==Chapter Five==
Sixth Year of Hanyu, Ninth Month, Seventh Day.
On this day, the sky had just cleared after rain, with gentle clouds drifting in harmony.
The Empress, adorned in a ceremonial robe and crown, glittering with pearls and jade, led the imperial concubines of the Six Palaces to wait outside the palace gates. From afar, they saw the imperial carriage approaching slowly, its procession solemn and dignified. The crack of ceremonial whips echoed along the way, causing the bronze bells hanging from the palace eaves to tremble faintly.
Noble Consort Tong stood half a step behind the Empress. Her gaze sharpened, focusing on a carriage trailing behind the imperial procession.
Almost without a second thought, she immediately realized that the carriage must belong to the Shen Meiren who had stirred such a commotion in the palace.
Not only her, but everyone present had the same thought. In an instant, countless gazes, overt or covert, turned toward the carriage. To enter the palace directly as a fifth-rank Meiren—no one dared to take this lightly.
Shen Shiyuan, however, remained unaware of these undercurrents. Sitting inside the carriage, she lifted a corner of the tihua curtain and caught sight of the solemn, awe-inspiring procession, thinking it looked incredibly majestic.
With another glance at the vermilion palace walls, Shen Shiyuan’s heart began to pound uncontrollably.
The drum-like heartbeat left her slightly dazed. She couldn’t help but think—this was the wealthiest and most powerful place in all the world.
Outside, Qi Chuyan had already descended from the imperial carriage. The Empress led the crowd in a curtsy, smiling warmly as she said:
“Your humble consort welcomes Your Majesty’s return to the palace. Your Majesty must be weary from the long journey.”
Qi Chuyan, of course, noticed the atmosphere. He raised an eyebrow almost imperceptibly and waved a hand casually. “All rise.”
As everyone stood, Virtuous Consort was the first to speak. Dressed in phoenix-red palace attire, her eyes lifted slightly. Favored as she always was, she spoke to Qi Chuyan with less restraint than others. She cast a sidelong glance at him, her tone tinged with both coquettish charm and a hint of pride and jealousy:
“Your Majesty has been away for months, accompanied by a new beauty. I fear you have long forgotten us old faces in the palace.”
With all the imperial concubines of the Six Palaces present, her tone was audaciously presumptuous, confident that Qi Chuyan would not be angered by it.
Indeed, Qi Chuyan showed no anger. He shook his head with an amused smile. “You…”
Two simple words, sounding as though he was helpless before her, yet also indulgent. Some cast envious glances toward Virtuous Consort.
Though others looked at her with envy, Virtuous Consort felt less than pleased. No matter how casual the Emperor’s tone, it did not change the fact that he had not denied the implication of her words.
The emotion in her eyes faded almost imperceptibly.
Yang Zhaoyi stole a glance at Virtuous Consort, unwilling to let the Emperor’s attention remain solely on her. Covering her lips with a smile, she spoke up: “Will Your Majesty not let us meet this new sister of ours?”
Yang Zhaoyi wore a smile, and her tone was gentle, but those who heard her words inwardly scoffed.
The Emperor had already descended, yet this mere Meiren still had not stepped out of the carriage to pay her respects. Who could tell whether it was intentional or not?
Noble Consort Tong lowered her eyes slightly. On such occasions, in terms of rank, the Empress was present; in terms of favor, Virtuous Consort and Yang Zhaoyi held sway. She had always been one to watch coldly from the sidelines.
She was clear-headed, but she could not stop those under her from eagerly trying to make themselves known:
“Indeed, could it be that this sister is feeling shy?”
Hearing Ruan Pin speak, Noble Consort Tong felt a throbbing pain at her temples. This fool!
Qi Chuyan tilted his head and glanced at Ruan Pin. The glance was neither warm nor cold, making it hard to discern his emotions—as if he were smiling, yet the smile did not reach his eyes.
