Chapter 1: Entering the Palace to Bring Joy

At the age of fifteen, Grape had been following Wang Qingjun closely since childhood, displaying considerable alertness. Upon hearing this, she felt somewhat reassured and whispered, "If it really comes to that, we can report to the Emperor that the young lady is already betrothed to Doctor Li. After all, the young lady's mourning period has ended, and she is indeed at the age to discuss marriage."

Wang Qingjun glanced at the other nine women and murmured to herself. Historically, selecting a consort involves not only choosing based on appearance and virtue but also considering their background. Although these women are decent-looking, they cannot be deemed as extraordinary beauties. Moreover, several of them are dressed plainly, clearly indicating their humble origins. How could they possibly be chosen to enter the palace

A eunuch stepped forward and said: "Your Majesty, today is the Qixi Festival, and it is the Emperor's decree to summon ten Qixi maidens into the palace. If we were to send one back home, it would be difficult to explain."

General Situ's son, Situ Yuan, benefited from his father's influence and secured a position as a fifth-rank military official in the court. Li Zong's son, Li Songbai, however, served as a court physician. Both had promising futures and were excellent candidates. The Wang clan members secretly discussed their plans, waiting for Wang Qingjun's mourning period to end, after which they intended to persuade her to choose between Situ Yuan and Li Songbai for marriage, with the hope of having a son to adopt into the Wang family, ensuring the continuation of the Wang lineage.

She reached out her hand, grabbed the arm of the grape, and pulled her into the palace carriage, panting as she said: "You didn't go to inform the clan leader and others, trying to find a way to get me out of the palace, yet you actually followed me here, are you seeking death?"

Wang Qi had two close friends, one was General Situ, a renowned general stationed at the border, and the other was Li Zong, a famous physician in the capital. Upon hearing of Wang Qi's death, both of them sent their sons to pay their respects, and hinted that after the three-year mourning period, they would come to propose marriage to Wang Qingjun.

After the pulse diagnosis, the palace maid came to examine the body again. After a series of disturbances, someone finally led them to the side room to rest, awaiting the summons of Empress Chen

Indeed. Three years ago, during the war with the barbarian nation, both of my elder brothers perished in battle. After repelling the barbarian forces, my father returned to the capital with injuries, but passed away a month later due to his wounds. My mother, grieving deeply, also passed away shortly thereafter. Now, the Wang family has only this humble daughter left. " Wang Qingjun replied softly, bowing down and saying: "I implore Your Majesty, the Empress, to show mercy and allow this humble daughter to return home.

As Grape gazed at Wang Qingjun, seeing her pair of elegant brows and her autumn-like eyes sparkling with brilliance, he couldn't help but murmur: "Could it be that the young lady's beauty has reached the palace, prompting the Emperor to eagerly welcome her into the palace as a consort?"

Unnoticed by anyone, the grape took out a roll of paper from the corner of her sleeve and handed it to Wang Qingjun.

"Pah!" Wang Qingjun shot a glare at the grape. Although her appearance was quite good, the emperor was accustomed to beautiful women, so how could he be so impatient? Moreover, when it comes to taking a concubine in the palace, there are various protocols, and they would also notify in advance to allow the household to make preparations; it would never be this hasty. If it were not for the eunuch holding the imperial edict and the guards presenting proof, she would almost suspect that these people were bandits disguised to abduct women. What on earth is going on? If it were not for the eunuch holding the imperial edict and the guards presenting proof, she would almost suspect that these people were bandits disguised to abduct women. What on earth is going on?

As the chatter continued, an inner court official entered to convey a message, instructing them to exit the hall in turn and proceed to the adjacent hall for the imperial physician to take their pulses

Not long after Wang Qingjun's mourning period had just ended, an imperial decree arrived unexpectedly, summoning her to the palace to become a consort

Listening to the words of the eunuch, Empress Chen fixed her gaze on Wang Qingjun and slowly said: "Now that you have entered the palace, you are a consort of the imperial family, and everything must prioritize the Emperor. From now on, serve the Emperor well; if you can bear him a son or daughter, you will naturally be granted a title and enjoy great wealth and honor. Do not mention returning home again." As she spoke, she instructed the eunuch: "Take them down to wait for the Emperor's summons."

