is our first meeting, you do not know my temperament very well, so I will make this clear first. I rarely lose my temper, but that does not mean I have no temper at all."
"On a daily basis, all you need to do is to be loyal, fulfill your duties properly, and finish all the tasks assigned to you."
"If any of you wish to seek a different path in the future, you may speak to me frankly. Since we have shared the bond of master and servant, we can part ways amicably. But..."
As she spoke, her voice grew softer, and she continued slowly with a gentle smile, "If anyone has improper intentions, tries to play tricks and schemes, and does anything to betray their master..."
The several maids and eunuchs instantly tensed up, repeatedly saying that they would never dare to do such a thing.
They had not expected that their new mistress, who had seemed all smiles, gentle, and easy to approach without any haughty air from the very beginning, would say such words. It was clear that their master was not as weak and easy to bully as she appeared on the surface.
The imperial palace was a place where people always fawned on those of higher status and stepped on those of lower status. If they wanted to live a good life, they had to climb up the ranks, and that was exactly what they all hoped for.
Following a wise master who could not be fooled was far better than serving a muddleheaded one.
"Since this servant has chosen to follow Her Ladyship, I will naturally serve Her with all my heart and loyalty, and never have any second thoughts. Please grant us new names, Your Ladyship." Cuiyun spoke up first, and the rest followed suit, begging their new master to bestow names upon them.
Shen Yanshui looked at their earnest expressions, motioned for them to rise to their feet, thought for a moment, and then said with a smile, "In that case, from now on, Cuiyun will be called Chunping, in charge of the tea, snacks, food in the rooms, and the storehouse.
The other three will be named Xia'an, Qiuru, and Dongyi respectively, and they will be responsible for all sorts of matters inside and outside the rooms.
Little Fu will be called Quanfu, in charge of the storehouse keys and all external affairs. Little Lu will be renamed Quanshou, and work under Quanfu's supervision."
"For the time being, all affairs in this courtyard will be managed by Chunping."
"Yes, Your Ladyship," all of them replied promptly.
Shen Yanshui looked at them with a soft smile. Peace in the four seasons, peace and good fortune for all — that was the greatest wish she held for herself.
