Chapter 79

Chapter 79: Zhen Huan Chronicles, An Ling Rong

Jing Ren Palace. The Empress was dressed in full splendor. The moment the palace gates opened, she went straight to Kang Shou Palace to pay her respects, making it clear she would attend the New Year’s Eve banquet. Sure enough, after she returned from Kang Shou Palace, Jing Ren Palace began receiving princess consorts of the imperial clan and the wives and daughters of high ministers who came to pay their respects.

The consorts in each palace also began accepting New Year gifts. None of that was any different from past years. But just as everyone was preparing to attend the palace banquet, two imperial edicts came out of the Imperial Study. Concubine Jing was promoted to Consort Jing.

Concubine Xin was promoted to Consort Xian. The moment those edicts came down, it was like a bomb dropped into the harem, nearly blowing the entire place apart. No one expected the Emperor to make such a move, promoting two concubines straight into consort rank. While the other consorts drowned in envy, jealousy, and resentment, the Empress had only hatred.

She shouted, completely losing her composure. “Concubine Jing, Concubine Xin – those two wretches – what right do they have to be promoted to consort?”

“Your Highness, please calm down!” Jian Qiu grew anxious. “The little prince is what matters! Your Highness still has to attend the banquet. You can’t harm your body with anger.”

“Jian Qiu, I hate this!” The Empress still couldn’t control herself. “Consort Jing has no favor and no child – what right does she have to be promoted to consort? And An Ling Rong, that lowly servant girl. The daughter of some minor official, and the Emperor still promoted her to Consort Xian. I-I’m furious!”

“Your Highness, please don’t be angry!” Jian Qiu was both worried and helpless. “Everything should be for the little prince. Whether concubine or consort, they still have to come pay their respects to Your Highness. Why should Your Highness care about this?”

“I think they don’t deserve it!” the Empress snarled. “Those three wretches – them and Noble Consort Hua – not only sit in high positions, they also control palace authority. From now on, won’t they put even less of the Empress in their eyes?”

“That’s Your Highness’s grace to them,” Jian Qiu said, knowing exactly what would please her mistress. “After Your Highness gives birth to the little prince, they’ll have to hand palace authority back.”

… Yong Shou Palace. Li Si Qi changed into consort-rank ceremonial dress. She was so surprised she couldn’t help asking, “Why is the ceremonial dress already prepared?”

“Replying to Your Highness, this servant asked around,” Senior Maid Ruo Lan said, beaming. “His Majesty ordered the Imperial Household Department months ago to prepare two sets of consort-rank ceremonial dress and one set of concubine-rank ceremonial dress. He even specifically ordered them not to speak of it. Even Noble Consort Hua, who controls palace authority, didn’t know about it.”

“So His Majesty prepared for this long ago,” Li Si Qi said thoughtfully. “It was probably only after the Empress became pregnant that His Majesty told them to make the ceremonial dress. It seems His Majesty feared that once the Empress gave birth to a legitimate son, no one would be able to keep her in check. So he planned ahead, raising me and Consort Jing. As for the one at his heart, not only could she be protected, she could also be promoted to concubine rank. His Majesty really planned it well.”

“…”

Senior Maid Ruo Lan was speechless. Li Si Qi didn’t care and continued, “No matter what, His Majesty still showed some thought. He even changed my title. ‘Xin’ wasn’t bad, but I like being Consort Xian more.”

“Yes,” Senior Maid Ruo Lan nodded. “Your Highness’s ‘Xin’ and Noble Lady Xin’s ‘Xin’ are pronounced the same, just written differently. Now that Your Highness’s title has changed to ‘Xian,’ it’ll be harder to clash in sound with others again.”

… Xian Fu Palace.

“Consort Xian?” Consort Jing’s joy faded as she murmured, “I didn’t expect Consort Xian to matter so much in His Majesty’s heart, for him to grant her the title ‘Xian.’”

Han Zhu replied softly, “Your Highness, the title doesn’t matter. As long as Your Highness wasn’t pushed below her in rank, that’s enough. Besides, Consort Xian has the boy-girl twins, and among the new consorts, she climbed the fastest and highest. Whether she can keep this consort rank in the future – no one dares to say.”

“I see you’ve got quite the nerve, speaking gossip about the consorts,” Consort Jing said.

But hearing that made her feel much better. She even forced a small smile. “You can say a line or two like that in front of me. Once you’re outside, keep your mouth shut.

Don’t invite trouble.”

“This servant wouldn’t dare!” Han Zhu said quickly.

… Sui Yu Pavilion.

“She-she became Consort Xian?” Zhen Huan’s eyes flashed with resentment. “She’s just the daughter of a low-ranking official. How could His Majesty let her become Consort Xian? Are children really that important?”

“Your Highness,” Jin Xi had to speak up. “This servant doesn’t know why His Majesty promoted Consort Xian. But Your Highness was right about one thing just now – in the harem, children truly are important. Especially for consorts who have a prince at their side. Even the people of the Imperial Household Department wouldn’t dare show disrespect.”

“I understand,” Zhen Huan said, lowering her gaze. She touched her belly. “A whole year has already passed, and my belly still hasn’t stirred. I don’t know when I’ll finally have that chance.”

“Your Highness doesn’t need to worry,” Jin Xi soothed softly. “Your Highness will have a child. Now that Your Highness holds concubine rank, even if you give birth to a little prince, you’ll have the qualification to raise him yourself. At the very least, no one will dare set their sights on the young master.”

“They shouldn’t,” Zhen Huan said with confidence. “The Empress has a child of her own now, and Noble Consort Hua has her eyes on Consort Xian’s twins. How would anyone dare set their sights on my child?”

“Your Highness, don’t forget Consort Jing,” Jin Xi re minded her. “Consort Jing has no child by her side. She isn’t young anymore, and if she can’t get pregnant again, she will adopt another consort’s child. That’s very common in the harem. Besides, His Majesty values her as well. If Consort Jing has that idea, His Majesty won’t refuse. Luckily, Your Highness is already a concubine. Even if Consort Jing wants a child, she won’t target Your Highness.”

“My child – how could I ever let someone else raise them?” Zhen Huan sneered. “I’m not like certain people who need to trade their own child for a higher rank. Even if I still don’t have a child, so what? I can still be promoted all the same.”

“…” Jin Xi lowered her head and said nothing more. Some things a mistress could say, but a servant had no right to.

Time quickly reached late afternoon. Everyone arrived at the palace banquet, and the two newly promoted consorts were surrounded by plenty of people. Noble Lady Hui’s face dimmed at the sight. She was considered favored as well, yet this promotion hadn’t included her name.

How could she not feel disappointed? At the very end sat Attendant Fang. She stared with open envy at the consorts being fawned over, especially Consort Xian. They had entered the palace at the same time, yet she was still only an attendant, while the other had already become a consort.

Thinking of that, her hands clenched into fists inside her sleeves.

“His Majesty has arrived! The Empress Dowager has arrived! The Empress has arrived!”

With the eunuch’s shout, the Emperor entered with the Empress Dowager and the Empress. Everyone immediately saw the Empress’s pregnant belly and her radiant smile. All those present rose to pay their respects. After the three of them took their seats on the high dais, the Emperor told everyone to rise and sit, and the banquet officially began.

It was the same familiar process as always. At this banquet, the most dazzling person was the pregnant Empress. The women of princes and high ministers all offered up piles of festive, auspicious words, and the Empress’s smile never faded once. Noble Consort Hua, who had organized the banquet, became a tool again, forced to watch helplessly as the Empress became the brightest, most celebrated person in the hall.