Chapter 1048: Harem Arrangements

In the sunny March, willow catkins filled the air.

The flower beds in the Imperial Garden were in full bloom with all sorts of exotic flowers and plants.

Rock gardens and strangely-shaped rocks were arranged in a tasteful disorder, while the cobblestone paths wound scenically.

The gentle, bright sunlight stretched across the entire Taiye Pool, making the lake shimmer, and the weeping willows by the lakeside swayed gracefully.

From time to time, palace attendants would row exquisite little wooden boats on the Taiye Pool, gathering clusters of flying catkins from the water.

These activities caused ripples to spread across the previously still lake.

If the earlier spring scenery was like a painting,

then these occasional boats added life to the painting.

Xia Ruqing was sitting in an octagonal pavilion by the Taiye Pool at this moment.

Before her were a delicate gilded teacup and a teapot sending up spirals of steam.

There were also a few plates of exquisite and tasty tea snacks and a bowl of thickly boiled lily and lotus seed sweet soup.

She picked up the sweet soup gently, stirring it slowly with a small silver spoon, but not drinking it.

Instead, she smiled, watching Little Lele not far away.

The little girl was bouncing around, chasing a little white dog.

This was a dog that Zhao Junyao had personally taken her to choose at a kennel outside the palace a few days ago.

The little white dog had long, snow-white fur and a pair of shiny black eyes, somewhat resembling a modern Small Pomeranian.

It’s said that this type of dog was brought over by some overseas merchants.

It had a lively and soft nature, stayed small and never grew too big, perfectly suiting the conditions for keeping a dog in the palace.

Imagine if they got a big dog, what if someone tried to cause trouble?

So it’s better to have a small dog.

Moreover, according to Xiao Xizi and the Wetnurse Sister,

when Lele first arrived at the kennel, she thought about Yellow Bean, feeling very down, insisting on finding a dog identical to Yellow Bean.

But when she saw this little white dog, she perked up immediately.

She no longer cared about Yellow Bean.

She squatted down on the spot, poking the little dog’s head with her finger.

The little dog wasn’t afraid and licked her hand through the cage.

Then it looked at her with its shiny eyes.

Then, the child and the dog bonded instantly.

Since the little white dog’s arrival, the little girl’s spirits had lifted considerably.

Zi Yue and Zi Su shrank Yellow Bean’s old bedding by a size,

personally made a few soft cushions for the little white dog’s bed.

Xia Ruqing thought, we can’t keep calling it Little White Dog.

So, together with Lele, they named it Snowball.

At this time,

Snowball was hopping around on the wooden corridor.

Lele was following it with joy and laughter.

Seeing her daughter finally smile again, Xia Ruqing was at ease.

"Sigh!"

"It’s been over twenty days, and Lele finally recovered!"

The little girl was so emotional.

Since Yellow Bean died, she couldn’t eat or sleep well, cried and had nightmares at night, and couldn’t sleep peacefully for half a month.

Now that Snowball arrived, Duanning Palace was filled with laughter again.

Zi Yue chuckled.

"Isn’t that so?"

"All thanks to the Emperor and the Empress’ love!!"

Zi Su grinned proudly.

"Of course!"

"Our Fourth Princess is the apple of the Emperor’s eye!"

Xia Ruqing chuckled softly.

"Alright, let’s be quiet if there’s nothing else to say. What kind of talk is that!"

She was the Empress now; it wasn’t good to be too flamboyant.

The two of them fell silent.

Xia Ruqing took a few sips of the sweet soup and then asked,

"By the way, how are the Eldest Princess and the Third Princess doing?"

Zi Yue hastily replied,

"Returning to Madam!"

"The Eldest Princess is now living with Consort Zheng in Xihuai Palace. It’s said that Consort Zheng is very fond of her, not only making clothes for her but also hiring a female teacher to instruct her daily in poetry and painting, so it should be fine!"

"As for the Third Princess, she’s now living with Consort Yun in Yaoyue Palace!"

"Consort Yun has a straightforward personality and treats the Third Princess well. Just a few days ago, she invited the Third Princess to the Imperial Garden for a boat outing!"

Xia Ruqing nodded; this was good.

She let out a long breath, put down the soup in her hand, and stood up.

Slowly walking to the pavilion railing, she watched the fish in the water and pondered.

"In the blink of an eye, I’ve been in this era for twelve years!"

"In the blink of an eye, it’s time for another selection in the harem!"

The three years of mourning for the Empress and the storms of the court had passed.

There was no longer any reason not to have a selection in the harem!

Even if Zhao Junyao held the pressure and didn’t bring it up, could I really avoid it?

Hehe!

Xia Ruqing’s lips curled with a hint of bitterness.

The most unwilling matter had finally arrived.

For a modern person, selecting concubines for your husband was indeed cruel.

So, Xia Ruqing spent an afternoon indulging herself in nature to escape reality.

This was ancient times, what could refusal accomplish?

This era was like this?!

She was just going along with local customs.

It’s just taking concubines; the emperor husband had a few children with other women.

Didn’t I get through it?!

After metaphorically feeding herself a bellyfull of toxic positivity.

Xia Ruqing finally steeled herself.

"Who cares!"

"Whether I can accept it or not, they must select, right?"

"Let’s select them first; if push comes to shove, we’ll select some plain-looking ones!"

Hehe!

Somehow, I feel a bit of cunning?!

She smiled as she looked at the sky.

"It’s getting late, let’s pack up and head back!"

"How!"

Zi Yue responded and started on the preparations.

Xia Ruqing then took the bouncy Lele home.

...

At dinner time, the palace was lit with the evening lamps.

Courtyard after courtyard lit their lamps, bathing the whole Imperial Palace in a warm, yellow glow.

Duanning Palace was brightly lit as always.

Zhao Junyao was busy with state affairs and couldn’t join for dinner.

After dining alone, Xia Ruqing took to reading on the heated platform.

She picked up a pen and began jotting down notes on paper.

It wasn’t long before she had clearly listed the temperaments, ranks, and residences of those above Sixth Rank in the harem.

Besides herself in the current harem,

the position of the First-Rank Noble Consort was vacant.

There were four in the Second Rank Consort position, including Consort Cheng, mother of the Second Prince, Consort Hui, mother of the Second Princess, Consort Zheng who raises the Eldest Princess, and Consort Yun who raises the Third Princess.

There was only one in the Third Rank Concubine position, who was Consort Song Pin, recently promoted.

There were quite a few Fourth Rank Jieyu, totaling five, namely Lady Chen, Lady Liang, Lady Li, Lady Sun, and Lady Wu.

No one occupied the Fifth Rank positions.

The Sixth Rank Honored Ladies included Lady Dou, Lady Bai, and Lady Yang.

The latter two were recently promoted, while Lady Dou had been demoted and was the biological mother of the Eldest Princess.

As for residences,

besides Xia Ruqing’s Duanning Palace and Jiaofang Hall, where the Late Empress lived,

the harem also housed the Six Palaces and Six Halls.

Consort Cheng and Consort Song Pin had lived in Yichun Palace for many years.

It’s said that they were as close as sisters, with Consort Song Pin helping Consort Cheng care for the Second Prince.

Thus, even with Consort Song Pin’s promotion, there were no changes in residence.

Consort Hui lived alone in Zhaoxiang Pavilion, she had been Consort Cheng’s neighbor for many years and wouldn’t move anytime soon.