Chapter 138: Extra Story – The Selection of Imperial Consorts

 

A palace servant had just reported that something had happened to the sixth miss of the Marquis Guo’s family.

 

The previous Marquis Guo had joined the expedition during the Xuanfu incident, and during the battle, he died heroically trying to protect the emperor. Qin Yi couldn’t bring himself to punish such a loyal servant who had died for the nation, so he pardoned the Marquis Guo’s family, allowing them to inherit the title at the same rank. The eldest legitimate son of the Marquis Guo had also died in the war. The remaining sons were either born of concubines, or the legitimate sons were too young. Eventually, the title was passed on by the late marquis’s mother to his younger brother. This sixth miss was the legitimate daughter of the new Marquis Guo.

 

Somehow, this Miss Wu ended up wandering near the front of the palace and happened to run into Qin Yi. Qin Yi, out on a walk, suddenly encountered a young woman. Naturally, he had her sent directly to Chu Jinyao. Miss Wu was now in one of the side halls, and it was said that the Marchioness Guo had already arrived.

 

After the palace servant finished reporting, they anxiously watched Chu Jinyao’s reaction. However, Chu Jinyao was calm. She even listened to the next scene of the play that was being performed before she gracefully rose and excused herself, saying she needed to change, then headed toward the side hall.

 

Hearing the report, Linglong frowned. Now that they were out of sight of the stage, she quietly asked, “Your Majesty, what do we do about Miss Wu’s situation?”

 

“It’s not about how we handle it, but rather, what Miss Wu or her family is hoping to achieve,” Chu Jinyao said, seeing through the matter clearly.

 

Linglong nodded, understanding the underlying schemes at play, and fell silent as they continued walking toward the side hall.

 

Inside the side hall, the Marchioness Guo was comforting her daughter. When she heard the palace servant announce the empress’s arrival, she quickly dried her daughter’s tears and whispered, “Sixth Miss, stop crying. I will go speak with the empress.”

 

Chu Jinyao entered the hall and took her seat at the head of the room. The Marchioness paid her respects, then sat at the side, discreetly using a handkerchief to dab at her eyes. “Your Majesty, my daughter was unfamiliar with the palace and mistakenly wandered into the imperial front courtyard, where she accidentally encountered His Majesty. Please relay my daughter’s deepest apologies to His Majesty for disturbing him. It was truly disrespectful.”

 

“No need to be so formal, Marchioness,” Chu Jinyao said with a smile. “It’s nothing. His Majesty certainly wouldn’t hold such a small matter against a young, inexperienced girl. However, I’m curious how the young miss ended up lost in the gardens of the front courtyard. Was there no palace maid or eunuch to guide her? How did she manage to wander so far?”

 

The Marchioness hesitated awkwardly. “I’m not sure myself. It must have been because there weren’t many people around at the time. Your Majesty, as you can see, my daughter is still upset. She’s young and shy, and this is the first time she’s ever encountered any man besides her brothers. What happened today has truly unsettled her…”

 

Chu Jinyao remained silent. The Marchioness, waiting for a response, couldn’t help but call out, “Your Majesty?”

 

Chu Jinyao smiled, looking at her calmly. “Isn’t this a family matter for the Marquis’s household? Why ask me? Whether Miss Wu decides to cut her hair and become a nun or devote herself to Buddha with a life of piety, that’s something the marchioness should decide.”

 

Linglong had to suppress a laugh. Over the years, Chu Jinyao’s skill in quietly delivering sharp rebukes had only grown more refined.

 

The marchioness’s face stiffened. “Your Majesty, my daughter is still young, and it would be a tragedy for her to become a nun. Your Majesty, forgive me for being so forward, but this year marks the third year of His Majesty’s reign. By tradition, this would be the time for the selection of new consorts. Since my daughter has already encountered His Majesty, it wouldn’t be proper for her to marry elsewhere. Her age is also suitable for the selection. Perhaps, Your Majesty, you could consider her for a position in the palace, regardless of rank?”

 

After making her request, the marchioness quickly added, “I know this might be breaking protocol, and I hate to trouble Your Majesty, but as a mother, I’m only looking out for my daughter’s future. Your Majesty, you have children yourself, so I’m sure you can understand a parent’s heart.”

 

Chu Jinyao thought to herself, who asked for your understanding? My children wouldn’t do something like this. But she couldn’t say that outright. After a pause, she replied, “You’ve thought this through, Marchioness. But who told you there would be a selection this year?”

 

The marchioness was taken aback. By tradition, a new emperor would hold a selection of consorts within the first three years of his reign. In the past, even emperors in mourning had held such selections. The fact that Qin Yi hadn’t conducted one in his first year was already surprising. Many in the capital had assumed it was due to financial constraints. Now, with three prosperous years gone by and the imperial treasury full, it was unthinkable that the emperor’s harem would remain vacant. The marchioness had been certain there would be a selection this year. Allowing her daughter to meet the emperor ahead of time didn’t seem like a problem; after all, strict rules of virtue didn’t apply in the imperial family.

 

But Chu Jinyao’s calm and relaxed demeanor seemed to suggest otherwise. Could it be true? No selection? The marchioness, dumbfounded, couldn’t believe it.

