In the first year of Jingyong, in the second month of spring.
Flowers bloomed red and willows green, orioles sang and swallows chirped, butterflies danced in the air—it was the finest season of the year in the capital city of Shangjing.
In the garden at the rear of the Duke Supporting the State’s estate, a riot of purple and crimson blossoms filled the air with the vibrant spirit of spring.
The century-old pear tree in the garden, with its thick trunk and lush branches heavy with leaves, had burst into full bloom over the past few days, its branches laden with flowers.
Today the spring sun shone brightly, the breeze gentle and warm. Soft gusts of spring wind swept through, causing clusters of blossoms to sway with the breeze, while delicate white petals drifted down like swirling snowflakes, rustling softly as they fell.
Beneath the pear tree, its branches full of blossoms and petals scattering in colorful profusion, Ming Hua sat dressed in an elegant light-purple snow-satin pleated ru skirt embroidered with butterflies playing among orchids.
The young lady’s lustrous black hair, smooth as silk, was coiled into a lively, charming spirit-serpent bun, adorned with an exquisitely crafted gold hairpin of a phoenix holding a purple jade dripping-bead pendant—simple yet regal.
She sat facing her second elder brother, Ming Zong, on brocade cushions beside a rosewood table carved with floral and bird motifs, upon which rested a white jade chessboard. Each held black and white stones, engaged in a game of Go.
Gazing at the interwoven pattern of black and white stones on the board, a flicker of smugness and secret delight passed through her dark, glistening apricot eyes. Her rosy, moist lips curled upward, unable to suppress a smile. Her slender, jade-like fair hand picked up a lustrous black stone and placed it with a soft tap upon the white jade board.
Then she raised her lively, sparkling apricot eyes and smiled crisply at her second brother, who wore a sky-blue round-collar wide-sleeved brocade robe, his features clean-cut and handsome, his bearing gentle and refined.
“See there, Second Brother, Huahua is truly going to win this time!”
“You dared to underestimate me earlier!”
“Hmph~”
The young lady was blessed with bright eyes and pearly teeth, skin as smooth as congealed fat, and a beauty that could topple cities.
Her jade-like bones and icy skin made her graceful and elegant. Her fair, unpainted face was flushed like vermilion, radiant as peach blossoms in bloom.
Her dark brows arched like crescent moons, her round black apricot eyes shimmered with rippling light, and her delicate cherry lips were naturally red without a touch of rouge.
Her snow-white, jade-like countenance broke into a radiant smile, more brilliant and lovely than even the pear blossoms blooming in full glory behind her.
Ming Zong remained composed and unhurried, his pair of warm, clear peach-blossom eyes casting a faint glance at the chessboard on the table.
“Though Huahua’s move now seems certain of victory and has seized the upper hand, the outcome has yet to be truly decided. Huahua is rejoicing a little too soon…”
As he spoke, he raised his hand to pick up a white stone, a doting smile in his eyes as he looked at his lively, spirited younger sister. He raised an arched brow, then reached out, making as if to place his piece.
Ming Hua picked up a piece of osmanthus frost-sugar cake from the lotus-petal white porcelain dish a maidservant had set beside her and took a bite.
Every corner of her brow and eyes now radiated smug triumph.
But seeing her second brother putting on such an air of mystery and profundity, she couldn’t help but narrow her eyes in suspicion and carefully examine the board once more.
Only then did she notice her own oversight.
Her previous move, though seemingly about to crush her opponent completely, had also left a fatal opening for herself, giving the other side a chance for a desperate counterattack.
It seemed she was about to lose again!
“Ah! Wait! Second Brother, wait!”
Ming Hua hastily dropped the osmanthus cake she’d only taken one bite of, then grabbed Ming Zong’s hand as he was about to place his stone, her voice soft and pleading.
“Huahua misread the board again!”
“This doesn’t count! This doesn’t count!”
“Second Brother, let Huahua have another stone!”
Even as she spoke, her other slender, jade-white hand had already, with quick eyes and nimble fingers, snatched back the black stone she had just placed.
The two personal maidservants attending to Ming Hua’s tea, Qingyun and Nuanxue, watched their young mistress, outmatched in skill, resort to her usual tricks of cheating and wheedling. Both couldn’t help but smile, lowering their heads and pursing their lips to stifle their laughter.
Ming Zong avoided his little sister’s deliberately pitiful gaze, mercilessly shaking off the hand of the sore loser who had started being shameless again, and directly placed the decisive stone on the board.
He reached out and gently pinched his sister’s tender, snow-white cheek, which had immediately puffed up in anger, and chuckled teasingly: “Huahua, once a stone is placed, there’s no taking it back.”
“Besides, in today’s game, Second Brother has already let Huahua have three stones and restarted the match three times!”
“Huahua should just admit that she’s truly outmatched.”
“Your second brother’s skill at Go is superb—unbeatable at the Imperial Academy right now. Losing to your second brother is nothing to be ashamed of.”
With that, he coaxed her mischievously: “If Huahua would accompany Second Brother in a few games every day and study well, who knows—maybe in another eighty or a hundred years, Huahua could actually beat your second brother…”
Ming Zong couldn’t help but laugh as he spoke.
Ming Hua, furious, immediately stiffened her lovely little face, her dark, glistening apricot eyes glaring at Ming Zong with vexed indignation.
“Second Brother is so annoying! Huahua will never play chess with Second Brother again! Second Brother can just play by himself from now on!”
With a smack, the young lady tossed down the black stone in her hand, her face a picture of huffy displeasure.
Then Ming Hua rose, lifting her skirt, and made her way toward Zhao Xuelan, the Duchess of Supporting the State, who sat leisurely on a carved ebony couch in the double-eaved pavilion not far away, chatting and laughing with the maids and elderly attendants around her while admiring flowers and sipping tea.
The soft, delicate young lady threw herself into her mother’s arms with a pitiful, aggrieved expression, her usually sweet and gentle voice now sounding utterly miserable as she tattled.
“Mother, look at Second Brother! He’s so mean! He’s bullying Hua’er again!”
“He won’t go easy on me at all when we play chess! And he even mocked me, saying I’m not as skilled and that I’m stupid!”
“How can Second Brother make fun of his own little sister like that!”
“Mother, you must stand up for Hua’er today!”
