At night, Lady Yu knelt in the inner hall waiting. Gazing at the spacious imperial bed, she felt both shy and unable to suppress her anticipation. However, as time slowly passed, her little bit of hope began to fade.
Later on, instead of waiting for the Emperor, she was met by the Chief Eunuch Chen An, who informed her that the Emperor was too busy with official duties and asked her to return to her palace first.
Lady Yu felt a chill run through her entire body. She was the first among the new consorts to be summoned for the night—such a glorious affair. But if she were to return like this, she could almost imagine what she would face.
The more she thought about it, the more she couldn’t hold back her tears, yet she dared not make a sound to let others see. Shame and resentment intertwined within her.
The next day, the well-informed harem quickly learned of the incident. They loved watching such dramas, and both inside and outside, they mocked Lady Yu relentlessly.
Luo Shuran paid no attention to these matters. Her rank was low, and she had not yet served the Emperor, so she did not need to go to Kunning Palace to pay respects to the Empress. However, as a member of the Luo family, she naturally had to go to Yunhua Palace to pay respects to Luo Wanling upon entering the palace.
In the afternoon, she changed her clothes and went to Yunhua Palace.
Even at the entrance of the inner hall, she could hear unrestrained laughter coming from inside. Sitting and chatting with Luo Wanling was Yu Fei.
Only when she drew closer did she clearly hear the content of their conversation. It was nothing serious—their words, both explicit and implicit, revolved around the Emperor’s robust health and strong desires.
Luo Shuran pursed her lips. It had been so long that she had almost forgotten the taste of serving the Emperor. She only remembered that it seemed rather unpleasant.
The current Emperor was in his prime, full of energy, and frequented the harem often.
After entering, Luo Shuran performed a proper curtsy and greeted, “Your humble servant pays respects to Consort Xian and Yu Fei. May Your Highnesses enjoy boundless fortune and peace.”
Seeing her arrival, the two seated above simultaneously looked at her, their eyes carrying a hint of scrutiny.
Luo Shuran was wearing a light pink gown today, with a sash around her waist accentuating her slender, willow-like figure. Her skin was rosy and radiant, and the curves beneath her collar were enviably proud.
Truly a captivating beauty.
Yu Fei narrowed her slender phoenix eyes slightly, leaned back, and smiled as she looked at Luo Wanling. “And this is?”
Luo Wanling raised an eyebrow slightly before reluctantly saying, “This is my younger sister.”
How could a lowly concubine-born daughter be worthy of being her sister? Luo Wanling felt utter disdain in her heart, but she maintained a dignified appearance and waved to the one below. “Take a seat.”
Luo Shuran sat timidly and obediently on the stool, her demeanor cautious.
Yu Fei pinched her handkerchief and dabbed the corner of her mouth, her eyes shifting between them. She had heard about the Duke’s residence sending a new consort into the palace and had purposely come today to take a look. “So this is Your Highness’s sister. Indeed, she bears some resemblance to you.”
Before Luo Wanling could respond, Yu Fei stood up with a smile. “Your Highness, I have some trivial matters to attend to in my palace, so I shall take my leave first.”
Having seen the person, Yu Fei was tactful and did not wish to involve herself in their private affairs.
After Yu Fei left, Luo Wanling turned her gaze back to Luo Shuran. “Are you settling well in the palace?”
She did not take Luo Shuran seriously, but she understood her father’s intentions. No matter what, she had to spend some time and effort dealing with her.
Luo Shuran replied in a soft, obedient voice, “In response to Your Highness, your humble servant dares not ask for anything more. Being able to enter the palace is already the greatest blessing.”
Hearing her reply, Luo Wanling smiled faintly. Yes, that was how it should be—she should be grateful to her and the Luo family for giving her the opportunity to enter the palace and serve the Emperor.
If it weren’t for the Emperor’s rapid growth over the past two years and his decreasing reliance on the Luo family compared to before, how could she have endured such humiliation in the palace, to the point where a mere concubine-born daughter was now relied upon to secure favor?
The number of newcomers in the rear palace was increasing, and most infuriatingly, Shu Fei, the daughter of their old rival Grand Tutor Wen, was gaining more and more of the Emperor’s affection. Because of this, not only she but even her father could no longer sit still, resorting to all means to maintain their position.
“The matter of serving the Emperor will be arranged at the appropriate time,” Luo Wanling said slowly. Arranging such matters was trivial to her.
The key was to win the Emperor’s favor and secure temporary grace.
At the very least, it would displease Shu Fei and dampen her arrogant demeanor.
As for long-lasting favor, she couldn’t be bothered to discuss it. Over the years, batches of beautiful women had come and gone in the palace, yet no one had truly captured the Emperor’s heart.
