"This couplet is enough to depict the temperament of an ordinary person, but for Your Majesty, it should be about the spirit of conquering heaven and earth. This couplet is still a bit too delicate and sentimental." The unspoken words had a deeper meaning.
Upon hearing this, Emperor Xuande stared intently at Wei Yu. The room fell silent, everyone holding their breath. Wei Yu's heart pounded like a drum. Finally, she turned her head away. Gao Qing and the purple-clad man outside the door clenched their fists, sweating profusely. Suddenly, Emperor Xuande said, word by word, "Proceed to the capital." Everyone breathed a sigh of relief and was about to kneel in farewell when Emperor Xuande walked to the screen wall, turned back again, and said with a half-smile, "I have an imperial decree. Gao Qing, proclaim the decree."
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It was like a thunderclap out of nowhere, drawing attention from the court and the public, and causing quite a stir in the imperial harem.
Wei Yu misjudged Emperor Xuande. Although she had lived in this time and space for a period of time, her mind had not been marked by it. In the past, when she encountered such situations, most men would give up under the influence of their manners and self-respect if she politely declined. So she did so subconsciously. But she forgot that Emperor Xuande was a man of this patriarchal era, an emperor with the power of life and death, and supreme authority. He was not Ji Zhonglian. Her repeated retreats only ignited the emperor's desire to conquer, making him even more excited and determined to have her. Thus, the edict was issued ahead of schedule.
Wei Yu was surrounded by the crowd and stood on the ground, seemingly floating in the air. She only half understood what Gao Qing was reading, but upon hearing the words "Imperial Consort," she was completely captivated, almost like a wooden statue. Gao Qing handed the imperial edict to her, and she stared at it as if it were a red-hot iron. Everyone thought she was crazy with love, but Zi Yi sighed inwardly and, with a little skill, lightly touched Wei Yu's elbow, causing the edict to fall into her sleeve, thus preventing the deadlock in the Grand View Pavilion from freezing again.
Emperor Xuande seemed to be deep in thought. He furrowed his brows, and the little movement of the woman in purple did not escape his sharp eyes. He signaled Gao Qing to handle the aftermath and then set off back to Daming Palace. After the order to confer the title of Imperial Concubine was issued, he had to immediately summon the officials of the Three Departments and Six Ministries to arrange the formal ceremony of conferment.
Wei Yu was bewildered, unaware of how the Xuande Emperor had left. Zi Yi helped her up and seated her on the short couch, gently taking the imperial edict and handing it back to Gao Qing. The edict was to be officially proclaimed by the Ministry of Rites on the day of the investiture, to be known to the court and the people. Gao Qing respectfully greeted her again. She stared blankly at the white-bearded eunuch before her. She recognized him; he was the elder who had come to fetch her two months ago. Cheng Yi had said he was a trusted minister of the Xuande Emperor, and she had even stolen a curious glance at him. Wei Yu wondered what she should say. Could she refuse the edict? Ask him to decline? But she couldn't utter a single word. Her mind was buzzing, and she couldn't calm herself.
Gao Qing noticed something amiss, smiled, and withdrew, ordering Liu Chuang, the deputy commander of the Dragon Cavalry on duty outside, to prepare the bronze-inlaid gold-embroidered carriage for the imperial concubine.
Ziyi draped a pale pink silk cloak over Weiyu and helped her to the entrance of the East Garden. Weiyu saw a large carriage decorated with pheasants, jade pendants, and pearl tassels. Warriors in brightly colored armor knelt on the ground. She suddenly realized what was happening and hurriedly grabbed Ziyi's sleeve. "Ziyi, where are we going? Are we going to the palace immediately?"
Zi Yi sighed, feeling that all the sighs of her life had been concentrated in this day. She comforted her, "No, Miss, let's go back to the Ji residence first."
Without speaking, he glanced at the people around him and obediently let Ziyi help him into the carriage. Gao Qing gestured for Ziyi to follow.
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Just as Emperor Xuande was summoning the heads of the three provinces, officials from the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Works to the Daming Palace to appoint the investiture envoy, select an auspicious day, and confer the imperial seal on the Consort, undercurrents were surging within the Eastern and Western Palaces.
In the Xingqing Palace of the Western Inner Palace, Empress Dowager Zhou had her evening meal. A cool breeze was blowing, and it was time to stroll along the Four Seasons Corridor when a palace maid came to report: Consort Zhou has come to pay her respects.
