Flowers and Fans

It was the month of Layue (1). This was also the month of the solar term the 'Great Cold', which was aptly named for the unbearable chill that came with it. This year, however, even the devastating frost couldn't dampen the festive mood of Chuxiu Palace.

This Chuxiu Palace, or Palace of the Kept Flowers, was the new home of the female beauties who had been fortunate enough to pass the selection process of the Noble Consort. Although it hadn't been the emperor himself who had bestowed upon them the scent pouch (2), which was a token to show that they had been chosen, the wooden tablets bearing carvings of their names had been sent to the Department of Respectful Affairs (3).

This meant that from now on, their tablets would be offered up to the emperor every evening. If he chose to flip theirs over, he would either summon them to his palace or visit theirs later that night. Everyone who lived in the inner palace dreamt day after day that this honour would belong to them.

Wu Yusi was no exception. She had been confident that she would be selected, not just because of her looks but also because she was a daughter from one of the old noble clans. Her clan might have dwindled in power after her father became the head but they still weren't considered negligible in the power struggle yet. She wasn't too familiar with the current politics because the men of the family didn't think it necessary to share such matters with the women. But all the same, she knew where she stood.

The hallways of Chuxiu Palace were a far cry from the haunting emptiness that had permeated just a month ago. Now, they were adorned with bright lanterns. Each set of chambers, which were about to welcome a new little mistress, had its main doors thrown open but draft screens were set up just within them to block out the chill.

Around Wu Yusi, some of the new girls from lesser backgrounds oohed and aahed at the beautiful furnishings and she eyed them askance, unable to contain her scorn for these plebeians who had never seen a good thing in their life. Wu Yusi was different. She had grown up with only the best tutors for the arts to ensure that she wouldn't embarrass her family when she married out.

So what if the fittings of Chuxiu Palace were fine? These were mere trinkets compared to the lavish lifestyle she would lead once she caught the emperor's attention.

She was confident that she could. Although there were quite a few new beauties this time around, Wu Yusi had already summed them all up in her mind and found most of them to be lacking. If they weren't less attractive than her, they were less cultured. Few could compete with the backing that her family provided for her, which meant that she had hardly any competitors.

Soft, melodic laughter floated out from the gardens downstairs. She gazed past the bannister on the corridor and down at the tall, slender figure surrounded by a small crowd of girls. Her chest tightened with suffocating jealousy as she glared down at that girl with undisguised hatred.

Zhao Qiaoting. The youngest legitimate daughter of the left prime minister. In terms of looks, she was like a perfect dewdrop on the tip of a spring leaf, her elegant beauty was second only to one and that one wasn't Wu Yusi. In terms of talents, she was known throughout the capital for her skills on the pipa, her poetry composition, and the fresh creativity of her art. In terms of family background, not only was the Zhao Family one of the old noble clans too, her father was so much higher in rank than Wu Yusi's.

She was Wu Yusi's greatest competitor, without a doubt.

Oh, and of course, that slave in that other palace too. Wu Yusi's mother had come to her room one evening fretting about the rumours surrounding the empress star. Wu Yusi had to commend Yan Yun for his sly tactics. She didn't know how he managed to rope the state preceptor, of all people, in on his side but seeing as how the emperor hadn't brought up the matter ever since, Wu Yusi didn't think it was worth shouting about.

No matter what, a cheap whore was a cheap whore. He had always paraded around the Wu Household like he was displaying goods for sale, afraid her brother would be too blind to notice how hard he was trying to capture his affections. Yan Yun had given up on seducing her older brother and was now angling after a bigger fish? But he needed to step back and take a good look at himself first to determine whether he was worthy or not. He was now getting a taste of his medicine, wasn't he? Wu Yusi had bribed one of the eunuchs who had escorted them to Chuxiu Palace to ask for more information about her big brother's old manservant. The news that she'd received in return had been infinitely pleasing.

To date, the emperor had not touched Yan Yun even once.

"Qiaoting, you're so lovely, it won't be long before the emperor flips your tablet, I'm sure!"

"Yes, Big Sister Qiaoting, you mustn't forget us little sisters once you become the emperor's favourite, okay?"

The excitable chatter coming from below reached Wu Yusi's ears. She sneered. These useless chits only knew how to curry favour with whoever they deemed strong. She was going to prove to them that they'd made the wrong decision. Once she surpassed Zhao Qiaoting, she would let them know it was too late to come begging for her support.

A slight flush tinted Zhao Qiaoting's cheeks but she maintained her gracious smile. "You're all speaking too soon on my behalf," she said in good-natured protest, her eyes lowered demurely. To those who liked her, her beauty was soothing and easy to enjoy. But for those who were envious of her, such as Wu Yusi, she was just putting on a show of fake modesty. "His Majesty's time is precious and he has always focused more on the affairs of the state. I'm afraid we aren't going to get to see much of him even after entering the inner palace."

