[The original owner was definitely murdered by her primary mother, Madam Qi!]
After reviewing all the memory fragments of the original owner’s “crime scene,” Fu Lingxi reached a firm conclusion.
During the selection process, there had been no interaction between the original owner and Wen Congwu. There was no grievance or enmity between them; why would the other girl risk committing murder in the Imperial Palace?
There was no other explanation except that Madam Qi was pulling the strings!
Madam Qi hailed from the Jingxuan Duke’s Manor, which held a peerage equal to that of the Jingwei Duke’s Manor. A marriage between the two families was a powerful alliance. This also meant that Madam Qi’s position as the primary wife was rock-solid. With a powerful paternal family as her backer, she naturally felt emboldened to strike and wipe out the original owner—a “thorn in her side.”
Madam Qi had the confidence, so her methods were naturally ruthless!
Tsk, tsk.
This grudge would have to be put aside for now; the priority was survival.
After surveying her surroundings, Fu Lingxi concluded that she was clearly still in the Imperial Palace. The sky was dimming, and it was already dusk; the selection should be over. The fact that she was still in the palace meant that the original owner’s ultimate wish had been fulfilled.
In that case, the mess back at the Jingwei Duke’s Manor would have to wait. She would settle that account later.
[Back in the palace again… and an ancient imperial one at that!]
[In both lives, I, This Seat, cannot escape the fate of entering an imperial family?!]
[Well, at least Eldest Senior Brother isn’t here…]
Knowing she couldn’t escape the original owner’s karma, Fu Lingxi’s mindset remained fairly positive. she immediately adjusted her thoughts and began to consider what kind of harem struggles she would face.
Currently, before this selection, Emperor Taiyong already had twelve consorts. Five of them were concubines from his time as the Prince of Li. During the five years since his ascension, the two Empresses Dowager had sent seven more “Lower Mistresses” into the harem.
In the original story, this was a “palace intrigue and child-bearing” novel, so it naturally focused on the struggles between the women in the harem. Thus, the book featured “twin female leads.”
Unfortunately, she had only read the first few dozen chapters.
The primary female lead was a newly entered consort—the original owner’s cousin, Ruan Zhenjun, later known as “Consort Mi.” Ruan Zhenjun was a transmigrator who relied on a “Golden Finger” system. By plundering the merit and luck of others, she could condense a “spiritual liquid,” which she used to enhance her appearance and physique to win the Emperor’s favor.
The second female lead was Consort De. Consort De was a “rebirth” character. Having spent many years by the Emperor’s side and possessing knowledge of her previous life, she knew the Emperor’s taboos and was able to fight Ruan Zhenjun to a standstill.
Unfortunately, Lingxi only remembered that the second lead was Consort De. she hadn’t paid attention to what her surname or given name was. In the early stages, the second lead rose in rank based on seniority and a small amount of affection.
Ugh, can I be blamed for reading too quickly?
The title “Consort De” was only granted during a mass promotion three years after the female lead entered the palace. Before being titled “Consort De,” the second lead was a mastermind behind the scenes, inciting other consorts to compete for favor.
In other words, this “Consort De” was likely one of the concubines from the Emperor’s time in the Li Manor.
One transmigrator with a system, one rebirth character… Ugh, life is too hard!
“…Tsk.”
Fu Lingxi sighed in slight annoyance.
When the original owner participated in the selection, her attention was focused on the other candidates. she couldn’t distinguish which consorts were veterans from the Li Manor and which were recruited after the Emperor’s ascension. she would have to wait until her own rank was settled before gathering information.
All of that was secondary for now. The most important thing was that Fu Lingxi herself had become a mortal girl.
No cultivation, no spiritual energy. What was she supposed to use to compete with the women in the harem?
Fortunately, despite being a cannon fodder character, the original owner’s beauty had been top-tier since childhood. Calling her a “National Beauty with Heavenly Fragrance” was no exaggeration!
This was precisely the real reason why the female lead had become Wen Congwu’s accomplice in murdering the original owner—in the harem, the more beautiful a woman was, the more opportunities she had to seize favor!
The Emperor’s harem might not have literally three thousand beauties, but there were at least three hundred. So many women, all fighting to the death for the Emperor’s pity, for the position of Empress, and for imperial heirs…
“…Sigh.”
