Among the gifts the Emperor bestowed upon Jiang Xian, one was especially unique. Liang Yuyin personally delivered it into her hands, reminding her to take it back to Yizhu Pavilion and to be careful not to let her hands get cold.
It was a pumpkin-shaped hand warmer inlaid with a ring of gemstones. Small in size, it was less stately and more lively and youthful, making it a very suitable gift for a young concubine. It showed more thoughtfulness than the usual rewards of silks and satins.
Jiang Xian knelt to give thanks.
'Getting my boss's approval and commendation makes all of last night's hard work worth it!'
"Shu Changzai, please rise." If Mr. Liang had been approachable when fetching her last night, then the Mr. Liang helping her up today could only be described as downright amiable. "The Changzai has served the Emperor well, and His Majesty has specially granted a palanquin to escort you back to Yizhu Pavilion. Please board the palanquin, Changzai."
The palanquin was carried by eunuchs.
The ride was exceptionally steady—certainly more comfortable than walking.
Meanwhile, the harem was buzzing with the news that the Emperor had summoned an unknown, low-ranking concubine.
Though "Peeping Emperor's Footprint" was forbidden, knowing whose nameplate the Emperor had chosen was a piece of low-level, marketable intelligence. Any concubine who cared even a little about winning his favor could easily find out.
Many people's first reaction was—
Jiang Daying, who's that?
Only on second thought did they recall her: she was the concubine the Noble Consort had picked on during the first morning greetings, the one with practically no presence.
It wasn't that the harem was cold-hearted; there were simply too many women. Who would spare a second glance for a low-ranking concubine with no favor and no family connections? As for being hassled by Noble Princess Consort Rong… there wasn't a concubine in the harem who hadn't been subjected to her backhanded compliments. It was like an initiation quest upon entering the palace; everyone was used to it.
At this stage of the news, most concubines in the harem would simply scoff at the girl's luck and leave it at that. It was perfectly normal for the Emperor to favor one of his Concubines, hardly something to get worked up about.
The only one who couldn't sleep was Consort Guo.
Consort Guo, who had been single-mindedly convinced the Emperor would choose her nameplate again tonight.
"You should rest, My Lady. If you stay up any longer, you'll have a hard time at the morning greetings tomorrow," her palace maid urged.
Consort Guo's eyes welled with tears.
After being punished by the Noble Consort and forced to copy the Palace Rules all day, she had been stewing, determined to win the Emperor's favor that night. She had sworn to become even more favored than Noble Princess Consort Rong, setting her sights on Rong's glorious battle record of monopolizing the Emperor for over half a month…
And what happened? The very next day, the Emperor chose Jiang Daying's nameplate.
Jiang Daying?
Consort Guo was dumbfounded for a long moment before finally recalling that face, as radiant as a peach blossom.
She still couldn't believe it!
Hearing that the Emperor had only chosen her nameplate after a chance encounter with Jiang Daying in the Plum Garden made it even harder to believe.
"What right does she have? Someone like her… how could she possibly know where to run into the Emperor?"
Consort Guo vaguely recalled having snatched Jiang Xian's hot water back in Chuxiu Palace. She hadn't thought it was a big deal. Before entering the palace, her father's official rank had been higher than Jiang Xian's father's—there are distinctions between the high and low-born. After entering the palace, she was made a Noble Lady, while the other girl was just a lowly concubine, not even living as prosperously or respectably as her own Chief Palace Maid.
And this girl from a minor family, someone she wouldn't even deign to look at, had somehow intercepted her favor!
Consort Guo sat stiffly all night, unable to figure it out.
By the time dawn broke, news had spread that Jiang Daying was promoted to Changzai and had been granted the title "Shu." Now, Consort Guo couldn't just not figure it out; she was on the verge of despair.
To think that just the night before, she had been the first one chosen, feeling an immense sense of glory and considering herself the foremost among the new concubines.
She never expected it would be Jiang Daying who received the glorious favor of a promotion *and* a title.
"My Lady, it's time to go for morning greetings with the Empress."
her palace maid reminded her cautiously.
