Chapter 4: Promotion

The Emperor had once again chosen her nameplate.

After Biwu escorted the eunuch who delivered the message out of Qingzhu Pavilion, Yun Ying found herself uncharacteristically baffled.

Though the Emperor had casually said this morning before court that “it won’t happen again,” implying the possibility of future summons, she hadn’t expected a second night to come this soon. Could it be… the Emperor was unsatisfied with last night?

Yun Ying had thought she understood the Emperor’s temperament rather well.

Yet his current behavior deviated from the man she remembered.

True, in her past life, the Emperor had also summoned her for several nights in a row—but only after she had become the most favored in the harem.

It was never as abrupt or inexplicable as this.

Still, Yun Ying was in good spirits now.

She dismissed her confusion after only a moment.

Whether the Emperor came or not wasn’t something she could control.

If he came, then so be it. She’d just make sure to stay awake tonight, and not fall asleep before him like she had the night before.

Yun Ying maintained a calm and composed appearance, but Biwu and Biliu were overjoyed.

The daytime rewards and now two consecutive nights of the Emperor staying in Qingzhu Pavilion—everything pointed to their mistress gaining favor.

“Congratulations, Mistress,” said Biwu and Biliu in unison, bowing joyfully to Yun Ying.

Seeing the happiness written all over their faces, Yun Ying didn’t want to dampen their mood. She simply told them to go prepare to receive the Emperor properly tonight.

After her bath and change of clothes, Yun Ying didn’t even need to instruct them—Biwu and Biliu began doing her hair and makeup just like the night before.

Her face remained simple and clean, with just a hint of lip color.

The Emperor arrived even earlier than yesterday.

Before the hour of xu (7–9 PM), Yun Ying had just reached the corridor to receive him when Zhao Chong took her back into Qingzhu Pavilion.

“Beloved Consort, were you reading?”

Seeing the upside-down book on the luohan couch’s side table, Zhao Chong asked casually as he sat down.

Yun Ying smiled. “Your Majesty, I was merely passing time with a story.”

Zhao Chong picked up the book and skimmed a couple of pages. Realizing it was just a popular storybook, he quickly lost interest and set it down.

At that moment, Biliu and Biwu entered with a tray of iced plum juice and some light refreshments.

Zhao Chong caught a glimpse of them but said nothing. His tone remained casual as he asked Yun Ying, “I heard someone caused a disturbance at your Qingzhu Pavilion today?”

The only person who had come by today was Gu Zhenzhen.

Both Biliu and Biwu, having just entered the room, heard the Emperor’s words. Though they kept calm faces, they couldn’t contain their inner excitement.

“His Majesty knows about what Gu Meiren did?! Is he going to support Mistress?! Wow!!!”

Biliu’s eyes lit up as she looked down.

“Buddha bless, His Majesty truly cares about Mistress. Things are going to get better for her—how wonderful.”

Biwu was genuinely happy for Yun Ying. The anxiety she had carried up to yesterday melted away.

But Zhao Chong wasn’t just probing—he was also curious about Yun Ying’s thoughts:

“Disturbance? Gu Zhenzhen? Just a kitten baring its fangs.”

“But seriously, why bring up such a petty matter? If he has that much free time, why not review a few more memorials?”

These words were daring to the point of treason.

Yet because it was a push for him to work harder, Zhao Chong couldn’t help but feel both amused and exasperated.

He’d brought up the incident to satisfy his curiosity about Yun Ying’s bizarre performance today.

But her inner monologue left him speechless. Any other consort would be thrilled by his concern—yet this one seemed downright annoyed.

Yun Ying, unaware that her thoughts were being read so clearly, simply smiled. “It was a minor matter, nothing worth troubling Your Majesty over.”

She didn’t deny that Gu Zhenzhen came with ill intent, but she also didn’t use the opportunity to complain and escalate the issue. Making it a big deal would only complicate matters, entangling her with Gu Zhenzhen repeatedly… Far too troublesome.

