“This… this… is this how women in the palace are always treated?”
Fu Xinghe said firmly, “This matter falls under my full authority. Chief Eunuch Fu, if you think it inappropriate, report it to His Majesty. Just tell him I feel this action disrespects women and I am unwilling to comply.”
After listening to a full afternoon of feudal women speak during the interviews, Fu Xinghe felt suffocated if she didn’t speak up, she might as well die from it.
Chief Eunuch Fu hesitated, unsure how to interpret the emperor’s decree of “full authority” in this context. “Then this servant reports…”
Fu Xinghe replied, “Hmm, report it truthfully.” She waited idly for a while, clearly seeing some of the rejected candidates smirk with glee.
Royal blood tolerated no mistakes. Not to mention the imperial family, even ordinary men feared being cuckolded. Fu Xinghe was reckless no matter how much the emperor favored her, she could not endure such an affront.
Chief Eunuch Fu felt a pang of regret. Initially, he thought the emperor’s decision to grant the rank of Consort Qian was abrupt, but the facts proved His Majesty had discernment. Witnessing Consort Qian manage the harem for an afternoon, he realized that a consort who executed her duties with fairness, dignity, and authority would be a blessing for the palace.
Yet, this action overstepped the limits of royal propriety. Fifteen minutes later, the eunuch who went to report returned at a run. “His Majesty’s decree: follow all instructions of the Consort Qian.”
“Good!” Fu Xinghe stood. “Everyone has heard it. I will return to my family first. Until next time, you may do as you please.” Chief Eunuch Fu paled. Seeing Fu Xinghe act predictably, he was speechless.
The lady and His Majesty where did this tacit understanding come from? The housekeeper, having heard the news, also looked at Consort Qian seriously… The emperor was far too indulgent. Could she be the reincarnation of a fox spirit?
Fu Xinghe’s smile was flawless, appearing indifferent regardless of others’ thoughts. This was a hard-earned experience carved with blood and sweat. The tyrant… could not handle women.
Although Meng Dongting had selected a group of consorts, from his attitude, he had no immediate intent to visit them. Whether the consorts were virtuous or not was of no concern. Over time, problematic consorts would reveal themselves naturally, without further action.
As the sun dipped westward, Fu Xinghe, hoarse after an afternoon of speaking, strode out of the palace with authority, coughing fiercely once she reached the carriage.
Selecting consorts by imperial decree was prestigious, but explaining it at home? That was another matter. Resting her forehead against the carriage wall, she thought of her bet with Fu Yunxiao and losing two hundred taels.
Since Meng Dongting had delegated authority, news inside and outside the palace was fully sealed to prevent interference or profiteering.
Fu Xinghe realized she was completely a tool, yet facing her family, who knew nothing, she still scratched her head in worry. The Fu family lived near the palace, and as the first consort to leave, the news had not yet spread.
Fu Yunxiao stood gossiping at the door, and upon seeing her return in one piece, his worry vanished, replaced by a mischievous grin. “So? Didn’t embarrass yourself, did you?”
Fu Xinghe said, “Ah, I really had no intention of entering the palace.” All these days, Fu Xinghe had been radiant, never cautious like this. Fu Yunxiao bent over laughing: “No need to salvage your face, you know no one expects anything from you, hahaha…”
Fu Xinghe said, “I’m hungry.” Fu Yunxiao pulled a handful of silver notes from his pocket. “Hair intact, didn’t fight Miss Sheng, didn’t disgrace our father. Here’s your bet money. What’s the latest fad in the capital that made you pawn your jewelry?” He didn’t realize he hadn’t actually lost.
A bit pleased, he felt Fu Xinghe had returned to her kind, cheerful self from before age five. Seeing her face the emperor without incident, she had truly reformed. Returning home, money was the least he could offer.
Fu Xinghe took the notes, letting him witness the treachery of human hearts. “Father, mother, I have something to tell you.”
“Xinghe!” Mi Dinglan rushed from the flower corridor, anxiously grasping Fu Xinghe’s hands. “Was everything alright?”
She spun Fu Xinghe around. Seeing her safe and sound, though seemingly in changed clothing, her relief spiked. “Why the change of clothes?”
Fu Xinghe patted her hand. “It’s nothing.” Mi Dinglan didn’t overthink it; as long as her daughter returned safely, she considered the ordeal over.
