Summer rains were always so sudden.
On the day of the palace selection, a torrential downpour arrived without warning, catching everyone completely off guard.
Although the selection took place inside the hall, there was still some distance to cover from the Palace of Selected Talents to the Qin’an Hall in the Imperial Garden.
The maidens entering the hall had their hems soaked through; some even caught by the wind had rain clinging to their strands of hair, looking indescribably disheveled.
Outside the hall, the coming and going of the maidens added a damp chill to the air inside Qin’an Hall, causing the Empress Dowager’s expression to darken somewhat.
“How did the Imperial Astronomical Bureau choose such a day? It’s fortunate it’s only a talent selection. If it were troops setting out on a campaign, wouldn’t that be…”
The Empress Dowager stopped herself, unwilling to utter ill omens.
But everyone understood her meaning, and the consorts all glanced at Fang He.
Fang He smiled and comforted the Empress Dowager, “What’s the big deal? If a daughter is to marry, the heavens must surely rain. The Heavens want to join the fun; who can stop them?”
“The blazing sun shining bright is the Great Qing’s great fortune, but even if it rains during a campaign, that only shows our unstoppable momentum. Selection is just the same.”
She leaned over and teased Kangxi, “Today we’re all treated to a feast for the eyes. This ‘water lotus’ spectacle is something ordinary folk rarely see except for Your Majesty. Wouldn’t you agree?”
Kangxi wanted to reply but only felt the faint sting of a wound inside his lip.
That was from the night he couldn’t resist smacking that rascal a few times and was bitten back like a water snake—carefully avoiding places that others might notice, but the clever girl still managed to get him.
Ignoring Fang He’s teasing, Kangxi understood the Empress Dowager’s concerns.
He pressed his tongue lightly against the sore part inside his lip, suppressing the pain, and smiled as he spoke. “Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, rest assured. I will deal properly with the Imperial Astronomical Bureau personnel. No one will be allowed to make a big deal out of this or affect the selection results.”
Since he had supported Fang He’s reform of the talent selection, regardless of her original intentions, so far the results had been good despite minor flaws.
Fewer maidens had fallen ill from the usual exhausting travel, saving the Ministry of Revenue a large sum of silver.
Moreover, this talent selection, once a strictly internal palace affair, was now opened to the common people, whose enthusiastic response flooded the court with reports praising the reform.
They had heard that maidens would no longer bind their feet, but instead learn the Six Arts—a mark of noble ladies.
Some families even freed their daughters’ feet for this.
If this continued, the talent selection might open a new path for Manchu-Han integration, winning the hearts of the people and bringing stability to the realm.
Kangxi privately believed the reforms to the selection rules and the Women’s Academy were likely knowledge Fang He had acquired during her perilous journeys.
Anything touching on the supernatural might be ancestral guidance.
Therefore, his expression was resolute, prompting everyone to cast envious looks at Fang He for the Emperor’s favor.
Now the consorts were accustomed to seeing the Emperor and Imperial Noble Consort inseparable—even Consort Hui and Consort Rong, older and more reserved, seemed somewhat dazed.
Back when both empresses were alive, even during Noble Consort Tong’s heyday, the Emperor had never been so infatuated.
Yet no one could muster the desire to compete for favor anymore; instead, they were intrigued by the deeper meaning behind the selection reform.
Life in the palace was bleak, but with the Sixth Consort having gone out several times, even Concubine Jing’s sickly complexion had improved greatly, and the bitterness on Tong Consort’s face had faded.
They longed to leave the palace as well and therefore cared greatly about the selection results.
As long as the results were good, the Women’s Academy would become a sought-after sanctuary for women in the capital and throughout the Great Qing, and no one would be more suited to be female teachers than the consorts.
Hearing the Emperor’s words, several noble ladies and attendants present who had been worried by the Empress Dowager’s remarks visibly relaxed.
Yet the Empress Dowager’s expression remained subtle.
She herself did not leave the palace and cared less about the selection results.
As for Fang He and the Emperor, anyone with eyes could see that such a trivial matter could not shake the Imperial Noble Consort; only a fool would be unsettled.
