Why?
Consort Yu looked at the Empress's secret edict, feeling increasingly indignant. She had been loyal to the Empress's faction from the beginning, and had even poisoned Jiang Xinyue together with the Empress.
Why...
Why in the end did the Empress only think of helping their common enemy, without even mentioning her once?
The Xuanwu Emperor had no interest in understanding Consort Yu's resentment. The only reason he still kept Consort Yu around was because she was foolish - so foolish that every time she schemed against others, she ended up hurting herself.
If not for the fact that she was the birth mother of the eldest princess...
Consort De was also caught off guard by this secret edict.
Although the rise and fall of positions in the harem was ultimately up to the Emperor's whims, without the Empress's approval, it would not be proper or justified.
The Emperor ruled the court, while the Empress managed the harem - this was the rule established since ancient times.
It was like how a common man needed his wife's approval to take a concubine.
The Emperor didn't care whether the Empress agreed or not, because he was different from ordinary men, and the Empress wouldn't dare to defy his wishes.
But if the Empress disagreed and the Emperor insisted on making Jiang Xinyue the Noble Consort, everyone in the harem would be dissatisfied, and even the court officials would disapprove of the Emperor's actions.
Now, with the Empress's secret edict in hand and the Emperor's protection, who could say Jiang Xinyue was unworthy?
Both the Emperor and the Empress believed she was capable of fulfilling the duties of Noble Consort. If you still insisted otherwise, wouldn't that just reveal your own desire for the position?
Consort Yu realized that once she could no longer claim the moral high ground to criticize the Emperor and Jiang Xinyue, she had no other way to attack Jiang Xinyue.
Was Jiang Xinyue truly so virtuous that she had never harmed anyone?
No!
Consort Yu believed that Jiang Xinyue was simply too skilled at scheming, never being caught doing evil deeds.
"This concubine... also congratulates Noble Consort on her new position..."
Hearing Consort Yu's gritted teeth, Jiang Xinyue became more alert. This fluttering moth was about to make another reckless move.
"Young Master Xie? Young Master Xie?"
The page boy called several times before finally bringing Xie Chenghui's wandering soul back from the window.
The handsome youth turned his head dazedly, his face still flushed. His mind was filled with that fleeting glimpse he had caught in Chengqian Palace earlier that day.
"Young Master Xie, did you get heatstroke from painting in the sun today? Your face is so red, and you seem out of sorts."
Painter Li, who had quietly approached from behind, grumbled: "I said that such a big project as the funeral illustration was beyond the capabilities of an inexperienced boy like Xie. But of course, he has connections - his father is a first-rank scholar in the Hanlin Academy and will eventually enter the imperial cabinet, so naturally he wants to promote his own son. Ah... we small-time painters may not work less hard, we just have worse luck."
Seeing Xie Chenghui look over, he pretended to have just noticed him and said in a sleazy tone: "Oh! Young Master Xie is still here? How about it, want to treat us lowly painters without connections to some fun at Yihong Tower?"
Among scholars and artists, there were few who didn't frequent brothels.
It wasn't necessarily just to play with girls - sometimes they would go to paint portraits for the courtesans or compose music for them, charging high fees.
For others it was a money pit, but for them it was a way to earn money.
Xie Chenghui had only heard of Yihong Tower but had never been there. Every time he heard Painter Li and the others discussing how alluring and captivating certain girls were, he would blush and feel awkward.
He bowed respectfully to Painter Li as a junior to a senior. Painter Li looked smugly at the other painters.
See that!
So much for being from a noble family!
After being mocked like that, he doesn't even dare to speak up.
But to everyone's surprise, after his polite bow, Xie Chenghui walked directly up to Painter Li and said calmly: "My father is indeed a first-rank scholar in the Hanlin Academy, but he earned that position through his own abilities. The Emperor recognized his talents and personally appointed him. I was able to enter the Imperial Painting Academy because of the Emperor's approval, which is proof of my own skills. Painter Li, you keep saying I have good fortune while you suffer. We are all painters here, and I don't think I'm particularly lucky, nor do I think you're particularly unfortunate. Being able to enter the Imperial Painting Academy makes us all talented artists of Great Yan. If you feel you're suffering so much, when I go to paint the Emperor's portrait tomorrow, I can put in a word for you and ask His Majesty to graciously allow you to retire. Then you won't have to suffer anymore."
"You... I... When did I say I was suffering? I'm doing just fine as a court painter, don't try to cost me my job!" he said nervously while backing away. "Really now, I still need to go paint Consort Yu's portrait! You're making me late."
The page boy snorted coldly as he packed up their things: "What a bully - tough on the weak but afraid of the strong."
Xie Chenghui sighed tiredly: "Let's go. It's time to head back."
The next day, the imperial edict appointing Jiang Xinyue as Noble Consort spread throughout the six palaces. Some had initially felt that Consort De and Consort Yu were more suitable for the position, given their age, seniority, and better family backgrounds.
If a lowborn concubine like Jiang Xinyue could become Noble Consort, why couldn't they?
But when they learned that even the Empress had secretly urged the Emperor to appoint Jiang Xinyue as Noble Consort, their attitude towards Jiang Xinyue changed from resentment to curiosity and admiration.
Captivating the Emperor wasn't such a great feat - if they had Jiang Xinyue's beautiful face and alluring figure, they too could have the Emperor wrapped around their finger.
But the Empress was a woman.
How could she be so generous towards her own rival?
Was Jiang Xinyue truly some kind of enchantress, able to bewitch not just men but women as well?
Whether Jiang Xinyue was an enchantress remained to be seen, but the daily palace greetings couldn't be skipped.
Now that she was Noble Consort, Jiang Xinyue couldn't slack off anymore.
The other consorts already didn't respect her, so if she wasn't diligent, some would look down on her even more.
Consort Xiao stood behind Consort Yu, whispering to those nearby: "Did you hear it last night? There were terrible screams coming from somewhere. It scared me to death."
"My lady heard it too? I thought I was the only one! It truly terrified this servant."
Consort Yu turned around: "What are you all whispering about?"
Consort Xiao fawned over her: "Your Grace, this concubine and Shu Xiang were talking about the screams we heard last night. Could it be that the palace is haunted?"
Consort Yu waved her handkerchief and dabbed at her lips: "There have been countless deaths in the palace over the years. It wouldn't be strange if there were ghosts."
If someone like Jiang Xinyue could become Noble Consort, the first to crawl out of the ground and protest would probably be her sister, Jiang Yutong.
Consort Yu muttered softly: "When a wicked consort holds power, wild ghosts wail in sorrow."
Consort Xiao and Shu Xiang exchanged glances and lowered their heads, giggling.
"Noble Consort arrives—"
All the delicate beauties in the room knelt down: "Paying respects to Noble Consort."
"You may rise," Jiang Xinyue said, wearing the ceremonial robes of a Noble Consort in the same color as the Emperor's dragon robe, looking both majestic and dignified. "What were Consort Yu and Consort Xiao laughing about just now? Why don't you share it with me as well?"
