"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: There is a Lady Yun, who is gentle, dignified, and of outstanding character. Since entering the palace, she has strictly adhered to palace rules and possessed a kind and benevolent heart. I am pleased with her and hereby bestow upon her the title of Noble Consort, the title of Zhao, and grant her residence in Zhaoyang Palace."
After Eunuch Liu finished reading the imperial decree, he said with a smile, "Congratulations, Consort Zhao! Your Highness, please accept the decree."
Eunuch Liu truly hadn't expected that a mere concubine who had only recently entered the palace would win the Emperor's favor. Just yesterday evening, the two had been arguing, and he was worried that Concubine Yun, being young and spoiled by her family, might anger the Emperor by throwing a tantrum. Unexpectedly, the Emperor not only didn't leave, but also swallowed his pride to coax her, and even stayed overnight at Liuxia Palace!
What shocked him most was that the emperor stayed overnight and even called for water last night, more than once. As one of the people who knew about the emperor's impotence, Eunuch Liu felt like he was dreaming.
Your Majesty is... all better?!
Yun Chaoxi received the imperial decree and had Zhu'er give him some reward money.
Eunuch Liu accepted the money without refusing, saying, "I still need to go back and report. Zhaoyang Palace is close to the Emperor's study and Zichen Palace. I already ordered people to clean and tidy it up this morning, and the Empress can move there this afternoon."
Yun Chaoxi said, "Thank you for your trouble, sir."
Yun Chaoxi's decree of promotion was like a thunderclap in the peaceful inner palace. The concubines in the palace were all restless, especially the leading Consort Shu and Consort Xian.
The emperor broke the rules time and again, choosing Consort Yun twice out of three times he selected a concubine, and once he left without even selecting a concubine before heading to Liuxia Palace. They tolerated all of this, since the emperor always rushed through their affairs without saying a word to them.
But this Consort Yun actually made the Emperor stay overnight at Liuxia Palace last night, and I heard that she slept until dawn the next day and didn't even attend court!
Previously, Yun Chaoxi was just a Jieyu, at most a mid-ranking concubine. After serving the emperor for one night, she skipped the rank of Zhaoyi and Pin and became a Guifei, and was even granted a title!
Consort Gui was of the same rank as the three Consorts of Virtue, Virtue, and Virtue, but none of them had titles. Consort Yun Chaoxi, who had a title, was naturally a head above the other three and immediately became the head of all the consorts!
The proud and arrogant Consort Shu could no longer sit still. She flew into a rage in the palace and smashed several porcelain ornaments.
She cursed through gritted teeth, "You slut! When Consort Li provoked her and was punished by the Emperor instead, I knew she was no pushover. She's only been in the palace for half a month and she's already captured the Emperor's heart! She's climbed all the way up to me!"
"And then there's Zhaoyang Palace, the largest palace in the palace besides Zichen Palace. I've pleaded for it countless times, but the Emperor has always pretended not to hear me, yet now he so easily bestows it upon that wretched woman!"
"Has the Emperor been bewitched by that little slut? Will he hand over all the affairs of the harem to her from now on?!"
Seeing that Consort Shu was about to lose her temper, the palace maid beside her quickly comforted her, "Your Highness, please calm down. Yun has just entered the palace and her foundation is not stable. Even if she has captivated the Emperor for a while with her youth and beauty, he will grow cold towards her in time. As long as Your Highness can remain calm, there is no need to worry about not finding an opportunity to deal with her."
“You’re right. I’m not the only one who’s anxious right now. That old woman, Consort Xian, is probably extremely anxious too. I absolutely cannot make the first move and let Consort Xian benefit.” Consort Shu sat down again and calmed her breathing. “Have someone clean up the palace. Call Consort Xian and Consort De to go and meet this Noble Consort Zhao.”
...
As noon approached, Chu Xiao sent someone to announce that he would be coming to Liuxia Palace for lunch, so Yun Chaoxi waited. Instead of Chu Xiao, she was greeted by Consort Shu and a group of others.
Originally, Consort Shu only planned to meet Yun Chaoxi with Consort Xian and Consort De, but along the way they encountered many concubines heading to Liuxia Palace. Some wanted to watch the excitement, while others were eager to curry favor. In short, as they walked, a group of people gathered together.
