Chapter 08: The Phoenix Arrives, A Glimpse Through the Fragrant Dust (8)
Chief Steward Cui was taken aback and took a long time to respond: "This... this old servant does not know."
The ministers were in an uproar
When first entering the palace, is it more important to compete for these titles, or to quickly find a foothold within the palace?
Ke Qianmei smiled lightly and said, "How could Chief Steward Cui not know? Is he still seriously testing me, a new consort who has only a superficial understanding of the court etiquette? I have yet to hear of a consort of rank one or above who does not have her own palace."
In the moment of silence within the hall, Tang Tianxiao lightly tapped the armrest of his chair and said with a leisurely smile, "Well, that makes sense..."
Although Tang Tianxiao is young, he has been on the throne for a long time. Empress Dowager Xuan has already conferred the titles of Empress, Virtuous Consort, and Esteemed Consort upon him.
Listening to what is called blunt admonition only brings oneself discomfort. Such foolishness is something he would never do
Some families rejoice while others lament, which is nothing more than what was to be expected
The noble consort remains in a state of suspension, as everyone knows it is reserved for the esteemed Yu Wen Zhao Yi, waiting for her to give birth to the imperial heir, at which point she can be rightfully elevated to the position of the foremost among the four consorts
It was unexpected for everyone that she would publicly make such a request; not only did it seem to defy the imperial decree, but her self-importance alone had already offended all the concubines in the harem.
"Yao Hua Palace?" Ke Qianmei shook her head, the small silver pieces and tiny bells in her hair jingling softly. "The Emperor said that I should just temporarily go to Yao Hua Palace to learn the court etiquette of the Han dynasty. I shouldn't have to stay for too long, and I will need to find another palace soon, right? Let's just leave everything as it is for now, to avoid the hassle of moving back and forth later. Chief Steward Cui, don't you agree?"
After a long while, he slowly broke into a smile that was not particularly attractive and said: "Issue an edict, conferring the title of Shufei upon Princess Beihe Kezhu. Yu Wen Zhao Yi is virtuous and chaste, greatly favored by me, and shall be promoted to Guifei."
And who does not know that both the first and second consorts in the palace are close relatives of important officials in the court? When she spoke such words, even the several elderly ministers present refrained from speaking out due to the potential implications.
Tang Tianxiao merely smiled faintly, raising his hand to signal the attendants to announce the end of the court session
Although Ke Qianmei appears to be naive, arrogant, and willful, her disdain for Zhao Yuan's lack of nobility is not entirely without reason
She was greatly favored by Empress Dowager Bei He, and moreover, as she herself put it, she came as a political marriage, which was considered a matter of prestige for Bei He. Consequently, various dowries filled half a convoy, and the numerous boxes and trunks piled up in several rooms. The chief eunuch surnamed Cui from Yaohua Palace, who came to escort her into the palace, found himself somewhat troubled and asked her: "Noble Consort, do all these items need to be moved into Yaohua Palace?"
It seems that she insists on becoming a first-rank consort and is unwilling to accept the position of a second-rank or lower attendant, which indicates that she has considerations in this regard
Ke Qianmei was received into the palace today
His heart trembled slightly, and the fingers that were tapping on the armrest of the chair suddenly froze
Against the bright light outside the hall, Qian Mei was gazing up at him with her chin raised, a faint smile enveloping her warm, flowing aura, suddenly evoking in him a sense of déjà vu.
As for Consort Ning, it was the title given to a woman of the Ning surname whom Tang Tianxiao himself favored. Unfortunately, the young woman passed away prematurely, and there were rumors that she eloped with her beloved to live among the common people. In any case, this Consort Ning has become an indelible thorn in the heart of the young emperor, who still often resides alone in the Yiqing Palace where Consort Ning once lived, and has mentioned that he will no longer confer the title of Consort.
Chief Steward Cui truly does not know whether she is too clever or too foolish