The Empress Dowager’s worry was that the Bei Meng maidens’ makeup might make a joke of them in this rainy weather, causing others to look down on Bei Meng.
No matter how carefully Bei Meng noble ladies were raised, born on the grasslands, their skin wasn’t as fair and delicate.
Whenever they came to the capital or entered the palace, they had to wear powder.
Previously, she had heard Fang He mention an occasion at a hot spring where the Emperor had seen a “ghost,” which made her laugh until she nearly sprayed her tea.
Now… she really did not want to see a ghost.
Seeing the Empress Dowager’s subtle glance, Fang He was suddenly inspired and understood her concerns.
She rose and leaned close to the Empress Dowager’s ear to whisper a few words, and the Empress Dowager’s face instantly calmed considerably.
The newly appointed Deputy Director of the Imperial Household Department was none other than Wei Zhu, who was guarding the Outer Treasury at the Qianqing Palace.
Wei Zhu knew that this talent selection was driven by his own sister and was watching closely to prevent any mishaps.
All the rouge and powders used by the maidens in the Palace of Selected Talents were purchased from a shop outside the Chenping Palace, mostly made using ancient methods according to Fang He’s earlier recipes.
The powder on their faces was similar to foundation liquid, and getting a little damp with cold water wouldn’t be a problem.
The Empress Dowager relaxed, smiling as she patted Fang He’s hand and praised her before Kangxi and the others.
“From now on, with the Imperial Noble Consort in charge, you all need not worry about talent selection. Just leave it to her.”
Whether it was the court intrigues of past reigns or those within the harem, with Fang He’s meticulous nature, no mistakes would happen.
The consorts immediately followed the Empress Dowager and lavished a fresh round of flattering praise on Fang He, hoping that when the time came for consorts to leave the palace, the Imperial Noble Consort wouldn’t forget them.
If anyone was quick-witted, it was Concubine Xi.
Since she fell from the bridge in the Imperial Garden, she had vanished from the palace scene.
Whenever she saw Fang He from afar, she was more frightened than seeing a ghost.
It had been a long time since anyone heard Concubine Xi gossiping.
She was, after all, frustrated.
Straightforward.
She had such a small hobby but happened to offend the Imperial Noble Consort, which was to offend the Emperor himself—no more words dared be spoken.
Though she didn’t care about favor, she cared about her family and her own life, so she was forced to hold it all in.
But the re-selection and final selection outing opened a new world for Concubine Xi.
At last, there were people willing to listen to her, and the maidens wished she would say even more.
Each softly lifted her up with tender words in the Wu dialect.
Who wouldn’t enjoy being surrounded by beautiful people?
Concubine Xi had never been this dignified since birth; the sorrow on her face faded faster than even Tong Consort’s.
Now, carrying others’ praise, she even showed a bit of Consort Yi’s style.
“Your humble servant has long felt that no one in the palace can compare to the Imperial Noble Consort! Imperial Noble Consort Sister not only manages palace affairs well, is served well by the Emperor, but treats us sisters like kin. To have such a sister is truly our blessing!”
Everyone: “……”
Thinking of the slaps she took earlier, one wonders what kind of sister she really is!
Kangxi shot Fang He a half-smile and side-eyed her.
The care she gave was good—he never expected anyone to dare slap his royal rear like that.
With others, he might have seen some bashful humility, but Fang He wouldn’t.
She always took praise well.
That was just who she was, which was why she loved herself so much.
Fang He confidently raised her teacup and toasted around the room, “You all have good taste!”
Everyone: “….”
Thick-skinned is also one of the Imperial Noble Consort’s merits.
“Since your taste is so good, you must look carefully at these maidens and select a few as good daughters-in-law like the Great Consort. That way, the princes can serve the Emperor without worries!”
Consort Hui, recently recovered and just starting to move about, stiffened.
Thinking of the Three Golden Flowers in the Eldest Prince’s courtyard and the princess who was like a decoration, a suffocating feeling rose in her chest.
Even Consort Rong’s face tensed, understanding why Consort Hui’s face was a shade darker.
Such good daughters-in-law… would be truly unbearable to have as a mother-in-law.