The concerns that she'd just voiced were the same as the rest of the hopeful new girls, each one wanting nothing more than a bit of time with their new husband. The conversation switched over to when Zhao Qiaoting thought they would get to see the emperor and Wu Yusi lost interest.

What a stupid bunch of scatterbrains. Wu Yusi and her mother had already spent months in advance preparing for the New Year banquet. She was going to seize this opportunity to stand out from the rest of them, a crane amongst a brood of hens (3).

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Yan Zheyun had been prepared for new neighbours but he wasn't all that invested in befriending them, not when he knew how tenuous alliances in the inner palace could be. Still, he wasn't so arrogant as to dismiss the importance of learning about them. So it was that, when the doors of Zheshan Palace swung open to admit a group of colourful young masters, he came down from his chambers to extend his welcome.

One or two of them returned it with a politeness that spoke of their proper upbringing but others didn't even bother concealing their contempt for this 'lowly servant'. No doubt, they had all heard the story of how he'd seduced the emperor with one simple dance from their fathers. Might even have been told to emulate in kind.

Yan Zheyun paid the malice no heed. If nothing, he felt sorry for all of them. They were nothing better than pawns of their families, forsaken for the sake of navigating their clans into a better position on this ever-fluctuating chessboard of court politics.

A particularly conceited young man, whose face was an androgynous pretty that had been popular in the 'Little Fresh Meat' category of idols in Yan Zheyun's century, sauntered into the courtyard accompanied by two eunuchs instead of just the one that was assigned to all new beauties. This meant that one of them had been brought in by him from his family and had undergone castration just to continue to keep him company.

Yan Zheyun surmised that it was the one whose complexion was ashen and whose arms and legs still trembled as he helped his little master cart boxes of belongings up the stairs, having to suffer through a whole slew of bossy orders while gritting his teeth in pain.

Xiao De's face softened with sympathy. "Little Master…" he asked, tugging gently on Yan Zheyun's sleeve. "Should this servant offer assistance?"

Yan Zheyun contemplated it briefly. "No," he decided. "It might not be appreciated." From what he'd seen so far of this showy young master's personality, he would take any intervention as a slight. Might even think that Yan Zheyun was attempting to establish his authority by trying to win over the other servants with this show of 'kindness'.

But he took note of that newly castrated eunuch's face. He might be of use later if his master proved to be problematic.

"Let's go." Yan Zheyun had already done what he'd come here to do. He didn't need to chat with every one of them individually. By the end of the evening, Xiao De would have established contact with the other servants and by proxy, he would have a list of their names and how powerful their families were. Xiao De might not even have to enquire. This was as much a battlefield for the servants as it was for their masters. Anyone who had any sort of backing or influence would have servants who wouldn't be able to resist boasting about it.

The real 'establishment of authority' had yet to begin. Yan Zheyun didn't believe in talking the loudest but he wholeheartedly subscribed to the idea of being the smartest.

"Y-you're Young Master Yan, right?"

Just as Yan Zheyun was about to step into his chambers, a feeble voice called out to him. He paused and looked around but the corridor appeared empty. It took him another few seconds to finally spot the pair of eyes peeking out at him from the set of rooms next door.

It was his direct neighbour speaking. Yan Zheyun exchanged a glance with Xiao De and saw his surprise mirrored back at him. He couldn't imagine any influential family training such a meek character to participate in the wars of the harem. If this were an inner palace drama, this boy would either be dead by episode three or turn out to be one of the biggest antagonists by the end of the series.

Yan Zheyun's curiosity was piqued. His sister hadn't mentioned any of the concubines in the palace before and he had to conduct his investigations and rely on his judgement to decide what to do with them.

But this boy also called him 'Young Master Yan' without any irony. At the very least, he didn't seem to deride Yan Yun for his family's fall from grace.

"This lowly one is," Yan Zheyun confirmed, using the self-deprecating form of 'I' that young educated men would use in conversation with one another. "May I know who…"

The boy finally stopped clutching at the door frame like it was the last shield between the barbarians of the north and himself. He looked to be about the host body's age, so 18 or 19, and reminded Yan Zheyun of a nervous hamster from the way he scrunched in on himself. One of Yan Zheyun's high school classmates had behaved like this as well and he had the habit of pushing up his glasses multiple times whenever his anxiety got the better of him.

If glasses had been invented already, Yan Zheyun was certain that this boy would have the same tell.

"I'm Hua Zhixuan." In contrast to his mildness, Hua Zhixuan's name was surprisingly strong.

A member of the Hua Family. Coming from a family that was so embroiled in the centre of the court wranglings, Yan Yun had learnt a long time ago about the different noble clans and Yan Zheyun had inherited that knowledge. Granted, what Yan Yun knew was limited but it was sufficient to give Yan Zheyun ample warning whenever he dealt with others.

He rose his guard but didn't treat Hua Zhixuan with any notable difference.

"Pleased to make your acquaintance." Yan Zheyun presented him with a fist and palm salute, which Hua Zhixuan rushed to return.

"The pleasure's mine," Hua Zhixuan said.