After dealing with the Empress Dowager, Lin Wanwan did not stop for a moment.
She knew all too well that the transfer of power must be accompanied by the reconstruction of order. It is easy to smash an old world, but the real test begins to build a new one.
The next day, an imperial edict was issued from Kunning Palace, summoning all the concubines of the six palaces with ranks of Pin or above to a meeting in the main hall of Kunning Palace.
This was the first time the Empress had formally summoned everyone since the palace coup.
The news sent shockwaves through the entire palace. Those concubines who had barely survived the palace coup were filled with trepidation and unease. They didn't know how the Empress, who had solidified her position through blood and fire, would deal with those who had, to varying degrees, been all aligned with the Empress Dowager and the Regent's faction.
The atmosphere inside the main hall of Kunning Palace was solemn and dignified.
Lin Wanwan sat upright on the phoenix throne, which symbolized the highest power in the harem. She was dressed in a bright red embroidered with golden phoenixes, wearing a nine-tailed phoenix hairpin. Her expression was calm, her eyes were deep, and she exuded an air of authority without anger.
Below her, led by Consort Shu, with whom she had a past conflict, dozens of concubines were arranged on either side according to their rank. Each of them was dressed in splendid robes and exquisitely made up, yet all remained meek and submissive, not daring to utter a sound. All eyes were fixed with awe on the excessively young woman on the phoenix throne, their hearts filled with a complex mix of emotions.
Who could have imagined that the unfortunate soul who was sent to the palace as a joke to bring good luck, the sickly empress whom everyone thought wouldn't live past her wedding night, would now become the undisputed ruler of the harem and even the entire Liang Dynasty.
Looking at the familiar yet unfamiliar faces below, Lin Wanwan felt no emotion. She knew that from today onward, what she had to do was no longer compete with these people for affections, but become their manager, the one who established their order.
"I have gathered all of you sisters here today to announce something."
Lin Wanwan spoke slowly, her voice clear and melodious, yet carrying an undeniable power that resonated clearly in everyone's ears.
Everyone held their breath, anxiously awaiting her next words.
"From this day forward," Lin Wanwan said slowly, her gaze sweeping across the room, "Her Majesty the Empress Dowager is advanced in years and, in gratitude for the Buddha's grace, has decided to devote herself to Buddhism and live in seclusion in Cixi Palace, where she will no longer concern herself with worldly affairs."
boom!
These words were like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, instantly stirring up a storm in the hearts of all the concubines!
Ignore worldly affairs!
Everyone present understood the weight of those four words. It meant that the Empress Dowager, who had ruled the harem for decades, who had been their greatest support and also their biggest shadow, had completely lost power!
The political landscape of the imperial harem has truly changed.
Lin Wanwan ignored their shock and continued to issue her orders. Every word she spoke was a complete subversion of the old order.
"Secondly," she declared, "effective immediately, abolish the 108 cumbersome old rules established by the Empress Dowager in the Palace Rules and Regulations. These include, but are not limited to, harsh clauses such as 'no leaving the palace at unauthorized times,' 'clothing and accessories must not exceed regulations,' and 'monthly allowances must be based on rank and status.'"
These words only amplified the uproar below.
The rules established by the Empress Dowager were known for their severity and favoritism towards concubines from aristocratic families. Countless women had been punished for trivial matters, and many concubines of lower birth had struggled to make ends meet due to embezzlement of their allowances. Now, the Empress was about to overturn all these mountains that had weighed on their heads for years!
This is simply unheard of!
Some of the concubines, who came from humble backgrounds and had been oppressed in the past, couldn't help but show excitement and disbelief in their eyes.
"Thirdly," Lin Wanwan's voice suddenly rose, uttering the most crucial and revolutionary decision of the day, "I will officially launch the female official system!"
She stood up, looking down at everyone in the hall, her eyes flashing with a sharp light.
"From this day forward, in the inner palace, social status will no longer be determined by birth, nor by favoritism! All affairs, from the procurement by the Imperial Household Department to the distribution of allowances to each palace, and the promotion and punishment of palace servants, will be handled by female officials in accordance with regulations!"
"The position of female official shall not be based on background, but solely on talent! The capable shall be appointed, and the mediocre shall be dismissed! All rewards, punishments, promotions and demotions shall be based on law and verifiable evidence, with clear distinctions between reward and punishment, and no room for personal relationships!"
