The capital, Xue Fu.
In the days that followed, Xue Youli found several manuals on defending against harassment from the Book of Heavenly Secrets. Combining theory with practice, she learned self-defense techniques from Xue Wuyou to prepare for entering the palace.
One day, while Xue Youli was enjoying the candied cherries Xue Wuyou had bought for her, the household steward rushed in urgently. “Madam, someone has arrived from the palace!”
Jiang Ruyun immediately led Xue Youli out to receive the imperial decree.
The leading eunuch looked at the crowd kneeling on the ground and read the decree in his shrill voice, “By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Xue Youli, daughter of the Vice Minister of the Grand Court, is appointed as a Sixth-Rank Beauty and shall enter the palace on the eighth day of the third month. Thus it is decreed!”
“Your subject’s daughter receives the decree.”
Xue Youli accepted the decree with both hands, slowly furrowing her brows.
There wasn’t much time left. She would have to work even harder.
As the saying goes, the more skills one has, the better.
Before entering the palace, she needed to secure as many trump cards as possible.
Who knows—they might just save her life at a critical moment!
On the eighth day of the third month, the palace sent people to Xue Fu to pick her up.
Jiang Ruyun couldn’t bear to part with Xue Youli. Holding back her tears, she admonished her, “Li’er, the palace is not like home. Once you enter, you must be cautious in your words and actions. Don’t try to stand out when trouble arises, and always remember to put your safety first.”
A mother doesn’t ask for her daughter to rise swiftly in the harem—only that she stays safe and sound.
Xue Youli looked at her reddened eyes and felt her own nose sting with emotion. “Mother, don’t worry. The harem is no kind place, but your daughter is no pushover either. I won’t let anyone bully me!”
That much was true. Ever since she was saved from hanging herself, Xue Youli had indeed changed her temperament and conducted herself far more steadily than before.
Jiang Ruyun held her hand tightly. “Have you memorized the rules the governess taught you these past days?”
After the selection, the palace had sent dedicated governesses to instruct the chosen young ladies of noble families in palace etiquette.
Xue Youli nodded. “I’ve memorized them all, Mother.”
Jiang Ruyun’s tears finally spilled over. “Li’er, it’s good to keep a low profile in the palace, but if you ever face injustice, there’s no need to endure it silently. Remember, we will always be your support.”
Xue Youli reached up and gently wiped away the tear at the corner of her eye. “Mm! Mother, I’ll be just fine in the palace!”
Just then, Xue Wuyou handed her a wooden box he was holding, his face also full of reluctance. “Little sister, there will be many places in the palace that need greasing. This is all my private savings—take it. Don’t be stingy with silver. If you ever need anything, just write and tell your third brother.”
In her previous life, Xue Youli’s parents had divorced and each started new families, leaving her to live with her grandfather, an old practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine. After he passed away, she enrolled in medical school—independent and self-reliant.
During this time since she’d transmigrated into the novel, every member of the Xue family had doted on her, giving her a warmth she’d never experienced in her past life. She was truly happy.
“Thank you, Third Brother.”
Xue Youli took the heavy wooden box and looked past them. “By the way, where’s Father?”
Jiang Ruyun’s hand, mid-wipe of her tears, froze. Her expression turned slightly unnatural. “Your father… he went out early this morning on business.”
Xue Youli didn’t press further. After all, in any era, wasn’t that just the life of a working stiff?
No matter how important the family matters, when the boss calls, you have to show up.
She bid farewell to her family and boarded the carriage with Banxia.
As the carriage pulled away from Xue Fu, Xue Huaiyuan—the very man Jiang Ruyun had claimed went out on business—came rushing out of the mansion, his eyes swollen like walnuts from crying, and chased after the carriage for a full two li.
“Li’er, my precious daughter… wuwuwu…”
After more than half an hour, the carriage came to a steady stop outside the palace gates.
Xue Youli stepped down from the carriage and looked at the magnificent, imposing palace walls with a complex expression.
The current emperor, Murong Che, had been on the throne for less than a year. Apart from Consort Ning, Consort Chun, Consort Rong, and Consort Li, who had come with him from his princely estate, there was no one else in the harem.
This was the first major selection, with sixty-two women chosen. As of now, the six palaces had no principal consort.
And Xue Qingyao, the future empress in the original book, was already out of the running. Among these sixty-six women, who knew who would emerge as the ultimate victor and command the six palaces?
The palace attendant leading the way brought Xue Youli to Lingyun Hall, where an eighth-rank Cairen had already taken up residence.
