11 Time-Travel to the Qing Dynasty (11)

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Wenyao’s entry into the palace was scheduled for the first day of the third lunar month. The emperor’s birthday fell on the eighteenth day of the same month. Since childhood, Wenyao had always celebrated her birthday together with her cousin. Even after their birth mother passed away, the cousin still entered the palace to pay respects on that day. It was because of this tradition that the Empress Dowager issued a special decree, prompting the emperor to eagerly finalize Wenyao’s date of entry.

Once the date was set, he instructed Liang Jiugong to carefully select palace attendants to serve her. Liang Jiugong was still young and had not yet taken on any apprentices, so naturally, he had none to send to Chengqian Palace. However, others did. Zhao Youcheng, the steward of the Southern Fruit Department, took advantage of the cover of night to visit the quarters of the Imperial Steward. The next day, Liang Jiugong arranged for Zhao Youcheng’s godson, Xiao Dezi, to enter Chengqian Palace.

Xiao Dezi assumed the duties of chief eunuch in Chengqian Palace and proudly reclaimed his original name—Zhao Defang. Born with the surname Wang, Zhao Defang had once enjoyed a few years of a comfortable life before entering the palace. Unfortunately, his biological mother died, and his father remarried, making the eldest son inconvenient. Even before the stepmother arrived, his father sent him to Yang Xiaodao to be castrated. After being adopted by Zhao Youcheng as a godson, Zhao Defang even changed his surname.

The first task Zhao Defang undertook upon appointment was to select several young eunuchs from the Southern Fruit Department to replenish the attendants around Wenyao, relieving the Imperial Steward’s office of any worries. The palace maid in charge was also assigned by Liang Jiugong—a senior maid named Songqin, who had served the Empress Dowager in Jingren Palace. She had since taken a vow of chastity as an aunt and had been guarding the doors of Jingren Palace until Wenyao’s arrival, when she promptly packed her belongings and came to Chengqian Palace.

Dong Rui and Chun Ling bid farewell to Wenyao and entered the palace early through connections at the Imperial Steward’s office. Dong Rui’s original surname was Zhangjia, and Chun Ling’s was Wanliuha. Dong Rui belonged to the Plain Blue Banner, while Chun Ling was from the Plain Yellow Banner.

The Zhangjia family was a prominent Han bannermen clan, with members in the Plain Blue, Bordered White, and Bordered Yellow banners, wielding considerable influence within the Imperial Steward’s office. The Wanliuha clan, like Chun Ling herself, was discreet and low-key yet deeply strategic. Members of the Wanliuha family could be found in every department of the Imperial Steward’s office, all bearing honest and straightforward faces that disarmed suspicion.

Wenyao had chosen these two clans specifically. Both had produced capable daughters: the Zhangjia clan gave birth to Consort Min, mother of the Thirteenth Prince Yiqin; the Wanliuha clan produced Consort Ding, mother of the Twelfth Prince Luqin. The former became an iron-capped noble in the Yongzheng era, and the latter was a formidable presence stirring the pot in the Qianlong reign—both not to be underestimated.

Wenyao thought to herself that since she could no longer bear children, finding two good girls to serve as sons for her was only natural. With Dong Rui and Chun Ling in place, the daughters of these two families naturally belonged to the Chengqian Palace faction. Whether the emperor would take pity on her and grant her a child before those princes were born was uncertain, but she was open to whatever came her way—the more, the better.

After Dong Rui and Chun Ling entered the palace, Lady Jueluo first sent Ling Shuang to serve Wenyao. As for the senior maids guarding the storehouse and tea room, they were busy inventorying. Aside from the dowry items, daily necessities beloved by the mistress also had to be moved into the palace.

They were thoroughly occupied.

“Is Ling Shuang serving you well?” Lady Jueluo asked, placing a hand on her waist and showing her prominent pregnancy as she approached.

“Very well. Ling Shuang is steady; my daughter uses her so often she’s reluctant to return her to you,” Wenyao replied with a smile. It was early spring, but she still wore her winter coat to maintain the feeble sickly image she was accustomed to.

“If she doesn’t want to go back, just have her come into the palace with you. It’s only a nominal registration at the Imperial Steward’s office,” Lady Jueluo waved dismissively, as if it were no trouble.

Seeing Ling Shuang’s sudden nervousness, Wenyao covered her mouth to laugh gently. “Better not. Ling Shuang is no longer young; she must not waste her years in the palace with me. You should prepare to find her a good match.”

Lady Jueluo glanced at Ling Shuang, who blushed so deeply it seemed her head might steam. Her pregnancy-addled mind began to function again. “Come to think of it, Ling Shuang is nineteen now, isn’t she?”

“Yes, madam. I will be twenty after the New Year,” Ling Shuang respectfully answered.

“Then it’s time to find her a match.”

Turning back to Wenyao, she patted her hand. “Girls that age won’t serve you long in the palace. It’s better not to have her follow you inside.”

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“In the future, you need not forcefully keep the palace maids. Train the younger ones early, raise them in your own chambers, teaching them personally. When those older reach around twenty, show favor by letting them marry out. A young woman’s bloom only lasts a few years; releasing them early will earn you goodwill. If you hold them back, it breeds resentment and ill will.”

Lady Jueluo had come to teach Wenyao the ways of managing subordinates.

She may have lacked as a mother, but as a matriarch, she was first-rate—especially after the betrayal by a senior maid involving her own daughter, she had worked hard to improve in this regard.

