Ming Dynasty: Is a mere unruly commoner rebelling against heaven?

After Zhong Yue left, Chen Yuanyuan, who had been serving all morning, breathed a heavy sigh of relief and sat down on the soft couch, rubbing her lower back.

Li Xiangjun also relaxed as if she had been granted amnesty, and collapsed onto the soft couch.

"I'm exhausted. I've been on edge all morning. Why are there so many rules in this palace?"

"Get up quickly! What do you look like like that!"

Gu Hengbo slapped Li Xiangjun's bottom, causing her to cry out in surprise and immediately scramble up.

Gu Hengbo reprimanded her with a stern face, "Li Xiangjun, you must properly understand your position from now on, do you hear me!"

"Right now, you are just a palace maid. You must understand the rules and not be disrespectful."

"The mistress dotes on you and indulges you, but others won't."

"People in the palace value rules the most. If you break the rules, you will cause trouble for the mistress, understand?!"

Gu Hengbo's stern words made Li Xiangjun's eyes widen, and tears soon began to fall.

"Xiangjun knows… knows, I'm… I'm sorry."

Li Xiangjun's desire to cry but her fear of doing so made Chen Yuanyuan feel a little sorry for her.

Chen Yuanyuan stepped forward to hug Li Xiangjun, gently comforting her, "Don't cry, don't cry, it's okay. Hengbo didn't mean to scold you."

Although Gu Hengbo felt sorry for her in her heart, she still scolded her with a stern face.

"Mistress, you are just too indulgent towards her. If she continues to be so unruly, she will bring disaster upon the Jieyu sooner or later."

Chen Yuanyuan was soft-hearted, but she couldn't be.

Gu Hengbo's strictness towards Li Xiangjun at this time was for the sake of the entire Yuqing Tower.

Chen Yuanyuan could understand Gu Hengbo's thoughts, and she also felt a little embarrassed.

"Hengbo, Xiangjun is the youngest of us, so it's understandable that she has a childlike nature."

"Don't worry, let's take it slowly. We've only just entered the palace today."

"Oh, you…"

Gu Hengbo sighed helplessly.

At the same time, Liu Rushi and Dong Xiaowan also arrived at their respective Yonghe Palace's Biluo Pavilion and Zhongcui Palace's Yaochi Garden.

Both of them were very satisfied with their residences. Although they could only live in the side halls, the magnificent and luxurious atmosphere was unparalleled in the world.

Finally, the Gentle Lady Gu also arrived at the Changchun Palace's Zhaolu Pavilion.

When Gentle Lady Gu arrived, the Changchun Palace was deserted. Not to mention flowers, there weren't many colorful paper decorations or lanterns hanging up.

Moreover, the location of this Zhaolu Pavilion was relatively remote, and it was also the smallest of all the side halls.

Clearly there were so many empty side halls, but they still only assigned her the smallest one.

Obviously, the differential treatment between the concubines had already begun when their ranks were determined.

"Gentle Lady Gu, you will live here from now on."

"This servant will be waiting outside the hall. If you need anything, just let me know."

The eunuch in charge of the Zhaolu Pavilion, Xu Jiang, was not very old. After he finished speaking, he remained standing quietly by the side.

Gentle Lady Gu waved her hand, "Thank you, Eunuch. Chun Ya, give him a reward."

"Yes."

Gu Gentle Lady's personal maid, Chun Ya, also took out a bag of silver fragments and handed it to Xu Jiang.

Xu Jiang's smile became even more ingratiating after receiving it.

"Gentle Lady Gu, please rest."

Only then did Xu Jiang happily retreat from the Zhaolu Pavilion.

Although Gentle Lady Gu's rank was the lowest, her father's official position was the highest among the five women.

Chen Yuanyuan and the others were only adopted daughters of Zhang Wenshao, so let's not talk about them for now.

Zhang Wan'er's father was only a supervisor of the Imperial Academy, an official of the eighth rank.

But Gu's father was the Vice Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial, of the fifth rank.

Her family background was more solid than the other four women.

This was also why Zhu Youcheng only gave Gu's the rank of Gentle Lady.

The more prominent the family background of the concubine, the lower the rank the better.

After the five concubines rested in their respective palaces for a while.

They walked towards the Ciqing Palace where Empress Dowager Wang was located.

…

Inside the Ciqing Palace, there was a bustling crowd.

Wang's had not seen such a scene since she was promoted from empress to empress dowager.

As the legal mother empress dowager, Empress Dowager Wang's status was more noble than Empress Dowager Wu's, so the concubines came to pay their respects to her first.

Zhang Wan'er specially wore the hairpin that Empress Dowager Wang had given her today.

She stood at the head of the concubines, followed closely by Chen Yuanyuan, then Liu Rushi, Dong Xiaowan, and Gu's.

All behaviors and actions in the palace must be arranged according to rank, and no one may overstep their bounds.

"Your concubines pay their respects to Empress Dowager."

The five newly promoted concubines paid their respects to Empress Dowager Wang at the same time.

Empress Dowager Wang looked at them with a smile, her heart filled with joy.

Looking at the concubines' respectful appearance, she finally tasted the taste of power.

"Everyone, please rise quickly, be seated."

"Thank you, Empress Dowager."

After the five concubines sat down, Empress Dowager Wang asked again.

"Today is the first day you officially moved into your respective palaces. Are you satisfied with the environment?"

Zhang Wan'er took the lead in answering, "Returning to Empress Dowager, Xianfu Palace is really too beautiful, this concubine likes it very much."

Empress Dowager Wang's smile deepened when she saw the jeweled hairpin on Zhang Wan'er's head.

