# Chapter 1

== Chapter One ==

In the sixth year of Yuhan, the seventh month still clung to the parched heat of late summer. Yesterday's rain had fallen in a thin, fitful drizzle, and rather than washing away the sultriness, it had left behind only a thick, oppressive closeness in the air.

The selection of imperial consorts, which had lasted two full months, had just concluded. Today was the day the new consorts entered the palace, and the usually solemn and hushed imperial grounds were, for once, alive with unusual bustle. The Bureau of Central Affairs had been run off its feet since dawn. Its chief eunuch, Liu Yi'an, had kept himself stationed within the hall the entire time. When the last of the new consorts had finally filed through the palace gates and no troublesome word had come from Chaohe Palace, he allowed himself, at last, to exhale.

Liu Yi'an had only to think of the current state of affairs within the palace and his head began to ache. The central consort's seat stood vacant, and Consort Gui Zhou held sway over the Six Palaces, her grip on palace power absolute. Yet the Empress Dowager bore no small measure of displeasure toward Consort Gui Zhou.

This selection had been proposed by the Empress Dowager herself. Anyone with eyes could see it was a contest of wills between the Empress Dowager and Consort Gui Zhou. Even the assignment of the new consorts' quarters had been fought over and revised time and again. The Bureau of Central Affairs found itself caught squarely in the middle, unable to please either side. Fortunately, a final arrangement had been settled before the new consorts arrived.

Liu Yi'an's only wish now was that the day would pass without incident, so that some of the weight upon his shoulders might ease.

Meanwhile, the new consorts were making their way to their respective chambers. Before a palace hall not far from the Imperial Garden, one young woman tilted her head back to read the plaque above the gate. Behind her, someone slipped a discreet embroidered pouch into the hands of the escorting eunuch, accompanied by a smile:

"You've gone to such trouble today, good eunuch. Only, my mistress and I are entirely new to the palace and know nothing of its ways. Might you be so kind as to offer a word of guidance?"

The eunuch pocketed the pouch with practiced ease but did not presume to accept the flattery. "You're too kind, elder sister. I wouldn't dare speak of guidance — I only have a year or two's head start within these walls."

Even as he spoke, the young eunuch — Xiao Luzi by name — stole a glance at the woman standing at the fore. Perhaps because this was her first day in the palace, she wore a gown of rich rouge-red in soft, smoky silk brocade, its color bright and luminous, which served only to make her complexion appear all the more like congealed cream. Her slender brows needed no pencil to darken them; a whisper of blush had been dusted across her cheeks like the faint flush of a lotus blossom. Her eyes were lovely, her teeth like pale jade — a beauty of singular brilliance.

Xiao Luzi had grown accustomed to beauties in the palace, yet even he had to concede that this woman's face would stand out even amid the palace's abundance of lovely women.

Perhaps she sensed his gaze, for she turned to look at him. The beauty's face tilted ever so slightly, and a natural, unhurried grace flowed from her without any deliberate effort. She gave a small, composed nod. Xiao Luzi quickly lowered his eyes. Whether it was on account of the embroidered pouch or some calculation of his own, he saw no reason not to do this Talented Lady Chu a good turn:

"Within Zhaoyang Palace, there is only Lady Su, ranked as Shu-pin. There is no principal consort as yet. And since Zhaoyang Palace sits near the Imperial Garden, there is always a pleasant place to wander during one's leisure hours. Talented Lady Chu will be residing in the western side-hall, the Yuqiong Courtyard — a place that is rare in its beauty, whether for its scenery or its size."

"Though Zhaoyang Palace has no principal consort, Lady Su outranks you. Once you have settled in, it would be well to pay her your respects."

Xiao Luzi said just enough and no more, then let his words rest.

Chu Qingwan heard the goodwill in his words. She curved her eyes in a smile and replied:

"I thank you for the guidance."

Xiao Luzi protested that he deserved no thanks, led her to the entrance of Yuqiong Courtyard, and then took his respectful leave in a low voice.

The palace attendants of Yuqiong Courtyard had been waiting at the hall's entrance for some time. The moment they heard movement, they knelt as one to pay their respects:

"Your servants greet their mistress."

