The Job of an Imperial Concubine

Virtuous Imperial Concubine Jiang was an inconspicuous imperial concubine in the harem. Whether they were the new arrivals or the imperial concubines who had been around for a long time, they saw her as bland as water. The sole thing worthy of praise was that Noble Consort Zhao would occasionally treat her with affection. However, because of this, no one in the palace dared to make things difficult for her. Rather, they would treat her with courtesy.

Virtuous Imperial Concubine Jiang did not care how others saw her. Every day, she kept to the working routine. Sometimes, she would have a chat with Miss Kong, who had already been promoted to the rank of Imperial Concubine.

The two were women from the harem that the emperor had forgotten. The sole thing worthy of rejoicing was that they had once relied on Zhuang Laoyan for help, who was now Noble Consort Zhao, a woman who stood above all except one.

Imperial Concubine Kong’s elder sister was even less fortunate than the two of them. She passed away in the deep, deep palace after giving birth to a prince, and said prince passed away as well. In the end, she disappeared from the memory of others.

Imperial Concubine Kong hated the person who had caused her elder sister’s death, hated Consort Xian who had failed to take care of Third Prince properly. In the imperial harem, no one’s hands were clean. Someone had a hand in the death of Imperial Concubine Kong’s elder sister. However, at the end, what was discovered was the following: Imperial Concubine Kong’s elder sister suffered a serious hemorrhage during labor and insisted on preserving the newborn’s life over her own. Ultimately, she lost her life.

The truth of the matter had long since been lost, never to be found. Yet, after Imperial Concubine Kong had lived in the imperial harem for so many years, the hatred in her heart gradually wore down until her heart died. Now that Consort Xian had passed away from illness, Imperial Concubine Kong seemed to have grown relaxed and no longer cared what happened in the harem.

Virtuous Imperial Concubine Jiang had never imagined that Imperial Concubine Kong’s insistence on allying with Zhuang Laoyan back then would bring upon the following: the obtaining of a supporter like Noble Consort Zhao. Perhaps the reason she could approve of Imperial Concubine Kong’s actions back then, and covertly informed Noble Consort Zhao about some of the palace’s secrets, was because in the deepest part of her heart, she believed that a woman like Zhuang Laoyan was different from other women, could stand higher than the rest.

Although Virtuous Imperial Concubine Jiang did not understand how a woman who sincerely loved the emperor could pass her days so comfortably in the imperial harem, she thought that was perhaps another thing that set Noble Consort Zhao apart from other women.

Another spring arrived. Virtuous Imperial Concubine Jiang took a stroll in the imperial gardens. As she passed through the thick shade of a tree, she suddenly stopped in her tracks. Looked at an unremarkable flower at the tree roots.

“Master, what’s wrong?” said a palace maid behind her, looking at her in a worried manner. The court eunuch, who was also behind her, moved the flower pot in his hands a bit away.

“It’s nothing. I merely saw a cluster of Golden-edged June Snow.” Following that, Virtuous Imperial Concubine Jiang averted her gaze from the flowers. Back then, she and Noble Consort Zhao had their first encounter around June. The heat made people agitated. Indeed, it was during that time that they had a chance encounter with the emperor.

“In this concubine’s opinion, Your Majesty is a tree reaching toward the heavens, a girder holding up the heavens.”

“This concubine is a little flower relying on the tree to survive. Perhaps it will never know the full extent of the cypress tree’s ability. However, it will still rely on the cypress to survive.”

“Emperors should resemble the cypress, but the cypress would not completely resemble the emperor.”

To this day, she could clearly recall those three statements Noble Consort Zhao had said in the past. What kind of courage and love did a woman have in order say such things in front of the emperor? She could not comprehend Noble Consort Zhao, and had even found her a bit foolish at that time. Wasn’t giving one’s heart to the emperor equal to placing one’s heart on the ground for others to step on?

Life in the palace had long since felt numb. Yet, for some reason at that moment, Virtuous Imperial Concubine Jiang could not help but warn her. Although in the end, that woman did not have any regrets, she had strived for nearly ten years.

When she learned that Noble Consort Zhao had fallen ill, she was right in the middle of sorting out a bonsai tree. Once she had heard all the news, she dropped the flower pot. But when she arrived at Xihe Palace in a hurry, she caught sight of the empress, who had rushed over before her.

These years, the empress had grown ever more taciturn. That said, she treated Noble Consort Zhao very well. To the point that Virtuous Imperial Concubine Jiang had the illusion that the empress sincerely treated Noble Consort Zhao as a younger sister.

Seeing her arrive, the empress said in a somewhat gloomy mood, “The emperor is in the inner chamber.”

From this, Virtuous Imperial Concubine Jiang knew that Noble Consort Zhao was not in a good state. Her throat felt itchy. She curtsied to the empress. “Your Majesty the empress, Noble Consort Zhao is an extremely fortunate person. She will definitely get better.” She did not know if these words were to console herself or the empress, but Virtuous Imperial Concubine Jiang felt that only if she said this could she feel a bit better.