Troublesome?

Though he hadn’t intended to take her side, Zhao Chong suddenly didn’t want to let it go since she dismissed it so lightly.

“Beloved Consort, are there really things you think I shouldn’t know about?”

He narrowed his eyes slightly, looking at Yun Ying as if to get to the bottom of things.

Yun Ying found it ridiculous.

Such a trivial matter, and he wanted to press on it like this?

It wasn’t leisure—His Majesty must have a screw loose somewhere.

Suddenly scolded, Zhao Chong: “……”

Hearing her silently accuse him of being irrational, Zhao Chong nearly laughed in disbelief.

Gu Meiren had tried to make things difficult for her, and she hadn’t even cared.

Yet now he showed a little concern, and she found it bothersome?

Zhao Chong was slightly offended.

But since Yun Ying hadn’t spoken yet, he couldn’t outwardly react. He forced himself to maintain a calm expression.

“Your Majesty, I simply didn’t want to ruin your pleasant mood over something so trivial. Please forgive me.” Yun Ying placed the iced plum juice and pastries on the table with a smile and glanced at Zhao Chong. “I had a few simple snacks prepared—won’t Your Majesty try some?”

Seeing that his initial goal of learning about today’s events wasn’t going to be fulfilled, Zhao Chong didn’t push further.

He accepted the change of subject and joined her for a light late-night meal.

With nothing else to talk about, Zhao Chong noticed that Yun Ying’s inner thoughts and outer demeanor had returned to calm and poise.

Sensing this shift, he decided not to provoke her further, and the two got along peacefully for the rest of the night.

After assisting him in removing his robes, Yun Ying lay down obediently as she had the night before.

But unlike last night, she reminded herself repeatedly not to fall asleep again.

Zhao Chong, lying beside her, listened to her inner mumbling with a faint smile.

Given his current state, he really couldn’t engage in anything intimate…

Maybe next time.

Yun Ying lay there sweetly, pretending to wait patiently for his move. When he pulled her into his arms, she closed her eyes cooperatively.

Then she heard the Emperor’s gentle voice above her: “Sleep.”

Yun Ying: “?”

Startled, she quickly accepted that he had no intention of taking things further tonight.

She adjusted her position in his arms to make herself more comfortable—and fell into a peaceful sleep.

Zhao Chong heard her even breathing not long after. Looking down at the sleeping girl nestled in his arms, he couldn’t help but chuckle softly.

Forget it.

He gently stroked her soft hand, then closed his eyes, trying to sleep.

Yun Ying slept deeply and sweetly once again.

Yet she still remembered her duty as a consort. The next morning, she rose with Zhao Chong, helped him wash and dress, and respectfully saw him off to court.

Zhao Chong left in a good mood.

Though Yun Ying’s inner thoughts were irreverent, he didn’t take offense. It wasn’t as if she harbored resentment or malice.

In fact, the past two nights in Qingzhu Pavilion had been far more interesting than those spent elsewhere.

“Xia Jiang.”

At his call, the senior eunuch walking beside his palanquin immediately responded, “Your Majesty.”

“Yun from Qingzhu Pavilion has shown gentleness and intelligence since entering the palace. I am pleased with her. Today, she shall be promoted…”

Zhao Chong paused slightly.

“To Jieyu.”

Xia Jiang, ever calm and composed, couldn’t hide his surprise this time.

In just two days, there had been rewards and now a promotion—this kind of favor was unmatched among the six palaces.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

He quickly composed himself and bowed respectfully.

Yun Ying’s promotion from Cairen (fifth-rank) to Jieyu (fourth-rank) was swiftly announced throughout the palace.

In Qionghua Hall, porcelain shattered all over the floor.

When Noble Consort Jiang entered the main hall, she was met with a scene of complete chaos.

