Little Li withdrew from the hall. Eunuch Gao, who had been standing to the side, brought Xiaoyan a fresh cup of hot tea. He noticed the Emperor continuing to look at the memorials, but after gazing at them for quite some time, he didn’t turn the page.
A moment later, female voices came from outside the door.
“This is a special soup our mistress has prepared for His Majesty. Please, Eunuch, be accommodating.”
Xiaoyan put down the book in his hand.
This Concubine Gu didn’t seem too foolish after all.
She knew how to seize an opportunity and show gratitude.
He said in a deep voice, “Summon them in.”
Two figures entered the hall from outside. Palace maid Chun Ya carried a tray with a white porcelain bowl on it.
Concubine Gong followed her into the hall, walking slowly, her skirt swaying like flowing moonlight.
She smiled and bowed, “Your Majesty’s golden peace.”
After a moment of silence, she heard the Emperor say, “Rise.”
Concubine Gong rejoiced inwardly. This Moonlight Skirt was indeed marvelous! No wonder His Majesty was stunned into silence!
But when she looked up, she saw the Emperor’s expression was calm and unchanged.
Concubine Gong knew the Emperor’s temperament and said softly, “This concubine saw Your Majesty toiling day and night with state affairs, so I prepared a nourishing soup to calm the spirit and provide nourishment. I hope Your Majesty will try it.”
Xiaoyan made a sound of acknowledgment. “Concubine is thoughtful.” Then he called out, “Gao Gui.”
Eunuch Gao steadily took the tray from Chun Ya’s hands.
Concubine Gong had finally managed to see the Emperor today and was unwilling to leave just yet. She said gently, “This concubine is wearing a new colorful skirt today. Does Your Majesty like it?”
Xiaoyan thought the skirt was indeed somewhat dazzling, so he made a sound of acknowledgment.
Concubine Gong said joyfully, “This is the Moonlight Skirt, newly made by the Office of Imperial Attire. I received one, and it perfectly matches my maiden name.” Her voice gradually lowered to a murmur.
Eunuch Gao and the surrounding eunuchs couldn’t help but lower their heads.
Maiden name? Xiaoyan didn’t know what Concubine Gong’s maiden name was; he only remembered her father’s title.
After thinking for a moment, he let it pass.
These days, Palace Minister Gong had mostly been responding with “This minister concurs” regarding official appointments, so Xiaoyan patiently said to Concubine Gong, “I still have official duties. You may withdraw first. Another day, I will come to see you.”
Hearing this, Concubine Gong was overjoyed and withdrew with a beaming smile. “This concubine will respectfully await Your Majesty!”
Eunuch Gao, seeing the timing was good, was about to summon Eunuch Wu from the Imperial Bedchamber Service when he noticed the Emperor’s expression seemed to sour…
So he closed his mouth.
The Emperor continued reading the memorials, and the hall instantly became so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.
After waiting for a while, a voice announced from outside the hall, “The Head of the Imperial Bedchamber Service has arrived.”
Xiaoyan said, “Summon him in.”
Eunuch Wu entered the hall carrying a jade tray.
Xiaoyan stepped down from the jade steps. On the tray, jade tablets were neatly arranged in three rows.
His gaze fell directly on the third row. The first one was “Spring Rain Pavilion, Concubine Zhou,” the second was “Continuous Rain Hall, Concubine Chen.” He looked through them one by one and found the tablet for “Xiu Yi Hall, Concubine Gu” at the very end.
What? Had this Concubine Gu run out of money? Or had she lost her ambition?
He had thought she showed promise and could be cultivated as a sign of favor for local officials, just as Concubine Gong was for the new faction.
Xiaoyan laughed softly and said, “Go!”
This meant he would not select anyone today.
Eunuch Wu was troubled. The Emperor had been on the throne for two years with no heir in the palace, not even a little princess.
He only selected concubines every five days, and even then, sometimes he would say “Go.”
The palace had no Empress, and the consorts were not producing results.
Some elder officials had already expressed dissatisfaction.
Yet His Majesty didn’t take it seriously.
Eunuch Wu felt anxious. As the Head of the Imperial Bedchamber Service, he would also be a target of the civil officials’ criticism.
It was truly a case of the Emperor not being worried, but the eunuch worrying himself to death!
Moreover, there wasn’t even an Empress Dowager in the palace who could persuade him!
Plucking up his courage, he intended to offer some advice and had just begun, “Your Majesty… this…”
But Xiaoyan had already turned and returned to his seat.
