The person on the bed was sleeping soundly, and as she turned over, she unconsciously covered her stomach with her hand. He had been a little annoyed at first, but seeing her sleeping face, so much like a child’s, he could only sigh helplessly, lie down beside her, and close his eyes.

When the day came for the Empress Dowager to draw lots—a matter concerning every woman in the harem—the Emperor chose to hold it in the outer hall of Zichen Palace, having everyone wait outside in the spacious plaza for the final result.

Hua Chun had originally intended to stand outside as well, but when she arrived, Eunuch Qin casually pointed her toward the inside of the hall. “By the Emperor’s gracious decree, those of Pin rank and above may go inside and sit.”

That suited her just fine—Hua Chun immediately bounced inside to pay respects to the Emperor and the Empress Dowager.

There were plenty of women in the palace, but those of high rank were truly few—the several dozen chairs in the hall weren’t even filled.

The Empress Dowager watched her come in, momentarily distracted, and only after thinking carefully did she remember. “Ah, it’s Concubine Hua.”

“This concubine has not come to pay respects in a long while—please forgive me, Empress Dowager.” Hua Chun said softly. “Ever since the malaria outbreak in the palace, my health has not been well, and it’s only recently that I’ve been confirmed fine, so only now do I dare to come pay my respects.”

“Good child.” The Empress Dowager nodded. “Go and sit.”

“Yes.” After honestly finishing her bow, Hua Chun slipped over to sit beside Consort Xu, and looking up, she could see Hua Xunyue sitting across from her.

Hua Xunyue’s expression wasn’t good. She had once held great power over the harem, but old scores had been dug up and she’d been demoted to a mere Pin—which meant she, too, was now called “Concubine Hua,” just like her. Hua Chun wondered what that felt like for her.

In this palace, fortune and misfortune were intertwined; rising and falling ranks were like playing the stock market. So really, one had to take promotions and demotions in stride—luck turned like a wheel.

“In the past six months, no one in the harem has achieved any great merit, so for the year-end rank promotions, it will have to come down to your luck.” The moment the Empress Dowager spoke, the surroundings fell instantly silent.

A eunuch carried up a huge wooden cylinder, packed full of jade slips, with the words “Selected Attendant” carved on the outside.

So it seemed they were using stratified sampling, Hua Chun thought, craning her neck to look. The Empress Dowager casually drew out a slip, glanced at it, and said, “Selected Attendant Duan, promoted to Talented Lady.”

A joyful cry of thanks came from outside. The Empress Dowager then drew seventeen more, for a total of eighteen Selected Attendants promoted to Talented Ladies.

After that came the promotion from Talented Lady to Pin, with ten chosen.

“This counts as a great reward already.” The Emperor said flatly. “As for Noble Concubine and Consort rank, the Noble Concubine slot will be drawn from among the Pins, and the Consort slot will be drawn from among both the Noble Concubines and Pins together.”

Noble Concubine Xu had been delighted just moments before—since there weren’t many women at the Noble Concubine rank, her odds of being chosen were high—but now the Emperor had gone and added the Pins into the mix.

On the other side, quite a few Noble Concubines wanted to raise objections, but before they could speak, the Empress Dowager said, “This is fine too.”

Once the Empress Dowager had made the final call, no one else could say anything more. So the eunuch brought up the cylinder for the Pin rank first, to draw the Noble Concubine.

Honestly, Hua Chun was a little hopeful. Although her luck had always been terrible—she’d never won anything from reposting a giveaway, never won a cent from buying lottery tickets—but what if she got lucky just this once? Being promoted to Noble Concubine would mean a bit more monthly stipend.

But the result disappointed her all the same—the Empress Dowager drew Concubine Xu, promoting her to Noble Concubine.

“Congratulations, elder sister.” Congratulatory voices rose all around, but Noble Concubine Xu felt mixed emotions—being promoted to Noble Concubine was certainly good, but it also meant she’d lost her chance at being chosen as Consort De.

Eunuch Qin combined the remaining Pin-rank jade slips with those of the Noble Concubines, then presented them to the Empress Dowager with both hands.

The most thrilling moment had arrived. Everyone seated in the hall craned their necks, wishing they had X-ray vision so they could see directly which slip belonged to whom.

The Empress Dowager raised her jade hand and casually drew out a slip. She lowered her head to look at it, slightly surprised. “Concubine Hua of Yangxin Palace.”

