Chapter 18: Enfeoffing the Harem (Seeking Favorites)

Chapter 18: Investiture of the Imperial Harem (Seeking Collections)

On June 13th in the 14th year of Kangxi's reign, the Emperor extensively enfeoffed the imperial harem. Consort Wan (Niuhulu Shi) was enfeoffed as the Empress, Noble Consort Tong (Tong Jia Shi) was enfeoffed as Noble Consort Tong, Consort Rong (Ma Jia Shi) was enfeoffed as Consort Rong, Consort Hui (Nala Shi) was enfeoffed as Consort Hui, Consort Yi (Guo Luoluo Shi) was enfeoffed as Consort Yi, Consort Duan (Dong Shi) was enfeoffed as Consort Duan, Consort Jing (Wang Jia Shi) was enfeoffed as Consort Jing, Consort An (Li Shi) was enfeoffed as Consort An, Noble Lady De (Wuya Shi) was enfeoffed as Noble Lady De, and Common Consort Zhang was promoted to Constant Attendant Zhang.

Most of the imperial consorts who were enfeoffed had entered the palace in the early years of Kangxi's reign and had been in the palace for many years. After the imperial edict of enfeoffment was issued, some were joyful while others were worried.

Fang Yu was naturally among the joyful ones. She had been promoted from an Answering Attendant to a Noble Lady with a title. She had thought that she would only be promoted after having offspring. This enfeoffment made her realize that there were only a few ways to rise in rank: first, having a good family background, which could only be achieved by birth, such as Consort Tong; second, having seniority, by spending years in the palace, such as those who were enfeoffed as imperial consorts; third, having offspring, such as Common Consort Zhang; fourth, gaining favor, such as herself.

It must be said that the Emperor's extensive enfeoffment of the imperial harem was very well-timed. The young prince Yin Reng had just been enfeoffed as the Crown Prince, and behind the Crown Prince was the Heseri clan. At this time, whether the Emperor enfeoffed Niuhulu Shi as the Empress or Tong Jia Shi as the Noble Consort, it was meant to compensate the Niuhulu family and the Tong Jia family, achieving a delicate balance among several powerful families and leaving them with no grounds for criticism.

Fang Yu thought the Emperor was very clever. She, a foolish person, should not play too many tricks in front of the Emperor. How could her mind compare to that of a monarch?

Noble Lady Dong was enfeoffed as Consort Duan, and Fang Yu did not forget to go to her residence to congratulate her.

A few days after the imperial edict of enfeoffment was issued, changes began to take place in the imperial harem. First, there was a relocation of palaces. The Empress moved from the Palace of Gathering Essence to the Palace of Earthly Tranquility. Tong Jia Shi, now a Noble Consort, moved to the Palace of Celestial Favor and became the mistress of the palace. Consort Rong moved to the Palace of Gathering Essence, Consort Hui moved to the Palace of Prolonged Happiness, Consort Yi moved to the Palace of Eternal Harmony, while Consort Jing, Consort An, and Consort Duan remained in the Palace of Eternal Longevity, the Palace of Eternal Spring, and the Palace of Lasting Harmony respectively, without moving. Basically, consorts and above all became mistresses of their own palaces.

The position of Empress had been vacant for a year, and now that there was an Empress, she had ordered that on the first, fifth, and tenth days of each month, all the imperial consorts must go to the Palace of Earthly Tranquility for morning greetings to pay respects to the Empress.

Early on the morning of June 20th, as soon as the sky lit up, Fang Yu was awakened. She sat drowsily on the bed while Pan Liu helped her dress.

"My Lady, you can't sleep anymore. Today is the first time to pay respects to the Empress. Don't be late."

Fang Yu couldn't understand why they had to go so early in the morning when the morning greetings could have been scheduled after breakfast. Though she thought so, she still patted her face to try to wake herself up. She didn't know the Empress very well, but the fact that the Empress resumed the morning greetings shortly after the enfeoffment edict was issued suggested that she was not of a gentle and tolerant nature. As the saying goes, a new official applies three strict measures. She really shouldn't be late.