Fu Lingxi didn’t consider herself a particularly kind woman; she understood the stakes and where she stood. Since she was using the original owner’s body, she naturally had to repay the original owner’s karma.
Before her death, the original owner wanted to rise to a high rank and give birth to an heir to protect her mother and brother. Because of her birth, she had been ignored by her father since entering the Duke’s manor. Although her mother did her best to protect her, Madam Chu was only a “Virtuous Concubine.” Protecting her two children under the primary wife’s thunderous methods had already exhausted her. Furthermore, in the Shangyi Kingdom, the marriages of all concubine-born children had to be decided by the primary wife and the father!
Sigh, it really is too difficult…
At this moment, Fu Lingxi wanted to slap herself! she shouldn’t have listened to her new assistant’s praise and clicked on this novel just because of her small hobby of acting.
The biggest mistake was getting so angry after seeing the death of a minor character with the same name that she threw her phone! Now, she only had a half-baked understanding of the plot, and how to save her own life remained a mystery.
Forget it. I’m no good at palace intrigue. I’ll just be honest and lay low for now…
Frustrated and annoyed, Fu Lingxi twisted her shoulder, only to let out a sharp gasp of pain.
“Hiss~” It really hurt!
[A mortal body is so fragile, ugh!]
“Is Master Yi awake? May your servants, Su Ran and the others, come in to attend to you?”
Just as she was moaning from the pain in the back of her head, she suddenly heard a palace maid’s soft request from outside. she was stunned.
[Master Yi?!]
How long had she been unconscious? The Emperor had already assigned ranks and even gave her a rather nice-sounding title?
“Come in and serve.”
Despite her confusion, Fu Lingxi allowed the maids into the inner chamber. As she spoke, the room brightened with ample light.
[Oh, it turns out I, This Seat, am still in Chuxiu Palace!]
This inner chamber was the same one the original owner had stayed in. During the final round of selection, each candidate was given an individual room. This was thanks to the short preparation time for this first selection; not many noble daughters had made it to the palace in time.
The leading palace maid, who looked elegant and refined, was definitely not the round-faced maid who had looked after the original owner before—what was her name? Li Hua, I think…
Wait, three head palace maids entered at once. Each one carried various items. As they approached, she saw trays holding green salt for rinsing the mouth, scented soap for the face, basins of clean water, fine silk clothing, and an array of colorful jewelry: step-shakes, hairpins, armlets, combs, kingfisher feather ornaments, rings, and necklaces…
“Your servants Su Ran, Xu Duo, and Zi Luan greet Master Yi. May you have luck, peace, and health.”
“You may rise. Who are you?”
“In response to Master Yi, we are the first-class palace maids assigned to you by the Internal Affairs Bureau.”
Hearing this, Fu Lingxi’s heart skipped a beat, and she lowered her gaze.
[Three first-class palace maids to serve a ‘Ronghua’? This…]
[This exceeds the regulations!]
[Is it possible my rank isn’t ‘Ronghua’ (Secondary 5th Grade)?]
“Su Ran, what rank have I… I been granted?”
Fu Lingxi paused, swallowing the word “This Seat” (Ben Zuo) and cautiously changing her self-address before asking with a look of immense surprise.
Only then did she notice that the maids called her “Master Yi.” “Yi” was her title, but the term “Master” (Zhuzi) was reserved for those at the rank of Concubine (Pin) or above.
She had the original owner’s memories and knew that candidates usually had their ranks determined by their father’s peerage or official position. Since entering the palace, the original owner had stayed in Chuxiu Palace and had actively or passively learned the various rules, customs, and traditions of the palace. she understood about seventy to eighty percent of the regulations regarding the various ranks of the consorts.
“In response to Master, at noon, the two Empresses Dowager issued an imperial decree. All the candidates whose placards were kept have been assigned their ranks.”
Perhaps noticing the confusion on her mistress’s face, Su Ran curtsied and explained respectfully, “Of the eighteen candidates, you have been granted the highest rank of Concubine (Pin), with the title ‘Yi’.”
“I was ranked as a Concubine?!”