The small Liuxia Hall was suddenly packed with people.
Yun Chaoxi sat at the head of the table, followed by Consort De, Consort Shu, and Consort Xian, and then Consort Liu, Consort Qi, Consort Xia, and others.
When Consort Shu saw Yun Chaoxi's face, which looked as if it had just been moisturized, she was furious. She held back for a while but couldn't help but speak sarcastically, "Consort Zhao looks so radiant. No wonder the Emperor couldn't stand it when he saw you and broke with tradition to stay overnight in Liuxia Palace."
Yun Chaoxi smiled slightly, "You flatter me, Consort Shu. I didn't sleep well last night, and I have dark circles under my eyes. Unlike Consort Shu, who can sleep soundly all night every day."
Consort Shu was so angry that her face twisted in rage. What was this shameless hussy showing off?!
Seeing that Consort Shu was about to lose her temper, Consort Xian cursed her for being useless and stepped forward to smooth things over, saying, "We all heard that Consort Zhao was promoted and came to congratulate you, sister. We should be as close as sisters in this palace, so that the Empress Dowager can rest assured."
“What Consort Xian says is true,” Yun Chaoxi casually agreed.
After only a brief encounter, Yun Chaoxi quickly grasped the nature of the virtuous and gentle concubines: one was calm and tactful, while the other was impatient and prone to jealousy.
There was also Consort De.
Consort De sat silently to the side, only briefly greeting Yun Chaoxi before settling in quietly, her expression indifferent, seemingly unconcerned about anything. Yun Chaoxi had heard that after Consort De had received the Emperor's favor several times, she had voluntarily requested to cease seeking it, and had built a small Buddhist shrine in her palace, where she spent her days eating vegetarian food and chanting Buddhist prayers.
After the three consorts exchanged pleasantries, the concubines below stepped forward one by one to pay their respects to Yun Chaoxi.
Most of the concubines behaved themselves, at least in terms of appearances. When it was Xia Jieyu's turn, she simply gave a perfunctory bow and then stood up and spoke leisurely.
"Your Highness, His Majesty has always treated us all equally. He stayed overnight at your residence last night. Does this mean that His Majesty will be staying overnight at various palaces from now on?"
Yun Chaoxi thought to herself, she's not a mind reader, how would she know?
"If you want to know, you might as well ask the Emperor yourself."
Xia Jieyu hated Yun Chaoxi to death. According to the order, she should have been the one to serve the emperor last night, and she might have been the one to be promoted!
Seeing that Yun Chaoxi did not respond directly, she couldn't help but speak up, "Now that Your Majesty has gained the Emperor's favor, you should also persuade the Emperor to let us sisters serve him all night long, so that people won't think Your Majesty is selfish."
Her original intention was to incite dissatisfaction among the concubines in the palace towards Yun Chaoxi. Faced with so many people, Yun Chaoxi would be forced to suggest to the emperor that she would stay overnight in each palace from now on.
She was beautiful and talented, and her skills in calligraphy and painting were also outstanding. She refused to believe that she couldn't make the emperor fall in love with her in just one night!
To everyone's surprise, Yun Chaoxi merely glanced at her and asked indifferently, "Are you teaching me how to do things?"
"Your Majesty, I dare not! I am only indignant on behalf of my sisters. Since Your Majesty is favored by the Emperor, why don't you help us? Does Your Majesty intend to monopolize the Emperor's favor?" Xia Jieyu quickly knelt down, but her words were uncompromising.
“Yes, Consort Xia is right. The Empress Dowager is eagerly awaiting a grandson. If the Emperor could stay the night instead of leaving in a hurry, an imperial heir would surely be born soon.” Consort Shu also sided with Consort Xia.
Yun Chaoxi immediately called for help, "Someone, slap Xia Jieyu twenty times in the face, so she knows what she should and shouldn't say."
She must make an example of her today to establish the Imperial Concubine's authority; otherwise, everyone will think she is easy to bully, which will be detrimental to her grand plan of giving birth and seeking revenge.
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