“I am the true Heaven’s Mandate Maiden!”
“I am the one brought into the palace by Her Majesty the Empress Dowager! She is nothing but a shameless impostor!”
“That wretch! She stole my position! She deserves to die, to die!”
Chuntao was throwing a fit inside her hall. The palace maid attending to her looked on with disdain but dared not show it too openly. She could only lower her head and wait for Chuntao to finish her tantrum before silently entering the hall to tidy up.
Chuntao held a low rank. Out of consideration for the Empress Dowager, Emperor Qianwu had granted her the sixth-rank title of Baolin.
Under normal circumstances, a woman like her—neither favored by the emperor nor possessing exceptional beauty—would typically be granted the eighth-rank title of Cainü upon first entering the palace.
The investiture ceremony for a Baolin was not particularly elaborate. Two days prior, a eunuch had arrived to deliver a simple imperial decree, confirming her status as “Baolin,” and that was considered the completion of the ceremony.
No formal residence was arranged for her either. Since she had been living here, this hall was bestowed upon her as her dwelling.
Her hall contained nothing of particular value.
Just as the palace maid had finished putting back the items Chuntao had thrown and scattered on the floor, she heard Chuntao ask, “Is the investiture ceremony for the consort tomorrow?”
Hearing this, the palace maid felt a surge of panic. “Lady Baolin, what do you intend to do?”
Chuntao’s expression suddenly turned cold.
“Since when does a servant dare to question her master’s actions?”
The palace maid’s face burned with shame, and her heart raced with anxiety.
As a Baolin, Chuntao did not have many attendants to begin with.
This palace maid had originally been assigned to serve her and now remained under her command.
But the palace maid felt utterly despondent.
Back when she learned that this lady had been personally brought into the palace by Her Majesty the Empress Dowager, she had willingly agreed to serve her.
If she had known Chuntao had such a temperament, she would have long ago bribed the eunuchs of the Directorate of Ceremonial to avoid being assigned here!
But it wasn’t too late yet.
This Baolin was clearly not right in the head, and she couldn’t afford to be dragged down with her.
The palace maid immediately lowered her head and fell silent, afraid that Lady Baolin might detect her disloyalty.
Although Chuntao looked down on the palace maid, she was new to the palace and had no capable people by her side.
Only after entering the palace did she realize that even the emperor’s women were not allowed to go everywhere within the palace grounds.
There were still many places they were forbidden to enter.
Thus, gathering information relied on the palace maids and eunuchs who served her.
Thinking this, Chuntao couldn’t help but feel the urge to win over the palace maid.
“Sui’er, it’s not that I’m harsh or treat you poorly. You know your mistress has been wronged.”
“The abbot of Hanshan Temple clearly declared that I am the Heaven’s Mandate Maiden! Only I can bear a son for His Majesty! That Zhou Mingyi is nothing but an impostor!”
As soon as Zhou Mingyi was brought into the palace, the news reached Chuntao.
Chuntao immediately ordered her palace maid, Sui’er, to investigate.
The information she gathered was largely what Consort Chen and her daughter wanted her to know.
This included how Zhou Mingyi had been sent to Qingzhou, encountered an accident along the way, and was later rescued and brought back.
Chuntao was furious!
When she first entered the palace, she had inquired about Zhou Mingyi but found no information at all.
It was clear that at the time, Consort Chen and her daughter had believed she was the only woman brought into the palace from outside.
But with a newcomer arriving in the palace, it was nearly impossible to keep it completely hidden from Consort Chen and Princess Chaoyang, given their considerable influence.
The news soon leaked out.
“That Zhou Mingyi is nothing but an impostor. Even Guifei and the princess dislike her, yet she’s so eager to enter the palace. Who knows what she’s plotting!”
“You mean, she was sent to the Qingzhou military camp, was violated by the coachman on the way, then by the Hu people, and even fell off a cliff with some general. Perhaps she also had some improper relations with that general…”
Chuntao’s expression was extremely venomous, making Sui’er tremble with fear.
“I… I don’t know… These are all rumors spread by others.”
But Chuntao’s eyes gleamed brightly as she declared with conviction, “Do you know what they say—there’s no smoke without fire?”
“If she hadn’t done those things, why would so many people talk about it?”
“How hateful that she still bewitches His Majesty!”