The Duke and Duchess of Supporting the State had two sons and one daughter, with the two sons being the elder and the daughter the youngest.
The couple had always doted most on their youngest daughter, Ming Hua, who was as lovely as jade and snow with an innocent, carefree nature. She had been pampered and spoiled since childhood, cherished like a precious pearl in the palm of their hands.
Upon hearing this, Zhao Xuelan immediately responded with a hearty laugh: “Alright, alright, Mother will stand up for our Hua’er.”
The second son and the youngest daughter were not far apart in age, and the siblings loved to bicker and squabble whenever they were together.
She watched from a distance as her little daughter threw herself into her arms with that aggrieved look, and though she guessed it was probably just the siblings quarreling again, she still immediately embraced her youngest daughter first, gently soothing her with tender affection.
Having said that, Zhao Xuelan’s expression changed at once as she pretended to glare angrily at her second son Ming Zong, who had followed his little sister in, and scolded: “You rascal, why have you made your sister so unhappy again?”
“You’re grown now, and yet you still spend all your days teasing your little sister!”
“Look at the hour—your father should be returning from the palace soon. Come over here at once and properly coax your sister!”
“If you can’t make it up to her, and your father comes back to see you’ve upset your sister again, I’d say your hide is going to itch!”
Ming Zong was long accustomed to his mother’s utterly unreasonable and blind partiality toward his little sister.
After all, the entire family held this youngest sister in the palms of their hands, pampering and cherishing her, unwilling to let her suffer even the slightest grievance—and he was no exception.
Though he loved to tease his sister for fun on ordinary days, he was also the one who doted on his adorable, charming little sister the most.
Ming Zong knew full well that his spoiled, willful, and mischievous little sister was probably feigning anger right now to make him compromise and promise her more rewards.
But he also feared that if he truly didn’t coax her, she might genuinely get angry and ignore him for days afterward, so he hurried over to appease her.
Looking at his little sister, who was lying in their mother’s arms putting on quite the act, as if she had truly suffered some great injustice, he chuckled and coaxed: “Alright, alright! My little princess!”
“Second Brother promises to go easy on Hua’er until she wins this round, how about that?”
“And once Hua’er wins this round, Second Brother will personally cook Hua’er’s favorite roasted lamb for dinner tonight, alright?”
Though his little sister was somewhat spoiled, willful, and prone to tantrums, she was also easy to appease—as long as there was good food, she could be pacified in no time.
Though the saying goes that a gentleman stays far from the kitchen, Ming Zong’s greatest hobby was actually studying cuisine, and his cooking skills were superb. Besides satisfying his own interests and appetite, it also served to coax his sister when she was angry from his teasing and to honor their parents.
“You’ll also make Hua’er a bowl of ice-cold sweet almond custard, sprinkled with osmanthus flowers and drizzled with sweet syrup—so that after Hua’er finishes the roasted lamb, she can have it to cut through the richness!”
Seeing her little scheme succeed, Ming Hua curled her rosy, glistening lips, her bright, watery almond-shaped eyes smiling like those of a cunning little fox. She popped up from her mother’s embrace in a flash and began negotiating terms with her brother.
Ming Zong watched his little sister’s expression change faster than flipping a book, and with a helpless yet indulgent smile, he tapped her on the tip of her nose.
“Fine! You’re a sly little foodie fox! You just love to torment your Second Brother—I really have to hand it to you.”
“But the weather hasn’t warmed up yet, so I won’t put too much ice in Hua’er’s.”
“If you catch a chill and have to drink bitter medicine, then our little crybaby will be crying and throwing a tantrum, refusing to take her medicine again!”
Just as they were speaking, Ming Yuan, the Duke of Supporting the State, who had gone to attend the morning court session, entered the garden through the moon gate not far away, dressed in a purple court robe.
He skirted around the flower beds, passed through the winding covered walkway, and strode briskly toward the double-eaved pavilion, with an attendant following behind carrying his official hat.
“Fine, fine! Hua’er will do whatever Second Brother says!”
In the corner of her eye, through the pavilion’s pillars and the lush, leafy flowering trees, Ming Hua caught a distant glimpse of her father returning, and her dark, watery eyes lit up instantly.
She casually agreed to her second brother’s words, then cast the chess game entirely from her mind, and with joyful, bouncing steps, lifted her slightly trailing skirt and hurried forward to greet him.
“Father! What pastry shop’s treats did you bring for Hua’er and Mother today?”
“Did you buy the sticky rice and brown sugar cake from the stall at Yongchang Street that Huahua said she wanted to eat yesterday?”
The Duke and Duchess of Fuguo had grown up together, childhood sweethearts, betrothed to each other by their elders since birth. The couple shared deep affection and had been happily married for many years. Ming Yuan had never even kept concubines or maidservants in his chambers.
Ming Yuan’s devotion to his wife and daughter was a well-known tale of beauty throughout the entire Shangjing City.
After court sessions or when leaving his official duties, he would always stop by on his way home to buy pastries and snacks that his wife and daughter loved, bringing a smile to their faces.
Ming Hua watched her father approach, only then noticing that his face was unusually grim. The attendant following behind him also wore a solemn expression, and in his hands were none of the usual pastries and snacks.
For some reason, seeing her father like this, a tremendous sense of unease suddenly surged within Ming Hua. She felt as though a great disaster was imminent.
She vaguely sensed that something momentous was about to happen, and it was very likely connected to her.
Ming Hua stopped in her tracks, tilted her head up, and looked at her father’s tense expression, her voice filled with worry as she asked, “Father, has something happened? What’s wrong with you?”
Ming Yuan’s expression was dark and helpless. He looked at his obedient, lovely, and gracefully poised young daughter standing before him, his bloodshot eyes filled with reluctance and heartache.
He raised his hand to gently tousle his daughter’s head, forcing himself to squeeze out a smile that was uglier than a cry to soothe her worries. Then, dejected, he sat down beside his wife and began to sigh heavily, his face etched with despondency and sorrow.
The Ming clan of Jingzhao had been a family of distinction for generations, and was now the most flourishing of the great aristocratic houses.
In his youth, Ming Yuan had followed his father on northern campaigns, reclaiming thirteen cities in the northern deserts in just three years, earning great military merit.