A short while later, the emperor sent out a decree to have everyone leave Xihe Palace. Virtuous Imperial Concubine Jiang knew that he didn’t want people to disturb Noble Consort Zhao. So she withdrew from Xihe Palace in a quiet manner. Just as she had passed by the lotus pond, she caught sight of the crown prince coming her way.

She stopped in her tracks. Turned her body to the side. She curtsied. “Greetings to Your Highness the crown prince.”

The crown prince returned half a salute, his young and tender face revealing an anxious flavor. “Greetings, Virtuous Imperial Concubine Jiang.”

She noticed that his cheeks were somewhat red. It seemed he had moved too quickly. But for some reason, for some curious coincidence, she said, “Her Highness is still asleep. Your Highness the crown prince should accompany Her Highness more. Perhaps then she would wake up.” Once she had finished saying this, she felt she had overstepped. But she could not take back what she had said; she could only fall silent.

“Many thanks, Virtuous Imperial Concubine Jiang.” The crown prince had not foreseen the always-taciturn Virtuous Imperial Concubine Jiang to say these words. However, he would remember the other party’s good will, returning another half salute before rushing off.

Virtuous Imperial Concubine Jiang gazed at his straight back. It was as if she were looking at the next emperor.

Two years ago, the emperor conferred the position of crown prince to Fourth Prince. Contrary to what one might expect, no one was surprised. After all, everyone could see how the emperor treated Noble Consort Zhao and Fourth Prince these past years. Some people even said in private that perhaps even the empress did not have as large of a place in the emperor’s heart as Noble Consort Zhao.

Virtuous Imperial Concubine Jiang scoffed at those kinds of remarks. In the emperor’s heart, regarding the empress and Noble Consort Zhao, one was used to take care of troublesome matters and the other was to be properly pampered and loved. They fundamentally could not be compared.

Who would compare the importance of a garden hoe to a precious orchid?

These past few days, the emperor did not enter the rear palace. What’s more, he was in a bad temper, to the point that he even lashed out at Gao Dezhong. Virtuous Imperial Concubine Jiang knew that he felt anxious over Noble Consort Zhao’s illness. However, her condition grew worse and worse recently. And no one knew why.

The peach blossoms at Taoyu Pavilion grew more gorgeous year after year. Virtuous Imperial Concubine Jiang heard that there were people specialized in taking care of the area, so much so that Taoyu Pavilion was closed to the public. It was only because Noble Consort Zhao held a deep fondness for peach blossoms and peaches that the Department of the Palace had people properly take care of the trees all year round.

Raising her head to look at those beautiful peach blossoms, Virtuous Imperial Concubine Jiang caught sight of the emperor rushing to pick a few sprigs of peach blossoms before leaving. He did not even notice that there were other people around. She gazed at the emperor’s hurriedly retreating figure. All of a sudden, she thought, It’d be great if the flowers in the emperor’s hands are for Noble Consort Zhao. That way, at least her sincere feelings weren’t in vain.

Around six hours later, news once again spread through the imperial harem: Noble Consort Zhao had awoken. Some were joyous; some were worried. But each of them wore a happy expression. They dared not even have a trace of another emotion.

Quite a few days later, Virtuous Imperial Concubine Jiang finally saw Noble Consort Zhao at the empress’ Jingyang Palace. She appeared like she had in the past; she did not become pale and unsightly due to her illness. It were as though she had simply slept, and was not harmed at all.

Translated by Sleepchaser at https://sleepchaser.wordpress.com/ If you read it anywhere else besides Sleepchaser’s wordpress, that copy was stolen.

After she had stepped foot outside of Jingyang Palace, Noble Consort Zhao called out for her. Virtuous Imperial Concubine Jiang made for her side quietly. She kept behind her half a step. All of a sudden, she thought of those days when they could walk side by side.

“While asleep, this palace was dreaming. The dream was too wonderful, to the point that this palace did not want to wake up,” said Zhuang Laoyan, footsteps and manner of speaking at a very slow pace. “But later on, this palace heard the crown prince’s voice.”

Virtuous Imperial Concubine Jiang lowered her head. “Your Highness is a very fortunate person, possessing the blessing and protection of the heavens.”

“I want to thank you for the words you said to the crown prince.” Zhuang Laoyan wore a light smile as both women shared a gaze. “If not for you, perhaps I would not have woken up.”

Would not have woken up?

The corners of Virtuous Imperial Concubine Jiang’s lips twitched. Quite a while later, she said, “The crown prince is still young.”

“That’s right. The crown prince is young. But there will never be only a few women in the palace.” Zhuang Laoyan remained smiling. However, Virtuous Imperial Concubine Jiang found something strange with her smile, though exactly what she could not pinpoint.

