Chapter 252

Chapter 0252: Time and Status

Aunt Fan hastily said, "Could it be that I saw wrong?"

The Empress Dowager shook her head, "Let it be, just play dumb. Her ability to enchant the Emperor is a skill in itself. How many women in the harem can do that? How was Consort Li during the previous Emperor's time?"

"I only remember, she was truly beautiful. I liked her just by looking at her, and who in the harem dared say she wasn't? The previous Emperor liked her too. In just two years, she went from being a Baolin to a Jieyu. Another two years, and Jieyu became Consort Li."

But later, Consort Li's fate dimmed.

She was too favored, had a prince, but unfortunately, it was already the late period of the previous Emperor.

The harem struggles were intense, and she was too conspicuous. The prince was born weak and didn't survive more than a month.

With the child gone, her health deteriorated.

Unable to have more children, she withered away day by day.

Emperors are heartless; he might order people to take care of you, but when he stops visiting, who else will care for you?

Within a year, Consort Li died.

It was said to be illness, but her death was ambiguous.

"I remember when Consort Li was favored, she was like Qiong Xiu Yi today, daring to speak and laugh, lively in spirit, and bold. But unlike her, she showed no respect for me, taking advantage of her favor to talk back."

"Looking at it this way, Qiong Xiu Yi is much smarter than her."

"Consort Li was too arrogant back then. With the princes competing so fiercely in the harem, she didn't hold back at all. Her end was well-deserved," Aunt Fan said.

The Empress Dowager smiled, "Yes, Qiong Xiu Yi is much smarter. At least, she safely gave birth to a prince."

Aunt Fan fell silent, thinking Qiong Xiu Yi was truly inscrutable.

She seemed full of flaws, covered in vulnerabilities, but upon closer inspection, there was no way to truly fault her.

If she were too slick, impenetrable, it would instead seem too false. But her current manner leaves no avenue for attack.

In April of this year, the Empress was finally able to come out.

However, the Imperial Physician also said she must not overexert herself, nor stand for too long. A full recovery would require at least another year of rest.

Thus, the Empress Dowager suggested the three consorts continue to assist the Empress in her duties, and He Jin Li did not object.

So, the Empress had no choice but to accept.

Also in April, on the eleventh, He Xiao Yi gave birth to the seventh princess. She was, of course, greatly disappointed, but the rest of the harem was relieved.

It's really disappointing; the Emperor supports you so much, but unfortunately, heaven does not favor you.

Having given birth to a princess, He Jin Li could only promote her to the rank of Talent. Actually, this was quite fast.

It's unlikely she will be promoted again anytime soon.

----

The days in the harem, although similar, are also different.

Four years passed in the blink of an eye.

The favored ones remained the same; due to last year's flood disaster, the scheduled selection of consorts was postponed by a year. He Jin Li simply allowed the royal family to arrange their own marriages, indicating they should come to him if a marriage needed his blessing.

In reality, Da Jin did not have strict regulations on how often selections should be held; it was just a convention to hold one every three to four years.

In January of the year before last, Pei Xiao Yi gave birth to the eighth princess, hence she was promoted.

Last September, Yu Xiao Yi surprisingly gave birth to the eleventh prince, thus she was promoted to Talent.

Now, Yun Li sat in the Imperial Garden, watching the new group of ladies-in-waiting with considerable interest.

The Empress's health had improved, but the lingering issues remained. That is, she experienced pain after standing for too long.

During the New Year, when prolonged kneeling was required, she always needed assistance to stand up.

The fourth prince was growing older, but his health did not improve, spending most of the year bedridden.

Clearly, his condition was difficult to cure.

For this reason, the Empress has become increasingly 'benevolent' over the past two years.

"I think they're all good, but it's hard to distinguish," the Empress said with a smile.

"What a coincidence, I also find them all pleasing. Young and fresh is always good," the Empress Dowager laughed.

Even so, not all could be selected; in the end, only ten were chosen.

Without any of particularly high birth, He Jin Li conferred the title of Imperial Female Attendant on four and Attendant on six.

At the end, Consort Mei Shu and Yun Li walked back together.

It was March, and the peach and plum trees in the Imperial Garden were in full bloom, creating a picturesque scene. Thus, the two of them walked slowly, taking in the sights.

"I think His Majesty intends to bestow major titles in the harem soon," Yun Li said.

"That's no longer related to me. This is my life now," Consort Mei Shu laughed. "But for you, it should be time for a promotion to consort, right? You've attended to him the most these past few years."

Yun Li shook her head: "It won't happen. If I am promoted, what about Ning Xiu Yuan?"

Consort Mei Shu was startled: "You mean, the Emperor has asked you to suppress her? That's hardly fair."

"Sister, don't be upset. What does it matter? I've gained real benefits, and the consort title will be mine sooner or later," Yun Li smiled.

"Well, as long as you know what you're doing," Consort Mei Shu tapped her arm with a fan. "I'm just worried you might be at a disadvantage."

"I know, but why rush the promotion? These years, with the turmoil above, staying in my current position as one of the nine consorts for a few more years isn't bad at all." It's a cunning position.

Those below dare not provoke, and those above cannot move her. She also stays out of their conflicts.

"Indeed, with the constant calls for establishing the Crown Prince... With the fourth prince being in such a condition... Now the second and third princes have their supporters. Even the fifth prince. The Empress must be the most troubled. She can't have children anymore, and even adopting one is difficult." When Yu Talent gave birth to the eleventh prince, the Empress had the intention, but the Emperor did not agree.

"Worrying is pointless; now, no one in the court even mentions the fourth prince anymore," Yun Li said.

There used to be some talk in the past years, but as the fourth prince continues to be frail with age, it has ceased.

After all, the officials want to choose sides. Who wants to board a sinking ship?

They tried, but what if the fourth prince is gone? Then all efforts would be wasted.

Now, everyone tacitly agrees that this heir does not exist.

It's both sad and helpless.

Indeed, just as the newcomers were assigned their duties, the imperial decree for the seniors' promotions was issued.

The position of Imperial Noble Consort remains vacant, and the top three ranks above the first rank will no longer change.

Consort Min has no chance of promotion. Her becoming an Imperial Noble Consort is impossible.

The first decree was for Shu Zhao Yi to be promoted to Shu Consort.

This was expected, given her origins from the Eastern Palace and having birthed the sixth prince. She waited eagerly, her qualifications sufficient, but unfortunately, the decree did not concern her, and she remained as Wu Zhao Rong.

Yun Li, unexpectedly, received the decree, being promoted from Qiong Xiu Yi to Qiong Zhao Yi.

Yun Li's lips twitched when she received the decree. Well, this counts as a promotion.

Ning Xiu Yuan remained unchanged.

An Jieyu was promoted to Chong Yi.

Xu Talent was promoted to Beauty, granted the title: Xian.

He Talent was promoted to Beauty, granted the title: Hui.

Yu Talent was promoted to Beauty.

Ye Xiao Yi, Jiang Xiao Yi, and Pei Xiao Yi were all promoted to Talent.

Wang Imperial Female Attendant was promoted to Bao Lin, Yun Imperial Female Attendant to Bao Lin, Zheng Imperial Female Attendant to Bao Lin, and Yu Imperial Female Attendant to Bao Lin.

This concludes the full list of promotions.

[The timeline is skipped to remove redundancies, not to conclude the story or for any other reason. After all, one cannot write year by year. Rest assured, dear readers of the previous book, do not panic, this book won't be abandoned, or may I be called a dog.]

Yun Li wishes everyone a happy Queen's Festival.