Jiang Yingli yawned as she drafted her notes on rice paper.
Since the admonitory address was meant to instruct and educate newly arrived consorts on serving the Emperor well, it naturally included phrases about unity of purpose, harmony among the sisters of the Six Palaces, and the continuation of the imperial line.
After writing the words “imperial line,” Jiang Yingli fell silent for a moment, secretly glancing down between her elbows at her own abdomen.
She had been in Prince Su’s mansion for four years. Excluding the first year without consummation, she had received favor for a full three years.
Xiao Chenglan had never shown any intention of having children.
Back in Prince Su’s mansion, it hadn’t mattered much. But now in the palace, where it was said that offspring were a consort’s bargaining chip for security, should she, who adhered to the principle of “knowing when to advance or retreat, and remaining content with her lot,” also seek the protection of an imperial prince or princess?
Being the birth mother of an imperial heir, coupled with being a former resident of the princely mansion—with these two identities, she would have a thick, impenetrable shield against death!
Then she wouldn’t have to worry about perishing casually in the palace intrigues!
Should she, before the new consorts entered the palace…
Jiang Yingli looked up at Xiao Chenglan, who was sitting nearby drafting official documents.
Perhaps her gaze was too intense, for Xiao Chenglan set down his brush and turned to look at her.
Noticing the flickering gleam in her eyes, Xiao Chenglan frowned and asked:
“What’s wrong? Are you hungry?”
This unintentionally accurate question made Jiang Yingli blush, but her mind quickly cooled.
No, no, she couldn’t ask for that!
If Xiao Chenglan agreed and she actually became pregnant, and if it turned out to be an imperial prince, wouldn’t that make him the eldest imperial prince!
It might not bring her security at all; instead, it could attract all sorts of powerful figures to clash—or worse, gang up on her alone!
How could she handle that?
Jiang Yingli quickly shook her head like a rattle-drum.
“No, nothing. This Concubine was just thinking about how to write it.”
Jiang Yingli promptly lowered her head, straightened her posture, and gripped her brush properly. Seeing this, Xiao Chenglan didn’t press further, but his gaze fell on the rice paper where she was drafting.
On it, the ink of the words “imperial line” had not yet dried.
Xiao Chenglan immediately understood. His eyes deepened with emotion, but he said nothing more and continued writing the official document at hand until—thump—the person beside him dropped her forehead onto the desk.
Xiao Chenglan glanced at the sleeping Jiang Yingli but did not wake her. Instead, he first pulled out the draft she was lying on.
He skimmed through it, then picked up his brush to circle and revise some parts before securing the rice paper with a paperweight.
“Fu Wanquan,” Xiao Chenglan called softly.
Fu Wanquan, who had been waiting outside, entered promptly upon hearing his name.
Xiao Chenglan handed him the official document he had written. This is Our official reply to the Ministry of Works. Have it delivered overnight.”
Fu Wanquan bowed and accepted it. Glancing at Jiang Yingli asleep on the desk and then at the pitch-dark sky outside, he couldn’t help but say, “Your Majesty, it’s getting late. You should rest soon.”
It had only been two months since His Majesty ascended the throne, and Fu Wanquan had served by his side, staying up until midnight every day. Fu Wanquan was fine—His Majesty rarely called for him while handling official matters, so he could doze off outside the door. But His Majesty had to stay alert to deal with all sorts of complicated state affairs.
Though His Majesty’s diligence day and night reflected the qualities of an enlightened ruler, how could his body endure it? A person wasn’t made of iron!
Xiao Chenglan said nothing, merely waving four fingers together to signal Fu Wanquan to quickly dispatch someone to deliver the document. Not daring to say more, Fu Wanquan took the document and withdrew.
Xiao Chenglan rested his elbow on the desk, closed his eyes, and pressed his fingertips against his heavy brow, massaging it gently. Then he turned his gaze to the person sleeping beside him.
Jiang Yingli’s sleeping face was peaceful, her thick, long eyelashes casting a docile shadow beneath her eyes. Her small nose was delicately upturned, and her lips, untouched by rouge, held a natural, pale pink hue.
Looking at her serene and lovely sleeping face, Xiao Chenglan’s weary imperial countenance softened with a touch of tranquility.
He leaned over, his knuckles lightly brushing her cheek with a hint of infatuation, and finally couldn’t resist planting a kiss on her lips.
Then, Xiao Chenglan stood up, bent down, and wrapped his arms around Jiang Yingli’s knees and shoulders, lifting her and carrying her toward the bed.
Jiang Yingli stirred slightly in the familiar embrace, but her consciousness remained heavy. She felt someone lay her on the couch, remove her shoes, and instinctively turned to pull the blanket over herself.
However, the next moment, the arms that had placed her on the couch did not withdraw but suddenly encircled her waist…
Jiang Yingli immediately opened her eyes. In her blurred vision, Xiao Chenglan’s face was close at hand.
“Your Majesty…” Jiang Yingli murmured softly.
