Chapter 14: Summoned by the Noble Consort

After that day in the Imperial Garden, the sight of First Attendant Qian and Attendant Liu being left standing spread through the harem in less than half a day.

When the story reached the Noble Consort, she was examining a newly delivered pot of peonies in Chengqian Palace. They were fine flowers, Yao Yellow and Wei Purple, in full bloom. She glanced at them and ordered them taken away. She disliked yellow flowers; they offended her eyes.

“You mean His Majesty took Shen Zhiyi away and didn’t even look at First Attendant Qian or Attendant Liu?” Reclining on a couch, she waved a round fan idly.

The young maid who had brought the news knelt, not daring to raise her head. “Yes, Your Ladyship. First Attendant Qian sang a song, and Attendant Liu danced. His Majesty said nothing and left.”

The Noble Consort’s fan paused, then resumed, a little faster than before. “That Shen Zhiyi,” she said slowly, as if speaking to herself. “I’ve underestimated her.”

Honored Consort Jia sat nearby with a cup of tea. She smiled faintly. “What can a country girl amount to? She is merely a novelty. Once that wears off, His Majesty will forget her.”

The Noble Consort shook her head, set down her fan, and sat upright. “You don’t understand. In all my years here, how many women have I seen him take to heart? None. He’s indifferent to everyone, spreading his favor, neglecting no one and singling no one out. But this Shen Zhiyi…”

Jia’s smile faded a little. A ruthless look flashed in the Noble Consort’s eyes. “I intend to see what she’s capable of.”

The next day, in Changchun Palace’s west wing, Zhiyi was reclining on a couch with a book of miscellaneous reading when Bitao rushed in, looking uneasy. “My lady, someone has come from Chengqian Palace. The Noble Consort asks you to come and speak with her.”

*System, what good could come of the Noble Consort summoning me to her palace?*

【Ding! The system recommends that the host prepare herself. The Noble Consort may make things difficult in the following ways: making the host stand for a long time, asking the host to do something against etiquette, humiliating the host before others, or—】

*All right, all right. I know.*

Zhiyi looked up at Bitao. “Tell the messenger I’ll come at once.”

Bitao grew anxious. “My lady, the Noble Consort—”

“I know,” Zhiyi interrupted. “But I have to go. She’s the Noble Consort, and I’m a First Attendant. If she asks me to speak with her and I refuse, I’ll be accused of bad manners and ingratitude. That would give her even more to say.”

Qingluo silently took out clothes and pressed them: a plain but respectable pale blue-green jacket and a moon-white gauze skirt. The outfit was simple and graceful, neither conspicuous nor shabby. Zhiyi looked it over and nodded. At the Noble Consort’s palace, dressing too well would be showing off; dressing too poorly would be embarrassing. This was just right.

When she arrived at Chengqian Palace, the Noble Consort was drinking tea in the principal seat. Honored Consort Jia and Concubine Hui sat beside her, along with several other women Zhiyi barely recognized. They had been chatting and laughing, but their voices fell as soon as she entered, and every gaze turned to her.

Zhiyi approached without changing expression and curtsied. “Greetings, Your Ladyship. May you be well.”

The Noble Consort set down her cup and looked her over, a faint smile on her lips that revealed neither goodwill nor malice. “Rise. Give her a seat.”

Zhiyi sat in the lowest place, back straight and eyes lowered, neither looking around nor speaking unnecessarily. The Noble Consort made no haste to address her. She turned to Jia and chatted about ordinary things: this year’s new tea wasn’t as good as last year’s; the patterns on the fabric newly delivered by the Imperial Household Department were too vulgar; the Empress Dowager’s appetite had been poor lately, so they ought to send her some pastries to tempt it.

They talked back and forth, laughing constantly, as though they had forgotten Zhiyi was there. She sat quietly, neither interrupting nor letting her attention wander, a proper smile on her face throughout.

She understood that the Noble Consort was deliberately ignoring her. Summon her, then say nothing and leave her waiting: it was difficult without being openly punitive. If Zhiyi spoke first, she would be ill-mannered; if she didn’t, she would sit there indefinitely like an ornament. In her old operations job, demanding clients had loved this trick. She was used to it.

After about the time it took to drink a cup of tea, the Noble Consort finally turned to her as though she had only just remembered her presence. “Oh dear, I was so busy talking that I’ve neglected First Attendant Shen. You don’t mind, do you?”

Zhiyi inclined her body. “You are too kind, Your Ladyship. I’ve learned a great deal listening to you. How could I say I’ve been neglected?”

The Noble Consort smiled, a little surprised. She hadn’t expected the young First Attendant to be so composed.

“I didn’t summon you for anything important.” She lifted her tea, sipped, and set it down. “A few days ago I heard His Majesty called you to attend him in the Imperial Garden.”

Zhiyi recognized that they had come to the point. “Yes, Your Ladyship.”

“And First Attendant Qian and Attendant Liu were there too?” The Noble Consort’s tone remained casual, but her gaze was fixed on Zhiyi’s face.

“Yes. They were admiring the flowers in the Imperial Garden, and we happened to meet.”

The Noble Consort gave a light laugh. “Happened to meet? The garden is so large. How did that happen?”

Zhiyi answered with quiet composure. “There are only so many paths through it. I don’t know how we met either. Perhaps the two sisters and I were fated to cross paths.”

The Noble Consort glanced at her and did not pursue it. She changed the subject, her voice still light but her words heavier. “You come from the countryside and have not been in the palace long, First Attendant Shen. It’s only natural that you might overlook the rules. As Noble Consort, I have a duty to offer you guidance.”

Zhiyi stood and curtsied respectfully. “I am listening, Your Ladyship.”

Satisfied with her manner, the Noble Consort nodded. “Since you live in Changchun Palace, you should take Honored Consort Rou as your example. She has been here for years and never puts a foot wrong. That is how a woman of the harem should behave, unlike some who forget who they are because His Majesty favors them for a moment.”

The point was plain. Several women in the hall looked toward Zhiyi, eager to watch the show. Eyes lowered, she replied steadily, “Your Ladyship is right. I will remember.”

The Noble Consort continued, “I hear that in the Imperial Garden, you were pulling and tugging at His Majesty. That is a grave disrespect. He is the sovereign of the realm, and you are a mere First Attendant. How dare you put your hands on him?”