Chapter 395 – Extra: Born with Nobility

Chapter 395 - Extra: Born with Nobility

At the age of seven and a half, Qi Qingluan officially started growing her hair.

From that point on, Jiang's guidance towards her took a different turn.

It was then that she received her name; prior to that, whether at home or from her parents, she was simply referred to as the Elder Miss.

Seven-year-old Qi Qingluan had already been studying for two years.

But back then, she didn't fully understand the meaning behind her name, Qingluan.

It wasn't until she reached her teenage years that she realized Qingluan was a divine bird that accompanied the Queen Mother of the West. It served as a messenger for the Western Prince's residence, transforming into a phoenix through fire.

To see a Qingluan was considered an auspicious omen for mortals.

Although Jiang never explicitly stated it, her actions constantly hinted that their daughter was destined for greatness.

Qi Qingluan did not disappoint her mother; from a young age, she excelled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting.

Fame for talent, fame for virtue — both are renowned throughout the capital.

Back then, her eyes were solely fixed on the crown prince within the palace, never straying to another man.

Her heart and vision were entirely occupied by that one person; all other men seemed like mere emptiness, good for nothing but indulging in food and drink.

She pondered, born of the prestigious Marquis's household, her father holding the esteemed position of Chancellor. With such exceptional talents, beauty, and lineage, what other role could possibly befit her besides that of a crown princess?

Still, her wish remained unfulfilled.

The late emperor had unexpectedly chosen a daughter of the Xie family as the crown princess.

The Xie family was merely a family of third-rank generals, without even a noble title!

How could this be fair? Qi Qingluan's blow was immense.

But an imperial decree could not be defied...

In truth, Qi Qingluan had had the chance to make a different choice back then. To become the legitimate wife of another man.

But she refused, as did the Jiang family.

At that time, Qī Xiàng was not yet the seasoned man he would later become; he was not entirely convinced.

Thus, they all tacitly approved of Liáng Dì's position.

Upon entering the Eastern Palace, Qī Qīngluán regarded Xiè Yìyáo as a thorn in her side, constantly opposing her at every turn.

Back then, Xiè Yìyáo had grown up in the provinces and, arriving in the capital, felt inferior to others.

Even as a Crown Princess, with such an outstanding Liáng Dì beneath her, how could she not feel anxious?

The more anxious she was, the more cautious she became, suppressing her daughterhood temperament to its fullest extent.

She was no longer the girl who dared to lead troops and ride horses on behalf of her father.

Initially, Hè Jǐnlí had some affection for Qī Qīngluán.

After all, the position of the Crown Prince back then wasn't firmly established. Besides, without any reason, there was no cause to dislike a Liáng Dì for no reason.

Yet, gradually, everything transformed.

Once admitted to the palace, Lady Liang was elevated to the rank of Honored Consort Rong.

In the harem, one stands only beneath the emperor himself.

As a concubine, she harbored resentment toward the Crown Princess. As a Noble Consort, it was the Empress who incurred her hatred.

She assumed the demeanor of an aristocratic lady and relentlessly belittled the Empress in every situation.

Yet, His Majesty had bestowed upon her the grandest palace and the highest rank, but the number of visitors continued to dwindle.

She had not conceived, and as the years passed, it was finally time for new concubines to enter the palace.

Madame Jiang also felt her anxiety. If she waited a few more years, once the Empress gave birth to an heir, what chance would she have left?

That's why it was decided that a sister from her family should be chosen to enter the palace, with the sole purpose of bearing children.

There were two promising candidates: one was Qiyun Li from the Fourth Branch, and the other was the daughter from her aunt's family.

Both were strikingly beautiful, but in the end, she chose the fourth concubine's position. For no matter the favor or offspring that would come, she would remain of the Qi family lineage, not an outsider from another clan.

And it was here that Qi Qingluan's life began to falter.

Years later, she had come to understand this clearly. As Qi Yuling herself had said, not everyone was eager to enter the palace, and not everyone was content to be merely a pawn in someone else's game.

Qi Yuling was one who refused; her unwillingness propelled her rise from Baolin all the way to the top, steadily pulling down this empress dowager in her wake.

Her stubbornness also brought harm to her brother and her mother.

On the day she left the palace, listening to Qi Yuling's words, she finally, hazily comprehended a truth.

Since her maiden days, she had fantasized about being a crown princess, with the sole desire to marry the crown prince.

Does it truly make a difference whether the Crown Prince is He Jincheng or someone else?

Desperately, she tried to deceive herself — of course, she only liked His Majesty as a person.

Yet, eventually, she couldn't continue deceiving herself like that.

No, it isn't.

It seemed she had never... never truly loved He Jinli from the bottom of her heart.

Unlike Yun Li, who dared to openly declare that no one in the palace but her cherished He Jinli.

Perhaps that was the case.

Could it be because of this that she had lost?

But Qī Qingluán pondered, hadn't the Empress also lost? Wasn't the Empress's priority also the throne itself?

In the end, Qi Qingluan, having gained clarity on everything, also felt a deep sense of regret.

Living a lifetime, she had never experienced affection for anyone.

If Yun Li hadn't been a point of comparison, she might not have cared. But with this contrast, she couldn't help but feel a profound sense of loss.

Thus, she kept pondering what it would be like if she could return to her youth.

Would she meet another noble son, fall in love, and then marry, bearing children?

She wanted to say that she would.

But ultimately, she couldn't deceive herself.

The answer was no.

No.

If she were to revisit her youthful days, she would still be fixated on the Crown Prince in the Eastern Palace, longing to be his Crown Princess.

This time, perhaps she would be bolder, more straightforward.

She would tell him, "I want to marry you, to become your legitimate wife."

If that didn't work, she would emulate Yun Li and confess her love, urging him to feel the same for her.

Then, she would push Madam Xie aside.

Yes, that was it.

She had come to a realization. But who said that realization meant acknowledging one's mistakes?

She merely understood that she had taken the wrong path in this life.

At least, if given a second chance, she wouldn't let her family send another woman into his life.

Life is so long, how could there be no opportunity?

All she needed was to suppress her hatred for the Empress and bear a child.

Perhaps it might fail, but so what?

In this life or the next, Qi Qingluan only aspired to live this way.

Her pride demanded that she stand tall. If she fell in this lifetime, it mattered little—what if there was another chance? And if not, she would never bend to look up at others anyway.

Whether outsiders ridiculed or despised her, everyone had their own path, and she was determined to walk hers.

Even if this path was wrong, she would still tread on.

Who knew, perhaps in her next life she would be born into greater nobility. Thus, her departure was not a torment, at least without resentment.

She simply awaited her rebirth with great anticipation.

---

Qi Qingluan's funeral was neither too shameful nor excessively grand.

In any case, she was respectfully laid to rest in the Empress Mausoleum. Compared to those previous consorts who were despised and ordered to die, she was at least given a proper burial.

In her lifetime, she made mistakes, but not enough to incur He Jilinx's profound disgust.

Years ago, He Jinning's anger had long since subsided. After all, she herself had never taken action.

Still, the palace had the virtuous Concubine Xian.

Who could predict that she might one day rise even higher?

No matter how ambitious Qī Qingluán was, she would ultimately become but a handful of earth.

Decades, even centuries later, who would still remember her?

Perhaps a few words would be inscribed in history books, but in the end, she was just a childless and sonless concubine.