Beside them, Fu Han furrowed his brows. The palace’s unexplained information blockade meant something had happened. He had spent the day anxious, hoping no mistake involved Fu Xinghe.
Now that she had returned, Fu Han exhaled. It seemed Fu Xinghe had behaved herself at most, he might accompany her to lose face again, something he had long grown used to.
“Did you offend anyone?” Fu Han asked, hand on his forehead. Whenever Fu Xinghe went out, he inevitably had to manage the aftermath. Thinking on it, he sighed, recalling past mistakes: a spoiled adopted daughter, a debauched crown prince both failures weighed heavily, impossible to forgive completely.
Fu Xinghe admitted sheepishly, “I offended quite a few people this time.” Fu Han gritted his teeth. “For example?”
Fu Xinghe explained step by step, “I expelled Sheng Bailu from the palace. Mr. Sheng certainly will not let it go.” “And besides that?” Fu Han exchanged a glance with a man around thirty-five nearby.
Fu Xinghe also noticed the middle-aged man but didn’t speak rashly.
Fu Yunxiao leaned closer. “Uncle Ji in the Hanlin Academy is at a similar rank to Mr. Sheng and competing for the post of Academy Director. Uncle Ji is father’s favored student. Even if you treated Miss Sheng kindly, both families would harbor resentment.”
Fu Xinghe nodded. The officialdom was a battlefield that was life or death, regardless of her interference.
“Besides Mr. Sheng, there’s Mr. Lin and Mr. Wang…” Fu Xinghe listed the families of the rejected girls. Though she could not fully gauge hearts in mere minutes of conversation, these few clearly displayed urgency and cunning their admission to the palace was destined to cause trouble.
Fu Han’s mind reeled, Mi Dinglan supported him, stunned into silence. Had a group fight broken out in the palace, tearing clothes?
Fu Yunxiao reacted first. “Return my two hundred taels.” Fu Xinghe, causing trouble again, was tied to the emperor ninety-nine percent due to jealousy.
She retrieved the purse. “Here, take it…” Seeing her so straightforward, Fu Yunxiao was dumbfounded. As he was about to question her, rapid footsteps approached.
“The imperial edict has arrived ” “Fu Han, Fu Xinghe, receive the decree ” Those in the courtyard froze, all kneeling to hear it.
“…The Fu family daughter, virtuous and gentle… I deeply love her… hereby confer the title of Consort Qian, by imperial decree!” Silence fell, as if a pin could drop. Eyes widened, faces changed. Even Fu Han doubted if the eunuch had come to the wrong place. But the edict did say “Fu family daughter,” unmistakably.
Mi Dinglan, married into the Fu family for over twenty years, first-rank noble titles, having received imperial favors countless times under the late emperor, had never seen an edict so shocking. She almost lost composure, stunned for a long moment, then remembered to slip a reward to the eunuch delivering the decree.
“I humbly receive the decree and offer thanks,” Fu Han stood, expression complex. Though worried the emperor might not marry and his daughter might not wed, he had never connected the two.
Now bound together, Fu Han’s head throbbed. The Fu family, never marrying into royalty, remained neutral and loyal to the throne ancestral edict and tacit understanding with the late emperor. Yet regardless of tradition or understanding, imperial orders took precedence.
Chief Eunuch Fu, cheerfully accepting the reward, told Fu Xinghe, “His Majesty greatly favors you. Please enter the palace tomorrow. Wenhua Hall is fully prepared. No need to worry about mundane affairs, enter the palace alone.” Alone, without a maid, surrounded by the emperor’s people almost akin to house arrest.
Having witnessed Fu Xinghe’s temperament, the eunuch spoke cautiously, fearing she might again say, “I will not go.”
Fu Xinghe understood clearly: this matter left no room for negotiation. Meng Dongting had unprecedentedly granted a Fu family daughter a consort title, yet she would provide no assistance to her family.
The atmosphere immediately turned serious. The eunuch offered brief congratulations and departed. Though seemingly like soft confinement, observing today’s display of the consort’s authority and the emperor’s indulgence, it was more complicated than that.
At the very least, the consort’s edict had been personally drafted with enthusiasm by the emperor.
Fu Xinghe glanced at the edict. The misspelling, identical to her own earlier, made her grit her teeth. Could there truly be a man so petty in the world?