Yuwen Changqing had said that delivering such a crushing blow given his status, he didn’t know how Duanwen would react. He had already considered that if Duanwen couldn’t be appeased, then Yuwen Changqing would have to bite the bullet and step up.
Unexpectedly, Duanwen had given him a pleasant surprise.
Gu Chaobei smiled, looking at Duanwen. “In that case, we have an agreement. Tomorrow I shall discuss this with you in detail.”
“Good.” Duanwen turned to go back inside, paused, then couldn’t help turning back to look at him and ask, “Does Imperial Brother like Noble Lady Yan very much?”
Very much? Gu Chaobei touched his chin, considering these words. He did like her—but what did “very much” mean? Like her more than the empire? Probably not. But compared to other women, he definitely liked her the most.
“I will protect her.”
Duanwen nodded. “Once Imperial Brother rules personally, she probably won’t have to be so wronged anymore.”
Wronged? Gu Chaobei thought about it—probably so. Once he ruled personally, he would definitely elevate her rank.
When Shen Guiyan woke up, she felt her whole body was still warm as before. Looking down, she found herself actually in bed.
Her heart jumped. She threw off the covers and got out of bed. The warm couch was also empty now. Outside, the sounds of sword practice could be heard.
Getting out of bed to open the door and look, Duanwen had changed into practical clothing and was practicing with her sword.
Though a woman, Duanwen’s martial arts left Shen Guiyan shocked. Where the long sword passed, there was only the sound of air being split—no extraneous noise. Her arms were clearly slender, yet the force was sufficient. The entire sword routine was clean and efficient, not hindered in the slightest by the melting snow on the ground.
“Excellent swordsmanship!” Unable to help herself, she clapped once. Duanwen sheathed her sword and turned back, looking at her and raising an eyebrow. “You understand swordsmanship?”
Shen Guiyan shook her head. “I don’t understand it, but I can observe. Princess, this kind of swordsmanship—few women could execute it.”
Duanwen snorted, though her expression softened considerably. Looking at her, she said, “Get ready. We’re going to pay respects to Mother Empress.”
Shen Guiyan nodded. Baoshan brought hot water. After washing up, the two went together to Empress Dowager Nian’s palace.
Empress Dowager Nian looked at Duanwen, smiling very kindly. “Did you rest well last night?”
“Not bad.” Duanwen pouted. “It’s just that Zhuangde Palace is really small. I crowded Noble Lady Yan.”
Empress Dowager Nian looked toward Shen Guiyan, who unhurriedly knelt to pay respects. “Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, may you have ten thousand blessings.”
“You have good fortune.” Empress Dowager Nian touched her fingernail guards, smiling. “Even Duanwen has taken a liking to you.”
She had thought the Emperor’s beloved would surely make Duanwen resentful, but unexpectedly, after one night, the two had come to pay respects together.
Shen Guiyan kept her head lowered without speaking. Duanwen came over and pulled her up. “Don’t let Mother Empress frighten you. Her mouth is unforgiving, but she’s gentler than anyone. At least you have something in your belly—go sit over there.”
“Thank you, Princess.” Shen Guiyan sat down, glancing at Empress Dowager Nian.
Empress Dowager Nian snorted twice to express her dissatisfaction with the Princess’s words. However, she didn’t do anything else, not only acquiescing to her sitting, but also having Qiujin bring over a hand warmer for her.
Truly worthy of being half mother and daughter—these two had exactly the same temperament. They looked fierce, but if you treated them sincerely, they were actually easier to talk to than anyone.
She was truly fortunate—the people she encountered weren’t too bad.
On the other side, at the East Palace.
Consort Shen had already told Grand Empress Dowager Wen everything about yesterday’s banquet, adding fuel to the fire. “Princess Duanwen was really too much. She’s just a princess, yet she disregards propriety and publicly embarrassed this subject…”
Grand Empress Dowager Wen had been listening expressionlessly the entire time. Only after Consort Shen finished did she put down her teacup. “Do you know who Princess Duanwen is?”
Consort Shen was startled, pursing her lips to say carefully, “Isn’t she the daughter of the former Consort Shu? Later, after Consort Shu passed, Empress Dowager Nian raised her…”
“Those words aren’t wrong.” Grand Empress Dowager Wen smiled. “But the Late Emperor sent her to Huainan for three or four years. The Prince of Huainan, having no sons or daughters, doted on her like his own daughter and even made her Military Commissioner of Huainan. Do you know what this means?”
Hanlu didn’t speak. How would she know about these political matters? She only knew about harem ranks and such—wouldn’t it be fine as long as she sat on the Empress’s throne? What did military authority have to do with her?
Grand Empress Dowager Wen snorted lightly. “I can see you don’t know. Born of low status, what could you understand? Princess Duanwen holds Huainan’s military authority. When she arrived, she performed the courtier-meeting-sovereign ritual—she’s no longer simply a princess. You think you can pressure her with these petty women’s squabbles? Keep your eyes wide open for me. Duanwen is someone even I need to win over. Don’t ruin things with your meddling.”
Shen Hanlu was extremely displeased. Even after leaving the East Palace, she was still angry. Why were all the women here so terrifying? Always involving court politics and military authority. Couldn’t they simply just compete for a man?
“Your Highness, today we should determine the ranks for the palace ladies in the harem.” A palace maid beside her said, “We also need to send them to the two Empress Dowagers for review.”
If she hadn’t mentioned it, she would have forgotten—there was still a whole group of women below waiting to be promoted. Consort Shen took the registry to look through it. Many names had circles drawn by Gu Chaobei—the people he wanted.