A Talented Lady of this rank was attended by six servants — two eunuchs and four palace maids. Since a Talented Lady was permitted to bring two personal maids into the palace, only four palace servants now came forward to pay their respects to Chu Qingwan.

Chu Qingwan let her gaze pass over the four servants without any visible show of scrutiny. From outward appearance alone, nothing could be determined with certainty. Whether they were loyal or scheming was a matter that only time would reveal. Yet the palace was a place where seniority and rank governed everything, and even among those dressed alike, subtle differences could be discerned.

Chu Qingwan understood this perfectly, though her expression remained as it had been — tranquil, revealing nothing. Her features were vivid and luminous by nature, giving her an air of one not easily approached, yet between the gentle downward curve of her fine brows there lingered a trace of softness.

"Rise, all of you."

Her tone was even — neither a sharp warning upon first meeting, nor warmth and amiability. Precisely because of this, the servants found her temperament all the more difficult to read, and they grew, without meaning to, all the more careful and respectful.

Even as Chu Qingwan studied her servants, they were stealing glances at her in return, and each felt a quiet relief settle in their hearts.

The arrival of new consorts was always a time of movement among palace servants. Many would spend money to arrange their own assignments, hoping to be placed somewhere advantageous. To serve a mistress with prospects was, naturally, to be lifted along with her — and setting aside all else, a mistress of such appearance would not be left to languish in obscurity within these walls.

---

As Chu Qingwan walked further into the palace, she turned to give a small nod to the two women behind her:

"These two came into the palace with me. They shall receive the stipend of first-rank palace maids and attend to me in the inner chambers."

Chichun and Nongqiu curtsied lightly and gave their names.

When they reached the inner hall, Chu Qingwan took her time examining the furnishings. The placement of every ornament was considered and proper — not lavish, yet possessed of a quiet, refined elegance all its own. Chu Qingwan's expression eased a little. As the servants were about to withdraw, she called one of them back, and with a faint smile asked:

"What is your name?"

The servant paused, but did not falter. She curtsied neatly: "Your servant is called Songxia."

Chu Qingwan could not help raising an eyebrow ever so slightly. She lifted her hand to her lips to conceal a small smile.

"Your name rather matches those of my two maids. How long have you been in the palace?"

Songxia seemed to sense something, and her manner grew even more respectful:

"In reply to my mistress — your servant has been in the palace for seven years."

A faint light shifted in Chu Qingwan's eyes. The current Emperor had been on the throne for no more than seven years, which meant Songxia had entered the palace in the very year of the new Emperor's accession.

No wonder there had been a subtle tendency among the servants to defer to her as they stood in formation.

Chu Qingwan gave a quiet nod:

"You shall attend me in the inner chambers as well."

Chichun, who had been sorting through the trunks, turned around with a smile:

"We've only just arrived, and there will be much we'll need to trouble Elder Sister Songxia about in the days ahead. I hope she won't find us a nuisance."

A flicker of pleasure crossed Songxia's face. She knelt and bowed: "Your servant is grateful to her mistress, and will henceforth serve with all faithfulness and diligence."

As she rose, she said to Chichun with a touch of bashfulness:

"It is nothing so grand as guidance."

Inwardly, Songxia was clear-eyed about the situation. Chichun and Nongqiu had followed their mistress into the palace and were undoubtedly her trusted intimates. If she wished to earn her mistress's favor, cultivating a good relationship with the two of them was inevitable.

Songxia also felt a wave of relief wash over her. She had gone to considerable effort to secure her placement in Yuqiong Courtyard. Upon learning that her mistress would be bringing two personal maids into the palace, she had already resigned herself to being overlooked at first. Who could have expected that her mistress would take notice of her on the very first day?

Of the eight new consorts who had entered the palace in this selection, only one held the rank of Meiren — a rank of distinction. From the moment the palace quarters had first been assigned, the servants below had nearly come to blows over the chance to attend at Baoxiang Tower. Everyone understood that this particular mistress, so long as she did not destroy herself with her own hand, would remain secure in her position — for she was none other than the legitimate daughter of the current Emperor's elder sister, the Grand Princess, making this Lady Gu the Emperor's own first cousin.

