Upon hearing the words "beauty," the smile on Lady Sun's face slowly faded. She took the handkerchief offered by a maid and wiped her mouth, her eyes revealing a knowing glint.
Lady Li sat primly on an embroidered stool, observing every subtle change in Lady Sun's expression with bated breath. Though somewhat uneasy, she pressed on, "…If the Emperor lacks a devoted attendant, it would inevitably reflect poorly on the Imperial Textile Office. My brother instructed me to seek your guidance on this matter, so I came to see you without delay."
Her words sounded sincere enough.
But the Imperial Textile Office’s negligence?
As Lady Li finished speaking, Lady Sun let out a derisive chuckle, her expression darkening. "Whether the Emperor lacks attendants is not for us to meddle in," she rebuked sharply. "Xu is utterly thoughtless!"
"Mother," Lady Li had anticipated this reaction and forced an awkward smile, lowering her voice. "My brother has his reasons… He said this would benefit both the Cao and Li families immensely…"
"Immensely beneficial…" Lady Sun shook her head.
"What do you mean by 'lacking a devoted attendant'? Such words invite mockery. Have you forgotten that the imperial consorts are accompanying His Majesty on this southern tour?" She sighed. "When it comes to devoted attendants, who could surpass Noble Consort Yi? If we draw her displeasure, whether the Emperor accepts the beauty or not will be obvious."
Yunxiu had only been elevated to Noble Consort a few days ago when Cao Yin’s urgent letter arrived in Jiangning.
Long before this, everyone in the Cao household knew that Noble Consort Yi was the Emperor’s most favored consort—his treasured jewel. She was to be befriended, never offended. During the Ninth Prince’s third-day and full-month celebrations, they had sent lavish gifts to Yikun Palace through their relatives in the Imperial Household Department—delicate trinkets carefully chosen to show their sincerity.
And now, less than a year later, Noble Consort Yi had been elevated again. Even Lady Sun, who had raised the Emperor since childhood, was astonished.
A Noble Consort—just how favored must she be?
Cao Yin’s letter mentioned that Noble Consort Yi was the most stunning beauty in the palace, cherished deeply by the Emperor. During this southern tour, she would accompany him… The word "cherished" spoke volumes of her standing in His Majesty’s heart.
Rumors claimed Noble Consort Yi was peerlessly beautiful, a jewel among flowers. With such a treasure before him, how could the Emperor spare a glance for others?
Lady Sun disapproved not of the idea of presenting a beauty but of the fear that the Emperor would reject her. After beholding a national beauty like the peony, how could wildflowers ever catch his eye?
Yet Lady Li held a different view—people always sought novelty, and the Emperor was no exception.
"How can Noble Consort Yi alone attend to all His Majesty’s needs?" Seeing Lady Sun’s anger subside, Lady Li relaxed slightly and gently persuaded, "Mother, the Jiangnan region naturally breeds a delicate charm unlike the capital. My brother’s judgment has never failed—this Wang girl is young, a Han beauty, and who knows? She might even rival Noble Consort Yi."
This thought had long lingered in Lady Li’s heart.
Manchu noblewomen could never compare to the Han beauties her brother had meticulously sought and trained. Those noblewomen relied solely on their family status to enter the palace and secure high ranks. Growing up exposed to wind and sun, how could they possibly be that attractive?
Even after years of pampering in the palace, if their looks improved from five to seven, they still couldn’t match the delicate allure of Jiangnan’s fragile beauties.
Lady Li mused silently—everyone praised Noble Consort Yi’s beauty, but who knew how much of it was exaggeration?
If the Emperor saw the beauty her brother spoke of, he might even think Noble Consort Yi was nothing special.
…
Lady Li’s brother, Li Xu—Cao Yin’s brother-in-law—had spent years in the Imperial Household Department. At the start of the twenty-third year of Kangxi’s reign, he had been appointed as the chief steward of Changchun Garden. Now stationed in Suzhou, he was tasked with selecting exquisite Suzhou embroidery for the Emperor’s birthday celebrations.
Having encountered countless women, Li Xu’s standards had grown exacting. Just yesterday, while passing through Jiangning, he confided to his sister, "In the entire harem, only Noble Consort Yi and Consort Liang could compare to this Wang girl."
Though she had never seen this Wang girl, Lady Li trusted her brother’s judgment—though she privately thought he was being too modest.
Leaning closer, she whispered her thoughts to Lady Sun before pausing and smiling. "Words alone mean little—seeing is believing. Why not let me bring her before you? If you approve, we can proceed with the arrangements…"
Having connections in the palace was invaluable. If Wang gained favor and bore a prince, what advantages would the Cao and Li families reap?
Just look at the rising prominence of the Guoluoluo clan!
And in the past, Consort De, the Wuya family… The Wuya clan, also a bondservant family, had once wielded great influence. Everyone knew what they relied on.
Perhaps swayed, Lady Sun fell into thought, her stern expression gradually softening. Finally, she nodded in agreement.
After bidding farewell to Noble Consort Wen and settling Yintang in the warm chamber, Yunxiu, exhausted from the day, bathed and slipped into a deep slumber.
She dreamed—a strange, disjointed dream.
It had been so long since she last dreamed, and this one was particularly eerie. It began in the study of Qianqing Palace, where Mingzhu bowed solemnly and declared, "Your Majesty, Noble Consort Yi holds no regard for you—she merely uses you. Yet you indulge her every whim… As your servant, I cannot bear to see you humiliated!"