But looking at the names—White Fox, Lily, Narcissus—weren’t these all people from Intoxicated Flower Pavilion? They were being brought directly into the palace? The Emperor was truly too absurd.
“Let’s go have a look.”
“Yes.”
The palace ladies were all in Yeating Palace—more than ten in total, including daughters of officials as well as people Gu Chaobei had personally brought in. As soon as Shen Hanlu entered, they all bowed in unison. “We pay respects to Consort Shen, Your Highness.”
After yesterday’s banquet, many were saying this consort, though high in rank, had never received favor. She was damaged goods who, after changing identities, had been sent to the Emperor’s side by Grand Empress Dowager Wen. Most of those present looked down on her in their hearts, but since she temporarily held power over the harem, they still had to bow their heads when necessary.
“Which one is Lily?” Hanlu flicked her eyelids, asking.
Lily paused, then stepped forward. “Responding to Your Highness, it’s this servant.”
Hanlu snorted with laughter. “When you entered the palace, were you examined for virginity?”
Lily frowned. She and the others from Intoxicated Flower Pavilion had been brought in directly by His Majesty. Gu Chaobei had once promised them that after things were accomplished, he would grant them peaceful lives for the rest of their days. Coming in now was just to live out their remaining years in peace—why would they need virginity examinations?
“Don’t dare to answer? Then you weren’t examined.” Hanlu slapped the table. “What do you think the imperial palace is? A courtesan like you also thinks she can serve His Majesty?”
Lily was angry but didn’t dare speak. Did Shen Hanlu think she herself was so clean? Saying this, wasn’t she afraid of slapping her own face!
The palace ladies below were all secretly laughing, but Hanlu didn’t notice. In her heart, she had completely absolved herself. She just couldn’t stand seeing these seductive foxes enter the palace. So what if they were all pretty? They couldn’t get past her!
“Your Highness, this servant and Lily and the others were personally invited in by imperial decree.” White Fox from the side stepped forward, looking at Shen Hanlu. “If Your Highness has any dissatisfaction, you can go speak with His Majesty.”
Using the Emperor to pressure her? Shen Hanlu snorted coldly, flipping through the registry. “Right now, I’m in charge. His Majesty won’t have time to manage your affairs. Now, those whose names I call will follow the nannies to be assigned palace quarters. Those whose names aren’t called should prepare to leave the palace.”
Not surprisingly, she selected a few of the least attractive, then all the rest, including several from Intoxicated Flower Pavilion, were all to leave the palace.
“Forgive this servant for speaking out of turn.” White Fox frowned. “Your Highness, this action will likely displease His Majesty.”
Anyone with half a brain knew that the people His Majesty wanted to keep, if you didn’t let them stay, this was clearly going against the Emperor. Shen Hanlu had nothing better to do than come here to throw her weight around.
“You seem quite confident in yourself?” Shen Hanlu frowned, looking at White Fox. “I heard that at Intoxicated Flower Pavilion, your price was the highest, and you only sold your art, not your body. His Majesty even got into a fight with someone because of you and ended up in legal trouble.”
White Fox pursed her lips.
“Someone like you—if you’re not a seductive fox bewitching the sovereign, what are you?” Shen Hanlu tsked. “Your name isn’t wasted on you. I’ll say this right here today—if you have the ability to take control of the harem from me, then do so. Otherwise, I’m still the one in charge!”
“Send the excess palace ladies out of the palace.”
“Yes.” The palace maids beside her responded, beckoning. The nannies outside came to lead people out.
White Fox clenched her hands. Beside her, Lily and Narcissus were both furious. All the way out of the palace, they happened to run right into the imperial procession.
The nanny leading them was startled and quickly tried to have them avoid it, but White Fox shouted loudly, “Your Majesty!”
The dragon sedan stopped. Gu Chaobei stuck his head out to look, smiling. “Palace quarters assigned?”
Lily and Narcissus immediately burst into tears. White Fox bit her teeth. “Consort Shen, Your Highness, is expelling us from the palace.”
Gu Chaobei’s smile froze on his face.
Shen Hanlu knew nothing of this. She was still sitting in Yeating Palace lecturing several newly ranked women—the highest rank was only Beauty.
“In the palace, you must serve not only His Majesty but also the mistresses of the harem. Just trying to climb up won’t work—you need to be perceptive. Understand?”
“We understand, Your Highness.”
Satisfied with her lecture, Shen Hanlu was about to get up and go to the Empress Dowager’s palace to submit the registry when she saw Nanny Fanghua from beside the Empress Dowager.
“The Empress Dowager requests you come quickly.” Nanny Fanghua said with an unpleasant expression.
Shen Hanlu was startled and quickly followed. On the way, she couldn’t help asking, “What happened? Nanny’s expression isn’t very good.”
It’s because you’ve stupefied us. Nanny Fanghua closed her eyes and shook her head, not answering her.
Entering the East Palace, the Emperor sat to one side, and on chairs beside him sat three people from Intoxicated Flower Pavilion.
Shen Hanlu’s heart jumped. She stepped forward to pay respects. “Empress Dowager, Your Majesty.”
Grand Empress Dowager Wen still wore a smiling expression, though there wasn’t much actual mirth in her eyes. Looking at her without calling for her to rise, she simply said, “I just approved His Majesty’s suggestion to establish Miss White as Consort Zhuang, granting her residence in Xiuzhuang Palace. What do you think, Consort Shen?”
“Consort Zhuang?!” Shen Hanlu was shocked, looking toward White Fox. Consort Zhuang was one of the Four Consorts—wouldn’t she be a rank above her?
How could this be? On what grounds?
“Your Majesty the Empress Dowager! This subject refuses to accept this!”