Ye Zhanqing looked intently at Qingluan and asked eagerly, "Sister, what's our next step?"
Qingluan lowered her head to organize her thoughts, then looked up at them and said, "Next, we'll split into three groups. I'll go to the next county and find an opportunity to infiltrate the county magistrate's house, then persuade them to let me take his place. Zhanqing, your martial arts have improved by leaps and bounds these past few years. You should join the army; with your talent, I believe you'll quickly achieve something. Once we've established ourselves, we can coordinate our actions from within and without. As for Zhanhong, she has a very important task..." At this point, Qingluan smiled and looked at Zhanhong. Ye Zhanhong's face flushed with excitement upon hearing that the most important task had been assigned to her. Qingluan, suppressing a laugh, continued, "While we're fighting on the front lines, you'll be responsible for stabilizing morale for us from the rear, taking good care of Mother, and ensuring we have no worries. I'll tell you about any new tasks later!" Upon hearing that the most important task was this, Ye Zhanhong immediately deflated. Qingluan smiled and pinched her cheek.
Qingluan caught a fleeting glimpse of gratitude in Ye Zhanqing's eyes, knowing that he had understood her good intentions in protecting Zhanhong, and that neither of them wanted the innocent and lively Zhanhong to be harmed.
Qingluan stood up, her seemingly relaxed tone revealing a hint of determination: "From tomorrow onwards, we will pretend not to know each other, to avoid any misunderstandings. Tomorrow, we will begin our plan!"
Everyone fell silent.
☆、IV. Entering the Palace
Winter has arrived. When it first snowed, the snowflakes were small and sparse, drifting lightly in the wind like willow catkins. As the wind blew harder, the snow fell more heavily, and the snowflakes grew larger, like a white net woven together, or like countless feathers fluttering in the sky, gently covering the streets, alleys, eaves, and pedestrians with a delicate silk quilt. By the end of the day, the snow had gradually covered the entire county, obscuring the appearance of everything. The swirling snowflakes had merged heaven and earth into a single white expanse.
In this cold weather, both hunters who went out hunting and farmers who stayed at home had packed up their tools and were preparing to spend the winter at home with their wives and children, waiting for the spring to arrive before starting another year of hard work. On the white-covered streets, only a few dense footprints showed the eagerness of those returning home.
At the entrance of an exquisitely designed house, the vermilion gate was tightly shut. A pair of ferocious beasts guarded the door, serving as knockers, while a pair of marble lions swaggered in front, signifying the wealthy and powerful status of the owner. However, lying at the entrance was a young woman, seemingly unconscious. A thin layer of snowflakes covered her face, her eyes were closed, and her once vibrant lips had turned pale and bloodless. With a creak, the gate opened, and several voices drifted out—they sounded like those of several women, their voices quite melodious.
"Miss, with such heavy snow, why would anyone come? You must have misheard!"
"No, I did hear a few knocks on the door when I went to the yard to admire the snow scene. There's no mistake, Xiao Cui, go and see!"
"Yes, Miss."
...
"Miss, come quick! It's a girl who's fainted at our doorstep!"
"Quickly, help her inside!"
...
The girl who had fainted at the door had her eyes still tightly closed, but there was a faint smile on her lips, which no one noticed.
As planned, everything went very smoothly. Qingluan, disguised as an orphan, collapsed from hunger and cold at the county magistrate's doorstep. The magistrate's daughter kindly rescued her, and to repay her daughter's life-saving grace, the orphan volunteered to go to the palace in her place to relieve their urgent needs. The county magistrate was overjoyed upon hearing this and immediately instructed his steward to make all the necessary arrangements, awaiting their journey to the capital.
On the day they arrived in the capital, no one knew that the county magistrate's daughter, Murong Bingyu, had transformed into Qingluan, while the real Murong Bingyu had become the niece of County Magistrate Murong, who had come from the countryside to visit relatives. The Murong couple, pitying her orphaned state, had taken her in as their adopted daughter. Fortunately, Murong Bingyu never left her home, a model of a virtuous lady who never ventured beyond the inner quarters. Furthermore, the entire Murong family had been placed under a gag order, so the scheme was flawless, and no one would discover the deception.
In early spring, the fields were still barren, with only a few scattered green shoots dotting the ground, preventing the earth from losing its vitality. As the sound of horses' hooves grew closer, a carriage carrying a young woman to the capital sped across the vast fields. Old Zhang, though old, was quite strong, whipping the horse to urge it on. His hand moved, but his mind was also racing: the young woman inside was veiled, her face hidden behind a thin veil; he wondered what she looked like. He'd heard she was the daughter of the county magistrate; she must be a beautiful flower in full bloom. But she was the emperor's woman; perhaps he shouldn't think too much about it. With that thought, he lashed out with the whip again.
