"Shen Ying was also selected," Mu Li murmured. She and Shen Ying were not in the same group, so she hadn't known that Shen Ying had been chosen as well.
Wen Yue responded, "Yes, Mistress."
"Since Auntie has been in the palace the longest, please tell me about the situation here," Mu Li said softly.
Wen Yue explained one by one: "His Majesty has only been on the throne for three years, so there aren't many consorts in the Imperial Consorts' Palace. The Empress is His Majesty's first wife, and they have always treated each other with respect, but the central palace has no heirs. Consort De is also an old-timer from Qian Di. She once became pregnant but suffered a miscarriage that damaged her health. Consort Rong entered the Eastern Palace when His Majesty was still the Crown Prince. She is deeply favored by the Emperor and gave birth to his only son. Rou Chongyi is perhaps the most inconspicuous person in the Imperial Consorts' Palace. She does not compete or fight for favor and maintains good relations with everyone. Consort Jin's favor rivals that of Consort Rong. Half of the times His Majesty visits the Imperial Consorts' Palace each month are spent in Jingyang Palace. Consort Jin also has a daughter, the Second Princess, Princess Yao Hua, who is the Emperor's most beloved princess. In comparison, the favor shown to Noble Consort Xu, who also has a daughter, the Eldest Princess, Princess Yue Hua, is rather ordinary. Then there are Zheng Ronghua, Beauty Wang, and others, all of whom are old-timers in the palace."
"Consort De? Logically, she should have appeared at the Palace Selection. Why wasn't she there?" Mu Li asked, puzzled.
Wen Yue understood: "Mistress, you may not know this, but Consort De has devoted herself to Buddhism ever since her miscarriage damaged her health. She rarely even pays respects to the Empress Dowager and the Empress, spending most of her time in the Buddhist Chapel at Huayang Palace. Therefore, the matters of the Imperial Selection were entrusted to the Empress and Consort Rong."
Mu Li knew that in the depths of the palace, two things mattered most: favor and heirs. Without either, how could one survive in this deep palace? Everyone here was drawn to power and influence.
Mu Li looked at Wen Yue and said word by word, "Auntie is an old-timer in the palace. I am very reassured to entrust Qingzhu Small Courtyard to you, and I hope Auntie will be of one heart with me."
"Mistress, what are you saying? This servant will serve you wholeheartedly, with absolute loyalty," Wen Yue immediately replied.
Mu Li curved her lips slightly. After Wen Yue withdrew, only the three of them—master and servants—remained in the room.
"Chang Xiu, Shan Wu, this palace is full of traps. Both of you must be cautious in everything and not easily trust anyone. Otherwise, if something happens, with my current rank, I won't be able to protect the three of us," Mu Li said, looking at her two maids with a serious expression.
The two maids exchanged glances and said, "Mistress, rest assured, we will definitely be careful."
Chang Xiu asked, "Mistress, can we trust the people in Qingzhu Small Courtyard?"
Mu Li thought for a moment and said, "Let's observe for now. There's no rush."
"Then, Mistress, who do you think among the newcomers will be the first to serve the night?" Shan Wu leaned in and asked.
Chang Xiu pondered and said, "Unless something unexpected happens, the first to serve the night should be Concubine Qing."
Mu Li nodded and said, "That's correct."
Today was the first day the newcomers entered the palace. Being chosen for the first night of favor indicated the Emperor's regard for you and your family.
That night, the Chief Eunuch Li De went to Changle Palace to announce the decree. Without a doubt, the first to serve the night was Concubine Qing.
Yong'an Palace
Consort Rong was sitting before the mirror, while her senior palace maid, Qinxin, was combing her hair.
At that moment, a palace maid entered and whispered a few words into Qinxin's ear, after which Qinxin signaled for the maid to leave. Consort Rong opened her beautiful eyes and asked in a calm tone, "Who is serving the Emperor tonight?"
"Your Highness, it is Concubine Qing," Qinxin replied.
