Chapter 2: Empresses in the Palace – An Lingrong

“I, I…”

The young lady was both angry and anxious. “I didn’t do it on purpose. Why must you make things difficult for me?”

“Look at you, so shabby. Whose daughter are you?”

Xia Dongchun proudly lifted her chin. “Don’t you know how much my clothes are worth in silver? If my clothes are ruined, how can I enter the palace for the selection? Kneeling and apologizing is already being generous.”

“You…”

The young lady’s eyes reddened with anger, her face full of grievance. “My father is the Assistant Minister of the Imperial Stables. Please forgive my rudeness, sister.”

“So she’s the daughter of a seventh-rank minor official,” Xia Dongchun sneered with contempt. “No wonder you look so unfit for this place. Hurry up and kneel to apologize.”

The other candidates watched the scene unfold, like spectators at a spectacle.

The matrons seemed to have collectively vanished.

No one dared to step forward to help the unfortunate young lady.

An Lingrong’s gaze rested on the two main characters, Zhen Huan and Shen Meizhuang.

The sisters had just reunited when they were disturbed by the commotion nearby.

Zhen Huan furrowed her brows and stepped forward.

Shen Meizhuang hesitated but did not stop her.

The heroine swiftly pressured Xia Dongchun to leave.

Li Siqi raised an eyebrow, watching the two speak quietly with the young lady, whose expression was cautious.

There was nothing more to watch.

Everyone waited for the summons.

Soon, eunuchs appeared, beginning to call out names to enter the palace.

Group after group of candidates emerged looking dejected, clearly few were selected.

Before long, Zhen Huan and Shen Meizhuang appeared, their faces bright with joy as they spoke while walking out.

It was clear they had been chosen first, especially for the Han military banner.

Li Siqi was in the final group.

When the eunuchs called the names, six of them entered the palace together.

“Greetings to the Emperor and Empress Dowager from An Lingrong, daughter of An Bihuai, the county magistrate of Songyang County. Long live the Emperor, long live the Empress Dowager.”

A clear, bell-like voice echoed throughout the hall.

The tired Empress Dowager and the impatient Emperor both looked up.

Before them stood a woman as pure and fresh as a lotus emerging from water.

Calm and composed, she gave off a refreshing aura.

This mother and son felt a great deal of comfort from her presence.

“Not bad,” the Emperor said, instructing, “Raise your head.”

Li Siqi lifted her chin slightly, her eyelids lowering, allowing those seated to clearly see her delicate features.

Like a blooming flower.

The word flashed in the Emperor’s mind instantly.

Not the most outstanding nor the most dazzling, yet she left him with a unique impression.

“Appearance is acceptable,” the Empress Dowager commented. “Can she read?”

“Your Majesty, I have only read the ‘Three Character Classic,’ ‘Thousand Character Text,’ and ‘Lessons for Women,’” Li Siqi replied.

“Somewhat literate and pleasing in appearance,” the Empress Dowager remarked, then turned to the Emperor. “Your Majesty, what do you think?”

“If the Empress Dowager likes her, let her stay,” the Emperor said.

No sooner had he finished, the eunuch announced, “Bestow the fragrant sachet!”

“Thank you, Your Majesty, thank you, Empress Dowager,” Li Siqi said with proper courtesy before withdrawing.

The remaining candidates were all rejected.

They couldn’t help but cast envious and resentful glances at Li Siqi.

She paid no mind to their thoughts.

Quickly, she left the palace gates.

There she saw Lv He and Hexiang waiting beside the carriage.

“Miss!”

They hurried over.

Li Siqi nodded, “We’ll talk later.”

“Yes!”

With their support, she boarded the carriage and left immediately.

…

In the Imperial Study,

Su Peisheng bowed, “Your Majesty, the Empress has arrived!”

“Send her in,” the Emperor said as he put down his brush and sipped his tea.

Empress Yixiu entered with Jian Qiu, bowing. “Your Majesty.”

“Rise, Empress,” the Emperor said, glancing at her. “What brings you here at this hour?”

“Your Majesty, regarding the new women entering the palace, I wonder what ranks you intend to bestow upon them.”

Yixiu presented the list of ranks and assigned palaces she had prepared with a smile. “These are the ranks I propose for the newcomers. Please review.”

“Let me see.”