The Empress Dowager, though past fifty and still possessing a captivating charm, inwardly scoffed: "She's finally holding back, only arriving now. I thought she wasn't coming at all. What was she doing all this time? Hmm."
As soon as Consort De entered, she disregarded the proper etiquette and knelt down, crying out, "Aunt, you must stand up for me!" She then began to sob. Madam Zhou frowned, ordering the palace maids and eunuchs to withdraw and instructing the head maid to guard the entrance. Seeing Consort De's heartbroken cries, her heart softened. She got off the bed and personally helped her niece up, saying, "Alright, alright, stop crying. What's the use of crying?"
Consort De helped Zhou Shi sit back down, took out a silk handkerchief to wipe away her tears. Zhou Shi looked at her, her face also wet with tears, like a pear blossom in spring rain. She was clearly a great beauty, having served the emperor since childhood. They were cousins, practically childhood sweethearts, so how could she not capture the emperor's heart? "Look at you, your makeup is all smudged. Calm down first, what kind of behavior is this?"
Consort De hurriedly sat down in front of the dressing table, smoothed her hair in front of the mirror, opened the rouge box, and mixed the palace powder to redo her face. Seeing her busy and fussy, Madam Zhou was angry: "I only said one sentence, and she still has the mind to dress up. She will never amount to anything. I need to find a helper, for her, for the eldest prince, and for myself. No matter how delicate she is, she is already thirty years old."
After looking in the mirror several times, Consort De finally sat down next to Lady Zhou. "Mother, do you know? The Emperor has conferred the title of Noble Consort on that female official. Not only did he give her Chengqian Palace, but he also bestowed upon her the Fengyi Hall in the Western Palace. Her regulations and daily life are almost on par with yours, Mother. How is she any different from the Empress?" As she spoke, she seemed to cry again. "She has already been chosen to enter the palace in three days, and I still have to perform the grand ceremony and kowtow to her."
Although Zhou knew all this beforehand, she was still shocked when her niece recounted it all. "We were careless back then."
Two months ago, Zhou finally gave up on summoning Weiyu because she heard that Weiyu had turned twenty and entered the Imperial Observatory as a lady-in-waiting. Although it was the emperor's own decree, she didn't take it too seriously; the emperor often went against her, which was common. Then came the palace selection, which Zhou neglected. She occasionally asked Hongda, who replied that there was no news. She was somewhat wary of the Ji family, so she let the matter drop. Recently, with Xue Jieyu gaining favor and Consort De causing trouble, she completely forgot about it. This afternoon, the emperor suddenly issued an edict. She was shocked and hurriedly sent people to inquire, only to receive similar news to Consort De. Then, Emperor Xuande sent Gao Qing with another copy of the edict to Xingqing Palace, only then realizing that the die was cast. Given the Jiufeng Mountain Garden incident, she abandoned her plan to go to Daming Palace. From the afternoon onwards, Xingqing Palace was bustling with activity. Noble ladies and powerful figures from both the eastern and western palaces came to pay their respects, hoping to obtain inside information about the new imperial concubine from her.
"Isn't this breaking the rules? Does the Emperor have no regard for ancestral traditions?" Consort De said indignantly.
Zhou glared at her. "There are precedents in every dynasty. The Emperor is not breaking the rules. He's just keeping his tongue shut and has forgotten about the Sima family."
Consort De quickly covered her mouth. After Sima was demoted, Consort De, in order to vent her anger, led people to Shangyang Palace to humiliate Sima, and even ordered a palace maid to slap Sima. As a result, Emperor Xuande found out and ordered the old head of Kunyi Palace, who was in charge of the inner palace affairs, to reprimand her on his behalf. She was fined three months' salary to help Sima recover from her injuries, and the fine has not been paid off yet. Consort De lost face and stayed in Changsheng Palace for several days without coming out.
Consort De looked around and carefully lowered her voice, "Tell me, what should we do? We can't let her become too powerful and put pressure on you. She is a member of the Ji family."
Madam Zhou sighed again, leaning against the gold-embroidered phoenix cushion. "Let's see how long the Emperor will favor her. Wasn't Xue's favor only lasting two months?" "Oh dear, my mother, this time it's different. Xue is just a Jieyu, not even a Ninth Consort. She'll be a Noble Consort as soon as she enters. Before I came here, I heard that the Emperor sent the Vice Minister of Rites to offer sacrifices at the Imperial Ancestral Temple and the Fengxian Hall, and also appointed the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat as the investiture envoy. This is exactly the same ceremony you went through when you were promoted to Empress Dowager." Seeing Madam Zhou's calm demeanor, Consort De spoke rashly in her anxiety.
