Chapter 9

Chapter Nine

Before entering the palace, Chu Qingwan had received a small booklet from her mother, and the maids had also taught her the rules of attending the emperor's bedchamber.

She had believed that even if she couldn’t handle things with complete ease, she would at least remain composed and self-controlled. No matter how embarrassed she might feel, she thought she could rationally manage everything.

But it was all in vain.

As the waves surged within her, she couldn’t help but bow her head, burying it in the neck of the culprit; hot tears silently fell. He paused for a moment, and when he came to his senses, she was placed on the bed, her clothes in disarray on the floor, the scene chaotic.

She didn’t know when consciousness slipped away, as if she had been drifting on the surface of a sea all along.

When she woke again, warm sunlight was streaming through the carved window lattice, the thin bed curtains unable to fully block out the light. Chu Qingwan struggled to open her eyes. As soon as she moved, a sharp sting of pain radiated through her legs and waist.

She buried her face in her hands, feeling ashamed to face anyone.

This was nothing like what she had imagined.

Just as she had tried to observe carefully during meals, she had also tried to remain composed in the bedchamber. She was neither enthusiastic nor excessively embarrassed, yet all her efforts were in vain. Eventually, someone covered her eyes and sneered hoarsely:

“Save your strength.”

Everything went pitch black. With her sight gone, her other senses sharpened immediately.

When she recalled that moment, the mocking tone that had washed over her made her cheeks burn with shame. Gritting her teeth, she rose from the bed. The other side of the bed was already cold; Xu Yanheng had left at some unknown time.

It was before the morning court session.

Chu Qingwan didn’t bother to dwell on it. She shook the small bell on the bed curtain, and Chi Chun hurried in. Seeing the disarray on the bed, Chi Chun’s face flushed red. “Mistress, you’re awake.”

Chu Qingwan’s face also flushed pink; she dared not meet Chi Chun’s gaze and her voice was a little hoarse. “What time is it now?”

“Almost the hour of Chen.”

Chu Qingwan breathed a sigh of relief. At least she had not missed the time to pay court respects. But perhaps because it had been so difficult to get up today, she wondered silently: since there was no empress in the palace, why was it necessary to pay court respects every day?

Yet this question remained locked in her heart.

Her legs felt weak, and her waist bore faint red marks from fingers. When Chi Chun helped her dress, her face flushed again, bowing her head to avoid looking at her. Chu Qingwan said nothing, turning her head to look out the window as if nothing had happened.

After carefully fixing her makeup, she did not fully conceal the marks of the night before. Everyone knew she had attended the emperor’s bedchamber; any attempt to hide it would be futile.

As a newcomer to the palace, she didn’t need to be flawless in every aspect just yet.

Only those with higher ranks had an escort; Chu Qingwan had to walk to the Chaohe Palace. Perhaps because she had made her stance clear yesterday, or because she had risen late today, she did not see Consort Su when she left Jade Qiong Garden.

This brought her relief—she did not want to deal with outsiders while exhausted.

She arrived at Chaohe Palace neither early nor late. The seats were not fully occupied yet, but as soon as she entered, all eyes subtly turned toward her. Chu Qingwan had anticipated this; slightly flushed, she was helped to her seat by Song Xia.

Consort Su saw her expression and lowered her head to sip tea.

As the hour of Chen approached, a high-ranking seat remained empty—that of Consort Yu.

Even when Noble Consort Zhou emerged from the inner palace, Consort Yu’s seat remained vacant. Chu Qingwan was somewhat surprised; despite Consort Yu’s obvious exhaustion yesterday, she had come to pay respects. She had expected no empty seats today.

After all, Consort Yu’s fatigue was visible to the naked eye.

But on second thought, yesterday was the first day a new consort paid respects; perhaps Consort Yu simply did not want to miss it.

Noble Consort Zhou’s expression was no different from yesterday’s. Once seated, she spoke of Consort Yu: “The Second Prince is still unwell; Consort Yu must care for him. There’s no need to wait for her.”

Chu Qingwan glanced around, noticing the other consorts showed no surprise. A sense of understanding rose within her—was it common for Consort Yu to skip court respects?

Indeed, no matter how much power Noble Consort Zhou wielded, she was not the empress. And Consort Yu, long favored, would hardly show true submission to her.

Just as Noble Consort Zhou finished speaking, her gaze suddenly fixed on Chu Qingwan, and an ominous feeling stirred in her heart. Sure enough, her tone shifted as she addressed her:

“Consort Chu, you served His Majesty last night. You must have worked hard.”

All eyes in the hall immediately turned to her, and no one paid further attention to Consort Yu’s absence.

Chu Qingwan stiffened, inwardly irritated that the noble consort had drawn everyone’s attention to her. She could only show a modest expression. “Your Highness is too kind. Serving His Majesty is my duty, and I do not deserve to be called hardworking.”

Noble Consort Zhou’s gaze flickered over her face but did not linger. Instead, she turned to the other consorts:

“You all must strive to bear heirs for the royal family.”

Chu Qingwan felt the others’ resentful glances. Clutching her cup, she realized Noble Consort Zhou was deliberately stirring up enmity against her.

Recalling Mei Ying’s words, she understood why Consort Su had not joined her today for court respects. Su was clever and would not defy Noble Consort Zhou’s intentions. The only possibility was that Chu Qingwan had refused to ally with her.

So be it.

Noble Consort Zhou had ruled the Six Palaces for a long time, always receiving flattery from the other consorts. She would not offer friendship repeatedly to Chu Qingwan.

She intended to teach Chu Qingwan the harsh truth: one could not walk alone in this palace.

