"Slap!"
The moment Jiang Xinyue traveled to the Great Yan Dynasty, she was soundly slapped across the face.
Before she could comprehend what had happened after being struck silly, her legs were kicked, causing her knees to hit the pebble path of the Imperial Garden with a "clack".
Under the scorching sun, the beautifully adorned woman wearing an elaborate headdress had piercing phoenix-like eyes that made one's heart race. Her snow-white skin radiated a luminous glow, her nails encased in jewel-studded armor, the very picture of a top-ranking concubine.
"How dare Noble Consort Jiang act so rashly? Our Concubine had set her sights on that hibiscus flower as a token of good fortune. You snatched it away, completely disregarding the hibiscus' auspicious meaning."
Her face and knees burning with pain, Jiang Xinyue swayed and pressed her forehead to the ground. "Concubine Li, your servant was unaware that you had chosen that hibiscus flower. Had I known, your servant would never have dared to compete with you, Concubine. You are the moon in the sky; your servant is but dust at your feet. How could I dare?"
Flattery gets one everywhere. Not knowing the full situation but finding herself in a disadvantageous position, the best option was to swallow her pride and submit.
In short, she was in the wrong, gravely so.
"Hmph!"
"Since you acknowledge your mistake, then kneel here for two full hours to engrave this lesson in your mind. Layue, return to the palace by palanquin."
The mocking laughter and strange looks from the surrounding consorts and palace maids did not faze Jiang Xinyue. Before transmigrating, she was the top psychological healing therapist at the prestigious Jing City noble private hospital.
She had majored in psychology and perfected the art of understanding each VIP client's psyche, a lethal skill that led her to become the highest-paid director of the psychology department within a year.
A few taunts were mere jokes to her ears.
Under the blazing sun, Jiang Xinyue sweated profusely, her disheveled appearance like that of a stray mutt.
Suddenly, memories not her own flooded her mind, and she realized she had transmigrated into the non-existent Great Yan Dynasty of history.
Her original soul was a daughter of a minor noble family, the Ministry of Rites. Despite being the most beautiful among her sisters, she had been chosen, along with her older legitimate sister, to serve the Emperor in the palace.
Originally, the Jiang family intended for her to support her dignified and graceful legitimate older sister in gaining the Emperor's favor. However, the original soul was a beautiful but empty vase, earning the Emperor's affection for just two days before becoming arrogant.
Yet she dared to confront Concubine Li, the most favored concubine in the harem.
Just yesterday, she was pushed into a lake by Concubine Li's palace maids for insolence and fell severely ill. Now, with a high fever, she was dragged to the Imperial Garden and publicly humiliated.
Whether she died from illness or anger, her soul had departed, allowing Jiang Xinyue's otherworldly spirit to take over her body.
Adopting a "when in Rome" attitude, Jiang Xinyue carefully considered her situation.
There was no returning to her previous world. She had been in a terrible car accident while on duty, trying to save a strange old man, her body severed in two. Survival was impossible.
So, transmigrated into this cutthroat harem where genuine affection invites death, how could she conquer the Emperor, preserve her life, and steadily rise in status?
As the saying goes, a transmigrated woman who doesn't aspire to be a concubine is not a good employee.
Since she was here, she couldn't leave without making her mark in history's annals.
"How unsightly."
After everyone had left, a fair-skinned woman in a pink-purple palace dress and an ornate hairpiece stood before Jiang Xinyue. "Father always said your beauty would help me rise effortlessly in the harem. But look at you now? The harem is filled with beautiful women, yet none are as foolish as you. You're digging your own grave, but don't drag me down with you."
Her tone dripped with disdain and loathing, hardly befitting Jiang Xinyue's original body's sister, more like an enemy.
Enduring the searing pain in her knees, Jiang Xinyue looked up.
The original soul had relied on her beauty, acting willfully even in her family's estate, openly feuding with this hypocritical legitimate sister. Entering the palace only worsened their rift, each despising the other.
"As if I need you, a mere Palace Lady, to drag me down? Look at your ordinary countenance; who would believe you're my sister?"
The original soul was targeted for her exceptional beauty. This average-looking woman wasn't worth the effort.
Jiang Yutong's face flushed red with anger. "You'll come begging me one day."
"Why would I, a Noble Consort, beg you, a lowly Palace Lady?"
The original soul had at least earned the Emperor's favor for two days and the title of Noble Consort.
"You...!"
Jiang Yutong, infuriated, stormed off with the help of her maids.
The maid behind Jiang Xinyue sighed, "Mistress, you've only been in the palace for a few days, yet you've offended most of the powers that be. This won't end well."
"Indeed, it won't."
Jiang Xinyue had no intention of taking the gentle, demure path, but she wouldn't openly provoke everyone either.
The original soul must have been a dog, barking at everyone with two snide remarks.
She had offended Concubine Li. Nothing in the harem escaped the Emperor's notice, so she would likely lose his favor soon.
That wouldn't do. She couldn't sit idly and await her demise.
The Cooling Heart Palace housed over a dozen ice tubs, keeping the interior refreshingly cool, not a hint of stuffiness.
The young, formidable Emperor set down his brush. "Wang Dequan, did anything of note occur in the harem today?"
"Nothing significant."
Wang Dequan presented a cup of perfectly tempered West Well green spiral tea and calmly recounted Concubine Li's punishment of Noble Consort Jiang's kneeling.
"Noble Consort Jiang?"
Likely an exceptionally beautiful woman, but after enjoying her company for two days, he had forgotten her, indistinguishable from the harem's many women.
"She dared defy protocol and clash with the Concubine. She deserves to kneel as punishment. Convey my edict: have her transcribe the palace rules twice as penance to Concubine Li."
"Yes, Your Majesty. I shall have someone relay the edict to Xihuo Palace immediately."
Everyone in the palace knew that Concubine Li was the Emperor's dearest. They would sooner offend the Empress than Concubine Li!
This newly arrived Noble Consort Jiang was truly a reckless calf unafraid of the tiger, actively courting death.
After this, there would be no such person as Noble Consort Jiang in the harem!
Jiang Xinyue had just been helped back to Xihuo Palace, her bottom not yet warm, when the Emperor sent a eunuch to berate her, adding insult to her already severe injuries.
Over a thousand palace rules, and she had to transcribe them twice!
The feudal society's hierarchical system was deadly.
She silently thought to herself, "Dog Emperor, wait until I conquer you, and I'll make you transcribe two thousand rules for beloved concubines."
For now, she could only have her maids apply medicine to her bruises while transcribing those damned palace rules.
Changxin Palace—
Layue was combing the long, jet-black hair of her master, letting out a low chuckle: "I thought she was quite formidable, but it turns out she has such little ability. Compared to my master, she pales in comparison. The Emperor cherishes my master, and even punished her by making her copy the palace regulations!"
A blurred, beautiful face in the copper mirror said: "How dare anyone compare themselves to me?"
Beauty, what of it?
Are there not beautiful women entering this palace year after year?
Yet has any of them surpassed her?
Beauty is the least noteworthy asset for a consort in this imperial harem. She should make it her weapon.
