Sun City, the capital, Duke Stabilizing Country Residence.
After waking up early, Qin Shu was attended to by her maids Xin Lian and Xin Yi, completing her washing and dressing before heading to her mother’s courtyard to join her for breakfast.
Her father needed to remain in Southern Xiang City and could not leave without authorization, her eldest brother was even farther away at the western frontier, and her second brother was tied up with important duties. Thus, for this trip to the capital to participate in the Palace Selection, it was her mother and third brother who accompanied her.
Qin Shu was quite annoyed about entering the palace as a consort—after all, her carefree and unrestrained good days were coming to an end—but it was impossible for her to be depressed about it.
From the moment she was born in this life, she had lived luxuriously and comfortably, but that didn’t mean she was incompetent.
Wasn’t it just about dealing with the emperor and a bunch of women in the Imperial Harem? For her, it was as easy as taking candy from a baby.
Soon, Qin Shu arrived at her mother’s courtyard.
As soon as she entered the room, she walked up to her mother and cheerfully called out, “Mother,” and “Third Brother.”
Seeing Qin Shu arrive, Xie Ying took her hand and led her to sit at the dining table, saying, “Shu’er, come, let’s have breakfast first.”
Qin Shu looked at her third brother and said, “Third Brother, come sit down and eat quickly too.”
Qin Yu didn’t say much else, simply replying, “Alright.”
Qin Shu’s gaze fell on her third brother—his hair tied up with a jade crown, wearing an ice-blue brocade robe, a graceful young man of indescribable elegance and uprightness.
It had to be said, the Qin family’s genes were truly excellent. Her three older brothers were each exceptionally handsome; if placed in her previous life, their looks would have been more than enough to rival top male celebrities.
Thinking of this, Qin Shu couldn’t help but wonder about the rumors she had heard regarding Xuan Yuan Che’s appearance. The world said he was divinely handsome, with jade-like features and extraordinary beauty. During yesterday’s Palace Selection, she hadn’t gotten a clear look at the emperor’s true appearance, and she didn’t know how he compared to her three brothers—whether he was truly as the rumors claimed.
Soon, breakfast concluded.
In less than half an hour, a servant came in to announce that a eunuch from the palace had arrived to deliver an imperial decree.
Immediately, Xie Ying brought Qin Yu and Qin Shu to the main hall to receive the decree.
The eunuch unrolled the conferment edict and proclaimed: “By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Qin Shu, legitimate daughter of the Duke Stabilizing Country Residence, born of noble lineage with both talent and beauty, is specially conferred as Consort Chen, granted residence in Yuehua Palace, and shall enter the palace three days hence. So it is decreed.”
Xie Ying, Qin Yu, and Qin Shu: “We thank Your Majesty for your great kindness.”
Qin Shu received the decree from the eunuch’s hands. Not only her, but even her mother and third brother were quite surprised—she was actually being conferred as Consort Chen?
Qin Yu presented the prepared silver notes to the decree-proclaiming eunuch.
Having received the reward, the eunuch was naturally pleased. With the conferment decree delivered, he explained all the details of entering the palace three days later to Qin Shu.
According to this eunuch, including Qin Shu, there were a total of eight selected women who passed the Palace Selection this time. However, apart from her direct conferment as a consort, the other seven all received positions below ‘Consort,’ with only two among them being conferred as ‘Jieyu.’
The eunuch flattered and praised Qin Shu, saying that entering the palace with the rank of Consort made her uniquely favored by heaven, and she would surely enjoy continuous imperial favor in the future.
With all matters completed, the eunuch found it inappropriate to linger and took his leave.
At this moment, with no outsiders around, Qin Shu heard her mother sighing beside her. Understanding the reason for her mother’s mood, she linked arms with her mother and said in an intimate tone, “Mother, don’t worry, I can handle it.”
Xie Ying’s eyes were full of affection for her daughter. “After all these years, despite all the effort we’ve expended, we ultimately couldn’t escape this fate.”