In addition to his title as Duke of Fuguo, he was also a First-Rank Grand General of Prestigious Might who held military authority, and his great-grandfather had been a founding meritorious official who helped the founding emperor conquer the realm.
Now, Ming Yuan held considerable prestige at court—even the new emperor treated him with great deference.
Zhao Xuelan secretly speculated that whatever could make her husband look so utterly grief-stricken must be a catastrophic matter concerning the Ming clan or their children.
With this thought, she wore a grave expression as she first dismissed the maidservants and elderly attendants waiting on them. Then, with a face full of worry and an anxious voice, she asked, “What’s wrong, my lord? Did something happen at court today?”
Ming Yuan looked at his young daughter, who had walked up to him with a nervous expression, his heart aching and helpless. He opened his mouth several times before speaking with great difficulty.
“At court today, His Majesty issued an oral decree, appointing Huahua as Noble Consort. Tomorrow morning, the palace will send someone to proclaim the imperial edict conferring the title of Noble Consort…”
At these words, everyone present was stunned.
The new emperor, Xie Chongyuan, was already twenty-five years old, yet he had never married or fathered children. Since ascending the throne, he had not established an empress or taken consorts.
It was said that over the years, he had either been training troops in the military or leading soldiers to defend against enemies in battle, having no interest in marriage or children, and not even wanting concubines or maidservants to attend to him.
Now that Xie Chongyuan had been on the throne for over half a year, ministers had repeatedly urged him to establish an empress and take consorts, to expand the harem and produce heirs for the royal family to secure the foundation of the state. But each time, he had dismissed them with excuses about the empty treasury, the unsettled realm, and having no mind for such matters.
The previous emperor had been mediocre, and the former dynasty had accumulated numerous deep-rooted problems. Remnants of rebel factions still lingered, stirring up trouble in the court and among the people. Indeed, Great Qi was in a state of ruin awaiting restoration.
The new emperor was dedicated to governance and diligent in ruling, caring for the people. Everyone assumed that before he purged the court and firmly secured his throne, he truly had no intention of establishing an empress or taking consorts.
Previously, those ministers who wished to send their daughters or sisters into the palace to cling to imperial power had gradually given up such thoughts and begun seeking suitable matches for them instead.
But at today’s court session, when ministers again urged the emperor to establish an empress and take consorts, the emperor unexpectedly changed his usual attitude of refusal and, following the words of several ministers, issued a decree appointing the daughter of the Duke of Fuguo as Noble Consort.
The emperor’s sudden change of behavior shocked the ministers, who then began speculating about the meaning behind his actions.
Ming Hua was a young lady of the inner chambers, usually concerned mostly with food, drink, and amusement.
After her initial shock, her first thought was of all those terrible rumors circulating among the common folk about the new emperor since his ascension half a year ago.
When Ming Hua thought of those rumors about how dreadful the new emperor was, she instantly felt as if the sky were about to collapse.
She widened her moist, apricot-shaped eyes, her rosy lips slightly parted, standing frozen in place for a long time as if struck by a bolt from the blue.
After recovering from her shock, her face showed urgency as she stumbled forward a few steps, her voice trembling with hope as she asked, “Father, is there still any room to turn this around?”
The new emperor, Xie Chongyuan, came from a collateral branch of the imperial clan. He had originally been an insignificant commandery prince from a poor, remote border region, never valued by the imperial family or the great aristocratic houses. But in the end, he had risen spectacularly, emerging victorious in the Rebellion of Nine Princes a year ago to seize the throne.
Nowadays, the rumors circulating about him in the streets were many and varied.
“Huahua doesn’t want to enter the palace. I heard that His Majesty grew up in the impoverished frontier fief of Qianxi, and spent many years among the ranks of soldiers. He’s said to be wild and crude, with unpredictable moods.”
“I also heard… I heard he’s built like a bear—broad-shouldered and thick-waisted, nothing but a coarse, barbaric brute!”
“And it seems… it seems he’s also more than ten years older than Huahua…”
“Wuwuwu… Huahua doesn’t want to enter the palace… Huahua doesn’t want to become a concubine to someone so fierce and so old…”
“Father, you’ve always doted on Huahua the most. You can’t just stand by and watch Huahua fall into a pit of fire. Father, can you go and persuade His Majesty to rescind his decree…”
Ming Hua was an extremely vain young lady. When it came to her future husband, the most important requirement was whether his appearance pleased her.
Because her father and elder brother, who had cradled her in their palms with affection since childhood, were among the most dashing and heroic men in the capital—skilled in both letters and martial arts, with extraordinary bearing and looks—her standards were exceedingly high.
In the past two years, Ming Hua had reached the age where marriage discussions were appropriate.
Zhao Xuelan had been selecting potential future husbands for her, choosing only from young men who were accomplished in both civil and martial arts, handsome in appearance, and tall and slender in stature. But Ming Hua’s standards were so high that she had yet to find one to her satisfaction.
The Duke and Duchess of Fuguo doted on their daughter excessively. The couple had also considered keeping her at home for another two years, or even taking in a son-in-law so she could stay with them for life.
As Ming Hua spoke, recounting the rumors she’d heard about the new emperor—how he was rough in appearance, unpredictable in temper, and killed without blinking—she finally threw herself into her mother’s arms and broke down in muffled sobs.
The moment she thought of her own beauty, as lovely as a flower, being married off as a concubine to such a coarse man, she no longer cared whether her words constituted great disrespect to the sovereign.
Ming Zong had never been willing to see his sister married off in the first place. Now, hearing that his own sister was to enter the palace as an imperial consort, he felt as if the sky were about to collapse.
He had met the new emperor, Xie Chongyuan, before. Though not the crude and hideous brute his sister described, he was indeed tall and imposing, powerfully built, decisive in action, ruthless and merciless.
How could such a man be worthy of his sister—delicate as water, lovely as a flower?
Even if the rank bestowed upon her was that of Noble Consort of the First Rank, second only to the Empress herself, to put it bluntly, no matter how honored and dignified the title, she would still be going to serve as someone’s concubine.
Emperors came and went, but great aristocratic families endured. For a family as flourishing and distinguished as theirs, if they truly cherished their daughters and sisters, they would disdain sending them into the palace to scheme and fight for favor while serving the emperor.
