Hongli paced back and forth angrily across the room, too preoccupied to pay any attention to Fuca Langhua, who was still kneeling on the floor.
Only after a long while did the fury burning in his chest finally begin to subside.
With obvious irritation, he told the empress to rise. After a moment’s thought, he asked about the rankings for the imperial harem.
Fuca Langhua did not dare delay and immediately replied, “Most of the arrangements have already been drafted. We are only waiting for Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager to review them. There is only Qingying’s rank—I wished to consult Your Majesty before making a final decision.”
Hongli grunted in acknowledgment, signaling for her to continue.
As she spoke, Fuca Langhua carefully observed his expression.
“When we were still in the prince’s residence, Xiyue was already a Secondary Consort. In addition, her father has rendered meritorious service to the court, so I propose granting her the title of Noble Consort.”
Hongli nodded slightly.
“Qingying was also a Secondary Consort and, in fact, has seniority over Xiyue. However, above the rank of Noble Consort, there is only Imperial Noble Consort.”
Hongli dismissed the idea immediately with a wave of his hand.
“There is no precedent for granting the rank of Imperial Noble Consort upon initial investiture.”
“Exactly,” Fuca Langhua agreed. “But if both are made Noble Consorts, Lord Gao has rendered great service to the empire, while the Ula-Nara clan has no influence at court.”
She hesitated before continuing.
“And… Qingying has repeatedly displeased the Empress Dowager. I was thinking perhaps she could first be granted the rank of Consort or Concubine and promoted later.”
Hongli lowered his head in thought.
In his view, Gao Xiyue was innocent and charming, and her father and brothers were capable officials. As a former Secondary Consort, the position of Noble Consort suited her perfectly.
As for Qingying…
Regarding the matter of Jingren Palace, the advice Qingying had given him had nearly forced him into a humiliating concession before the court immediately after his accession.
By contrast, it had been the Empress Dowager who prevented him from making a mistake, offered him a solution, and even allowed him to honor his birth mother openly with a posthumous title.
Today, he had also learned that the Empress Dowager had quietly resolved another major problem for him—one that had largely arisen because of Qingying’s actions.
Had it been anyone else, they might not have insisted that the Empress Dowager drink that bowl of soup.
But Qingying was always so stubborn.
She truly had made many mistakes lately, and his mother was clearly displeased with her.
For the first time, he found himself wavering.
“Are there any others who will receive the rank of Consort?” he asked.
Fuca Langhua shook her head.
“This is only the initial investiture. It would not be appropriate to fill all the highest positions at once. The others either lack seniority or have not yet borne children, so no one else has been assigned the rank of Consort.”
Hongli nodded.
Qingying was different from the others, after all.
He could not bear to see women who had once ranked below her in the prince’s residence surpass her now.
However, since no one had been assigned the rank of Consort…
“Then grant Qingying the rank of Concubine for now. Once the Imperial Household Department submits a list of honorific titles, I will choose one myself. After that, send the finalized rankings to Imperial Mother and ask if she has any objections.”
Fuca Langhua had assumed that after such a serious incident—and with Hongli immediately bringing up the matter of ranks—Qingying’s position would inevitably suffer.
Yet hearing him personally decree that Qingying would receive only the rank of Concubine still brought her a small measure of satisfaction.
After all, during the selection process years ago, Qingying had nearly caused her to become a mere concubine instead of the principal wife.
She had never fully let go of that resentment.
Hongli spoke again.
“As for the incident involving the meal offering, I will not punish you this time, considering it is your first offense and that the Empress Dowager herself declared she would not pursue the matter.”
His expression darkened.
“But I do not wish to see anything like this happen again. Otherwise, I will find someone else to help you manage the harem.”
Fuca Langhua’s heart skipped a beat.
Someone else?
Who?
Qingying?
Lowering her head, she quietly acknowledged the warning.
Hongli waved his hand, dismissing her.
Several days later, after Hongli had selected the honorific titles proposed by the Imperial Household Department, the finalized register of ranks was sent to the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility.
Zhen Huan examined the list with interest.
“Noble Consort Hui, Lady Gao…” she murmured. “That title doesn’t seem to suit Lady Gao very well.”
Standing nearby, Fuga smiled.
“Perhaps the character hui—meaning ‘wisdom’—reflects His Majesty’s hopes for Noble Consort Gao.”
Zhen Huan chuckled and continued reading.
“Concubine Chun, Lady Su. I remember she seemed like a gentle and easygoing person.”
Her eyes moved further down the list.
“Concubine Xian, Lady Ula-Nara.”
She looked up in surprise and exchanged a glance with Fuga.
“Qingying? Why was she given only the rank of Concubine?”