Chapter 41: Entering the Palace as a Consort

Jia Zheng returned to the manor. He had already been worried, but seeing a dozen soldiers of King Qian surrounding the main gate left him even more terrified.

After finally making his way inside and sitting down, he was immediately summoned by Amber, one of the Matriarch’s maids. Jia Zheng hurried to the Old Lady’s chambers. Everyone was gathered there, including Jia Lian, who had just returned, and Lady You from the Eastern Mansion. They had been deliberating for a long time, yet they could find no solution.

Wait for Jia Yuanchun to save them from the palace? She was barely able to save herself; no one knew what her state was in the deep palace, or if she had already been deposed or executed alongside the Emperor.

Lady Xing looked at Jia Lian and hesitated. "Lian’er, you said earlier..."

Everyone turned to look at him, knowing what the Eldest Lady was about to ask. Sure enough, Lady Xing gritted her teeth and asked, "You said King Qian once asked about the young ladies of our house—is that true?"

Seeing his father, the master, the Matriarch, and the ladies all watching him, Jia Lian knew they were tacitly giving their consent. He spoke, "King Qian asked many things. I couldn't grasp what he was getting at, but he didn't just ask about the three young ladies of our house; he also asked about Cousin Bao and Cousin Qin."

"King Qian even knows about them?" Everyone was astonished. Just how much did Leng Zixing know, and why had he told King Qian everything?

Jia Lian chuckled, "King Qian is omniscient. He even knows about Rong’s wife, and that Baoyu was born with jade in his mouth. He even asked, Feng, if you and Baoyu fell ill on the same day."

"He asked about me?" Wang Xifeng felt uneasy. She was a married woman—could King Qian possibly have taken an interest in her? It must be that damned Leng Zixing spouting nonsense outside. If King Qian truly issued an order for her to enter the palace, she would settle the score with Leng Zixing first!

Lady Wang hesitated for a moment before saying, "The three young ladies of our house are fine, but Cousin Bao..."

Lady Xing said, "Have you forgotten? When Cousin Bao’s family first came to the capital, it was to have her selected as a companion for the princesses. She wasn't chosen, but she did receive some palace flowers." Her implication was that the Xue family would be willing to let Xue Baochai enter the palace again, as she was not yet betrothed.

Everyone recalled this upon hearing her words. Lady Wang ordered a maid to summon Aunt Xue. Seeing that the matter was half-settled, Jia Lian stood up to take his leave, saying with a smile, "Once you have finished your deliberations, send word to me. I will go talk to King Qian’s guards at the gate tomorrow morning and beg them to pass the message into the palace!"

Wang Xifeng quickly added, "I will prepare a gift for them. How can one get things done without offering a gift?"

Just as they were speaking, a voice shouted angrily from outside, "I do not agree! I want to speak up for the sisters of this house!"

Everyone looked toward the door. Jia Zheng shouted, "Baoyu, come in here!"

Wearing a purple-gold crown and a bright red arrow-sleeve robe, Jia Baoyu walked into the room. He did not dare look at Jia Zheng, keeping his head lowered. Jia Zheng scolded him, "The Matriarch and the ladies are discussing matters—is it your place to interrupt?"

Jia Baoyu retorted, "Your discussion is to send the girls into the palace?! What kind of solution is that!"

Everyone felt ashamed. Even the Matriarch felt uneasy. When Jia Yuanchun was sent to the palace, it could still be called an act of loyalty to the sovereign. But now, King Qian had imprisoned the very "sovereign" the Jia family claimed to be loyal to, and yet the family was desperate to send more daughters into the palace. How could they show their faces?

Jia Lian sighed, "There is no other way. You haven't left the house these past few days, so you don't know what is happening outside... When King Qian entered the city, thousands of officials knelt to welcome him. King Qian is the new master of the world!"

Everyone was kneeling, not just the Jia family.

"Baoyu, go home!" Lady Wang told him, knowing that if he stayed, his father would surely beat him.

Jia Baoyu, his face full of grief, bowed to the Matriarch and the ladies. Just as he was about to leave, a thought struck him. He turned back and asked, "Is Cousin Lin to enter the palace as well?!"

Everyone looked at Jia Lian. The latter hesitated; he could not fathom King Qian’s intentions and did not dare say no.

Jia Lian’s hesitation was a death blow to Jia Baoyu. He felt as if a thunderbolt had struck his head. He stood stunned, his face turning purple and bloated, sweat rolling down his forehead.

Everyone noticed something was wrong. Xiren rushed over to check on him, but as soon as she pushed him, Jia Baoyu collapsed straight to the floor.

"Baoyu!!"

The Matriarch screamed in shock. Lady Wang, Jia Zheng, Wang Xifeng, and the others crowded around in a panic. Someone ordered a doctor to be called, only to remember that the main gate had been sealed, and no doctor would dare enter the Jia manor.

After a long, chaotic scene, it was only when the Matriarch personally promised that Lin Daiyu would not be sent to the palace that Jia Baoyu came to his senses, clutching the Matriarch’s hand and declaring that he would rather die than see Cousin Lin enter the palace.