Inside the carriage sat two women. One was a young woman, slender and graceful, dressed in a blue blouse with a light green pleated skirt and a white fox fur cloak. Her shoulders were like those of a sculpted figure, her waist slender, her skin like jade, and her fragrance like a delicate orchid. Her face was veiled, obscuring her features, but her eyes, sparkling with life, her delicately painted eyebrows, and her long, black hair loosely tied in a cloud-like bun, casually adorned with a silver ribbon, were captivating. Beside the young woman sat a woman in her forties, wearing a light blue blouse embroidered with silver butterflies and flowers, a dark blue jacket over it, and a long skirt embroidered with white magnolias. Her hair was simply styled in a bun, adorned only with a few milky-white pearl flowers. This was Aunt Wu, whom Qingluan, preparing to enter the palace, had been arranged by Lord Murong to accompany her to the capital for the imperial concubine selection.
"Miss, don't worry, you might not be chosen. If you aren't, our master will definitely find you a good marriage!" Aunt Wu was very grateful for Qingluan's righteous act and hoped that this poor orphan girl wouldn't have to suffer in the palace.
Qingluan sensed her goodwill but didn't want to say much. She just smiled and nodded at her, thinking to herself, "If I'm not chosen, why did I go through all that trouble?" She already had a complete plan in mind and was just waiting for the right opportunity!
The carriage stopped in front of a palace wall. Qingluan, supported by Aunt Wu, alighted from the carriage. Dozens of carriages carrying young women from various regions, who had come for the imperial concubine selection, were parked at the palace gate. The sunlight, just beginning to shine, made the golden glazed tiles of the palace gleam brilliantly. The double-eaved roofs of the glazed tiles appeared exceptionally magnificent. Two golden dragons on the eaves, with their golden scales and armor, were lifelike, seemingly about to take flight. Inside the palace walls, rows of solemn halls with their splendid golden roofs stood side by side, high and low, row upon row, inspiring awe from afar. The various carriages and the countless beauties in their finery, set against the backdrop of the resplendent palace, perfectly highlighted the imperial grandeur.
Under the direction of their matrons, the young women lined up in rows and walked orderly toward the palace gate. Countless beauties would begin to realize their dreams of accompanying the king, soaring like phoenixes in the heavens. And countless others would have their dreams shattered in the imperial city, returning home in sorrow. This palace gate, it wasn't just a barrier between the imperial majesty and the suffering of the common people, but also a lifetime of separation and longing between parents and daughters.
Several young women whispered among themselves, "I heard the Emperor is quite young. I wonder what kind of beauties he prefers?"
"His Majesty is so young, and this is his first time holding a selection of women. He will definitely choose virtuous women, and from among them, he will select an Empress. Virtue is certainly the most important thing!"
"I don't know if I'll be selected. My family has high hopes for me by sending me to this talent show. If I don't get selected, how will I explain it to my parents?"
...
Listening to the young women's discussions, Qingluan remained silent, observing their behavior and speculating about their future fates. She also pondered the current situation. Entering the palace this time meant competing with these women for the emperor's favor. Even if she couldn't make friends, she hoped to have one less enemy. The Zhou king had only recently ascended the throne and was still young; this first selection of concubines would undoubtedly be decided by the Empress Dowager. If she could win the Empress Dowager's favor, she would succeed! As for the empress, it would certainly be the daughter of a high-ranking official, chosen internally to consolidate power and strengthen the new imperial regime. The power dynamics were still unclear, and she couldn't stand out too much to avoid becoming a target. Having considered all this, she was confident of being selected.
After passing various checks by the palace ladies-in-waiting to assess their health and for any defects, six women were eliminated in the first round of preliminary selection. The remaining twenty-eight women would then be personally chosen by the Emperor and Empress Dowager before the Emperor.
As it was getting late, the female officials, acting on the Empress Dowager's decree, arranged for the young ladies to stay in the Jade Beauty Palace, which was also the place where the ladies who were to be selected for service would receive instruction in palace etiquette and rules before serving the Emperor.
"Ladies, please stay here for now. Tomorrow, female officials will come to guide you to the Imperial Court for the selection process. Only those selected by the Emperor and Empress Dowager will become concubines. I hope you will rest well tonight and rise to great heights tomorrow, serving the Emperor!" Aunt Yun Jing, the head of Yuxiu Palace, gave some instructions and then bowed before leaving. Since the young ladies were not yet the masters of the palace, they did not need to bow.