Xie Chongyuan governed with diligence, rising before dawn and working late into the night. Though he was a capable, resourceful, and industrious sovereign, he also possessed the cold detachment and ruthlessness typical of emperors—not the sort to be swayed by beauty or entangled in romance.
If his sister married such a cold and heartless emperor, even with her stunning beauty that could topple cities and nations, she would likely spend her days in the palace in lonely solitude, enduring a lifetime of neglect.
His sister had been pampered and spoiled by the entire family since childhood—how could she bear such grievances in the future?
Seeing his sister so heartbroken, Ming Zong lost his usual composure.
He chimed in with anxious sympathy: “That’s right. The edict of investiture hasn’t been announced to the world yet. Father, can you go to the palace and beg His Majesty to rescind his order?”
“Huahua has been spoiled willful and headstrong since she was little. How could she enter the palace to scheme against others and serve the sovereign?” With no outsiders around, he spoke bluntly in his urgency: “No matter how you look at it, His Majesty is not a good match for our Huahua.”
Ming Yuan watched his daughter weep in utter despair, and his own eyes reddened with unbearable grief, but he still shook his head, his face full of helpless dejection.
“If there were any room for negotiation in this matter, I wouldn’t have come back now to tell you all, only to make Huahua and everyone else grieve for nothing.”
“His Majesty’s move is to balance the current political situation and to bridge the gap between the new and old officials. This concerns matters of state—it is not a whim of His Majesty’s. There is absolutely no room for reversal.”
The late emperor had no sons of his own. In earlier years, several heirs had been adopted from the imperial clan, but one after another, they all met untimely deaths.
When the late emperor suddenly passed away, the imperial clan fought tooth and nail over the throne, raising armies to contend with one another. Meanwhile, barbarian tribes lurked nearby, ready to strike. The capital and the entire Great Qi descended into chaos, with everyone fearing for their lives.
No one could have predicted that it would be Xie Chongyuan, the Prince of Qianxi of the Taizong line—the most unremarkable of them all, who had long bided his time in the impoverished frontier fief of Qianxi—who would lead an army of three hundred thousand, march all the way from Qianxi to the capital, put down the various rebellions, and ascend the throne as emperor.
Now, Xie Chongyuan had been on the throne for less than half a year. His foundation was not yet stable, contradictions between the new court and old officials ran deep, and ambitious imperial clansmen and barbarian tribes lurked nearby, watching for any opportunity to strike.
In recent days, remnants of rebel factions had been stirring up trouble both in court and among the populace, while partisan strife continued unabated within the government. The political situation had grown even more treacherous and unpredictable.
The Jingzhao Ming clan was a prestigious aristocratic family with centuries of history, a lineage of officials and scholars. Now, their clan members were spread throughout the court and beyond, and the Ming clan had deep roots and considerable prestige in the Great Qi dynasty.
His great-grandfather had been a founding meritorious official who had fought alongside the founding emperor to conquer the realm. He himself had accompanied his father on northern campaigns, recapturing thirteen cities in the northern desert and earning distinguished military honors, commanding great respect at court.
Now, in addition to his title of Duke Who Assists the State, he was also a First-Rank Grand General of Prestigious Might who held military authority, and he had married the legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Yong’an’s household, which was likewise from a prominent aristocratic family.
His eldest son, Ming Xu, was both brave and resourceful, and had been granted the title of Second-Rank General of Cloud-Soaring Might. He was currently leading troops alongside the Marquis of Yong’an to defend against enemies abroad, repeatedly achieving military merit.
His second son, Ming Zong, was exceptionally talented in literature. Although he had not yet entered officialdom, his reputation for brilliance was already widespread among the students of the Imperial Academy, and everyone said he had the makings of a prime minister.
The Duke Who Assists the State’s household was destined for boundless prospects.
Xie Chongyuan’s decision to take his daughter into the palace as an imperial consort was a move to win over the Duke Who Assists the State’s household, the Marquis of Yong’an’s household, and the influential court officials who followed their lead and had remained uncommitted—forcing them to declare their allegiance and stabilize the current political situation.
Xie Chongyuan was decisive and ruthless, with profound schemes. In less than half a year since ascending the throne, he had used thunderous measures to purge numerous corrupt officials, as well as aristocratic families who abused their power for personal gain, engaged in graft and lawlessness, and oppressed the common people. At the same time, he vigorously promoted the imperial examination system, broadly recruiting worthy scholars from humble backgrounds.
After half a year of these maneuvers, Xie Chongyuan appeared to be gradually dismantling the power of the great aristocratic clans and elevating those from humble origins.
Although the Ming clan and the Duke Who Assists the State’s household had long conducted themselves as loyal ministers who kept to their proper place, over the years they had become like a tall tree that attracts the wind—their achievements overshadowing the sovereign and arousing the wariness of the Great Qi imperial house.
Even during the previous emperor’s reign, there had already been a veiled intention to eliminate the Duke Who Assists the State’s household.
If they now dared to defy the imperial decree and refuse to send their daughter into the palace as an imperial consort, Xie Chongyuan would likely harbor suspicion toward the Duke Who Assists the State’s household, view them as dissidents, and use the opportunity to eradicate them.
He regarded his daughter as a precious treasure held in the palm of his hand. He had never let her suffer the slightest grievance, nor had he ever considered using her marriage to bring glory to the Duke Who Assists the State’s household.
He only hoped that in the future, his daughter would marry a young man she genuinely loved and who would truly treat her well, to spend their lives together. If she didn’t want to marry, she could stay at home for the rest of her life.
But he never expected that now, with an irresistible imperial decree descending upon them, his daughter would still have to sacrifice her lifelong happiness for the sake of the family.
Zhao Xuelan frequently socialized with the wives of various officials, and Ming Yuan often discussed court affairs with her, so she was well aware of the general political situation at court.
Although Ming Yuan had not yet elaborated on the entanglements of the various factions, seeing his tearful eyes and helpless expression, she knew that there was truly no room for turning back.
Her husband had always doted on their youngest daughter as if she were his own heart and soul, wishing he could live two hundred years just to support her for a lifetime. If it had not been an absolute last resort, he would never have allowed their daughter to enter the palace as an imperial consort.
She suppressed the sorrowful tears in her eyes, held her daughter tighter in her arms, and silently comforted her. Then, with a grave expression, she asked, “Besides making Huahua an Noble Consort, has His Majesty decided on the Empress and the other three consorts?”