Eunuch Wu had no choice but to fall silent midway and withdraw from the hall with the tray.
*
In the small garden behind Xiu Yi Hall, a fire basin was placed in the corner, with a small cluster of scarlet flames flickering.
Concubine Wang scattered the last of the paper money in her hand. “Huaihua, may you be born into a better life in your next reincarnation, and not be born a servant.”
After saying this, she stood up with Huang Li’s support and walked toward the hall.
Behind her, the palace maid waited until the fire had completely burned out before removing the small fire basin.
Concubine Wang asked, “Has there been any news from the Imperial Bedchamber Service?”
Huang Li replied, “They said ‘Go.'”
Concubine Wang gave a cold snort, “Concubine Gong has wasted her efforts again. What use is it to dress up elaborately? What use is it to send soup? His Majesty still doesn’t select her tablet. I think that no matter how well they speak of the Moonlight Skirt, it can’t win favor. Since His Majesty said ‘Go,’ then let it be. No one gets any favor—that’s fair!”
At Zhai Fang Hall, when Concubine Gong heard the “Go” command, she didn’t take it to heart. Since His Majesty had said he would come to see her, if not today, he would come after five days!
However, this ‘Go’ continued for half a month.
Gu Yi found out about it in mid-July.
She panicked.
On this day, as soon as Gu Yi woke up, she felt dizzy and lightheaded. Before her eyes appeared the familiar afterimage of white light.
This wasn’t anemia; it must be the plot targeting her!
She hurriedly sent Tao Jia out to gather information and learned that the Emperor hadn’t set foot in the rear palace for almost a month.
“Concubine, today is another selection day. Should we make some preparations?”
Gu Yi steadied herself. “Does Concubine Gong have any new palace maids?”
Tao Jia tilted her head, puzzled. “I haven’t heard of any. What’s the matter, Concubine?”
Damn it! It was clear that the tool Concubine Gong hadn’t fulfilled her duty, so why was I the one in trouble again?
“Is Zhao Wan still working at the Office of Imperial Attire?”
Tao Jia smiled, “Indeed. Concubine may not know, but she made a Moonlight Skirt for Concubine Gong. Concubine Gong thought it would please His Majesty, but His Majesty hasn’t gone to see her for so long. Concubine Gong has not been kind to Zhao Wan and has punished her with many tasks for half a month.”
Indeed, the plot had deviated.
According to the original story, Concubine Gong was supposed to gain favor because of the Moonlight Skirt, and consequently bring Zhao Wan into Zhai Fang Hall as her maid.
This would have allowed Zhao Wan to meet Xiaoyan.
After a few exchanges of glances, Xiaoyan would remember Zhao Wan, the palace maid.
Gu Yi wanted to cry but couldn’t.
What should she do?
She took a deep breath and took out the sachet from under her pillow, which contained a silver ingot given to her by Concubine Qi—money for buying story books.
She gritted her teeth and gave it to Tao Jia. “Go find Eunuch Lu Chao.” After thinking for a moment, she added, “Then go to the Office of Imperial Attire and ask if they have any completed Moonlight Skirts, and bring one back.”
Tao Jia said happily, “Yes, Concubine!”
She had urged the Concubine several times over the past half month, and today it had finally worked!
After Tao Jia left, Gu Yi paced back and forth in the hall.
Xiaoyan was probably staying away from the harem due to the recent matter of official appointments.
New faction, old faction, power transitions—the new Emperor needed to let new people take office.
The court was probably in chaos at this moment.
However, if Xiaoyan didn’t come to the rear palace and couldn’t remember Zhao Wan, the main storyline would deviate. Would she have to start all over again?
Did this white light have a time limit? Was it a death warning?
Or was she overthinking?
Hadn’t they simply killed her directly before?
Could it be that this time it was a reminder that the plot could still be salvaged?
Gu Yi felt as if Death’s scythe was hanging over her head. The afterimage of white light seemed like a summons to death. Her heart was in turmoil, thoughts rising and falling as she paced back and forth in the hall.
Naturally, all the other people in the rear palace were also putting in their utmost effort today.
Those with connections had sent letters from their families, hoping to whisper in the Emperor’s ear during the time of official appointments.
Concubine Wang gave Huang Li two gold ingots. “After you go, ask what Gong Yueqin has prepared, and you must surpass her. If it’s still not enough, come back to the hall, and I’ll give you more! We can’t let that lowly person rise again, thinking that wearing a tattered skirt in front of the hall and sending a bowl of soup can seduce His Majesty!”
