The hazy glow of the lamps filtered through the gauze bed curtains, and the faint sound of voices reached her ears.
Xue Dongyu opened her eyes.
She strained to make out the voices from outside. “Do you think that Hong Xiapei will ever recover? She hit her head and has been in a daze ever since she woke up. If it weren’t for Lady Meng’s kindness, still providing her with clothes and medicine, a palace maid like us would have been moved out long ago, our fate unknown.”
Another voice sneered, “If you received the Emperor’s grace and favor, I’m sure Lady Meng would treat you just the same.”
The first voice retorted, unconvinced, “So what if she was favored? She wasn’t even granted the rank of Xianjun. She’s just a Hong Xiapei, not a proper consort. We can still hope for a future, but she’s stuck here for life.”
Stuck here?
Yes, Xue Dongyu cursed inwardly. To her, this transmigration experience was a complete and utter disaster.
In the modern world, she had been an ordinary “salted fish” of the new era, with no great ambitions. She had graduated from a regular university, the middle child with an older brother and a younger sister. After graduation, her family had given her three apartments in the city center to rent out.
She had never worried about food or clothing, and she had achieved financial freedom right after graduating.
After lazing around at home for half a year, she was finally dragged out on a trip by a friend when—splat—she was hit by a car and transported to the Song Dynasty.
As the car crash happened, her last thought was, “I haven’t spent all my money yet.”
Fortunately, the original owner of this body only needed to lie in bed due to the head injury. Her silence didn’t arouse much suspicion, which gave her time to understand the people and her situation.
She believed the original owner must have passed away after hitting her head, and then, for some unknown reason, she had arrived in this body.
Over the past two days, by listening to others, she had finally figured out her identity: an insignificant denominator in the vast harem of Emperor Renzong of Song, Zhao Zhen, the kind who didn’t even deserve a corner in the unofficial histories.
Emperor Renzong, the benevolent ruler recorded in history books, was the subject of many stories—for instance, his inability to raise children, his daughter’s unhappy marriage, being the protagonist of the “Civet Cat for a Prince” tale, and having two empresses in life and death, among others.
Now, at nearly thirty years old, Emperor Renzong still had no son, only one daughter: the six-year-old Princess Fukang, Zhao Huirou.
It was uncertain if even she would grow to adulthood. Many children had already died in the palace, including two boys. The greatest backup heir in history, the future Emperor Yingzong, Zhao Zhongshi, had already been in the palace for several years.
The Lady Meng the palace maids spoke of was Consort Meng, the mistress of Pifang Hall. The original owner was a relative of Lady Meng’s and had been forced to enter the palace to survive after her family’s decline.
Then, due to her beauty, she was recommended to the emperor and received his favor. But the young girl was timid and fearful, failing to win his affection. After one night, she was merely granted the title of Hong Xiapei and rewarded with some gold, pearls, and jade.
She was neither a formal consort nor a palace maid. She didn’t enjoy the treatment of a consort, yet she was already the emperor’s woman, putting her in an awkward position.
As if one misfortune weren’t enough, just over two months after being favored, the original owner was unlucky enough to be struck on the head by a decorative object from a curio cabinet, dying on the spot.
Xue Dongyu turned over in frustration. The gauze curtain was gently lifted, revealing an apple-cheeked face with a few freckles. “Xiapei, you’re awake. Are you feeling better now? Lady Meng was thinking of you and specially sent over some red date and white fungus soup. It’s being kept warm. Do you have an appetite, Xiapei?”
Looking at the smiling face, Xue Dongyu’s mood improved slightly. Fine, since I’m here, I’ll make the best of it. I still have to “work,” but at least my current boss is a relative.
So she said, “Yes, I’ll have some. It’s kind of Lady Meng to remember me.”
She remembered this palace maid was called Bai Xing. After she was made a Hong Xiapei, Consort Meng had requested her from the Liu Si. Nominally, she belonged to Consort Meng, but in reality, she was here to serve her. This was considered an unwritten rule.
Bai Xing acknowledged with a sound and went out. Xue Dongyu comforted herself: At the same tender age, I’m being served while Bai Xing is the one serving. I should count my blessings.
Bai Xing briskly brought in a celadon bowl with a flower and bird pattern. She deftly helped Xue Dongyu up, placing a large cushion behind her waist for support.
As Bai Xing watched her mistress finish the red date and white fungus soup, her face rosy and fair, she couldn’t help but say, “Though you’ve been ill these past few days, Xiapei, you’ve become even more beautiful. It’s a pity you fell sick. The currently favored Consort Zhang is no more than your equal. Perhaps you’ll have your day too, Xiapei.”
Bai Xing, you really think too highly of me, Xue Dongyu thought. As a homebody, she had of course watched the hugely popular TV show Qing Ping Yue—albeit at double speed—but she still knew who Consort Zhang was.
She was the famous female lead in the “two empresses in life and death” drama. Have you ever heard of an emperor having a living empress, yet still posthumously elevating his favorite consort to the rank of empress after her death? That move was just… wow.
As a stay-at-home who had been unemployed since graduation, she didn’t have the skills to barge into such a legendary story.
