Conferred the title of Consort
Xi Chun tiptoed and planted a firm kiss on Wei Qiao's lips. She had missed him terribly, and she had wanted to kiss him for a long time. Being able to have a moment of intimacy with Wei Qiao made Xi Chun feel incredibly happy. Wei Qiao's lips were as soft as she had imagined, and she loved them.
Just as Xi Chun was about to end the kiss, Wei Qiao tightened his arms around her waist, pried open her lips, and deepened the kiss. Xi Chun hadn't expected him to react to her kiss, but feeling his passion, she reciprocated. The two kissed passionately, reluctant to part. Only when Wei Qiao felt Xi Chun was a little out of breath did he reluctantly pull away from her lips.
Xi Chun looked at him with hazy eyes. Wei Qiao reached out and gently touched her rosy lips, saying softly, "Just bear with it a little longer, I will rescue you."
Qiu Jiu coughed several times after hearing Wei Qiao's words. He put down his wine cup on the low table, walked up to Wei Qiao, and said in confusion, "Lord Wei, you went through all this trouble to get her in, and now you want to bring her out. That's the palace, not a teahouse. It's not a place where she can come and go as she pleases."
"It wasn't her who wanted to enter the palace, it was all my fault."
Qiu Jiu sighed, picked up the wine pot on the low table and took a big gulp before sitting down and earnestly advising Wei Qiao: "Now that the Prince of Jin has returned to the capital, the situation in the court is very good. The emperor has no heir. As long as we continue to enhance his reputation as a tyrant, it will be perfectly legitimate for you to ascend to that position in the future. Why give up your previous schemes for the sake of a woman?"
"No, she's timid and foolish; she's not a suitable candidate. I will find someone more suitable to replace her in the future."
Qiu Jiu shook his head disapprovingly, "I think you're bewitched."
Wei Qiao put down his teacup and looked down at his chest. Her hot, wet tears still seemed to be burning on his chest. She was not suited for the palace. He should let her come to his side.
Seeing that she couldn't persuade him, Qiu Jiu simply changed the subject, "I heard from A Gui that you have moved from Shuimo Street to Fangcao Street."
Wei Qiao glanced at him and nodded. "Since Wei Changsong has gone south to take up his post, I don't want to stay in that filthy place anymore, so I might as well move out."
"Very well, you've certainly had a tough time in the Wei family all these years. But if you just let Wei Changsong take that lucrative job, wouldn't it be even more troublesome to deal with him once he's settled in Jiangnan?"
Wei Qiao chuckled, "Let him live for another two years. When the dust settles, I will have his head chopped off."
Inside the Yuanhe Hall, Yan Zhongyou drank the hangover tea brought by Michide. He had been suffering from a persistent headache after a night of heavy drinking and had left his palace in a daze, but he had no recollection of where he went afterward.
"Your Majesty, this old servant is just trying to advise you, but you shouldn't drink so much alcohol in the future. Too much alcohol is bad for your health. Last night you left your palace without telling us where you were going. If Lord Wei hadn't brought you back, this old servant wouldn't have known you left the palace. Although it's spring, it's still a bit chilly at night. If you catch a cold and get sick, it will make us servants feel bad for you."
Yan Zhongyou knew that Michide was doing it for his own good, so he patted the other man's arm and said, "I understand what you mean, Father-in-law. I drank a few more cups yesterday because of Yan Zhongxing. I won't do that again."
Yan Zhongyou put down his teacup and said, "You said Wei Qiao brought me back last night. Where did I go last night?" He rubbed his temples. "I really have no recollection of it at all."
Miched started massaging him, saying, "They said they met you in the corridor by the East Annex Hall. You were lying on the side of the corridor. Lord Wei saw you during his night patrol and brought you back."
"Eastern Palace, sigh, I probably went to see Xichun. That girl is like a block of wood, completely oblivious to romance. If she didn't look like my Xueyi, I wouldn't be interested in her at all."
