Fuga hesitated before speaking.
“Well… this servant doesn’t know either. Shall I try to find out?”
“Forget it.” Zhen Huan waved her hand.
“How are you supposed to find out what the Emperor is thinking? In any case, whatever decision he makes has little to do with me.
Though Qingying and Gao Xiyue were both Secondary Consorts back in the prince’s residence. Lady Gao was even promoted later. Yet now one has become a Noble Consort and had her entire clan elevated through banner status, while the other is merely a Concubine. That’s quite a difference.”
For a moment, Zhen Huan honestly couldn’t tell which one was supposed to be Hongli’s true love.
Looking more closely, she realized that Qingying had not only received the rank of Concubine, but had also been assigned to Yanxi Palace.
Given the current layout of the Forbidden City, Yanxi Palace was hardly considered desirable housing.
Fuga smiled.
“Perhaps His Majesty saw how Qingying repeatedly upset Your Majesty and wishes to vent some anger on your behalf.”
Zhen Huan merely smiled.
She doubted it.
Qingying’s proposal regarding her aunt had made Hongli look foolish in front of her. This arrangement was probably more about Hongli’s wounded pride than anything else.
The remaining names on the register were mostly unfamiliar to her.
After finishing her review, she had the document returned to the Empress.
She stated that the proposed ranks were entirely appropriate.
The next day, the imperial decree formally investing the harem women with their titles was delivered to Chonghua Palace.
For a time, joy filled every corner of the residence.
Almost everyone was delighted.
Almost.
The atmosphere inside Qingying’s quarters was distinctly gloomy.
Qingying’s dowry maid, A’Ruo, wore a thoroughly unhappy expression.
Never one to hold her tongue, she complained:
“Mistress’s rank has finally been decided. We should all be celebrating.
But Mistress only received the rank of Concubine and was suppressed beneath the Noble Consort.
The Noble Consort even received a banner promotion for her family. She’s probably unbearably pleased with herself now.
And didn’t His Majesty say Mistress would live in Yikun Palace? Why has it become Yanxi Palace instead?”
Qingying held a handkerchief and kept rubbing a hairpin for no obvious reason.
Her voice remained low, but her tone carried a youthful sweetness.
“Perhaps Yikun Palace isn’t ready for occupancy yet. Yanxi Palace is quite nice too~”
A’Ruo immediately launched into another round of complaints about Yanxi Palace’s poor location.
Then, while folding clothes, she suddenly slowed down.
Turning around, she asked worriedly:
“Could this be the Empress Dowager’s doing? Is Her Majesty still angry with you?”
Qingying revealed a faint smile.
Her lips also formed their customary pout.
“I don’t know either. At least we’re finally leaving this place.”
That was what she said aloud.
Privately, however, Qingying completely agreed with A’Ruo’s speculation.
The Empress Dowager must have pressured Hongli-gege again because of her.
That was why he had no choice but to leave her as a mere Concubine and assign her to Yanxi Palace.
After all, Hongli-gege didn’t particularly care for Gao Xiyue.
Yet because of her status as a Secondary Consort, he still granted her the rank of Noble Consort.
As for Qingying, she and Hongli-gege loved each other wholeheartedly.
The song On the Wall that they had listened to together remained unforgettable.
How could Gao Xiyue possibly compare?
If not for the Empress Dowager, Qingying thought, she surely would have become a Noble Consort as well.
Without realizing it, her pout grew even more pronounced.
Gradually, a brilliant idea began taking shape in her mind.
Leaving aside the fact that A’Ruo complained endlessly after arriving at the desolate and run-down Yanxi Palace…
And setting aside how Hailan, after suffering grievances under Noble Consort Hui, came seeking Qingying’s protection…
And how Qingying was persuaded by only a few words to abandon the idea of asking the Empress for help on Hailan’s behalf…
That night, Zhen Huan was reclining on a couch reading a book when a palace maid entered.
“Concubine Xian requests an audience.”
Although she had no idea why Qingying would come visiting at night, Zhen Huan still instructed Fuga to let her in.
After entering, Qingying properly performed a formal salute.
Yet even after being told to rise, she remained kneeling.
Zhen Huan looked at her in confusion.
Qingying wore her usual faint expression.
Her lips were slightly pouted as always.
“This servant has a request for the Empress Dowager.”
Zhen Huan noticed that although Qingying claimed to be asking a favor, she didn’t look as though she were asking anyone for anything.
Her expression remained completely placid.
Curious about what new absurdity Qingying had devised, she asked:
“And what is it you seek?”
Qingying answered:
“The name Qingying was chosen when I was very young. I feel that it is no longer appropriate.”
Zhen Huan: …What?
What was this supposed to mean?
If you don’t like your name, go talk to your parents.
Why bring it up with an outsider?
And what did she mean by “inappropriate”?
Was that not rather disrespectful toward the parents who named her?
