A Promotion in Rank

As soon as Emperor Jing'an said this, Consort Wan's eyes widened in surprise.

She had not just entered the palace, nor had she met Emperor Jing'an only yesterday.

His words sounded as though they carried another meaning.

Seeing that Consort Wan understood him, Emperor Jing'an nodded to her and continued, "Four Joys Palace next door has been empty all this time. Once the Directorate of Astronomy has chosen a date, you will move there."

The moment Emperor Jing'an finished speaking, Consort Ying turned to Consort Wan and smiled. "Congratulations."

Hua Meng had still been wondering why Emperor Jing'an wanted Consort Wan to move away, but when she heard Consort Ying's congratulations, she immediately pretended to be upset and asked in bewilderment, "Why are you congratulating Sister Wan? Could it be that you're congratulating her on finally being separated from me?"

Seeing Hua Meng's aggrieved and sorrowful expression, Consort Ying laughed outright without a care.

In the end, Emperor Jing'an, who sat beside Hua Meng, could not bear to see her aggrieved and explained, "There are rules governing the palaces where the imperial consorts of this dynasty may reside. Only a consort of the fei rank may live in Four Joys Palace."

Hearing Emperor Jing'an's words, Hua Meng understood at once.

Consort Wan was going to be promoted.

Consort Wan had never imagined that she could still rise in rank while Emperor Jing'an was alive.

She had planned to take good care of Hua Meng and, when Hua Meng's son ascended the throne in the future, receive the rank of noble dowager consort herself.

With such a rank, she would have repaid her family for raising and educating her.

But she had never expected to live to see a promotion now.

Only, she currently had neither a palace of her own nor a pregnancy. A sudden promotion would probably be against palace rules.

As soon as that expression appeared on Consort Wan's face, Emperor Jing'an looked at her and said, "Didn't Elder Princess Huiying's youngest legitimate son and his wife leave a daughter behind? I have decided to bring her into the palace and place her in your care."

The dynasty's three elder princesses were all Emperor Jing'an's aunts and the Late Emperor's elder sisters. Grand Elder Princess Huiying was only three days older than the Late Emperor.

Because Grand Elder Princess Huiying's birth mother had not been of high rank, she had always taken great care of Emperor Jing'an after his birth, as his birth mother had likewise been of low rank.

If Grand Elder Princess Huiying had not looked after Emperor Jing'an and the Empress Dowager, he could not have lived so smoothly in the palace.

Even when the Late Emperor suddenly died of illness, it was Grand Elder Princess Huiying who personally sought out the eldest legitimate sons of her two elder sisters and joined forces with them to place Emperor Jing'an smoothly on the throne.

Emperor Jing'an's feelings for Grand Elder Princess Huiying were extraordinary. Though she was his aunt, he had always regarded her as another mother.

But storms could gather without warning. Three years ago, Grand Elder Princess Huiying and her husband left the capital for an outing, accompanied by their youngest legitimate son and his wife, only to be caught in a mountain torrent.

Of the four, only the younger daughter-in-law, who was pregnant, survived.

But because of that mountain torrent, Grand Elder Princess Huiying's younger daughter-in-law died in a difficult childbirth after giving birth to a daughter.

"Cousin Jiaze is taking his family to Jiangnan to assume his post. Xijun is young, and her health isn't very good, so I thought I would bring her into the palace."

Liang Jiaze was Grand Elder Princess Huiying's eldest legitimate son, more than ten years older than his full younger brother, and naturally doted on him. After his brother passed away, he took even more meticulous care of his brother's only child.

But this time, Emperor Jing'an intended to act against the Wei Family and the Zhan Family. The waters of Jiangnan ran deep, and he did not dare send anyone without a powerful background, so he could only ask his cousin for help.

Liang Jiaze was talented, but all three of his sons were merely ordinary in ability, not men who could bring prosperity to the Liang family.

For his family's sake, he too wanted to take a chance.

He dared to take his entire family with him, but he did not dare bring Liang Xijun along.

"When Xijun was born, I did not grant her a title, for fear that she was too frail. Now that she is entering the palace, I will grant her the title of commandery princess."

By rights, Liang Xijun was only Grand Elder Princess Huiying's granddaughter. Even if Grand Elder Princess Huiying had been an imperial prince, her granddaughter could at most have been a Commandery Lady.

Yet Emperor Jing'an had granted Liang Xijun the rank of commandery princess outright.

Consort Wan was so overjoyed that she did not know what to do. Her heart, long since calm after all these years, was now so excited that she wanted to throw back her head and laugh three times.

She had thought that, at most, she might one day enjoy a taste of family happiness that was not truly hers while helping Hua Meng care for her children. She had never imagined that she could have an adopted daughter of her own.

Tears shimmering in her eyes, Consort Wan knelt and performed the grand rite before Emperor Jing'an. "This consort thanks Your Majesty for your grace."

Not only Consort Wan, but even Hua Meng and Consort Ying felt that Emperor Jing'an had done a good thing this time.

Though Consort Wan was not a legitimate daughter of the Song Family's main branch, she too had been carefully raised and educated by her family.

