Chapter 70
Lu Yao entered the palace and was immediately conferred the rank of Cai Nu (采女)—a low-ranking imperial concubine.
As the first new addition to the harem in two years, and handpicked by the emperor, the six palaces were abuzz with speculation. Everyone watched to see if the reigning favorite, Consort Yi, would face a new rival.
However, on Lu Yao’s very first night serving the emperor, she angered him. Wrapped in a brocade quilt, she was unceremoniously sent back to where she came from.
When Li Zhi heard of this, the rumors had already spread throughout the palace overnight.
Lu Yao’s background was humble—she was the daughter of a minor eighth-rank official from Pingzhou. Being new to the palace, she had no allies, and ridicule from others came swiftly and mercilessly.
Li Zhi refrained from joining in the gossip. She found an excuse to leave the Palace Administration Bureau and made her way to Jinglan Pavilion, where Lu Yao had been sent.
Jinglan Pavilion was tucked away in a remote corner of the palace, far from the Ziwei Palace where the emperor resided. If the emperor were to forget about her existence, it would be no different from being consigned to the Cold Palace. Yet, there was a small mercy in this—Jinglan Pavilion was also far from the oppressive reach of Consort Yi’s palace.
Li Zhi stood outside Jinglan Pavilion for a long time before finally stepping inside.
The courtyard was in disrepair. Wild grass sprouted through cracks in the stone, and broken roof tiles lay scattered in the corners, creating a desolate scene.
In the harem, only two kinds of women lived without fear: those who earned favor through their own charm, like Consort Yi, and those with noble birth, like Consort Jing, who could live in comfort regardless of the emperor’s affection.
For women without favor or status, survival was far crueler. Many had to fawn over the eunuchs for a decent meal.
No loving parent with the means to avoid it would ever send their daughter to such a place.
It was said that on the day Lu Yao entered the palace, her parents followed her palanquin, weeping the entire way. They stumbled as they sent her off at the city gates. If not for the Peony Envoy driving them away, they might have continued following her out of the city.
Lu Yao had parents who deeply loved her. She could have lived a peaceful, happy, and ordinary life.
But it was Li Zhi—she—who had plunged a blade into the destiny of an innocent and naive girl.
Should she not bear responsibility for this?
And yet, what right did she have to bear such responsibility?
Li Zhi halted in the middle of the courtyard. From within the house came the faint sound of crying—a soft, heart-wrenching sob that clawed at her chest like a cat’s paw.
The weight of guilt made it hard for her to breathe. She could not face Lu Yao, and so she turned to leave, only to encounter Lu Yao’s maid leisurely entering the courtyard while munching on sunflower seeds.
Seeing an official from the Palace Administration Bureau, the maid turned pale, and the seeds fell from her trembling hands.
Every newly appointed concubine was assigned a palace maid. If the concubine rose in rank, so too would the number and quality of her attendants.
Expressionless, Li Zhi brushed past the maid and ordered coldly, “Come with me.”
The maid, terrified, followed Li Zhi out of the pavilion, her steps unsteady.
Li Zhi deliberately stopped outside Jinglan Pavilion so Lu Yao would not know of her visit. She then turned to the maid with a severe gaze.
“Your mistress is weeping inside, and yet here you are, wandering around and snacking on seeds. Is this the palace discipline your training momo taught you when you entered?”
The maid turned ashen, trembling as she pleaded, “This servant is at fault. Please, Li Sizheng, do not punish me…”
The Palace Administration Bureau was the last place any palace maid wanted to be summoned to. For them, the Palace Administration Bureau was as terrifying as the Imperial Prison was to court officials—a deep, visceral fear ingrained in their bones.
Li Zhi did not even need to threaten her. The maid was already shivering like a leaf.
“Lady Lu is an imperial concubine personally appointed by His Majesty. She may only be of the eighth rank, but even so, she is not someone a maid without rank may treat lightly. If I find you neglecting or disrespecting her again,” Li Zhi said icily, “I will send you back to the Yeting (掖庭) to explain to your momo just how well you were taught the palace rules.”
The maid’s face was deathly pale as she stammered promises never to repeat her mistake.
“Lianzi, is that you out there?” came a soft, timid voice from within the courtyard. Lu Yao must have overheard the commotion.
Li Zhi shot the maid a warning look.
“Go back inside. Do not mention that I was here.”
The maid hurriedly curtsied and scrambled back into the pavilion.
“Lianzi, who were you talking to?”
“Ah, my lady, you must have misheard. I was just singing to myself,” the maid lied, flustered. “Why have you come outside, my lady?”
“I wanted to pour myself a glass of water…”
The maid nearly shrieked in panic. “Please don’t trouble yourself, my lady! I’ll do it for you!”
Li Zhi listened from outside for a while longer. Once she was satisfied that the lazy maid would behave, she finally turned and left Jinglan Pavilion.
Perhaps it was a blessing in disguise that Lu Yao had angered the emperor.
At least for now, Xie Shen would not call for her again.
Though life without the emperor’s favor was difficult in the harem, under Li Zhi’s discreet protection, it might still bring Lu Yao a semblance of peace and quiet.
Li Zhi could only hope that peace would last a little longer.
Translation Notes
- Cai Nu (采女): This was a very low-ranking imperial concubine, often selected from commoner families. Their position reflected their lack of favor and influence within the harem hierarchy.
- Yeting (掖庭): Historically, the Yeting was a department that oversaw palace maids. Being sent back there often meant punishment or retraining—a severe reprimand in palace culture.
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