A Concubine's Competitive Life in the Prince's Household-Chapter 199
The imperial palace was not the Prince's Mansion.
Back then, the concubines and maidservants brought into the Prince's Mansion were mostly from humble families—women with clumsy methods and short-sighted ambitions.
But now, the newcomers in the imperial palace were almost all daughters of noble families, rigorously educated and each possessing their own talents and strategies. They would undoubtedly be difficult to handle. As the Empress, the rightful mistress of the six imperial consorts, her position was secure. She ought to focus on managing the inner palace rather than exhaust herself suppressing the newcomers.
"Don’t worry. How could I possibly stoop to contend with those newcomers?" The Empress curled her lips, indifferent.
Granny Liu let out a slight sigh of relief.
Supporting the Empress by the arm, Granny Liu strolled with her through the imperial garden. Just then, a beautiful young woman in a pink gown approached with a radiant smile, offering a graceful curtsy. "This humble one greets the Empress."
The girl was enchantingly lovely, adorned in luxurious and vibrant attire, her face as round as the moon, her dark eyes gleaming with both amusement and ambition.
The Empress paused, recognizing her—Xie Fanglan of the Xie family, the current emperor’s cousin.
Back when the emperor was still the Prince of Yan, Xie Fanglan would occasionally visit the Prince's Mansion, cheerfully addressing the Empress as "Second Cousin-in-law." Most of the time, however, Xie Fanglan preferred to seek out her elder cousin, the Crown Prince, her intentions obvious to all.
Now that the new emperor had ascended the throne, the Xie family had eagerly sent their daughter into the palace. Upon entering, Xie Fanglan was granted the title "Concubine Lan" and bestowed residence in Huayang Palace.
The Empress frowned slightly, studying the youthful beauty before her. For a fleeting moment, it was as if she saw the shadow of the ambitious Shen Wei from years past. A surge of wariness and disgust rose in her heart.
"The weather is cold today. Why aren’t you resting in your own palace instead of wandering the imperial garden?" The Empress’s tone was icy.
Xie Fanglan lifted her chin, haughty. "The red plum blossoms in the garden are in full bloom. I picked a bouquet to bring to His Majesty, my cousin. Naturally, Her Majesty the Empress, being of an older generation, wouldn’t understand the joy a young maiden takes in gathering plum blossoms."
The Empress’s expression darkened.
This Concubine Lan dared to mock her age to her face!
"It’s getting late. I must go see His Majesty now." With another curtsy, Xie Fanglan sauntered off, cradling the plum blossoms.
The Empress stood rooted to the spot, nearly grinding her teeth in fury.
Granny Liu quickly intervened. "Your Majesty, pay no mind to these newcomers. The two young masters are waiting for you in Kunning Palace."
Suppressing her rage, the Empress returned to Kunning Palace with her entourage. This insolent Xie Fanglan would be dealt with sooner or later—she would not be given any chance to climb higher.
Upon arriving at Kunning Palace, the palace maids had already brought Cheng Ke and Cheng Zhen to her.
Since being confined by the Empress Dowager, the Empress had rarely seen her two sons. Now reunited in the palace, tears streamed down her face as she rushed to embrace them. "Cheng Ke, Cheng Zhen, my darlings, from now on, no one will ever separate us again."
The two boys lowered their heads, silent, allowing their mother to hold them.
Overjoyed, the Empress caressed their faces. "Let Mother take a good look at you. Have you lost weight?"
In truth, the boys had not only maintained their weight but had grown sturdier from ample meals and rest, even shooting up in height.
Yet the Empress insisted they had suffered. Tears welled in her eyes. "With Mother here, no one will tear us apart. You are imperial princes now, bearing the future of the Great Qing Kingdom. You must study harder, understand?"
Cheng Ke and Cheng Zhen exchanged glances but dared not argue.
The Empress took Cheng Ke’s hand, rambling on. "As the eldest prince, the fate of the kingdom rests on your shoulders. You must not neglect your studies. Literature, history, horsemanship, archery—you must master them all. I’ve already arranged for scholars from Anguo Temple to tutor you daily."
"Your father is strict. He may test you occasionally, so you must not embarrass me."
As the Empress laid out their schedules, Cheng Ke and Cheng Zhen listened in silence, their expressions blank, like puppets stripped of thought.
...
...
With the new emperor’s ascension, the imperial harem was still sparsely populated. Officials gradually sent their daughters to the palace, where they were vetted by the Ministry of Rites and senior palace matrons before being deemed fit to serve the emperor.
In Yunzhou, at Duke Lu's Mansion, the Duke summoned his daughter Lu Xuan.
The first month’s chill lingered as Lu Xuan stepped in, clad in red satin-lined crane-feather cloak and lambskin boots, resembling a vibrant winter plum blossom in full bloom.
"Father." Lu Xuan entered the room with a smile.
Duke Lu had two daughters: the elder, Lu Xuan, and the younger, Lu Yun. Lu Yun was timid and unpromising, while Lu Xuan possessed skin like jade and beauty rivaling Xi Shi. A prodigy from a young age, her reputation as a talented scholar spread throughout Yunzhou, matching even Yanjing City’s famed literary beauty, Liu Ruyan.
The Duke had groomed Lu Xuan meticulously, waiting for the right moment to send her to the palace.
Yet Lu Xuan refused to enter immediately, leaving the Duke perplexed.
"Every family is sending their daughters to the palace. Why are you unwilling?" the Duke asked.
Lu Xuan removed her cloak, handing it to a maid.
With a serene smile, her voice as gentle as an orchid in a secluded valley, she replied, "Father, imagine a new pond stocked with dozens of fish. To survive, they fight fiercely for food. A wise fish waits until the others have exhausted themselves before entering."
The Duke paused mid-sip of tea.
He understood her meaning—now was not the right time.
"Then when do you plan to enter?" he asked.
Lu Xuan’s lips curled. "A year from now."
She would spend that year observing the harem’s dynamics, analyzing the concubines’ temperaments and skills, and discerning the emperor’s preferences. Only with ample intelligence would she make her move.
She was not entering to be a mere concubine—her goal was to become Empress.
Preparation was paramount.
Lu Xuan bid her father farewell, donned her cloak, and returned to her chambers. Proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, wine, and tea, she was confident the emperor would be captivated by her flawless self.
A maid set up a chessboard.
Lu Xuan had always enjoyed chess, especially playing against herself.
As she held a white piece, the cold winter sun streamed through the window, tracing the elegant curve of her profile.
Her maid, Little Qin, entered. "My lady, I’ve learned that Concubine Lan currently holds the most favor in the palace. She’s from the Xie family, and the Empress despises her."
Lu Xuan was unperturbed. "Let them fight. I’ll see who comes out on top."
Setting down the white piece, she picked up a black one. "I heard that before His Majesty ascended the throne, he favored a low-born woman from the Shen Clan. Has she been granted the rank of Consort?"
Little Qin shook her head. "No. It’s said she overreached, angering the emperor and the Empress Dowager, who then exiled her from the palace. Rumors say His Majesty has cast her aside."
Clack.
Lu Xuan placed the black piece, her beautiful eyes narrowing in thought. "Cast her aside?"
The Shen Clan had borne the emperor a daughter and two sons, all sharing the Empress Dowager’s birthday—a fact said to have endeared them to her.
Yet after the emperor’s enthronement, the once-favored Shen Clan was inexplicably sent away, along with her three children.
Lu Xuan slowly picked up a white chess piece, her beautiful eyes thoughtful: "Why do I feel that His Majesty isn't rejecting the Shen Clan, but rather protecting her?"