Beside him, Tong Guowei chimed in, "For your birthday, she offered Buddhist scriptures—what kind of gift is that? Worse still, a servant wrote them, and no one noticed! Then she presented last year’s robe! Such disrespect, yet you treasure her like a pearl. I cannot stand it!"
She was condemned from all sides. Then the scene shifted to Yikun Palace.
Every enemy she had ever made stood before her, their faces twisted in accusation. Consort Ping’s expression was the most vicious as she hissed, "How dare you?"—her eyes burning with hatred, as if she wanted to pounce.
Concubine Xi shrieked, "Do you think you’re untouchable just because the Emperor favors you? Trampling on his affections—you heartless viper! If the Grand Empress Dowager were alive, she would have banished you to the cold palace long ago!"
Even Noble Consort Wuya, who had long secluded herself in Jingqi Pavilion, joined in. Weeping pitifully, she choked out, "The Emperor, so wise in all things, has fallen for your schemes. Do you ever feel guilt? Do you ever wake in fear?"
Then, she dreamed of the Emperor again—
He had aged, his face deeply lined, his chest rising weakly with each labored breath.
In Changchun Garden, beneath the familiar yellow bed curtains, a row of princes knelt by his bedside, their faces etched with grief.
The Yong Prince standing by his side had now been replaced by the grown Crown Prince, and the warnings about "Noble Consort Yi's arrogance and disrespect" had faded into silence. Kneeling at the forefront, Yunxiu's expression was neither sorrowful nor joyful as she listened to the elderly emperor's low, trembling voice echoing through the bedchamber: "Xiu Xiu... after all these years, did you ever care for me?"
The moment these words were spoken, the attendants looked up in shock.
She remained silent, her composure unshaken. After a long pause, the emperor suddenly burst into laughter, his eyes closed as he uttered three resounding "good"s: "All this time... it was merely my own wishful thinking."
He had used the word "I"—a rare, intimate pronoun that carried profound sorrow, moving all who heard it.
"By imperial decree," he declared, his voice strained as if summoning his last strength, "Noble Consort Yi is to be elevated to Imperial Noble Consort... She shall accompany me in life and be interred with me in the imperial mausoleum after death." He refused to look at her, gasping as he added, "When the new emperor ascends the throne, this decree shall not be defied!"
...
The night was deep, the twilight heavy. Yunxiu jolted awake, startled by the word "interment."
Half shaken, half amused, she wondered—how could she have dreamed such a thing?
After finally escaping a tragic fate, what kind of ending was this?
Now fully awake, she lay with her eyes half-open, turning onto her side. Her breaths were light, but her heart was tangled in complexity.
They say that dreams reflect one's thoughts by day. The imperial decree promoting her to Noble Consort had shattered the tranquil surface of her heart like a silver mirror, sending ripples through her emotions.
To say she was unmoved would be a lie.
The Grand Empress Dowager had summoned her and spoken cryptic words: "The Emperor could wait no longer. At last, his wish is fulfilled..." His wish? Had the Emperor long harbored the desire to raise her to Noble Consort?
The man in her dream and the man in reality were two entirely different beings. Now, Yunxiu no longer confused the two—because the present Emperor treated her with genuine affection.
Even if his favor was fleeting, like the tides that swiftly rose and fell, it did not erase the fact that he had once cared for her. Yunxiu refused to deceive herself about that.
Compared to the Emperor's actions, her past indifference seemed almost callous...
Lost in thought, sleep eluded her. Noble Consort Yi couldn't help revisiting the eerie dream, musing that if this was a divine warning, she ought to retrieve the Buddhist scriptures she had presented at last year's imperial birthday celebration.
The vision of being condemned by thousands was too absurd, and the decree from Changchun Garden too shocking. Just as the Crown Prince's ascension neared, the positions of Dowager Noble Consort or even Grand Dowager Noble Consort were within her grasp—only to be severed by those two words: "interment." No one could endure such a blow.
Years of careful planning, all for nothing—how could she allow that?
To avoid arousing suspicion, perhaps... she ought to respond more warmly, to show the Emperor that she cared?
Preoccupied, she finally drifted into a deep sleep as dawn's first light seeped through the window lattice.
By midday, Ruizhu arrived with warm water to attend to her, only to find her mistress listless, reclining against the pillows in a drowsy stupor. Worried, she asked, "Did Your Ladyship catch a chill last night? Shall this servant summon the imperial physician?"
"What use is a physician? He cannot cure the ailment of my heart," Yunxiu joked softly, rubbing her temples before wearily adding, "No visitors today. Brew me a strong cup of tea."
The phrase "ailment of the heart" had slipped out casually, but Nanny Dong and the others took it to heart. Their expressions darkened with concern, and after a silent exchange, they signaled to Zhang Youde, the chief eunuch of Yikun Palace, who hurried off at once.
Qianqing Palace, the Imperial Study.
"An ailment of the heart?!" Kangxi's brow furrowed deeply as he abruptly set down his vermilion brush. "Prepare my carriage."
When the Emperor arrived, Yunxiu was resting with her cheek propped on her hand, eyes closed.
Startled by the sudden announcement of his arrival, she barely had time to rise and greet him before Kangxi's voice, laced with anger, scolded the palace maids: "How dare you neglect your mistress's health? Summon the imperial physicians at once! Each of you shall receive five strokes of the rod—"
"Your Majesty!" Yunxiu choked out, hastily intervening. "This consort is not ill."
Pausing, she then added softly, "It is merely... that I missed you. I longed for Your Majesty's presence."
