Chapter 37: Plundering the Imperial Palace

"Your Majesty."

Princess Qinghe changed her form of address, mirroring her sister-in-law. She raised her hand, using her wide sleeve to shield her beautiful and delicate face, a gesture signifying her refusal to serve.

Avoiding Chu Yan's gaze, she said, "By the decree of the Empress Dowager, I am betrothed to the son of the Marquis of Anyuan. I beg you to forgive me, for I... I cannot serve you."

When she uttered the word "slave," she felt incredibly awkward, having never referred to herself in such a lowly manner before. As a princess of the Great Shun Dynasty, how could she ever call herself a slave?

"The Marquis of Anyuan?" Chu Yan asked. Beside him, Xia Shouzhong quickly interjected, "Your Highness, Prince Qian, the wedding date for Princess Qinghe and the son of the Marquis of Anyuan is set for next month!"

"Oh." Chu Yan looked at her and smiled. "That is easily solved. In a few days, when I ascend the throne, I shall issue a decree to cancel your engagement."

Qinghe’s heart trembled. Was she truly... to be remarried to this Prince Qian? Yet, he was the very man who had destroyed her country and her home, her mortal enemy. How could she marry such a man?

In that moment, she recalled the history books she had read. They contained little record of the fates of fallen princesses. Perhaps marrying the founding emperor of the new dynasty was already the best possible outcome. A weak woman like her, what could she possibly do? Yet, her heart remained filled with resentment.

"Furthermore," Chu Yan continued, "the nobility and aristocrats of the Shun Dynasty will all be stripped of their titles. If you marry the son of the Marquis of Anyuan, you will be nothing more than a commoner's wife, and your husband will be forced into hard labor for over a decade. A princess who has never lifted a finger in her life—could you endure such hardship?"

Qinghe’s mind was in turmoil. She kept her head lowered, offering no answer.

Chu Yan said to her calmly, "To stabilize the hearts of the former dynasty, I will name you a Consort and announce it to the world. What say you?"

The surrounding eunuchs and palace maids, along with Noble Consort Wu, Consort Wu, and Noble Lady Zhou, all quietly looked up at Princess Qinghe with expressions of envy or sycophancy. This would be the first consort of the new dynasty. The transformation from princess to consort was immense; the only thing that remained unchanged was that she would continue to reside in the imperial palace. Even Empress Zhang, who had been facing away from Chu Yan, turned her head to glance at her delicate and beautiful sister-in-law. Her appearance and poise were among the reasons Chu Yan had so readily decided to name her a consort.

Qinghe kept her head down and replied, "I thank the Prince for his kindness, but I am already promised to another. I have no desire to marry anyone else in this lifetime!"

Shuyu immediately remembered how the princess had destroyed all the betrothal gifts sent by the Marquis of Anyuan the day before, and she realized the princess was merely speaking out of stubborn pride.

"Very well." Chu Yan said intentionally. Observing the princess appear to breathe a sigh of relief, he added, "You shall stay in the palace for a few more days. When you have thought it through, come and tell me."

"!!"

Qinghe looked up sharply, catching the playful glint in Chu Yan's eyes. Shame and anger surged within her, and she turned her head away, falling silent. It seemed as though the Prince was asking for her consent to be his consort, but in reality, he was giving her no opportunity to refuse.

"Consort Xian-De, what about you?" Chu Yan asked Jia Yuanchun.

She seemed to have been prepared. After bowing her head, she replied, "Reporting to Your Highness, I had intended to follow my husband and depart from this palace forever. However... having heard that Your Highness intends to strip the nobility of the former dynasty of their titles, and knowing that my maiden family is the Jia clan of the Duke of Rong—now that the nation has fallen and Your Highness has decreed that I remain in the palace to serve—I dare not disobey!"

These words caused Chu Yan to look at her with newfound respect. He had originally taken her for a timid and fragile woman; he had not expected her to possess such insight and resolve. She understood that remaining in the palace was the best way to protect her family, and she had decisively abandoned the thought of following the Ning Emperor.

Chu Yan said, "I have other plans for the Jia family. Your staying here to serve will not be enough to save them."

Jia Yuanchun fell silent and bowed once more.

"Your Highness!" Suddenly, Noble Lady Zhou knelt, her face flushing with embarrassment, and said, "If Your Highness does not despise my humble appearance, I too am willing to remain in the palace to serve!"

Noble Consort Wu and Consort Wu were both stunned. Empress Zhang turned her head, shot her a cold glance, and then ignored her again.

"Why?" Chu Yan asked in a flat tone.

"I am the same as Consort Xian-De!" Noble Lady Zhou hurriedly found an excuse, a fawning smile appearing on her pretty, charming face.

