After the New Year celebrations, the Eldest Princess turned seven. According to palace rules, she was to begin her studies at the Imperial Study come spring.
"I was just about to discuss this with you. Come, take a look. These are the two candidates I have chosen as Lingyi's study companions. What do you think?" On the desk were two portraits, and the Empress pointed to each, saying the names of the young girls.
"One is Chu Tong from the family of the Princess of Yanqing. You've met the child; she's only half a year younger than Lingyi." The Princess of Yanqing had a son and a daughter. Her daughter, Chu Tong, had been granted the title of County Princess by the Emperor two years prior. The Princess of Yanqing was on good terms with the Empress, and County Princess Chu Tong had visited the palace numerous times, getting along well with the Eldest Princess. Choosing her as a companion was an excellent choice.
"The other is my own niece from my family, her childhood name is Yuelan, two years older than Lingyi." The Empress smiled. "There must be one sensible one among them, to prevent them from causing any trouble in the Imperial Study."
Being a princess's study companion was no easy task. Not only did one have to leave home to live in the palace, returning only on days of rest, but they were also responsible for looking after the princess, accompanying her in studies and play. At home, they were pampered young ladies, but as a princess's companion, strictly speaking, they became maidservants of a certain status. Of course, if one truly became a companion, the prestige was immense, successfully forging a connection with the imperial family, with endless intangible benefits.
County Princess Chu Tong was already imperial kin; being a princess's companion was the icing on the cake, a reflection of the friendship between the Empress and the Princess of Yanqing. Once she entered the palace, the palace staff would certainly not dare to make things difficult for her.
But Jiang Yuelan was merely a niece from a collateral branch of the Empress's family. How she would fare after entering the palace was hard to say. Yet, if the Empress wished to elevate her niece, this was the only way.
Qi Daiyu then said, "The candidates chosen by Your Majesty the Empress are naturally beyond reproach."
The Empress truly spared no effort in planning for the Jiang family.
"There is one more matter to entrust to you. Once Chu Tong and Yuelan enter the palace, I intend for them to reside in the Chunxi Hall. Behind Chunxi Hall is the Shou'an Palace, where the elderly imperial concubines reside. If anything happens, they can look out for them. However, Chunxi Hall has been unoccupied for a long time and needs to be cleaned thoroughly. After Lingyi found out, she insisted on decorating the rooms herself. I have no time to manage her, so I must rely on you to keep an eye on her."
Qi Daiyu replied, "Understood."
After speaking for a long while, a look of fatigue had already appeared on the Empress's face.
Qi Daiyu ultimately couldn't hold back: "Your Majesty, please set your mind at ease. Taking good care of your health is more important than anything."
Her expression was sincere and her tone earnest. A warm feeling passed through the Empress's heart. "I am fine. It's just that with age, one picks up some ailments. It's perfectly normal."
How could she be considered old? The Empress was only twenty-seven. Her Majesty the Empress Dowager was already past fifty, yet her health remained robust.
The Empress continued with a smile, "When the new consorts enter the palace, they will all be fresh blossoms in full bloom, making me appear even more faded. Nowadays, even the cosmetics you develop can't conceal my fading looks." As she said this, a trace of desolation flashed in her eyes.
One's appearance reflects one's heart. Her heart was utterly weary, and this manifested on her face as a few more wrinkles. A few days ago, the Empress had even discovered she had grown white hairs. She was only twenty-seven, yet she had white hairs.
Qi Daiyu said, "Then this subject will develop some new products, specially customized for Your Majesty alone." She thought perhaps she could look into whether such personalized services existed; they probably did.
The Empress's gaze was gentle. "You are very thoughtful."
Upon returning to Changchun Palace, she found that Nie Zhiyu and Ye Qiong had come. Nie Zhiyu had even brought the Third Prince, who was crawling on the carpet with Si Yu.
It was mainly Si Yu who was crawling. She could already walk, but upon seeing the Third Prince, she deliberately crawled in front of him to tease him. Yet the Third Prince was an inactive child; no matter how Si Yu teased, he remained placidly where he was, neither crying nor making a fuss.
