Yanqi Empire
In the thirty-fifth year of Shunfeng, the new Emperor, Feng Xuanyi, ascended the throne and changed the era name to Shunxing. Thus, the thirty-fifth year of Shunfeng became the first year of Shunxing.
“The Emperor Proclaims:
I hereby command the Ministries of Personnel and Rites to uphold this decree and conduct a public circuit through the prefectures and counties. Any maiden who has reached the age of pinning but has not yet passed the age of twenty-four, who possesses a refined and elegant countenance, proper deportment, and is talented in the six arts, shall be included among those to be vetted. You are commanded to bear my decree, submit their names, and verify their persons. On the sixth day of the sixth month, the selection of Imperial Women shall take place to harmonize the Yin and Yang, ensure the peace of the Yanqi Empire, and continue the imperial lineage. Respect this.”
In the sixth year of Shunxing, as the imperial edict for the selection of palace ladies was issued, various factions were stirred into motion, each testing the waters.
The current Emperor had ascended the throne in his early twenties. In the six years of his reign, he had recruited many capable ministers and governed the country with great skill. He had issued sixty-three directives, reducing taxes, increasing land distribution, and investigating corruption. Now, the country was prosperous and the people were at peace.
He was now twenty-eight years old but had no sons, only one princess. The entire nation was in an uproar. Currently, the Emperor was in his prime, yet the Empress had no sons. If someone could give birth to a son or even a daughter, even if they were only titled as a prince or marquess in the end, they could protect the family’s glory for a hundred years.
The current Empress had been the Emperor’s princess consort back when he was a prince, while Pure Consort and Consort Yun had been his side-consorts. Consort Yun was the mother of the Emperor’s only daughter.
The most favored among the harem were Pure Consort and Lady of Bright Deportment Xin, who had entered the palace just three years ago. The other concubines, though they received some favor, were not as prominent.
In the morning, Chu Yanzhi rose to pay her respects to the Madam—her mother.
As soon as she entered Furong Hall, Madam Chu’s head maid, Qian Ling, saw her and broke into a wide smile. “The young lady is here!”
Chu Yanzhi was dressed in a white pleated gauze skirt embroidered with delicate, vivid red peach blossom petals. Her hair was styled in a youthful double-layered bun, adorned with a peach-petal emerald bead hairpin. The dangling tassels of the pin framed her face, making her appear even more vibrant and enchanting.
Chu Yanzhi nodded to her, her eyes filled with a soft smile, as she spoke in a tender, sweet voice. “Is Mother awake yet?”
Qian Ling stood there dazed for a moment. Ever since the young lady woke up three months ago, she seemed like a completely different person. Whenever she spoke, it was as if she were acting spoiled, making it impossible for anyone to resist her.
“Qian Ling?”
Seeing that Qian Ling didn’t respond, Chu Yanzhi paused, covered her mouth with a light chuckle, and called out to her softly.
Qian Ling snapped back to reality, her face turning slightly red. She smiled apologetically at Chu Yanzhi and lifted the curtain for her. “She is up and waiting for you, Miss.”
Chu Yanzhi lifted her hem with one hand and stepped over the threshold. Seeing that Madam Chu was already dressed and seated, she released her skirt and walked over with graceful steps, performing a light and elegant bow. “Daughter greets Mother.”
“Rise quickly. Why bother with so many formalities?”
Madam Chu told her to rise as usual, but her face bore a look of distress that she couldn’t hide. Chu Yanzhi noticed this and felt a bit puzzled. Her mother was always poised and dignified; in all this time, Chu Yanzhi had never seen her lose her composure. What happened today?
Chu Yanzhi lowered her gaze, stepped closer to her, and took her arm, shaking it gently while acting spoiled. “Mother, what is the matter? You look so distressed. If Father saw you like this, he would surely think I had upset you.”
Madam Chu was amused by her, but her smile lasted only a moment. She looked down at her youngest daughter who was acting spoiled beside her, looking so innocent and unaware of the world. The girl’s eyes were full of affection and charm, melting Madam Chu’s heart. How could she bear to let her daughter suffer in that deep palace?
This news could not be kept from her, of course. Madam Chu sighed and pulled Chu Yanzhi to sit properly. “Sit properly. Look at you—you’re supposed to be a young lady of a noble house!”
Chu Yanzhi pouted at her, then composed herself and sat down with perfect grace, embodying the ideal image of a noble young lady.
“An imperial edict was issued today. There will be a selection for the palace in one month.”
Chu Yanzhi was slightly surprised. She hadn’t expected that Madam Chu’s morning-long distress was because of this. Confused, she asked, “The Emperor is holding a selection, but why does that make Mother so unhappy?”
“For this selection, every eligible daughter from the families of officials of the seventh rank and above must participate. How can that deep palace with its high walls be a good place? How could I ever want my child to go there?” A look of deep worry now filled Madam Chu’s usually wealthy and composed face.
So it was for this. Chu Yanzhi took her hand, her eyes carrying a sweet and endearing smile. “Mother, do not worry. The Emperor is a man who has seen countless beauties. Your daughter has only a common appearance; His Majesty might not even choose me.”
Madam Chu looked at her face—even without a trace of powder or rouge, her beauty was peerless. She sighed, her worry not lessening in the slightest.
Seeing her like this, Chu Yanzhi smiled and comforted her, “Mother, why be so anxious? Even if I do enter the palace, what of it?”
“You child! If you enter the palace, no matter how noble you are, you will only be a concubine. If you stay outside, I could find a man of equal status for you. Wouldn’t it be better to marry as a primary wife?”
Chu Yanzhi was moved by her mother’s devotion and leaned into her embrace. Although she was not the original soul of this body, she had been here for three months, and Madam Chu’s protective love had touched her deeply.
Harem Ranks:
Empress
Official First Rank: Imperial Noble Consort
Secondary First Rank: Noble Consort, Virtuous Consort, Worthy Consort, Pure Consort
Official Second Rank: Consort
Secondary Second Rank: Lady of Bright Deportment, Lady of Bright Beauty, Lady of Bright Countenance
Official Third Rank: Lady of Cultivated Deportment, Lady of Cultivated Countenance, Lady of Cultivated Beauty
Secondary Third Rank: Lady of Handsome Fairness
Official Fourth Rank: Lady of Pure Deportment, Lady of Pure Countenance, Lady of Pure Beauty
Secondary Fourth Rank: Lady of Noble Deportment, Lady of Noble Countenance, Lady of Noble Beauty
Official Fifth Rank: Noble Lady, Noble Concubine
Secondary Fifth Rank: Concubine, Junior Concubine
Official Sixth Rank: Lady of Graceful Countenance
Secondary Sixth Rank: Lady of Precious Beauty, Lady of Beauty
Official Seventh Rank: Constant Attendant
Secondary Seventh Rank: Attendant
Official Eighth Rank: Junior Lady of Beauty
Secondary Eighth Rank: Precious Forest
Official Ninth Rank: Chosen Attendant
Secondary Ninth Rank: Imperial Woman
Official Tenth Rank: Gathering Woman