She moved from the bed to the dressing table and let Pan Liu do her makeup. Pan Liu intended to dress her up exquisitely and grandly, but she stopped her. She had been promoted to Noble Lady in less than two years of becoming a mistress. There were undoubtedly many people in the palace who envied her and many eyes watching her. Moreover, as a Noble Lady, how could she outshine the Empress and others?

In the end, she simply wore a butterfly hairpin and went out without any makeup on her face. She went to the Palace of Earthly Tranquility with Constant Attendant Li and others who lived in the Palace of Lasting Harmony.

The servants of the Palace of Earthly Tranquility led them to sit according to their ranks. Gradually, imperial consorts from other palaces also arrived. This was the first time Fang Yu had seen all the women in the Emperor's imperial harem. Previously, when she was an Answering Attendant, those of higher ranks who did not live in the same palace had little interaction with her, and she rarely had the chance to see them.

She glanced around roughly; there were about thirty people, all quite young, since the Emperor was only twenty-two years old. Sitting to her left was Noble Lady Bu (Zhaojia Shi), who had given birth to the fifth imperial daughter two years ago. To her right was Noble Lady Qin, the younger sister of Consort Yi, Noble Lady Qin (Guo Luoluo Shi). When she made eye contact with Noble Lady Qin, both smiled slightly and nodded in acknowledgment.

The Empress arrived surrounded by attendants. Everyone in the hall stood up and knelt to pay respects: "May the Empress be blessed with peace and prosperity."

"Sisters, you've all come quite early. Rise."

Listening to the Empress's uplifted tone, Fang Yu felt that the Empress was in high spirits today, with a radiant and triumphant glow between her eyebrows. She wore a bright yellow kesi peony flat gold longevity pattern single cloak and a headdress of filigree, kingfisher feathers, and inlaid pearls and stones, looking luxurious and exquisite.

The Empress first glanced down at Constant Attendant Zhang, who was nine months pregnant, and said with a smile, "Sister Zhang's belly is so big now. Before the child is born, there's no need for you to come and pay respects. Your body is too heavy, and the child is more important."

Constant Attendant Zhang struggled to stand up and replied, "Your Majesty, I can still move. Paying respects to you is my duty."

Hearing this, the Empress beamed even more and asked, "Has the imperial physician said when your due date is?"

"The imperial physician said it will be at the end of the month."

"The end of the month is good, a full-term birth. Sister, you are a blessed person. If you can give birth to a prince for the Emperor, you will be a meritorious person. The Emperor has few offspring. I hope all sisters will learn from Sister Zhang and give birth to offspring for the Emperor as soon as possible."

The imperial consorts sitting below said in unison, "Yes, we will heed the Empress's instruction."

The Empress scanned the room, and her gaze fell on her: "Sister Wuya, you have just been promoted to Noble Lady. As far as I know, you only have one servant attending to you. Since you are now a Noble Lady, you can have more servants. I will have the Imperial Household Department select two clever servants and send them to you."

Fang Yu stood up from her seat and bowed in reply: "Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty. I indeed only have Pan Liu attending to me. It would be good to have someone share the duties with Pan Liu."

"In that case, I will have the Imperial Household Department select two servants for you as soon as possible. Besides Sister Wuya, if any of you feel that you have too few servants attending to you, you can let me know."

Everyone else said they had enough servants.

"The Grand Empress Dowager's birthday is approaching. Sisters, do not forget. Well, that's all for today. Sisters, you may return now. Kneel and take your leave."

Everyone knelt and said in unison: "We respectfully see off the Empress."

The first morning greeting ended. Fang Yu and Na La. Ying Shan walked out of the Palace of Earthly Tranquility together. As soon as they left the palace, Ying Shan said, "You shouldn't have agreed to let the Empress send servants to attend to you."

"Why not?"

"Don't you want the Empress's eyes and ears around you? Since it was through the Empress's words, the servants bestowed by the Empress are likely her people. Didn't you see that everyone else refused?"

Fang Yu hadn't thought that deeply. She felt that since she was a Noble Lady, according to her rank, she could indeed have two more servants attending to her. Having more people to serve her was a good thing; Pan Liu would have someone to order around.