Consort Zhang had previously given birth to a princess, Princess Anshou. When the princess passed away, the emperor personally observed mourning, and all the officials offered their condolences—a ceremony grand enough for a crown prince.
Now, Consort Zhang was seven months pregnant, and Guanjia still doted on her. The original owner was merely a dalliance he had while his true love was pregnant.
This just went to show that Emperor Renzong was a rather willful emperor. If he wanted to depose an empress, he would.
When he liked someone, he could raise them to the heavens. When he disliked someone, like Empress Cao, nothing she did could change his feelings.
Bai Xing cleared away the bowl and chopsticks, then rushed back in like a gust of wind. “Xiapei, come with me quickly! Tao Yi from Consort Meng’s side sent a message. It’s time for the monthly visit from the Taiyi. Lady Meng has arranged everything, so you can be examined too.”
Bai Xing was very anxious. This was not an opportunity that came by often. If Consort Meng weren’t Xiapei’s cousin, this chance would never have fallen to her.
Hearing this, Xue Dongyu also wanted to go. She had heard that the monthly consultation with a Taiyi was a privilege reserved for high-ranking consorts. Usually, one would only be seen by an Yi Nv or an Yi Shi.
Although she had been awake for a few days, she always felt nauseous when eating and her limbs were weak. She was afraid there might be some lingering side effects.
Upon arriving at the main hall, she saw few decorations of gold, silver, or precious stones. It hardly looked like the chamber of a high-ranking consort. Instead, there were many paintings and calligraphies, with brushes and inkstones readily available. Fresh flowers filled the vases instead of incense, and every few steps, there were stands holding fragrant fruits.
Several palace attendants surrounded a beautiful lady in court attire. Her skin was fair and her eyebrows were fine, giving her an approachable air. Her clothes were not brightly colored, merely conforming to the regulations for a Jieyu.
After paying her respects, she sat down.
Consort Meng smiled. “Xue Xiapei, you’re finally here. Imperial Physician Lin is still waiting in the side hall. You poor thing, to be struck on the head for no reason. I don’t know how that clumsy palace maid was ever selected. Your status makes it difficult to summon a Taiyi, and the Yi Nv who was called has mediocre skills at best. For the sake of your future, it’s better to see a Taiyi.”
Xue Dongyu was touched. “Your Ladyship is benevolent. I cannot fail to live up to your kindness.”
Consort Meng was the original owner’s maternal cousin, more than ten years her senior. She had heard that Consort Meng was chosen to enter the palace by Empress Dowager Liu.
She had never been particularly favored, having reached the rank of Jieyu through seniority and old sentiment. Childless and gentle-natured, she had always been very good to her down-and-out younger cousin.
The imperial physician was summoned to take her pulse. As soon as his hand, with its long beard, rested on her wrist placed on the pulse pillow, Imperial Physician Lin’s heart skipped a beat. This pulse was not right.
Wasn’t he here to see if this Xiapei’s external injury had any lasting effects? But this was clearly a pregnancy pulse, already three months along, the fetus well-established.
Is someone trying to harm me? No, that’s not right. A consort’s pregnancy is a great joy in the palace, how could it be disadvantageous?
All sorts of thoughts ran wild in Imperial Physician Lin’s mind, and his expression changed accordingly.
Now, not only were the others looking at Xue Dongyu with pity, but Xue Dongyu herself was scared to death. Am I going to die again just a few days after transmigrating?
Fortunately, Imperial Physician Lin came back to his senses. Seeing the expressions of those around him, especially Xue Xiapei’s look of grief, he realized his mistake and spoke with some embarrassment, “Xiapei’s external injury is no longer a concern. You just need to rest and recuperate well. Your humble servant congratulates you, Xiapei, on your pregnancy.”
It’s nothing serious, that’s good. Xue Dongyu was still shaken, relieved that she would live.
Suddenly, everyone in the room except Consort Meng knelt down, exclaiming, “Congratulations, Xiapei, on your pregnancy!” Bai Xing was even moved to tears.
Only then did it dawn on Xue Dongyu. She was pregnant. This body was only sixteen years old; in her modern life, she was still drowning in a sea of exam questions at this age.
Consort Meng was also delighted. She first called for a Xiao Huangmen to report the happy news to Guanjia, then took Xue Dongyu’s hand. “Good, this is wonderful. With a child in this palace, you will always have a good life.”
After dismissing Imperial Physician Lin, Consort Meng carefully helped Xue Dongyu sit down.
Consort Meng kept her trusted attendants and dismissed the other palace staff. She said, “I didn’t say it earlier because an outsider was present, but there are too few children in the palace right now. Most importantly, there is no prince. Children are dying one after another. Whether you give birth to a princess or a prince, it will be a great merit. Now that you are pregnant, you will surely be promoted. Perhaps to a Guiren or a Cairen. Then you will be a formal consort.”
And after that, you can accompany me for a long, long time.
Consort Meng was genuinely happy. She had a placid nature and loved calligraphy, painting, and landscapes. Raised from a young age to be the matriarch of a great family, she had not been favored after being selected for the palace. It was a rare joy to have her cousin, with whom she could talk. Naturally, she hoped her cousin’s status would rise.