Miched felt that the Emperor's words were half true and half false. Even if it weren't for Fei Xueyi, the Emperor would definitely want to have Xi Chun just because of her beauty. Jiang Xi Chun's refusal to accept the Emperor's favor was partly due to her dull and taciturn nature, and partly probably due to the issue of her status.
"Your Majesty, since Your Majesty likes Miss Xichun, why not bestow upon her a title? Firstly, Your Majesty can rightfully grant her the Emperor's favor, and secondly, with a title, she will feel at ease and will not refuse Your Majesty's favor again and again."
Yan Zhongyou turned his head to look at his chief attendant, for only he could understand his thoughts. He stroked his beard and smiled, “That’s a good idea. It’s not what I want for her to keep serving tea and water in Yuanhe Hall. So I will give her a title and make her Consort An. She can live in the side hall of Consort Xuan in Qianfu Palace.”
"Qianfu Palace is the closest palace to Yuanhe Hall. Your Majesty, you are saying one thing but meaning another. You really dote on Miss Xichun."
Miched laughed. "Oh dear, look at this old servant's mouth, now I have to call her Consort An." He then slapped his mouth twice.
The imperial edict arrived quickly. Xi Chun had just finished lunch and was about to return to her residence in the East Annex Hall for a short rest when she encountered Michide, who had come to deliver the edict. In a daze, Xi Chun received the edict and knelt on the ground for a long time without getting up.
Miched quickly came over to help her up. "Your Highness Consort An, please get up. This servant will take you to Qianfu Palace right away."
Xi Chun looked at Miched in confusion and murmured, "Why is this happening?"
Miched noticed the lack of joy on her face and was puzzled as to what Xichun was thinking. She was a widow with no future in the Wei family, having no one to rely on. Now, having entered the palace and been granted the title of concubine, she was far better off than a widow. If she could even bear the emperor a son or daughter, why worry about a life of wealth and honor for the rest of her days?
Following Michide, they arrived at the east wing of Qianfu Palace, which was originally the residence of Consort Zhang. Later, Consort Zhang fell insane and was moved to the Cold Palace, leaving the place empty. Michide had received the imperial decree that morning and had already instructed the palace servants to clean it and to replace most of the necessary items.
"Consort An, this will be your palace from now on. Remember to pay your respects to the Empress at Yonghe Palace early tomorrow morning. I have other matters to attend to at Yuanhe Palace, so I will take my leave now."
"Thank you, Eunuch Mi," Xichun said absentmindedly.
When Pingting, the palace maid assigned to Xichun's quarters, saw that Xichun hadn't even given Michide a purse, she quickly went to her side and whispered, "Your Highness, give her a reward."
Xi Chun was reminded of the palace rules after hearing her words. She took out five taels of silver and handed it to Mi Qide, saying, "Thank you, Eunuch Mi."
Miched looked at the few taels of silver in his hand without showing any displeasure. He knew that Xichun really didn't have any money. He nodded to her and put the money into his sleeve pocket. Guang Jinfu, who came with Miched, was a little disdainful. Last time, Xichun asked him to give ten taels of silver to Yuping's family. Now that it was his own big day, he suddenly became stingy.
After Michide and his entourage left, Pingting, along with several servants from the side hall, paid their respects to Xichun. Xichun was still preoccupied with how she had suddenly become the Emperor's concubine. Wei Qiao had promised to rescue her last night, but now that she was the Emperor's woman, could he still save her?
Pingting and the others knelt for a long time without being told to get up by Xichun. The servants looked at each other, wondering what their new master was up to. Seeing that Xichun had given Eunuch Mi a reward after listening to her advice, Pingting mustered up her courage and called out to her.
"Your Majesty."
Startled by her call, Xichun snapped out of her daze. She glanced at the people kneeling before her and smiled, "Please get up and reintroduce yourselves. I was a little distracted and didn't remember your names."
