The Noble Consort’s surname was Shen, given name Ruxin. Her father was the General Who Pacifies the Nation, who had long ago died on the battlefield, having given his life in service to the country.
Su Qingyao remembered that she had entered the palace in the first year of Jianyuan, and it had now been three years. She was greatly favored by the emperor and seemed poised to become the most favored consort in the rear court.
Now, in the fourth year of Jianyuan, new palace consorts had entered and were already granted their respective ranks, each residing in their own palaces. It was time to go pay respects to the Noble Consort together.
Back then, her thoughts were simple. Hearing the news Liu Ye had gathered, she deliberately chose a peach-red dress to go pay respects, only to be inexplicably scolded by the Noble Consort, making a complete fool of herself on the spot.
Having lived a lifetime already, she now thought back on it without much anger. However… she could no longer bear to share a hall with others. If she were to remain as steady and unchanging as in her previous life, she would still have to live in this shabby little room for two more years before moving out.
That would be too torturous.
Thinking of this, Su Qingyao said, “You don’t need to do anything too elaborate. Just simply put my hair in a Peach Heart Chignon and add a Peach Blossom Branch Hairpin for decoration. That will be perfect.”
This hairpin was something she had brought from her family home into the palace. It had accompanied her throughout her entire life and had long since lost its luster. Now, seeing Liu Qin take it out from the box, it emitted a soft, radiant glow.
Yes, it was still new.
Liu Qin was quick and skilled with her hands, soon finishing the chignon. At that moment, Liu Ye also entered, holding a dress, ready to help her change.
The fabric of this dress was quite ordinary, with only the embroidery being somewhat unique. Wearing it, however, did not make her look old-fashioned. Paired with the lively Peach Heart Chignon, it still appeared refined and appropriate.
This outfit would definitely not upset the Noble Consort.
Su Qingyao turned in front of the bronze mirror, admiring her own youthful and graceful figure, and said with satisfaction, “Liu Ye, go fetch the morning meal later. Remember to get more porridge and side dishes.”
As a Xuanshi, her rank was low, and the food certainly wasn’t anything special. However, she did have some silver on hand. After fetching the porridge, she could add some red beans and peanuts and simmer it on a small stove for a while, which would help vary the taste.
Seeing that Mistress Su, who usually made few demands, was now being particular, Liu Ye felt somewhat annoyed but still went out with a pout.
Liu Qin, afraid that Su Qingyao might feel upset, quickly comforted her, “She doesn’t understand things. Mistress, don’t take it to heart.”
Su Qingyao patted Liu Qin’s hand. “Why would I take it to heart?”
As they spoke, Liu Qin took out a small piece of walnut pastry for her to snack on. By the time she finished eating, it was almost time, and the two prepared to leave.
The weather in early April was neither too hot nor too cold, just as spring flowers were in full bloom, adding a touch of liveliness and charm to the dignified and solemn Changxin Palace.
Seeing the sun was bright, Su Qingyao did not wear an outer robe and left her bedchamber with Liu Qin.
Outside was the shared hall with Sun Xuanshi. The door opposite was tightly shut, making it impossible to see inside.
Liu Qin whispered in her ear, “Mistress Sun left two ke earlier.”
Su Qingyao nodded and led Liu Qin out at a leisurely pace.
As a mistress of the lower three ranks, currently only of the eighth rank, she was not allowed to use the main gate of Biyun Palace. She had to find a side gate to exit.
She no longer remembered the name of the old nanny guarding the gate. Liu Qin stepped forward and affectionately called out “He Momo,” and she silently committed the name to memory.
He Momo was also a veteran of the palace, with her own set of principles for handling matters. Even when facing a low-ranking mistress like Su Qingyao, she remained courteous: "Mistress, please take your time. Just call for this old woman when you return."
Su Qingyao smiled at her and left Biyun Palace with Liu Qin.
Biyun Palace was located in the Eastern Six Palaces. After passing through the back alley in front of the palace gate, they entered the long Ruyi Lane. Noble Consort resided in Fengluan Palace just ahead, a walk of less than a quarter of an hour.
The palace lane was empty and desolate, with no shade from trees. The Golden Crow hanging in the sky shone directly upon the earth, heating the bluestone-paved path until it felt hot underfoot.