"I know all this. His Majesty will inform me eventually." Zhou Shi said with some annoyance, her tone not very pleasant. Only after Consort De spoke did she realize that she had offended her. The Empress Dowager had fallen out of favor in the late Emperor's later years. Although her son was the Crown Prince, she was not made Empress and was even ranked below the then-favored Consort Zhao Xian. It was not until the late Emperor's death that she was honored as Empress Dowager because of her son. She forced Consort Zhao Xian to be buried alive with her because she had no children, and ruled the country with the young Emperor in her hands for twelve years. Because she wanted to occupy Kunyi Palace, Consort De lost her only chance to be made Empress. By the time Emperor Xuande grew up, it was too late for Zhou Shi to try to make Consort De Empress. After Emperor Xuande took power, the chances became even slimmer.
Consort De felt resentful, and knelt down with a wronged expression: "Mother, I was wrong."
Madam Zhou quickly pulled her up, "Alright, I know you're worried about me." She comforted Consort De, "It's just that your two sisters-in-law are useless. They're only at the level of Jieyu now, and I had to do all the work for them. And their bellies aren't working out. It's still uncertain whether Xue Ruyao has fallen out of favor. She was promoted from Cairen to Jieyu in just two months. This girl is not simple. You can give her a try."
Consort De complained, "That vixen, every time she sees me, she has this half-smile, it's so annoying."
Madam Zhou sighed again at her niece's foolishness, "Times have changed. She has never been impolite, and that's enough. She's more shrewd than you. She even brought bird's nest porridge this afternoon. You shouldn't put on airs. Be humble and think of the eldest prince." Consort De nodded in agreement. Madam Zhou was still worried and gave her a few more instructions before Consort De left Xingqing Palace.
The palace lanterns flickered softly as the palace maids helped Zhou Shi lie down on the embroidered ivory bed. The maid on night watch slumped over, and Zhou Shi couldn't sleep. "Things are really different now," she thought.
The palace lanterns in the East and West Inner Palaces were gradually extinguished. It wasn't just the Empress Dowager, high above the throne, who couldn't sleep. Under the cover of night, everyone in the palace held different feelings and waited for Weiyu to enter the palace.
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Outside the Ji family's guest courtyard, shadowy figures dart about. Fireflies dance in the summer night air, and insects chirp. The swords and axes of the Dragon Cavalry Captains gleam blindingly in the darkness, yet they do not disturb each other.
The courtyard was shrouded in darkness, the room dimly lit, and the steam rising from the tea on the table seemed to emanate from the room. Everyone inside appeared somewhat absent-minded. Wei Yu held a book, her thoughts wandering elsewhere, and remained silent for a long time. Beside her, on a rosewood table, a woman in purple robes inspected the books brought from the Imperial Observatory—gifts bestowed by the emperor—along with dozens of boxes of precious jewels, coral, agate, and jade artifacts. These were sent by the Ji family's officials and ladies, said to be part of Wei Yu's dowry, to be useful in the palace in the future.
After leaving the Imperial Observatory and returning to the guest courtyard of the Ji residence, Wei Yu's silence worried Zi Yi. Whether it was the congratulatory gifts from the ladies of the various families, or Lord Gao Qing's renewed imperial decree that the Xuande Emperor had bestowed upon her a dinner, a bushel of pearls, ten pieces of jade, and ten bolts of soft silk, Wei Yu remained indifferent. When asked what she intended to do with them, she only replied with "Whatever." Ziyi was extremely worried. Although Weiyu was usually quiet, she was a gentle and kind mistress. Ziyi could tell that her mistress had something on her mind, and she often seemed lost in thought when writing or painting. But never before had she been like this, as if struck by lightning, plunging into deep sorrow. Even Ziyi had to force a smile. She remembered going to see the Second Master that evening. The Second Master's expression was normal. He asked her if Weiyu needed anything, or if there was anything he could do for her. He also asked if she would like to go to the palace to accompany Weiyu. The Second Master wanted her to go to the palace to protect Weiyu from being bullied. He was worried about Weiyu's safety. Ziyi felt heartbroken. Seeing the sadness and disappointment in the Second Master's eyes, Ziyi was deeply saddened. The Second Master, whom she had admired since childhood, had suffered such a blow. She almost wanted to say that Weiyu did not want to go to the palace at all, but she swallowed the words back. The Ji family's loyalty to the emperor was unwavering. Why should she add to her troubles? Zi Yi was lost in thought, glancing occasionally at Wei Yu, her mind elsewhere. She turned the objects in her hands over and over, unable to make any sense of them for most of the day.