Xiao Chenglan whispered in her ear, “Didn’t you want a child?”
Jiang Yingli was fully awake now, exclaiming in surprise, “How did Your Majesty know?”
“What about you do I not know?” Xiao Chenglan murmured softly.
Jiang Yingli panicked and hurriedly pushed against Xiao Chenglan’s waist.
“Your Majesty, no more, no more!”
Seeing her resistance, Xiao Chenglan chuckled softly, gripping her wrist with a teasing tone:
“Relax, I won’t. Stop pushing.”
“However, you changed your mind so easily. It seems you weren’t truly prepared. Then don’t entertain such thoughts again, understand?”
Jiang Yingli was momentarily bewildered. She indeed hadn’t fully thought it through, only feeling that offspring could provide security. But what did Xiao Chenglan’s words mean?
His implication seemed to be that he didn’t want a child.
However, upon second thought, Jiang Yingli found it easy to understand—the firstborn son of the new emperor of Da Ye should not have a mother from a lowly merchant family.
In other words, given her status, she was not yet worthy of bearing the imperial heir.
Seeing Jiang Yingli’s unfocused gaze, Xiao Chenglan knew her mind had wandered. He pulled her back and admonished her:
“Jiang Yingli, stop thinking about relying on a child to elevate your status.”
“If there is to be an heir, it will be the child who gains honor from the mother.”
To the first statement, Jiang Yingli gritted her teeth and reluctantly agreed. The latter, however, she could barely make out clearly.
In any case, it was all a warning to abandon thoughts of having a child. Jiang Yingli didn’t dwell on it further, as she truly no longer dared to desire one.
After sending the official documents out, Fu Wanquan turned back to the entrance of Zhaohua Palace to resume his duty.
As he reached the doorway, he happened to see two palace maids carrying bathing towels and clean sleepwear inside.
Immediately understanding what was happening, Fu Wanquan couldn’t help but cover his face with his hand.
He had worried unnecessarily—His Majesty’s stamina was truly forged of iron!
**
Over the course of half a month, the newly selected Consorts learned etiquette outside the palace under the guidance of momos.
As for Jiang Yingli, a former resident of the princely mansion, she studied etiquette in the palace during the day, while at night, Xiao Chenglan came to guide her in writing her admonitory address.
However, Xiao Chenglan was occupied with state affairs and did not visit Zhaohua Palace every day.
On the tenth day, the admonitory address Jiang Yingli had written finally met Xiao Chenglan’s approval.
With a serious expression, Xiao Chenglan finished reading her admonitory address and finally nodded, saying, "Approved."
Jiang Yingli, overjoyed, took out a silk scroll and carefully transcribed the draft onto it stroke by stroke.
Xiao Chenglan watched her finish writing, then said, "For the next five days, focus on memorizing the address."
Jiang Yingli felt as if struck by lightning, frozen in place. "Your Majesty means Concubine must recite it from memory and cannot read from the scroll?"
Xiao Chenglan smiled and gently patted the back of her head. "Otherwise? If you sit at the head of the imperial consorts, holding a silk scroll and reading stiffly, where would your authority come from? How would you command respect?"
Jiang Yingli rubbed her harmless-looking little face. "Concubine never had much authority to begin with."
Xiao Chenglan watched her rub her face with a smile. "So, isn’t this Zhen helping you establish authority?"
Jiang Yingli wanted to say, what use was establishing authority for a mere Jieyu?
In front of the new consorts, establishing authority would inevitably turn into flaunting power.
It would only invite resentment.
This went completely against her survival philosophy as a laid-back Palace Consort.
How troubling.
If only Xiao Chenglan could come take a look on the day of the address, she wouldn’t be so flustered.
Jiang Yingli reluctantly glanced at the neatly written admonitory address on the silk scroll in her hand, then looked at Xiao Chenglan and whispered:
"Then why didn’t Your Majesty tell Concubine earlier that she couldn’t read from it? Wasn’t all this writing for nothing?"
Xiao Chenglan took the dark blue silk scroll from her hand and said slowly, "It wasn’t for nothing. This will be recorded in the archives and preserved in historical records categorized under Zhen’s Jiaqi reign title."
Jiang Yingli widened her eyes slightly, feeling both honored and surprised.
Historical records.
But Jiang Yingli also found it unbelievable. "Can something Concubine wrote be placed alongside Your Majesty’s works and passed down to future generations?"
She was just a minor imperial consort.
Someone of her status, as light as a feather, should leave no trace in the long river of history. But Your Majesty was different—he would surely be a great Emperor remembered for generations.
Xiao Chenglan gently cupped her face with his palm, his narrow, dark eyes gazing deeply into hers, his expression profound and distant.
"Of course."
In the future, they would have even more things placed together.
Thousands of years later, people would learn from fragmented historical records that during the Jiaqi reign, the Emperor and his consort shared a deep bond.
…………
Jiang Yingli worked hard to memorize the address.
In the blink of an eye, it was early May—the day the new consorts entered the palace.