In the third month of the fourth year of Emperor Yuanli’s reign, the Minor Selection took place.
The Daxing Dynasty followed the tradition of the previous dynasty: one Minor Selection per year, one Grand Selection every three years.
The Minor Selection was meant to replenish the number of palace maids in the imperial palace, while the Grand Selection was meant to fill the harems of the emperor and the many members of the imperial family. For instance, a prince’s principal consort would certainly come from the Grand Selection.
Rongyu and Consort Gao had participated in the Minor Selection of the third year of Yuanli’s reign; the two of them were considered to be of relatively high birth among those selected.
In truth, if the two of them had been willing to wait and participate in the Grand Selection of the fifth year of Yuanli’s reign, they could have barely managed it. However, their families harbored ambitions of one sort or another—they had long since learned that the Fourth Prince was destined for greatness, and so they were willing to let their own ladies suffer a slight disadvantage by participating in this year’s Minor Selection.
In the end, Consort Gao was simply unlucky—she encountered her mother’s funeral right after the Minor Selection, which gave Rongyu the sole opportunity to shine.
Originally, the Gao family had wanted their lady to seize the top position through her childhood bond with the prince, and later contend for the position of Side Consort, and even greater honors in the future.
But man proposes, heaven disposes. The Gao family had to change their strategy. Having learned of Consort Fuca’s position in the Fourth Prince’s heart, they had their lady cultivate a close relationship with Consort Fuca.
It could be said that this twist of fate was what made Rongyu’s success possible.
In this Minor Selection, Emperor Yuanli assigned two Shuren to each of the two princes of marriageable age. Judging by the backgrounds of the four beauties, the Fourth Prince’s side was clearly superior to the Fifth Prince’s—and among them was a beauty from a foreign tribe.
The Daxing Dynasty’s imperial surname was Baili, and it was a Han Chinese dynasty. The current Emperor Yuanli was its fifth sovereign. Adhering to the principle of embracing all peoples, the Daxing Dynasty never excluded people of other ethnicities.
Take Rongyu’s family, for example—they were of pure Manchu blood. The ancestors of the Manchu people had submitted to the Baili family at the founding of the Daxing Dynasty, and they were the most favored among all foreign bloodlines. Nevertheless, there remained some differences from pure Han Chinese, which was the main reason Rongyu could only participate in the Minor Selection.
Submission was one thing, but it still depended on how the one above chose to view it.
As for this newly arrived foreign beauty, she was a noble lady of the White-Clad Tribe, which had surrendered to Daxing only this year.
The White-Clad Tribe’s royal surname was Jin. Before their surrender, they had been the White-Clad Kingdom, with a very small territory. Now they had become a vassal of Daxing and were directly renamed the White-Clad Tribe.
This noble lady was the eldest legitimate daughter of the White-Clad Tribe’s prince—there was no denying her high status. But alas, she was already a princess of a fallen kingdom, and this time she had only obtained the position of Shuren.
The other was Lady Su, a beauty presented as tribute from the Jiangnan region. Under the pretext of this Minor Selection, Emperor Yuanli had directly sent her into the Fourth Prince’s residence.
The influence of a vassal state’s power combined with the support of Jiangnan officials—other than young children who knew nothing, who could fail to understand the intent behind this?
“Sister Rong, do take this seriously! Have you seen how arrogant that Lady Jin is? She’s clearly not putting the two of us in her eyes at all. How can you still be in the mood to tend to your strawberries?” Consort Gao was furious watching Rongyu still watering her strawberry seedlings, wishing she could crack open her head to see what was inside.
Rongyu set down her watering can, washed her hands with Muxi’s assistance, then gently stroked Consort Gao’s black hair and smiled. “Why are you more anxious than I am? Neither of our two new sisters is anything like you—our lord hasn’t reduced the number of visits to your courtyard at all.”
Consort Gao grew even angrier at Rongyu’s nonchalant words. She brushed away Rongyu’s hand and said bluntly, “I’m worried for you! Anyone with eyes can see that our lord visits Qiuxi Garden more often than Rongmuzhai these days. Even the main kitchen has been perfunctory with Cheng Mu lately.”
Indeed, there was reason to worry for Rongyu. Lady Jin was also a stunning beauty, and her exotic charm was no less—if anything, more—than Rongyu’s.
As a newcomer, Lady Jin also held the appeal of novelty, so naturally the Fourth Prince’s heart had been drawn to her. Though he hadn’t gone so far as to neglect Rongyu, it was a far cry from the previous state of affairs when Rongyu had commanded half his attention.
Amusingly enough, two months had passed since Lady Jin entered the residence, and Rongyu had never once laid eyes on her.
Rongyu didn’t care much for going out, devoting herself entirely to the little world of Rongmuzhai. Now, after her efforts at cultivation, the courtyard was completely different from its original plain state with just a single peach tree: it was now planted with various kinds of flowers and greenery, as well as edible fruits. The strawberries, for instance, were cuttings Rongyu had specifically begged the Fourth Prince to find for her. For this, Muyun had even specially learned fruit and vegetable cultivation from an experienced old eunuch. Now they were growing splendidly, and it wouldn’t be long before they bore fruit.