Most mothers in the world hated having their children suffer hardship. How could a woman like Noble Consort Zhao be any different? Virtuous Imperial Concubine Jiang warned the crown prince because ultimately, she did not want the young crown prince to lose his mother and become the target of others’ schemes.

Until Noble Consort Zhao had left, Virtuous Imperial Concubine Jiang did not say much. Yet, she was in a rather good mood. The fact the Noble Consort Zhao came to thank her in person, as well as had people send a pile of gifts over to her residence, meant that Noble Consort Zhao was sincere in her thanks.

At that moment, she sighed in sorrow. This imperial harem would never lack women, yet there were some who could live so vividly. And then there were people like herself, who had long since resembled a pool of dead water, having lost all interest in life.

As her thoughts traveled to this point, she felt both sad and light. Sad, because her youth would be buried in this place. Light, because at least she had been able to hold onto her original self. At least the imperial harem had not pierced a thousand holes through it, the original appearance no longer discernable.

In the twentieth year of the Chengxuan Era, Virtuous Imperial Concubine Jiang was promoted to Zhaorong Jiang. The amount of people serving her grew more and more. Whenever palace maids and court eunuchs saw her, they would address her as “Your Highness.” On the contrary, she found this amusing. Other women exerted all their strength and schemes yet made no headway, while a person who spent her days in peace like herself became a “Her Highness.”

Imperial Concubine Kong told her that it was because Her Highness Noble Consort Zhao wanted to raise her up. But the now-Zhaorong Jiang knew it was her expression of gratitude. Two years ago, Noble Consort Zhao did not bestow her any gold, silver, or precious jewels. But now, she gave Zhaorong Jiang the thing all women of the harem desired.

All sorts of congratulatory gifts arrived at Zhaorong Jiang’s residence in an unending stream. She pointed at a porcelain vase depicting falling blue and white flowers. “Find somewhere to place this.”

The servants cast it a glance. Her Highness Noble Consort Zhao had sent people to deliver that vase. At once, they carefully moved it to a proper location.

She shifted her gaze to the beautiful porcelain vase with blue and white flowers. Stroking her earring, she thought of how she had always been partial toward porcelain items with such a pattern. Later on, she discovered that the emperor did not like these things, so she gradually suppressed her fondness for them as well. Now, Noble Consort Zhao sent quite a few pieces of porcelain with white and blue flowers to her, which were all made in the palace’s kilns. It surprised Zhaorong Jiang.

“Your Highness, Her Highness Noble Consort Zhao had people send a tea set over.”

Zhaorong Jiang gazed at said tea set. Porcelain with blue and white flowers. An unspeakable beauty.

“Good. Very good.” She stroked the tea set, indifferent countenance revealing a bit of a smile.

Just like this. My life can’t be considered misfortunate. At least…

The tip of her finger traced the edge of the cup. Extremely smooth to the touch.

At least now I can live this leisurely, while others are already dead. Please visit 𝒇𝘳ℯe𝙬e𝘣𝙣𝘰ѵ𝒆𝗹. c૦𝑚

Power Ranks

“Emperors should resemble the cypress, but the cypress would not completely resemble the emperor.”

^I made a translation mistake in chapter 23. It was ZL who said this, not FJ. I’ve since edited that chapter.

Just one more extra, everyone! I’m already starting to miss this novel.

I’m glad VIC Jiang got a good ending. She was the most down to earth, and I feel if any of us actually transmigrated into a historical novel about the imperial harem, receiving her fate would be the luckiest and best we can manage. Let’s be real; no one’s going to do as well as our girl ZL XD

So a quick history note: Once the current emperor died, any of the imperial concubines who neither birthed any children nor received a high rank/title would be forced to enter a monastery to become nuns, spending the rest of their lives in prayer for the deceased emperor. That was the best-case scenario. During some dynasties, such imperial concubines would be buried with the emperor… I am not sure if they’re buried alive or “granted suicide” before burial. But either way… I’m glad I live in the modern age. Oh, and the imperial concubines who did manage to birth children could remain in the imperial palace for the rest of their lives living in luxury, since they had fulfilled their “duties.” They would also have a special title, taifei, which translates somewhat to Consort Dowager.

This is one of the reasons why imperial concubines strived their best to rise through the ranks. Both for their family’s honor and influence and for themselves. Of course, having the luxuries and privileges of the highly favored/ high ranks was great too.

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Thirty-eighth chapter of The Times Spent in Pretense is out! You can read it here. It’s weekly now!

By the way, I have a new BL novel project, with my own summary below:

By the emperor’s decree, Fu Ming is to marry Jin Yi and become his male wife. The initial reception is cold. Can the two sort things out between them, the winter departing and the snow thawing?

If you’re interested, you can find it here.

Also, plugging me and my friends’ website focused on BL! Click here if you’re interested.