Emperor Qianwu was deeply shaken.
He pulled Zhou Mingyi into his embrace, his voice low and profound, “My beloved consort’s loyalty brings me great comfort.”
“I have chosen a title for you. How about I confer upon you the title ‘Consort Zhen’?”
“Are you pleased?”
Ming Yi lowered her eyes.
Her earlobes flushed with a faint red hue, “I shall obey Your Majesty’s will.”
Her long planning had not been in vain. Hadn’t she just risen directly from Meiren to “Consort Zhen”?
The ranking system for imperial concubines in Great Zhou’s harem was as follows:
Above all ranks: Empress, one position.
First rank, Zheng Yipin: Guifei, in principle one person, but could be increased according to the emperor’s wishes.
First rank, Cong Yipin: Four consorts—De, Xian, Shu, Hui—one each.
Second rank, Zheng Erpin: Fei, in principle no more than eight persons.
Second rank, Cong Erpin: Pin, nine positions in total, with titles respectively: Zhaoyi, Zhaorong, Zhaoyuan, Xiuyi, Xiurong, Xiuyuan, Chongyi, Chongrong, Chongyuan.
Third rank, Zheng Sanpin: Jieyu, nine positions.
Fourth rank, Zheng Sipin: Meiren, nine positions.
Fifth rank, Zheng Wupin: Cairen, nine positions.
Sixth rank, Zheng Liupin: Baolin, twenty-seven positions.
Seventh rank, Zheng Qipin: Yünü, twenty-seven positions.
Eighth rank, Zheng Bapin: Cainü, twenty-seven positions.
She had merely suffered some undeserved misfortune, breaking a bit of skin, yet she had directly ascended from Meiren to Fei.
This small sacrifice was well worth it.
…
“What? That wretch has been brought back by the Emperor?”
“How is this possible?”
Upon receiving the news, Princess Chaoyang’s expression changed drastically.
Consort Chen also grew somewhat nervous.
However, the mother and daughter were concerned about different things.
Princess Chaoyang was incredulous, even beginning to doubt An Shi Yi’s competence.
“This princess clearly had the Emperor’s Imperial Shadow Guard handle it. Even if discovered, no one would suspect this princess, unless that An Shi Yi is incompetent.”
But Consort Chen said, “What? You had the Emperor’s men do it?”
She instinctively glanced at Nanny Chen beside her.
Nanny Chen felt somewhat guilty.
“Your Highness, the princess considered everything thoroughly. This servant thought Her Highness was right. It must be that the Imperial Shadow Guard was unreliable in handling the matter, which is why someone discovered clues.”
“Now that hateful fox spirit has been brought back to the palace, sending her to the military camp again is likely impossible.”
Princess Chaoyang, however, calmed down.
“Hmph, a fallen woman! No matter how glib her tongue, she cannot change that fact! This princess will go tell the Emperor immediately!”
“How can such a person enter the palace as an imperial concubine?”
Consort Chen and her trusted nanny exchanged glances.
“But since she has already entered the palace, it means the Emperor believes her, or she used some trick to deceive His Majesty!”
Consort Chen thought for a moment, “What if we have someone reveal the truth during the Enthronement Ceremony?”
Nanny Chen’s eyes shifted, “Your Highness, that is not advisable!”
“That woman is bewitching. If the Emperor learns that you and the princess are dissatisfied and had someone disrupt the enthronement ceremony, he might be displeased…”
Nanny Chen’s mention of Emperor Qianwu being displeased was actually an understatement.
Both Consort Chen and Princess Chaoyang knew Emperor Qianwu’s temperament.
In his earlier years, he was decisive and ruthless, only mellowing somewhat in recent years as he aged.
But in essence, he was not the kind of weak and indecisive ruler.
The Emperor’s dignity cannot be trampled upon!
“Then what should we do?”
Consort Chen was at a loss.
But Princess Chaoyang said, “The Emperor has no heirs. There are many imperial concubines in the harem with no chance of promotion. That wretch enters the palace and immediately receives the Fei rank—she likely lacks the virtue to match the position.”
Consort Chen’s eyes lit up.
“My child speaks wisely!”
…
Inside the Hanlin Academy.
“Lord Zhou, congratulations, congratulations.”
“Lord Zhou, you truly keep your talents well hidden!”
“Lord Zhou, for the edict and commendation texts for Consort Zhen’s investiture, His Majesty specifically designated you to write them. This shows His Majesty’s trust in you, Lord Zhou. Your future is boundless!”
