Chapter 10: Assigning Positions to the Newcomers

The Empress Dowager was greatly shaken: Could it be that even Chunyuan’s name no longer held sway?

She had originally worried that if Zhen Huan, with her appearance, entered the palace, it would be like raising a tiger—this woman could not be kept.

But now it seemed that while others might be expendable, Zhen Huan had to be kept no matter what.

Only she could barely shake Nian Shilan’s position.

Otherwise, in a few days, the Empress would no longer be of the Ulanara clan, but of the Nian clan.

Zhen Huan did not wish to be selected, but if the Emperor’s words were taken seriously, not only would her father’s career be affected, but the entire Zhen family would be implicated.

She hurriedly explained, “Your Majesty, when my father served as an official, the Sacred Ancestor saw his name and said the surname Zhen was good, as it sounded like ‘loyal and steadfast,’ and used it as encouragement.”

“The Late Emperor’s meaning, I understand,” the Empress Dowager said with appreciation. “I see that Zhen Huan is lovely in appearance and well-versed in poetry and literature. In the future, she will surely serve His Majesty wholeheartedly.”

Thinking of Nian Shilan’s words, the Empress was reluctant to keep Zhen Huan. “Your Majesty, it seems to me that His Majesty does not…”

The Empress Dowager shot the Empress a sharp glare: So lacking in understanding.

“Zhen Huan is clever.”

As soon as the Empress Dowager spoke, the eunuch immediately understood. “Zhen Huan, retain the plaque, bestow a sachet.”

Nian Shilan couldn’t help but feel puzzled: Something feels off about their words. Shen Meizhuang was kept by the Empress Dowager, but why was Zhen Huan also kept by the Empress Dowager?

How could the Emperor say that Zhen Huan’s surname Zhen violated a taboo?

Did I remember wrong?

I shouldn’t have rewatched the part where I died eighty-one times—now my memory is all messed up.

But regardless, the outcome is the same. They were all kept, and the result isn’t too different.

It looks like the palace selection is almost over. What should I eat when I go back?

“…Sun Miaoqing, retain the plaque, bestow a sachet—”

“Huh?”

What’s going on? Nian Shilan had only zoned out for a moment.

Why was the one who should have been kept not kept, and the one who shouldn’t have been kept was kept instead?

Once again, she deeply doubted her own memory.

The Emperor was smug: With Shilan’s mind, she probably won’t figure it out even after three days and nights.

…

After the palace selection, the Imperial Household Department quickly compiled the list of selected candidates.

When Nian Shilan went to Jingren Palace to pay her respects, the Empress and the Emperor were discussing the titles for the palace maid candidates.

“It seems I’ve come at an inconvenient time…”

“No, you’ve come just in time.” The Emperor reached out to Nian Shilan, gesturing for her to sit beside him. “We can discuss this together.”

No wonder they say he’s like a big fat orange cat—sitting there without moving, just like a plump orange cat.

The Emperor glanced at himself, then at the Empress: Consort Hua really holds a grudge against the Empress.

Nian Shilan didn’t understand why, after something that had been decided on the day of the palace selection, she was being dragged into it again this time.

“After all, I am only an imperial consort. With Her Majesty the Empress present, how dare I sit beside Your Majesty?” Nian Shilan smiled gracefully. “Songzhi.”

Songzhi immediately brought over a soft stool.

The Empress: She says I pretend to be virtuous, but she’s no less adept in front of the Emperor.

“Enough. The Empress has always been virtuous and doesn’t mind such things.”

The Emperor took Nian Shilan’s hand. Nian Shilan smiled fakely, pretending to be overwhelmed with favor. “Since Your Majesty insists, I shall not refuse.”

“So pretentious!” the Emperor said affectionately.

“Your Majesty’s affection for my sister is her good fortune. As the mistress of the Six Palaces, I naturally hope all my sisters receive favor.”

The Empress also replied with a smile, creating an atmosphere of harmonious family joy.

[She’s always better at pretending than a sack—of course she doesn’t mind. But I do!

Dressed like a ladybug, reeking of old age—I’m afraid I’ll be overwhelmed by your stench!]

The Emperor glanced at the Empress from the corner of his eye: her red jade-colored lotus-patterned gown was indeed old-fashioned. She really ought to dress up more.

The hardships of being a daughter of a concubine, Rouze stealing my husband during my pregnancy, her son taking my son’s life… the flowers in the palace are thorny, the tea in my hand is too hot… what other sorrows were there?

The Empress secretly pinched herself—she absolutely must not laugh.

“Earlier, we mentioned the Zhen family. What rank does Your Majesty intend to grant her?”

The Empress was struggling now.

The Emperor looked at Nian Shilan. “What does Consort Hua think?”

Nian Shilan: “…” Speechless.

[If I’d known he’d be here today, I wouldn’t have come. How absurd!]

The Empress thought to herself that Nian Shilan, who always emphasized rules and deeply respected her, likely wouldn’t speak rashly on this matter.

[Should I try to change something now? Better not.

Let’s just humor this old fool a bit. If he’s pleased, maybe when my brother returns to the capital, he’ll agree to let us meet earlier.

Poor my brother—he’s just a bit too straightforward, yet he’s envied by those petty people who blow his minor faults out of proportion, falsely accusing him of treason and implicating the whole family.

He’s also to blame. The sovereign is the sovereign, the subject is the subject. He may have no disloyal intentions, but how can he be so ostentatious and high-profile in court?

If I could meet him earlier, I could advise him.]

The Emperor automatically replaced “old fool” with “Your Majesty” and felt a surge of gratitude for her intention to advise Nian Gengyao:

Good, it’s Consort Hua. Though she’s often petty, she’s clear-headed on important matters.

The sovereign is the sovereign, the subject is the subject.

Excellent.

Thinking of her past life, Nian Shilan said, “Grant her the rank of Noble Lady.” After all, that’s what the Emperor intended to do anyway.

The Empress: “!!!”

Grant her Noble Lady?!

She knows full well that Zhen Huan resembles Chunyuan, that Zhen Huan will one day wield great power, and that Zhen Huan will kill both her and me—yet she still grants Zhen the rank of Noble Lady?

If she’s worried about the Nian family’s fate, she should seize power herself. How can she hand over the reins of the harem to someone else?

With a mind like this, how did I ever see her as a worthy rival?

The Empress inwardly lamented her foolishness: Even after being reborn, I still have to clean up her mess.

“Noble Lady…” The Empress pretended to ponder. “Very well, let it be Noble Lady. Aside from Fucha of the Manchu Banners and Borjigit of the Mongol Banners, both of whom are Noble Ladies, it’s fitting that among the Han Army Banner Palace Maid Candidates, there are now two Noble Ladies as well.”

Hearing these unchanged words, Nian Shilan remained unmoved.

The Emperor, who hadn’t paid much attention to this selection, asked upon hearing “two Noble Ladies,” “And the other one is?”

“Shen Zishan’s daughter, Shen Meizhuang.” Nian Shilan spoke without thinking. “I’ve heard these two have been close since childhood. Granting them both the rank of Noble Lady will only deepen their sisterly bond.”

The Empress glanced at Nian Shilan from the corner of her eye: Fool! If they’ve been close since childhood, they must never be allowed to join forces.

They must be separated before their alliance takes root!