Chapter 4: Addressing Oneself as a Servant Before the Concubine

Chapter 4: One Must Refer to Themselves as "Your Servant" in Front of a Consort

Wuya Shi was indeed delicate, complaining of pain here and there, whimpering and groaning incessantly, her small face scrunched up. Kangxi noticed her tear-filled eyes, the corners slightly reddened, appearing utterly pitiful under the dim candlelight. She gently bit her lip, looking immensely wronged, her gaze seeming to accuse him of being too rough.

A wave of pity washed over Kangxi, and he softly coaxed her, saying it would be over soon. In response, she lightly bit his shoulder. He thought to himself that Wuya Shi truly hadn't learned the rules well—daring to injure the imperial body. Given her youth and the fact that she hadn't bitten too hard, he wasn't angry and soothingly patted her back.

When it was over, Wuya Shi's eyes were red, and her entire body seemed as if it had been fished out of water, half soaked by her own tears.

The servants from the Qianqing Palace quickly entered to clean and wipe them. When they lay back on the bed, Wuya Shi curled up in his embrace, her arms wrapped around his waist.

Wuya Shi was very thin, with a slender figure, her shoulder blades clearly visible. Feeling relaxed and satisfied, Kangxi lazily remarked, "You're too thin; you need to eat more."

Hearing this, Fang Yu immediately seized the opportunity: "Your Majesty, it's not that I don't want to eat more, but the food isn’t to my taste. I want to eat meat, but they only serve vegetables."

Having personally handled state affairs for eight years, Kangxi could easily see through Wuya Shi's straightforward and simple mind. She was clearly complaining that the kitchen servants weren't giving her meat. Previously, without having received favor and being only an answering attendant, the kitchen servants had no reason to curry favor with an unfavored low-ranking attendant.

"Don't worry, after today, you can eat meat every day."

"Really? Your Majesty isn’t fooling me?"

"Mm."

Fang Yu kissed the Emperor's cheek and looked up happily, saying, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Wuya Shi's emotions were written all over her face, making her very easy to read—somewhat childish, naive, and vivid. Kangxi smiled faintly, rubbed her earlobe again, and signaled that she could rest.

The next morning, when Fang Yu woke, it was already bright. As soon as she stirred, the maids of the Qianqing Palace immediately filed in to attend to her—some helping her dress, others wringing towels, helping her wash up.

Pan Liu stood to the side, unable to intervene.

Fang Yu asked where the Emperor was, and the Qianqing Palace maid replied that he had gone to court. Upon waking, he had instructed them not to disturb her. She said ‘Oh’, not finding anything unusual about the Emperor's order. Having been worn out the previous night, she still felt sore all over upon waking, with a lingering pain below. It was only right that she not be disturbed.

According to protocol, a minor consort who had just served the emperor for the first time was required to pay respects to the Empress. However, as there was currently no Empress in the harem, she was spared this formality. Once dressed, Fang Yu left the Qianqing Palace with Pan Liu, again taking the sedan chair from the Office of Imperial Attendants to return.

When they arrived at the gate of the Yonghe Palace, Fang Yu was assisted out of the sedan chair by Pan Liu and saw Yingshan and her personal maid, Miaodie, already waiting at the entrance. As soon as they spotted her, they congratulated her.

"Congratulations to Ning Yan on receiving favor."

"Sister, congratulations to you."

Fang Yu smiled, taking Yingshan's hand: "What is there to congratulate? Sister will surely receive favor too. Let's go inside to talk."

Not long after Fang Yu and Yingshan returned to their room, Attendant Li, Answering Attendant Sun, and Answering Attendant Fucha, who also resided in Yonghe Palace, came to congratulate her. Having received the Emperor's favor, it seemed as if everything had changed overnight.

Moreover, Consort Wan sent someone to gift her many things, including jadeware, jewelry, and silk brocade. Noble Lady Dong also sent two bolts of Sichuan brocade.