The Song Family was not as powerful as the Wei Family or the Zhan Family now, but it was still a great family on the rise.

Having Consort Wan raise Liang Xijun was the best choice for both Consort Wan, who had longed for a child in the loneliness of the inner palace, and Liang Xijun.

Emperor Jing'an did not stop Consort Wan as she performed the grand rite to thank him, because, according to his plans, Liang Xijun would eventually marry into the Song Family.

With Consort Wan at the fei rank, and a commandery princess and her husband as well, they could presumably fill most of the vacuum left by the fall of the Wei Family and the Zhan Family.

It was hard to say whether Consort Wan had guessed Emperor Jing'an's thoughts. For now, her heart was filled with the joy of soon having a daughter. She was bold, too, and seeing that Emperor Jing'an was in a good mood, she asked outright, "May this consort ask what Xijun's title will be?"

"Shou Ning. Commandery Princess Shouning."

Hearing those words from Emperor Jing'an, Consort Wan's heart was entirely free of worry.

Shou Ning, Shou Ning: longevity and peace.

Hua Meng and Consort Ying were both happy for Consort Wan. Knowing that she would likely have many things to arrange that night, Consort Ying congratulated her once more, then rose and took her leave.

After Consort Ying had left, Emperor Jing'an looked at Consort Wan and said, "Your investiture ceremony will likely have to wait until after the eighth month. I will issue an imperial edict tomorrow. Move there first."

The left side hall of Sparrow Plume Palace was spacious enough for Consort Wan alone, but with Commandery Princess Shouning added, it would not be enough.

Now, let alone moving Consort Wan to Four Joys Palace, which also belonged to the six eastern palaces, she would probably have been willing to move even to the six western palaces.

"Yes, this consort obeys."

By now, the sky had gone completely dark. Emperor Jing'an held Hua Meng's hand tightly, and with only a crescent moon at the beginning of the month and Wei Fugui carrying a lantern ahead of them, the two walked slowly toward the Right Side Hall.

Just as Hua Meng was still wondering what gift to prepare for her first meeting with Commandery Princess Shouning, Emperor Jing'an suddenly said, "The Song Family is full of talented people. Their daughters all come late; the eldest legitimate daughter of the main branch in this generation is only seven."

Hua Meng did not know why Emperor Jing'an had suddenly brought this up, until his next words mentioned her eldest nephew, Hua Can.

"I hear that the eldest son of your eldest brother is nine this year. In a few days, it will be the Song Family’s Old Master’s seventieth birthday. Send word home and tell your parents not to forget to bring your eldest brother's eldest son when they go to offer their birthday wishes."

Hua Meng truly had not expected Emperor Jing'an to play matchmaker, much less when her eldest nephew was only nine.

For a moment, Hua Meng did not know what to say, but Emperor Jing'an seemed to have an endless supply of things to say that night and spoke again.

"As things stand, your family's standing is no match for the eldest legitimate daughter of the Song Family's main branch. But once the child in your womb is born, the Hua Family will be different."

For a family to rise, not only did its men have to strive to better themselves, but an exceptionally capable mistress of the household was also of particular importance.

Hua Meng had now realized what was happening. Thinking back to how Emperor Jing'an had promoted Consort Wan and given her an adopted daughter, wasn't he giving the Song Family benefits?

Having accepted those benefits, the Song Family would naturally have to pay a price.

The eldest legitimate daughter would become the future mistress of the household of an imperial prince's maternal family. Was he already laying the groundwork?

Having understood, Hua Meng was somewhat dazed. Recalling how joyfully Consort Wan had thanked him, she scarcely dared to think about whether Consort Wan knew this was only an exchange.

Most importantly, Hua Meng now thought of how she herself had behaved these past days.

Because she had been reborn and knew the future, she had been restless and impetuous of late, paying almost no regard to most people in the inner palace, or even to the people of the world.

But today's events had dumped a bucket of cold water over her.

They made her understand that, with her little schemes, if Emperor Jing'an and Consort Wan and the others got serious, she would probably have died an unknown number of times already.

She closed her eyes and suppressed the panic in her chest. After taking two deep breaths, Hua Meng thought with relief, Fortunately, I came to my senses early.

When Emperor Jing'an heard no answer from Hua Meng, he assumed that her family had not taught her these things before. Though he worried that she would not be able to bear the responsibility in the future, he also had confidence in her.

Because of what Emperor Jing'an had said, Hua Meng remained somewhat quiet throughout the night. Emperor Jing'an did not press her, but waited quietly for her to figure it out herself.

It was not until the next morning, when Wei Fugui gently woke Emperor Jing'an and he prepared to attend court, that Hua Meng slowly opened her eyes. Looking at Emperor Jing'an, she said, "Your Majesty, this consort would like to ask you to arrange for a few teachers."

Emperor Jing'an, who was being dressed by Wei Fugui, paused in surprise at her words. In an excellent mood, he turned around, lowered his head, and kissed Hua Meng on the forehead. "I will wait for you."

Until the day you grow enough to stand at my side.