The noble girl is beautiful.

In the height of summer, during the seventh lunar month, the Empress of the Middle Palace gave birth to a daughter. A full-month celebration was held in the Imperial Garden, and the noblewomen of the court were all invited to attend.

This summer was particularly hot, with pomegranate blossoms blazing like fire, and not a cloud in the sky. The early-arriving noblewomen took their seats in the waterside pavilion, each fanning themselves, while the ice in the braziers quickly melted into water. Despite the efforts to keep cool, the heat persisted, and the sweat threatened to ruin their makeup if they weren’t careful.

“Why hasn’t the banquet started yet?” a young noblewoman complained in a low voice.

Her companion replied, “There’s still an important guest who hasn’t arrived.”

“Who could be considered an important guest in the palace?” the young lady asked.

Another girl, fanning herself, said, “It’s none other than that lady from the Shen family.”

“Her? How is she an important guest?” the first girl said, “Wasn’t it said last year that her sister stole her marriage prospect, leaving her an unwanted spinster?”

“Hush!” her companion warned, “Things are different now. Earlier this year, the eldest daughter of the Shen family got engaged to the Regent. The wedding is set for the autumn. With her status now, she is indeed an important guest.”

The young lady finally understood, though she stubbornly added, “But it’s not exactly a good match, is it? The Regent is not young anymore.”

Another girl laughed, “He may not be young, but he’s the most esteemed man in the land. Haven’t you noticed how many people are eyeing the open spots in his household?”

The women chatted quietly for a while until palace maids discreetly entered and replaced the ice in the braziers.

In the palace of Consort Shen, several ladies from the Shen family were gathered, chatting.

Shen Qingyan was dressed in a dark purple palace gown, with a nine-phoenix hairpin adorned with tassels in her hair. Every smile and gesture radiated charm, giving her an air of unmatched beauty among the concubines. She sat at the head of the room, with Shen Yourong, Shen Qinghan, and Shen Sihui seated below her. Palace maids brought iced fruit tea and served the ladies with great care.

Shen Yourong sat primly in her seat, chatting with Shen Sihui, who was visiting the palace for the first time and still somewhat timid.

“Aren’t we going to the banquet?” Shen Qinghan asked.

Shen Qingyan, eating a piece of fruit, replied, “No rush. The Empress is still busy. If we go now, we’ll just be waiting around in a crowded, stuffy place. It’s much more comfortable here in my palace.”

In the past six months, Shen Qingyan had been living quite comfortably in the palace. As a noble consort, her provisions were second only to the Empress. She had seen and tasted all sorts of luxuries. With only the Empress ranked above her, and with the Empress not being particularly troublesome, the lower-ranked concubines dared not provoke her. Outside, the influence of the Duke of Qi’s household had risen, even surpassing that of the Empress’s own family, the Duke of An. The palace staff and eunuchs were all eager to curry favor with her.

If there was anything that still troubled her, it was the new emperor. Since injuring his legs, the emperor had become increasingly irritable, often replacing his attendants every few days. Although the Empress served him diligently, he frequently scolded her. Shen Qingyan, who preferred to avoid him, found that he often sought her out.

Whenever they met, they quarreled. The emperor resented her, accusing her of abandoning him after his injury, calling her heartless and unfaithful. She argued back, pointing out that their previous affection had always been tinged with calculation. When it came down to it, who was truly in the wrong?

Shen Yourong suddenly remembered something and asked, “Has the Empress named her daughter yet?”

Shen Qingyan shook her head, holding a teacup. “As soon as His Majesty heard it was a girl, he left without saying a word. Even the gifts were sent afterward, let alone a name.”

Shen Qinghan remarked, “There’s talk that His Majesty is preparing to select new concubines.”

“Yes,” Shen Qingyan said, “In fact, new people have been entering the harem throughout this period. Although His Majesty is injured, his ability to produce heirs is not affected.” Lowering her voice, she added, “He dreams of having a son.”

An emperor with a successor wouldn’t fear having his throne taken halfway through his reign. However, given the current circumstances, it was clear that things wouldn’t go entirely according to his wishes.