Below Lady Gu in rank came Chu Qingwan herself and one other, a Talented Lady Du. Songxia had never considered Baoxiang Tower a desirable posting, and had ultimately chosen Yuqiong Courtyard. She had not been without her misgivings — until now, having finally set eyes upon her mistress, she felt the unease in her heart at last settle into stillness.

As for the sincerity of Songxia's words, Chu Qingwan neither accepted nor dismissed them. She watched the pleasure on Songxia's face — whether it was genuine or performed for her benefit, she did not particularly care.

What she valued was the length of time Songxia had spent in the palace. To have survived seven years within these walls without incident, and to have maneuvered herself so smoothly into the quarters of a newly arrived consort — Chu Qingwan did not believe for a moment that Songxia was ignorant of the palace's inner workings.

She had just arrived, and she would need someone to help her understand the lay of the land.

---

Chu Qingwan smoothed back a strand of dark hair that had fallen beside her cheek, and said with deliberate lightness:

"I heard that Zhaoyang Palace is also home to a Lady Su, ranked as Shu-pin. You have been in the palace a long while — do you know anything of her?"

Xiao Luzi had not said anything explicit, but in specifically mentioning that she ought to pay her respects to Lady Su, he had already hinted that Lady Su was quite favored. Yet she was to share a palace with Lady Su henceforth, and a single piece of information was not nearly enough.

Songxia felt a quiet alertness move through her. She understood clearly that this was her mistress's way of testing her.

After confirming that she would be assigned to Yuqiong Courtyard, she had naturally made inquiries about Lady Su. Songxia paused briefly, then replied in a respectful murmur:

"Your servant knows little of Lady Su, but she recalls that Lady Su entered the palace during the great selection of the fourth year of Yuhan, at the rank of Baoling. It is said that Lady Su is gentle by nature, and in three years at court she has never been known to make an enemy of anyone. She is well spoken of by the servants below."

Songxia let her voice rest for a moment, glanced up at her mistress, and then continued:

"However, it is said that Lady Su keeps close company with Chaohe Palace."

Perhaps fearing that Chu Qingwan might not know whose residence that was, Songxia lowered her head and added quietly: "The Noble Consort currently resides at Chaohe Palace."

At that, Chu Qingwan could not help turning her gaze upon Songxia. The Noble Consort was the mistress of her own palace — when mentioning that Chaohe Palace was the Noble Consort's residence, there was no need whatsoever for Songxia to add the word "currently."

Yet Songxia had added it deliberately.

Chu Qingwan found herself thinking of the conversation she had had with her father before entering the palace.

She should not have come to the palace at all.

The imperial selection took place once every three years, and all daughters of official families of suitable age were required to participate. In the year she came of age, her grandmother had passed away, and the mourning period had caused her to miss the selection held two years prior. Given her age, she ought not to have been eligible for the next selection, and the family had long since reached a tacit understanding that a suitable match would be arranged for her.

At this thought, Chu Qingwan's fingers shifted almost imperceptibly beneath the sleeve of her gown.

But then the Empress Dowager had issued a decree to select consorts for the Emperor, advancing the date of the selection by a full year.

On the day the decree was made known, her father had summoned her to his study, where she remained for two full hours. Those outside might have imagined that her father would speak of many things — the family's fortunes, the weighing of advantages and risks.

In truth, he had said almost nothing of the kind.

Her father had looked at her for a long, long while, and in the end had said only one thing — the central consort's seat is vacant.

And with that, her choice had been made.

She supposed she was vain, and perhaps too confident in herself. But since she would have to marry someone regardless, and since marriage would always mean tending to a husband and managing a household — why should she not reach for the most exalted position a woman could hold?

Chu Qingwan had known from the start that the road ahead would be treacherous. She had known it was a path with no turning back.

Songxia's words had only made that truth more vivid and immediate — she was not the only one with her eyes fixed upon that seat.

Chu Qingwan raised her gaze. Through the latticed window, she looked in the direction of Changchun Pavilion.

She had not missed the other piece of information hidden within Songxia's words.

Was Lady Su one of Consort Gui Zhou's people?