Finding it uninteresting, Si Yu ignored the Third Prince and played with her toys by herself.
"Why have you come so early today? I have matters to attend to today and no time to keep you company," Qi Daiyu said with a laugh.
Then Ye Qiong said somewhat sheepishly, "It was I who dragged Sister Nie here. I have something to tell you both... I think I might be with child..."
Qi Daiyu was taken aback, then smiled. "This is wonderful news! When did this happen? Have you summoned the imperial physician?"
Ye Qiong smiled faintly. "Almost three months... I noticed my monthly courses were late, so I summoned the physician and learned the happy news. I wanted to tell you both immediately, but according to the customs of my hometown, the first three months should be kept secret... Elder sisters, you won't blame me, will you?"
Nie Zhiyu grasped her hand. "Of course not. Your caution is wise."
Qi Daiyu also said, "Indeed. Now that you are with child, you must be careful in everything you do."
That Ye Qiong could conceive was actually not surprising. Over the past year, she had enjoyed considerable favor. Qi Daiyu couldn't recall exactly when it started, but Ye Qiong had suddenly changed her makeup and style. Her once gentle eyebrows were shaped into a high arch, her eye shadow deepened, her entire makeup becoming bold and striking. Coupled with a completely different style of dress from before, it was as if she had become a different person.
If the former Ye Qiong was a pure white magnolia, now she was more like a night-blooming cereus.
With this change in style, Ye Qiong successfully attracted the Emperor's attention. After His Majesty visited her, she diligently showcased her strengths—she played the yangqin exceptionally well and was also quite skilled in riding and archery. During the autumn hunt last October, Ye Qiong seized the opportunity to display her outstanding equestrian and archery skills. After returning to the palace, the Emperor frequently visited her quarters.
This child was most likely conceived around that time.
Ye Qiong said, "Sister Nie has the Third Prince, Sister Qi has the Third Princess. After I give birth to my child in the future, the three of us will all have a firm footing in the palace."
She stroked her abdomen. This child was the result of her planning, conceived just before the imperial selection. Ye Qiong knew that relying solely on a change in makeup could not bind the emperor's favor for long—after all, she couldn't wear makeup day and night. Once new consorts entered the palace, whatever slight affection the Emperor held for her would likely be divided. Only by conceiving an imperial heir could one truly have a foundation to stand on.
And if the child in her belly were a prince, it would grant her even more leverage.
Hearing Ye Qiong's words, Qi Daiyu smiled and said, "Her Majesty the Empress is magnanimous. When have we ever not had a firm footing?"
Ye Qiong said, "I misspoke, I... I'm just worried..." She lowered her head to look at her abdomen.
Qi Daiyu comforted her, "The palace is peaceful and harmonious now. Nothing will go wrong." In truth, thinking back, the only one who had ever targeted children was Consort Shu. Since Consort Shu was placed under confinement, every concubine who became pregnant afterwards gave birth safely.
Sometimes Qi Daiyu even wished the harem could remain this peaceful forever.
Thinking of this, her admiration for the Empress deepened.
Ye Qiong's heart was filled with bitterness. Consort Hui and Consort He naturally did not know that her worry stemmed from Consort Ning.
Last year, the Emperor had pushed through all opposition to abolish the position of Prime Minister and establish a Grand Secretariat, selecting several officials to enter the cabinet and participate in the decision-making of confidential state affairs. Consort Ning's father, Yang Heng, had even become one of the Chief Grand Secretaries, the other being the Minister of Personnel, Tang Gejian.
Although the Emperor trusted the personally promoted Tang Gejian more, Yang Heng was also a force to be reckoned with.
Ye Qiong's worry lay in this: Consort Ning had always lacked both imperial favor and a son. If she, Ye Qiong, gave birth to a royal heir, and Consort Ning wanted to adopt the child... what should she do?
It wasn't that Ye Qiong was being overly suspicious or seeing shadows where there were none. The very reason she had managed to conceive this child was thanks to the fertility prescription given to her by Consort Ning.