Shen Yourong took a sip of tea and looked up to see the head eunuch of Shen Qingyan’s palace entering. He was young and handsome, with fair skin, so striking that he left a lasting impression. She couldn’t help but glance at him again.

The eunuch served Shen Qingyan tea, and their relationship seemed quite close. As she accepted the tea, Shen Qingyan noticed Shen Yourong’s gaze and teased, “Oh, has my elder sister taken a liking to someone?”

Shen Yourong blushed and replied, “What nonsense are you talking about?”

Shen Qingyan laughed and said, “Ah Lu, go and pour my elder sister some tea.”

Jiang Lu walked over to Shen Yourong with a smile and said, “My lady, allow me to pour you some tea.”

Shen Yourong, feeling embarrassed, accepted the tea and said, “Thank you.”

Jiang Lu smiled and replied, “You honor me, my lady.”

From her seat above, Shen Qingyan remarked, “In this world, anyone who hasn’t caught my elder sister’s eye can hardly be called beautiful. Ah Lu, you’re truly fortunate.”

Bored in the palace, Shen Qingyan had gathered a group of handsome eunuchs, among whom Jiang Lu was the most outstanding and sensible.

He bowed to Shen Yourong before leaving.

Shen Qinghan couldn’t help but comment, “This Eunuch Jiang is indeed quite handsome.”

Shen Qingyan glanced at her and said, “Are you considering a change of heart? Let me tell you, you’re still a young lady who thinks looks are all that matters. You don’t yet understand the other virtues.”

Shen Qinghan blushed and protested, “Oh, what are you saying? You’re talking like those unruly men outside.”

Shen Qingyan burst into laughter. The Empress didn’t concern herself much with palace affairs, and with the emperor effectively sidelined, Shen Qingyan had grown increasingly fearless.

Shen Sihui, not understanding, asked, “Elder sister, what virtues?”

Shen Yourong, both amused and exasperated, said, “That’s not something you should learn or ask about. You’ll understand when you’re older.”

By then, it was time for them to leave for the banquet in the Imperial Garden.

Shen Yourong and the others had just arrived when the Empress followed. She was dressed in a bright red palace gown embroidered with clusters of flowers, wearing a phoenix crown and pearl earrings. Her entourage carried the empress’s symbols of authority, embodying the grace and dignity befitting the mother of the nation.

Shen Yourong and the others performed the ceremonial bow, and the Empress approached her, helping her up, saying, “No need for formalities.”

As Shen Yourong stood, the Empress smiled and said, “Sister Shen, why don’t you sit beside me and Consort Shen?”

Shen Yourong agreed and sat with Shen Qingyan on either side of the Empress, while the other concubines took their seats below.

As the banquet began, those present couldn’t help but notice how the Empress treated Shen Yourong with such respect, each silently reflecting on the matter. Shen Yourong, however, didn’t feel overwhelmed by the attention, nor did she become arrogant because of the Empress’s favor. She remained composed and graceful, indifferent to the praise or blame.

The Empress observed her. She was dressed in a slate-blue long gown with an emerald green silk cape, standing tall and elegant like a piece of jade polished by water, cool and serene. The Empress couldn’t help but feel a pang of regret—if only she had chosen differently years ago, selecting Ji Chengyao when he was just the Fourth Prince. Otherwise, it might have been Shen Yourong who became the princess consort of Prince Duan.
The banquet wasn’t particularly interesting. The Empress’s eldest princess was only brought out for a brief appearance before being taken away again.

The conversation among the noblewomen naturally shifted to their children, a topic in which Shen Yourong had little to contribute. The younger women didn’t dare to engage her in conversation either.

The Empress invited the eldest daughter of the Shen family to stay and chat, with Consort Shen following along as they made their way to the Empress’s palace.

The Empress’s palace was not as lavish as Shen Qingyan’s, but it was grand and solemn, exuding an air of antiquity. The Empress asked Shen Yourong to sit and then had the princess brought out. She smiled at Shen Yourong and said, “It’s too hot outside, so I didn’t dare take the princess out. You probably didn’t get a good look earlier. Now that you’re here, it must be fate for you to see her up close.”

Shen Yourong replied, “Your Majesty is too kind.”

