Empress Dowager Guo, seated regally upon the throne, looked down at Qin Shu who was maintaining a respectful posture and said, “Given your delicate health, there’s no need to kneel. You may rise.”
Qin Shu, ever meticulous in her etiquette, performed a graceful bow and said, “Thank you, Empress Dowager.” She then stood up, remaining respectfully in place.
Empress Dowager Guo continued, “Speaking of which, when you were young, the late Emperor and I once held you in our arms. Later, you accompanied your parents to Southern Xiang City. Ten years have passed in the blink of an eye, and you’ve grown into a fine young woman. Lift your head and let the Emperor and me have a look at you.”
Upon hearing this, Qin Shu slightly raised her head.
She knew Xuan Yuan Che was still staring at her, so she decided not to avoid his gaze and met his eyes directly.
As their eyes locked, she noticed that beneath the twelve strings of white jade beads hanging from his crown, the corners of his lips were curved into a faint smile.
Was he smiling at her? And so gently at that?
Something felt off—
Qin Shu had seen all the late Emperor’s sons during her childhood in the capital, and Xuan Yuan Che was no exception. However, ten years had passed since then, and she had long forgotten those memories. There was no connection between them, let alone any friendship.
The late Emperor had nine sons, with Xuan Yuan Che being the third. After the late Emperor’s passing, except for the two youngest princes, the remaining seven brothers fought ruthlessly for the throne, engaging in fratricidal conflicts amidst constant danger. Ultimately, Xuan Yuan Che emerged victorious in the succession struggle. He was notorious for his decisive ruthlessness and cold-blooded indifference.
The more she pondered it, the more she felt that this inexplicable smile carried an unusual and eerie undertone.
Just as Qin Shu’s thoughts began to wander, Empress Dowager Guo’s voice sounded again, “Indeed, you are like a lotus emerging from water—elegant, graceful, and breathtakingly beautiful.”
Qin Shu replied with great humility, “Thank you for your praise, Empress Dowager. I am unworthy of such compliments.”
Empress Dowager Guo nodded in satisfaction and said with a smile, “What does the Emperor think?”
Xuan Yuan Che, his gaze fixed on the person below, responded, “Just as Mother Empress has said.”
The attending eunuch immediately understood the implication and announced loudly, “Qin Shu of the Duke Stabilizing Country Residence, your name is retained.”
Qin Shu was not at all surprised by this outcome, as the result had long been predetermined. After expressing her gratitude, her group’s turn concluded, and it was time for the next group to enter.
The six women in her group followed the eunuch who had initially led them to Ruyi Hall and exited until they reached the Gate of Compliant Virtue.
Xin Lian and Xin Yi, seeing their young mistress emerge, immediately went up to her.
The guiding eunuch bowed to Qin Shu and said, “This servant congratulates Miss Qin on your elevation to palace consort. You need only return to your residence and await the edict of appointment, which will likely be delivered to your esteemed residence tomorrow.”
Qin Shu covered her mouth and coughed twice, acknowledged his words, then boarded the carriage and headed straight back to the Duke Stabilizing Country Residence in Sun City.
…
As the sun set in the west and night approached, the imperial palace was brightly lit.
In the Emperor’s bedchamber, the Sacred Sun Palace.
After a full day of the Palace Selection, Xuan Yuan Che showed signs of weariness. Having removed his crown and dragon robe, he changed into comfortable informal attire and sat before a tea table, savoring a freshly brewed cup of fragrant tea.
At that moment, a eunuch entered, knelt, and reported, “Your Majesty, the Empress requests an audience outside.”
Xuan Yuan Che set down his white jade teacup and said calmly, “Allow her to enter.”
The eunuch acknowledged with a “Yes,” then went to the entrance of the hall to invite the Empress inside.
Shortly after, a woman entered. She wore a nine-tailed phoenix hairpin, and her luxurious attire was embroidered with phoenix and peony patterns, exuding dignity and grandeur that unmistakably signified her status as Empress. Standing in the candlelight, her radiant beauty was illuminated, yet she retained the gentle warmth befitting a wife.
Wang Wan Ning stepped forward and performed a curtsy. “Your humble consort congratulates Your Majesty on gaining a beautiful addition to the harem.”