“Which families are they from?”
According to the conventions of the Great Qi dynasty, the emperor should first select and establish the Empress before appointing the four consorts—Noble, Virtuous, Virtuous, and Worthy—who would enter the palace together at the time of the imperial wedding.
Now that the emperor had taken the notion of bringing in daughters of aristocratic families as consorts to win over ministers and balance the various forces at court, it seemed that the harem would soon become quite lively.
Although her daughter was the Noble Consort, second only to the Empress, she had been spoiled by the family since childhood, naive and willful, never having endured the slightest hardship.
If the Empress and the other three consorts were formidable characters, she would need to make all the arrangements for her daughter in advance, to ensure her daughter suffered not the slightest grievance in the palace.
Although the Duke Who Assists the State’s household could not defy the imperial decree now, protecting their daughter and ensuring she could live out her days safely in the palace even without imperial favor—that they could still manage.
Ming Yuan suddenly thought of something, and his perpetually grave expression relaxed slightly.
He mused, “Today, His Majesty rejected the remonstrance of the many ministers urging him to also appoint the Empress and the other three consorts. He even said that for the harem going forward, having our Huahua alone would be more than enough.”
He then explained further, “Although the Prince of Qianxi’s household is modest in means, its family traditions are upright. I’ve heard that the old Prince of Qianxi once established a family rule that no male member of the household may take a second wife or concubine.”
“His Majesty is composed and self-restrained, not one who is greedy for beauty. His mind is devoted entirely to the court, the state, and the common people. I believe his words are not empty promises.”
With that, he looked at his daughter, who was crying profusely, and spoke meaningfully, offering gentle comfort with deliberate implication.
“Although we have never needed to sacrifice Huahua to bring glory to the Duke Who Assists the State’s household, judging by the meaning of His Majesty’s words, even greater honor may be awaiting Huahua in the future.”
“The emperor’s word is law. If His Majesty truly can uphold this, then our Huahua will not have been wronged.”
Ming Yuan felt some of the sorrow in his heart ease at the emperor’s words.
Zhao Xuelan understood the implication hidden within her husband’s speech.
Though their daughter was somewhat pampered and willful on ordinary days, she was also well-read, sensible, and understanding of propriety—skilled in all the arts of qin, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Her beauty was a rare peerless grace seldom seen in this world, and this combination of talent and looks was unmatched throughout the entire capital city.
With such beauty, talent, and family standing, their daughter was unquestionably deserving of the position of Empress.
But at the emperor’s declaration of taking no other consorts, disbelief still painted her face. “Th-this… what does this mean?”
“Does it mean that from now on, only Huahua will stand by His Majesty’s side—that he will take no others, and the harem will be left empty from this day forth?”
Most men in this world kept three wives and four concubines. Couples like them, who lived their entire lives with only one another, were exceedingly rare in these times.
Even among honorable gentlemen of upright character, clear minds, and pure hearts who cared little for women and were devoted to their wives, most still kept three or four concubines and maidservants—if not more—for the sake of abundant descendants and the continuation of their bloodlines.
How much more so for the supreme sovereign of the realm, who was expected to possess a harem of three thousand beauties and expand the imperial lineage?
Ming Yuan continued to explain: “It’s not impossible.”
“The court situation is complex at present. With the support of our Duke Protector’s mansion, His Majesty already has enough to stabilize the political landscape. If His Majesty were to bring noble daughters into the palace, it would only make the current situation even more tangled, with endless factional strife.”
He then added: “His Majesty rises early and retires late, governing with diligence and vigor. He is no dissolute sovereign who indulges in pleasure and lusts after beauty.”
“In the half year since his ascension, the vassal states and ministers below have presented countless beauties, yet His Majesty remained unmoved by all of them, having the Empress Dowager find suitable matches for those ladies instead.”
“Those who serve His Majesty closely in Zichen Palace are all eunuchs.”
“If not for the fact that His Majesty is ten years older than Huahua, carries some of the emperor’s ruthlessness and unpredictability in his conduct, and might be too consumed by state affairs to be a gentle and attentive husband…”
“But setting aside His Majesty’s identity as sovereign—judging purely by character and bearing—His Majesty truly counts as an excellent match.”
Seeing his daughter’s tears falling like rain without cease, Ming Yuan’s heart was nearly breaking. He hurriedly patted her back gently, racking his brains to find more of the emperor’s virtues, doing his utmost to console her.
“Huahua, don’t be afraid or sad. Those rumors outside are mostly exaggerations from the common folk—not to be taken seriously.”
“His Majesty does possess a certain decisiveness in judgment and can be unpredictable in temperament, but that is merely his demeanor in the court. In private, when treating us ministers, he remains cordial, courteous, and respectful.”
“His Majesty grew up in the impoverished lands of Qianxi. He is a benevolent ruler who understands the hardships of the people and advocates frugality. In the half year since his ascension, everything he has done has been for the nation and its people. Such an enlightened and benevolent sovereign will surely treat Huahua well in the future.”
“Moreover, Huahua has our Duke Protector’s mansion and the Ming clan behind her as support.”
“If His Majesty ever dares to mistreat Huahua, or if she suffers any grievance in the palace, your father and your brothers will risk their very lives to enter the palace and demand justice for her!”
“Nor is His Majesty’s appearance as the rumors describe—rough-hewn, thick-waisted, burly, and unsightly.”
“Though His Majesty is somewhat older than Huahua, he is still a man of dignified bearing and extraordinary presence.”
“Among all those handsome young men your mother has been selecting for you these past two years, not one could match His Majesty’s elegant demeanor and imposing stature!”
“Perhaps His Majesty’s appearance and character are exactly what Huahua has been hoping for in a future husband!”
Though every word he spoke was the truth, thinking of Xie Chongyuan’s tall, robust build, his cold and aloof nature, and his being ten years older than his daughter, Ming Yuan still felt in his heart that this martial man was unworthy of his delicate, beautiful daughter.
Ming Hua lay against her mother’s chest, sobbing softly between sniffles while perking up her ears to listen to all her parents had said. Slowly, she began to accept this reality.
She lifted her head from her mother’s embrace to look at her father, her voice as small as a kitten’s as she asked between sniffles, with some disbelief: “F-Father… everything you’ve said… is it all true?”