Even wearing thick-soled embroidered shoes, Su Qingyao felt a warm, cozy sensation.
She didn’t find the journey arduous at all. Just as a spring breeze brushed by, she smiled and said to Liu Qin, "Casually recognizing the east wind’s face, a thousand purples and reds are always spring. This is the best season of the year; if we have time, we should appreciate it more."
Liu Qin, who had never studied, flattered her: "Mistress is truly learned. Those words sound so beautiful."
As soon as she finished speaking, they heard a sneer from behind: "Pretentious."
Su Qingyao lowered her gaze, took a deep breath, and looked back.
There, she saw a beautiful woman in goose-yellow robes, surrounded by palace attendants, approaching.
Though described as "surrounded," she only had one more junior palace maid accompanying her than Su Qingyao. However, her attire was exquisitely refined, clearly indicating a much higher rank.
Having not seen these "old friends" for decades, Su Qingyao squinted and studied her for a long while before remembering who she was.
This was Wu Jieyu, who had entered the palace the same year as her. Now enjoying great favor, her influence was approaching that of the Four Consorts.
Su Qingyao strained her memory and recalled that Wu Jieyu had fallen out of favor not long after, her rank remaining unchanged as Jieyu.
It was precisely because of this encounter that she suddenly felt a sense of novelty.
She had observed and pondered the affairs and people of the palace for a lifetime. Starting over, she still discovered details she had never noticed before.
For instance, in her memory, she had never seen Wu Jieyu act so "overbearing."
With this thought, she felt her heart surge with excitement, filled with joy.
Having lived a plain and uneventful life, sometimes in the depths of midnight dreams, she found it all rather dull. Because her days had been too boring, starting anew, in just half an hour, these small discoveries made everything feel incredibly interesting.
It was like watching a theatrical performance she had never truly appreciated before—everyone’s attire, movements, and lines required her careful savoring, pondering their hidden meanings.
Interesting, utterly fascinating.
Wu Jieyu had originally intended to mock her a few words, but seeing her standing by the roadside in a daze, she felt too lazy to bother.
Plain in appearance, ordinary in background, and now appearing dull-witted—speaking to her felt beneath her dignity.
It could be said that Su Qingyao was unlucky. Her grandfather was the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner of Nanyang Province, a third-rank official overseeing the judicial affairs of an entire province. By this measure, she came from a distinguished family. Unfortunately, neither her father nor her uncle had followed in their grandfather’s footsteps, achieving neither high nor low success. The highest rank they attained was sixth-rank Assistant Prefect, and even that was through hereditary privilege. Over the years, they had never amounted to much.
Su Qingyao had barely entered the palace when her grandfather retired. Her title of Xuanshi was granted by the Empress Dowager out of respect for the old master. Otherwise, based on her father’s official rank, she would have been nothing more than a Virtuous Lady.
Because of this, her first few years in the palace were exceedingly difficult.
However, all that was in the past. Now that she had been given a second chance, she absolutely could not let her life turn out that way again.
Seeing Wu Jieyu strutting past her with an air of arrogance, Su Qingyao curtsied as well: "Greetings, Jieyu Niangniang."
Wu Jieyu snorted coldly: "Rise."
Su Qingyao did not move, waiting until she had walked far away before standing up and continuing forward.
Liu Qin felt sorry for her mistress. Once the other woman was out of earshot, she muttered quietly, "What an unpleasant attitude."
Su Qingyao patted her hand and gently advised, "It doesn’t affect us in any way, so why bother getting angry with her? It seems she won’t remain prosperous for much longer anyway."
Liu Qin was actually a year older than Su Qingyao, but she hadn’t expected to be the one receiving advice. She couldn’t help but feel both amused and exasperated: "Mistress, how old are you? Why do you sound like an old lady already?"
"You silly girl," Su Qingyao was momentarily taken aback by her words, then smiled, "Perhaps it’s just that I have a good mindset."
With her good mindset, Xuanshi Su made her way to the front of Fengluan Palace and quietly stood at the very back.
It had been decades since she last saw them, and now these old faces had suddenly regained their youthful appearances. She needed to observe and memorize them one by one, slowly and carefully. If she called someone by the wrong name, it could lead to serious trouble.