The young women quickly replied, "Yes, Auntie!"
Although it was only her first day in the palace, she knew that she couldn't afford to offend anyone there. Even the most inconspicuous palace maid or eunuch might be a confidant of a noble lady in the harem, so she couldn't afford to be careless.
☆、V、Competing for Beauty
The lotus pond in spring should not be blooming with summer lotuses, but the palace introduced hot spring water from Liquan, which forced the lotus flowers to bloom early. The lotus leaves stretched to the sky, an endless expanse of green, and the lotus flowers, bathed in sunlight, were a uniquely vibrant red. Even though the weather was slightly chilly in spring, the scenery was breathtaking.
After returning to their assigned quarters with the palace maids and having dinner, some of the young ladies gathered by the lotus pond outside the palace to chat and digest their food, while also inquiring about the strengths and weaknesses of their opponents.
"My name is Lianhe, and my father is the Commander of the Nine Gates."
“I am the daughter of Imperial Censor Shi, and my given name is Huaiying.”
...
As everyone introduced themselves, three elegantly dressed young women entered together. The one in the middle wore a light orange-red long gauze dress, over which was a rose-red brocade jacket with snow-white rabbit fur trim. An orange-red sash was tied around her waist, inlaid with a piece of fine Hetian jade. Her long, brocade-like hair was styled into a crescent moon shape with a red jade and coral hairpin, and a row of hanging glass curtains were inserted under her hair. She was charming and graceful, and her elegant face was adorned with light plum blossom makeup, which made her even more refined. The woman on the right wore a blue emerald green shirt, over which was a purple floral jacket, and a pleated skirt with scattered floral patterns and grass. Her shoulders were like those of a sculpted figure, her waist slender, her skin like solidified cream, and her fragrance like a delicate orchid. Her eyes were like clear, flowing spring water. Her hair was styled in a low bun with a hollowed-out gold hairpin adorned with specks of purple jade, and the tassels cascaded down her dark hair. On the left was a woman dressed in a pink embroidered silk robe, with a vermilion jacket embroidered with silver thread over it, and a pearl-white crepe skirt. Her oval, fair, and jade-like face had a pair of dimples on her cheeks. She wore light rouge, which made her cheeks look like a newly opened magnolia flower, white with a hint of pink, exuding a captivating charm.
Just as everyone was speculating about their social status, the woman in blue on the right spoke up, her tone coquettish: "Everyone, hurry up and pay your respects to the future Empress. She is our Empress Dowager's own niece, Wei Lanyi, the daughter of Prime Minister Wei. You are all just here to accompany her in this selection!" After saying that, she looked at the woman in the middle with a smile.
Hearing this arrogant tone, everyone felt indignant, but they dared not show it to her face. Wei Lanyi's family background was indeed qualified to be the Empress, not to mention that she was childhood sweethearts with the Emperor.
Seeing everyone's displeasure, Wei Lanyi quickly winked at the woman in blue and said, "Qiao'er, don't say that. The results of tomorrow's selection are still unknown." Then she gave everyone a proper bow, without any arrogance on her face, and continued, "Dear sisters, I, Wei Lanyi, am very kind. From now on, we are all sisters, and we should support each other!"
Seeing the scene unfold, although everyone said it was still uncertain, their words and actions clearly indicated that they were the mistress of the harem. However, Wei Lanyi came from a prominent family and was the Empress Dowager's niece. It was estimated that the position of Empress had already been decided. Considering this, everyone naturally dared not accept this greeting and quickly returned the greeting, saying, "Sister Wei, you are too kind. We hope you will take good care of us in the future!"
Seeing everyone's respect, Wei Lanyi seemed quite pleased and introduced the two women beside her, "This is my cousin Qiao'er, the daughter of Minister Cui of the Ministry of Rites." Wei Lanyi pointed to the woman in blue and said.
Everyone hurriedly greeted Cui Qiao'er: "Hello, Sister Cui!"
Cui Qiao'er only nodded slightly as a return gesture. Everyone was very dissatisfied with her proud demeanor, but dared not make a scene because of Wei Lanyi's sake.
Wei Lanyi then pointed to the woman in pink on her left and said, "This is Wang Xiuya, the daughter of Grand Historian Wang."
Wang Xiuya was quite obedient and quickly curtsied to everyone: "Greetings, sisters! It is a great honor for Xiuya to see your beautiful faces today. I hope you will give me guidance in the future!"
Seeing that she was very well-behaved and spoke appropriately, everyone smiled and returned the greeting.