Consort De sat on the luohan couch, visibly angry. Her rage was clearly caused by Yun Ying.

“Noble Consort, why trouble yourself and harm your health over a mere Jieyu?” the head maid Shuanghong said softly, instructing the other palace maids to clean up before dismissing them. Only then did Noble Consort Jiang slowly approach Consort De.

Seeing her arrival, Consort De’s expression eased slightly.

But the mere mention of Yun Ying reignited her fury.

“A mere Jieyu, and yet His Majesty stayed two nights in Qingzhu Pavilion, gave her gifts yesterday, and promoted her today? I truly underestimated her,” she said bitterly.

She had thought the Emperor was merely momentarily intrigued—but now this?

Wasn’t His Majesty supposed to dislike brainless women the most?

She had even brought up the incident at Qingzhu Pavilion yesterday—yet the Emperor summoned Yun Ying again that very night, and even promoted her!

Jieyu is fourth-rank. Meiren is proper fifth-rank. Cairen is lower fifth-rank. Before today, Yun Ying had been beneath Gu Zhenzhen in rank. Now, she had surpassed her.

It had been Gu Zhenzhen who stirred trouble in Qingzhu Pavilion. This sudden favor from the Emperor might well be his way of defending Yun Ying and warning Gu Zhenzhen and the rest of the harem.

Had Consort De not brought up Yun Ying yesterday, she wouldn’t be so upset.

She had hoped the Emperor would lose interest in Yun Ying, not reward and promote her.

Yun Ying as a Jieyu shouldn’t warrant so much attention—but what if the Emperor truly favored her?

“How did His Majesty come to fancy her?”

Clutching a peony-embroidered handkerchief, Consort De sighed. “It’s been over a month since His Majesty visited the harem. And now he goes to Qingzhu Pavilion two nights in a row.”

Seeing that Consort De had calmed slightly, Noble Consort Jiang said soothingly, “Exactly. Because of that, though Yun Ying now enjoys great favor, she’s also been pushed into the spotlight. If His Majesty truly cherished her, how could he let such an inexperienced young woman shoulder all this?”

“So, Your Ladyship needn’t be upset over a mere Jieyu.”

Noble Consort Jiang smirked. “I’ve seen how reckless she acts. I suspect she’ll suffer for it soon enough.”

Her words seemed to ease Consort De’s heart.

She nodded and smiled, “Quite right. It looks like we’ll be seeing some palace drama soon.”

“Shuanghong,” she called out, “bring out that pair of eastern pearl bangles from the small vault and send them to Qingzhu Pavilion as a congratulatory gift for Yun Jieyu’s promotion.”

Many consorts sent gifts to Qingzhu Pavilion.

Biwu and Biliu counted and found that nearly every ranked consort had sent something.

Yun Ying rested her chin in her palm and tilted her head at the pile of gifts, thoroughly confused.

What exactly had she done last night?

The Emperor hadn’t even touched her—why was she suddenly promoted? Could that alone have satisfied him?

The promotion felt odd and suspicious, and Yun Ying couldn’t help but overthink it. After a while, though, she found it boring.

What was done was done. No point dwelling on it.

She told Biwu and Biliu to catalog the gifts and store them in the warehouse, then walked out to the corridor with scissors to trim flower branches.

At the end of the day, it was the Emperor’s whim.

She couldn’t scold him, but she could take it out on the plants he’d given her.

Trouble, of course, arrived swiftly.

The next morning, Biliu returned from fetching ice much later than usual.

“Mistress, I’ve lost my sachet,” she said, face pale. “On the way back from the ice storage, just at a corner, a young palace maid suddenly bumped into me. She ran off so fast, I didn’t see her face. I only realized the sachet was missing later. I searched for a long time but couldn’t find it. I don’t know why, but I have a really bad feeling…”

Before Yun Ying could respond, Biwu hurried in from outside.

“Mistress, Gu Meiren fell into the water.”