Among the design drafts sent by Qi Caishang, one particularly caught Qi Daiyu’s fancy—a silver-filigreed lotus-shaped box, about half the size of a palm. Both the exterior and interior base of the box had space for engravings or the shop’s name.
As for the name of her shop, Qi Daiyu had already decided: "Lotus Blossom." There was no special meaning behind it; the words simply came to mind when she saw the design. She chose this box for her pressed powder, naming the product line "Emerging Lotus," which would be the flagship offering of "Lotus Blossom."
A single pressed powder, of course, wasn’t enough. She also planned to add foundation, skin-nourishing toner, and moisturizing cream to the lineup. Other products could be introduced later.
Since foundation, toner, and cream were liquids, this box wouldn’t be suitable. Qi Daiyu jotted down her requirements on paper and had Putao deliver them to her father, asking him to design and produce new containers accordingly.
"Send these hundred taels along with the request," Qi Daiyu added, handing over five hefty twenty-tael silver ingots.
Ordinary packaging wouldn’t cost nearly this much, but in her letter, she emphasized that the final products must not only be beautiful but, most importantly, exude luxury—something only the nobility could afford.
That meant using premium materials. As the saying went, "You can’t catch a wolf without sacrificing some bait." Qi Caishang was shrewd; he’d understand her intentions.
Qi Daiyu never expected that her original family would one day be of help. She had considered herself fortunate just to avoid being dragged down by them. Without Qi Caishang’s assistance, this venture would have been far more difficult.
No wonder those imperial consorts with influential families carried themselves with such confidence. "Having connections in court makes things easier." Though her father was only a minor seventh-rank official, his position in the Construction Bureau happened to be exactly what Qi Daiyu needed.
With this major concern resolved, Qi Daiyu relaxed. The "skin-nourishing toner" had already been "extracted." All that remained was to wait for the new containers to be completed so she could transfer the "foundation," "pressed powder," and other products.
It was amusing, really. To Shiliu, Putao, and the others, it must have seemed like magic—watching her gather various herbs, flowers, and mysterious ingredients, tinkering in her study day after day. Then, after mixing them with water and filtering the concoction several times, the so-called "skin-nourishing toner" was miraculously ready in just three days.
They didn’t understand the process, but they were thoroughly impressed. The way they looked at Qi Daiyu now was practically worshipful.
Their mistress was simply brilliant!
The batch of toner she "prepared" could fill about fifty small jars. Typically, skincare products had a shelf life of a year, but since these had been exposed to air, Qi Daiyu set the expiration at three months. "Lotus Blossom" would follow a limited-edition model, so these fifty jars would be the monthly stock.
To generate buzz before the official launch, Qi Daiyu filled two exquisite white porcelain bottles—one sent to the Empress’s palace and the other to the Palace of Auspicious Beginnings.
With these tasks completed, Qi Daiyu finally turned her attention to the imperial harem.
On the sixteenth day of the third month, the new consorts entered the palace.
Consort Nie was assigned to the eastern side hall of the Palace of Gathering Elegance, Consort Ye to the western side hall of the Palace of Auspicious Beginnings, Consort Wei (née Chao Rong) to the eastern annex of the Palace of Eternal Harmony, Consort Feng to the eastern annex of the Palace of Earthly Honor, Attendant Consort Yang to the western annex of the Palace of Extended Blessings, Attendant Consort Lv to the western annex of the Palace of Heavenly Favor, Consort He to the western annex of the Palace of Eternal Harmony, and Consort Yan to the western side hall of the Palace of Gathering Elegance.
And tonight, the Emperor would inevitably summon one of them to his chambers.
Who would be the first to serve him?
---
Palace of Gathering Elegance
Nie Zhiyu followed the matron to the eastern side hall.
"Consort Nie, this is Joyful Spring Pavilion," the matron said with a smile.
Following protocol, Nie Zhiyu offered her a pouch. "Thank you for guiding me, Matron."