Sun Xuanshi stood right beside her. Seeing Su Qingyao constantly looking around, she couldn’t help but whisper a reminder: "You must not look directly at Niangniang."
Su Qingyao turned to look at her, about to thank her, when a low voice came from inside Fengluan Palace: "Niangniang summons you to enter."
Thus, Su Qingyao and Sun Xuanshi had no time to speak further. Following Zhang Cairen and Zheng Cairen ahead of them, they slowly made their way inside Fengluan Palace.
Unlike the cramped West Side Hall of Biyun Palace, the three-courtyard Fengluan Palace was spacious and bright. The front courtyard alone had two small flower beds, where blossoms in vibrant shades of purple and red bloomed brilliantly, radiating the brightness of spring.
A tall, slender auntie stood in front of the main hall, her voice drawn out as she announced: "Niangniang has just risen and is suffering from a headache. All Niangniangs and mistresses, please keep your voices low so as not to disturb Niangniang’s well-being."
Noble Consort Niangniang was currently the highest-ranking figure in the palace. No one dared to ignore the words spoken by her chief auntie.
All the imperial consorts, both high and low, curtsied in unison, acknowledging Qiu Gugu’s words.
Qiu Gugu swept her gaze over them, satisfied to see everyone with lowered eyes and obedient expressions. "Niangniangs and mistresses, please proceed."
Everyone kept their heads down as they entered. Only when they stepped into the main hall of Fengluan Palace did the newly entered junior consorts realize just how magnificent the Fengluan Palace, where Noble Consort Niangniang resided, truly was.
In her previous life, although she had been neither favored nor high-ranking, Su Qingyao had visited Fengluan Palace many times and was not unfamiliar with it. Today, suddenly revisiting this old place, she pretended to look around curiously, just like the other new palace consorts.
But this glance revealed something slightly different to her.
The main hall of Fengluan Palace was arranged with elegant simplicity. The decorations on the antique display shelf were also very classical, displayed in a dazzling array. However, there was conspicuously no "child holding a pomegranate" ornament, which symbolized fertility and good fortune.
This ornament had been very popular in the palace during the year she first entered. She had even been tempted to acquire one to borrow some of its auspiciousness. Later, she discovered that the seasoned officials at the Shang Gong Bureau demanded exorbitant prices, and in the end, she had to regretfully give up the idea.
It was precisely because of this that she remembered the matter particularly clearly.
As the currently most favored palace consort, holding the rank of first-class, why did Shen Ruxin not display this ornament?
Su Qingyao withdrew her gaze and stood with Sun Xuanshi at the very back, bowing her head and waiting quietly for the grand arrival of the Noble Consort.
Sure enough, once the consorts and mistresses in the front hall had settled into their positions, Qiu Gugu turned and entered the bedchamber on the right, personally escorting Noble Consort out.
"Noble Consort has arrived."
At her announcement, the consorts rose in unison, waiting for Noble Consort Shen to enter with measured steps.
A waft of fragrant breeze swept in as the palace's most dazzling and radiant beauty entered the Main Hall. Supported by two palace attendants, she took deliberate steps to the main seat and slowly settled into it.
"Noble Consort, may you be blessed with peace and auspiciousness." The consorts seated at the front curtsied deeply, while the mistresses at the back promptly knelt, performing the full kowtow.
Aside from the new Emperor and Empress, Su Qingyao hadn't knelt to anyone in years, yet her ingrained habits made the act feel entirely natural. She knelt steadily alongside the others, keeping her head bowed in silence.
Shen Ruxin's voice was gentle as she said, "Rise, you may stand."
Only after the consorts had taken their seats did Su Qingyao rise with the other mistresses. No sooner had she steadied herself than Shen Ruxin spoke again: "The newly arrived sisters haven't had much chance to speak. Please step forward."
Su Qingyao could no longer recall the exact pretext used to punish her in the past. She only remembered that, for wearing the same color as Noble Consort, she had been sent to a side hall to receive instruction on palace rules from Noble Consort's senior palace maid. She endured on an empty stomach until noon before being released, her stomach aching for two days afterward.
Just as she stepped forward today, a sharp, high-pitched voice rang out from outside: "His Majesty has arrived!"
Su Qingyao froze. Why had he come?