Fearing that Consort Rong might be displeased, Qinxin added, "Your Highness, Concubine Qing is Empress Dowager's own niece. It is only natural that she would be the first to serve the Emperor."
"With Duke Dingguo's household and the Empress Dowager backing her, I naturally won't make an issue of it. Have you found out which palace Mu Li was assigned to?" Consort Rong stroked her dark hair, her tone unhurried.
Having been confined to Yong'an Palace for days, Consort Rong was unaware of the news from outside.
Qinxin replied softly, "Your Highness, rest assured. Noble Lady Mu is now residing in Qingzhu Small Courtyard, which is quite remote!"
"Qingzhu Small Courtyard…" Consort Rong murmured, lost in thought.
Qingzhu Small Courtyard was tranquil and secluded, originally built for Empress Dowager's retirement. However, as Empress Dowager grew older, she was unwilling to relocate, leaving the courtyard vacant for two years.
Consort Rong frowned and asked, "Was it the Empress herself who issued the decree?"
Qinxin confirmed, "Indeed. The palace assignments for the new consorts were all directly decreed by Her Majesty the Empress."
"Hmph, she simply wants to use that Mu Li to divide the Emperor's favor from me. Our Empress certainly has her plans well laid out," Consort Rong said coldly.
Qinxin, however, was unconcerned: "Everyone in the palace knows that Your Highness is the Emperor's most favored consort. Moreover, our First Prince is the only prince in the palace. Why should you even bother with a Minor Noble like her?"
These words were exactly what Consort Rong loved to hear. She curled her lips and said, "You always know how to sweet-talk. That is true. However, we must still keep a close watch on Qingzhu Small Courtyard and ensure the Imperial Household Department is properly managed."
"Yes, I understand," Qinxin replied before withdrawing.
The next day, an imperial decree announcing Concubine Qing's promotion to Imperial Concubine Qing Wan was proclaimed throughout the Imperial Consorts' Palace.
Yuyang Palace
"We were both concubines of the same rank. How dare Xiao Shutong take precedence over me in serving the Emperor! It's all because she has the Empress Dowager as her aunt. My aunt is Imperial Consort Hui, the favored consort of the late Emperor!" The woman wore a light pink palace gown with pale yellow patterns on the hem and sleeves, embroidered with butterflies frolicking among hibiscus flowers, looking exceptionally beautiful. Xia Yun slightly raised her delicate face, her dark eyes flashing with anger.
Her nanny, Madam Zhang, seeing this, changed her expression: "Oh, my lady, we are in the palace now. Such words must not be spoken. What if someone with ill intentions overhears?"
"Nanny, I know. But I just can't accept it. Why must she always overshadow me?" Xia Yun lowered her voice, her face filled with resentment.
Xia Yun had never gotten along with Xiao Shutong since their days in the inner chambers. At every banquet where Xiao Shutong was present, all eyes would be on her, leaving no one to notice Xia Yun. They were both legitimate daughters of first-rank Duke households—why must she always play second fiddle to Xiao Shutong? Was it simply because she was the Emperor's cousin and Empress Dowager's own niece?
Madam Zhang spoke earnestly: "My lady, have you forgotten what your mother told you? Imperial Concubine Qing Wan is Empress Dowager's own niece. Even if it's just out of respect for Empress Dowager, the Emperor would naturally choose her on the first night."
As she spoke, an older palace maid entered. The maid bowed to Xia Yun and said, "Consort Yun, this servant is from Imperial Consort Hui's palace. Her Highness says you should remain patient, as The Emperor will surely summon you eventually. Please set your mind at ease."
Facing someone from Imperial Consort Hui's side, Xia Yun naturally dared not show any neglect: "My aunt is right, Yun'er understands. Please convey to my aunt that in a few days, Yun'er will go to see her."
"Yes, this servant takes her leave." With that, she respectfully bowed and withdrew.
Xia Yun put away her smile, her tone indifferent: "Xiao Shutong, you just wait. One day I will stand above you."