In the side hall of Yikun Palace, Noble Consort Le gently stroked the smooth, cloud-like silk fabrics and smiled warmly. "My elder sister still remembers me. Once these are sorted, send them to the princess's quarters—let Yierha have a few summer dresses made..."
The senior palace maid Qinglan, holding a tall stack of fabrics, disagreed. "These materials are quite precious. Consort Yi specifically said they were reserved for you to make new clothes. As for the princess, why trouble yourself with such concerns?"
Qingzhu chimed in playfully, "Exactly! If you don’t wear them, Consort Yi will surely be displeased!"
Noble Consort Le covered her mouth with a laugh and pointed at her. "Oh, you and your sharp tongue..."
As the mistress and her maids chatted cheerfully, a sudden announcement came from outside—a visitor from Chuxiu Palace had arrived, an esteemed maid serving Concubine Hesheli.
"Concubine Hesheli?" Noble Consort Le’s smile faltered briefly before understanding dawned. "Let her in."
...
After the visitor departed, Qingzhu poured tea and asked, "Mistress, Concubine Hesheli sent West Lake Longjing tea yesterday and now invites you to admire flowers today... What could she be after?"
"Hard to say." Noble Consort Le pondered for a moment, thoughtful. "Perhaps she sees my elder sister in favor and wishes to befriend me."
The younger Hesheli had entered the palace at thirteen and, three years later, remained an unranked concubine.
Though she was the younger sister of Empress Renxiao and the aunt of the Crown Prince, her standing in the harem was shaky. Without an official rank, lacking the Emperor’s favor, and with even the Crown Prince—her greatest reliance—keeping her at arm’s length, the Hesheli Family’s support could only do so much.
Noble Consort Le chuckled. "She seems impatient. If she rarely sees the Emperor, when will her promotion come? Must Suo Etu personally petition His Majesty to grant her the rank of consort?"
Just as Yunxiu entered the hall, she overheard her sister’s teasing remark.
With a light laugh, Yunxiu’s peach-blossom eyes sparkled. "You! How dare you say such things?"
"Her status speaks for itself. As the granddaughter of Suoni and daughter of Gabula, she may be a concubine in name, but she enjoys the privileges of a consort." Yunxiu tilted her chin up. "Soon enough, we’ll be offering our congratulations."
In her dreams, Hesheli had leapt from concubine to consort, disrupting the established hierarchy of the four consorts—and she was only seventeen then.
Far younger than the rest.
With the Crown Prince’s influence, the Emperor would inevitably elevate her. Why the haste?
The Hesheli of her dreams had never been this restless, inviting Yun Shu to admire flowers or visiting Yikun Palace for casual chats.
Noble Consort Niu Gulu had told her this concubine was quite amusing—her smile bore an uncanny resemblance to Empress Renxiao’s.
Ambitious, indeed.
The women of the harem fought like vultures for favor, their schemes endless. The recent imperial summons to Qianqing Palace had only heightened their nerves—testing, gifting, currying favor... all sprouting like bamboo shoots after rain.
And with it came malice in equal measure.
The Imperial Noble Consort and Consort De likely despised her to the core, plotting who-knew-what.
Though unafraid of intrigue or hidden daggers, the constant pettiness wore on her, stoking an inner restlessness.
At this thought, Yunxiu scoffed and cursed Kangxi inwardly.
Lately, the Emperor had summoned her constantly, showering Yikun Palace with lavish gifts. Worse, his visits to the harem had dwindled.
Had he lost his mind?
Fortunately, he retained some sense, reinforcing Yikun Palace’s staff with trusted aides from Qianqing Palace and replacing the routine physician with an imperial one—always on call.
Otherwise, she’d refuse to see him altogether.
Better to shut her palace gates and lose herself in sweet dreams than endure his honeyed words, only to wrestle with her racing heart afterward.
Such... vexation.
March passed in a blink, and soon it was the Emperor’s birthday—the grand celebration of the Wan Shou Festival.
The palace brimmed with jubilance. The Imperial Household Department had prepared meticulously—aside from ceremonial tributes, the Emperor’s banquet for officials and reciprocal gifts demanded their utmost attention.
While the court feasted, the imperial family gathered in Qianqing Palace’s main hall for an intimate yet splendid banquet—a rare chance for neglected consorts to glimpse the Emperor.
All ranked consorts, along with the princes and princesses, attended, embodying the spirit of "reunion."
By noon, the imperial kitchens were abuzz. Consort Hui and Consort Rong personally oversaw every detail, leaving no room for error.
After consulting Kangxi, the hall was swiftly arranged—dozens of tables encircled the central dais reserved for the Emperor, the Grand Empress Dowager, and the Empress Dowager.
"Everything inspected?" The Imperial Noble Consort, clad in a grand apricot-yellow ceremonial robe embroidered with dragon-and-phoenix motifs, appeared nearly regal in its golden hue. Her hairpiece, studded with a luminous pearl, exuded opulence from afar.
Nanny Zhen replied softly, "The dishes and soups have been thoroughly checked. No 'accidents' will occur."
The Imperial Noble Consort smiled in satisfaction.
Grimacing as she downed a bowl of bitter medicine, she waited for the taste to fade before murmuring, "Consort Hui and Consort Rong have spared me much trouble. They deserve rewards."
Omitting any mention of the gift selection, she popped a candied fruit into her mouth and asked abruptly, "Do you think Imperial Physician Liu’s remedy will truly suppress the nausea?"