These words completely overturned the survival rules of the imperial harem that had been in place for hundreds of years!
This means that the days of forming cliques, currying favor with those in high positions, and wielding power and influence by relying on family influence and the emperor's temporary favor are gone forever!
Instead, a completely new system that emphasizes rules, competence, and regulations has been established!
"This...how can this be?" a concubine from a noble family murmured unconsciously. "Without rules, wouldn't everything be in chaos?"
In her view, birth and favor were the most important rules.
Lin Wanwan's gaze instantly locked onto her, her eyes calm and expressionless, yet carrying a chilling pressure.
"What I'm referring to are the new rules."
A simple sentence, yet it is filled with absolute authority that makes the law come into being!
The concubine trembled under her gaze and fell silent instantly, daring not to utter another word.
The entire hall was completely silent.
Everyone was awestruck by the powerful aura emanating from Lin Wanwan. They then clearly realized that the Empress before them was no longer the easily manipulated new bride. She was the commander who held the fort during the palace coup, the only woman for whom the Emperor was willing to abandon his harem, and now, holding the Phoenix Seal, the rightful and legitimate mistress of the harem!
Her will is the highest decree in this harem!
Everyone clearly realized that from this day forward, the emperor of this harem would belong to the Lin family.
Looking at the complex expressions of the crowd below—some respectful, some fearful, some surprised, and some delighted—Lin Wanwan knew that she had achieved her goal.
She slowly sat back on her phoenix throne, her tone softening slightly: "I know that it takes time to adapt to the new system. But I hope all my sisters understand that the harem belongs to His Majesty, a place for rest and recuperation, not a battlefield for power struggles. You are all ladies from noble families. Rather than wasting your talents and energy on pointless infighting, it would be better to live a peaceful life and enjoy your old age. If you have any talent or learning, you can also serve the country through the path of becoming a lady-in-waiting."
She gave everyone a new, and only, way out.
After the meeting concluded, the concubines, with mixed feelings, took their leave.
Just as the crowd was about to disperse, a figure hesitated and stayed behind. It was none other than Consort Shu, who had once been arrogant and domineering and had always opposed Lin Wanwan.
At this moment, she had lost all her former arrogance. Her family was implicated after the regent's downfall; although they weren't executed, they had completely lost power. Without her backer, she was now nothing more than a figurehead in the palace, holding only a title.
She walked cautiously to the front of the palace, bowed deeply to Lin Wanwan, and said in a voice that was both obsequious and fearful, "Your Majesty, I... Your Majesty, I pay my respects. May Your Majesty be in good health."
Lin Wanwan looked at the person in front of her who had once wanted to trample her into the mud, her face expressionless. She simply picked up the teacup beside her, gently blew away the foam, and did not let her get up.
Consort Shu bowed humbly, cold sweat gradually seeping from her forehead. The oppressive atmosphere in the hall made her feel like she was suffocating.
After a long while, Lin Wanwan finally put down her teacup, making a soft "ding" sound. The sound was particularly clear in the empty hall, like a heavy hammer striking Consort Shu's heart.
"Does Consort Shu have anything else to say?" Lin Wanwan asked calmly, her voice low but carrying a natural air of aloofness and authority.
"No...it's nothing..." Consort Shu's voice stammered, forcing a smile that was more like a grimace. "Your Majesty, I just...just wanted to pay my respects. I hope Your Majesty will take good care of me in the future..."
Lin Wanwan finally looked up at her, her gaze calm and indifferent, as if she were looking at an insignificant object.
She slowly opened her mouth and uttered a sentence that made Consort Shu feel as if she had fallen into an ice cave.
"Being law-abiding and obedient is the greatest respect you can show to me," Lin Wanwan said calmly.
This statement is both a warning and an end.
It blocked all avenues for Consort Shu to curry favor, ingratiate herself, or beg for mercy. It told her that Her Majesty the Empress's leniency in not pursuing the past was already the greatest mercy. From now on, you only need to be a well-behaved, invisible person and never appear before me again.
Consort Shu's face turned deathly pale instantly. She trembled all over and could no longer utter a word. She could only hurriedly give a bow and retreat in a disheveled state.
Watching her dejected figure disappear into the distance, Lin Wanwan's eyes remained calm.
She knew that from this moment on, no one in the harem would dare to be disrespectful to her anymore. The old era had completely passed, and a new order would be established by her own hands.
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