The princess was brought over by her nurse, and Shen Yourong looked at the small child with a palm-sized face, sleeping soundly with her eyes closed. She didn’t touch her, only remarked, “The princess resembles Your Majesty—both have the look of someone blessed.”

The Empress smiled and said, “Since you like the princess so much, why not give her a name?”

Before Shen Yourong could respond, Shen Qingyan laughed and said, “Your Majesty, have you forgotten? The princess is of noble birth, and her name should naturally be chosen by His Majesty and yourself. How could an unmarried young lady name her?”

The Empress paused, then smiled, “I was just caught up in the moment and wasn’t thinking clearly.”

She sipped some cold tea to calm her nerves, then said, “My brother is not very capable and was misled into embezzling funds from the Ministry of Revenue. Now that your brother is handling the case, I was hoping you could arrange for my family to visit him.”

Shen Yourong pressed her lips together and said, “These matters are for the men to handle; I don’t usually get involved.”

The Empress’s expression darkened slightly, and just as she was about to say something, a voice from outside announced, “His Majesty has arrived!”

Shen Yourong and the others quickly stood and knelt to greet him.

In the ensuing silence, only the sound of wooden wheels rolling across the floor could be heard. Shen Yourong glanced up and saw the Emperor sitting in a wheelchair, being pushed by a eunuch as he moved up a specially modified ramp to take his place at the head of the room.

“Rise,” he said in a cold, gloomy voice, his expression dark and menacing, a far cry from his once-glorious self.

From the moment he entered, the Emperor’s gaze was fixed on Shen Yourong like a venomous snake.

“Isn’t this the eldest daughter of the Shen family?” His voice was cold as he scrutinized her. “Just as the rumors say, she’s truly of noble bearing. I should have listened to my mother’s advice back then and taken you as my wife. But tell me, do you think your so-called ‘fortunate fate’ only benefits Prince Duan?”

His words were sharp, dragging up old grievances without any restraint. Shen Yourong lowered her eyes and remained silent.

Shen Qingyan frowned and was about to speak when Changming entered, bowing to the Emperor and Empress before saying, “Prince Duan was in the palace earlier for a meeting and is about to leave. He sent me to escort the eldest daughter of the Shen family.”

Shen Qingyan signaled for Shen Yourong to leave, and she obediently bowed and left with Changming.

No one bothered to ask the Emperor’s opinion, and his face grew even darker as a result. The Empress personally handed him a cup of tea, but he angrily threw it to the ground, the sound of breaking porcelain ringing out sharply.

Outside the Empress’s Qianqiu Palace, Shen Yourong let out a long sigh of relief and said to Changming, “Thank you for your help today.”

Changming waved his hand, “You’re too polite. Prince Duan is waiting for you up ahead; let’s go.”

Following his direction, she saw Prince Duan standing not far away, dressed in a robe embroidered with golden clouds over a layer of sheer white fabric, a jade belt around his waist. He stood tall and dignified, exuding an air of nobility.

Their eyes met from afar, and she was reminded of a heavy rain from years ago.

But things were different now. As she approached him, his eyes immediately softened with a smile, “Come, I’ll take you out of the palace.”

She nodded and walked alongside him.

She recounted the events in the Empress’s palace to him, who scoffed, “The An State Duke’s family is a bunch of useless people. Their only daughter is now desperately trying to seek divine intervention. But don’t worry about it—just accept the Empress’s courtesy without concern. Even if you don’t do anything for her, she wouldn’t dare speak a word against you.”

Shen Yourong thought for a moment and asked, “Isn’t that just using someone else’s power to assert dominance?”

Ji Zhuo glanced at her, “And you’re not willing to borrow that power?”

She didn’t reply, but she smiled to herself.

Seeing her silence, he asked, “Was that the only thing? Why haven’t you mentioned the little eunuch in Consort Shen’s palace?”

Shen Yourong hesitated, then said, “That…”

He interrupted, “Was he good-looking?”

Shen Yourong’s eyes darted around as she replied with a playful smile, “Of course, he can’t compare to Your Highness.”

He gave her a cool look, “So you did compare him.”