Lately, her appetite fluctuated wildly, leaving her gaunt.
But today’s banquet permitted no mishaps—hence this desperate measure.
Nanny Zhen hesitated, sighing inwardly. "Imperial Physician Liu’s skill speaks for itself, Your Highness. My opinion is hardly needed."
Such unnatural remedies, though effective, harmed the body.
All medicine carried poison... but her mistress wouldn’t listen. She could only worry silently.
Pleased, the Imperial Noble Consort adjusted her hairpin, then suddenly brightened. "Is Noble Consort Yuan ready?"
"Nearly. That peach-red robe heightens her resemblance—from three parts to five. Seen from behind, the likeness is striking!"
A faint smirk curled the Imperial Noble Consort’s lips as she imagined Consort Yi’s reaction later.
But fleeting delight gave way to bitterness. She shut her eyes and whispered, "In the end, I’ve stooped to Consort Hui’s tactics—resorting to what I once scorned."
Consort Hui, merely passable in looks, had often lent her prettier junior consorts to the Emperor when the Eldest Prince grew older—a ploy to retain favor.
At the thought of Noble Consort Yuan, whom she had tried so hard to suppress, now about to gain favor, the Imperial Noble Consort clenched her hands tightly, suppressing the deep gloom in her eyes. "Let her have this one moment of triumph... there will be time later..."
As dusk fell and lanterns illuminated the palace, the family banquet at Qianqing Palace gradually commenced.
Following protocol, the consorts entered the hall one after another, followed by the gathered princes and princesses. Finally, the Emperor would escort the Dowager Empress and Empress Dowager to their seats.
For such festive occasions, court attire was required to reflect the grandeur of the event.
Yunxiu, supporting her belly, walked alongside Noble Consort Niu Gulu.
Both wore deep-colored court attire—one in raven-black, the other in russet—creating an unexpected harmony, their figures blending together from a distance.
Noble Consort Niu Gulu glanced at her and remarked with amusement, "So subdued—this isn’t like you. Last year, you wore peach-red. I thought for sure this year would be canary-yellow."
Yunxiu smiled faintly. "What’s so strange about it? I’m with child. Drawing attention isn’t wise. I’ll gladly leave the honor of dazzling everyone to our younger sisters."
"..." Noble Consort Niu Gulu rolled her eyes and scoffed. "You’re becoming more and more shameless. Don’t you dare corrupt the Fifth Prince with such behavior!"
Yunxiu’s lips curved slightly, her eyes blinking with an air of innocence.
Raven-black was a color she seldom wore. Such a deep shade could easily overwhelm those lacking presence, and on younger women, it risked appearing overly mature.
But Yunxiu was different.
Her beauty remained striking, her aura commanding, yet now tempered with solemnity—solemnity interwoven with an air of nobility, lending her radiant features a touch of regal grace.
After teasing her, Noble Consort Niu Gulu regarded her with admiration. "...Those decked in red and green would be hard-pressed to outshine you."
In private, the two shared a genuine rapport.
Both came from prominent Manchu clans, both were forthright in speech, and they were of similar age. Most importantly, Noble Consort Niu Gulu cared little for the Emperor’s favor.
Life in the inner court was lonely—this was no exaggeration. Passing time with card games, sharing palace gossip—over time, Yunxiu and Noble Consort Niu Gulu had grown familiar, shedding formality for ease.
At this, Yunxiu smiled faintly and was about to reply when a soft, refined voice sounded behind them. "Sister Noble Consort, Sister Consort Yi."
Consort De, clad in an indigo court robe embroidered with sea-and-cliff motifs, approached gracefully, supported by her attendants. She curtsied to Noble Consort Niu Gulu and exchanged a shallower greeting with Yunxiu.
After the formalities, Consort De’s gaze lingered on Yunxiu’s attire, as if preparing to offer praise. "Sister Consort Yi, this ensemble of yours..."
Mid-sentence, as if recalling an unpleasant memory, she abruptly fell silent.
Yunxiu understood—Consort De was wary, afraid she might provoke another confrontation.
Suppressing a laugh, Yunxiu pressed, "What about this ensemble?"
Consort De’s smile stiffened slightly. She swallowed her initial words and, in an instant, regained her composure.
Just then, the Imperial Noble Consort’s procession halted before the Qianqing Gate, and a chorus of greetings rose around them, providing Consort De an escape.
"Greetings to the Imperial Noble Consort. May Your Highness enjoy boundless fortune and peace..."
"Rise," the Imperial Noble Consort said with a wave. Her gaze drifted toward Noble Consort Niu Gulu’s group, and she smiled meaningfully before turning away. "Keep up."
And so, the radiant Noble Consort Yuan stepped into view.
Her beauty was secondary—what drew attention was her demeanor, her bearing, which bore an uncanny resemblance to... someone.
A hush fell over the surroundings.
Noble Consort Niu Gulu frowned. Consort De, after a moment of surprise, wore a faint smile as she studied Yunxiu, murmuring, "This... Sister Consort Yi, is that Noble Consort Yuan? Her appearance is so much like yours."
Yunxiu withdrew her gaze and glanced at her, showing no trace of anger. With a mocking smile, she replied,
"Whether she resembles me or not is still up for debate. Why so eager? One might think Noble Consort Yuan was your long-lost sister."
Then, as if struck by sudden realization, she added, "Ah, but I must be mistaken. One is of the Uya clan, the other of the Yuan clan—even if they were sisters, they wouldn’t share different surnames. Don’t you agree, Sister Noble Consort?"