Zhou Mingchong’s expression was exceedingly complex.
After perfunctorily responding to his colleagues, he mustered all his concentration to write the edict and commendation texts specifically for his own sister’s investiture.
He weighed every word and phrase, striving for perfection.
He had only received the news yesterday.
That his sister was safe and sound and had already entered the palace.
Zhou Mingchong understood his sister; she would not leave without a word. There must be another reason.
Unfortunately, his sister was now deep within the palace, making communication difficult. He had to remain steady, not act rashly, and avoid causing trouble for her.
…
Several colleagues from the Hanlin Academy were discussing privately.
“I thought Zhou Mingchong had stumbled upon some incredible luck, but it turns out he used his own sister to curry favor with His Majesty.”
“He’s truly willing to sacrifice. For the sake of his own future, to avoid being entangled by the princess, he could even give up his own sister.”
Another colleague said, “It’s just one sister, what’s there to be unwilling about?”
“If I had a sister as beautiful as a celestial being, I’d also give her up in exchange for a splendid future.”
“Alright, enough. He now has a sister serving as a Fei in the palace. We should speak less, lest we incur his resentment.”
“In the future, we’ll have to be more restrained in front of him.”
…
A few days earlier.
After Zhou Mingchong finished his duties, it was already late. Discovering his sister was not at home, he nearly went mad.
He searched everywhere in the capital, exhausting all connections he could appeal to. He even almost impulsively stormed into the palace to confront Emperor Qianwu.
You old scoundrel, you clearly agreed to give us siblings three days to bid farewell, yet the three days aren’t even up. Where have you hidden my sister?
You old thing, not only did you take advantage and snatch my sister, but you also didn’t keep your promise…
But in the end, reason prevailed over impulse.
If something else had happened to his sister, and he offended that old fellow Xie Jinghong, who else could he rely on to save her?
However, the commotion at the Zhou residence still alarmed the Cen family.
Cen Shaoyuan was also frantic.
His fiancée, as lovely as a flower and as beautiful as a celestial being, was missing?
If such a beautiful woman were abducted by villains, the consequences would be unthinkable!
The least anxious was Madam Cen.
She even took pleasure in the misfortune.
“What? You say that young woman from the Zhou family is as beautiful as a celestial being?”
“Didn’t she say her appearance was damaged in childhood? Could it be you’ve developed some delusion?”
“Besides, she already broke off the engagement with you. Even if she’s missing, or couldn’t bear the loneliness and eloped with someone, what does it have to do with you?”
Cen Shaoyuan’s handsome face nearly contorted.
“Mother! How can you be so harsh?”
Madam Cen felt wronged upon hearing this.
“You say I’m harsh?”
“For the sake of an outsider, you speak to your own mother like this?”
“Where is your conscience?”
Cen Shaoyuan: “Mother, can you please not be so unreasonable?”
“I’m unreasonable?”
“I gave birth to you, raised you, cherished you like the apple of my eye until you grew up. For the sake of a woman, you slander your own mother like this. How can I not be heartbroken?”
The mother and son were talking at cross purposes. Cen Shaoyuan truly couldn’t bear it any longer and stormed off.
Leaving Madam Cen even more distressed.
“What do I get out of this?”
“I gave birth to him, and since he was little, he has caused me the most worry!”
“Now that you’ve grown up, you’re stabbing me in the heart for an outsider!”
“I… I might as well be dead!”
Madam Cen had only given birth to two sons.
Her eldest son had been raised by his grandfather since childhood. Though dignified and proper, and showing great respect toward her as his birth mother,
the two had never spent time together since he was young, so naturally they were not close.
After finally enduring until her father-in-law passed away in old age, she gave birth to her younger son.
But this child was a little troublemaker, never letting her have a moment’s peace since he was young.
And now, for the sake of an outsider girl, he was making her so heartbroken!
Steadying her emotions, Madam Cen grew increasingly wary of Zhou Mingyi. “That Zhou girl—no matter what, she must not be allowed to enter our household!”
Her trusted maid said, “Madam, have you forgotten? Miss Zhou’s engagement to our second young master was already broken off long ago.”
“As long as we do not acknowledge it, she certainly won’t be able to marry in.”
“Second young master seems to be under some kind of spell… In my humble opinion, you shouldn’t keep blocking him. The more you block him, the more anxious and upset he becomes, and the more determined he gets.”
Madam Cen fell silent for a moment, gradually calming down.
“You’re right. I was too hasty.”
“That stubborn mule should be handled with a gentler approach…”