Rip..
The sheet of rice paper in Liu Ruyan's hands tore in half, the freshly painted elegant plum blossom splitting down the middle.
Liu Ruyan thought she had misheard.
"Imperial Noble Consort?" Her delicate brows furrowed. According to the hierarchical regulations of the imperial harem, the ranks of consorts, from highest to lowest, were: Empress, Noble Consort, the Four Consorts, Imperial Concubines, and Noble Ladies.
The Qing State had never before had the title of "Imperial Noble Consort."
Of course, history had seen such a title before. For instance, during the previous dynasty, the Mourning Emperor, whose court was controlled by powerful ministers, was forced to marry the daughter of one such minister as Empress. Yet, his heart belonged to another consort. Unable to defy the ministers, he created the new rank of "Imperial Noble Consort."
