At this moment, both of them felt a complex mix of emotions.
Previously, though they appeared as husband and wife, they were not truly so.
Now, there was a sense of shared fate between them.
The grand ceremony was concluded, and music from the Imperial Music Bureau began to play.
Next came the visits of the other official wives and noble ladies to congratulate the new Noble Consort, followed by a banquet.
The female attendants solemnly displayed A wu’s investiture register and Seal of Investiture on the incense table for all to see.
At that moment, all eyes were fixed on the register—a prize few in their lives would ever hold.
Beside it stood a Red Lacquer Sandalwood Treasure Box carved with coiled dragons, inside which lay the Golden Seal, engraved with ancient script and cloud-dragon-phoenix motifs.
A wu heard faint gasps and murmurs of disbelief among the crowd, but these quickly subsided.
She looked at Emperor Jingxi in puzzlement.
He acted as if nothing had happened, holding her hand and strolling to their seats.
A wu bowed once more and took her place.
Then came the kneeling tributes from the consorts: Consort Kang, Consort Hui, Lady Meng, and others.
Consort Kang was naturally reluctant.
She was older than A wu, had endured many years in the palace, and had borne Emperor Jingxi a daughter.
Yet she had fallen to this lowly position.
She could not conceal her displeasure.
Emperor Jingxi saw this clearly but only regarded her with a blank expression.
In the Imperial Harem, rules were absolute.
He was about to confer a title, and not even a mere consort could question it.
Consort Kang’s open discontent was unforgivable.
Over the years, he had been tolerant of Consort Kang for the sake of their daughter and allowed her the rank of Consort Kang out of consideration.
As for the other consorts, none dared question.
In the harem, the most important thing was to keep in line, obey the rules, and recognize the greater trend.
The trend was that this formerly minor consort would soon gather all the emperor’s favor.
Thus, all knelt willingly, calling her “Noble Consort.”
Emperor Jingxi remained composed and ordered generous rewards for all.
Everyone thanked him, though inwardly some grumbled—this man rarely displayed such extravagance before, but now for his beloved concubine, the rewards flowed freely.
Who could resist?
With the emperor in charge, obedience was mandatory. Â
Next came the Crown Prince, Crown Princess, and Princess Dening, who were to pay respects to A wu with a bow.
At this stage, A wu felt a bit uneasy.
Setting aside their past relations, how could these high-ranking individuals be bowing to her?
She had not yet fully accepted her new status as Noble Consort.
She looked to Emperor Jingxi for reassurance, and he gave her a comforting glance.
The Crown Prince and Crown Princess then performed the bow, offering tea.
The Crown Princess was seven months pregnant and due soon, her belly high and round.
She walked unsteadily, supported by her attendants.
It was clearly difficult and humiliating for her.
As the heir’s wife, it was normal to pay respects to the emperor’s Noble Consort, but it was A wu—once a lowly servant girl—who now stood as her stepmother, officially invested.
The Crown Princess’s heart ached and her face fell, but she stifled it, carefully performing the ritual without meeting A wu’s gaze.
A wu took the tea and could feel the Crown Princess’s trembling hand.
She spoke kindly, “Crown Princess, with your condition, no need for such formality. Please sit.”
She then took out a jade bracelet the emperor had prepared and had a palace lady present it to the Crown Princess.
With a smile, she said, “A small gift. Please do not reject it.”
The Crown Princess could only accept, her face flushed deeply.
Had she accepted A wu earlier, A wu would have been forever a concubine beneath her, and she would have offered some trinket condescendingly, saying, “Here’s a small gift—wear it as you please.”
But now, she was the one receiving a gift from A wu.
Those watching found the scene both absurd and poignant.
A Crown Princess was high-born and noble; A wu had been a nameless servant.
The disparity in their fates was stark.
Yet now, one was serving tea to the other.
Who could have imagined this day?
The Crown Princess sensed the gazes around her and nearly cried, but she knew she must not, forcing a smile instead.
Next came Princess Dening.
Everyone watched to see if she would bow to the Noble Consort.
A wu felt doubtful—Dening’s temperament was not one to bow easily.
As expected, when it was her turn, she stood and boldly asked in front of the consorts, “Father, the Noble Consort is only a Noble Consort, not the Empress nor Imperial Noble Consort. Why does she have a Golden Seal?”
In Da Hui, according to tradition, the Empress received a gold seal and a golden investiture decree.
Below Imperial Noble Consort, only the decree was given—no golden seal.
But now, Emperor Jingxi had granted A wu a Golden Seal!
This was against ancestral regulations!
The Golden Seal was not for ordinary people—it belonged to the Empress and Imperial Noble Consort.
Among the imperial family, only princes upon their investiture as kings could receive gold seals and registers.
The heir apparent only received a gold register; the gold seal was passed down from their fathers.
Hence, the Golden Seal was rare and difficult to obtain.
Yet the emperor had bestowed one upon A wu!
Consort Duan, Princess Consort Duan, and others present had no Golden Seal—they could only admire their husbands’ seals at home.
Only now did A wu realize something was amiss.
Emperor Jingxi listened without surprise, his gaze coolly fixed on his daughter.