Jia Lian had already hidden himself at home. When night fell, Wang Xifeng returned and immediately asked, "Tell me the truth, did King Qian ask for Cousin Lin to enter the palace?" She could see that if Lin Daiyu entered the palace, Jia Baoyu would surely die; the two star-crossed lovers could not live without each other.

"You want the truth, but where am I to find it?" Jia Lian felt disgruntled. He was submissive before King Qian, never daring to ask a single extra question. Yet, back home, everyone pressured him to beg for favors, as if he had some deep connection with the King.

Thinking of this, Jia Lian left the room, saying, "If you don't want Cousin Lin to enter the palace and want to save your Baoyu, then go into the palace yourself!"

His words infuriated Wang Xifeng, who rushed out of the house, pointing at him and cursing, "Let me tell you, I’m not afraid of the palace! If I enter, with my abilities, becoming a noble consort would be nothing. When I return to visit my family, you will still have to kneel before me!"

When Jia Yuanchun had previously returned to visit, the entire Jia family had knelt to welcome her, including the Matriarch and Lady Wang.

Jia Lian sneered, "I will tell King Qian tomorrow that there is a noble consort in my house who wants to go in and serve!"

"I would love nothing more!"

Seeing the couple's bickering getting out of hand, Ping'er hurried out to mediate. After Jia Lian left, Wang Xifeng lay on the bed, stewing in anger. Ping'er smiled and tried to comfort her, but as she watched her mistress lying there, her figure alluring and her phoenix eyes full of charm, she could not help but think: If the mistress entered the palace, with her looks and stature, she might truly be titled a noble consort!

...

The news that the manor was to send another young lady to the palace spread through the Prospect Garden like the wind.

"Young Mistress!!" Yingchun’s maid, Siqi, hurried back and told her the news. She expected a reaction, but Yingchun simply continued reading her book after hearing it.

"Young Mistress, why don't you say anything?" Xiuju urged.

Yingchun had no choice but to say, "What ideas could I possibly have? If the Matriarch and the ladies tell me to enter the palace, I will go. Who knows what it will be like? Whether it is good or bad, I cannot say. Perhaps I could ask eldest sister, but who knows what has become of her? Did King Qian imprison her? Alas, I know nothing of these things."

Upon hearing this, Siqi and Xiuju felt helpless; their mistress was far too lacking in resolve.

At Qiushuang Study, Tanchun was stunned for a moment after hearing the news, then abruptly stood up and said, "I am going to see the Matriarch!"

Shishu asked anxiously, "Are you unwilling to enter the palace? This matter will likely be difficult..."

Tanchun replied, "Even if I agree to go, I must understand the situation. I cannot go in blindly."

She left, only to run into a maid sent by Lady Wang to summon her. Tanchun went to the Lady’s chambers and sat for a long time before emerging in tears. Ultimately, she could not escape the fate of being controlled by others. She had once hated that she was not born a man to achieve something great, but now it seemed that even if she had, she could not have escaped the fate of being swept away by King Qian. With King Qian taking control of the capital, the aristocrats of the old dynasty were terrified; only by currying favor could they hope to preserve their lives and family properties.

At Hengwu Courtyard, Aunt Xue walked in. Xue Baoqin rose to greet her, but Baochai was a step slower, watching the sorrow on her mother’s face before finally standing up. Her round, jade-like face remained calm, as if she were prepared to meet the fate of entering the palace to serve the new monarch. Years ago, she had failed to be selected as a princess’s companion; tomorrow, she might enter the palace again. Not as a companion, but... as a consort to the new ruler.

"I... I have to enter the palace too?!" Xue Baoqin grew nervous, her porcelain-doll face showing signs of panic. She had come to the capital to escape King Qian, who was rebelling in the south, and intended to marry into the Mei family. Who would have thought that not only would her marriage fall through, but she would also have to offer herself up to serve King Qian?

Aunt Xue comforted her, "It is not yet certain whether you must go. King Qian knows you and Baochai are beautiful, but what he intends is still unknown. I have spoken to your brother, and he has agreed, saying he would ask if you were willing."

Xue Baoqin and Xue Ke had lost their parents and had come to the capital to rely on Aunt Xue. The only elder remaining in the Xue family was Aunt Xue, so Baoqin’s marriage was entirely in her and her brother’s hands—though she did have a betrothal arranged by her parents. But now, everything had changed.

"Aunt..." Xue Baoqin lowered her head in thought for a long time before asking, "If I enter the palace with Cousin Bao, won't others laugh at us?"

Aunt Xue was stunned; she hadn't considered that.

Baochai smiled, "You are well-read; have you not heard of Ehuang and Nüying, or Feiyan and Hede? Besides, we are not blood sisters. If you enter with me, we can look out for one another. The palace is not like the Jia manor; the rules are far stricter... Nothing is set in stone yet, we have only given a vague promise. Brother Lian will go to plead with King Qian’s guards tomorrow, and he may not even get to see the King."

After thinking for a long time, Xue Baoqin reluctantly agreed. If King Qian wanted to see her, she would enter the palace with her cousin. Seeing both girls agree, Aunt Xue felt a mixture of joy and sorrow. The palace was indeed not like the Jia manor; once a daughter entered, returning to her family home would be an incredibly difficult task.