Soon it was the first month of the new year again, and the consorts once more gathered at Cining Palace to pay their respects.
Zhen Huan sat smiling as she listened to the women chatting and teasing one another.
After exchanging a few words with Gao Xiyue, she casually asked:
“I notice that you have no shortage of fine clothes and jewelry, yet you always wear this bracelet. Does it hold some special significance?”
Gao Xiyue immediately raised her wrist for the Empress Dowager to inspect.
“This was gifted to both myself and Consort Xian by Her Majesty the Empress when we first paid our respects in the prince’s residence.
The Empress said it symbolized harmony among the wives and concubines, as well as the bond we shared from our days in the household.
I’ve worn it every day ever since.”
Fuca Langhua took a sip of tea to conceal her discomfort.
Looking back now, she felt as though she had been possessed.
At the time, Gao Xiyue’s family had not yet risen to its current prominence, and she had entered the residence only as a secondary consort.
Yet Fuca had regarded her with such suspicion.
And when she thought of how Gao Xiyue had spent years loyally supporting her, the guilt only deepened.
Meanwhile, Zhen Huan appeared suddenly fascinated by the bracelet.
“Oh? Consort Xian has one as well? Is she wearing it today?”
As usual, Ruyi had been sitting there lost in her own thoughts.
Only after Ruixin discreetly nudged her from behind did she return to reality.
“In reply to the Empress Dowager, since it was bestowed personally by Her Majesty the Empress, naturally I wear it every day.”
Zhen Huan paused.
Perhaps it was because she already disliked Ruyi.
But somehow, everything Ruyi said sounded faintly sarcastic.
“Is that so?
Then let me have a look at both of them.
I hear they were originally imperial gifts presented during the Emperor and Empress’s wedding.”
Understanding immediately, Fuga stepped forward and collected the bracelets after Gao Xiyue and Ruyi removed them.
Zhen Huan examined them theatrically.
Then she smiled toward the Empress.
“They truly are lovely bracelets.
But so many years have passed.
The design is no longer quite fashionable, and they appear somewhat worn as well.
Since it’s such an auspicious holiday season, why don’t I ask a favor on behalf of Consort Gao and Consort Xian?
They’ve served beside Your Majesty and the Emperor for many years now. Surely they’re worth another gift from the Empress.”
Fuca immediately understood.
Smiling, she replied:
“It was my oversight.
The years passed before I noticed.
The bracelets are indeed somewhat outdated.
Since Imperial Mother has personally requested it, I suppose I’ll have to dig out my finest treasures and gift them to Xiyue and Ruyi.”
Zhen Huan laughed and teased Gao Xiyue.
“Well? Why aren’t you thanking me?
I’ve practically robbed your Empress of her prized possessions on your behalf.”
Gao Xiyue had always loved beautiful things.
The only reason she’d continued wearing the increasingly heavy bracelet for so many years was because of the Empress’s original instructions.
Now she not only had an excuse to stop wearing it but would receive new jewelry as well.
Naturally, she was delighted.
“This servant thanks the Empress Dowager! Thanks the Empress!
Truly, no one loves this servant more than the Empress Dowager and the Empress.”
Ruyi, by contrast, maintained her usual detached expression.
She didn’t even bother with basic social enthusiasm.
It was as though the matter had nothing to do with her.
She merely followed Gao Xiyue’s lead and offered a perfunctory expression of gratitude.
Zhen Huan didn’t even bother looking at her.
Why focus on someone who spoiled the atmosphere when there were so many lovely women around eagerly flattering her?
“As for these bracelets, they hold considerable sentimental value.
I’ll have them sent to the Imperial Household Department for restoration.
Once repaired, the Empress can preserve them properly.”
Naturally, Fuca agreed.
At the very end of the group sat Bai Ruiji.
Unlike many of the others, she possessed a lively and bold temperament.
Seeing how approachable the Empress Dowager seemed, she paid no mind to her own lowly rank and joined in the conversation.
“What a pity.
The Empress Dowager only dotes on Consort Gao and Consort Xian.
The rest of us clearly have nobody to care for us.”
Zhen Huan would never look down on someone merely because of a low rank.
Turning toward Fuca, she laughed:
“Look at that.
Someone’s already finding fault with me.
It seems I’ll have to spend some silver myself today.”
Fuca immediately joined in.
“It is simply because Imperial Mother is so kind and affectionate toward us younger women.”
“Since the Empress has rewarded Consort Gao and Consort Xian, then all the rest shall receive gifts from me.”
A reward from the Empress Dowager was not something everyone received.
Especially not low-ranking consorts.
Many of them might spend their entire lives barely interacting with the Empress Dowager at all.
As soon as those words were spoken, delight spread across every face.
Everyone rose together to offer thanks.
The audience ended in a cheerful and harmonious atmosphere.
Everyone was happy.
Well—
Almost everyone.