But the matron declined, lowering her voice. "This servant once received kindness from the Dowager Princess Consort. If you ever encounter difficulties in the palace, you may seek me out. I will do my utmost to assist you."
"Consort Nie, the inner palace is treacherous, but Her Majesty the Empress is the fairest of all," she added meaningfully.
At the mention of the Dowager Princess Consort, Nie Zhiyu’s eyes flickered with a trace of bitterness. She firmly pressed the pouch into the matron’s hands. "I appreciate your guidance, but please accept this as my own gesture."
She was no longer the young mistress of Prince Xiang’s household—how could she presume upon the Dowager Princess Consort’s favor?
Entering Joyful Spring Pavilion, she found the palace servants assigned to her already waiting in the courtyard. The leading eunuch and maid hurried forward at the sight of her.
"Your servant Cheng Dongnan pays respects to the Consort!"
"Your servant Chun Zhi pays respects to the Consort!"
New consorts were allowed to bring three chests of personal belongings. Nie Zhiyu’s had been delivered three days prior, so she carried only a few prepared pouches. She handed them to Chun Zhi to distribute, exchanged a few brief words, and then headed inside.
Cheng Dongnan and Chun Zhi exchanged glances. Their new mistress seemed rather aloof.
Chun Zhi pursed her lips and followed.
"Your belongings arrived a few days ago and are stored in the treasury. With your permission, we can begin unpacking them," Chun Zhi said cheerfully. "The furnishings here were arranged by the Imperial Household Department, all of the finest quality. But since they didn’t know your preferences, we can replace anything that doesn’t suit you."
Her enthusiasm was unmistakable.
Among the new consorts, Consort Nie was the most highly regarded—her noble lineage, striking beauty, and even the Empress Dowager’s past praise had made her a celebrated figure in the capital. The servants assigned to Joyful Spring Pavilion were thrilled, believing they’d landed a mistress with a bright future.
Yet Nie Zhiyu remained distant.
By palace rules, new consorts couldn’t bring their own maids. To ease their adjustment, the Empress had the Imperial Household Department select eight exceptional palace maids—Chun Zhi, Xia Zhi, Qiuzhi, Dong Zhi, Feng Zhi, Shuang Zhi, Yu Zhi, and Xue Zhi—and assigned one to each new consort as a senior maid.
Chun Zhi had been assigned to Joyful Spring Pavilion to serve Consort Nie.
But no palace maid, no matter how capable, could compare to a lifelong personal servant. Nie Zhiyu found it hard to warm up to her.
Then again, her own maid, Yue Qin, had been a hereditary servant of Prince Xiang’s household, with her entire family’s contracts tied to the estate. When Nie Zhiyu left, she couldn’t take Yue Qin with her. During her months in the Nie residence, she’d been attended by Jiang Zhenruo’s former maid—another stranger.
In that light, Chun Zhi wasn’t so different. In fact, she might be better, at least she wouldn’t pine for a previous mistress.
Nie Zhiyu thought this way, and her demeanor softened a little. She was not an aloof person by nature, but her emotions had been turbulent lately, leaving her disinterested in everything and reluctant to engage in conversation, which made her appear distant.
After all, she had been raised under the guidance of the Dowager Princess Consort of Xiangqin Manor. If she wished, she could easily adopt a gentle and approachable manner. "This arrangement is fine as it is; no major changes are needed. However, there is one thing—I dislike lilacs. Could the lilacs in the courtyard be replaced with azaleas?"
"This is a trivial matter. This servant will inform the gardeners at once," Chun Zhi replied, committing her mistress's preference for azaleas to memory.
Nie Zhiyu noticed Chun Zhi's expression and realized the misunderstanding but chose not to explain. "By the way, is there a ranking consort residing in Zhongcui Palace? If so, I should pay my respects."
