A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace Chapter 1069 - 1070: Investiture

Roughly five or six days following the hall selection, the rankings for the Fine Ladies were at last finalized.

This outcome stemmed from deliberations between Xia Ruqing and the Emperor.

The six Fine Ladies, ordered by their family backgrounds, stood as follows:

Ma Yueqiang, offspring of Ma Guanglin, who served as Captain of Northwest Liangzhou at Third Rank, received the title of Fifth Rank Liyi and was assigned quarters in the east side hall of Xihuai Palace.

Lu Minshu, child of Lu Zhao, Deputy of the Capital Rites Office holding Fourth Rank, earned the Sixth Rank Honored Lady position and lodging in the west annex of Xihuai Palace.

Shi Yurong, daughter of Shi Zhihai, Prefect of Southwest Huizhou and a Fifth Grade Official, was bestowed the Sixth Rank Honored Lady title and residence in the west annex of Yaoyue Palace.

Liu Xuaner, progeny of Liu Hao, Ceremonial Officer in the Capital City and Sixth Grade Official, gained the Seventh-Rank Lady rank and a place in Zhaohua Pavilion.

Kong Yuqiu, daughter of Kong Xiangming, County Magistrate of Gaoyang County at Seventh Rank, was granted the Eighth Rank Xiao Yi, pending residence assignment.

Wu Baolan, child of Wu Qianwang from the Head Temple of the Taishang monastery and Seventh Rank, received the Eighth Rank Xiao Yi title, with housing yet to be arranged.

Being a Harem matter,

the decree bore Xia Ruqing’s golden seal, known as a Benevolent Decree.

No sooner had the Benevolent Decree been released than it spread across the entire Harem within less than half a Shi Chen.

No matter their feelings, the Fine Ladies were compelled to accept the decree with due respect and ready themselves for relocation to their palaces.

At the same time, a buzz swept through the Harem's concubines.

Consort Zheng and Consort Yun were enjoying tea and a chess game then.

Consort Zheng offered a wry, helpless smile.

"I’ve only enjoyed a few days of calm, and here we go again..."

Consort Yun appeared unconcerned.

"Just a couple of young girls—why fear them, sister?"

"I’ve got one myself; if push comes to shove, we’ll handle them jointly!"

"Do you think the Emperor would side with them?"

Consort Zheng calmly set down her piece, arching her brows.

"Who’s afraid of them!"

"I simply dislike stirring up issues!"

"That Ma girl hails from a military lineage, her father a Third Rank Captain!"

"Her pedigree outshines all among these new Fine Ladies!"

"She’s at the peak of her youth, gifted and lovely, and word has it she’s renowned in the Northwest, where countless noble sons failed to win her favor!"

"Entering the palace now, she’s bound to grow arrogant!"

"And arrogance breeds chaos, right?"

Consort Yun mulled it over quietly before slapping down a piece with a cold smirk.

"Even if true, so what?"

"This is the palace—not the Ma clan’s domain in the Northwest!"

"Should she flout palace rules or slight the Empress, she’ll face punishment by the book!"

Consort Zheng laughed softly.

"Exactly!"

"With the Empress watching over things, favoritism won’t come easy, and soon enough... won’t it fall to us?"

Consort Yun grinned.

"Wise perspective, sister!"

They conversed a bit more, then abandoned the chessboard to stroll and view blossoms in the Imperial Garden.

...

With the Fine Ladies settling into the Harem one by one,

all the concubines tensed up in readiness.

Every one projected a stance of "Stir trouble if you dare, and I won’t hesitate to strike back."

Xia Ruqing spared little thought for it.

After all, tending to her four children left her no bandwidth for these fledgling consorts.

Besides, she had zero cause for worry.

As the Empress of a mighty empire, she’d birthed four heirs for the Emperor and enjoyed immense favor.

Only utter fools among those Fine Ladies would dare challenge her!

