The side chamber of Kunning Palace.
The Empress sat sideways on the couch, a register placed on the small table before her as she wrote something on a sheet of paper. Just as she finished the last stroke, an announcement came from outside the hall—the Emperor had arrived.
The Empress immediately rose to greet him. Between the Emperor and Empress, excessive formalities were unnecessary, and as she began to curtsy, Jiang Yuan took her arm to steady her.
The Empress smiled. "Would Your Majesty care to dine? This consort can arrange—"
Jiang Yuan shook his head. "No need. I must return to Qianqing Palace shortly to summon Yang Heng and discuss matters concerning the palace examinations."
With the palace examinations imminent, it was the most pressing affair at hand, leaving no room for error. Had the Empress not invited him today, Jiang Yuan would not have come to the rear palace at all.
The Empress said, "Speaking of which, the renovations of Zhongcui Palace and Yonghe Palace were handled exceptionally well by Consort Ning. This consort has yet to decide on a suitable reward for her. Perhaps Your Majesty would like to decide?"
With Yang Heng regaining favor, Consort Ning had recently been thriving in the palace. Understanding the Emperor’s intentions, the Empress had previously assigned her the task of renovating the unused palaces precisely to create an opportunity for her to be rewarded.
If their daughter received imperial favor, Yang Heng outside the palace would naturally devote even greater effort to the palace examinations, easing the Emperor’s burdens.
Jiang Yuan had the same thought. After a brief pause, he said, "For Mother’s birthday celebration, let Consort Ning assist you. What do you think?" The Empress Dowager’s grand birthday fell in June, and since this year marked her fiftieth, it was only fitting to hold a lavish celebration.
The Empress remained composed. "Last year during the Double Ninth Festival, Consort Ning performed admirably. If she assists with Mother’s birthday banquet this year, this consort’s burden will be lightened."
Jiang Yuan took her hand and led her back to the side chamber. "I’ve reviewed your recent medical records—fatigue, weak qi, and lack of vitality. A’?, you always scold me for neglecting my health, yet you too give me constant worry. While I have no one to share the weight of state affairs, you can delegate some of the less critical palace matters to the other consorts. It would ease your load."
"After all, you are my Empress."
His tone was indifferent, yet the Empress felt a pang in her heart.
A’?—he rarely called her by her childhood name.
Even as husband and wife, he seldom addressed her so intimately, usually referring to her as "Empress." Now, hearing it again, coupled with his concern—meant to reassure her—the weariness in her heart dissipated like mist under the sun.
"This consort understands."
They sat together on the couch, and the Empress handed him the paper. "Your Majesty, this is the draft of the new consorts’ ranks and residences. Please review it and let me know if any adjustments are needed."
Eight new consorts had been selected this time. Though the Emperor had entrusted the Empress with determining their ranks, she could not make the decision unilaterally and thus had invited him to Kunning Palace today for his approval.
Jiang Yuan glanced at the list.
The first name was Zhaorong, assigned the rank of Beauty and residence in the eastern side hall of Yonghe Palace.
The Empress explained, "This consort considered that Zhaorong is the daughter of the Grand Princess, of noble status—"
Jiang Yuan frowned. "Since they are all selected candidates, they should be treated equally. If we were to prioritize lineage alone, why hold selections at all? We might as well summon the daughters of high-ranking officials directly. I’ve heard Zhaorong is spoiled and has quarreled with several others in the temporary palace. Such shallowness shows she still needs refinement. Grant her the rank of Talented Lady instead."
He showed no regard for the fact that Zhaorong was his cousin, offering no preferential treatment. To Jiang Yuan, he shared no bond with her, and if not for the Empress Dowager’s fondness, he would never have allowed her into the palace. Her identity as the Grand Princess’s daughter alone ensured she would leave a poor impression on him.
Seeing his resolve, the Empress did not press further. This outcome was within her expectations—while the Emperor could adjust Zhaorong’s rank, she could not, as she had to consider the Empress Dowager’s sentiments.