Wang Qijun's father, Wang Qi, was one of the four great generals of the Tang Empire. Three years ago, he led his two sons to battle against the barbarian nation, where they fell into an ambush. Both of his sons were killed in action, and he himself was severely injured on the battlefield. Shortly after returning to the capital, he succumbed to his injuries and passed away. Wang Qi's wife, Madam Shang, could not bear the shock of losing her husband and sons, and soon fell ill and died as well. Now, the entire Wang family is left with only Wang Qijun, this solitary daughter.

Wang Qingjun unfolded the note and saw that the handwriting was hurried and extremely messy, but it was indeed in Li Songbai's script, which gave her a slight sense of reassurance. After finishing reading the note, she almost ran into a wall, feeling that this time there would be no turning back.

The grape leaned over to look at the note and, with a voice filled with tears, said: "Miss, what should we do about this?"

A woman named Li Danyun sighed, "Alas, today is my birthday, and my mother specially prepared new clothes for me. Before I could change into them, the imperial decree arrived."

What a bolt from the blue! Wang Qingjun is at a loss for tears, as she has no desire to serve the ailing old emperor on his sickbed

On the sixth day of the seventh month, Tang Ruolong suddenly summoned Daoist Qingchen and had a private discussion. That evening, Tang Ruolong issued an edict to search for ten young women in the capital, each aged sixteen and born during the hour of the Qixi Festival, to enter the palace as consorts, arranging for them to bring him good fortune on the night of the Qixi Festival

Everyone suddenly realized and collectively sighed, saying: "It seems that the palace is not selecting a consort, but rather choosing the Seven Clever Girls."

Oh, is there something going on? Wang Qingjun sensed that something was amiss, yet pretended not to recognize Li Songbai

In a fleeting glance, Empress Chen noticed that Wang Qingjun's expression was different from others, so she looked at her more closely. She saw that Wang was wearing a plain silk shirt and a small flower-patterned skirt in royal blue, with floral tassels at her waist and jade fish roe pressed into her skirt. Her entire attire did not resemble that of a common woman, prompting her to look towards the eunuch, who quickly stepped forward to report Wang Qingjun's background.

Upon arriving at Qingning Palace, after the formal greetings and rituals, an inner servant took the register to call the names.

Stop, stop! Wang Qingjun exclaimed in exasperation. As she was about to lift the curtain and jump down from the palace carriage, a glance at the stern eyes of the guards made her reconsider. Sigh, a wise woman does not suffer losses in front of her eyes

Miss, Miss! The grape dashed left and right, relying on her martial arts training, forcefully broke through the guards' defenses, rushed to the side of the royal carriage, climbed onto the carriage's edge, and refused to let go even at the cost of her life

Seeing Wang Qingjun's confusion, Putao comforted her by saying, "Miss, do not worry, it may just be a misunderstanding!"

In the sixteenth year of the Tianping era of the Great Tang, at the hour of Chen, dozens of guards surrounded a magnificent imperial carriage as it sped towards the palace

It turns out that the current Emperor Tang Ruolong has been bedridden due to illness since the beginning of the year, with no remedy proving effective. By the end of June, he was unable to rise from his bed.

I hope so! Wang Qingjun pondered for a moment and whispered in the grape's ear: "I have heard that when a concubine first enters the palace, she must have her pulse taken by the imperial physician to confirm her health before being allowed to enter. Once in the palace, if you see Li Songbai among the physicians who come to take pulses, try to make contact with him. He serves as a physician in the palace and may know what is going on."

Upon hearing the words "Imperial Physician," Wang Qingjun exchanged a knowing glance with Putao, who understood the cue, nodded slightly, and followed her out.

Wang Qingjun exclaimed, "Ah, today is also my birthday!"