The Emperor took the list and quickly focused on the name Zhen Huan, frowning slightly. “Why isn’t Zhen Huan a Noble Lady?”

“Your Majesty, there is one Noble Lady each from Manchu, Mongol, and Han banners. Lady Shen’s father, Shen Zishan, is a third-rank official of Jizhou, and Zhen Changzai’s father, Zhen Yuandao, is a fourth-rank official at the Court of Judicial Review. It wouldn’t be proper to outrank Lady Shen.”

“That’s true.”

The usually rule-abiding Emperor nodded. “I find the way Miss Zhen smiles quite charming. Grant her the title ‘Guan’—from now on she shall be Guan Changzai.”

Yixiu’s smile stiffened. “Your Majesty’s orders shall be obeyed.”

“What about An?”

“Your Majesty, the daughter of the county magistrate of Songyang holds too low a rank… only fit to be a ‘Daying’” (a lower concubine rank).

“I recall she is quite pretty. The Empress Dowager also praised her.”

The Emperor pondered. “Give her the title ‘Xin’—Xin Daying.”

“Yes, I shall thank Your Majesty on her behalf.”

Yixiu gritted her teeth, barely maintaining her composure. “I will arrange for the palace to be cleaned and prepared for the newcomers.”

“Thank you for your efforts, Empress,” the Emperor said pleasantly, a rare compliment. “I will visit you tonight.”

“Yes!”

Yixiu’s smile brightened instantly.

But she did not expect Consort Hua herself to intervene and whisk the Emperor into her Yikun Palace.

Empress Yixiu’s migraine flared in anger.

The next day, she sent Fuzhi into Yikun Palace and handed over the matter of arranging the newcomers’ palaces to Consort Hua.

The entire harem soon learned about the selection.

Consort Hua promptly assigned Zhen Huan to the Suiyu Pavilion.

…

After all, this was the Empress Dowager’s attempt to block her from entering the palace, but the Emperor insisted on admitting Zhen Huan, which earned Consort Hua’s lasting resentment.

The other women’s palace assignments remained unchanged.

…

“An Lingrong, daughter of An Bihuai, county magistrate of Songyang County, is granted the rank of Daying with the title Xin.”

“Yes, I obey!”

Li Siqi was somewhat surprised to find herself among those granted titles.

Lv He slipped a light fragrant sachet into the eunuch’s hand delivering the decree.

The eunuch’s smile deepened.

Pointing to a woman nearby, he said, “Miss Xin, this is Aunt Ruo Lan, who will teach you etiquette.”

Li Siqi bowed politely. “Greetings, Aunt Ruo Lan.”

Another character not seen in the dramas.

“Not at all,” Aunt Ruo Lan stepped aside, bowing to Li Siqi. “Please don’t be so formal with me.”

“Thank you for your help.”

Li Siqi knew well these tutors belonged to the Emperor or Empress’s faction.

She had already decided not to offend them but also not to ingratiate herself.

After the eunuch left, Li Siqi asked Lv He to arrange for Aunt Ruo Lan to rest.

The next day,

Li Siqi smiled kindly at the refreshed woman. “The An family is humble; I hope this isn’t too much trouble for you.”

“Even humble families have their merits,” Aunt Ruo Lan replied softly. “Your temperament is extraordinary, no less than that of noble-born ladies.”

“You flatter me,” Li Siqi said.

She sensed no disdain from her.

She then began to inquire about palace affairs.

Their knowledge was much the same.

In her original story, hers was a surprise presence; otherwise, nothing changed except she received a title.

After learning about palace life, Li Siqi earnestly studied etiquette under Aunt Ruo Lan’s guidance.

Gifted with supernatural abilities and having seen many dramas in her past life, she mastered the teachings quickly.

What would normally take ten or fifteen days, she learned in a few days with great proficiency.

Aunt Ruo Lan secretly admired her intelligence and found herself hoping that this young lady might secure a place in the harem.

Time flew.

Soon, the day arrived for the young ladies to enter the palace.

“Miss, you must be careful inside the palace,” Concubine Xiao said worriedly.

“I will take good care of madam. You don’t need to worry,” Li Siqi replied softly.

“Madam, I will trouble you from now on,” Li Siqi said quietly. “When you return, please give the pills I bought to my mother and father. Make sure not to mix them up. Also, give the pills to my younger brother.

For everything else, wait for my letters. Don’t trust anyone else besides the letters I send back.”