Once Chu Qingwan realized how difficult survival here was, she would learn how to behave.

With Consort Yu absent, the other consorts’ flattery echoed through the hall. Noble Consort Zhou’s eyes caught Chu Qingwan lowering her gaze silently, and the corner of her lips deepened imperceptibly.

******

Today, Consort Su did not wait for her again. Chu Qingwan instantly understood why Noble Consort Zhou had targeted her during court respects.

Frowning, a dull ache crept at her temple. She had not expected Noble Consort Zhou to be so domineering—that if she refused to align with her, she would be singled out.

Without Consort Su’s interference, Chu Qingwan did not linger outside today. Feeling unwell, she only wished to return and rest early.

Unfortunately, that hope was doomed to fail.

Choosing a quiet path deliberately, she was taken aback when she saw a dispute ahead. She exchanged a glance with Song Xia and prepared to step back, but one of the guards atop the escort suddenly looked down at her.

Chu Qingwan froze, knowing there was no avoiding this.

Supported by Song Xia, she stepped forward, casting a subtle glance at the furious, flushed-faced Du Cairen before quickly withdrawing her gaze and bowing lightly.

“Consort Chu greets He Xiurong. Your Highness, good day.”

He Xiurong sat upon the escort’s platform. She first gestured for Chu Qingwan to rise, then sneered mockingly:

“Du Cairen saw this, did she? We entered the palace together, yet Du Cairen is less courteous than Consort Chu. No wonder His Majesty favors Consort Chu more.”

Du Cairen’s face turned dark with anger.

Chu Qingwan looked at Du Cairen, puzzled by her behavior.

Yesterday, Du Cairen had quarreled with Consort Qiu; today, she was in conflict with He Xiurong. Both outranked her. What gave Du Cairen the confidence to act so brazenly? Was she truly unafraid of angering the other?

She recalled that during the selection period, Du Cairen had not been so impulsive.

Du Cairen was quick-witted and sharp-tongued. While Chu Qingwan was still bowing, Du Cairen snapped:

“He Xiurong accuses me of lacking manners. Is she implying that the tutor maids in the Selection Palace deliberately neglected their duties?”

New consorts were taught palace rules in the Selection Palace, where this year’s tutor was none other than Madam Zhou, who served the Empress Dowager.

Chu Qingwan was stunned inwardly. She had not expected Du Cairen to dare openly confront He Xiurong and even drag the Cining Palace into it.

He Xiurong understood perfectly, her expression darkening as she glared at Du Cairen.

“You!” she hissed.

Du Cairen lifted her chin, refusing to yield.

After a long moment, He Xiurong laughed coldly, “Such sharp tongue. Do you really think you can use the Empress Dowager to threaten me? That I dare not deal with you?”

Du Cairen narrowed her eyes and lowered her head.

“Consort Chu would never dare.”

Even as an onlooker, Chu Qingwan could detect the sarcasm in Du Cairen’s tone—how could He Xiurong not?

He Xiurong’s cold gaze fixed on Du Cairen. She knew exactly why Du Cairen acted so brazenly: she had the backing of the Empress Dowager.

Before the new consorts arrived, the Empress Dowager had hinted that He Xiurong should look after Du Cairen. The thought made He Xiurong feel sick to her stomach. Though she held a high palace rank, she was neither favored by the emperor nor blessed with heirs. Between the Empress Dowager and Noble Consort Zhou, she had long aligned with the Empress Dowager.

Perhaps the Empress Dowager, seeing her awkward position, was eager to usher in fresh blood to the palace, and she, as the predecessor, was expected to make way for the newcomers.

If Du Cairen were humble, it would be one thing. But she was anything but.

He Xiurong narrowed her eyes. Seeing Du Cairen’s expression, she knew full well that Du Cairen’s confidence stemmed from her reliance on the Empress Dowager.

Suddenly, He Xiurong sneered coldly: “Du Cairen, for disrespecting your superior, kneel here for two hours.”

Du Cairen’s face changed drastically.

“What?!” she exclaimed.

He Xiurong leaned lazily against the escort platform and drawled, “Do you not understand, Du Cairen?”

Panic finally showed in Du Cairen’s eyes. “How dare you—”

Chu Qingwan raised an eyebrow, wondering what there was for He Xiurong to fear.

He Xiurong was too disdainful to continue arguing with such a fool and ordered:

“Yun Lin, stay here and watch Du Cairen closely. She is not allowed to leave before two hours.”

Yun Lin bowed respectfully. “At your command, mistress.”

No sooner had she spoken than Yun Lin stepped forward and shoved Du Cairen to the ground. She said arrogantly, “Du Cairen, better kneel quickly. You’re wasting time and delaying your return to the palace.”

Chu Qingwan took in the entire scene. She could not understand where Du Cairen’s confidence came from, and from their exchange, it seemed the conflict was more than a simple clash between Du Cairen and He Xiurong.

She recalled Du Cairen’s mention of Madam Zhou, and a thoughtful gleam flickered in her eyes.

After He Xiurong’s escort left, Du Cairen knelt, subdued by the punishment. Her mind cleared; she no longer shouted, but her humiliation was evident. She couldn’t help but say to Chu Qingwan:

“Consort Chu, aren’t you leaving? Are you here to watch me make a fool of myself?”

Being unexpectedly rebuked, Chu Qingwan was at a loss. She was of equal rank to Du Cairen and had no reason to indulge her. Covering her lips, she replied:

“Du Cairen jokes. Even if I were not present, this scene would still be a laughingstock once it spread.”

Du Cairen was still young, and being pointedly reminded of her position left her eyes red with embarrassment.