Naturally, Ruan Pin only felt that the Emperor was smiling at her. Her cheeks flushed slightly, and she was genuinely delighted.
Of course she was delighted. The Emperor had been away for several months, and she had been worried he might forget her. But now, it seemed he still remembered her in his heart.
The Empress observed all of this quietly, standing calmly to the side with a gentle expression, saying nothing.
Almost as soon as Ruan Pin finished speaking, the crowd noticed movement inside the carriage. The tihua curtain was lifted, and the first thing to emerge was the tip of a soft satin shoe embroidered with a peach branch.
Without waiting for the palace attendants to assist her, the young woman had already bent down and stepped out of the carriage. She wore a rouge-colored floral-patterned ruqun skirt, which shimmered with faint, scattered light under the sun, as if tiny glimmers danced upon the fabric.
A gold-and-kingfisher-feather hairpin was tilted in her hair, swaying gently with her movements, accentuating her face, which resembled a newly bloomed peach blossom. The corners of her eyes lifted slightly, and her gaze was as clear and bright as shattered jade immersed in spring water. A sweet, charming smile graced her lips—neither timid nor ostentatious.
The previously somewhat noisy crowd quieted down in an instant. Amidst the splendor of the scene, it seemed as if her radiance had dimmed the brilliance of everything around her.
The breeze brushed against the loose strands of hair by her temples. She casually tucked them back, instinctively raising her eyes to search for someone. When she spotted the person, her eyes instantly curved into crescents, her expression so enchanting that even the finest spring scenery could not compare to her delicate charm.
As Shen Shiyuan steadied herself, her eyes fell upon a gathering of imperial concubines—some dignified and gentle, others elegant and radiant—all with lowered eyes and bowed heads. At first glance, they were all exceptionally beautiful women, but she paid them no mind.
She considered herself a clever woman, knowing where her fortune should come from. Her focus, of course, was on Qi Chuyan.
Thus, as soon as she stepped out of the carriage, she began searching for Qi Chuyan. Upon spotting him, she made no attempt to hide her joy, lifting the hem of her skirt as she eagerly walked toward him, her eyes shining brightly:
"Your Majesty!"
The crowd felt a momentary dazzle but was brought back to their senses by her call. Immediately, some faces changed color.
Her beauty was astonishing. With such a captivating appearance, when her heart and eyes were wholly focused on one person, no one could remain unmoved.
Therefore, when she reached Qi Chuyan’s side, he naturally took her hand as she wished. Only then did Shen Shiyuan hide behind Qi Chuyan, carefully observing the gathered imperial concubines.
She wrinkled her nose slightly.
Her spirits seemed to wilt a little.
Seeing this, Qi Chuyan felt a slight urge to laugh. He gently shook her hand and raised an eyebrow, asking:
"Forgot again?"
Hearing this, Shen Shiyuan couldn’t help but pout.
Given her background, she naturally had never learned palace etiquette. During the return journey, Qi Chuyan had specifically assigned a matron to teach her these rules.
Thus, Shen Shiyuan had endured a rather miserable journey.
With rules learned hastily, she naturally struggled to remember them. This was not the first time she had forgotten etiquette, which explained Qi Chuyan’s use of the word "again."
Shen Shiyuan always knew her priorities. With just one glance, she identified the most esteemed among the imperial concubines. Releasing Qi Chuyan’s hand, she stepped out from behind him and gracefully curtsied toward the Empress:
"This concubine pays her respects to Her Majesty the Empress."
After all the guidance along the way, she had at least learned how to refer to herself in the harem and would no longer blurt out "this humble one."
After speaking, Shen Shiyuan even glanced proudly at Qi Chuyan, as if to say—see, isn't she doing well?
Her thoughts were shallow and transparent, amusing to behold, and in the eyes of some, naturally foolish and brainless.
If not foolish, how could she secretly flirt with the Emperor in front of all the imperial concubines?
