Chapter Four: Competing for Favor

Huarong touched her nose and sighed heavily, patting Suxin on the shoulder. "In other words, your mistress here has once again fallen out of favor."

Suxin looked utterly thunderstruck.

But Huarong, long accustomed to such matters, consoled her calmly, "Stay steady. It's no big deal. Lose favor a few more times and you'll get used to it."

Suxin thought to herself, “This is really something I never want to get used to!”

…

Inside the Hall of Everlasting Life.

After sending her back, Eunuch Li dutifully returned. "Your Majesty, Consort Rong has been escorted back. This old servant could see that she was heartbroken over not being able to serve you tonight—she cried nearly to the point of fainting. Surely, it could not have been an act."

The Emperor held his brush steadily, dipping it into ink and writing on the xuan paper. His strokes were powerful, resolute, and upright.

After a long pause, he finally spoke. "Send the shadow guards to investigate."

Eunuch Li tried to gauge the imperial will, and asked cautiously, "Does Your Majesty suspect Consort Rong was planted by the Prince of Anding?"

The Emperor finished the last character with deliberate calm.

By the flickering candlelight, the young monarch's lips curled into a faint smile, a trace of menace lingering between his brows. "The more one knows in this palace, the sooner one dies. Eunuch Li, are you so ready to leave this world behind?"

A chill ran down Eunuch Li's spine, and he immediately knelt. "Your Majesty, this old servant was wrong! I will never dare to ask again!"

"Leave."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

The Hall of Everlasting Life once again returned to silence.

Candlelight cast shifting shadows, illuminating and obscuring the man's face in turn.

The traces of blood on the ground had been cleaned away; the air was scented with a faint hint of aloeswood.

…

On the night of her turn to serve the Emperor, Lady Xuanji had fainted from excitement after stepping on her own hem—a mishap that quickly became the subject of amused gossip among the palace’s concubines.

Even the palace maids and eunuchs, when passing by the Hall of Xuanji, could hardly resist whispering and pointing.

Suxin was so angry her nose nearly twisted out of shape.

Huarong, however, was perfectly at ease, sitting on her couch with a brush in hand, scribbling away.

As Suxin ground the ink, she questioned her mistress in aggrieved indignation, "My lady, have you forgotten the master and madam’s instructions? They sent you into the palace to become someone above all others. With your current attitude, forgive me for being blunt, but you are truly failing their expectations."

Huarong picked up a piece of pastry, stuffed it into her mouth, her cheeks puffed up like a little hamster. After swallowing, she asked, "Then tell me, what should I do?"

Suxin clenched her fists in determination. "Fight for favor! If you become the favored consort, all the glory will come to the Hua family. The front court and the inner palace are one; now that there are no more useful men in the family, all hope rests on you."

This speech, meant to rouse her mistress’s fighting spirit, had quite the opposite effect. Huarong’s eyelids only grew heavier. She yawned, tossed aside her brush, and reclined. "Fine, once I’ve had a nap, I’ll go compete for favor."

Suxin was nearly driven mad by her mistress’s indifference.

"Oh, right," Huarong added, "before I fight for favor, I’ll need to fill my stomach, otherwise I’ll have no strength to compete. Tomorrow, I want squirrelfish, braised prawns, something simple for the main dish—chicken soup noodles with beef broth—and a bowl of egg fried rice."

With that, Huarong rolled over and promptly fell asleep.

Suxin could not help but raise a hand to her forehead in despair.

Master, Madam, I have done my utmost to support the mistress, but alas, she is a salted fish who simply cannot be propped up!

…

Huarong slept until noon the next day.

She might have slept even longer if Suxin hadn’t shaken her awake with desperate urgency.

"My lady, wake up! The envoys from Daying have presented a trove of treasures, and His Majesty has specially invited the imperial consorts to enjoy them together."

Huarong drooped her eyelids, about to lie back down. "I’m not going. I’m tired."

"My lady! You absolutely can’t skip this. All the consorts are going—how would it look if you alone stayed away?" Suxin would brook no refusal, hauling her lazy mistress out of bed, dressing her up with considerable effort, and finally helping her into the palanquin. "Lift!"

And so Huarong was carried off to the Jade Pavilion.

She managed to doze off again on the way.

Only when they arrived did Suxin wake her.

Following the winding path, they entered the Jade Pavilion. No sooner had Huarong set foot inside than a voice, dripping with sarcasm, rang out, "Consort Rong certainly puts on a grand show—are you going to keep the entire palace waiting for you?"

That sharp, caustic tone could belong to no one but Concubine Wan.

Huarong looked at her in surprise. "Has it been two months already?"

Su Wanran’s face darkened at the jab. "You—!"

"Enough, let’s have no more quarreling," said Noble Consort Wen—the second most powerful woman in the harem—with gentle grace. "I only begged His Majesty to shorten Concubine Wan’s punishment because I pitied her."

Huarong smiled. "I understand now, Your Highness."

Pitied? So Su Wanran had managed to cling to Noble Consort Wen. Whether this delicate, demure woman was genuinely naive or hiding her true depths remained to be seen.

Palace intrigue was truly exhausting—far better to remain a salted fish and enjoy her peace.

Huarong found herself a seat in a corner. She had just begun to yawn when the eunuch’s shrill voice announced, "His Majesty the Emperor arrives."

All the consorts hurried to compose themselves, their faces blooming with smiles as they offered respectful greetings.

"Long live the Emperor."

The Emperor entered, his gaze lingering on Huarong for a brief moment before moving on, expressionless, as he took his seat at the head.

The envoy from Daying was summoned. After performing the required obeisance and exchanging awkward pleasantries, he declared, "Your Majesty, Daying has long relied on Fengling’s protection, enjoying many years of peace thanks to your benevolence. It is a debt we can never hope to repay. Our monarch has commanded me to present these treasures, hoping to bring joy to the Dragon Throne."

"Minister Jiang is too courteous," the Emperor replied coolly. "Since our nations are allied, and Daying’s sincerity is evident, Fengling will of course treat you with all due courtesy."

Minister Jiang stroked his beard, raised his cup, and toasted the Emperor. "With such a wise ruler, it is no wonder Fengling prospers and grows more splendid by the day. Your Majesty, may I present the treasures before you?"

With imperial assent, Minister Jiang clapped his hands twice toward the doors.

At his signal, a peerless beauty glided into the hall.

She was exquisite—skin like snow, delicate brows, lips as red as coral, white teeth, eyes brimming with charm. Every glance held a world of allure. Her attire was exotic, revealing a slender waist.

Huarong’s interest was instantly piqued.

So the so-called “treasure” was, in fact, a beauty?

Was she here as a spy? To subvert the throne? Did she aspire to be Empress or Dowager?

Who could say? This wasn’t in the book’s plot.

The harem’s concubines, upon seeing the newcomer’s face, first inhaled sharply, then, almost as one, bristled with intense hostility.