As far as Zhen Huan knew, they hadn’t done anything wrong.
So she asked carefully:
“Are you saying you find the name your parents gave you inappropriate?”
Qingying completely failed to detect the confusion in her tone.
Instead, she adopted an expression of complete confidence.
“Yes. Cherry blossoms are generally pink, while I am Qingying—’Green Cherry.’ Therefore the name is inappropriate.
I am not only a daughter of the Ulanara clan but also a daughter-in-law of the Aisin Gioro family.
Therefore, I hope the Empress Dowager will graciously bestow a new name upon me, allowing me to sever old mistakes and pray for new blessings.”
Right.
You married into the Aisin Gioro clan.
But since when did that mean your mother-in-law should rename you?
In an ordinary household, that would practically be an insult.
Besides, were the two of them even close?
She had suddenly come asking for a new name, almost certainly without consulting her parents.
Faced with the inexplicable Qingying, even Zhen Huan’s polite smile began to stiffen.
“Qingying, a name is a gift from one’s parents. It carries their hopes and expectations.
If you dislike it, then choose a new name yourself and discuss it with your family.
It would not be appropriate for me to change it.”
Qingying had not expected such a direct refusal.
In her mind, this was a stroke of genius.
By asking the Empress Dowager to rename her, she was showing allegiance and making amends for previously opposing the Empress Dowager over her aunt’s affairs.
That way, Hongli-gege would no longer be forced to stand between her and the Empress Dowager.
She was Hongli-gege’s beloved.
Why wouldn’t the Empress Dowager accept such a gesture?
The problem was that Zhen Huan genuinely did not care.
First, Hongli currently seemed unlikely to make life difficult for his mother on behalf of this so-called true love whose standing in his heart fluctuated daily.
Second—
She truly, sincerely, profoundly did not like Qingying.
Nor would she derive the slightest satisfaction from seeing Qingying willing to change even her name to please her.
Yes, she fully understood that this entire renaming scheme was intended as flattery.
That didn’t stop her from thinking Qingying was completely insane.
Finally, Qingying began showing signs of anxiety.
“To receive a name from the Empress Dowager is the greatest honor.
If my parents learned of it, they would surely be proud.
I beg the Empress Dowager to bestow a new name upon me and help me sever old mistakes.”
Zhen Huan’s smile twitched.
She gestured for Fuga to help Qingying stand.
“Qingying, I understand your intentions. But changing one’s name is a major matter.
Allow me some time to think about it. Sit down and have some tea first.”
After saying this, she sent Fuga forward.
Officially, it was to serve Qingying tea.
Unofficially, she was signaling Fuga to immediately send a swift-footed eunuch to inform the Emperor.
What a joke.
She absolutely did not want the Emperor thinking she was so petty that she couldn’t even tolerate Qingying’s old name and insisted on changing it.
Fortunately, Fuga was reliable.
The young eunuch she dispatched moved quickly.
Before long, he returned with a message.
“His Majesty says that if Your Majesty wishes to bestow a new name upon Concubine Xian, that would be perfectly acceptable.”
Zhen Huan was speechless.
Wonderful.
So she was the only one who thought this entire situation was wildly inappropriate?
Fine.
Rename her, then.
What other choice was there?
Was she supposed to let Qingying come bother her every day?
Looking at Qingying sipping tea across from her, Zhen Huan finally said:
“I have thought about it carefully. If you truly feel that the name Qingying is unsuitable, then giving you a new name is not impossible.”
For form’s sake, she asked what sort of name Qingying preferred.
Qingying answered:
“What I desire most is deep affection and mutual devotion.”
…
Even choosing a new name had to revolve around her beloved husband?
Had Hongli picked a matching couple’s name too?
Well.
Respectfully, best wishes.
Of course, Zhen Huan knew what Qingying’s new name was supposed to become according to the original story.
Ruyi.
After all, it was Ruyi’s Royal Love in the Palace.
Naturally the heroine would be called Ruyi.
But unfortunately, even though Zhen Huan had never watched the drama, she knew one of its most notorious criticisms.
The heroine was given the name “Ruyi,” containing the character Yi (懿), while the historical Noble Consort Lingyi—whose posthumous title genuinely included that character—had her name altered from Consort Ling to Consort Ling (炩), turning her into a tragic villain.
Whether intentional or not, it felt rather unpleasant.
Zhen Huan would happily choose a different name.
The problem was that she was terrible at naming people.
So instead…
“Ruyi. What about that?”
Qingying blinked.
“Ruyi, as in ‘may all things go as you wish’?”
“Exactly.”
Zhen Huan nodded.
“Didn’t you say you wished for deep affection and mutual devotion with the Emperor?
Then I hope everything goes as you wish.”
The name might not sound especially grand or elegant.
But in her own way, she was sincerely offering Qingying her blessing.