After noon, Concubine Gong of Zhifang Palace and Concubine Wang of Xiu Yidian both received imperial edicts promoting them to Jieyu Gong and Jieyu Wang.

Naturally, some were happy while others were worried.

Jieyu Gong greatly rewarded the palace maids of Zhifang Palace and specially summoned Zhao Wan. “Wan has rendered great service. I will remember this.”

Zhao Wan curtseyed, “Thank you, Jieyu.”

Jieyu Gong rewarded her with a plain hairpin from her treasure box. “You are clever and alert. You learned to perform the Celestial Dance perfectly in just one day. Your prospects are unpredictable.”

Zhao Wan received the hairpin with both hands and said: “Jieyu flatters me.”

Everyone in the world has their desires. Jieyu Gong could see that Zhao Wan had her ambitions.

Jieyu Gong’s vermilion lips curled slightly. “In the future, when His Majesty visits Zhifang Palace, Wan shall come to serve him closely.”

Zhao Wan’s heart skipped a beat, and she lowered her head in acknowledgment.

After Zhao Wan left, Chun Ya questioned, “Why does Jieyu favor her?”

Jieyu Gong: “She has ability and ambition. Sooner or later, she will get what she desires. I am merely facilitating the process.”

Chun Ya frowned, “Jieyu, aren’t you afraid His Majesty might truly fancy her?”

Jieyu Gong chuckled softly, “His Majesty has never truly fancied anyone. What he truly appreciates is the family background behind his consorts. It is so for me, for Wang Xiu, and for Consort Su—it’s just her bad fortune to have the surname Qi.”

Xiu Yidian was naturally also filled with joy.

Huang Li distributed gold leaves to all the maids, then returned to find Jieyu Wang. “Congratulations on your great joy, Jieyu!”

Jieyu Wang responded with an “Mm” and added, “It’s a pity that Gong Yueqin also got what she wanted. But… never mind… there’s still time. We shall see.”

Huang Li nodded, “Although His Majesty spent the night at Heluo Palace yesterday, Concubine Gu didn’t gain any favor!”

Jieyu Wang snorted coldly, “She’s merely a plaything. How high can her rank be? Concubine is her limit.”

Huang Li smiled and lowered her voice: “This servant just passed by Luoying Palace and saw Consort De’s palace maid kneeling in the front courtyard.”

Jieyu Wang first sighed, then chuckled softly, “Consort De wanted to become Noble Consort, but failed again. The Liu family from the previous dynasty is still desperately entreating His Majesty to make Liu the Empress. How laughable!”

Huang Li whispered in her ear: “In the future, the position of Empress will surely be yours.”

Jieyu Wang laughed heartily, “What a clever mouth you have. Here’s a reward for your amusement.” Saying this, she took a golden hairpin from her treasure box and gave it to Huang Li.

Huang Li curtseyed: “Thank you, my lady.”

Gu Yi wasn’t surprised, after all, it was all part of the plot.

Tao Jia was quite disappointed but consoled Gu Yi: “A Concubine need not be anxious. By next year’s Mid-Autumn palace banquet, you will surely become Jieyu. Besides, Concubine’s favor surpasses all in the six palaces; others simply cannot compare.”

Gu Yi blew on her tea, “I understand.”

Ultimately, in Xiaoyan’s harem, promotion depended mainly on one’s father, not on favor.

Gu Longtong didn’t have a distinguished official name, and her advancement from Meiren to Guiren was truly… fortunate.

Now that both Wang and Gong had become Jieyu, it seemed the promotion of court officials must be settled.

*

At the end of the eighth month, the promotion list was made public. There was no one above the fourth rank. Below the fourth rank, twelve people filled vacancies as department directors in the six ministries. Of the fifth rank, the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Revenue alone had six people. The officials were in an uproar.

Left Grand Secretary Qi Ruotang led various officials in remonstration, urging the Emperor to redraft the list.

Among these twelve people, six are not from the Hanlin Academy. I fear they will not command respect. Moreover, with official evaluations and agricultural tax reforms imminent, we cannot afford any mistakes in the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Revenue. I beg Your Majesty to reconsider!”

