Chapter 1 – Transmigration

Kangxi’s 22nd year, April.
The Forbidden City.

The triennial major selection had just concluded. Several marriages among the imperial clan had been granted and completed, and the newly appointed Daying (low-ranking concubines) and Guiren (noble ladies) had all been properly settled in the palace.

Hot on its heels came the annual minor selection held by the Imperial Household Department, intended to choose palace maids for each residence. A few years ago, the Emperor would still select a few outstanding candidates from this minor selection to enrich the harem. The current four favored consorts—Huirong, Yide, Huifei, and Rongfei—had all once been chosen from the ranks of baoyi (bonded servants) under the Imperial Household Department.

But now, with the harem gradually filling up, the Emperor had not chosen anyone from the minor selection in several years. Most of the palaces had all but forgotten about it.

And yet, without a word, the Emperor had suddenly picked one again from the minor selection.

She was conferred the title of Daying and granted residence in the western wing of the rear hall of Changchun Palace.

That person was Yu Ying.

In an instant, gossip spread through the harem. Was a new rival in the struggle for favor about to emerge? Yu Ying’s unexpected rise even overshadowed the newly selected ladies from the major selection.

But before the Emperor had summoned her to attend to him, news came from the Office of Attendants: the newly conferred Daying from Changchun Palace had reported an illness. Her green tally card had been removed.

This brought a collective sigh of relief from the consorts who had been waiting to see Yu Ying after she attended to the Emperor and went to greet the Imperial Noble Consort.

“This one is ill-starred,” said Consort An, mistress of Changchun Palace, absentmindedly pruning the plum blossoms freshly delivered by palace maids early that morning. “The flowers of the harem bloom one after another—by the time she recovers, do you think His Majesty will still remember her?”

“Nianxue, have you checked? Is she truly ill or faking it?”

“Replying to Your Ladyship, this servant went with the imperial physician to see her. He reported that Daying Wei is constitutionally weak, and the wind-cold invading her body caused her persistent high fever,” answered the senior palace maid respectfully.

“Alright then, take good care of her for now. Whatever she needs, provide it. This palace is still hoping she’ll recover and help bring some honor to Changchun Palace.”

Snap—a crisp sound.

Consort An neatly snipped off the excess branches from the flower stem in her hand. After glancing at it twice, she put down the shears, her interest fading.

“That’s enough. Nianxue, place the flowers on the windowsill.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

There was no Empress in the palace, so the other consorts were not required to pay morning greetings to the Central Palace. Only on the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month did they go to Chengqian Palace to greet the Imperial Noble Consort. On all other days, each palace kept to itself, awaiting the Emperor’s summons.

But in this imperial harem, if one wanted a comfortable life, one had to compete for favor. Without the Emperor’s affection, even the servants from the Imperial Household Department would look down on you. Life like that was truly difficult.

And such days stretched endlessly ahead.

Yu Ying awoke amidst a wave of thirst.

As she came to, the sky outside was still dark. In the dim moonlight, Yu Ying quickly took in her surroundings.

She had expected to wake up in a hospital.

But clearly, something wasn’t right.

The room was filled with classical furnishings—none of it remotely resembled a modern hospital. What’s more, Yu Ying noticed, lying at the corner of her bed, was a woman dressed in ancient-style clothing.

But before she could get a better look, a flood of memories surged into her mind, accompanied by a splitting headache that made her want to scream.

“Ah—!” Yu Ying cried out, unable to bear the pain.

The next second, she lost all control and fell into unconsciousness.

Just before everything went black, she vaguely heard a panicked voice shouting,

“Little mistress! Little mistress, are you alright…?”