Chapter 2 Imperial Edict Conferring the Title of Imperial Concubine

The emperor's decree quickly spread throughout the imperial court and the inner palace.

The news first reached the Empress's Phoenix Palace.

Empress Shen, whose given name was Shen Wanrong, was the Empress Dowager's niece. Born into a prestigious family, she was dignified and composed, but at this moment, she was so angry that she knocked over the teacup beside her. The scalding tea splashed onto the hem of her magnificent phoenix robe.

"What did you say? His Majesty actually bestowed the title of Imperial Noble Consort Chen upon someone?" Her voice trembled slightly as she looked at the trusted palace maid kneeling on the ground who was reporting to her. "And a lowly merchant's daughter at that? Su Luoxue? Where did that name come from?!"

The palace maid trembled, "Your Majesty, it's absolutely true. The imperial decree for the title of Imperial Concubine has been issued, and Chief Eunuch Li personally went to deliver it. She's been granted the title of Noble Concubine, with the honorific 'Chen,' and has been granted residence in Guanju Palace... I heard that His Majesty encountered her by chance on Zhuque Street during his incognito visit today... His Majesty seems to value this very much..."

"What did you say? Just a chance encounter?" The Empress stood up abruptly, her well-maintained face drained of color, leaving only a pale expression of shock and disbelief. "His Majesty... he actually bestowed the title of Imperial Consort upon a lowly merchant's daughter based on a mere chance encounter?! And with the character 'Chen' at that!" That was a title signifying imperial destiny, a title imbued with profound meaning! She, the Empress, had only received such a title through custom; she had never received such devotion from His Majesty.

What tormented her even more was that His Majesty was so eager to bring a woman he had only met once into the palace. How did he intend to welcome a lowly merchant's daughter? Ordinary concubines were simply carried in through a side gate in a small sedan chair. How could a woman of such humble origins be appointed a Noble Consort upon entering the palace? This was unprecedented. Did His Majesty intend to treat a concubine with a ceremony akin to a wedding?

A profound sense of crisis overwhelmed her. For years since entering the palace, His Majesty had always treated her with cold indifference, rarely even setting foot in her bedchamber. She had always believed that His Majesty, preoccupied with conquering territories and governing the country, was not interested in women, or even… she had accepted that His Majesty was simply indifferent to romantic love. His Majesty almost never entered the harem. She, the Empress, held a prestigious position but had never received her husband's affection, and remained a virgin—how absurd! As for Consort De, although she had a son, it was only because the Empress Dowager had drugged His Majesty's wine, hoping he would consummate the marriage and she would give birth to his eldest son. However, by a twist of fate, the palace maid on night watch ended up in the Emperor's bed, became pregnant, and gave birth to His Majesty's eldest son. She was only elevated to the rank of Consort De because of her son, but His Majesty showed her little affection. He never summoned her again, only occasionally visiting the eldest prince.

But now, all her self-comfort was shattered by this imperial decree. His Majesty simply... had never been moved by her, or by any other woman in the harem. And now, a merchant's daughter from humble beginnings had so easily gained His Majesty's extraordinary favor!

"No... We absolutely cannot let her enter the palace like this!" The Empress gripped her handkerchief tightly and immediately stood up. "Prepare the carriage for Cining Palace! I am going to see the Empress Dowager!"

The Empress Dowager was His Majesty's birth mother and the most important person in his heart. She believed that the Empress Dowager would never sit idly by and watch His Majesty act so recklessly, bringing a woman of low status into the palace with such high status. This was simply a slap in the face to all the noble families and a challenge to the rules of the court and the harem!

In the Cining Palace, after listening to the Empress's tearful complaint, the Empress Dowager simply fiddled with the prayer beads in her hand, her expression calm, even with a hint of understanding.

"Your Majesty, your heart is in turmoil."

"Your Majesty! His Majesty's actions are truly improper! How can a merchant's daughter be worthy of the title of Imperial Concubine? And with the title 'Chen' at that! What will the people of the world think? What will the court officials think?" the Empress said anxiously.

The Empress Dowager looked up at her, her gaze deep: "Empress, don't you understand Che'er's temperament? When has he ever changed his mind because of others' dissuasion? Especially something like this, where he personally issued an imperial decree. The decree has already been sent out, how can you stop him? If you try to stop him now, not only will you fail, but you will also make him despise you."

"But Mother..."

"No buts." The Empress Dowager interrupted her. "The imperial decree has been issued and is law. As for the manner of welcoming her... Li Dehai is a man of principle and has his own plan. As the Empress, you should show your magnanimity and virtue at this moment, instead of rushing to stop a concubine from entering the palace and losing your dignity for no reason."

"So what if she's a concubine? She's just a high-ranking concubine. You're the legal wife. No matter how favored she is, can she possibly surpass you?"

Looking at the Empress Dowager's calm and composed face, the Empress's heart sank. She understood. The Empress Dowager might be dissatisfied, but she was even more unwilling to clash with her son, the Emperor, who was in his prime and wielded absolute power, over the matter of bestowing a concubine title. The Empress Dowager was playing it safe.

"Your subject... understands." The Empress uttered these words with difficulty, bowed, and took her leave. As she walked out of Cining Palace, her back was stiff, her heart filled with resentment and bitterness. Even the Empress Dowager didn't care; was she really going to let that woman named Su Luoxue enter the palace so triumphantly and threaten her position as Empress?

Li Dehai, carrying the imperial edict, has also arrived at the Su family's residence in the western part of the capital.

The Su family was just an ordinary wealthy household; their house wasn't very large, but it was kept clean and elegant. The family was sitting around the dining table eating, in a warm and cozy atmosphere.