Xiaoyan: “Minister Qi’s words are extremely reasonable. Official evaluations and per-acre silver taxation are indeed important matters. This promotion of officials is precisely for this purpose. I hope officials in the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Revenue will perform their duties well. The results will be clear by next year.”

In the following days, Qi Ruotang led a group of officials to remonstrate once or twice daily.

The Emperor used the summer heat as an excuse to retreat to Wushan Imperial Villa to escape the heat.

By September, the weather had already cooled, yet the Emperor insisted on going to Wushan to escape the heat.

Everyone understood this was a strategic retreat—he was unwilling to continue entangling with Secretary Qi.

Jieyu Gong of Zhifang Palace and Concubine Gu of Heluo Palace were selected to accompany the Emperor to Wushan Imperial Villa.

Gu Yi was a bit confused. Jieyu Gong’s accompaniment was part of the plot, as Gong Zhenghai had contributed to the selection of officials.

But why her? What was the reason?

Soon she learned, because Xiaoyan told her.

“Prefect Gu Longtong of Fuzhou has volunteered to implement the per-acre silver taxation strategy in Fuzhou, setting an example for several prefectural offices in the tax reform.”

Gu Yi was shocked. This wasn’t written in the book!

Her father was this ambitious?

Was he trying to gamble big, turning a bicycle into a motorcycle?

Xiaoyan saw Gu Yi’s shocked face, realizing she knew nothing about this.

Gu Longtong had used his connection with Shen Xu from the Ministry of Personnel and learned about the official changes and the advanced implementation of tax reform with silver.

With his three-year evaluation approaching, he aimed to establish merit, so he submitted a memorial volunteering his services.

It seemed Gu Longtong wanted to come to the capital to report for duty.

Even as Gu Yi boarded the swaying carriage, she hadn’t quite recovered from her surprise.

Nevertheless, accompanying the Emperor was good. Wushan’s summer retreat had important plot developments, and she could maintain the storyline!

The Emperor’s carriage was much more spacious than her concubine’s carriage, but as they journeyed forward, it still occasionally jolted.

After approximately three hours of swaying, Gu Yi’s face turned pale, and she felt nauseous.

“Your Majesty, this humble consort would like to return to her carriage.”

Seeing her complexion, Xiaoyan gave her a preserved plum from a porcelain jar.

Gu Yi sucked on the sour plum but still felt unwell!

Xiaoyan: “Stop the carriage.”

The driver made a “whoa” sound, and the jeweled carriage stopped, immediately halting the long procession.

Xiaoyan: “Go outside for a walk.”

Palace servants promptly lifted the carriage curtain.

Gu Yi, holding a palace servant’s hand, alighted from the carriage.

Her chest tightness seemed to improve a little.

From the back of the procession came an elegant figure in a green dress—it was Jieyu Gong, supported by Zhao Wan.

The female protagonist had indeed come!

As they approached, Gu Yi bowed and said: “Greetings to Jieyu.”

Jieyu Gong, seeing Gu Yi’s deathly pale face, said, “Sister has had a difficult journey.” Then she turned to bow toward the stopped carriage: “Greetings to Your Majesty.”

“Next time, if sister travels in her carriage, she can take some calming medicine beforehand and rest in the carriage to avoid feeling dizzy.”

Gu Yi nodded, “Good idea.”

Jieyu Gong continued: “Sister looks so uncomfortable. Perhaps she should return to her carriage and rest.”

Gu Yi truly wanted to leave. She turned her head and asked: “Your Majesty, may this humble consort return?”

Hearing her pitiful tone, Xiaoyan said through the curtain: “You may go.”

Gu Yi felt as if she’d been granted a great amnesty. Just now, riding with Xiaoyan, seeing him sitting so formally, she also had to mind her behavior, which was certainly not as comfortable as traveling alone.

“Thank you, Your Majesty. This humble consort takes her leave.”

Jieyu Gong’s heart leaped with joy. “Your Majesty, may this humble consort accompany Your Majesty to relieve the boredom?”

After a moment of silence, the Emperor finally said: “Come up.”

Jieyu Gong, holding Zhao Wan’s hand, boarded the carriage.

The curtain was drawn back, and Zhao Wan glimpsed Xiaoyan inside the carriage, dressed in blue robes with a tall crown, his face expressionless, a pair of glassy eyes looking at her distantly.