Shi Huaiying smiled and said, "My sister is also a woman of extraordinary beauty; she will surely gain the Emperor's favor tomorrow."
Everyone agreed.
A cold laugh came from deep within the hall, "Hmph! Enough with the mutual flattery, isn't it? The Empress's position hasn't even been decided yet, and you're all already busy sucking up to her!"
Everyone turned around to see who was so inconsiderate as to speak so bluntly.
The woman was dressed in a light purple gown, with a white fox fur coat over it, revealing her graceful neck. The folds of her skirt flowed like the moonlight and snow, cascading lightly to the ground. Her long black hair was tied up with a ribbon, adorned with a butterfly hairpin, and a glass hair ornament dangled to her chest. She wore light makeup, and although she was delicate and lovely, a heroic spirit was evident in her eyes.
"Who do we have here? It's Linghu Ling, the daughter of General Linghu! What, are you jealous that my cousin is about to become empress?" Cui Qiao'er covered her cherry-like mouth with her delicate hand and chuckled softly.
Linghu Ling frowned, looking at her with disdain, and said, "Who will be the empress is still uncertain! Besides, even if Wei Lanyi becomes the empress, it's not you who will be the empress, so what are you so smug about?"
"You!" Cui Qiao'er was so angry that her face turned red, and she pointed at Linghu Ling, unable to speak.
Wei Lanyi pulled Cui Qiao'er behind her and scolded her in a low voice: "What are you doing? Don't break the rules and give others something to use against you!"
Cui Qiao'er seemed very afraid of her cousin and immediately dared not speak, only standing awkwardly behind her.
Wei Lanyi took two steps forward and smiled at Linghu Ling, "Miss Linghu, please don't mind. My cousin has been spoiled since she was a child and doesn't know how to speak properly. I will teach her a lesson in the future." After saying that, she turned to Cui Qiao'er and said, "I'm tired. Let's go back to my room."
Cui Qiao'er quickly followed behind her.
Wang Xiuya also bid farewell to everyone: "Sisters, I'm going back to my room now."
"Hmph, a den of snakes and rats!" Linghu Ling snorted coldly, ignoring the other young ladies who were about to greet her, and turned back, leaving everyone looking at each other in bewilderment.
After a brief silence, everyone got bored and excused themselves to return to their rooms.
Qingluan was neither warm nor cold towards the others. After the commotion just now, she had a general understanding of their temperaments and personalities. As the saying goes, "Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated." Only by understanding her opponents could she defeat them in the future. However, now was not the time for her to show off. She would obediently remain a naive country girl, believing that with her social standing and personality, she wouldn't attract their attention. This way, she could do more...
☆、VI、Ling Jieyu
A pale yellow curtain came into view, and above the embroidered bed, flowing tassels swayed gently in the breeze. The intricate and beautiful cloud-like silk draped over her like water, soft yet somewhat thin. A wisp of sandalwood fragrance wafted in from time to time, serene and beautiful, very calming. Qingluan had slept well the night before. As soon as she opened her eyes and got up, a palace maid heard the noise and came to pull back the curtain, helping Qingluan to sit up and wash. Afterward, she sat at her dressing table to do her hair. Beside the dressing table was a window carved from sandalwood, its exquisite carvings and rare wood revealing a picturesque scene outside: artificial hills, a small pond, green lotus roots, and pink water lilies. Palace maids occasionally passed by, their footsteps and voices extremely soft.
Too lazy to do her hair in the morning, Qingluan looked at herself in the bronze mirror, admiring her fair and delicate skin flushed slightly, reflecting the lotus flowers outside the window. Her phoenix eyes were gentle and tender, and she lightly stroked her loosely draped hair. A palace maid came to do Qingluan's hair. The maid who did Qingluan's hair was named Yulian. She was very dutiful and didn't talk much. Qingluan had taken a liking to her the night before and ordered her to serve her personally.
"Just style it into the most common hairstyle in the palace," Qingluan lazily ordered.
Yu Lian obediently agreed, thinking to herself: This girl is really beautiful. With a little dressing up, she will definitely win the Emperor's heart. However, she doesn't seem to like talking much. I don't know what her temperament is. I should just follow orders. It's not easy to survive in the palace!
Rain Curtain was very skillful; in just a moment, she styled Qingluan's hair into a simple meteor bun, adorned with a few pearls—neither shabby nor particularly outstanding. Qingluan herself lightly brushed her eyebrows and applied vermilion, as long as it didn't offend the emperor.
"Miss, it's time to go to Zichen Palace," a maidservant called softly at the door.
