The triennial imperial concubine selection process has come to a successful conclusion, and all the young women have been sent home to await the imperial decree to enter the palace on an auspicious day.
Back home, Su Yun sat alone on the couch in her boudoir, blushing as she recalled the day's events. The candlelight was dim, flickering gently in the breeze, illuminating her handsome face and adding to her alluring beauty.
Su Yun's appearance is truly stunning. Compared to Bai Yiran back then, she has more of the scholarly air cultivated by a family of scholars, and less of the infatuated and charming allure that Bai Yiran had developed from years of dance practice.
What young woman in the throes of first love doesn't harbor expectations for her future husband? Her dream lover should be a handsome, dashing, pale-faced scholar. She thought the emperor, being in his thirties, probably wouldn't meet her requirements for a dream lover.
But today in the palace, the other person's gentle and tender appearance truly touched his heart, making him unable to help but feel a little admiration for the Emperor. To be able to marry such a man should be his blessing, and the slight repulsion in his heart was instantly swept away.
Driven by her own ulterior motives, Su Yun studied with extra care when the governess came, and at the same time learned about the structure of Emperor Liang Yuan's harem.
It is now the fifteenth year since Emperor Liang Yuan ascended the throne. The empress is Emperor Liang Yuan's first wife. Although she is not favored, she still has a basic level of respectability. The emperor respects her very much. She lives a secluded life and does not like crowds.
Consort Xian was the Empress's younger sister, and everyone respected and revered her. Although she wasn't considered favored, no one dared to underestimate her. Emperor Liang Yuan would spend two or three days a month at Chaoyang Palace, where the Empress, due to her poor health, was in charge of official duties. With great power in her hands and a son by her side, along with a group of high-ranking concubines, she was not to be underestimated.
The one who received the emperor's most favor was Consort Zhao, who had been in the palace for three years. She was beautiful but not vulgar, with exquisite and elegant features. She was flamboyant and arrogant, but she was sincere to Emperor Liang Yuan, even more so than Consort Liu back then.
Next is Consort Xin, who is gentle and has delicate features. She is skilled at playing the zither and is a kind and understanding woman. She has just given birth to Princess Changning, the fourth daughter of Emperor Liang Yuan.
Emperor Yuan of Liang had eight sons and six daughters, mostly born to high-ranking concubines. His eldest son and daughter were his favorites.
Su Yun immediately understood that Consort Xian was the true Empress, in charge of palace affairs, with all the other concubines submitting to her; she only lacked the title of Empress. The real Empress, on the other hand, was pitiful, suppressed by her own sister, and held only a nominal position.
The imperial decree for her entry into the palace arrived quickly. Su Yun was granted the title of Noble Lady of the Seventh Rank, with the honorific name Rou. She was the only one among the newly arrived concubines to receive a title. Upon receiving the news, Su Yun did not show her inner joy. This meant that the Emperor remembered her, which would make it easier for her to gain favor in the future.
Not only Su Yun heard the news, but all the concubines in the harem knew as well, and in their hearts, they regarded Su Yun as a formidable rival. Only Wu You smiled faintly and remained silent. Su Yun was the heroine of this story, so of course she had some special qualities. Wasn't it normal for her to receive the Emperor's attention? In the future, wouldn't the Emperor break many precedents and do many incomprehensible things for her?
Initially, Su Yun existed as Bai Yiran's stand-in. In the end, the stand-in made a comeback and became Emperor Liang Yuan's favorite, entrusting the country and even his life to her.
Bai is still alive, and with the harem in full bloom, no one knows how far Su Yun, this substitute, can go. Wuyou is just waiting to see the joke.
The Zhaoyang Palace was always filled with the fragrance of flowers and fruits. Compared to the incense or cosmetics favored by other concubines, Bai Wuyou preferred the sweetness of fruits. This also reduced the chances for others to take advantage of her, thus protecting her safety.
Wuyou didn't mind and continued this habit.
Inside the Zhaoyang Palace, a small garden is filled with lush, verdant bamboo, growing vigorously. Wuyou had a shady pavilion built there, where she usually reads, practices calligraphy, embroiders, and chats.
A sculpting frame was placed before her, and nimble hands moved up and down, gradually forming a lifelike outline of green bamboo. This was specially made by Wuyou for her son, Liang Qingchen, whose temperament was elegant and calm, somewhat similar to Wuyou's.
The mother and son shared a very deep bond. He was her only son, whom she doted on and protected like the apple of her eye. Anyone who dared to lay a hand on Liang Qingchen had their claws chopped off and teeth pulled out by Wuyou.
Liang Qingchen did not disappoint her expectations. Her affection for Wuyou far surpassed that for Emperor Liang Yuan. At a young age, she displayed a unique demeanor and won the favor of the Empress Dowager and the Emperor. She also had a deep bond with her younger siblings and was well-liked.
"How is Chu Wan?" Wuyou's hands moved quickly, her tone indifferent.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, Chu Wan has been arranged to stay in your private property. Our people have also informed her privately, and she is very grateful to you," Xia Ju replied respectfully, then hesitated before voicing a question that had been on her mind for a long time.
"Master, Chu Wan is of average appearance, has a delicate temperament, and comes from a humble background. What is it about her that makes you so concerned?"
Wuyou smiled slightly upon hearing this, "This Chu Wan is somewhat similar to my past, which is why I wanted to lend a hand. Besides, who can say for sure what will happen? Just like my sister and me back then. Xiaju, you should have a longer-term perspective when judging people."
"This servant understands." Xia Ju suddenly realized that her mistress hadn't mentioned the past for a long time, and now that she was bringing it up, she must really be treating Chu Wan as her former self.
What Wuyou said was half true and half false. Chu Wan was indeed very similar to Bai Wuyou back then, with similar backgrounds and circumstances. But the real reason Wuyou praised Chu Wan was that Chu Wan was not as weak and simple as she seemed. When she really got ruthless, even Bai Wuyou would be ashamed of himself.
In her past life, Chu Wan managed to become Su Yun's formidable rival through astonishing perseverance and cunning. The rivalry between the sisters was quite a drama, but unfortunately, she ultimately couldn't overcome the heroine's halo and lost her life.
Wuyou admired Chu Wan's personality to some extent and sympathized with her background and experiences, which is why she reached out and helped her.
Thinking of Su Yun's face, which still bore a striking resemblance to Bai's, Wuyou couldn't help but smile. What is a substitute? A substitute can only play its greatest role when the original is absent, allowing the original to remember the person by seeing familiar objects.
Now that the person in question is alive and well, even right beside him, he wants to see how Emperor Liang Yuan will choose. Su Yun is no simple man; she is skilled in all sorts of schemes and tactics. With a face that resembles Bai Yiran's, she rose rapidly through the ranks, becoming a concubine in less than two years. She even brought down Bai Wuyou and took the position of empress herself.
This time, it won't be that simple.
Compared to Wuyou, Bai still hated him to death. On the day of the talent show, they all recognized Su Yun's appearance. How could he not recognize his own face after looking in the mirror all day?
Faced with someone so similar to herself, Bai Yiran was naturally unhappy. No one wants to see a face that looks exactly like her constantly in front of her, and even trying to steal her man.
Although Bai was not particularly clever, she understood Emperor Liang Yuan better than anyone else. Emperor Liang Yuan's gaze towards Su Yun was clearly different now; he used to look at her that way all the time, but now it was all directed at other women.
Was it simply because she had aged and lost her beauty? Bai Yiran looked at her reflection in the mirror, her heart filled with sorrow, and she couldn't help but reflect. Was her past actions right or wrong?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