Wei Yu was distraught. She hadn't expected things to turn out this way. Why would Emperor Xuande take a liking to her for no reason? Was he just a lecherous man from last night? She was far from being a beauty of unparalleled grace; what did she possess that could attract an emperor? Did she even have a chance to escape and return home? Women who entered the palace were not allowed to leave, except for palace maids. This was true in ancient China, and it was true here as well. She had copied Emperor Xuande's edict releasing older palace maids, and she had also copied the edict deposing the Sima clan. Was she destined to be bound here for the rest of her life, locked within the heavy confines of the palace, waiting day after day for the emperor's favor, vying for his attention and engaging in scheming and intrigue with the other concubines? If she had children, she would also have to protect and educate them. The infighting within the palace was more cruel and filthy than anyone else or any other place. Wei Yu shuddered at the thought. But could she escape? Entering the gates of a noble family was like entering a deep sea, let alone the imperial court. When Wei Yu entered the Imperial Observatory, he had visually assessed the walls of the Imperial City. They were majestic and sturdy, about thirty meters high, and spacious enough to build a three-story arrow tower. The palace was located within the Imperial City and was of paramount importance. It is conceivable that escaping from such a place would be more than just a fantasy.
The only chance seemed to be at the Ji family's residence, but what excuse did she have to leave this courtyard? Outside the gate were the fierce Dragon Cavalry, said to be the most powerful of the Emperor's personal guards. In the adjacent wing room, Consort Qi of Chengqian Palace had already moved in with six palace maids. Tomorrow, the old Consort would also come to teach her the etiquette of the investiture ceremony. With such a setup, she was hardly a Noble Consort; she was clearly a prisoner under strict guard, with dozens of eyes watching her. Not to mention a living person, even a mouse would hardly escape their watchful eyes. Wei Yu was almost in despair. She was only twenty years old, the prime of her youth, full of youthful vigor and ambition. She had finally achieved financial independence. She should have been strolling along the lawns and paths of the campus under the clear autumn sky, immersed in the halls of knowledge, living the vibrant life of a college freshman. She had dreamed of becoming a writer and studying classical Chinese. She was fascinated by coins and archaeology. She remembered once seeing a beautifully illustrated book about ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs and pyramids in a bookstore. It was quite expensive. Although she had some savings, she didn't dare to buy it, fearing that her aunt would see it and cause another argument with her uncle. As a result, she spent the entire semester rushing to the bookstore whenever she had free time and finally finished reading it, even receiving several eye-rolls in the process. These memories leap so vividly, and now, she is helpless, inexplicably pulled into a drama, yet also a living reality, about to be sent to "that shameful place" that Yuan Chun spoke of. The life she once thought was within her grasp has become an unattainable dream.
Why her? Why was she even thinking about these things calmly? Wei Yu felt a splitting headache. "I want to go back!" Wei Yu suddenly stood up and rushed towards the door. Zi Yi was startled and moved quickly, but even so, Wei Yu had already bumped through the beaded curtain and reached the outer hall. She opened the door, but in her confusion, she didn't see the threshold. Her skirt caught, and she fell out. Zi Yi caught her and turned her around, cushioning her fall. She felt a warm wetness on her neck and looked closely to see Wei Yu's face covered in tears. Hearing the commotion outside the courtyard and inside the room, Zi Yi didn't think twice. She grabbed Wei Yu and jumped back into the room, closing the door behind her. Before she could even stand still, she heard soft voices in the courtyard, followed by someone respectfully asking, "Commander Liu, may I ask what happened, Miss Zi Yi? What are Her Highness's orders?" It was Consort Qi.
Zi Yi helped the slumped Wei Yu to sit down, secretly thinking how lucky she was. If it weren't for the esteemed status of the inner courtyard, she would have been caught long ago, and it would have been difficult to explain. She said loudly, "Thank you for your trouble, Commander Liu. It was Zi Yi who knocked over the brocade box. It's nothing serious."