Thus, Xia Ruqing carried on with her routine days of ease and serenity.

Time flew by.

The fresh Fine Ladies focused on adjusting to palace life and stirred no major waves.

The Harem concubines secretly breathed easier.

Before long, Mid-Autumn arrived.

Xia Ruqing labored over several days to orchestrate the flawless Mid-Autumn family banquet.

Mid-Autumn day called for the customary respects.

Xia Ruqing rose at dawn to don her attire.

Once every palace consort of Sixth Rank and higher assembled,

she would guide them all to Ningshou Palace for homage to the Empress Dowager.

The palace consorts began to assemble.

Xia Ruqing, clad in a vivid red phoenix robe adorned with intricate gold-threaded phoenix motifs, occupied the elevated dais.

Her bearing exuded majestic poise, her smile poised and warm.

In truth, though...

She loathed sitting so rigidly—it exhausted her.

A short while in that position already brought back pain and waist fatigue.

Yet with not everyone present, she endured, conversing idly while waiting.

Unbeknownst, half a Shi Chen elapsed.

Tea refills had come thrice, and she’d shared multiple jests; lingering longer risked souring the mood.

Still, the group remained incomplete.

A subtle shadow crossed Xia Ruqing’s face.

She leaned to whisper to Zi Yue.

"Who hasn’t shown up?"

Zi Yue murmured back.

"Ma Liyi!"

Instantly, her demeanor chilled, and with a flick of her hand, she declared,

"No more waiting—let’s proceed!"

With that, she stood, leading the rest along.

The consorts voiced assent, rising to trail the Empress from the hall.

...

The Empress rode in the grand Phoenix Sedan, borne by four bearers, trailed by four more with the ritual canopy and silk fans.

The four consorts took step sedans lifted by four each, sans entourage.

Concubines occupied two-person step sedans.

Lower ranks walked on foot.

Under the Empress’s lead, the splendid procession advanced grandly along the palace routes toward Ningshou Palace.

En route,

Ma Liyi appeared in a rush, her attendant palace maid at her side.

Xia Ruqing’s brows furrowed wordlessly.

Trailing concubines stifled giggles behind hands, eyes gleaming with blatant glee.

’Daring to tardy on this crucial day—clear contempt for the Empress!’

’A spectacle awaits!’

’Ha, Ma Liyi’s always snubbed others; her downfall’s due!’

Amid the crowd’s stares,

Ma Liyi hurried up, dabbing sweat before dropping to her knees in salute.

"This humble servant greets the Empress, wishing the Empress peace and prosperity!"

"This humble servant greets all the consorts and sisters!"

Before replies could come, she sprang up on her own.

Shock rippled through the group, plunging the scene into utter hush.

Zi Yue and Zi Su gaped in disbelief.

’A mere Fifth Rank Liyi skipping a kneel to the Empress—what kind of etiquette is that, taught by dogs?’

Concubines stared agog too.

’Not kneeling aside, but rising sans the Empress’s leave?’

Ma Liyi detected no issue.

Post-salute, she strode confidently to join the ranks.

Concubines swiftly parted, leaving her isolated in a wide gap.

’Trouble looms for her—best steer clear to avoid the fallout!’

Ma Liyi remained oblivious.

Xia Ruqing’s temple pulsed with irritation.

’Such poor insight—did she enter the palace to court ruin?’

’Either dim-witted or unbearably smug.’

’From the earlier selection, her skills and conduct seemed solid, so...’

’Overly assured?’

Xia Ruqing curved her lips in a soft smile, smoothing the gold-threaded phoenix on her sleeve.

"Time presses—we must hasten to honor the Empress Dowager!"

"Yes!"

The consorts chorused, dutifully dropping the issue.

Indeed...

As the Empress noted.

Honoring the Empress Dowager took precedence over handling Ma Liyi!

"The Empress departs!"

Xiao Xizi’s cry rang out ahead, propelling the procession forward.