Xuan Yuan Che’s gaze swept over the person standing before him, but he didn’t dwell on the matter. Instead, he asked, “What brings the Empress here at this moment?”
Wang Wan Ning signaled her attendant to present a register. “These are the eight selected candidates from this year’s Palace Selection. The ranks for seven of them have already been determined. Only Qin Shu, daughter of the Duke Stabilizing Country, remains. I seek Your Majesty’s guidance on what rank should be granted to Lady Qin.”
Xuan Yuan Che didn’t even glance at the register. Instead, he picked up the teacup from the table and took a sip. “You’re testing my intentions!”
Although the Emperor’s tone was flat and devoid of fluctuation when he said this, its very calmness made it all the more unsettling.
Wang Wan Ning quickly explained, “Your humble consort wouldn’t dare. Qin Shu was personally selected by Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager, hence I didn’t dare make any presumptuous decisions.”
Xuan Yuan Che said, “In that case, grant her the rank of Consort.”
Consort? Wang Wan Ning’s heart skipped a beat. She knew that given Qin Shu’s background from the Duke Stabilizing Country Residence, the Emperor wouldn’t assign her too low a rank. However, no matter what, Qin Shu was still a new entry to the palace. Granting her the rank of Imperial Concubine, allowing her to become the mistress of a palace upon entry, should have been sufficient. She never expected she would be directly enfeoffed as a Consort.
Wang Wan Ning collected her thoughts and smiled. “There are originally supposed to be four Consort positions. Currently, there are three Consorts. With Qin Shu younger sister joining, we’ll have a complete set of four.”
She continued slowly, “As for the title for Qin Shu younger sister, I will order the Imperial Household Department to prepare suitable options promptly and present them for Your Majesty’s selection.”
Xuan Yuan Che said, “No need. I think the title ‘Consort Chen’ suits her well.”
Wang Wan Ning was slightly taken aback. Being enfeoffed as a Consort was one thing, but to be granted the title ‘Chen’—throughout successive dynasties, the uniqueness of this title was beyond doubt.
It seemed the status of the Duke Stabilizing Country Residence carried significant weight in the Emperor’s heart.
She maintained her smile, perfectly embodying the dignity expected of an Empress, and acquiesced to the Emperor’s words. Then she continued, “Does Your Majesty have any other instructions? If not, I will make the arrangements.”
Xuan Yuan Che: “Mm, you may go.”
Wang Wan Ning performed another curtsy. “Yes, your humble consort takes her leave.”
After exiting the Sacred Sun Palace, Ling Qian, the palace maid closely attending the Empress, whispered, “Your Majesty, didn’t you speculate that the Emperor was wary of the Qin family’s military power and harbored suspicions towards them, which was why he selected the Qin family’s legitimate daughter to enter the Imperial Harem? Why would he still grant her the rank of Consort?”
Wang Wan Ning paused in her steps, glanced back at the palace behind her, then continued walking outward. She said coldly, “Suspicions are one thing, but the dignity of the Duke Stabilizing Country Residence must still be respected. Although this somewhat exceeds my expectations, what does it matter if she’s granted Consort rank? I am the Empress, the mistress who controls the Imperial Harem. Once she enters the harem, no matter who she is, she won’t be able to escape my grasp.”
Ling Qian promptly agreed, “Your Majesty is absolutely right. Moreover, this Miss Qin has been frail and sickly since childhood. I heard that during the Palace Selection, when she knelt to pay respects to the Emperor and Empress Dowager, she turned pale and weak after just that one kneel, even coughing feebly a couple of times. With such a delicate constitution, what impact could she possibly make?”
Wang Wan Ning wouldn’t take Qin Shu seriously. It was Noble Consort Lan, who enjoyed the Emperor’s favor and held the Authority to manage the Imperial Harem, who required closer attention.
With a composed expression, she said to the maid beside her, “There’s no need to say more. Since Qin Shu has been appointed as Consort Chen, the one who should be anxious is not me.”
Ling Qian immediately understood, smiled lightly, and carefully assisted the Empress onto the phoenix carriage to return to Phoenix Sun Palace.