Huang Li pocketed the gold ingots and hurried off to find Eunuch Gao.
In Cai Wei Hall, Yu Hu said with difficulty, “Is Your Highness still hanging the red tag today?”
Noble Consort Shu was applying eyebrow makeup in front of a mirror. “Whether I hang it or not makes no difference to the Emperor.”
Yu Hu bit her lip and said, “Even so, Your Highness… didn’t the Grand Secretary ask Your Highness to persuade His Majesty…”
Noble Consort Shu sighed, “If I try to persuade him, will he listen? Which daughter of a noble family doesn’t carry the honor of her family, the glory of her clan? How could he not understand their calculations?” Noble Consort Shu laughed coldly several times, tears flashing in her eyes, then quickly disappearing. “But why doesn’t my elder uncle understand? Xiao Heng is dead… those with the surname Qi, they can’t rise again!”
Yu Hu fell to her knees with a thud. “Your Highness, please calm yourself.”
Noble Consort Shu silently finished drawing her eyebrows and finally gave a bitter smile. “Forget it, tell them to remove the red tag today.”
Just after the hour of Si [9-11 AM], Lu Chao had already sent away three groups of people.
Tao Jia arrived in a hurry. “Is Brother Lu busy?”
Lu Chao smiled bitterly. “Is Sister Tao Jia also busy?”
Tao Jia didn’t waste words and stuffed the silver ingot into Lu Chao’s arms. “Our Concubine, Brother Lu knows her. Last time, His Majesty selected our Concubine. I hope Brother Lu will put in a good word!”
Lu Chao thought to himself that the Emperor seemed determined to avoid suspicion and had stayed away from the rear palace during the selection of officials. No amount of good words would help.
Eunuch Wu was so anxious that he had blisters in his mouth, but even that was useless!
Tao Jia observed his expression and said no more. She curtsied deeply and said, “Thank you for your trouble, Brother Lu!”
After leaving the Imperial Garden, Tao Jia went directly to the Office of Imperial Attire. Zhao Wan happened to be on duty.
Tao Jia asked with a smile, “Head Tailor, our Concubine sent this servant to ask if there are any completed Moonlight Skirts?”
Zhao Wan’s face stiffened. Was this Concubine Gu also here to humiliate her?
Concubine Gong had failed to gain favor, and the Moonlight Skirt had been blamed along with her.
“Does Concubine Gu want a Moonlight Skirt?”
Tao Jia nodded. “Concubine admires this skirt and has longed for it for a long time. I trouble the Head Tailor to spare one for our Concubine.”
Concubine Gu—the last time, it was Concubine Gu’s tablet that the Emperor had selected.
Zhao Wan turned back to look at the records for each palace and selected a Moonlight Skirt with a fragrance-colored base for her. “This skirt should fit.”
Tao Jia expressed her thanks and left carrying the skirt.
Just after noon, the Deputy Head of the Imperial Bedchamber Service, Eunuch Tao, came to the front of the hall under the scorching sun.
Since Eunuch Wu had mouth sores and wasn’t presentable enough to face the Emperor, he had taken on this duty.
Eunuch Gao was the first to come out of the hall. Seeing that the conspicuous red tag on Noble Consort Shu’s tablet was gone, he was somewhat surprised. Then he reached out and placed Xiu Yi Hall’s Concubine Wang at the beginning of the second row, with Zhai Fang Hall’s Concubine Gong in the second position of the second row.
He placed Spring Rain Pavilion’s Concubine Zhou at the beginning of the third row. After thinking for a moment, he still placed Xiu Yi Hall’s Concubine Gu, who had only given one silver ingot, in the second position.
All done. “You may go in now.”
Xiaoyan saw Noble Consort Shu’s jade tablet and laughed softly.
The Qi family was getting impatient.
But his gaze didn’t linger there. It moved to the second row. The several concubines in the palace were all from the new faction. Having not set foot in the rear palace for a long time, tonight would show his stance.
He glanced at Concubine Gong’s jade tablet in the second position.
He frowned slightly and turned over the jade tablet in the first position.
Eunuch Tao felt a great weight lifted from his heart and announced, “Xiu Yi Hall…”
Eunuch Gao thought, “As expected.”
Eunuch Tao continued in one breath: “Concubine Wang!”
Eunuch Gao: …
The Emperor’s heart is truly inscrutable!