The smile vanished from Yang Zhaoyi's lips, and she tightened her grip on her handkerchief to avoid losing her composure.
Virtuous Consort was different. From the moment she saw Shen Shiyuan, she frowned deeply without concealment. She understood well that beauty among the women of the harem was a sharp weapon!
Clearly, Shen Shiyuan wielded the sharpest of blades.
The Empress was the calmest of all present. She nodded to Shen Shiyuan, no differently than she did to the other concubines, and gently instructed:
"Rise. You have just entered the palace and are still unaccustomed to everything here. Once you have settled in, come to Kunning Palace to pay your respects."
Qi Chuyan observed everyone's reactions, enjoying a good show as soon as he entered the palace, which eased some of the weariness from the journey. He smiled ambiguously and said to the Empress:
"The sun is harsh, and your health is delicate. Return early."
With that, he prepared to return to the imperial presence. Shen Shiyuan instinctively followed him.
Qi Chuyan paused, raised a hand to her forehead to stop her, and met her bewildered gaze. He gestured toward the harem with his chin:
"Someone will take you to your quarters."
Shen Shiyuan understood—it was the same process as when she first entered Shen Mansion.
But she didn't leave just yet. She took Qi Chuyan's hand, lifted her fair face, and asked the most pressing question for her: "If this concubine misses Your Majesty, how can she find you?"
She wasn't foolish. From the moment she entered the palace, she sensed the difference between here and Shen Mansion.
Shen Wenjun's household had no concubines, only one wife, who was kind to her. Usually, no one competed for favor. Whenever Shen Wenjun was in the mansion, she could go directly to the front courtyard to see him whenever she wished.
But the palace had so many imperial concubines, and she had already sensed some hostility toward her.
She also keenly realized that no matter how amiable and smiling Qi Chuyan appeared on the surface, he would never be as lenient with her as Shen Wenjun had been.
The woman frowned slightly, her eyes holding a trace of unease she likely didn't even recognize herself—like a small animal sensing danger, instinctively seeking shelter.
How pitiful she looked.
Qi Chuyan thought leisurely, then lowered his gaze to her. After a moment, the amusement in his voice remained as usual, yet it felt particularly unfeeling:
"This emperor will find you."
Five brief words, carrying a hint of chilling indifference.
But Shen Shiyuan didn't catch it. She took it as a promise. Since Qi Chuyan would come to her and not abandon her in an unfamiliar place where she knew no one, then everything was fine.
She relaxed, her brows and eyes gathering a radiant smile, her cheeks flushed with visible delight:
"Then this concubine will await Your Majesty."
Qi Chuyan paused, a rare hesitation, but before he could say anything, Shen Shiyuan had already turned to find a palace attendant to lead her back to her quarters.
Just like that, she brazenly left him behind.
Qi Chuyan narrowed his eyes. After a moment, he twisted the thumb ring on his hand and cast a cold glance at Zhou Liming, who had been secretly observing him.
Zhou Liming immediately averted his gaze, lowering his head even further.
Qi Chuyan’s tone was ambiguous: “I’ve noticed you’ve been rather lax lately.”
Even daring to watch his amusement.
Cold sweat nearly broke out on Zhou Liming’s forehead. He forced an awkward smile: “This servant wouldn’t dare.”
Qi Chuyan leaned back in the Imperial Carriage with his eyes closed. The woman’s face flashed through his mind. After a long while, his faint voice drifted out from inside the carriage:
“Your Mistress Shen is new here. Have Zhongsheng Hall send some servants for her to use.”
With her mind like that, and without a trusted person under her, she probably wouldn’t last long in the palace.
After all, she was someone he brought back himself. He couldn’t just let her be devoured alive by the inner palace.
Author’s Note:
Daughter: Alright, don’t forget to come.
Xiao Qi: …Is that what I meant?
[Isn’t it?]
[This chapter marks the beginning of our daughter entering the palace!]