In the Shangyi Kingdom, there were six “Commissioned Concubines” (Chipin) at the Secondary 4th Grade. This was the second-highest initial rank a candidate could receive; the highest was Noble Concubine (Guipin). The ranks for consorts promoted from the Li Manor and those entering through the selection were different.
And the original owner had actually skipped over “Jieyu” to become a “Commissioned Concubine”?!
[Holy crap, the target really is being set at the highest point?!]
[And the Emperor picked eighteen concubines at once?!]
As Zi Luan and Xu Duo helped her get out of bed and change, Fu Lingxi slightly furrowed her crescent brows. “Is it because I saved the First Princess?”
Thinking of the First Princess gave her a bad feeling! Instantly, she felt as if her vision was filled with blood. Physically uncomfortable, she took a few sharp, hurried breaths.
“Your servant does not know.”
Su Ran noticed the hesitation in her new mistress’s breath and the urgency in her question. Instinctively exchanging looks with Xu Duo and Zi Luan, they all knelt and replied cautiously, “Please forgive us, Master. Your servants dare not speculate on the imperial decrees of the two Empresses Dowager.”
“Rise. It was I who overstepped.”
After a moment of silence, Fu Lingxi waved her hand and said straightforwardly, “With me, you don’t need to kneel and beg for forgiveness at every turn. If there is something to say, just bow and speak.”
“Understood.”
Seeing that their new mistress was straightforward and open-minded—not the type of noble girl who would abuse her servants—the three women assigned to Concubine Yi felt a secret sense of relief and continued to dress her.
“Since the ranks are set, does the decree state which palace I will be moving to? Have you found out what the situation is?”
“In response to Master, you have been assigned to the main hall of Yikun Palace. I have already sent the attendants [Note 1] assigned by the Internal Affairs Bureau to Yikun Palace to start cleaning the main hall.”
Clearly, Su Ran was the leader among the three first-class maids, as the other two nodded in agreement.
“Good, well done.”
Fu Lingxi praised them reflexively, though her mind was racing.
Typically, those at the Concubine rank resided in the rear or side halls of a palace. However, between the Primary 3rd Grade and Secondary 4th Grade, there were four ranks: Noble Lady (Guiyi – 3 positions), Lady (Zhaoyi – 6 positions), Noble Concubine (Guipin – 3 positions), and Commissioned Concubine (Chipin – 6 positions).
Those at the Commissioned Concubine rank usually lived in side halls! Yet she had been assigned to the main hall of a palace.
Either the Emperor currently had very few high-ranking consorts and she had snagged a huge bargain by being titled early, or the Emperor had made up his mind that he disliked the original owner’s calculated move to gain favor and was using her as a massive target for the rest of the harem.
Surely that “dog emperor” wouldn’t actually be so naive as to give her such a grand honor just because he was grateful for her saving the First Princess, right?!
Could an Emperor really be that “silly, white, and sweet”?
Fu Lingxi didn’t believe it for a second!
[Note 1] Attendants: Refers to palace servants, including palace maids (who call themselves “servants/slave girls”) and eunuchs (who call themselves “servants/slaves,” divided into Head Eunuchs and Little Attendants).
[Consort Appellations and Status]
1st and 2nd Grade Consorts: Addressed as “Niangniang.” Call themselves Chenqie to superiors, and Ben-gong or Ben-fei to inferiors.
3rd and 4th Grade Concubines: Addressed as “Master” (Zhuzi). Call themselves Pinqie to superiors, and Ben-pin or Ben-zhu to inferiors. (Once at or above the Concubine rank, servants may address them as “Niangniang” and they are granted a sedan chair).
5th to 7th Grade Ladies: Addressed as “Chuer.” Call themselves Jiqie to superiors and Ben-ji to inferiors.
8th and 9th Grade Attendants: Addressed as “Little Master” (Xiaozhu). Call themselves Yingqie or Qieshen to superiors, and Ben-xiaozhu to inferiors.
[Ying-qie (Lower Mistress):] Refers to women who accompanied a primary wife as part of her dowry, or general concubines/dowry maids. Their status is much higher than ordinary concubines; they have official status and can attend formal banquets. Usually, these are sisters or clan members who marry into the same family together.