The courtyard fell silent. Ziyi turned around and half-squatted in front of Weiyu's skirt, catching the falling tears. "What's wrong, Miss? What's troubling you? Tell Ziyi, maybe it will make you feel better?" Weiyu bit her lip, her gaze drifting blankly. "You can't help me, Ziyi, you don't know... you don't know anything... I..." Weiyu couldn't continue, she couldn't speak, only tears could express her helplessness. Ziyi brought hot tea and a towel, which Weiyu took. Seeing the dust on Ziyi's sleeve, she stopped crying and said apologetically, "Ziyi, did you fall?" Ziyi waved her hand. "Don't worry, Miss, I'm a martial artist, I won't get hurt. Please don't worry. Although there are troubles in the palace, I will always be by your side. There are also elders and the Second Master outside. Although the Ji family doesn't cause trouble, they are not easy to bully."
Knowing that she was stubborn, Wei Yu calmed down. If things really escalated, it wouldn't help or make a difference. If they were on guard, she would truly lose all her freedom. Zi Yi's words also reminded her that there were still the two elders. There would always be a way. It's all up to people. She couldn't give up. "I'm much better, Zi Yi. It's getting late. Go to sleep."
That night, Zi Yi was on high alert, and only after listening to Wei Yu's calm breathing did she close her eyes and doze off.
The next day, the old head maid of Kunyi Palace came to pay her respects. The Ministry of Rites delivered the official document of the investiture, setting the date for the Imperial Concubine's arrival in the palace as June 16th. The Imperial Concubine's ceremonial golden carriage was also displayed at the Ji residence, and her court robes and hat were placed in Weiyu's room. The ladies of the Ji residence, ignoring the watchful Dragon Cavalry Captain, went in and out of the guest courtyard, pulling Weiyu aside to speak privately. They all assumed Weiyu's taciturn nature stemmed from worries about her upcoming entry into the palace, and came to comfort her. The past few days did help to ease some of her worries. Wei Yu tried to take a walk in the backyard of the Ji residence. No one stopped her, but she was followed by a large group of people, including the attendants Zi Yi and Cheng Yi. Cheng Yi was also assigned by Ji Zhonglian to accompany Wei Yu to the palace, along with Qi Shangyi and the palace maids. Although the Dragon Cavalry Captain did not follow, she saw Liu Chuang. Wei Yu had witnessed Zi Yi's agility. Liu Chuang was the deputy commander of the Dragon Cavalry Captain, so he must be a master among masters. Escaping from under his nose would undoubtedly be like throwing an egg against a rock.
Wei Yu felt somewhat discouraged. She clung to a sliver of hope, hoping to find an opportunity at the Ji residence. But three days passed quickly, and she was still at a loss. Tomorrow morning, she was to enter the palace. Once there, she didn't know when she would return; her future was uncertain. She considered that Emperor Xuande might take new concubines. An imperial family always had many concubines; eventually, he would lose interest. When the elders emerged from seclusion, she would be dispensable. She could then request to leave the palace and become a female Taoist priest, perhaps escaping the court. However, life was unpredictable. Serving a ruler was like serving a tiger. If she didn't handle things properly, being demoted or deposed would be bad enough, but she feared she would be buried there, never to return home. Emperors were capricious, their moods unpredictable; hadn't she read enough books about this? The story of Yang Guifei, favored for twenty years, and Emperor Xuanzong, threatened with death, was a prime example. She herself wasn't the problem, but she feared she would implicate Ziyi and Chengyi.
At this moment, Ziyi and Chengyi were in the outer hall looking at the Imperial Concubine's court hat. It was a red gemstone crown with nine golden phoenixes spiraling around it and nine large pearls inlaid in it. It was truly a magnificent and luxurious hat, filling the room with splendor. However, Ziyi was somewhat absent-minded, glancing into the east room from time to time. The beaded curtains hung to the ground, and she saw Weiyu pacing back and forth. In the past three days, Weiyu seemed to have returned to her usual quietness, reading and writing. But Ziyi always felt uneasy. Weiyu's loss of control that night made her vaguely feel that the girl was carrying more than just ordinary worries.
The beaded curtain was lifted, its melodious chimes ringing out, and Wei Yu stepped out. The two women hurried to greet her, but Wei Yu did not sit down. Her gaze lingered on them. The woman in purple gasped, thinking to herself, "This young lady is enough to bewitch the world without even realizing it."
"Purple Robe, Clear Robe," Wei Yu said softly, "I've thought about it. You should stay at the Ji residence and not accompany me to the palace. The palace is a place of trouble and intrigue; it's best to avoid it if you can."