Upon arriving at the side hall, Wang Qingjun took a glance and indeed recognized one of the imperial physicians among those present as Li Songbai.

As today is the Qixi Festival, there are many young ladies out and about, mostly purchasing fruits and sewing supplies in the market. Hearing the commotion and seeing the royal carriage, they all inquired of one another: "Which noble person is out on an excursion?"

Wang Qingjun slightly parted her lips; these women came from various family backgrounds and had their own strengths and weaknesses in appearance, but they all shared one commonality: they were born on the seventh day of the seventh month, known as the Qiqiao Festival girls

Wang Qingjun straightened her back, raised her head, and made every effort to attract the attention of Empress Chen, hoping to take the opportunity to reveal her true identity

Upon hearing these words, Empress Chen slightly furrowed her brow

The grape patted its chest in shock and replied: "Early this morning, the palace suddenly issued an edict summoning the young lady to the palace. Naturally, the steward and others will report this to the clan leader. I fear that the young lady, entering the palace alone, will be at a disadvantage, with no one to assist her."

Grapes

Suddenly, someone pointed at a maid who was desperately trying to squeeze beside the royal carriage and said, "Isn't that the maid named Grape who is by Miss Wang's side?"

Wang Qingjun, aged sixteen

Li Songbai was taken aback upon seeing Wang Qingjun, his astonishment evident in his eyes. He quickly lowered his gaze to conceal his expression, as if he did not recognize Wang Qingjun, and extended his hand to take her pulse.

Once the inner servant finished reciting, Empress Chen slowly said: "Everyone raise your heads, let me have a look."

As the palace carriage approached the palace gate, Wang Qingjun quietly lifted the curtain to look outside. It was only then that she discovered several palace carriages were actually parked at the gate, and the young women seated inside also wore puzzled expressions as they lifted the curtains to gaze outside. It seemed that she was not the only one suddenly summoned to the palace today.

Wang Qingjun was infuriated, "So my Wang family is destined to sacrifice for the country?" As she spoke, she tore the note into pieces, crumpling it in her hand, afraid of being noticed, and dared not throw it on the ground. Just as she was about to put it in her mouth, she saw the grape talking with its mouth open, so she stuffed all the paper scraps into its mouth and softly said, "You haven't had breakfast yet this morning, just chew on this to fill your hunger!"

At one moment, an inner servant came to summon them, stating that Empress Chen had requested their presence

Upon hearing this, Empress Chen's expression changed, and she turned to Wang Qingjun and said: "You are Wang Qi's daughter, Wang Qingjun?"

"So am I." The women responded in unison.

A courtier held a booklet, his voice sharp as he read the name Wang Qingjun, pausing slightly, glancing with the corner of his eye to see Wang Qingjun silently step forward and kneel, before continuing to read the next name

It makes sense, Wang Qingjun had the grapes sit beside her and frowned, saying: "Tell me, why has the palace suddenly summoned me in good spirits?"

The imperial carriage quickly entered the palace. Wang Qingjun and Putao were taken to the Xiangyun Hall to rest. Also present in the hall were nine other young women. As they inquired about each other, they learned that they had all received the imperial decree early in the morning, without any time to prepare or dress up, and the guards had forcibly escorted them onto the imperial carriage, bringing them directly to the palace.

Wang Qingjun originally thought that since her father and elder brother had sacrificed their lives for the country and had made contributions, when she met the Empress, she could reveal her identity and plead for mercy, perhaps even being allowed to return home. However, the Emperor was searching for the Qiqiao Girl to bring good fortune, so how could he easily let her go back home

Wang Qingjun hurriedly glanced at Empress Chen, noticing that she was in her early thirties, with a commanding presence in her brows and eyes, truly embodying an air of nobility. She pondered inwardly, wondering whether her plea for mercy to her later would have any effect

The women also sensed that something was amiss, feeling somewhat uneasy. However, after inquiring back and forth, they could not uncover anything. Moreover, they had indeed received the imperial decree, which explicitly stated that they were to enter the palace as concubines. For a moment, they all looked at each other in confusion