Under her father’s watchful eyes, Dening lifted her chin.
The emperor smiled warmly and said, “Dening, what did you say just now? I didn’t quite hear you. Say it again.” Â
His tone, though calm, carried a faint aura of authority.
Dening took a deep breath and said, “Father, when I was young, I studied the ‘Admonitions for Women’ and learned that the imperial harem’s consorts were only to assist with duties and attend to the emperor’s needs.  If the emperor’s favor is excessive, it may lead to arrogance and disrupt order…” Â
The emperor’s smile faded, and his tea-colored eyes turned cold.
Under such a gaze, Dening’s voice grew faint.
She dared not challenge her father’s authority, and the courage she had mustered instantly evaporated.
Tears welled in her eyes despite herself.
Emperor Jingxi raised a brow and lightly retorted, “Dening, you studied the ‘Admonitions for Women,’ but only the surface, it seems.”
Dening was stunned, then flushed bright red.
The ‘Admonitions for Women’ had a dedicated chapter on filial piety.
By questioning her father and emperor, she was being unfilial and disloyal.
Emperor Jingxi withdrew his gaze and ignored her.
Order returned to the hall as the investiture ceremony proceeded smoothly.
Dening was quietly escorted out by the female attendants.
As she left, she covered her mouth to stifle her sobs.
Emperor Jingxi never once looked her way.
In the emperor’s cold disregard, all present understood that the order of Da Hui’s Imperial Harem had truly changed.
Had Fang Yue been there, he would surely have remarked how right his instincts were.
Since the day that young lady of Nanqiongzi smiled as she stepped down from the emperor’s Dragon Palanquin, a shift had emerged—one that would affect the future of Da Hui’s court and harem.
The ceremony ended swiftly, and the banquet began with elegant music.
Because A wu was pregnant, the festivities remained quiet, featuring only tranquil melodies.
The consorts all came forward to offer congratulations, but A wu was growing tired.
Emperor Jingxi, ever considerate, asked, “Are you weary? If so, shall we return so you can rest?”
A wu nodded quickly, “Yes, I am a little tired.”
“Good. I will accompany you back.”
Since the emperor and Noble Consort left first, everyone rose to see them off.
The banquet continued, temporarily presided over by Consort Zhuang.
On the way back, although A wu should have had her own palanquin, Emperor Jingxi insisted she ride with him.
A wu asked, “Does this not break palace regulations?”
The emperor took her wrist, turning to her with a smile.
“Noble Consort Ning, according to harem rules, you may accompany me in the Dragon Palanquin.”
A wu was stunned for a moment, then smiled.
She had forgotten she was already a Noble Consort!
They both boarded the palanquin.
Once seated, A wu, feeling tired, leaned against Emperor Jingxi’s chest.
He held her hand gently and asked, “Did Princess Dening ruin your good mood today?”
A wu was silent for a moment before replying, “If I said no, would you believe me?”
Emperor Jingxi smiled and replied, “That’s good.” Â
A wu didn’t quite know how to describe her feelings.
She understood Princess Dening’s protest was on behalf of her mother, Consort Kang.
Behind the protest lay A wu’s success, her overcoming, and her shortcut to surpass Consort Kang.
It showed she was now someone Princess Dening could not accept.
Princess Dening was royal blood, a favored child of heaven.
And she was the one once deemed “not worthy.”
She still remembered when she received the emperor’s order and knelt before the Crown Princess’s door, and the noble lady who had laughed lightly as she passed by.
To her, that was an unattainable existence—someone she would envy forever.
Now, that person openly expressed dissatisfaction with what A wu had gained.
In that sense, she had succeeded.
But she bore no deep enmity toward Princess Dening.
After all, she was just a child with a bit of temper, even if directed at her, it was understandable.
So she felt no triumph, only calm observation.
In truth, if Princess Dening were not defending her mother, there would be no fundamental conflict between them.
A daughter and a concubine—what was there to compare?
Through this episode, A wu finally understood why Emperor Jingxi had advanced her so deliberately and slowly.
Advancing too quickly would have sparked complaints.
Even with strong authority to suppress them, discontent would still simmer.
Emperor Jingxi said, “There’s something I want to ask you.”
A wu: “Yes?”
Emperor Jingxi: “I remember once giving you a set of small trinkets—jade and various carved stones. But I never saw you wear them again.” Â
A wu was surprised, “Ah…” Â
She thought he wouldn’t notice.
The emperor turned his head, his tea-colored eyes warm yet commanding.
“Did Princess Dening say something about this?”
A wu: “No, not really…”
She didn’t want to pile on the young lady’s troubles, after all, she was father and daughter.
Emperor Jingxi looked at A wu, his expression sharpening faintly.
“I want the truth.”
A wu: “Princess Dening mentioned it briefly, but didn’t say much. I wasn’t bothered, so I didn’t think it necessary to mention.”
After she said this, Emperor Jingxi remained silent, watching her intently.
A wu met his gaze, falling into those deep tea-colored eyes.
She stared at him, “Your Majesty…”
The emperor lowered his head slightly and gently tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear before softly asking, “Why didn’t you tell me?”