 

“Your Majesty…”

 

“Marchioness, I’m afraid both you and your daughter are in for a disappointment,” Chu Jinyao said nonchalantly. “His Majesty personally told me that the harem is already too large, which is unfair to the young women of the common people. So he has no intention of holding another selection. Since the beginning of the Jinghe era, I’ve released nearly ten groups of palace staff. Holding a selection this year would make all those efforts pointless, don’t you think?”

 

The marchioness was stunned. What had she just heard?

 

But Chu Jinyao had no further interest in explaining. She stood up, her gaze casually sweeping past the folding screen, then smiled faintly and called for Erxue. “Erxue, Miss Wu seems to be in shock. Bring her something to calm her nerves.”

 

Erxue obeyed, leading a group of palace servants behind the screen, where they presented a tray with a book titled The Admonitions for Women.

 

The marchioness’s face turned even paler. She knew exactly who Erxue was—a well-known palace servant in charge of disciplining newcomers. All the palace staff feared her. Seeing the book Erxue carried, the marchioness’s heart sank further.

 

Every family has its troubles, and whether Miss Wu was being manipulated or not, Chu Jinyao didn’t care. But the outcome for Miss Wu served as a clear message: the powerful families of the capital needed to rein in their ambitions.

 

When they returned home, Miss Wu wept in her grandmother’s arms, and the marchioness wiped her own tears. Meanwhile, the first madam of the family stood aside with her children, watching the scene with some satisfaction.

 

The marchioness was heartbroken. If her daughter had been selected for the harem, it would have been a blessing. Now, with the empress’s gift of The Admonitions for Women, who would dare propose marriage to Miss Wu? The noble circles held no secrets—word would spread, and her daughter’s future would be bleak.

 

Feeling resentful, the marchioness couldn’t help but grumble, “The empress is too domineering. She only has one prince and refuses to allow more women into the palace to bear children for the emperor. And now she’s ruined my daughter’s prospects, all because she’s a bit prettier than the others.”

 

The first madam couldn’t help but scoff, loudly enough for everyone to hear. “You have some nerve. Maybe Miss Wu is considered beautiful within the Marquis’s household, but where did you get the audacity to think she could compete with the empress? It’s laughable.”

 

“Sister-in-law, how can you say that? Mother, look at how Sister-in-law is siding with outsiders instead of helping her niece!”

 

Before the old matron could speak, the first madam, who had once been the Marchioness Guo, sneered and said, “Outsiders? Do you realize who you’re talking about? That’s the empress! Who gave you the nerve to speak against her? Instead of reflecting on your behavior, you dare criticize the empress in front of others?”

 

The first madam shook her head in disbelief. With the imperial secret police lurking everywhere, daring to speak ill of the empress was practically a death wish. The Marchioness Guo was risking her family’s title and position.

 

“I…” The marchioness faltered, realizing the danger of her words. She lowered her voice, “I’m just thinking about our family. Should we really let Wu’er’s future be ruined like this?”

 

“You brought this upon yourselves by trying to scheme in the palace. Now you’ve been made an example of, and you blame others?”

 

This remark struck a nerve. The marchioness’s voice rose sharply, “Sister-in-law, you must be pleased with yourself. If it weren’t for your family’s meddling, Wu’er wouldn’t have been tricked into going near the emperor!”

 

That last accusation wasn’t entirely fair. While there had been some manipulation, Miss Wu wouldn’t have ended up near the emperor if she hadn’t harbored ambitions of becoming a concubine. The situation was a mix of schemes and personal choices, but ultimately, it was Miss Wu’s own desires that led to her downfall.

 

The first madam, still amused, thought to herself, who told you to have such foolish ambitions? Of all the people to target, you tried to undermine the empress.

 

The first madam had married into the family as the official wife, and unlike the more carefree second branch, she had a much keener sense of political danger. The current empress was clearly the emperor’s most cherished person, someone he had risked delaying his ascension for, even when it meant breaking tradition. The mere thought of challenging her position was absurd.

 

As for the selection of new consorts, the first madam felt it was unlikely to happen. She had seen the emperor and empress go through too much together—rising and falling in power, enduring suspicion and political unrest. Their relationship was forged through shared hardships and triumphs, far beyond the reach of a young, naive girl like Miss Wu.

 

“The selection of consorts is a significant event, involving many families in the capital. Do you really think the emperor can just cancel it?” The marchioness remained skeptical. “What man can resist young beauties being presented to him? Especially the emperor? Besides, there are rumors that the empress has been unable to conceive again since having the crown prince.”

 

But the first madam remained convinced. “Just wait and see.”

 

For years, noble families in the capital had held onto the hope of sending their daughters into the palace to secure wealth and power. Yet, three years passed without a single selection. Instead, rumors spread that the empress was pregnant again. Then another three years went by, and instead of a selection, the court began discussing the matter of establishing the crown prince. As more time passed, it became clear: Qin Yi had no intention of adding more concubines.

 

The empress remained the sole mistress of the imperial harem, her status unchallenged. Even when the empress took years between pregnancies, there was no move to fill the palace with new women. Finally, the courtiers had to accept what they had long refused to believe: this emperor, like his father, was utterly devoted to one woman.

 

But where the previous emperor had indulged many, Qin Yi had focused all his affection on a single person—Chu Jinyao. And for those who had once hoped to manipulate the emperor’s personal life, it was a bitter pill to swallow. The emperor, as it turned out, was not someone they could control.