The scheme was well calculated, but the Emperor was not particularly pleased. He frowned as he looked at Shen Guiyan and said, “Mother Empress, must she be taken into the harem?”
“What? You don’t even want your own child anymore?” Grand Empress Dowager Wen looked at him in surprise. “Didn’t you used to be quite fond of Miss Shen?”
“People’s feelings always change.” Gu Chaobei lowered his eyes. “The world curses this son for being ungrateful because of her. This son does not wish to see her.”
Grand Empress Dowager Wen agreed to bring Shen Guiyan into the harem, but surprisingly, Gu Chaobei did not. Empress Dowager Nian even took the opportunity to add fuel to the fire from the side: “Who can’t get pregnant? It’s just a matter of time. There’s no need to be so hasty about bringing Miss Shen into the palace. When the Late Emperor got palace maids pregnant, it’s not like we haven’t had such examples in this palace. In the end, didn’t that palace maid also end up without any status?”
This was referring to Gu Chaobei. The Emperor’s expression clearly showed his displeasure, but Empress Dowager Nian acted as if she didn’t notice.
Wen Xiuli watched from the side with amusement. The harem was in complete chaos—she didn’t even need to lift a finger, and Gu Chaobei already had no energy left to attend to the imperial court. If they brought Shen Guiyan into the harem while she was pregnant, wouldn’t things be even more lively?
Gu Chaobei’s opposition stemmed from his feeling that he had wronged his first wife—a childish avoidance behavior. Empress Dowager Nian’s opposition was because the Nian clan was petty and couldn’t stand to see this palace maid’s son do well. Since both of them opposed it, Grand Empress Dowager Wen felt it was absolutely necessary to proceed.
So she smiled and said, “This dowager quite likes the child Guiyan. Since she already carries a dragon son—His Majesty’s first child—naturally we cannot treat this lightly. Let’s give her the rank of Noble Lady and have Miss Shen focus on protecting the pregnancy first.”
Shen Guiyan immediately stood up, kowtowed in gratitude: “Many thanks to Your Majesty the Grand Empress Dowager.”
Empress Dowager Nian frowned. “Elder sister, please reconsider. There’s already a Consort Shen in here, also surnamed Shen. If we add another Noble Lady Shen, wouldn’t that be somewhat conflicting? Those who don’t know might think Consort Shen did something wrong and was demoted to Noble Lady.”
At her reminder, the Emperor said, “Since Grand Empress Dowager Wen has decided this way, then I shall issue an edict to enfeoff Miss Shen Guiyan as Noble Lady. The issue Empress Dowager Nian mentioned is easily resolved—we’ll call her Noble Lady Yan instead of Noble Lady Shen. Wouldn’t that work?”
“Your Majesty, if she’s called Noble Lady Yan, then ‘Yan’ becomes her title.” Grand Empress Dowager Wen gently reminded him.
“So what?” Gu Chaobei wore an expression of complete ignorance, like someone who knew nothing. “Can’t titles be given?”
“Of course they can.” Grand Empress Dowager Wen sighed, too lazy to argue further. A Noble Lady with a title stood a head above ordinary Noble Ladies. But since Gu Chaobei didn’t know this, she couldn’t blame him—he probably just thought it was more convenient to address her this way.
Shen Guiyan stood to the side without making a sound. Grand Empress Dowager Wen walked over and said, “In a moment, have Consort Shen arrange your palace quarters and palace maids. With your pregnancy, you can be considered fortunate. As for how to conduct yourself in the palace from now on, this dowager will send a specialized nanny to teach you.”
“Many thanks, Your Majesty the Grand Empress Dowager.” Shen Guiyan kept her eyes lowered in submission, no longer showing any sharp edges.
Gu Chaobei flicked his sleeves and left, truly not sparing Shen Guiyan even one more glance. Shen Hanlu standing nearby was furious beyond measure, muttering to herself as she watched Shen Guiyan.
Could this person truly be like a cockroach? No matter how much you beat her, she won’t die, and now she’s even pregnant! This was just wonderful—although the Emperor no longer liked her, she had bounced back into the harem. How were they supposed to deal with this?
