It is said "almost" because once a woman has entered the palace, it’s impossible for her to find another place. The infamous label of disloyalty and immorality would drown them. Even if given freedom, their families would pressure them to shave their heads and become nuns. It would be better to live honorably in the harem! Ever since falling in love with the Grand Empress Dowager, Grandfather never favored anyone else.
And even if such a day were to come for me, should I fall in love with a woman, she must be as clever as ice and snow, a heroine with extraordinary wisdom.
What about Yun Jiao?
Alas, only the gender matches.
"Emperor, my knees are almost numb from kneeling."
Concubine Lan said coquettishly.
Emperor: "Get up and sit properly."
Concubine Lan was stunned; she had thought the Emperor would take the opportunity to pull her into his arms!
Feeling disappointed, she couldn’t bother targeting Concubine Xi. She realized that speaking ill of others in front of the Emperor was unwise, reminding him of that vile person’s face would surely put her at a disadvantage. She sat down beside him and her tea-making movements were impeccable.
Indeed, the Emperor asked her: "Did you learn tea arts at Kesha?"
Concubine Lan subtly indicated that she was proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, possessing the wild beauty of a grassland woman and a literary demeanor: "The tea leaves here are much better than those in my palace. If I leave Qiankun Palace, I’m afraid I won’t get to taste such fragrant teas that are fit for shock."
Even knowing anecdotes about Bi Luo Chun, she was well-prepared.
The Emperor was despondent; he had rewarded Yun Jiao with fine tea before, Central Wuyi Tea delivered by the Royal Imperial Tea Garden. After obtaining it, she boiled the tea leaves in water, adding milk and sugar... Even the Emperor who commanded wealth over four seas had to utter "such a waste!"
Concubine Lan awaited the Emperor’s response.
Whether he rewarded her with tea leaves or summoned her more often, it would be a good thing after all.
However, the Emperor gazed at her for a while and sighed: "Your appearance is radiant, as serene as an orchid, leisurely refined, yet precious for its elegance, this title does not suit you."
Concubine Lan was taken aback, but her quick reaction led her to smile and ask: "Getting a compliment from the Emperor that I am radiant, I would surely laugh even in my dreams tonight. May the Emperor give me a more fitting title?"
How clever she was, neither silly nor slow.
To the Emperor, Concubine Lan had no flaws in her whole being, yet he simply did not favor her.
...
In Xianfu Palace.
"Outrageous, outrageous!"
Yun Jiao was sunbathing in the courtyard, about to reach a state of unity with heaven and earth, when she saw Concubine Li storming in angrily, grabbing her shoulders and shaking her awake: "Concubine Lan is at Zichen Palace requesting the title with the word ’Xi’ from the Emperor. I can’t believe you’re able to sleep!"
"Concubine Li sister, please stop shaking me, I’m dizzy."
The beauty’s strength was immense, Yun Jiao’s brain was almost scrambled, ready to be served as scrambled eggs.
"Why should her wanting the title with ’Xi’ keep me awake?"
Concubine Li glared at her, feeling indignant: "It’s your title, the ’Xi,’ if she gets it, you won’t have a title anymore."
"Oh..."
Yun Jiao slowly sat up, as though a martial arts title in an online game had expired and vanished: "It is somewhat troublesome; you’d have to call me Concubine Yun in the future. But I think my surname sounds nice, not inferior to any title."
Concubine Li watched her as if she wasn’t fully awake, pursed her lips:
"Fortunately, the Emperor didn’t agree, so your title is safe."
Listening to Concubine Li, it seemed she had experienced a thrilling journey, nearly losing something valuable.
"The title was given by the Emperor, he can give it to whomever he wishes. If the ’Xi’ is given to Concubine Lan, I will henceforth proclaim myself as the Guna La Dark Concubine."
"What is that?"
Based on the limited historical knowledge in Concubine Li’s mind, there seemed to be a prominent family name in a country called Una Lana Shi, very close to the "Guna La" Yun Jiao mentioned, perhaps with some ancestral linkage! She couldn’t tolerate Yun Jiao’s self-contented words: "Our Xianfu Palace is about to be bullied, we must devise a plan, and cannot let Concubine Lan get ahead of us."
Saying so, Concubine Li hadn’t been favored by the Emperor for quite some time either.
Two concubines in one palace, neither favored.
Seeing Concubine Li genuinely worried, Yun Jiao comforted her: "If you wish to vie for favor, let’s come up with some strategies together; if you’re doing it for me, there’s no need, I don’t care about these things, and I’m in quite a good mood today."
When the Hidden Guard relayed Concubine Xi’s words to the Emperor, the Emperor was once again engulfed in existential doubt and mental fatigue.