Then there was her research into food and cooking—these things occupied most of Rongyu’s time. She had always been someone who disliked going out, and Lady Jin, being currently favored, naturally wouldn’t do anything she considered beneath her status. For her to take the initiative to visit was out of the question. This had resulted in the two of them knowing each other well by reputation yet never having actually met even once.
As for that Consort Su, she had a delicate, elegant appearance—far inferior to Consort Gao’s charming vivacity. She had received some favor when she first entered the residence, but now the Fourth Prince visited her Xinyi Garden perhaps only once or twice a month.
Presumably understanding her own situation, Consort Su was eager to find herself an ally—or rather, a patron. Without fail, she came to Rongmuzhai every two or three days.
She must have inquired about their temperaments beforehand, for every time she came, it was when Consort Gao was at Rongmuzhai, and she always prepared gifts for both of them, offending neither.
“By my reckoning, that one will be paying a visit again soon.” Seeing that Rongyu showed little reaction, Consort Gao turned to mention the other Meiren who was working so hard to make her presence known.
To be honest, Rongyu didn’t have much feeling toward Consort Su. After all, a person who loved quiet would hardly relish dealing day after day with a woman who vied for the same husband.
Of course, Consort Gao was an exception—the vast inner quarters needed a helping hand, and besides, her family and the Gao family were natural allies.
“Let her come. I’ll entertain her with good food and drink, and that will be enough. If you don’t wish to see her, go spend some time in the study. I’ve just blended a new incense—have Muxi take you to pick some out.”
“Muxi, let’s go.” Hearing Rongyu’s words, Consort Gao didn’t stand on ceremony at all, directly having Muxi lead the way to the main quarters.
No sooner had Consort Gao entered the main courtyard than Consort Su arrived with her maidservant.
“Sister Fucha, is Sister Gao not here?” After they exchanged greetings and Rongyu ordered tea to be set beneath the peach blossom tree, Consort Su asked.
“That little girl was greedy at lunch and drank an extra cup of Peach Blossom Brew. She’s resting in the inner chamber at the moment.”
“I see. Then please convey my regards to her on my behalf, Sister Fucha.”
“You are too kind, Shuren.”
“Sister Fucha is the one who is truly too kind. If you don’t mind, please call me Xin Yan.” Consort Su set down her teacup, uttering words that resembled an offer of allegiance.
“Xin Yan—what a lovely name. No wonder your words are so pleasant to hear.” Rongyu called her Xin Yan as a matter of course, but did not reveal her own given name.
Consort Su was a clever woman. She knew that this Consort Fucha had not accepted her overture. Disappointed, yes, but it was within her expectations, and she took her leave before long.
In truth, had Consort Su asked directly as Consort Gao had done back then, Rongyu would not have refused.
But the two Shuren’s backgrounds destined that Consort Su lacked Consort Gao’s confidence, and she instinctively placed herself on a level below Rongyu’s.
In Consort Su’s heart, her rival was Lady Jin; the other two had already walked far ahead of them.
Just as she entered the main quarters, Consort Gao’s voice came through: “She didn’t stay long today. At least she knows when to take a hint.”
“You were openly avoiding her. She’s a clever woman—how could she not know?” Rongyu found it amusing.
“It’s because my temper is too good. I should have refused to see her from the start. What a waste of my time.”
Consort Gao was always claiming to have a good temper, yet everyone in this rear courtyard knew that the sharpest temper of all belonged to Consort Gao of Qinglan.
Rongyu didn’t think it was a sharp temper at all. In truth, Consort Gao simply had a childlike disposition.
That wasn’t hard to understand—how mature could a girl of fifteen be? So long as you went along with her temperament, she was easy to get along with, far easier than those who schemed inwardly while maintaining a harmonious facade.
“Yes, yes, our Qingwen is magnanimous. Now then, isn’t His Highness coming to see you tonight? You’d best hurry back and prepare.”
“Sister Rong, I…” Consort Gao suddenly didn’t know what to say. She loved the Fourth Prince dearly, yet she also adored this sister before her who indulged her so much, and that was why she felt such awkward, complicated emotions toward Rongyu.
“Go on. My rivals aren’t you, so I won’t overthink it.” Rongyu habitually stroked Consort Gao’s hair.
For some reason, Consort Gao felt a pang of sadness in her heart. She suddenly wrapped her arms around Rongyu’s waist, nuzzling gently, and whispered, “I won’t harm you.”
Then, before Rongyu could react, she turned and ran out of Rongmuzhai.
“That little lady.”
If not Consort Gao, then who was the rival? It was the future mistress of that main courtyard, the endless stream of young beauties to come, and the unfathomable heart of the emperor in years ahead.
A soft sigh vanished with the wind. Neither Muyun nor Muxi said a word, for both knew in their hearts that the road ahead would not be easy to walk.