Zhao Xuelan saw that her daughter had been somewhat comforted. She took out a handkerchief and wiped her daughter’s tears, coaxing her in a gentle voice: “Your father hasn’t deceived you. Everything he said is true.”
“When His Majesty first ascended the throne, I accompanied the other titled ladies into the palace to pay respects to the Empress Dowager. In Yanfu Palace, I caught a distant glimpse of His Majesty, who had come to pay his respects as well.”
“His Majesty is handsome in appearance and extraordinary in bearing—truly a dashing and distinguished gentleman. He is even more handsome and tall than your father, your eldest brother, and your second brother—more imposing and stalwart by far!”
“The position of Noble Consort is second only to the Empress. From now on, all the noble ladies and titled women, and even the Third Princess who has never gotten along with Huahua, will have to bow in great ceremony when they see her. How impressive that will be!”
“Since His Majesty has said that in the future palace there will only be Huahua alone, then even greater honors are surely waiting for her ahead. Right now, who knows how many noble daughters from prestigious families are envying and jealous of Huahua!”
“And our Huahua is born so delicate and lovely with such fine looks, with a temperament so pure, innocent, and considerate. Since childhood, wherever she goes, she has always been well-liked.”
“Time reveals a person’s heart. Once His Majesty comes to know Huahua’s goodness in the future, he will surely cherish her just as we do, and will not let Huahua suffer any grievance.”
“Let us think of these good things and stop crying. Huahua’s tears are breaking Aye and Ainiang’s hearts…”
Zhao Xuelan knew that the man her daughter wished to marry was someone like her own father and brothers—tall and handsome, skilled in both letters and martial arts, utterly devoted to her every word, and attentive to her every need.
Now that she knew she was to enter the palace as a consort and serve the emperor, who by rumor was rough-featured and ugly, and moody and unpredictable, it was only natural that she felt the sky was falling.
But now that entering the palace was an established fact that could not be changed, she could only follow her husband’s lead in trying to comfort her daughter as best they could, speaking more of the emperor’s virtues and the benefits of entering the palace.
After all, life was still so long—if the emperor truly kept his word as a sovereign and had only their daughter by his side for the rest of his life, then she still hoped her daughter could slowly try to accept the emperor, and in the future live happily and harmoniously with him.
Ming Zong, standing nearby, though his heart was still filled with a thousand and ten thousand reluctance to let his little sister enter the palace, once he calmed down, he too knew this matter was already settled and hard to reverse.
The only thing to do now was to comfort his sister well and stop her from grieving and shedding tears.
Seeing his sister cry so sorrowfully, his heart ached, and he too joined in with gentle words of comfort.
“Second Brother has also met His Majesty once. What Aye and Ainiang said is all true—they haven’t deceived Huahua. Those rumors outside are merely exaggerated tales from common folk to pass the time after meals.”
“Huahua need not be afraid. Though His Majesty is somewhat cold and stern, he is indeed a rare and outstanding gentleman—one of exceptional character and appearance, seldom found in this world.”
Then, with a fearless and indignant look, he added: “But if His Majesty ever dares to make Huahua suffer any grievance, Second Brother will risk his very life to enter the palace and demand justice for Huahua!”
At the end, he gently rubbed his little sister’s head, his trembling voice carrying a helpless choke. “Huahua, don’t be sad. Aye and your brothers will always stand behind Huahua…”
Ming Hua lowered her eyes. Her dark, moist apricot eyes were like a pool of still water as she quietly listened to her parents and brother earnestly comfort her for a long while, until the tears in her eyes gradually dried up.
Finally, as if resigned to her fate, she raised her hand to wipe away the tears on her face. Her long, curled lashes were damp with tears as she lowered them, her delicate, beautiful face full of grievance.
“What Noble Consort, what Empress—I don’t care for any of it. But defying the imperial decree is a crime punishable by the execution of one’s entire clan.”
“Aye and Ainiang raised Huahua in silk and luxury, with every pampering and indulgence, for fifteen years. My brothers have treasured Huahua like a pearl in their palms since childhood. Huahua cannot truly be so willful as to abandon her family.”
“Whether what Ainiang and Aye said is true or false, for your sakes, and for the lives of the Duke of Supporting the State’s household and the entire Ming clan, Huahua will obediently follow the decree and enter the palace…”
The sun set beyond the western mountains.
Within the imperial city’s inner court, Yanfu Palace.
In the main hall, several bronze lamps with twenty-four holders shaped like birds on branching stands burned brightly, their lamplight casting flickering shadows.
By the carved ebony dining table beneath the latticed window in the western chamber, Xie Chongyuan, with a silver crown binding his hair, a white jade belt around his waist, and clad in a black brocade robe patterned with dense dragon motifs, knelt on an embroidered cushion, sharing the evening meal with his birth mother, Empress Dowager Dezhuang.
The warm yellow candlelight in the hall softened his sharp brows and piercing eyes, and the cold, angular features of his face.
The fierce, eagle-like sharpness and the murderous coldness of the battlefield that usually dwelt in his dark, deep-set phoenix eyes were also somewhat diminished.
The Empress Dowager had an excellent appetite today. Enjoying her favorite honeyed tofu, with smiles at the corners of her eyes and brows, she ate two full bowls of jade-green rice before setting down her silver chopsticks.
Her face, which showed more signs of age than other noble ladies of her generation due to years of toil, creased with wrinkles as she asked with a smile: “Have you now decided which palace chamber to arrange for Lady Ming to reside in once she enters the palace?”
Xie Chongyuan had just finished his meal as well. Upon hearing this, he set down his silver chopsticks, took the cloth napkin that the eunuch Li Youfu handed over, casually wiped the corners of his mouth, and wore a detached expression.
“In the past, the Chonghua Hall where the late emperor’s favored consort, Consort Yang, resided—with its golden towers and jade pavilions, resplendent and magnificent—would be a pity if it were left vacant forever.”
“Rumor has it that the Duke’s youngest daughter has been spoiled since childhood, pampered and indulged, living a life of extravagance without restraint. She can’t bear the slightest grievance, so let’s arrange for her to stay in Chonghua Hall. That way, she won’t be wronged.”