“You’re leaving?”
Upon returning to the North Palace, Shen Guiyan packed her things and went to bid farewell to Empress Dowager Nian.
“Thank you for Your Majesty the Empress Dowager’s grace and virtue. Yan’er will always remember it in her heart.” Shen Guiyan bowed deeply.
Empress Dowager Nian snorted, not deigning to look at her directly, only gazing at the flowerpots to the side. “This is just the first step. Don’t rush to thank me. The suffering you’ll endure from now on will only increase, and there won’t be anyone who can protect you. Are you prepared?”
Shen Guiyan looked up at Empress Dowager Nian and nodded solemnly. “Yan’er will not disappoint Your Majesty’s high expectations.”
Her eyes widened as Empress Dowager Nian looked at her and said, “What high expectations could this dowager have for you? You’re merely a cleaning palace maid who stayed in the North Palace for a few days. Don’t think so highly of yourself!”
This old lady was as sharp-tongued as ever, but Shen Guiyan heard this and smiled, then earnestly kowtowed to her three times. “Once Yan’er is settled, I will come to pay my respects to Your Majesty again.”
Empress Dowager Nian chuckled softly, squinting at her. “This dowager fears you won’t have the opportunity recently. You’d better take good care of yourself.”
Shen Guiyan’s heart skipped a beat. Looking at Empress Dowager Nian’s composed expression, she didn’t understand what this meant.
However, after following Nanny Jiawen, who was sent by Grand Empress Dowager Wen, to Zhuangde Palace, Shen Guiyan discovered that Empress Dowager Nian had not spoken incorrectly.
Qinghuan and Jiang Shi were waiting for her in Zhuangde Palace. When they saw her enter, they immediately surrounded her, looking her over from head to toe several times, and said warmly, “Young Madam… ah no, Noble Lady Yan, you’ve finally seen the clouds part to reveal the moon!”
Those who hadn’t spared her a single glance when she was demoted to a palace maid were now enthusiastically surrounding her with nothing but pleasant words. Shen Guiyan sneered inwardly but kept a compatible expression on her face as she sighed with them: “The palace has countless newcomers. We probably won’t hold His Majesty’s favor for more than a few days. We still need to support each other.”
“Exactly, exactly.” Qinghuan smiled like a blooming flower. “Though you cannot compare to Consort Shen above you now, Noble Lady, you’re pregnant! This piece of flesh is more reliable than even the Empress’s throne.”
They chattered endlessly. After finally seeing them off, the rewards from the two Empress Dowagers and the Emperor arrived. Fortunately, Yuwen Changqing quickly sent Baoshan back to her, otherwise with her pregnancy, she truly couldn’t have managed so many matters.
She was busy for several days straight, with no time to pay respects at the North Palace, and still had to constantly embroider things.
Nanny Jiawen said that Grand Empress Dowager Wen’s birthday was approaching, and all the palaces should show their respect. Shen Guiyan thought she would send a hand-embroidered screen—this way she could avoid other gifts that might cause trouble or be too expensive.
Gu Chaobei still hadn’t come to see her, but he had been visiting Jiang Shi’s palace frequently. She resided in the main hall, while Jiang Shi stayed in a side hall of Zhuangde Palace. Every time she stood at the palace entrance, Shen Guiyan could still see the shadow of that dragon robe.
Baoshan helped her embroider while fuming with indignation. “This servant knew all along that the imperial edict back then was complete nonsense. What ‘Young Miss cannot bear children, so she cannot be taken into the harem’—it was clearly Grand Empress Dowager Wen making things difficult for you. Now look, you’re pregnant, which is equivalent to slapping that edict in the face, yet they still won’t return the Empress position to you, only making you a Noble Lady.”
Wasn’t that no different from a concubine’s treatment?
Seeing her so angry, Shen Guiyan was actually calm. Gu Chaobei had his own matters to attend to—she could wait for him. As for rank and position, she didn’t really care.