Su Wenyuan was a kind-looking middle-aged man who was serving food to his wife, Liu. Liu's real name was Liu Shuyan. She still retained her charm, and her features bore a resemblance to Su Luoxue. Looking at her husband and their two children, she wore a satisfied smile.

Su Jingxing, dressed in a blue robe, was elegant and handsome. He placed a piece of deboned fish into his younger sister's bowl and said gently, "Luoxue, eat more. You've been out playing all day, you must be hungry."

Su Luoxue accepted it with a smile: "Thank you, brother! You're the one who loves me the most!" Her face was filled with carefree happiness. The little incident on the street during the day had long been forgotten. She only thought that the masked young man had a special temperament. Maybe he wore a mask because he was injured or ugly, but she didn't think much of it.

The family was enjoying themselves, completely unaware that a turning point in their fate was just around the corner.

A commotion arose outside, and the steward scrambled in, his voice trembling: "Master! Madam! There are... there are so many officials outside! The one leading them is a palace eunuch! They say they've come to deliver an imperial decree!"

"A decree?" Su Wenyuan's chopsticks clattered onto the table, his face full of confusion. Liu Shi also stood up in fright; could it be that their business had run into trouble and angered the Emperor? Su Jingxing frowned slightly, instinctively shielding his sister behind him.

Su Luoxue also looked bewildered: "Issue an imperial edict? What edict is being issued to our family?"

Before they could think further, a group of palace eunuchs and guards, led by Li Dehai, filed in. Li Dehai held a bright yellow imperial edict, his face solemn. Although he was dressed in eunuch's robes, his imposing presence instantly made the small hall serious.

"Su Luoxue, receive the imperial decree!" Li Dehai's high-pitched yet authoritative voice rang out.

The four members of the Su family hurriedly knelt down, their hearts filled with unease, unsure whether it was a blessing or a curse.

Li Dehai unfurled the imperial edict and read aloud: "By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: You, Su Luoxue, are gentle, virtuous, and graceful, deeply pleasing to the eye. By the benevolent decree of the Empress Dowager, you are hereby specially conferred the title of Imperial Noble Consort Chen, and granted residence in the Guanju Palace. You are permitted to be brought into the palace through the Zhengyang Gate with half a set of imperial carriage. This is the imperial decree!"

The contents of the imperial edict were like a divine book, each word striking the four members of the Su family and leaving them completely bewildered.

Consort Chen? Guanju Palace? Half a royal carriage? Zhengyang Gate?

Every word was beyond their comprehension. Su Wenyuan was merely a merchant, Liu was an ordinary woman, and although Su Jingxing was educated, he had never encountered such imperial protocol. All they knew was that the emperor wanted to marry, or rather, take their daughter as a concubine, and with extremely high ceremony and protocol!

Su Luoxue knelt on the ground, her mind blank. Only now, seeing Li Dehai, did she realize he looked somewhat familiar; he seemed to be the steward of the young master from earlier that day. Why was he here to deliver an imperial decree? ...Could it be...the masked young master from earlier today? He is...the Emperor? Overwhelmed with shock, she forgot to react, simply staring blankly at Li Dehai.

Li Dehai closed the imperial edict, a perfectly timed smile appearing on his face. He said to Su Wenyuan, who was still in a daze, "Master Su, congratulations! Your daughter has received the Emperor's grace; this is a great blessing for the Su family! Quickly accept the decree and express your gratitude!"

Su Wenyuan suddenly realized what was happening and hurriedly kowtowed, his voice trembling: "This humble subject, Su Wenyuan, thanks Your Majesty for your great grace! Long live the Emperor!" Liu Shi and Su Jingxing also kowtowed in gratitude, but their minds were in turmoil.

Li Dehai respectfully handed the imperial edict to Su Wenyuan, then looked at Su Luoxue, who was still kneeling on the ground, looking completely bewildered, and his tone softened: "Your Highness Consort Chen, His Majesty has decreed that the auspicious day will be in three days. At that time, the palace will send people to fetch Your Highness to the palace. In the next few days, Your Highness is requested to make good preparations."

Su Luoxue was gently tugged at by Fuling before she vaguely replied, "...Yes."

Having completed his mission, Li Dehai left without lingering, taking his leave with his men. The four members of the Su family were left facing a table of cold food and the gleaming imperial edict, feeling as if they were in a dream, or rather, a nightmare.

The hall was deathly silent.

After a long while, Madam Liu finally grasped her daughter's hand, trembling, and tears welled up in her eyes: "Luoxue... my Xue'er... is this... is this true? You're going to the palace to become a concubine? What's going on? How did the Emperor suddenly take a liking to you?"

Su Wenyuan looked at the imperial edict, both excited and apprehensive, and murmured, "Consort Chen... half a royal carriage... Zhengyang Gate... this, this scale..." Having been a businessman for many years, he knew what this meant. Could His Majesty attach such importance to Luo Xue? But was this kind of attention a blessing or a curse?

Su Jingxing's expression was the most complex. Looking at his younger sister's innocent and delicate face, he was filled with worry. What kind of place was the palace? It was the richest and most dangerous place in the land. How could his sister, with her simple and lively nature, survive in such a place? His Majesty's high-profile conferment of the title of Consort placed his sister in such a precarious position. He grasped his sister's other hand and said in a deep voice, "Luoxue, do you...do you want to enter the palace?"

Looking at her parents' worried faces and her brother's furrowed brows, Su Luoxue's mind was in turmoil. Entering the palace? Becoming a concubine? She had never even considered it.

She bit her lip, a hint of confusion flashing in her eyes, along with a longing for her unknown fate that she herself was unaware of. She said softly, "I...I don't know. But the imperial decree...has already been issued."

The imperial edict had been issued; it was a matter of destiny, and disobeying it was a capital offense. From this moment on, the fate of the Su family was completely altered.