Chun Zhi smiled. "There is no ranking consort in Zhongcui Palace. You hold the highest rank here. There is also Consort Yan, who has been assigned to the western side hall. If anyone is to visit, it should be her coming to see you."
Among the newly entered imperial consorts, only her mistress and Consort Wei had been assigned to palaces without a ranking consort, a clear sign of the Empress's high expectations for Nie Zhiyu.
As for Consort Yan and another consort, Consort He, Chun Zhi paid them no mind—they were merely the lowest-ranking consorts.
Just as she was thinking this, the voice of Quan Fuhai announcing an imperial decree rang out.
The two immediately stepped outside.
The chief eunuch by the Emperor's side beamed. "Consort Nie, His Majesty has chosen you for tonight!"
As dusk settled, Nie Zhiyu stood by the window, silently gazing at the newly transplanted azaleas beneath the corridor.
In just half a day, her wish had been granted—all because the Emperor had chosen her tonight. Just as her grandmother had said, in this palace, the Emperor's favor was paramount.
Her thoughts turned to the Dowager Princess Consort, and Nie Zhiyu frowned. She could no longer call her "Grandmother." The bond between them had been severed the moment the Dowager Princess Consort chose to acknowledge Jiang Zhenruo as her true granddaughter. The earnest advice before Nie Zhiyu entered the palace was nothing more than the Dowager Princess Consort's attempt to make amends.
How ironic—today was the day she entered the palace and would serve the Emperor, but it was also the day Jiang Zhenruo married the second son of the Ning family. No doubt the Dowager Princess Consort was now basking in the congratulations of others, with no thought left for her false granddaughter.
The day she left Xiangqin Manor had been cold and desolate, and today, her departure from the Nie residence was equally lonely. Yet here in the palace, she could faintly hear the excited whispers of the palace maids, a rare warmth she hadn't felt in a long time.
"His Majesty arrives!"
The sharp announcement snapped Nie Zhiyu back to attention. A figure of imposing authority entered, and she stepped forward, bowing deeply. "This humble consort, Nie Zhiyu, pays respects to Your Majesty."
The awe of the imperial presence kept her from raising her head.
In truth, when she was still known as Jiang Zhiyu, she and Jiang Yuan had been cousins, though she had never met him. She only knew that the Emperor was young yet wielded power with ruthless precision—a man of unfathomable depth.
She did not know Jiang Yuan's appearance, but he remembered her—both her background and her looks.
"I noticed you staring at the azaleas beneath the corridor earlier. Do you like them?" This was the first question Jiang Yuan asked Nie Zhiyu.
Nie Zhiyu froze, lifting her head in confusion. Before her stood a young man with brows like ink strokes, a regal bearing, and eyes as dark and deep as an abyss. Though he stood there calmly, a faint smile playing at his lips, she still dared not meet his gaze directly.
Before she could answer, Jiang Yuan spoke again. "Do you admire the azalea for its loyalty, or despise the cuckoo for its selfishness?"
Nie Zhiyu's pupils contracted. Clearly, the "azalea" and "cuckoo" in the Emperor's words were not the same.
She hadn't expected the Emperor to see through her innermost thoughts.
The Dowager Princess Consort's words resurfaced uncontrollably in her mind: Do not underestimate the Emperor's youth. In just a few years, he has stabilized the court—proof of his sharp insight and unyielding resolve. In front of such a man, do not hide.
Clenching her hands, she replied, "This consort... admires the azalea for its endurance and sorrowful beauty... and despises the cuckoo for its selfishness and cruelty." She had ordered the azaleas planted as a daily reminder to herself.
Having spoken her true feelings, Nie Zhiyu felt a pang of unease.
Yet Jiang Yuan only said, "Most cherished are the azaleas in full bloom, unrivaled in their splendor. Since you admire the azalea, then be the azalea. As for the rest... let it remain in the past."
In the past...
Nie Zhiyu suddenly smiled. "Your Majesty is right. What is past is past." She had entered the palace—those people and those matters no longer concerned her.
