Chapter 30: The Future Can Be Changed

Caiyue looked up and exclaimed, “Green Chrysanthemums!”

She said in delight, “In all my years, I’ve never seen green chrysanthemums before.”

“The servants from the Flower House said it was Consort Hua who ordered them sent over,” Caixing added.

Shen Meizhuang gently touched the half-bloomed Green Chrysanthemums and murmured to herself, “Such precious things, and Her Ladyship simply bestowed them as gifts…”

Caiyue seemed to understand a little of what her mistress meant by “good person” and “bad person.”

Returning to the hall and closing the door, the mistress and her two maidservants spoke in hushed tones.

Caiyue opened the brocade box and said to Caixing, “This was also bestowed by Consort Hua.”

“Truly worthy of Consort Hua’s possessions—so luxurious. If not for this gift, given our mistress’s rank, we wouldn’t be allowed to use such things.”

Imperial consorts and concubines of different ranks had regulations regarding food, clothing, and makeup. Even the patterns on the Longhua they wore daily were subject to strict rules.

Without the favor of those of higher rank, lower-ranking consorts absolutely could not overstep their station.

Caiyue whispered a reminder, “Mistress, it seems Consort Hua intends to win you over. Everyone knows the two palaces are at odds. Have you… thought this through clearly?”

Consort Hua was not merely trying to win her over; she had even privately promised her the opportunity to learn how to Assist in Managing the Six Palaces Affairs.

She had only just entered the palace, yet Consort Hua was willing to place such trust in her.

This showed that her true nature was not as domineering and arrogant as she appeared on the surface.

The Empress was benevolent and humble. If she knew Consort Hua’s true character, she likely would not consider her an enemy, would she?

Shen Meizhuang knew that, having just entered the palace, she should not align herself too early.

She gazed through the window at the chrysanthemums by the entrance, blooming in vibrant reds, yellows, greens, and purples, before her eyes finally settled on the half-bloomed Green Chrysanthemums.

“The Green Chrysanthemums are precious. Have them moved indoors to avoid being scorched by the sun.”

They were all tokens of Consort Hua’s goodwill.

After all, she was a newly favored beauty, and the novelty had not yet worn off. The Emperor was still willing to think of her, so after court and handling state affairs, he came to Xianfu Palace.

He did not visit Consort Jing but went straight to Changxi Hall.

Recalling how Consort Hua had said that in her previous life, he had bestowed Green Chrysanthemums upon her and allowed her to learn the affairs of the Six Palaces.

Shen Meizhuang’s family background and temperament were indeed worthy of such favor, so he granted them all with a wave of his hand.

But to demonstrate the difference from the previous life, he glanced at the plaque of Changxi Hall.

“Changxi Hall—it sounds like the name of an old scholar. Since you like chrysanthemums, how about renaming it Cunju Hall?”

Small changes, accumulated over time, could alter major events.

The Son of Heaven was always confident.

Shen Meizhuang stared fixedly at the three characters “Changxi Hall”: Consort Hua had predicted this too.

And as for learning to Assist in Managing the Six Palaces, Her Ladyship truly granted it as promised.

The Emperor liked such young, inexperienced girls—their minds were pure. Since Heaven had allowed him to hear Consort Hua’s inner thoughts, it was likely to help him rid himself of the shame of wearing those green hats.

He took Shen Meizhuang’s hand and said gently:

“What? Are you so overjoyed you’ve forgotten to thank me?”

Tears welled up in Shen Meizhuang’s eyes as she immediately curtsied deeply. “Your humble consort thanks Your Majesty for your great kindness.”

She must visit Yikun Palace again to thank Consort Hua properly.

Losing the first share of favor was not a heavy blow to Sun Miaoqing, but she never expected she wouldn’t even rank second or third.

“No wonder that arrogant consort drugged him! Stupid as a pig! Damn him!”

Just as Sun Miaoqing was cursing the Emperor, someone from Jing Shi Fang arrived.

“Congratulations, Mistress, congratulations! His Majesty has chosen your nameplate for tonight. Please prepare to receive His Majesty.”

“Me?”

I thought that old man was already dead?