Still… the Empress inwardly scoffed. The Emperor’s current unfavorable impression of Zhaorong did not mean she would never gain his favor. After years of marriage, she understood his preferences well enough—Zhaorong’s temperament could be called spoiled, but it could also be described as vivacious and spirited. And Jiang Yuan, whether he realized it or not, favored women of livelier dispositions.
Jiang Yuan continued reading.
Nie Zhiyu, rank of Beauty, eastern side hall of Zhongcui Palace.
Ye Qiong, rank of Beauty, western side hall of Qixiang Palace.
"Why does this Ye Qiong merit the rank of Beauty?" Jiang Yuan tried to recall the selected candidates, conjuring an image of a girl with delicate features but otherwise unremarkable qualities. At the time, he had noticed the Empress asking her a few extra questions, and the Empress Dowager had praised her propriety before bestowing an ornamental hairpin.
As the daughter of a Tongzhi from Jizhou, her background was modest for a newly entered consort to receive such a high rank.
Jiang Yuan had entirely forgotten his earlier statement about not judging ranks by lineage.
The Empress briefly recounted the incident at the temporary palace, and Jiang Yuan frowned as he listened.
"This consort believes that Lady Ye possesses a pure and kind heart. Having suffered unjustly, granting her a higher rank would serve as compensation."
Jiang Yuan nodded. "In that case, it is appropriate."
The rest of the names he skimmed through quickly before giving his approval. "This will do."
Seeing he had no objections to the residences, the Empress’s smile deepened. This list was not without her own considerations—with limited vacant palaces, some new consorts would inevitably share quarters with senior consorts, who would then bear the responsibility of guiding them.
She had assigned new consorts to the palaces of Concubine Shu, Consort Ning, Consort An, and Consort Zhuang—but none to Changchun Palace, where Qi Daiyu resided.
Had the Emperor questioned it, she had her reasons prepared: Changchun Palace was relatively remote, and Consort Hui’s frail health required tranquility.
Since he did not ask, she was spared the trouble.
Once the ranks and residences were settled, the palace visibly buzzed with activity. Servants from the Imperial Household Department carried furniture and decorations to each palace, preparing the quarters for the new consorts.
Qixiang Palace was also to receive a new resident, and Qin Saizhu, finding the commotion of moving furniture too noisy, sought refuge in Yanqing Residence.
Coincidentally, the magnolia blossoms in the courtyard were in full bloom. Qi Daiyu had two lounge chairs brought out, and the two rested beneath the flowers.
Amid the peaceful atmosphere, Qin Saizhu suddenly sighed.
"Three thousand powdered faces, languid before the mirror. Too red the rouge—in vain I fret, how shall I adorn myself? Flowers fade too soon, endless the misty waters."
Qi Daiyu turned to look at her. The ever-smiling Qin Saizhu now wore a distant gaze, as though lost in melancholy.
"I knew this day would come," Qin Saizhu murmured, her smile bitter. "Yet now that it’s here, I cannot help this inexplicable dread. Consort Hui, do you feel the same?"
Qi Daiyu pressed her lips together, unsure how to answer.
She could not tell whether Qin Saizhu’s unease stemmed from fearing the Emperor’s neglect once new consorts arrived, or from the terror of aging while they remained youthful and vibrant.
Perhaps it was both.
As for Qi Daiyu herself, she was only twenty years old now—the prime of her youth—and couldn’t fully empathize with the worries of those older than her. Moreover, she harbored no affection for the Emperor and cared even less about who occupied his heart.
Yet Qi Daiyu still replied, "Of course, who in this palace isn’t apprehensive?"
Qin Saizhu gazed at the magnolia blossoms. She had entered the Eastern Palace in the twenty-third year of Chongde’s reign, when she was just seventeen. Six years had passed since then, and she was now twenty-three. The new consorts about to enter the palace were, at most, the same age as she had been back then—seventeen—while the youngest was merely fifteen.
