Chapter 17: This Person Is Not Simple

Upon arriving at Jingren Palace, the Empress was in the midst of giving instructions when Nian Shilan interrupted with an air of haughtiness:

“I trust I am not too late?”

Everyone turned and bowed respectfully to her. She swept her gaze over them.

【Tacky! Dated! Petty! Not a single one can compare to me! The Emperor’s taste is merely so-so!】

Seeing that none could match her own refined bearing, Nian Shilan was naturally pleased.

【My hair is styled well today, the kingfisher feather phoenix hairpin is exquisite, and my outfit suits my taste perfectly. In such a good mood, I might as well give the Empress some face and pay my respects.】

Ignoring the others, she strode directly through the hall and offered a bow to the Empress.

Today, she genuinely waited for the Empress to say “rise” before straightening up.

So it seemed that a good mood could indeed make one more deferential.

The Empress glanced at the jewels adorning Nian Shilan’s head, feeling there was little room for her to make a statement. Perhaps she would have a set of clothes made for her later—gaudy reds and purples would suit her vulgar taste perfectly.

Truth be told, within the palace, no one else could wear such garish attire with such bewitching and flamboyant flair as she did.

No wonder the Emperor favored her; even she found the sight pleasing.

As soon as Nian Shilan took her seat, Consort Qi spoke up:

“Consort Hua, you’ve arrived so late. Are you feeling unwell?”

“The Emperor was reviewing memorials late into the night yesterday, so I stayed up with him. This morning, he insisted I not rise early, hence the delay.” Nian Shilan feigned sudden realization. “I hope Her Majesty the Empress is not displeased?”

The Empress observed how her petty thoughts were written all over her face—that provocative demeanor was truly infuriating, yet oddly endearing.

In truth, if Consort Qi hadn’t provoked her, Consort Hua had no intention of stirring trouble.

It was clear she was merely a firecracker: harmless unless lit, but explosive once ignited.

“If the Emperor favors you, no amount of indulgence is excessive. We are all sisters in the rear palace—what does it matter if you come to see your elder sister a little earlier or later?”

The Empress smiled warmly. “I was just noticing how reserved the new sisters seemed upon entering the palace, but now they appear more at ease. This is all thanks to you, Consort Hua.”

At Jiang Fuhai’s call of “New Mistresses, pay your respects,” the newcomers knelt.

Borjigit and Fucha, owing to their noble backgrounds, were granted the rank of Noble Lady and stood at the front. Though Shen Meizhuang was also a Noble Lady, her Han heritage placed her in the second row alongside Fangjia Chunyi, followed by Zhen Huan and Sun Miaoqing, with An Lingrong standing in the last row.

These arrangements had been taught by the teaching matrons.

After the newcomers performed the full kowtow to the Empress, they paid their respects one by one to the various Imperial consorts and concubines. Consort Duan was absent due to illness, so Consort Hua was the first to receive their bows.

As they knelt, she swept her gaze over Zhen Huan, Shen Meizhuang, An Lingrong, and the others.

【A bunch of lowly creatures! They’ll all oppose me sooner or later anyway. Let them kneel for now.】

Seizing the ready-made excuse, Nian Shilan began discussing jadeite with the Empress.

Recalling that these newcomers would likely cause her downfall in the future, the Empress decided to use the opportunity to issue a warning. She shifted the conversation to Eastern Pearls.

When Nian Shilan remarked that jadeite looked aging and offered to gift it to the Empress—who was accustomed to being called old by Consort Hua—the Empress simply accepted it. She even promised to have a pair of Eastern Pearl earrings made for her in return, along with tailoring a new outfit.

Their back-and-forth exchange left the newcomers trembling on their knees.

Finally, when they were allowed to rise, Nian Shilan had initially intended to ignore everyone and say nothing. But remembering that Sun Miaoqing was a reincarnated soul and fearing any exposure, she decided to go through the motions.

Didn’t she take Xia’s place?

Then let her be brought out for a test.

“I recall there was a Sun clan candidate in the Palace Selection, from the Jiangnan region.”

Sun Miaoqing stepped forward gracefully in her pale blue palace attire, her hair simply styled, like the first tender lotus emerging in early summer. She spoke with neither humility nor arrogance:

“This humble concubine is Sun Miaoqing, Attendant of Yanxi Palace, paying respects to Consort Hua.”

During the Palace Selection, she hadn’t paid much attention, but now she felt Sun Miaoqing’s appearance differed from what she remembered—paler, thinner, without that bitter, resentful expression.

As for her demeanor…

[She reeks of new money, nowhere near comparable to me. But she’s more than enough for Fourth Master. So thin her chin has sharpened—who knows how long she’s starved herself? Not an ounce of fortunate bearing. If she walks out with Fourth Master, it’d be like an old codger paired with a hungry ghost. The Great Qing is doomed.]

Empress: Consort Hua’s audacity truly knows no bounds.

Concubine Jing, Feng Ruozhao, seated not far from her, faintly caught a few words and was terrified out of her wits:

This Consort Hua is far too bold—she actually wants to match the Emperor’s consort with her Fourth Master? If the Emperor finds out, wouldn’t he exterminate her entire clan?

Nian Shilan didn’t know Chunyuan’s appearance, so she glanced at Zhen Huan for reference.

[All those the Emperor favors share one trait. Sun Miaoqing… doesn’t resemble her. Without that qualifying feature, yet having connections to my Nian family—it’ll likely be difficult for her to gain great favor.]

Others didn’t understand what this “lack of resemblance” meant, but the Empress knew very well:

Sun Miaoqing’s looks were not outstanding. If the Emperor favored palace women based on Rouze as the standard, then Sun Miaoqing indeed had no hope.

[I wonder if Sun Miaoqing is truly reborn. I must find a way to test her.]

“Attendant Sun is dressed quite plainly. The fabric of your gown is fine,” Nian Shilan began.

So Sun Miaoqing really is reborn?!

The Empress had already suspected as much earlier; hearing Consort Hua share the same suspicion instantly confirmed it.

The word “plain” particularly alerted the Empress—hadn’t Zhen Huan, who was unwilling to enter the palace, also dressed plainly?

Was Sun Miaoqing imitating Zhen Huan?

Did she know Zhen Huan ultimately triumphed, so she wanted to replace her?

But didn’t Consort Hua say she hadn’t entered the palace in her previous life?

If she never entered the palace, how would she know about harem affairs?

Resentful after failing the selection, she sent people to inquire?

The Suzhou Textile Commissioner was, after all, one of the Emperor’s confidants, overseeing imperial commerce. It wouldn’t be too difficult for him to gather information about palace matters.

“Thank you for your praise, Consort,” Sun Miaoqing said, offering nothing more.

The Empress took another look. The Sun family lacked no fine fabrics—even Song brocade, which others coveted, their household could likely use as rags.

Yet Sun Miaoqing’s attire was truly unremarkable, merely ordinary brocade.

But she neither called it ordinary nor luxurious, nor did she seize the chance to flatter Consort Hua.

Rather than caution, it seemed she was striving to distance herself from the Nian family.

This person is not simple.