Qin Yu said in a serious tone, “Currently, in the Imperial Harem, the Empress and Noble Consort Lan are locked in a rivalry. With our younger sister being directly appointed as Consort Chen upon entering the palace, she is bound to draw their attention. The struggle for favor in the Imperial Harem has always involved every possible means. From now on, our younger sister must be extra cautious and can no longer act as freely as she did in our own residence.”
Xie Ying nodded, “Shu’er, your third brother is right. The title of Consort Chen is of extraordinary significance. Our Emperor is deep and inscrutable—his intention in bestowing this title upon you remains unclear. Once you enter the palace, you must be careful in all matters.”
Qin Shu understood that her entry into the palace was already a settled matter. She would not let her family worry unnecessarily and replied earnestly, “Mother, I will keep all your advice firmly in mind. Although I have pretended to be pitiful and frail since childhood, feigning illness to outsiders, have you forgotten, Mother, that I am not truly a sickly weakling?”
At these words, Xie Ying and the others were well aware.
Indeed, Qin Shu had been exceptionally intelligent since childhood, full of countless ingenious ideas. Even in martial arts, her attainments far surpassed those of ordinary people.
If not for their hope that Qin Shu could avoid these affairs, they would not have needed her to present herself in such a manner all along.
“Younger sister, while that may be true, you still must not be careless,” Qin Yu said gently, looking at her. “But having said that, your entry into the palace as a consort inevitably involves many complications. In the future, by the Emperor’s side, while caution is necessary, you need not endure undue hardship. Remember, behind you stands the entire Duke Stabilizing Country Residence.”
“Third Brother, I understand. I won’t let myself be taken advantage of,” Qin Shu said, then turned to her mother. “This matter is already set in stone, Mother. Please set your mind at ease—I will handle it appropriately and not place myself in danger.”
Xie Ying took Qin Shu’s hand, holding it tightly in her own. Tears glistened in her eyes; though her heart was filled with countless reluctances, the imperial decree had been issued, leaving no room for change.
After all, the palace gates were as deep as the sea—from then on, even seeing her daughter regularly would be exceedingly difficult.
…
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
That day, early in the morning at the hour of Mao, the carriage to escort Qin Shu into the palace was already waiting outside the main gate of the Duke Stabilizing Country Residence.
Qin Shu bid farewell to her mother and third brother, then left the residence and boarded the palace carriage, which set off toward the imperial palace.
After some time, the carriage gradually came to a halt, and the voice of the eunuch driver could be heard from outside.
“Consort Chen, we have arrived at Yuehua Palace.”
Xin Lian and Xin Yi assisted Qin Shu as she stepped down from the carriage.
At that moment, the morning sun had risen over the horizon, its golden autumn warmth casting a brilliant glow upon the glazed tiles of the palace walls, making them shine even more radiantly.
Qin Shu gazed out—the imperial palace, with its boundless wealth and luxury, was endlessly magnificent. Yet the sky within her view was confined to a square, ultimately restrictive.
The eunuch ahead respectfully guided Qin Shu into Yuehua Palace.
As Qin Shu stepped through the palace gate, she had to admit—it was no wonder it was called “Yuehua Palace.” The architecture of this palace bore some resemblance to the Moon Palace depicted in paintings, ethereal and transcendent. The osmanthus trees planted in the courtyard filled the air with a refreshing fragrance, perfectly complementing the scene.
At the same time, Qin Shu noticed a eunuch around thirty years old leading a group of young eunuchs and palace maids kneeling in the courtyard. Upon her entry, they chorused, “Your servants welcome Consort Chen. May Consort Chen enjoy boundless blessings and peace.”
Qin Shu swept her gaze over them and said calmly, “Rise.”
“Thank you, Consort Chen.”
Seeing this, the eunuch who had guided the way bowed at her side and said, “Consort Chen, we have arrived at Yuehua Palace. This servant will take his leave now.”
Qin Shu gave Xin Lian a meaningful glance, and Xin Lian handed a silver ingot to the eunuch.
The eunuch: “Thank you for your reward, Consort Chen.”
Then, Qin Shu walked straight into the main hall of Yuehua Palace and seated herself upright in the central master’s seat. Today, she officially took possession of Yuehua Palace!