The Emperor had once praised her smile, saying it was as radiant as peach blossoms, fitting for a harmonious household, so she made sure to wear it often. She was well-liked, showing deference to the Empress and maintaining friendly ties with Concubine Shu. She never competed or fought for favor, save for her obsession with culinary delights, which incidentally made her the most knowledgeable about the Emperor’s tastes. Even the Empress occasionally sought her opinion on the matter.
Qin Saizhu believed that, among the many consorts, she held a sliver of importance in the Emperor’s heart.
The proof was in the honorific title he had bestowed upon her: "Zhuang." If nothing unexpected happened, once she bore him a child or gained more seniority, she would ascend to become one of the Nine Consorts—Consort Zhuang.
She was well aware of all this.
Yet she still wavered between hope and fear.
She wasn’t alone. The other consorts—whether obscure like Concubine Cao or favored like Concubine Shu—were likely just as uneasy.
Even the Empress, in the stillness of midnight, must shudder with dread.
The reason was simple: their entire lives of glory and favor rested on one man. And the Emperor’s affection was always so fleeting.
The day for the new consorts to enter the palace was set for the sixteenth of March.
An auspicious date.
During the daily greetings, Qi Daiyu keenly sensed the tense, prickly atmosphere among the women. It was as if everyone had erected a spiky shell, waiting for something—or guarding against it.
In this palace, she was probably the only one whose thoughts weren’t preoccupied with the new consorts, but rather—
YH
—on the packaging for her cosmetics shop.
The first hurdle in her "entrepreneurial venture" had already appeared.
The Imperial Workshop was currently swamped with crafting furniture and decorations for the new consorts’ chambers, leaving no time to handle Qi Daiyu’s "small order."
Though the side income was ten taels of silver, one had to be alive to spend it. Failing to prioritize official palace duties could cost a person their head! So when Xiao Chengzi tried to commission someone to design and produce the packaging boxes, the request was turned down again.
With less than half a month left before the Emperor’s set opening date, Qi Daiyu was so anxious she nearly developed blisters on her lips. Just then, she received a letter from her father, Qi Caishang.
Aside from the usual greetings and updates on family matters, the letter unexpectedly included several sketches!
And those sketches were none other than designs for rouge boxes.
Qi Daiyu blinked, then flipped through the letter again. On the back, she found additional words, likely added later by Qi Caishang:
"By chance, I heard Your Ladyship was in need of these. As the Imperial Workshop is currently overwhelmed, I took the liberty of commissioning designs from the Construction Bureau’s craftsmen, hoping they may be of use. If approved, please reply, and I shall arrange for their production. (Payment will be covered separately.)"
In essence, Qi Caishang had somehow learned of Qi Daiyu’s need for these designs and, anticipating the Imperial Workshop’s unavailability, had enlisted craftsmen from the Construction Bureau to draft several options. He even guessed she would require a large quantity and offered to have his bureau handle the manufacturing.
Qi Caishang was currently the Director of one of the Construction Bureaus under the Ministry of Works. Officially, these bureaus were responsible for building and renovating palaces, princely estates, and princess residences for the imperial court, as well as designing and crafting various court-commissioned items each season. Unless by decree, they rarely took on tasks for the inner palace.
But there were multiple Construction Bureaus, and competition among them was fierce. Qi Caishang had secured his directorship through connections, and his bureau ranked near the bottom in evaluations. In the two months since his appointment, they hadn’t secured a single assignment.
To prove his competence and ambition, Qi Caishang needed achievements—and nothing demonstrated capability better than earning more silver and completing more projects.
Coincidentally, his daughter—Consort Hui—faced a dilemma. As the Director of a Construction Bureau, a little nepotism could solve her problem while showcasing his bureau’s skills.
A win-win worth trying!