Hearing her say this, the palace staff stood up and repeated their names.
“This servant is Pingting, formerly a palace maid serving Consort De.”
"I am a tailor; I used to be a palace maid in the needlework department of the palace."
“This servant is Qinshui, formerly a palace maid in the Flower and Bird Department.”
"This servant is Jinbao, a eunuch who sweeps the Imperial Garden."
Xi Chun matched their faces with their names one by one. She had never had so many people serving her before and didn't know how to arrange them. Thinking of how intelligent Pingting seemed just now, she said, "Pingting, from now on, I'll leave the affairs of the palace to you."
"Yes, this servant will certainly not fail my mistress's trust," Pingting said gratefully. Pingting did not expect that Consort An would take a liking to her at first sight. She had spent five or six years in Consort De's palace and was still only a third-class palace maid. Now, she had used some money to move to Consort An's palace and not only immediately won Consort An's favor, but was also made the head palace maid she had always dreamed of.
"Your Highness, please rest on the daybed. I'll go get you some tea." Pingting led Xichun to sit on the daybed and immediately adopted the airs of a head palace maid, ordering the other three in the palace around.
Looking at the luxurious decorations and utensils in the palace, Xichun felt a sense of unreality, and she once again felt a deep despair for her future.
The next morning, she went to Yonghe Palace to see the Empress and the concubines, and then stayed in a side hall without going out.
In Jingcui Palace, Consort Xian swept a set of exquisite Ru kiln tea utensils from the table onto the floor. She was extremely agitated by the thought of the Emperor promoting Lady Jiang to the rank of Consort An.
Shi Hai, worried that the ceramic pieces might cut her hands, quickly came over and took a handkerchief to wipe them for her: "Your Majesty, please don't be angry. Even if Jiang Xichun is granted the title of Consort, how can she surpass you? Besides, she's mentally challenged, and the Emperor will surely tire of her soon."
Consort Xian glared at him and said irritably, "It's all because you did a bad job. If you had just poisoned her, none of this would have happened."
Shi Hai reached out and lightly slapped his face a few times, coaxing, "It's all my fault, please don't be angry. Even if you don't think about yourself, you should think about the baby in our belly."
Consort Xian touched her belly; her belly was quite cooperative, she was pregnant again so quickly. In the harem, besides the Empress, she already held the highest rank. The Empress had no children, only an eldest princess to raise. Consort Xian already had a second princess; if this pregnancy were to result in a prince, she would rise in status through her son, and might even become Empress in the future.
"Your Highness, I think it would be better to wait until after three months when the pregnancy is more stable before reporting the news to the Emperor," Shi Hai advised. After all, it was his child in her womb, and as the father, he hoped that Consort Xian could give birth to the child safely.
Consort Xian touched his face. "What are you afraid of? I'm perfectly healthy. Besides, I'm going to make sure this child wins back the Emperor's favor. Even if that little wretch is promoted to Consort in time, she won't be able to overshadow me."
The next day, Consort Xian invited Yan Zhongyou to Jingcui Palace. He learned from the imperial physician that Consort Xian was pregnant again, and Yan Zhongyou clapped his hands and laughed heartily. He embraced Consort Xian and said with a smile, "Li Ning, you are my lucky star." Yan Zhongyou reached out and stroked Consort Xian's flat belly, imagining the scene of him holding a prince one day.
This morning at court, someone submitted a memorial requesting that he select a suitable child from among his relatives to be designated as his legitimate heir because he had no heir. Why should his empire be inherited by someone else's son? Yan Zhongyou can have sons just as easily.
For several days in a row, Yan Zhongyou went to Consort Xian's palace after court, sending piles of gifts to Jingcui Palace. He forgot about Xichun in Qianfu Palace for a while.
That day, Yan Zhongyou was listening to the list of people going to the summer palace to escape the heat when he realized that he hadn't seen Xichun for a long time. So he ordered someone to summon her to the Yuanhe Hall.
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