Huh? Hua Chun was stunned, and instinctively answered, “This concubine is here.”

Everyone around her whipped their heads around to stare at her—envious looks, jealous looks, resentful looks, every kind of gaze imaginable. The Emperor looked over too, his expression calm, without a ripple of emotion.

It took Hua Chun a moment to react. Did this mean she’d been drawn as Consort De? Which meant from now on she’d have a palanquin whenever she went out?

Hastily rising to bow, Hua Chun knelt and kowtowed to the Empress Dowager. “Thank you, Empress Dowager, for this grace.”

“No need for such formality.” The Empress Dowager looked at her kindly. “You’ve been out of favor for quite a long time now—this is probably Heaven’s blessing upon you. From now on, you must serve the Emperor well.”

“This concubine obeys.” Bowing her head low, Hua Chun was secretly delighted—Heaven, which never seemed to show itself, had finally looked after her, if only this once.

“Mother.” The Emperor spoke up. “There are still many vacant Consort positions—why not also promote Noble Concubine Xu to Consort Shu.”

Noble Concubine Xu had been fuming with resentment, but upon hearing this, her eyes lit up at once, and she looked joyfully at the Empress Dowager.

“Your harem should naturally be your own to decide. What I draw is only luck—if there’s someone you’d like to promote, then go ahead and promote her.”

“Thank you, Mother.” The Emperor nodded, and looked toward Noble Concubine Xu. “From this day forward, you shall be Consort Shu.”

“Thank you for this great favor, Your Majesty!” Noble Concubine Xu knelt down, overjoyed to the point of madness. She had thought her chance at Consort rank was gone, yet unexpectedly the Emperor himself had bestowed the title on her—this was far more prestigious than being drawn by lot!

Everyone in the hall was stunned as well. They’d all agreed the ranks would be decided by lot, yet an exception had still been made. The Emperor’s recent favor toward Noble Concubine Xu was no small thing—it was plain that this entire conferment ceremony had been arranged for her alone. If the Empress Dowager had drawn her, that would have been natural enough. But since she hadn’t, well, then the rank would simply be forced through, as it just had been.

In an instant, most people understood this logic, and the attention that had briefly been on Hua Chun shifted entirely to Noble Concubine Xu.

Hua Chun raised an eyebrow. She didn’t particularly care what happened to others—as long as she herself benefited from this conferment, that was enough. As for Noble Concubine Xu’s new position as Consort Shu… having read Huo Xianrou’s letter, she could guess at the Emperor’s real intentions, and could only feel sympathy for the woman.

When the conferment ceremony ended, naturally some were pleased and others were troubled. Feeling drowsy, Hua Chun collected her reward and went back to Yangxin Palace to rest. Fortunately, though she had been made Consort De, she held no real power and had received no extra rewards from the Emperor, so the other consorts merely offered polite congratulations, and none of them bothered to follow her back to Yangxin Palace to talk.

“What incredible luck.” Qing Niao said in amazement. “So many slips, and yours was the one drawn.”

“Right.” Hua Chun said. “Just like being hit by a falling pie! Now that I’m Consort De, I won’t have to worry about getting through the winter—there are only three of us at Consort rank in the whole palace, so no matter who gets shortchanged, it won’t be us.”

Qing Niao couldn’t help but laugh. Such modest ambitions, this one had.

While things were peaceful and harmonious on this side, with Hua Chun sleeping soundly, over at Yong’an Palace, things had erupted into chaos.

“That Consort Shu position should have been yours.” Noble Concubine Meng said, looking at Hua Xunyue. “The Emperor demoted you in a fit of anger—once it’s known you were wronged, that position should have come back to you eventually. But now, of all things, she’s gone and taken it.”

“Anyone with eyes could see what really happened today!” Noble Concubine Xu said, pursing her lips. “I heard that when the Emperor was going to make Talented Lady Wu into Consort De, it was her who suppressed the idea, persuading the Emperor to promote her to Noble Concubine instead, and then to hand out ranks by drawing lots. The whole scheme was hers.”

“What a knife in the back.” Hua Xunyue shook her head repeatedly, looking toward the silent Noble Concubine Wu beside her. “You treated her like your own elder sister—who could have known she’d do something like this behind your back.”

Noble Concubine Wu said nothing, her expression darkening, her eyes full of fury. She hadn’t been sitting long before she rose and walked out, without even a word of farewell to the others.

“Looks like she’s truly furious.” Noble Concubine Xu shook her head.