Early in the morning, Fang Yu was already hungry. When Pan Liu brought the meal, the food was indeed much more abundant, even including braised lamb leg.

Yingshan reminded her that since Consort Wan and Noble Lady Dong had gifted her, she should go in person after breakfast to express her thanks. She shouldn’t let the consorts think that, after just one night of favor, she had become so elated that she forgot etiquette.

Fang Yu was very grateful for Nala Yingshan's care and kind reminders over the past two months. After all, she had transmigrated and was still in a muddled stage regarding palace rules—what should and shouldn’t be done, she only half-understood.

"Sister, I understand. I'll go as soon as I finish eating."

After a while, Fang Yu brought Pan Liu to Consort Wan's residence, the Zhongcui Palace. They waited briefly under the corridor in the front courtyard before being led to the east warming room of Zhongcui Palace.

Fang Yu saw Consort Wan, Niuhulu Shi, who was only about eighteen or nineteen years old, seated upright on the *kang*. Her appearance was ordinary, but the gold phoenix hairpin in her bun and the gold wire-inlaid ruby earrings she wore exuded a noble air.

"Greetings to Your Ladyship. May Your Ladyship enjoy boundless happiness. I’ve come to express my gratitude for Your Ladyship’s generous gifts."

Consort Wan examined this newly favored Wuya Shi. Wuya Shi was exceptionally beautiful, delicate and charming, with a fresh, tender face no larger than a palm. No wonder she had been chosen by the Grand Empress Dowager—her looks were indeed top-tier. However, her family background was poor, so she posed no threat. With the Empress deceased, what concerned her most now was the position of Empress—whether the Emperor would confer the title upon her. The favor enjoyed by a mere answering attendant was not something she currently worried about.

"Wuya, in front of Her Ladyship, you cannot refer to yourself as 'I.' You must refer to yourself as 'your servant.' Her Ladyship is a consort; in front of a consort, you are a servant. Do not forget the rules, Wuya."

The nanny beside Consort Wan reminded her with clear dissatisfaction. Fang Yu looked up, somewhat shocked. What had the nanny just called her? Wuya? Wasn’t her surname Ning?

Answering Attendant Nala always called her Ning Yan younger sister, and Pan Liu addressed her as "mistress." Most people in Yonghe Palace referred to each other as sisters. Having been ill for two months with few visitors, she had always thought her surname was Ning, with the given name Yan. It turned out her surname was Wuya. In Kangxi’s harem, there was only one Wuya Shi—the famous Consort De. She had transmigrated into Consort De.

Suppressing her shock, Fang Yu corrected herself: "This servant misspoke. I spoke too hastily and forgot the rules. I beg Your Ladyship’s forgiveness."

Fang Yu thought to herself that she had referred to herself as "I" in front of the Emperor the previous night, not as "your servant," and the Emperor hadn’t corrected her. Yet, the nanny beside Consort Wan had specifically corrected her. The palace rules were indeed numerous; even as a mistress, she still had to refer to herself as a servant. Were consorts above the Emperor? She inwardly sighed, recognizing that this nanny was deliberately putting her in her place.

"Nanny Gui, Sister Wuya didn’t do it on purpose. You’ve overstepped. Sister, please rise quickly. Offer a seat for the mistress."

Consort Wan feigned a reprimand toward Nanny Gui, personally stepping down to assist Wuya Shi. She smiled and said, "Sister is a blessed one. I hope sister will later bear children for the Emperor."

"Your servant will remember Your Ladyship’s instruction."

"After serving last night, you must be tired. Return and rest well. You may often come hereafter to chat with me."

"Your servant understands."

Fifteen minutes later, Fang Yu left Zhongcui Palace, still reeling from the shock of realizing she was Consort De. As long as she gave birth to the Fourth Prince, Yin Zhen, she could simply wait to become Empress Dowager. What need was there to compete for favor?

After returning to Yonghe Palace, Fang Yu went to thank Noble Lady Dong, who treated her much more kindly, warmly taking her hand to chat, her attitude noticeably changed.

And so the day ended.