But for now, the two could only exchange bitter smiles.
They no longer dared compete with Fang He, nor could they contradict her and spoil the Empress Dowager’s or Emperor’s mood.
While they spoke, the maidens outside had finished tidying their appearances and were ready to enter the hall to begin the palace selection.
Liang Jiugong saw Li Dequan outside nod subtly, and the laughter inside the hall died down.
He immediately raised his voice, “Maidens, enter the hall!”
On June 20th, the talent selection successfully concluded.
Guarjia Xiuying, daughter of Han army White Banner Commander Shi Wenbing, won first place and was named a First Class Female Scholar, and the Emperor immediately arranged her marriage to the Crown Prince.
Other maidens from the Dong E and Ula Nara clans earned Second Class titles and were respectively granted in marriage to the Third Prince and Fourth Prince.
The remaining three hundred plus maidens who passed the palace selection were all Third Class Female Scholars.
It was exactly like the imperial examinations.
Fang He reclined on the soft couch in the main hall of Chengqian Palace, letting the Fourth Princess Yierha play with Jiujiu and Er Bao while complaining to Consort Yi and Concubine Jing.
“This ‘class’ naming sounds a bit strange, like some kind of shell. Next time we select maidens, we should come up with a more elegant term.”
Consort Yi laughed at the tease, “By your logic, wouldn’t the whole court be full of kings… cough cough, the officials at the Hanlin Academy might have to impeach you!”
Concubine Jing, however, was quite interested.
“I heard in ancient times the martial emperor had the refined elegance of a flower fairy. How about using flowers for names, ranking by the Imperial Noble Consort’s name as Peony Order, then issuing different Peony Tokens? Doesn’t that sound more elegant?”
“Good!” Fang He clapped her hands.
“The world loves to compare women to peonies, symbolizing grandeur and grace. This would be a commendation, adding capital for the maidens in their marital families.”
She couldn’t stop women from marrying when they reached the right age—that would be fighting the entire world, which was beyond her ability.
But if she could improve their situation a little, she was willing to do so.
She pondered, “But it’s improper to use my name. Better to do it in the Empress Dowager’s name.”
In plain terms, no matter how high her status, she was still a concubine.
Those old-fashioned families might be uncomfortable with it.
She wanted to help the maidens, not cause trouble.
Since she was doing it, she wanted it to be done openly.
Consort Yi found this a little improper and gently reminded her, “But these granted marriages don’t all make the maidens the main wives. If they get the Peony Token but become concubines, it wouldn’t sit well with the primary consorts.”
Fang He: “Ah, true… Then how about ranking them by different flowers?”
But this would involve disputes over the relative status of flowers among literati, potentially stirring more conflict.
Concubine Jing had been a talented woman in her past life and was well-read this one; she was unfazed.
She smiled, “That’s simple. The front-ranked maidens are main wives; those behind become concubines. We can distinguish using Peony Tokens and Lotus Tokens.”
“Peony is grand and magnificent; lotus is elegant and pure. Poets and scholars have praised these two flowers endlessly throughout history, with many famous varieties for ranking.”
Fang He fell silent.
The lotus wasn’t a good word in later times.
Moreover, it represented concubines.
Centuries later, the lotus would be subject to more sarcastic and hostile use.
But the matter at hand was more urgent; she had no intention of using later connotations to dodge current societal understanding.
She said to Concubine Jing, “In a few days, I will accompany the imperial carriage on a northern tour. I’ll entrust Er Bao to you. Thank you for taking care of him.”
“And this is the first time for the selection reform, with many flaws and drawbacks. Especially now that maidens suddenly have freedom, young and naive, they might be misled into mistakes that ruin their own and their families’ futures. Please use the issues exposed this time to improve the regulations.”
“Previously, the rules were hurriedly revised based on those from the Ministry of Rites and had many loopholes. The next selection won’t be for another three years. With experience, there’s no rush.”
“Once the regulations are revised, send them to the Women’s Academy for study alongside the Empress Dowager’s ‘Quà n Xué ShÅ«’ Jade Plaque. If Han women enroll, there is no need to avoid it; the more they learn and see, the better.”