“Who wouldn’t be furious in her place?” Hua Xunyue scoffed coldly, and the others nodded in agreement.

The harem, usually scattered and divided, had become unprecedentedly united over the matter of Noble Concubine Xu’s promotion to Consort Shu.

Hua Chun was sleeping comfortably when Rui’er hurried in from outside and crouched by her bed. “My lady, Noble Concubine Xu and the others are outside asking to see you.”

“Not seeing them.” Hua Chun answered drowsily, turning over. “Just tell them I’m unwell and need to rest and recuperate.”

Rui’er froze, a little timid. “But there are so many people out there…”

Qing Niao came in carrying water, and without another word hauled her up. “Our lady is Consort De now—rank-wise, she’s at the very top. What are you so scared of?”

Rui’er pouted. “But there are so many of them…”

“So what if there are many of them? We turn them away just the same.” Qing Niao pulled her along outside. “Let big sister show you how.”

Stumbling along after Qing Niao, Rui’er stood behind her as Qing Niao pushed open the courtyard gate of Yangxin Palace. A smile rose on her face, and she pressed her palms together at her waist. “Her Ladyship Consort De is feeling unwell and resting, so it’s inconvenient for her to receive any of you ladies today—please forgive us. Also, our lady has said she has no intention of meddling in harem matters, so there’s no need for anyone to come report anything to Yangxin Palace.”

Everyone was stunned. Noble Concubine Xu said with great exasperation, “Why is your lady still like this? Before, she just kept quiet and had nowhere to turn even when bullied. Now that she’s finally turned things around, does she still intend to just sit back and watch?”

“This servant doesn’t understand my lady’s thinking, but I only do as instructed.” Qing Niao smiled. “Please, all of you, do not disturb Her Ladyship Consort De’s rest.”

This whole group had already formed an alliance and had planned to make Hua Chun their leader—after all, even without real power, Consort De was still the highest-ranking Consort in the harem, more than enough to serve as a shield. But who would have thought Hua Chun still wouldn’t play along, wanting to stay uninvolved just as before.

That simply wouldn’t do. The group left Yangxin Palace one after another, breaking into small clusters, their expressions serious as they began plotting a new strategy.

When Hua Chun woke from her sleep, she saw Qing Niao outside, holding a list and murmuring with Rui’er.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

Qing Niao paused, turning to look at her. “You’re awake, my lady? Yangxin Palace’s new supply list has come down, and I’m just looking it over.”

“Is there a problem?” Hua Chun yawned, threw on a robe, and got up to walk over to them.

“It’s not exactly a big problem, but not exactly small either.” Qing Niao said. “It’s that some items are short. According to Consort De’s allotted standards, monthly rouge money should be twenty taels, but what’s written here is fifteen taels. And the fruit, vegetables, and meat from the small kitchen aren’t up to the proper amount either.”

Hua Chun raised an eyebrow. “Who’s in charge of supplies these days?”

“Naturally, it’s Her Ladyship Consort Shu now.”

“Then take this to her and ask if she’s the one who wrote it.”

If she hadn’t written it, who else could have? Rui’er looked utterly puzzled, but she still took the list out as instructed.

Half an hour later, she returned, her expression strange. “My lady, Her Ladyship Consort Shu says she didn’t write that list—someone must have tampered with it—and the missing items have now been added back in.”

“Mm, good then.” Hua Chun nodded, and began doing some chest-stretching exercises around the room to loosen up.

“You don’t care who was tampering with it?” Rui’er asked.

Hua Chun shook her head. “Not really.”

Rui’er: “…” Shouldn’t one at least be a little curious? Even she herself felt angry about it—why was her own lady so unbothered?

“If you want to stay completely out of it, you have to learn to turn a blind eye and a deaf ear.” Hua Chun said. “As long as I haven’t suffered any real loss, it’s better to stay calm.”

Qing Niao nodded, patting Rui’er’s shoulder. “You’re still too young—you should learn more from our lady.”

“Yes.” Rui’er answered, ashamed, and stood aside with her head lowered.

That night, unsurprisingly, the Emperor climbed in through the window, glancing sideways at her as he asked, “Why aren’t you asleep yet today?”

“I slept too long this afternoon, so I can’t fall asleep now.” Hua Chun sat on the couch, looking at him. “Your Majesty, did you do something to the jade slips?”

Pausing slightly, Yuwen Jie lowered his eyes and sat down beside her. “What makes you say that?”