Her gaze happened to meet his.

Zhao Wan’s cheeks flushed, and she immediately averted her eyes.

The curtain slowly fell again.

Xiaoyan commanded: “Proceed.”

As soon as Gu Yi entered her carriage, she collapsed onto the soft couch.

Tao Jia held a jar of pickled plums. “Concubine, we’ll reach Wushan in a little over an hour. Please endure a bit longer! Would you like a pickled plum?”

Gu Yi waved her hand. She had already eaten no fewer than ten sour plums, and her mouth was both sour and astringent.

“I’ll feel better after I sleep for a while.”

Gu Yi took out a silk handkerchief to cover her eyes, and as the carriage swayed, she gradually drifted off to sleep.

Tao Jia carefully rolled up the carriage curtain and peered outside. At the front of the procession were the imperial guards.

The leader wore a silver helmet with a white feather—it was the imperial guard commander, Qi Chuang.

Tao Jia gently lowered the curtain again.

Wushan Imperial Villa had four courtyard complexes. The frontmost Xuanyu Pavilion was the most magnificent, serving as the Emperor’s residence and reception area.

Behind it were three halls: Luoxia, Feihong, and Xunxue.

Behind the three halls was a clear pool fed by mountain hot springs, warm throughout the four seasons.

Jieyu Gong was accommodated in the slightly larger Luoxia Hall, while Concubine Gu stayed in Xunxue Hall.

Gu Yi was awakened by Tao Jia, only to discover that the carriage had already stopped.

Finally arrived!

Outside the carriage was pitch black, with shadowy mountain silhouettes. The night wind blew, adding to the desolation.

Gu Yi, wrapped in a brocade cloak, alighted from the carriage. Four palace servants carrying lanterns led the way, guiding her to Xunxue Hall.

The hall had already been thoroughly cleaned, and it was about the same size as Heluo Palace, complete with a bedchamber, study, and flower hall.

Her head dizzy and her body feeling as if it were falling apart, she commanded: “Prepare water for bathing.”

Tao Jia’s eyes darted about as she suggested: “Concubine, there’s a hot spring pool behind this hall. Wouldn’t it be better to bathe there?”

“No,” Gu Yi resolutely declined.

That was an important plot location, and she couldn’t casually join in. What if she deviated from the main storyline?

If she wanted to soak in the hot spring, she could go during the day tomorrow.

Gu Yi: “Prepare hot water. I’m very tired.”

After her bath, Gu Yi wrapped herself in fragrant silk bedding that had been infused with incense and went to sleep.

In Luoxia Hall, the lamps were still burning.

It was Jieyu Gong’s first time accompanying the Emperor, and she had shared his carriage. She was hoping the Emperor would come to Luoxia Hall, so she was unwilling to retire early.

The second watch drum had already sounded.

Zhao Wan advised: “Jieyu has had a tiring journey. It would be better to rest early.”

Jieyu Gong sighed and nodded: “Prepare for my toilette.”

By the time Jieyu Gong went to bed, it was nearly the third watch.

Zhao Wan, carrying a water bucket, walked out of Luoxia Hall toward the well behind the hall.

The mountain was already cool, and after nightfall, the mountain wind howled. Her hands and feet were icy cold, and she wrapped her cotton vest tightly around herself.

The journey had left her legs stiff, and she could only walk slowly.

The water in the well was bone-chillingly cold.

Zhao Wan touched it and immediately withdrew her hand.

Perhaps, if she waited a while, it wouldn’t be so cold.

She carried the water bucket toward the servants’ quarters but noticed white mist rising from the forest behind the hall, hazy like smoke.

The mountain hot spring?

Zhao Wan curiously walked toward the white mist. The closer she got, the more she felt waves of heat.

Her body gradually warmed.

Before her appeared a large pool with rising white mist. Zhao Wan bent down to touch the water.

It was indeed warm.

At this moment, the night was deep, no one was around, and only the occasional cry of an owl could be heard from the mountain.

Zhao Wan silently removed her clothes and slipped into the hot spring pool.

The warm spring water immediately soothed her body and mind. Zhao Wan couldn’t help but sigh with pleasure, a sound audible in the vast, silent night.

“Who’s there?” A male voice suddenly rang out.