The imperial court still hadn’t completely stabilized. Gu Chaobei had attended court several times but hadn’t spoken a single word. Grand Empress Dowager Wen had already gone from ruling from behind the curtain in the past to now directly pointing fingers at state affairs from behind the screen.
She couldn’t let him be distracted by harem matters. She had to protect herself and help him stabilize the harem.
Baoshan was so angry she wanted to cry. During these days at the General’s residence, Yuwen Changqing had kept her by his side, from time to time asking what Young Miss liked and what interesting things had happened in the past.
She would have to be an idiot not to sense that General Yuwen had unusual feelings for Young Miss. But he maintained proper etiquette and didn’t show it too much. Only she could detect it.
If she had known that marrying Fourth Young Master would lead down such a difficult path, Young Miss should have waited back then. How wonderful it would have been if she could have met General Yuwen first.
“General Yuwen?” Gu Chaobei called out to the man before him. Only then did Yuwen Changqing withdraw his gaze from the Imperial Garden and look at the wine cups and dishes before him. “Why did Your Majesty think to invite this subject for drinks?”
“If I don’t seek you out, who else could I find?” Gu Chaobei chuckled lightly. “I have been enthroned for several days now. Tomorrow I wish to speak at court and need the General’s cooperation.”
Yuwen Changqing looked around—there was no one nearby—and couldn’t help but relax a bit. “That’s easy to say. What benefit will Your Majesty give this subject?”
Gu Chaobei glared at him. “Gold, silver, beauties—take your pick.”
“Tsk tsk, if I truly opened my mouth, Your Majesty would absolutely refuse anyway. Never mind.” Yuwen Changqing yawned, saying lazily, “The weather is getting colder. Spring should be arriving soon, right? I heard Your Majesty took in a palace maid as a Noble Lady?”
After saying so much nonsense, what he wanted to ask was only that last sentence.
Gu Chaobei snorted with laughter. “You already know, so asking like this is pointless.”
He had gone to such lengths, advancing by retreating to get Shen Guiyan into the harem, but still couldn’t touch her. How long had it been? Since his enthronement, the two of them as husband and wife hadn’t been able to have a proper conversation.
What a disaster. Although Yan’er surely knew what he was thinking, with such a cold temperament, what if over time she truly stopped liking him? Who would he cry to then?
“I just find it strange. Your Majesty clearly knows the harem is treacherous, so why stuff her in there?” Yuwen Changqing said casually. “Wouldn’t it be better to send her out of the palace?”
Send her out of the palace? Gu Chaobei slammed the table, his face cold. “Then what about me?”
Now he could only sneak over the walls to see her in the middle of the night. If she were sent out of the palace, would he have to leave the palace in the middle of the night too? Would he even be able to return?
Yuwen Changqing looked at Gu Chaobei’s expression and decided to change the subject. “Grand Empress Dowager Wen has been very interested in the Southern Battalion’s military authority lately. If you speak up tomorrow, you could try to seize the Southern Battalion’s military power.”
Gu Chaobei snorted coldly. “I’d like to, but aside from you and General Lian, who else in court is useful? General Lian, because of the former Crown Prince’s death, harbors resentment toward me and refuses to cooperate.”
“Your Majesty has forgotten—Princess Duanwen from Huainan should be returning.” Yuwen Changqing chuckled lightly. “She’s an excellent military commander. I still remember the battle from a few years ago.”
Gu Chaobei’s face went completely pale.
Who was Princess Duanwen? The only unmarried legitimate princess of the Ming imperial family, whose mother consort died early and who was raised by Consort Nian. She loved weapons over cosmetics, practiced martial arts from childhood, and at fourteen could barely match Yuwen Changqing in combat.
More fatally, long ago when this princess left the palace, she happened to encounter Gu Chaobei. At that time, he wasn’t yet an imperial prince. Princess Duanwen fell in love with him at first sight.
Love at first sight! She insisted on marrying him no matter what, so the Emperor sent her to Huainan to cool down. After cooling down for several years, those years had now passed.