"It's good that you like it. The location of this Xianfu Palace is the best among the West Six Palaces. This dowager specially chose it for you."

Zhang Wan'er hurriedly got up again to thank her, "This concubine thanks Empress Dowager for her kindness and for taking the trouble."

Empress Dowager Wang smiled, "It's not troublesome. Now that His Majesty is determined not to establish an empress for the time being."

"But the harem cannot be without a master for a day. There is no way, so this dowager and Empress Dowager Wu are temporarily in charge of the harem affairs."

"But the position of empress will have to be chosen one day sooner or later."

"You are the first batch of young women to enter the palace. In this dowager's opinion, this position of empress must be chosen from among the five of you."

"You must perform well in the future and win the emperor's favor. Each of you has the opportunity to become the empress of the Great Ming."

Although Empress Dowager Wang said that everyone had the opportunity to become empress.

But her eyes had been fixed on Zhang Wan'er.

The women knew that Empress Dowager Wang was secretly supporting Zhang Wan'er.

Zhang Wan'er was deeply valued by Empress Dowager Wang, and the joy in her heart was imaginable.

"Yes, this concubine will keep Empress Dowager's teachings in mind."

After Empress Dowager Wang chatted with the other concubines for a few words, she dismissed the women and told them to go to Renshou Palace earlier to pay their respects to Empress Dowager Wu.

After the five concubines left Ciqing Palace, Zhang Wan'er got on a palanquin and walked lightly towards Renshou Palace.

Taking a palanquin in the harem was a special privilege only for concubines of the pin rank and above.

Other low-ranking concubines could only ride together during imperial consorts, when the emperor bestowed a palanquin, and when following the emperor to other palaces.

Today, they entered the palace in sedan chairs, which was also a kind of emperor's gift, only this once.

Watching Zhang Wan'er walk away, Liu Rushi walked to Chen Yuanyuan and Dong Xiaowan's side and lowered her voice.

"Empress Dowager Wang supports this Consort Kang so much, it seems that she is very likely to become the empress."

Dong Xiaowan was very open-minded, "If she doesn't sit in the position of empress, someone else will."

"Our origins have already destined us to be out of reach of the position of empress."

Liu Rushi felt a little uncomfortable in her heart, "I understand this, but I don't think Consort Kang has the generosity and the appearance of being the mother of the world."

"I'm afraid, Consort Kang is jealous."

Liu Rushi's words made Chen Yuanyuan and Dong Xiaowan frown.

"Then the other Gentle Lady Gu…"

Dong Xiaowan glanced at Gentle Lady Gu behind her, and shook her head again.

"Gentle Lady Gu was obviously chosen by His Majesty to balance the northern and southern origins of the harem."

"Even the rank was only given to the lowest Gentle Lady, so it should be impossible."

Chen Yuanyuan interrupted their conversation, "Oh, don't think about it, let's go quickly, don't delay the time to pay our respects to Empress Dowager Wu."

Liu Rushi and Dong Xiaowan stopped talking about this matter and quickened their pace to Renshou Palace.

The location of Renshou Palace was not good. It was not in the East and West Twelve Palaces, nor was it the Cining Palace and Ciqing Palace where the Empress Dowager and Imperial Concubines lived.

It was a quiet palace outside the East Palace, and few people usually came and went.

After the late emperor abolished Wu's position as empress, he moved Wu's from Yikun Palace to Renshou Palace.

This stay lasted for twenty-three years.

Zhu Youcheng had previously planned to move Empress Dowager Wu to the Cining Palace where Empress Dowager Zhou had lived.

The palace was larger, the location was better, and the decorations were more gorgeous.

But he was rejected by Empress Dowager Wu.

She had lived in Renshou Palace for more than twenty years and had feelings for it, so she was unwilling to move.

Zhu Youcheng had no choice but to follow Empress Dowager Wu's wishes and let her continue to live in Renshou Palace.

Only from this time on, the eunuchs and palace maids who entered and exited Renshou Palace were several times more than before.

The five concubines came to Renshou Palace and, as in Ciqing Palace, first paid their respects to Empress Dowager Wu.

"Your concubines pay their respects to Empress Dowager."

Empress Dowager Wu smiled and watched the concubines salute her, her eyes a little moist.

The taste of power that she had not enjoyed when she was empress was finally enjoyed by her at this time.

"All the concubines, please rise."

"Be seated."

"Thank you, Empress Dowager."

After Empress Dowager Wu chatted with the five concubines for a while, she let them go.

But before leaving, she specially exhorted.

"Since you have officially entered the palace, you may be selected by His Majesty."

"Everyone should prepare well today, and I don't know which concubine will be lucky enough to win His Majesty's first prize."

Empress Dowager Wu's words made the women shy, and they said goodbye with blushing faces.

But they were very obedient. After returning to their respective palaces, they carefully bathed, carefully dressed up, and waited expectantly.

At a quarter past Wei time in the afternoon, Zhu Youcheng had dinner in Qianqing Palace.

It was said to be dinner, but in terms of time, it was more like lunch.

Because the emperor's regular meals were only breakfast at Mao time in the early morning and dinner at Wei time in the afternoon.

Of course, there were also multiple additional meals throughout the day.

The most important additional meal was at You time in the evening, which was equivalent to supper and snacks.

As soon as Zhu Youcheng put down his chopsticks, Fu Dahai, the eunuch in charge of the Department of Palace Affairs, came with a silver plate.

On the silver plate were five nameplates.

Fu Dahai knelt on the ground, holding the silver plate up to Zhu Youcheng.

"Your Majesty, it's time to choose a consort."