The other woman took the initiative to greet her with a bow, then returned to Jinghua Pavilion in the right side hall where she stayed.
Xue Youli resided in Shuiyue Pavilion in the left hall. The maids and eunuchs guarding the entrance immediately bowed to her.
“Your servant Xiao Pingzi and Xiao Anzi pay respects to our mistress!”
“Your servant Jixiang and Ruyi pay respects to our mistress!”
Xue Youli’s gaze swept over them, and she immediately activated the Book of Heavenly Secrets to check their characters.
But to her surprise, the Book of Heavenly Secrets went offline after checking only three people.
She had almost forgotten—the Book of Heavenly Secrets could only be used three times a day.
The three she checked were all newcomers with no prior offenses. The fourth one was under her nose every day, so there probably wasn’t much of a problem.
The people and relationships in the harem were extremely complicated. One wrong step could cost you your head. From now on, she would have to use her Book of Heavenly Secrets sparingly.
As their mistress, Xue Youli chatted briefly with the four servants to establish her authority, then had Banxia hand out welcome red envelopes to them.
The four were delighted to receive the money and worked with even more vigor, cleaning Shuiyue Pavilion until it was spotless inside and out.
Xue Youli herself wasn’t idle either.
She personally refolded the sheets and quilts, checked that the bed had no hidden compartments, carefully arranged the cosmetics and powders on the dressing table—the makeup was non-toxic—and tapped every floor tile to ensure there were no secret panels or hidden passages.
Even the flower garden, she had the soil turned over under the pretext of weeding, and there was no musk buried underground.
Good. Shuiyue Pavilion was safe for now.
Exhausted from the day’s work, Xue Youli soaked in a bath and then collapsed onto the bed, not wanting to move a muscle.
She had to get up early tomorrow, so she needed to sleep quickly.
The next morning, at the crack of dawn.
After dressing neatly, Xue Youli led Ruyi to Yongning Palace to pay her respects to Consort Rong.
On the way, Xue Youli learned more about the four consorts from Ruyi—they had all been taken as consorts before the emperor ascended the throne.
After all, the female lead in her best friend’s novel was Xue Qingyao, the male lead was the Prince Regent, and the emperor was just a supporting character to drive the romance between the two leads. So as stepping stones for the female lead’s rise, the four consorts had very little screen time.
Consort Rong had given birth to a daughter, making her the only consort in the harem who had borne the emperor a child. She was dignified and steady, kind to others, and highly regarded by the emperor.
Consort Chun suffered from a heart condition and rarely came out. She was very laid-back, not one to fight or compete.
Consort Ning kept a low profile and loved literature and the arts, spending her free time practicing calligraphy and painting in her own palace.
Consort Li lived up to her name—she was the most beautiful of the four consorts and also the most favored. She was willful, fiery, and domineering.
Xue Youli had just finished listening to Ruyi’s introduction when a sharp crack rang out by her ear.
Smack!
“What do you think you are? You dared to dirty my shoe?”
A woman in a gorgeous pink palace dress viciously slapped the woman in front of her. Her hand was strong, and the other woman’s face swelled on the spot.
Xue Youli looked up at the woman who had done the slapping and immediately knew her identity.
[Name: Shen Ruolan, 17 years old, second daughter of the Duke of Anguo, bestowed the rank of Fourth-Rank Concubine Lan.]
Duke Anguo Shen Hongwen was a veteran official who served two emperors, having followed the late emperor on campaigns across the realm and earned considerable military merit.
Shen Hongwen’s younger sister had once been married to the late emperor as a consort, but unfortunately she “died of illness” during the previous round of palace intrigue.
Now Shen Hongwen was sending his second daughter into the palace, clearly with designs on the empress position.
However, Shen Ruolan had been spoiled since childhood—willful and domineering. On only her second day in the palace, she was already trying to establish her authority before everyone.
The woman she slapped was named Meng Yishu, the younger sister of the original owner’s ex-boyfriend, who had been bestowed the rank of Seventh-Rank Talented Lady.
Seeing that Meng Yishu remained silent, Shen Ruolan grabbed her by the hair and shoved her head toward the ground. “Lick my shoes clean!”
The passing consorts and concubines, catching sight of the arrogant woman, wanted no trouble and lowered their heads, detouring around them.
Xue Youli also wanted no part in this affair and was about to leave.
However, when her gaze swept past the person behind Meng Yishu, her steps came to an abrupt halt.
Xue Qingyao!
Standing behind Meng Yishu was actually the long-missing Xue Qingyao!