No man would dislike the willing service of a beautiful woman. Because he had spent so many years on the battlefield, Chu Yan’s only household concubine was Xie Zhaojun, along with a few maidservants. He had originally planned to select daughters from the officials of the Shun Dynasty after capturing the capital—partly to serve as concubines to bear heirs, and partly to win over their loyalty. He had not expected this to be the world of *Dream of the Red Chamber*! However, even counting the beauties of that world, he still had plenty of room in his harem. From noble consorts and concubines to noble ladies and talented ladies, generally speaking, a hundred was not considered many; there were even legends of emperors using sheep-drawn carriages to choose their companions for the night. Adding one more Noble Lady Zhou was of no consequence to Chu Yan.

"Very well, you may stay and serve me."

He nodded his permission, and the charming Noble Lady Zhou hurriedly kowtowed in gratitude.

"Your Highness, I... I also wish to stay!" Noble Consort Wu could not help but speak up.

"Reason?" Chu Yan asked her as well. "Do not give me the same answer as Consort Xian-De; I will not hear the same thing three times."

"I... I find Your Highness tall and strong, and I cannot help but feel joy in my heart!"

Noble Consort Wu, in a flash of inspiration, spoke her true feelings with a face burning red. Not only was she mortified, but Jia Yuanchun, Noble Lady Zhou, and Empress Zhang all felt a flush of shame and spat at her. Only Princess Qinghe, who understood little of the affairs between men and women, found it strange that Noble Consort Wu would feel joy.

"Good!" Chu Yan laughed. "I am very satisfied with this reason. You may stay as well."

Noble Consort Wu, though blushing, knelt and kowtowed with joy. Beside her, Noble Lady Zhou muttered, "Vixen!" Others might not have heard, but Chu Yan did. He looked at the two of them but said nothing.

Turning his gaze to Consort Wu, he saw her hesitant and indecisive expression, so he stopped paying her any mind. He said, "For those of you who remain, your provisions and allowances will be reduced by one grade. The Empress shall be treated as a Noble Consort, and Noble Consorts shall be treated as concubines. The old servants in the palace may continue to address you as Empress, Mother Empress, and Noble Consort."

Everyone listened intently to his decree, knowing that the fate of everyone in the palace was now decided by a single word from Prince Qian. At this moment, Empress Zhang felt a sense of relief; if she were willing to serve the Prince, she could at least retain the status of a Noble Consort. She only found it strange that the Prince would still allow the maids and eunuchs to address her as Empress.

Looking at Qinghe, Chu Yan continued his orders: "Princess Qinghe's provisions will be halved to the level of a concubine. All other underage princes and princesses will be provided for like palace maids and eunuchs, and will be temporarily under the care of the Empress Dowager and the Empress."

As for the young princesses, Chu Yan intended to have them raised; those who were not particularly beautiful would be married off to his meritorious officials, with dowries equivalent to that of a county princess, which would not disgrace their status as princesses of the former dynasty.

"Consort Xian-De, I have a task for you."

Chu Yan looked at Jia Yuanchun, who bowed, signaling she was listening.

Chu Yan said, "All concubines of the former Retired Emperor and the Emperor are to be moved to the Eastern Palace. All their belongings, except for a few personal items, are to be confiscated and registered."

The group was shocked. Confiscating property inside the imperial palace?! Almost all the concubines were to have their homes searched and all their wealth seized! Only during the changing of a dynasty could such a terrifying sight be witnessed.

"I... I..."

For Jia Yuanchun, who had been cautious and timid during her ten years in the palace, receiving such a major task was no less significant than suddenly becoming the Empress! Only the Empress was fit to manage such a monumental affair.

"Are you unable to do it?" Chu Yan asked. "If you cannot, I will have someone else do it."

Noble Lady Zhou and Noble Consort Wu, who had just agreed to serve, looked on with glowing eyes. To be able to confiscate the homes of those concubines who had looked down on them in the past—who could understand the sweetness of such a feeling?

"I obey the decree!" Jia Yuanchun knelt and kowtowed to accept the order.

Chu Yan smiled. "I haven't ascended the throne yet. Rise."

Jia Yuanchun scrambled to her feet, feeling ashamed and hating herself for losing her composure and violating etiquette.

Chu Yan looked at the others. "If you cannot manage all these matters alone, order the others to assist you, including the Empress and the Princesses—they are all to temporarily follow your commands! Oh, and I forgot, Empress Zhang's provisions are also to be reduced to half that of a Noble Consort."

The eunuchs and maids looked at Empress Zhang, then lowered their heads. Having stayed in the palace for so long, how could they not see that the Prince was giving the Empress a show of power? Jia Yuanchun, originally just a Noble Consort, could now command the Empress—this act was no less bold than Chi You brandishing his battle-axe.

Empress Zhang remained with her back to the Prince, her face taut, saying not a word.

"I humbly obey the order of Prince Qian," Jia Yuanchun said, her eyes cast down.

In her heart, she could not help but think that the Prince’s entry into the capital had indeed brought about a world-shattering change. If she had followed the Ning Emperor, her Changchun Palace would have been raided before the Jia family was even touched.