Chapter 0186: Is She Worthy?

Chapter 0186: Is She Worthy?

"Yes, I will take care of it immediately," Zhujian agreed and found a reason to leave the palace.

It wasn't just Yunli who guessed it.

After all, with new arrivals in the palace, everyone tends to investigate. If the family has some power, it can be found out.

Such matters cannot be kept secret. But even if everything is clarified, no one would openly discuss it.

The day set for the new concubines to begin serving the Emperor was the 2nd of April.

The 1st is reserved for the Queen.

Early on the 1st, when everyone went to Fengyi Palace to pay respects, Yunli had been excused for several days.

Upon seeing her, the Queen smiled: "Why have you come? You might as well stay in bed, wait the full three months before doing anything."

Yunli smiled: "Thank you, Your Majesty. Actually, I was thinking the same. After all, it wasn't easy to conceive, and I'm worried..."

She laughed shyly, making no excuses.

The Queen wasn't angry: "Then from tomorrow, you need not pay respects. Rest well. If you can bear a prince for His Majesty, it will be your merit."

"Thank you, Your Majesty. I indeed hope so," Yunli said dreamily.

Honestly, she seemed genuinely hopeful.

After all, everyone in the harem knows she's not to be trifled with, but no one has seen her employ any schemes.

Of course, only the schemes that are exposed can be seen by others.

People just saw her as temperamental and somewhat capable.

So, avoiding her was a given, but not respecting her was also certain.

After speaking with her for a few moments, the Queen ordered everyone to sit, as the newcomers were to formally meet her.

Ten new women entered, with the Imperial Women in front and the Attendants in the back row.

All were girls aged fifteen to seventeen, each with pleasing appearances.

The Queen had mats laid out for them, as they all had to perform a grand salute to her.

Ten young women saluted together, then also paid respects to their senior sisters.

The Queen, smiling, had seats provided for them: "Sit, all of you, like blossoms and jade. It pleases this palace to see you."

"Indeed, looking at them feels like time flies. It feels like just yesterday I entered the Eastern Palace, and in the blink of an eye, two batches of show women have come into the palace," Consort Jin laughed.

She had only recently resumed her duties.

Now more subdued in demeanor and dressed more simply than before.

"Yes, time does fly. Sister, you are even a year younger than me," the Queen shook her head: "It is I who has aged."

"Look at what Your Majesty says, you appear in the prime of beauty, where have you aged? I remember the first time I saw you in the Eastern Palace, you were the epitome of grace and beauty, and you remain the same today," Consort Ye smiled.

"Indeed, Your Majesty is as ever," Consort Shu smiled.

"Oh, who doesn't like to hear good things? Alright, alright, today is for the new sisters to meet us, why focus on praising me?" the Queen laughed, waving her hand.

Everyone laughed.

The newcomers also covered their mouths with handkerchiefs.

"You've all moved in a few days ago, how are you finding it? If there's anything unsuitable, you must speak up," the Queen asked gently.

All ten said everything was fine.

After all, they were officially selected through the draft, so certainly, no obvious fools were among them.

Even if they thought the Queen was kind, they knew this was just a polite remark; anyone taking it seriously would be a fool.

"From tomorrow, you may begin serving in the bedchamber. The order will be decided by His Majesty. Do not become jealous over this. With many sisters in the harem, everyone has different temperaments. It's important to live in harmony," the Queen instructed.

All ten stood up: "We will heed Your Majesty's teachings."

The Queen gestured: "There's nothing else today, you may go back and prepare for serving."

The group acknowledged her and stood up, leaving in order of their rank.

The newcomers enviously looked at these elegant ladies.

Dreaming of the day they too would be like them.

A newly appointed Attendant quietly said to Miss He, the Imperial Woman: "Sister, did you see the sister in the light purple dress? That's Consort Qiong."

"I saw her, she's really beautiful, I heard she's pregnant," Miss He smiled.

"Sister, you're beautiful too. But Consort Qiong is... I don't even know how to describe it, she's just too beautiful," the Attendant admired.

Miss He nodded: "Let's go, sister."

Miss He thought, there are many beautiful women in the world, but I am different from you all.

In the Cian Palace, the Empress Dowager sipped tea while listening to the eunuch Zhao Shicheng speak.

"The new ladies who've recently joined the palace have been rather worry-free, more so than the last batch. A few have simple dispositions, but some are hard to read. The first one, Miss Pei, comes from a good family background and is very adept at managing relationships. Both eunuchs and maids inside and outside have received her favors. Although there's Zhou Baolin from the previous selection in Ganquan Palace, it now seems Miss Pei has surpassed her."

"And the others?" the Empress Dowager inquired.

"Among the others, Yun Shi has a good nature and is quite tactful. Miss He appears somewhat aloof, while Miss Wang has a bit of a temper. Nothing notable about the rest," Zhao Shicheng replied.

The Empress Dowager scoffed, "Aloof? Is there truly any woman in the harem who is genuinely aloof? They're either putting on airs to gain affection or are cunning with deep schemes. Which category does Miss He fall into?"

Zhao Shicheng bowed, "Ah, this servant's insight is limited, I'm afraid I can't quite tell. But as these people have just arrived, time will reveal whether they're mules or horses. Your Majesty, just sit back, and all will soon become clear."

The Empress Dowager laughed at his wit, "Enough, you slick thing, off you go."

Zhao Shicheng chuckled and made his exit.

Nurse Fan smiled apologetically, "Your Majesty really shouldn't bother about her, let's see what the Emperor does next."

"I might not mind, but the Emperor does. Look at Consort Qiong, now an Imperial Concubine, the Emperor will surely protect this pregnancy. Whether a boy or girl, birth will likely lead to promotion. Then she'll join the ranks of the nine consorts," the Empress Dowager said coldly.

"You mean..." Nurse Fan hesitated.

"Isn't it obvious? The Emperor 'coincidentally' allowed a Miss He into the palace, and now that she's here, she can't just be sent away, right? If so, how would that look on me, as the Empress Dowager? If it's unbecoming, it must be remedied. How? By promoting Ning Jieyu."

"But Ning Jieyu has a prince, and promoting her to one of the nine consorts so easily, especially since she entered the palace later than the last batch of selected ladies, how to justify it? If it weren't for Consort Jing's miscarriage, it would have been her right. Unfortunately, she had a miscarriage, now falling behind, so at this moment, isn't Consort Qiong equally suitable?"

Nurse Fan shook her head, "The Emperor has really gone to great lengths."

Indeed, there's no other suitable candidate for promotion now.

"Hmph, does Consort Qiong even deserve it? Now she's ascending to the ranks of the nine consorts, but can she maintain her position? As the saying goes, the higher you climb, the harder you fall. She might find herself struggling in the future," the Empress Dowager scoffed.