Ruyi remained exactly as she always was.
Quietly detached.
For a time after the New Year banquet, things remained peaceful.
Then one day, a young eunuch whom Zhen Huan had specifically assigned to monitor Wang Qin after hearing Fuca’s concerns arrived with a report.
“What?
The Emperor arranged a marriage for Wang Qin?”
The phrase “Has he lost his mind?” reached the edge of Zhen Huan’s tongue.
She swallowed it back down.
There were outsiders present.
She couldn’t insult the Emperor quite so openly.
The situation, as it turned out, was this:
After being rejected by Fuca Langhua, Wang Qin had refused to give up.
He tested the waters with Gao Xiyue and Jin Yuyan.
But Gao Xiyue fiercely protected her people, while Jin Yuyan was far too clever.
Both shut him down immediately.
Unfortunately for Wang Qin, there were only so many notable women in the harem.
Lady Yi enjoyed little favor.
Pure Consort wasn’t much better off and only held her rank because she had borne the Third Prince.
Consort Xian was currently favored, but Li Yu already occupied the position closest to her.
As for anyone lower-ranking, Wang Qin simply looked down on them.
Eventually he devised a plan.
If the mountain wouldn’t come to him, he’d go to the mountain.
He would first find a pretty young woman for himself.
Then, after establishing control over her, he would arrange for her to enter service under the Empress or Consort Gao.
He was extremely confident.
Surely the Empress wouldn’t reject useful assistance simply because she had refused to part with Lianxin.
Especially now that Changchun Palace lacked a chief maid after Sulian’s death.
So he selected a young palace maid with no connections.
Using her sister, who also served in the palace, as leverage, he alternated threats and promises.
Then he approached the Emperor and requested an imperial marriage decree.
Claiming the relationship was completely mutual.
Hongli, hearing that both parties supposedly loved each other, agreed without hesitation.
Thus the marriage was approved.
Zhen Huan nearly laughed from sheer disbelief.
Hongli truly did not care about palace regulations at all.
Back in the day, Su Peisheng and Cui Jinxi had only maintained a secret relationship.
Su Peisheng had served the Emperor for years and stood at the very top of the eunuch hierarchy.
Yet merely because a pouch sewn by a palace maid was discovered, he had been dragged straight into the Office of Punishments.
Had it not been for years of loyalty and Cui Jinxi’s status as chief maid to the then-favored Noble Consort Xi, Su Peisheng might not have survived.
And Wang Qin?
What relationship did he have with the Emperor?
Half the time, Hongli seemed to favor Li Yu more.
Yet not only was Wang Qin allowed to pursue a palace maid openly—
The Emperor had personally arranged the marriage.
Had a donkey kicked him in the head?
After some thought, Zhen Huan gave her orders.
“Continue watching Wang Qin.
And quietly bring that palace maid to Cining Palace.”
Under cover of night, the young woman was escorted into Cining Palace.
Her surname was Chu.
Her given name was Hewan.
She was beautiful, with a gentle and delicate appearance.
When Zhen Huan casually mentioned her upcoming marriage to Wang Qin, Hewan forced a smile.
That alone told Zhen Huan everything she needed to know.
The coercion had clearly been more effective than the persuasion.
Her disgust toward Wang Qin increased threefold.
If Wang Qin had found a woman genuinely willing to use him as a stepping stone and both parties consented, Zhen Huan would not have interfered.
But this?
Threatening a woman’s family until she had no choice?
That was something she could not ignore.
With a sigh, she spoke gently.
“Do not be afraid.
Simply tell me the truth.
If you do not wish to marry him, I will help you.”
For a brief moment, hope flashed in Hewan’s eyes.
Then it vanished.
“But the marriage was granted by imperial decree.
If this servant says she is unwilling, would that not be disobeying His Majesty’s command?”
“I have my own methods.
Simply tell me whether you are willing.”
At last, tears began falling.
Hewan confessed that she did not want the marriage.
That she had been threatened.
That she had nowhere to seek help.
Zhen Huan had Fuga hand her a handkerchief.
Then she reassured the girl:
“Before the wedding date arrives, Wang Qin will be dealt with.”
Only after repeated expressions of gratitude did Hewan finally leave.
Once she was gone, Zhen Huan’s expression hardened.
A man willing to force a woman into marriage through threats could not be allowed to continue unchecked.
And whatever was done needed to happen quickly.
Once the wedding took place, Hewan’s reputation would be ruined regardless of the outcome.
And judging by Wang Qin’s desperate obsession with obtaining a woman, there was no telling how he might mistreat her afterward.
The marriage had been arranged by imperial decree.
Convincing Hongli to reverse it based solely on a palace maid’s testimony was impossible.
His pride would never permit it.
And Hewan herself would only suffer more.
That left one option.
Deal with Wang Qin directly.
After thinking for a long while, Zhen Huan leaned toward Fuga and whispered several instructions into her ear.