To think he’s still alive!

Only now does he remember to flip my plaque!

Though cursing in her heart, Sun Miaoqing dared not speak recklessly.

“I thought His Majesty had already forgotten me. It must be thanks to your kind words, Eunuch, that I have this chance to serve the night. Lvzhu—”

Sun Miaoqing signaled Lvzhu to give a reward.

“You are too kind, Mistress. The palace rules have always been to prioritize the Manchu and Mongol banners before the Han.”

Xu Jinliang subtly gauged the weight of the money pouch: truly worthy of the Sun Family from Jiangnan Textile, so generous with their spending.

For the sake of the silver, he didn’t mind adding one more sentence, “In fact, on the first day the new mistresses were to serve, His Majesty intended to flip your Green Head Plaque.”

Indeed!

She hadn’t miscalculated at all.

Sun Miaoqing’s fighting spirit was reignited, and she couldn’t wait to ask, “Then why later…”

With just this little silver, it wasn’t worth offending the Empress for Xu Jinliang. He chuckled, pretending not to hear.

“Don’t worry, Mistress. Today is your first time serving the night. Nanny Liu from the Director of Bedchamber will teach you the rules.”

Nanny Liu stepped forward to bow.

Sun Miaoqing also slipped a pouch of silver to Nanny Liu, requesting permission to apply her makeup.

Matters in the harem were truly too unpredictable; she needed to take control of everything herself.

Sun Miaoqing pulled out the bottom drawer of her dressing case and took out a small box of lip rouge.

She hadn’t wanted to use it so early, but her looks were not considered stunning, and her family was not in the capital. From what Xu Jinliang implied, someone in the palace was targeting her.

For now, all she could rely on was the Emperor.

But the Emperor’s visits to the harem were already few. After this favor, she didn’t know when the next would be.

So she had to keep the Emperor, preferably giving birth to a child as soon as possible to secure her position.

However, the Emperor was nearing fifty, and there were times when he couldn’t perform as desired. She had no kidney tonic to regulate the Emperor’s health, so she could only borrow An Xiaoniao’s method in advance.

Sun Miaoqing carefully outlined her lips in front of the bronze mirror.

Attendants were not allowed to stay overnight in the Hall of Mental Cultivation. The Jing Shi Fang personnel reminded them three times outside the hall. The Emperor, mindful of the rules, had no choice but to stop.

Xu Jinliang said to Su Peisheng at the door, “The sun coming out late at night—today is truly strange.”

He meant that the Emperor rarely showed such lack of restraint.

Su Peisheng sighed, “If Heaven wants the sun to rise in the east and rain in the west, who can control it?”

To live long, one should meddle less in the Emperor’s affairs.

After that, the Emperor flipped Sun Miaoqing’s plaque several times in a row. Being newly entered into the palace, Sun Miaoqing feared being too obvious and discovered. From the second time onward, she only applied the lip rouge lightly.

Shen Meizhuang, due to learning about assisting in managing the six palaces, often visited Yikun Palace.

She did not oppose Nian Shilan, and Nian Shilan naturally did not deliberately make things difficult for her.

On a pleasant autumn afternoon, the two sat by the window, one copying accounts and the other reviewing ledgers.

“Your Highness, the Records Register from the Jing Shi Fang has been delivered.”

Songzhi knew Her Highness used to care most about this.

But Nian Shilan was not very concerned about it now. However, holding the authority to assist in managing the six palaces and receiving an extra salary for it, she had to keep up appearances.

It was also for the Emperor to see.

She put down the ledger and opened the Records Register. “His Majesty is in quite the mood this month, visiting the harem rather frequently.”

[Except before the Palace Selection, when the Emperor was slightly mentally unstable and visited Yikun Palace multiple times in a row, normally he was busy with state affairs, visiting the harem only six or seven times a month. This month, he actually came a full ten times.]

Eight new entrants, four served the night.

“Noble Lady Fucha twice, Attendant Sun~ four times, you…” Nian Shilan looked up at Shen Meizhuang, “only once?”

This was vastly different from her previous life.

[Where there is abnormality, there must be a hidden scheme.]