Only giving birth to a royal heir was a true reliance and her father’s hope.
Thinking of this, a wave of melancholy washed over Luo Wanling. The imperial physician had said her constitution was too cold, making it difficult for her to conceive.
For three years, she had taken medicine to regulate her body, yet her belly remained still. Meanwhile, the number of royal offspring in the palace was growing—already three princes and four princesses.
No wonder her father was so anxious to send someone in.
Luo Shuran acknowledged her words and looked up to see Luo Wanling staring at her abdomen.
There was no need to guess—it was undoubtedly about the matter of heirs.
In her past life, because Luo Wanling couldn’t bear children, she had turned her schemes toward her. Besides arranging tonics, she had even procured folk remedies for conception and forced her to drink them. Later, when she became pregnant, she endured a difficult labor that lasted a full day and night. The child she risked her life to bring into the world was snatched away before she even had a chance to see its face.
Thinking of her child, Luo Shuran couldn’t help but feel resentment. Yet, the more she felt this way, the calmer her expression became.
She could only endure in silence, carefully plotting each step.
After a short while, Luo Wanling expressed her need to rest. Luo Shuran bowed and took her leave. On her way back, she noticed the Imperial Garden bustling in the distance, with consorts playing music and dancing, each vying to outshine the other.
All these efforts were merely to catch the Emperor’s eye, but without the sovereign’s presence, it was all in vain.
Luo Shuran shifted her gaze forward. Rather than waiting passively, it was better to take the initiative.
A few days later, after finishing state affairs, the Emperor began summoning the newcomers to serve him.
The first to serve was Beauty Rong, who was later granted the title of Rong Jieyu. Not to be outdone, Beauty Song followed suit and was also granted the title of Song Jieyu after serving.
As for Talent Yu, who had failed to serve the Emperor last time, perhaps because the Emperor favored her, she was summoned once more and granted the title of Beauty Yu.
With the newcomers taking turns serving, those who hadn’t yet been summoned grew anxious. Some even sang in the Imperial Garden all day long, but in the end, they failed to secure a night with the Emperor and only ended up straining their voices.
Luo Shuran, however, remained quiet at first. But one day, while Xi Chun was away, she led Ming Xia out.
She walked straight ahead, in the opposite direction of the Imperial Garden. The path grew increasingly remote, with almost no one in sight.
Although Ming Xia was puzzled as to why her mistress had chosen such a secluded place for a stroll, she followed closely, her eyes darting around vigilantly.
Luo Shuran arrived at a small path, where willow trees swayed gently in the breeze, revealing a pond filled with lotus flowers—a uniquely beautiful sight.
Her mother had loved lotus flowers the most. It was a pity she would never see them again.
Her mother was born into a wealthy family, but later the family fell into decline. She survived by doing embroidery and blending fragrances. Because of her striking beauty, she caught the eye of Duke Luo and became his concubine.
After entering the mansion, her mother was perpetually melancholy. If not for her daughter, she might not have endured so many years and would have passed away long ago.
Luo Shuran sat by the pavilion, leaning against the railing, her chin resting on her arm. Today, she wore a cyan-green long gown, which accentuated her fair and delicate complexion. As the wind blew, strands of her hair brushed against her cheeks, and under the dappled sunlight, her stunning beauty was undeniable.
Her brows furrowed slightly, and her willow-leaf-shaped eyes gazed at the pond water, unmoving for a long while. In the next moment, crystal-clear tears slid down onto the back of her hand.
She resembled a fairy who had stepped out of a painting, with a faint trace of sorrow between her brows, so beautiful that one could not look away.
“Ming Xia, they say entering the palace is a life of fortune, but why do I feel so afraid?” Luo Shuran’s voice was clear. Hearing this, Ming Xia stepped forward, looking at her mistress with deep concern.
She hadn’t expected her mistress to suddenly confide such thoughts to her. These past few days, she had sensed her mistress treating her with unusual kindness, which she had been deeply grateful for. Now, seeing her mistress in distress, she had no other way to respond but to kneel abruptly on the ground. “Mistress, I am but a lowly servant. The only thing I can do is follow you.”
Luo Shuran recalled her past life, when Ming Xia had used her own body to shield her from the flames as best she could. Perhaps Ming Xia had never sworn any oaths to her, but her actions had always embodied the word “loyalty.”
She wiped away her tears and helped Ming Xia to her feet. Today, her purpose was clear. Luo Shuran’s gaze, intentionally or not, drifted toward the pavilion above.
To catch the Emperor’s eye—this was the gamble she was taking.