Sui’er had been in the palace for some years now and understood well the principles of survival here.
The more low-key and unassuming one was, the longer one could live.
Years of experience told Sui’er that those like Jin Baolin, who thought they knew everything while understanding nothing, would eventually be devoured completely, bones and all!
She shuddered involuntarily.
Chuntao said, “Good girl, why are you trembling?”
“I’ve just entered the palace and don’t have many capable people around me. On the day of the investiture ceremony, I want you to expose Consort Zhen.”
Speaking of this title, Chuntao burned with jealousy.
This should have been hers.
“What kind of Consort Zhen is she? Just a tainted flower!”
Sui’er trembled even more violently.
She tried hard to calm herself.
She couldn’t bring about her own destruction!
But Jin Baolin was her mistress, and she was merely a palace maid.
Now that her mistress had spoken, she absolutely couldn’t refuse directly.
Suddenly, Sui’er had a flash of inspiration. “Reporting to Baolin, this humble maid is but a lowly servant, insignificant and without influence. Who would believe what I say?”
“Even if we are to expose her, it should be someone of status like you, Baolin.”
“You are the Heaven’s Mandate Maiden personally brought back to the palace by the Empress Dowager. Only your words carry weight and can make His Majesty take notice.”
It must be said that Sui’er’s flattery struck right at Chuntao’s heart.
After a moment of silence, Chuntao suddenly said with blazing eyes, “Sui’er, you’re right!”
…
On the day of the investiture ceremony, the weather was fine and sunny.
Zhou Mingyi wore the flower hairpin Ceremonial Garment, appearing dignified and composed.
Yet she looked even more breathtakingly beautiful.
Shiliu grew more and more delighted the longer she looked.
Heaven knew how anxious she had been when her young lady went missing.
But the master said she should wait at home, in case the young lady returned and found no one there.
Later, when people from the palace came, Shiliu finally saw her young lady again!
“Your Highness, I can hear the procession! How lively it is!”
“Your Highness, I see the dragon pavilion!”
“So this is what the dragon pavilion looks like. I’ve never seen one in all my life!”
After their parents passed away, to save on expenses, the elder brother sold off all the household servants.
Later, when he passed the imperial examinations with high honors, he bought a young maid for his sister.
This young maid was Shiliu.
Usually, Zhou Mingchong always complained that she was too young, too chattery, and not steady enough.
But his sister was already steady enough—he actually wished she could be as lively and charming as she was when their parents were still alive.
Yet he knew those days were gone forever.
Moreover, after this girl loyally protected her mistress when Madam Cen and others forced their way in, the siblings treated her with increasing kindness.
After Zhou Mingyi “awoke,” she asked Emperor Qianwu for Shiliu.
After obtaining Shiliu’s own consent, she brought her into the palace.
After the honor guard, the dragon pavilion, and the envoys of the conferment ceremony entered the palace, Ming Yi, guided by the ceremonial female official, knelt in the courtyard facing the “scepter” representing the emperor and the table bearing the Seal and Treasure to listen to the proclamation.
The eunuch supervisor knelt and read:
By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:
We hold that the kingly transformation begins within the palace, and the virtue of women is manifested in the governance of the inner court.
You, Madam Zhou, nurtured from a distinguished family, were early selected with care.
Your nature is gentle and respectful, your conduct upright and virtuous.
Your serene demeanor is graceful and compliant, embodying the fine example of gentleness and brightness;
Your frugal virtue is gentle and excellent, harmonizing with the admirable bearing of chastity and obedience.
In serving your superiors with sincerity, you have fully observed the rites of reverence and diligence;
In nurturing those below with kindness, you have displayed the manner of benevolence and generosity.
Therefore, in accordance with the imperial mother’s instruction and yielding to public sentiment, We hereby specially confer upon you the golden seal and treasure, appointing you as Consort Zhen.
May you respectfully receive this grand ceremony and further cultivate your splendid virtues.
Forever maintain vigilance and caution, contemplating the compliance of the earth to receive the heavens;
Long uphold filial piety and sincerity, serving the inner court and assisting in governance.
Devoted to poetry and conversant with rites, constantly aiding the plans of the inner palace;
Practicing faithfulness and contemplating obedience, thereby extending the blessings for generations to come.
So be it!