Ye Qiong looked at Qi Daiyu and Nie Zhiyu, wanting to say so much, yet finding herself unable to utter a word.
Could she really expect them to help her?
Ye Qiong dismissed the thought.
This year's selection of imperial consorts coincided with a number of eligible young men in the imperial clan who were yet to marry. Therefore, this palace selection was both for choosing imperial consorts and for selecting brides for the sons of the imperial clan. In the end, twenty women were chosen, but only four entered the palace as imperial consorts.
They were: the daughter of the Regional Military Commissioner of Huguang, Zong Jiayin, granted the title Lady Zong, to reside in the East Side Hall of Jingyang Palace; the daughter of the Qingzhou Guard Military Commissioner, Ji Yuanning, granted the title Lady Ji, to reside in the East Side Hall of Jingren Palace; the daughter of the Qujing Guard Military Commissioner, Fan Ningyan, granted the title Lady Fan, to reside in the East Side Hall of Yongshou Palace; and the daughter of the Prefect of Wenzhou, Kou Yan, granted the title Lady Kou, to reside in the West Side Hall of Yongshou Palace.
Out of four, three were actually daughters of military officers. Those with keen insight had already sensed a certain signal from this.
On the second day after the new consorts entered the palace, they paid their respects at Kunning Palace. On this day, all the consorts of the harem were present.
Zhaorong chuckled coyly, "I thought I was the only one eager to know what our new sisters are like, but it seems all you sisters share the same curiosity!"
Consort An: "Apart from you, Consort Wei, who often asks for leave and doesn't come, everyone else comes daily to pay respects to Her Majesty the Empress. Don't drag others into your own impure motives just because your thoughts are not straightforward."
Zhaorong's smile froze. This Consort An, her words were always so unpleasant!
If it were anyone else, Zhaorong wouldn't hesitate to retort, but she was most unwilling to bicker with Consort An, solely because Consort An always wore that same stiff expression. No matter how much Zhaorong said, seeing that unchanging face just made her feel stifled.
So Zhaorong let out a "hmph" and ignored Consort An.
Others in the hall secretly smiled, clearly accustomed to this kind of scene.
Not long after, the newcomers arrived.
The consorts waited with bated breath, but upon seeing those who entered, disappointment flashed in many eyes.
Were these the newly entered imperial consorts? They seemed rather unremarkable...
To be fair, all four were outstanding in appearance, the kind who would stand out in a crowd. However, the senior consorts present had all witnessed the beauty of the late Consort Shu. Even though Consort Shu was now under house arrest, there were still those like Consort Hui, Consort He, and Consort Li Zhaoyi, who possessed such looks. A step below them were consorts like Consort Wei and Consort Ye. It had to be said, their standards for beauty had been set very high.
As for these four, the most beautiful one was only about on par with Zhaorong.
"That one with the heroic and spirited bearing must be Lady Fan, right?" Consort Lv looked towards one of them, who wore a black inner garment woven with gold thread, over which was a red magnolia-patterned skirt. Her attire was neat and efficient, clearly different from the others.
Fan Ningyan was the most famous among this batch of selected ladies. Rumors said she was skilled with a spear, had once followed her elder brother to suppress bandits, and single-handedly subdued six bandits, displaying remarkable bravery.
Fan Ningyan's gaze was clear and bright. "Your servant, Fan Ningyan, pays respects to Her Majesty the Empress, and greets all Your Ladyships."
It was said the Fan family had raised her like a son, but now, looking at her, her etiquette was impeccable.
The Empress smiled and nodded, "Rise."
"This consort finds that this Lady Ji looks somewhat familiar," Consort Ning suddenly remarked.
Everyone was drawn by her words and looked towards Lady Ji.
In fact, from the moment Lady Ji entered the room, Qi Daiyu's gaze had not left her face.
Under so many stares, Ji Yuanning felt somewhat uneasy and instinctively smiled, revealing the dimples in her cheeks. "Is there something improper about your servant?"
Someone remarked, "Oh my, I didn't notice it before, but with that smile, for a moment I almost thought I was seeing Concubine Zhuang..."