Wenyao listened intently. Despite being a spirit for centuries and having learned various skills from the restless ghosts of burial grounds, no family entrusted their matriarch to those cursed places.

Lady Jueluo lectured from dawn until dusk, only stopping when Tong Guogang returned, then she retired to the main residence.

In the following days, she personally guided Wenyao daily, even involving her in managing household affairs. Though she only needed to oversee Chengqian Palace after entering the palace, one could never be too careful.

Lady Jueluo now held an inexplicable confidence in her daughter. Though she regretted her daughter’s inability to bear children, she also considered it a blessing. Bearing children was like passing through the gates of death; no matter how good a grandson, he could never compare to a loving daughter.

As for the Tong family’s prince…

Wenyao was right in saying the emperor could never come consecutively from the Tong clan for two generations.

Lady Jueluo’s instruction continued until the end of February.

The Imperial Steward’s office had already measured and delivered several daily wear Manchu outfits and jewelry. The palace had yet to adopt the flowerpot headdress trend, so only ordinary embroidered shoes were prepared, but they were meticulously crafted with gold thread and adorned with southern pearls at the tips.

The night before entering the palace, Lady Jueluo stayed with Wenyao to keep her company.

Rarely sharing a bed, mother and daughter naturally spoke of intimate matters.

“These books were given to me by your Guoluo Mama before I married. When the emperor begins selecting consorts, you can read them.”

“The emperor is young, and though you’re two years older, your stature hasn’t fully developed yet, so don’t rush to gain favor. You are the emperor’s cousin, childhood playmate—your bond is different from others. Focus on cultivating your relationship with him.”

“Your health is weak; you cannot bear children. This is both a disadvantage and an advantage. The emperor will pity you more and may gather beautiful palace maids in the rear chambers. When your health falters, they can be presented to gain favor instead.”

“The emperor is your cousin, but above all, he is the emperor. You must grasp the boundaries carefully. Never grow arrogant from favor. Though Chengqian Palace is your residence, it is not your home. Should someone in your palace catch the emperor’s attention, you will grow distant from him, and the schemers in the Imperial Steward’s office will not treat you kindly.”

As the matriarch, she knew all the hidden intrigues.

Even among her own household staff, there were traitors; the vast imperial palace was far worse.

The more she spoke, the more worried Lady Jueluo became.

Wenyao listened quietly until Lady Jueluo, exhausted, fell asleep. Then she closed her eyes as well.

The next morning, before dawn, Wenyao rose to bathe and dress. Her glossy black hair was styled into a bun with two side locks, adorned with various accessories, and she donned her embroidered shoes last.

Alongside Wenyao, who was already granted the rank of consort before entering the palace, were Yihenara, Wanyan, and Shumulu clanswomen. These three came respectively from the top three banners, along with five lesser-ranked consorts, totaling eight entering the palace.

Wenyao entered the palace through the Shenwu Gate.

Immediately upon entry, she was escorted to Chengqian Palace.

The palace had received notice early. The central gate was opened, with steward aunt Songqin and palace maids standing to the left and Zhao Defang with young eunuchs on the right. As soon as her sedan chair landed, they knelt to pay homage to their mistress.

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“Rise,” Wenyao said, stepping down and steadying herself. Songqin quickly rose and reached out to support her arm.

“The emperor came to Chengqian Palace last night himself. He said the mistress’s body is weak and ordered the dragon heater to be lit early, so she can enter a warm chamber directly without catching cold,” Songqin said respectfully, her words tinged with familiarity.

The original Wenyao had grown up in Jingren Palace, where the maids serving Empress Dowager Tong had watched her grow up. That intimate care was unmatched by others.

Following Songqin’s lead, Wenyao entered the main hall. Its furnishings matched the design she had sketched earlier on the estate.

“The emperor opened the main hall for the mistress’s daily reception, entertainment, and meals. The rear hall serves as her sleeping quarters.” In other words, she held the power of a consort in practice, though not in name.

“Quite so,” Wenyao said, finally satisfied after touring the main hall.

Once inside the warm chamber, she removed her cloak to reveal a lighter jacket underneath.

The newly installed dragon heater radiated sufficient warmth, and her cheeks soon flushed rosy red. Dong Rui and Chun Ling hurried to change her into a thinner spring garment.

“Mistress, the storehouse and tea room still lack staff. I have selected a few clever ones to begin training, but you must personally choose the final attendants.”

“No rush. You two lead them to unpack the items first.”

“Yes, mistress.”

Clearly, Wenyao intended to personally oversee the selection.

When at home, Chun Ling had been the guardian of the courtyard. Now with Songqin, they covered inside and outside, and their routines had nearly synchronized. Upon receiving orders, Chun Ling quickly left to attend to tasks, leaving only Dong Rui to attend closely by Wenyao’s side.

“Is the study prepared as I requested?”

“The emperor personally arranged it and even sent several travelogues to fill the shelves,” Dong Rui said, pointing to the inner chamber. Originally a resting room, it had been converted into a study. Thanks to the fireproof walls, it was warmer than the outside air.

“Looks like we need no longer worry about books getting damp.”

With such dryness, they might even add water basins to increase humidity.

“The west side houses the warm chamber and study. The east side’s main hall is for dining. Further in lies the summer pavilion with green gauze curtains.”

The main hall was five bays wide; aside from the center hall for receiving consorts’ greetings and ceremonies, every other space had been fully furnished.

The more Wenyao looked, the more she liked it.

Just as she was happily flipping through a book, Songqin reported.

“Mistress, the emperor has left Jinghe Gate and is coming to Chengqian Palace.”