Shen Shixi knew that Li Yuanke had arranged for her to be excused from attendance, but she still came today. After all, it was her first time, and it wouldn’t be appropriate to skip.
Hierarchy and order were social rules she had to abide by. As soon as the Empress spoke, she understood what was happening.
This was meant to stir up resentment against her!
Sure enough, several sharp, knife-like gazes immediately fell upon her.
Shen Shixi rose to reply, “Your Majesty, I hold the deepest respect for you. As long as I am able to rise, I naturally must come to pay my respects to Your Majesty!”
The Empress scrutinized her. “You seem quite proper, truly different in temperament from your elder sister. Now, tell me, what is the matter Consort Jiang spoke of?”
Shen Shixi replied, “I am unaware of how I have offended Consort Jiang. As it was my first time attending to His Majesty, I lacked experience. Since Sister Jiang believes I erred, the next time His Majesty summons me to serve, I shall request an edict allowing Sister Jiang to guide me from the side, so as to avoid making mistakes again!”
The Empress was left speechless, and the entire hall was stunned.
Consort Jiang was so enraged she nearly fainted, pointing at Shen Shixi. “You… you… you have no shame! Your Majesty, this Consort Shen is utterly shameless!”
Shen Shixi remained perfectly calm. “Is it not shameless for Sister Jiang to comment on the intimate matters between His Majesty and myself?”
“I… I never commented on… on…” She could not bring herself to utter such indecent words.
“As soon as I arrived, Sister Jiang accused me of seducing His Majesty in such and such a manner. Outside the palace, I have only heard that His Majesty is wise and mighty, with a heart for the realm—a true enlightened ruler. Yet, according to Consort Jiang, His Majesty seems… like a tyrant?”
“Your Majesty, please see the truth!” Consort Jiang was truly terrified, kneeling and kowtowing on the floor. “I never thought such things, nor did I speak them. It was Consort Shen herself who said them! I would never dare even think such thoughts!”
Earlier that day, many had seen His Majesty dozing off in the imperial dragon chariot on his way to court. Because of this, many of the imperial consorts harbored resentment toward Shen Shixi, and they had been eager to condemn her. Consort Jiang had merely been the first to speak up.
But now, everyone was relieved they had restrained themselves and not acted impulsively.
In the past, whenever someone attended to His Majesty, others would inevitably make snide remarks. Today, however, no one dared to say a word.
The Empress gave Shen Shixi a deep look. “Enough. Consort Shen, you are overthinking this. Yesterday was your first time attending to His Majesty, and Consort Jiang merely expressed concern, as has always been the custom. You will grow accustomed to it in time.
We are all sisters in the palace, and everyone cares for His Majesty. You should try to be more understanding.”
“Oh, so it is a habit among the ladies to discuss such private and intimate matters? My apologies, but I do not share this preference. In the future, there will be no need for concern when I attend to His Majesty.” Shen Shixi sat back down.
“Who discusses such things…” Consort Jiang truly had not expected to encounter someone like this.
“Silence!” The Empress grew angry. “If you speak another word, I will not be lenient!”
Consort Jiang was furious. It was Consort Shen who had spoken improperly—why was she the only one being reprimanded?
“Yes, I acknowledge my fault. Thank you, Your Majesty, for your mercy.” In the end, Consort Jiang dared not refuse to yield.
Shen Shixi let out a scornful laugh. The Empress merely glanced at her but said nothing more.
Everyone felt stifled and aggrieved, yet no one dared to speak again.
Mostly, they feared provoking this thorny person into uttering even more outrageous words.
"I heard that as soon as Consort Shen entered the palace, she uprooted all the flowers and plants in Zhaoyang Palace. Why is that?" asked a bright and spirited woman seated among the higher-ranking consorts, dressed in a peach-red misty gauze cloud-patterned skirt.
Shen Shixi guessed this person must be Consort Rong, the foremost favored consort in the rear palace.