“Chonghua Hall is excellent, but it’s too far from your Zichen Palace!” The Empress Dowager’s expression changed immediately upon hearing this.
She glared at Xie Chongyuan, feigning anger: “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re scheming, Mother knows exactly what you’re up to!”
“By arranging this, you appear to be treating Lady Ming generously, but in truth, you’re afraid she’s exactly as the rumors describe—a spoiled, willful, troublesome sort. You want to send her far away, toss her into a corner of the harem, and hope she won’t bother you in the future, isn’t that right?”
“But Mother must remind you—everyone in the capital knows that Lady Ming is the Duke’s most beloved youngest daughter. She’s been cradled in the palms of her family’s hands since birth, raised with utmost tenderness and indulgence. Even princesses yield to her out of courtesy, and she’s never once been treated coldly.”
“If you take in the Duke’s treasured daughter and then neglect her, it will backfire and drive a wedge between him and you!”
The Empress Dowager continued earnestly: “Mother knows your heart lies with the realm. You’ve devoted yourself entirely to the people and the court, eager to purge the government and restore peace for the common folk, with no mind for romance.”
“But now that you’ve married Lady Ming to win over the Duke’s household, whether for the sake of court interests or your duty as a husband, by all reason and propriety, you should treat the young lady well and live harmoniously with her.”
“Since ancient times, marriage has been a matter of lifelong happiness for a woman!”
“The Ming clan is the most flourishing great family of our time. The Duke holds immense power at court, and his two sons have boundless prospects. They had no need to humble their daughter by marrying her up or sending her into the palace to cling to imperial authority.”
“I know you’ve always disliked those extravagant noble ladies and gentlemen, and you’re still somewhat reluctant to marry Lady Ming. But although she’s said to have some of the spoiled willfulness typical of noble ladies, she’s also talented, beautiful, well-read, and sensible.”
“You may be the Son of Heaven, but as the saying goes—emperors come and go, but great clans endure forever. Lady Ming comes from a family of hereditary nobility spanning centuries, the foremost prestigious house of our time. She may not have been eager to marry a military man like you either.”
“If not for your edict making her your Noble Consort to balance the political landscape, Lady Ming, with the glory of the Duke’s household and her family’s love, could have chosen a husband to her heart’s content in the future.”
“Her entire life was decided by a single edict for the sake of court interests. She has sacrificed herself for the people of this realm, and now you dare to plan to leave her to an empty chamber? Are you even human?”
“Furthermore, given Lady Ming’s family standing, talent, and beauty, she ought to be given the title of Empress right now—married with full ceremony and welcomed into the palace with great rites. But you found the matter of establishing an Empress too troublesome, too busy purging the court to spare time for a grand wedding, so you only conferred upon her the rank of Noble Consort.”
“Though the imperial household differs from ordinary families, and the rank of Noble Consort, while not that of a lawful wife, is still a first-rank inner consort and quite honorable, in the matter of proper marriage rites, you have still wronged the young lady!”
“How did your father and I teach you since childhood—the responsibilities of being a son, a husband, a father? Now that you’ve become emperor, have you forgotten all of it?”
“To govern the state, one must first regulate one’s family. You learned this principle when you began your studies at age three—must Mother teach it to you again now?”
Xie Chongyuan pressed his thin lips together tightly, silenced by his mother’s lecture, his head bowed in a long moment of quiet. A hint of shame gradually crept across his perpetually stern features.
He said with remorse: “Mother speaks with great reason. Your son has been taught.”
“I failed to keep an open heart and viewed Lady Ming with prejudice. From now on, I will heed what Mother has said tonight—I will treat Lady Ming well and be a proper husband to her.”
Hearing this, the Empress Dowager was overjoyed inwardly and said with satisfaction: “Now that’s more like it!”
Bringing the Duke’s daughter into the palace was currently the fastest and most stable strategy to steady the political situation. But her wooden-headed son had his heart and mind filled with the people and matters of state, with no thought for romance whatsoever.
Moreover, he had always disliked those extravagant noble ladies and gentlemen, and harbored reservations about the rumored nature of the Duke’s daughter—spoiled since childhood, willful, and excessively indulgent. He feared the two might not suit each other as husband and wife, and worried they might become bitter spouses, which was why he had long hesitated to make up his mind.
Now, though compelled by the political situation to take her into the palace, he still felt some resistance and reluctance about it.
But she knew her son—though slow to understand matters of the heart, he was a man of utmost responsibility and accountability. Judging by his demeanor now, he had truly taken her words to heart.
They say that Lady Ming is as beautiful as the Chang’e fairy descending from a painting. Although it is said that she has some of the spoiled and willful temperament of a noble lady, she is also well-read, sensible, and knows the greater good, being skilled in everything from music, chess, calligraphy, to painting.
Once this young lady enters the palace in the future, and the two spend time together day and night, she refuses to believe that her son could remain unmoved by such a heavenly, fairy-like beauty.
Xie Chongyuan wore a look of shame as he pondered seriously, finally deciding: “Yilan Hall is the closest to Zichen Palace. Following Mother’s wishes, how about arranging for Lady Ming to stay at Yilan Hall?”
As he spoke, he thought of something and hesitated: “But Yilan Hall has been vacant since the late Emperor’s time and has fallen into disrepair…”
The Empress Dowager smiled and decided: “Yilan Hall is perfect! There’s still some time before Lady Ming enters the palace, so we can have the Ministry of Works and the Palace Bureau hurry to repair and decorate it!”
“Although Yilan Hall isn’t as luxurious and grand as Chonghua Hall, it is quite elegant and serene, with pleasant scenery. With the Ministry of Works and the Palace Bureau giving it a proper renovation, I imagine it won’t lose much to Chonghua Hall. Lady Ming certainly won’t be slighted!”
“Most importantly, Yilan Hall is closest to your Zichen Palace—at most a quarter-hour’s walk. With your heavy court affairs and constant lack of free time, if Lady Ming stays at Yilan Hall, it will be convenient for the two of you to nurture your feelings in the days ahead…”
Xie Chongyuan watched his mother begin to ramble on endlessly about his marriage prospects again, and with a somewhat speechless expression, he interrupted: “Then let it be as Mother wishes—Lady Ming will stay at Yilan Hall.”
“Tomorrow I will issue an edict ordering the Ministry of Works to hasten the repairs on Yilan Hall, and have the Palace Bureau select fine items from my private treasury to decorate it properly.”
