Jin Jiali and Lou Sijing retreated. Feng Xie swept his gaze across the great hall.
Originally, he had only intended to keep two or three women to fill the harem this time. However, upon thinking of the Empress's selection, his resentment grew, and he ended up enfeêting over a dozen noble ladies.
From the second rank of Zhaoyi to the sixth rank of Cairen, they were assigned to the East and West Palaces.
In the great hall, the selected ladies were overjoyed, their faces beaming with smiles. Those not chosen were dejected, their gazes falling upon the lazily seated Prince Yan.
Prince Yan was so handsome; they would willingly serve as a concubine in his residence.
It was a pity that Feng Lie had not yet considered bringing women into his princely manor. He had always been very discerning about women, so there were only two consorts in his manor, and these two consorts were no less impressive than Jin Jiali, both being beauties of the highest caliber.
The selection thus concluded. The remaining matters were for the chief eunuch. Emperor Feng Xie flicked his sleeve, the imperial yellow color blindingly conspicuous. A young eunuch’s sharp voice immediately rang out: "His Majesty proceeds to the Imperial Study."
The female officials led the noble ladies in a synchronized kneel: "We respectfully see off His Majesty, Prince Yan, and Consort Xiu."
Feng Lie passed by Liu Liu. He lowered his head and glanced at her. He had wanted to say something to comfort her, but in front of so many noble ladies, he had to maintain decorum.
She was now the mistress of the harem. Although not favored, she could not lose her proper etiquette. Thus, he suppressed his urge to speak and slowly walked out.
Zhang Xiuyi gazed at everything unfolding before her, feeling very pleased. A faint smile touched the corner of her lips.
Liu Qianjin becoming Empress was something she had not anticipated before. Upon careful consideration, it was far better than Jin Jiali or Lou Sijing.
Because the Emperor disliked Empress Liu, the concubines in the harem would receive favor equitably. If Jin Jiali or Lou Sijing had become Empress, the Emperor might have doted on only one.
If an imperial prince were then born, their difficult days would truly begin. The more Zhang Xiuyi thought about it, the more she felt the current situation was the best. Therefore, with a beaming smile, she walked over to Liu Liu and congratulated her respectfully.
"This concubine congratulates Empress."
Liu Liu stood up and looked at the woman before her. Her face clearly wore a mischievous smile, yet she adopted such a humble posture. It was truly too disingenuous. She waved her hand dismissively: "Consort Xiu, you may dispense with the formalities."
In the great hall, the eleven selected noble ladies all approached with smiles, bowing to Liu Liu: "This humble girl greets the Empress."
"Arise," Liu Liu said. She was naturally indifferent, and she knew these women could not be befriended. If she confided in them today, they might stab her in the back tomorrow. All for the same man, no one could truly be happy sharing a husband with others.
These selected ladies remained. The unselected ladies had already been escorted out of the palace by young eunuchs. Thus, in the vast Xiu Xiu Palace, only a dozen or so women gathered around Zhang Xiuyi, their sweet voices filling the great hall.
"Sister Xiu Yi, you look so beautiful today. This dress is so dazzling."
"Sister Xiu Yi, you will be our elder sister from now on."
Zhang Xiuyi looked at the women gathered around her, a deep, faraway smile playing on her lips. These women were indeed shrewd, likely wanting to inquire about the Emperor's usual preferences to gain more favor.
However, she could also use this opportunity to curry favor with them. This way, even if they gained favor, they would not forget her, the magnanimous Consort Xiu, thus maintaining her own status.
Therefore, she was extremely attentive to the noble ladies, answering every question they asked.
Standing to the side, Liu Liu observed everything with cold eyes, disdain filling her watery gaze. She walked to the side and sat on the divan. Her two young maids, Cui'er and Qiao'er, also entered and joyfully offered congratulations to their mistress.
"Your servants congratulate Mistress."
Liu Liu waved her hand expressionlessly, showing no hint of joy: "Enough. Stop mentioning congratulations. If I had a choice, I'd rather go home."
"Mistress, what's wrong?" Cui'er noticed the weariness in her mistress's eyes and stepped forward to ask with concern.
Liu Liu did not want to say more. She leaned back on the divan. Her two young maids stood by her side, and seeing her indifferent expression, they dared not speak further to provoke her.
Although they desperately wanted to know what had happened, why their mistress had become Empress yet still looked so unhappy.
The coldness here contrasted sharply with the jovial conversation elsewhere, creating a peculiar scene. Just then, Jiang Cheng, the chief eunuch of the harem, entered with a large retinue of eunuchs and palace maids.
"This servant is the chief eunuch of the harem, and I offer my congratulations to all the Consorts." Jiang Cheng bowed respectfully. In that instant, he had estimated the importance of everyone in the great hall.
As the chief eunuch of the harem, Jiang Cheng's shrewdness was beyond ordinary. His sharp eyes could see the truth that others could not.
Among the Consorts before him, he could estimate that the most troublesome was the Empress. Her restrained demeanor and cold, piercing aura suggested she was not an easy mistress to handle. As for the other imperial consorts, although beautiful, they were easier to deal with.
Liu Liu raised her eyes and swept a cold glance. She saw Jiang Cheng looking at her respectfully, but his eyes were actually assessing her strength. What a cunning and treacherous servant. A cold, charming smile touched her lips, and she remained silent.
The status of eunuchs in the harem was quite significant, so Jin Jiali and Lou Sijing, along with other noble ladies, quickly spoke obediently.
"We thank Chief Eunuch Jiang."
Even Zhang Xiuyi, who had long resided in the deep palace, knew Jiang Cheng's capabilities, so she nodded with a smile, not daring to show the slightest negligence.
Looking around, in the vast great hall of Xiu Xiu Palace, only the Empress seemed to disregard Jiang Cheng. This made Jin Jiali and Lou Sijing secretly amused. Did she really think she was that noble?
One must know that the chief eunuch was no less than half a master in the harem. Now she had offended another person. They secretly rejoiced, while those concubines with slightly kinder hearts worried a little for Liu Liu.
She was already not favored by the Emperor, and now she had offended the chief eunuch. How would she live her life in the future?
Liu Liu paid no heed to what these women were thinking. Her nature disliked flattery and sycophancy. Was he not just a eunuch?
How powerful could a servant be to turn the heavens upside down? Moreover, he had better not provoke her.
Although she could not openly defy the Emperor, it did not mean she would not act against him. Her gaze shot out with chilling coldness. Chief Eunuch Jiang felt his scalp tingle and his limbs grow cold. He did not want to become a target, so he lowered his head and became even more submissive.
"Now, this servant will assign female officials, palace maids, and eunuchs to each Consort."
As the Empress of the harem, she should receive one chief eunuch, two female officials, ten palace maids, and ten eunuchs. The other imperial consorts would receive progressively fewer.
Chief Eunuch Jiang listed the people serving Empress Liu, forming a complete line.
Liu Liu felt a headache coming on. If these people were constantly around her, she would have no freedom at all. Moreover, she had heard that Huaqing Palace was no different from a cold palace. What was the use of so many people?
Most of these eunuchs and palace maids were unwilling to go. Disappointment was etched on everyone's faces. These servants of the palace were all snobbish; everyone wanted to follow a favored consort.
Thus, in just this one morning, the news of Empress Liu's disfavor had spread. Therefore, who would be willing to reside in Huaqing Palace, located near the cold palace? That place was usually desolate, with not even a ghost's shadow, bleak and chilling. To run an errand to the front would require a long journey.