Of the two Liangdi positions in the Eastern Palace, one was occupied by a woman from the Shen family, and the other by her. Her family background was illustrious, hailing from the Duke of Wei's Mansion, the foremost among the Four Dukes of the State.
The Duke of Wei's Mansion had the Merit of Supporting the Dragon (Emperor), and the Duke of Wei himself had achieved outstanding military merits.
Shen Shixi replied, "In response to Consort Rong, this humble consort wishes to plant some vegetables."
Clearly not expecting such an answer, Consort Rong was taken aback for a moment. "Plant vegetables? Why would you want to plant vegetables?"
Shen Shixi said, "Simply because I like it."
In the office, weren't all those parachuted-in relatives and connections filling their windowsills and desks with little potted plants?
She was just getting started!
"I thought you would plant flowers, but who would have imagined you wanted to plant vegetables! For someone as clever as you, sister, to do such a thing is truly unexpected!" Consort Rong laughed so hard her flowery branches trembled.
Even the Empress couldn't help but smile. Someone had reported it to her that very day, but when she heard it was about planting vegetables, she couldn't be bothered to intervene.
"The Imperial Garden has plenty of flowers; there is no need for this humble consort to plant any."
Consort Rong clearly did not understand this hobby of hers. "Does His Majesty know you are such a vulgar person!"
She wrinkled her delicate nose as if Shen Shixi were covered in the stench of manure.
Shen Shixi smiled. Consort Rong was clearly a person of lofty and aloof character. Such people usually enjoyed making things difficult for themselves, commonly known as getting stuck in a dead end.
"Consort Rong speaks rightly. This humble consort is indeed vulgar. However, no matter how vulgar, it cannot compare to a single character."
"What character?"
Naturally, it is the character 'Rong' (glory). The most vulgar things in the world are glory, splendor, wealth, and honor, with 'Rong' at the forefront. Isn't that the epitome of vulgarity? This humble consort thought Your Honorific Title would be 'Orchid'."
Consort Rong adored orchids.
"However…" Shen Shixi took a turn, saying, "His Majesty favors Your Highness and must have wished to give you the best, hence bestowing the honorific title 'Rong.' This humble consort truly envies you."
Consort Rong bit her lip, glaring angrily at Shen Shixi, but she couldn't help thinking: even the newly met Consort Shen understood her, yet His Majesty did not, using such an honorific title to humiliate her!
Especially since everyone in the hall was looking at her, seemingly full of sympathy.
Seeing Shen Shixi confront Consort Rong, the Empress was pleased to witness it, but she did not want the two to quarrel on such an occasion, as it would be difficult for her to step down gracefully.
"Enough. Today, the newly arrived sisters have all met. From now on, we will all serve His Majesty together, with everything prioritizing His Majesty! Consort De, how are the First Prince and First Princess? It has rained these past two days, and the weather has turned cool. Make sure to add clothes for the children!"
Consort De stood up and smiled, saying, "Yes, this humble consort will take good care of the First Prince and First Princess. Thank you, Empress, for your concern!"
The Empress was merely asking out of routine duty and inquired further, "Consort Qing, how is the Second Prince? I heard yesterday he had a slight cough. Has an Imperial Physician been summoned?"
Consort Qing replied, "In response to the Empress, an Imperial Physician was summoned. The physician said to first drink some Loquat Syrup, likely because the child is active and sweated, catching a slight chill when changing clothes."
The Empress frowned and said, "Such care is too negligent. The Second Prince is still young. As his mother, you must be more diligent."
"Yes!"
A faint scent of sandalwood drifted over, and Shen Shixi took another glance at Consort Qing.
Consort Qing was the daughter of a fourth-rank provincial governor. Originally holding the position of a seventh-rank Zhaoxun in the Eastern Palace, she was promoted to Liangyuan after giving birth to the Second Prince. Following the emperor's ascension and the grand enfeoffment of the harem, she was honored with the title of second-rank Consort due to her son's status.
The emperor currently had two sons and one daughter, all born during his time in the Eastern Palace. Since his enthronement, no noble sons had been born.