“I still have memorials awaiting my review, so I’ll return to Zichen Palace to attend to state affairs. Mother, please rest early, and I’ll come to keep you company when I have time.”
He knew that his prolonged refusal to take a wife and sire children had always been a great worry weighing on his mother’s heart. Now that he had conferred the title of Noble Consort, his mother was overjoyed, wishing she could hold a grandchild at once.
Were it not for the fact that no dynasty had ever set a precedent of consorts residing in the same palace as the emperor, his mother would likely have arranged for Lady Ming to live directly in Zichen Palace with him.
Fearing that his mother might grow even more excited and animated the longer she spoke—to the point of packing him off to the Duke of Fuguo’s residence tonight to consummate the marriage and produce a child with Lady Ming—Xie Chongyuan quickly rose and took his leave with a bow.
“Go on then. Mind your step in the dark, and remember to have the accompanying palace attendants carry extra lanterns. Also take care of your health—don’t keep reviewing memorials late into the night. Retire to bed early; the memorials will never run out.”
The Empress Dowager’s heart and mind were now entirely occupied with thoughts of her celestial daughter-in-law about to enter the palace, so she couldn’t be bothered to keep her son there for more idle chatter.
At this moment, Lan Gu, the senior female official attending the Empress Dowager, ordered a young palace maid who had been waiting nearby to bring water forward and attend to the Empress Dowager’s hand-washing.
She smiled and flattered: “The consort you’ve been longing for, Your Majesty—the Noble Consort will soon enter the palace, and tonight His Majesty has also understood the heartfelt intentions behind your earnest words.”
“In the days to come, His Majesty and the Noble Consort are certain to enjoy a blissful union. Who knows—by this time next year, Your Majesty might even be holding a fine grandchild!”
The Empress Dowager let out a long sigh of relief, softly recited a prayer of “Amitabha,” and said with a chuckle: “If that were to come to pass, I’d likely laugh in my sleep. But even as things stand now, it’s already wonderful.”
“I had thought the Emperor might truly remain single for life. Now that he’s willing to confer the title of Noble Consort, it’s truly heaven’s blessing. At last, he’ll have someone by his side who knows warmth and cold—no longer alone! And she’s such an outstanding noble lady of a distinguished family, with both talent and beauty in abundance. My heart is thoroughly satisfied!”
Her son—his heart and eyes were entirely fixed on his grand ambitions and the people of the realm. He had only ever known warfare and governance.
That wasn’t necessarily a bad thing; having such an exceptional son filled her with joy and pride.
But her son was now twenty-five years old. Other young men his age had children old enough to run errands, yet her son remained utterly uninterested in romance, having never even held a young lady’s hand.
Now that he was the supreme sovereign of the realm, countless beauties were presented to him from below, and his harem held three thousand lovely women—yet he didn’t even want a single serving maid by his side. How could she not worry?
She was not one of those stubborn, ignorant old women. She didn’t wish for her son to be like other emperors who lusted after beauty, filling the harem with concubines and leaving the inner court in chaos, with not a single sincere heart among them.
She simply hoped her son would have a kindred, devoted companion to spend the rest of his life with, so that he wouldn’t end up utterly alone on that lofty, cold throne.
In recent days, she had even secretly worried whether her son had contracted some hidden ailment on the battlefield that left him so ascetic and indifferent to women.
She had sent several imperial physicians, both openly and discreetly, to take his pulse and confirm his health. They all said his body was sound—even healthier than the average man—yet she still couldn’t fully set her mind at ease.
Now that he had finally issued the edict conferring the title of Noble Consort, she could breathe a great sigh of relief.
The Empress Dowager leaned on Lan Gu as she rose, beaming with joy: “Help me to the inner Buddhist shrine to recite some more sutras.”
“The old woman will go and pray to the Buddha again, asking him to bless Your Majesty and Lady Ming with a harmonious and happy life together, a marriage of perfect bliss for all their days. And if, as you say, by this time next year, the old woman can hold a grandchild in her arms—that would be even better!”
The night wind was still, the night dark and the wind high.
In the late-spring night, the breeze still carried a hint of sharp chill. In the stone lanterns lining both sides of the marble palace road, candle flames flickered, casting a dim yellow glow.
Xie Chongyuan did not use a palanquin that night. With a somewhat grave expression and a heavy heart, he walked all the way from Yanfu Palace back to Zichen Palace.
After returning to Zichen Palace, he did not immediately review memorials or attend to state affairs as he usually did. Instead, he stood before the carved rosewood desk in the main hall, eyes lowered in thought, pondering something unknown, sitting in silence for two quarters of an hour.
Then, rubbing his weary brow, he summoned the eunuch Li Youfu, who had been waiting in the corridor, and gave his orders: “Tomorrow, along with the edict of enfeoffment, for the rewards to be bestowed upon Lady Ming, besides the standard allotment befitting a Noble Consort, add twice as much again from my private treasury.”
After speaking, he lowered his eyes in thought for a moment, then continued in a deep voice: “Also, add that rare hibiscus jade that Nanyue tributed some days ago—include it as well, as a gift to Lady Ming.”
Li Youfu bowed and acknowledged, “This servant obeys.”
Though Li Youfu’s expression remained composed, inwardly he was greatly astonished.
The hibiscus jade the emperor had just mentioned was extremely rare.
These past days, the emperor’s most beloved younger brother, Prince Jin, had come repeatedly to beg for it with soft words and persistent pleas, yet the emperor had refused every time. And now the emperor wished to give it to the daughter of Duke Fuguo as a gift?
He was the emperor’s personal attendant. Though he had not served for very long, he could still guess a few of the emperor’s intentions in taking the daughter of Duke Fuguo into the palace.
The emperor had never been fond of women; his heart was wholly devoted to the court. His decision to take the daughter of Duke Fuguo into the palace now was merely a matter of political necessity.
He had assumed that the emperor’s words in Yanfu Palace that night were merely to placate the Empress Dowager, and that in the future, for the sake of governance, he would still treat the woman as a decorative vase, placed in Yilan Hall.
But judging by the look of things now, the emperor had truly taken the Empress Dowager’s words to heart, and would henceforth hold this daughter of Duke Fuguo in his regard?