Note:
Cefei – an official concubine of high status under the Crown Princess.
Zhaoyi – a high-ranking imperial concubine title, it is below consort-level but still influential
Meiren – mid-to-lower concubine rank, has some recognition but little authority, usually, they depend on favor to rise.
Maid-Concubine – very low-ranking concubine, often with servant-like status, no real power or protection, and easily punished or discarded.
Jieyu – is a specific rank for imperial concubines, usually below Zhaoyi and above Meiren.
Chapter 2: It Wasn’t Even Because the Whole House of Women Was Useless, That She Ended Up Like a Sieve!
Complaints aside, life had to go on.
Gu Ningning sighed once again and called her personal maid, Xiao Tao, inside.
Xiao Tao expertly cleaned the marks left on her body by Shen Que, helped her dress, and then pressed her down at the dressing table to do her hair and makeup.
Gu Ningning instructed her as usual, “Keep the look simple.”
It would be better if it leaned toward plainness, so she could give her cannon fodder appearance the proper look—only then could she die more peacefully when the time came.
Xiao Tao quickly finished her work and exclaimed, “Maid-Concubine, you’re so beautiful.”
Gu Ningning glanced at the mirror helplessly.
Even without makeup, the girl in the reflection had long eyelashes, misty peach blossom eyes, skin whiter than snow, and lips like cherries. She was naturally delicate, yet her figure was curvy front and back, adding an extra hint of charm and contrast.
She always stood out wherever she went—completely unsuited to the role of cannon fodder. No wonder Shen Que liked to pin her down anytime, anywhere.
Resigned, she rose and obediently went to the Listening Rain Pavilion to pay respects to the Secondary Consort.
Besides the Maid-Concubine who had been executed by Shen Que, the Eastern Palace now had six other women: Secondary Consort Yun, Zhaoyi Zhao, Zhaoyi Bai, Meiren Zhou, Meiren Lin, and Gu Ningning.
Among them, Secondary Consort Yun was the most formidable. She came from a prestigious family, had a gentle face but a calculating heart, and those who died by her hands met cruel ends—she was the story’s villainous supporting female character.
Zhaoyi Zhao came next, fond of stirring up trouble, another malicious supporting female.
Zhaoyi Bai, Meiren Lin, and Meiren Zhou, like Gu Ningning, were all female cannon fodder.
The unfortunate part was that all of them currently ranked higher than her…
Yan Guo’s position was considered central, but in ancient times, without global warming, she endured freezing temperatures below minus twenty or thirty degrees, waking early every day to outwit a group of hostile superiors.
Now, with the country’s strength flourishing and the Eastern Palace newly built in recent years, the sight was a cascade of majestic buildings. Especially in the morning, when the sunlight shone through, the entire palace shimmered with golden light.
Secondary Consort Yun’s Listening Rain Pavilion was lavish beyond measure. The guest hall alone was the size of a three-room suite, adorned with pearl curtains and jade floor tiles.
The building was cleverly designed, warm in winter and cool in summer. Compared to Gu Ningning’s own small, shabby quarters, which hadn’t even had silver-charcoal heating when she first arrived, the difference was stark.
This was the distinction between villainous supporting females and cannon fodder. If the villainous roles weren’t so exhausting, she would have transferred to that department in a heartbeat.
Today, she had arrived late again. She knelt expertly before Secondary Consort Yun, pinched her own thigh, and forced out two tears.
“Forgive me, Sister Yun! This concubine has been indulgent in sleep recently and missed the proper time to pay respects. Truly, my crime is unforgivable. I humbly beg you to punish me swiftly!”
She had used this trick so many times that the Secondary Consort could now look at her without expression. Zhaoyi Bai, who was speaking, fell silent.
Her closest ally, Meiren Lin, secretly turned her head, pretending not to know her.
Meiren Zhou, sipping her tea, spoke with a sharp tone, “You know your crime is unforgivable. I’ve heard that if a Maid-Concubine at Prince Xuan’s Residence is late in paying respects to the Mistress of the Household, she must kneel for two full hours as punishment.”
At the same time, Zhaoyi Zhao exaggeratedly covered her mouth with a handkerchief and smiled, “Sister Zhou, don’t say that. Your Highness visits Sister Gu daily. If she has to kneel for two hours tonight, she won’t be available for a few days for… other duties.”
Since Gu Ningning couldn’t serve in that capacity, wouldn’t the duty fall to them?
Zhaoyi Zhao and Meiren Zhou’s eyes both flicked up toward Secondary Consort Yun.
Gu Ningning, however, remained confident.
Rule number one for surviving as a subordinate: cling to the strong!
Secondary Consort Yun, being the biggest boss in the Eastern Palace, had been her target since Gu Ningning first arrived.
Pleasing a superior meant first alleviating their troubles.
Secondary Consort Yun’s current biggest concern was that she was not favored.
So after gaining favor, she began commissioning illustrations of the positions Shen Que liked, sending book after book of erotic images to the pavilion.
Whether it succeeded or not was not Gu Ningning’s concern. By the time Secondary Consort Yun studied each page, she would have completed her task and passed away on the spot.
After-sales service was impossible—even digging her out of the earth wouldn’t help.
Sure enough, Secondary Consort Yun pressed her lips slightly and said, “Enough. Sister Gu didn’t do it intentionally. Let’s just let this matter pass.”
Gu Ningning scanned the room and located Meiren Lin’s position.
Her figure was graceful; even in a simple dress, her allure was impossible to hide. She was naturally charming, and with a single movement, exuded countless forms of seduction.
Meiren Zhou sneered quietly, “Fox spirit!”
Gu Ningning ignored her. Lacking cunning and sharp tongue, no wonder Meiren Zhou had died earlier than her.
She moved to sit beside Meiren Lin. Both women came from humble backgrounds, so they had to occupy the corner. Meiren Lin split the peeled citrus she held in half and whispered, “I tried each one. This is the best.”
Although paying respects, the Secondary Consort prepared fruit and tea for everyone. But the others barely touched anything—after all, they were competitors, not guests.
Only Meiren Lin’s table had all the citrus peeled, most of the longan eaten, and only two grapes left—probably because they were unpalatable.
With such a lack of strategy, it was no wonder Zhaoyi Zhao used her casually and she died without even a proper role.
Gu Ningning took the citrus from Meiren Lin and offered her a handkerchief to wipe her hands.
Meiren Lin smiled shyly. Meiren Zhou, however, scoffed coldly, “You think of her every day, share everything, but when Your Highness favors her, she never thinks to share with you.”
“…” Gu Ningning: She also wanted a share of the favor. It wasn’t for lack of trying—it was just that the whole house of women was useless, which was why Shen Que poked her like a sieve every day.
She feigned sudden understanding. “Sister Zhou is right. That is exactly how it should be.”
“Suppose tonight Your Highness comes here. Lately, Your Highness keeps saying he wants to see the spinning dance. Sister Lin could dress beautifully tonight and perform at my gate. Your Highness will surely enjoy it.”
Every woman in the room could dance, but the best dancer was Meiren Zhou. Hearing this, she clutched her handkerchief tightly, glancing nervously at Meiren Lin.