Thus, the women of the harem were now exerting every effort to compete for the coveted title of bearing a noble son.
"Consort Qiong, you were unwell yesterday. Are you feeling better today?" the Empress inquired.
Consort Qiong was a genuine "skeleton spirit," so thin she was practically skin and bones, resembling a famine-stricken refugee. She loved food and enjoyed cooking herself, but she was born without any culinary talent, often concocting bizarre dishes that frequently upset her stomach.
After three days of diarrhea, she was somewhat debilitated, and her energy was low. Weakly, she replied, "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I am much better!"
"If you haven't fully recovered, you may temporarily refrain from attending morning greetings. Also, the Emperor asked me to remind you that if you continue making and eating those messy things, your small kitchen might as well be shut down."
This was practically a death sentence for her. Consort Qiong hurriedly pleaded, "Your Majesty, I dare not. I will be more careful from now on. Please, do not shut down my small kitchen."
The Empress was merely speaking casually. Unless the Emperor ordered it, she had no intention of playing the villain. If Consort Qiong ate herself to death, it was none of her concern.
Consort Rong cast a melancholic glance at Consort Qiong and suddenly realized that even Consort Qiong's honorific title was better than hers.
"Qiong"—celestial and earthly, "snapping a jade branch as an ornament"—what a beautiful imagery!
The Emperor had bestowed such a splendid character upon someone so utterly vulgar, yet not upon her!
Tears quietly welled up in Consort Rong's eyes.
Among the Nine Concubines, Virtuous Xiu Rong looked at her with disdain. "As an imperial consort, no matter how justified, one must speak with caution and not resort to such vulgarity! I am ashamed to be associated with you."
Virtuous Xiu Rong was the daughter of the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites. She recognized characters at one year old, memorized three volumes of scriptures by three, composed poetry effortlessly by five, and was skilled in writing by eight.
When she entered the Eastern Palace, she held the rank of fifth-rank Chenghui. However, this lady constantly offered advice to Li Yuanke. If his clothes were too lavish, she would quote, "Beneath the window, the weaving maiden weaves, yet her body lacks garments." If a banquet was too extravagant, she would recite, "Behind red doors, wine and meat spoil; on the road, frozen bones lie."
Yet her reputation in the previous dynasty was excellent, stemming from an incident where she declined a carriage ride. After being praised by civil officials, her fame soared.
Naturally, this also made Li Yuanke appear like a foolish ruler.
Even Li Yuanke was at a loss with her, so Shen Shixi saw no point in engaging further and simply ignored her.
As for the remaining Beauty Fan and the two Talents, Shen Shixi paid little attention. Beauty Fan was a woman Li Yuanke had been tricked into associating with by his brothers back when he was still a prince, and she remained untouched to this day.
As for Talent Yuan and Talent Guo, they were originally palace maids, two or three years older than the Emperor. They had guided him in matters of intimacy back then, though it was unclear which one had received Li Yuanke's first experience.
However, after a few encounters, neither had ever been summoned to serve again.
Upon leaving Fengyi Palace, Shen Shixi was about to return with her attendants when someone called out to her, "Consort Shen!"
Shen Shixi did not recognize her, but Chao En reminded her, "Mistress, this is Lady Li!"
Ah, the first one he slept with? Did she want to exchange experiences about sleeping with Li Yuanke? Unfortunately, Shen Shixi had no such inclination!
"What is it?"
Lady Li performed a curtsy, "Consort Shen, the weather is lovely today, and the flowers in the Imperial Garden are in full bloom. Shall we go admire them together?"
In truth, she wanted to inquire about Shen Shixi's night attendance. As the first among the new consorts to serve the emperor, she had thought she performed well. But after seeing Shen Shixi today, it seemed she hadn't quite measured up in comparison.
"Another time. I haven't had breakfast yet and am hungry, so I must return now!"
With that, Shen Shixi turned and left.
Lady Li stood there, somewhat bewildered. As fellow consorts in the palace, wasn't Consort Shen being rather dismissive of her?