Having not slept a wink, Consort Guo was helped out the door by her palace maid, her steps unsteady.
The other concubines, in contrast, had slept soundly. But when they heard the news upon waking that Jiang Daying had become Shu Changzai, they too were astonished. They moved with newfound alacrity, eager to get to the morning greetings and lay eyes on the newly titled Shu Changzai.
After returning to Yizhu Pavilion, Jiang Xian washed and dressed, then went to the main hall to head to Jianzhang Palace for the morning greetings with Chen Daying.
Mian Xia was puzzled. "But didn't the Emperor excuse you from today's greetings, My Lady?"
'The number one rule of workplace survival: never go over your immediate superior's head to suck up to the top brass.'
'As the saying goes, a distant magistrate is less important than your direct supervisor. If Yizhu Pavilion had a main position lady, and if the harem weren't a bit different from an office, the first person I should have tried to please upon entering the palace would have been that main position lady, or the Empress.'
'The Empress is also management—the CEO, no less.'
'And me, a Changzai…'
'A Changzai and a Daying are probably on the same level as the front desk staff.'
'I'm now a receptionist with a nice title. Receptionist Shu.'
Jiang Xian said, "I appreciate the Emperor's kindness, but I still must go to the morning greetings. You might not understand the reasoning, but Chen Daying should."
Chen Daying was right behind her.
Yesterday, they had walked shoulder-to-shoulder; today, Chen Daying was half a step behind. Hearing her name, Chen Daying nodded emphatically. "I get it! I totally get it! Being chosen by the Emperor is such a glorious honor for your ancestors! Of course you have to go to the greetings and show off! What a magnificent occasion! To do otherwise would be like wearing a brocade gown in the dead of night!"
"…"
'I overestimated Chen Daying.'
Jiang Xian said, "It's about the rules. I value the rule of paying morning respects to the Empress! Also, don't just throw around idioms and spout such outrageous nonsense."
Chen Daying looked skeptical.
Jiang Xian glanced at her and asked what she was thinking.
Chen Daying said, "I'm thinking about some very cunning things."
"Tell me."
"I'm thinking that since you were promoted to Changzai today, someday you'll be the main position lady of Yizhu Pavilion. Then I'll be under your command, trying to get by. So shouldn't I make a preemptive strike and start flattering you now?"
Chen Daying had a sweet, baby face, but she was pondering this with great solemnity, her eyes shining with a clear, simple-mindedness. It made Jiang Xian gasp—a main position lady had to be of Pin rank, and there were a full four ranks between a Changzai and a Pin.
'In the scenario playing out in Chen Daying's mind, I must have picked up the script for a power-fantasy novel like *Battle Through the Heavens*, destined to enter the palace, pummel the Noble Consort, kick the Empress, and unite the harem…' As a mere wage-earner, Jiang Xian didn't dare to dream so big. She could only say with a heavy heart, "Please, don't be 'cunning' anymore. Any more cunning and it'll start sounding treasonous. Or, how about you just be cunning in your head and don't say it out loud? It's really scary."
Wanting to get on Jiang Xian's good side, Chen Daying obediently shut her mouth.
However, the truly scary part was still to come. Jiang Xian hadn't even stepped into the main hall of Jianzhang Palace when she heard Ma Wanyi's shrill voice lodging a complaint. "The Emperor had to attend court this morning, yet someone insisted on pestering him late into the night. It's completely shameless! The harem isn't some commoner's backyard where one can just grab on and refuse to let go. Your Majesty the Empress cannot simply sit by and ignore this!"
Ma Wanyi paused, then added, "I see Your Majesty doesn't look well. Could it be you also slept poorly last night because of this?"
Jiang Xian froze with one foot over the threshold, unsure whether to step forward or back.
The eunuch at her side, however, made the decision for her:
"Shu Changzai and Chen Daying have arrived—"
Jiang Xian heard Chen Daying whisper behind her, "Sir, you didn't actually have to announce me yet. I could have waited to go in later. I'm in no hurry."