After Qingluan finished dressing, she got up and had Yulian drape a robe over her shoulders. Then, with graceful steps, she followed the palace maid out.
As Qingluan walked, she reflected on her thoughts from the previous night. After returning to her room, she considered the current situation: the Zhou Kingdom's harem had a strict hierarchy of concubines. Below the Empress were four Consorts: Noble Consort, Virtuous Consort, Wise Consort, and Wise Consort; nine Concubines: Zhaoyi, Zhaorong, Zhaoyuan, Xiuyi, Xiurong, Xiuyuan, Chongyi, Chongrong, and Chongyuan; twenty-six Ladies-in-Waiting: nine each of Jieyu, Meiren, and Cairen; and eighty-one Imperial Wives: twenty-six each of Baolin, Yunu, and Cainu. Currently, apart from the few concubines the Emperor had taken when he was still a prince, the harem was practically empty. Therefore, everyone had a great chance of being selected in this imperial concubine selection.
Wei Lanyi comes from a distinguished family; even if she isn't the Empress, she'll be one of the four concubines. However, Linghu Ling is right about one thing: who will be the Empress is still unknown! The Zhou Kingdom is currently powerful, with the potential to annex the other two kingdoms and unify the world. In these chaotic times, the world is naturally ruled by the capable. The Zhou Emperor has only recently ascended the throne and is in his prime; I don't believe he doesn't have ambitions to unify the world! And to conquer the world, military force is essential. General Linghu holds the military power of the Zhou Kingdom and is a skilled and courageous general; he's bound to be someone the Emperor tries to win over. Linghu Ling is also a strong competitor for the Empress's position! Let these two tigers fight to the death; I'll bide my time and be the fisherman! Qingluan's lips curved into a dimple.
The young palace maid was stunned by Qingluan's smile: "Miss, you look so beautiful when you smile, you're sure to win the Emperor's favor!"
Qingluan smiled slightly and remained silent. She was naturally very confident in her appearance; her mother had once said, "Our Luan'er is already a beauty at such a young age; who knows how stunning she'll be when she grows up! And who will be lucky enough to marry her!" But now she couldn't be too outstanding, lest she attract attention and ruin her plans. Thinking this, Qingluan's smile faded.
Inside the magnificent, golden hall, dragons and phoenixes were carved and painted, and bright yellow curtains filled the eye. Four massive pillars supported the hall, each adorned with nine intricately carved dragons vying for a luminous pearl, so lifelike that even their whiskers were vividly depicted. Above the steps of the hall stood the emperor's dragon throne, with a slightly smaller phoenix throne to the right, presumably for the empress dowager. Below the steps stood twenty-eight beautiful young women, each with a unique beauty, exuding charm and allure.
A young eunuch emerged from behind the curtain, shouting in a shrill voice, "The Emperor has arrived! The Empress Dowager has arrived!"
The young women hurriedly knelt down to greet the emperor, bowing their heads and remaining silent.
A clear, gentle voice said, "Get up, all of you!"
This must be Emperor Jun Yifeng, Qingluan thought. Emperor Jun Yifeng of Zhou ascended the throne two years ago and is still in his early twenties. The two powerful ministers of Zhou, General Linghu Hongyu and Prime Minister Wei Zhili, are vying for power in the court. It seems that Jun Yifeng, as the eldest son of the emperor, is not simple to succeed to the throne and balance the power of the various forces in such a short time.
Upon hearing Jun Yifeng's gentle voice, some of the young ladies blushed and thanked him sweetly, saying, "Thank you, Your Majesty and Empress Dowager!" They then rose to their feet. Each of them harbored the ambition to outshine the others, so they all acted with captivating charm, hoping that every smile and gesture would capture the Emperor's attention. Some of the bolder ones even secretly glanced at the Emperor on the dragon throne.
Jun Yifeng wore a purple-gold crown inlaid with jewels and dragons, a bright yellow robe embroidered with gold butterflies and flowers, a colorful silk sash with long tassels tied around his waist, a jade pendant with nine dragons vying for a pearl hanging down naturally, and blue satin boots embroidered with gold dragons. His sideburns were as if cut by a knife, his eyebrows as if painted with ink, his face as beautiful as peach petals, and his eyes as bright as autumn waves. He had a slight smile on his face, which was warm and touched people's hearts. He could be described as bright as the sun and moon entering one's embrace, or as dejected as a jade mountain about to collapse.
Seeing Jun Yifeng's handsome appearance, the young ladies who originally only had the idea of entering the palace to bring glory to their families blushed and their hearts pounded. They couldn't wait to enter the palace to accompany the emperor!