The Second World in Ancient Times

Sunlight filtered through dappled leaves, casting a shadow on the flagstones of my courtyard. I sat by the window, carefully sorting through scrolls documenting the palace's past affairs. Every page bore my painstaking effort, from the details of receiving foreign envoys to the meticulous planning of grand banquets. The densely packed handwriting seemed like my footprints throughout this palace. Wanqing, beside me, gently fiddled with the tea utensils. The aroma of tea gradually filled the air, filling the small space with warmth and tranquility.

"Si Qing, what exactly are we busying around in this palace for?" Wanqing asked me while tilting her head as she poured the brewed tea into an exquisite teacup, with a hint of confusion in her eyes.

I put down the scroll in my hand and stretched. "Perhaps it's for survival, to prove myself. This palace may be vast, but it doesn't allow us to slack off in the slightest. Only by doing everything well can we gain a foothold."

As we chatted, the sound of hurried footsteps shattered the silence. A young eunuch came running over, breathless. His shrill voice was filled with urgency: "Miss Siqing, hurry! The king has summoned you to the palace for an audience!"

I started, nearly dropping the scroll in my hands. Wanqing and I exchanged glances, each seeing deep confusion and unease in the other's eyes. I took a deep breath, stood, straightened my clothes, and, trying to appear calm, hurriedly followed the eunuch back to the palace. The entire way, my heart felt like an invisible hand gripped it, my mind reeling as I speculated on the king's reason for summoning me. Had I made a mistake recently? Or was there a new mission? Regardless, the king's summons filled me with an inexplicable sense of nervousness.

As I entered the king's palace, the grandeur and majesty of the scene still filled me with awe. I quickly knelt and saluted, my voice trembling slightly as I said, "Your servant greets His Majesty."

The king's majestic voice came from the high platform: "Stand up, Siqing."

I slowly stood up, lowering my head slightly, but I could still feel the king's sharp gaze on me.

"Do you know why I summoned you today?" There was a hint of mystery in the king's tone.

I shook my head, my heart pounding like a drum. "I am ignorant, Your Majesty, please explain clearly."

The king stood up and slowly walked down the platform. He was dressed in magnificent dragon robes, and every step he took carried the demeanor of a king. He walked in front of me and stopped. I could clearly smell the faint scent of ambergris on him.

"Si Qing, you are like a shining pearl in this palace. The wit and talent you displayed when receiving foreign envoys made envoys from various countries admire our dynasty. You prepared for court activities, no matter how big or small, and arranged every link just right, making the activities a complete success. I have been paying attention to you, and I have seen your ability, your wisdom, and your loyalty." The king's voice was steady and powerful, and every word hit my heart like a hammer.

A warm feeling welled up in my heart, but I still said with fear, "Your Majesty, thank you for your praise. These are all my duties. It is my honor to serve the court."

The king frowned slightly. "You don't have to be so modest. My harem needs women like you. I have decided to make you Consort Yu, and you will be by my side from now on."

My eyes widened, as if I had heard the most incredible news in the world. This sudden favor left me bewildered. I froze in my tracks, a moment before I recovered and quickly knelt to express my gratitude. "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace. This humble servant... no, I will live up to your grace and share your worries."

The king personally helped me up. His hands were warm and strong, and his eyes were gentle. "From today on, you are Consort Yu. The hearts of people in this harem are complicated. You must be careful with your words and actions, but don't lose your true self. I hope you can bring a different atmosphere to the harem."

I looked up at the king, tears in my eyes: "Your Majesty, I will obey your command."

When we got back to our residence, Wanqing's face flushed with excitement. She pulled my arm and jumped up and down, "Siqing, oh no, Concubine Yu, this is such great news! Look, all your hard work has paid off."

I, however, was not so relieved. My brows were furrowed. "Wanqing, this harem is not an easy place to be. This sudden favor is like a huge rock thrown into a calm lake, it will definitely stir up a storm. I don't know how many eyes are staring at me, jealous and resentful. I'm afraid the days ahead will not be peaceful."

Wanqing suppressed her smile and gently patted my hand, "Don't worry, Your Majesty. You have the King's favor and extraordinary abilities. As long as we are careful and cautious, we will be able to deal with those attacks."

Not long after, people from the Imperial Household Department poured in like a tide. The leading eunuch said in a sharp voice, "Empress Yu, congratulations. We are here to arrange your move to the new palace."

Along the way, the palace maids and eunuchs knelt and saluted, their eyes filled with awe, completely different from their previous indifference and even contempt. I knew that my status had completely changed, and this change also meant that I would face more challenges.

The new palace resembled a magnificent fairyland. Its vermilion gate was inlaid with golden rivets, and the lintel was exquisitely carved. Entering the palace, I was struck by the ornate beams and painted rafters, the splendor of gold and jade, every detail radiating nobility. The rich silk curtains fluttered in the breeze, and the thick carpets on the floor felt soft and comfortable. Standing in the center of the palace, I looked around, but nothing seemed real, as if I were in a dream.

At this time, an old lady with a kind face but sharp eyes walked in, followed by a group of palace maids.

"Empress Yu, this old servant pays his respects to you. In this harem, there are numerous etiquettes and rules, as dazzling as the stars. Any mistake will be a big mistake. This old servant has served in this palace for many years and knows these rules like the back of his hand. Today I am here to help you familiarize yourself with them." The old nanny bowed slightly, her tone neither humble nor arrogant.

I smiled and nodded: "Thank you, Ma'am. Please go ahead."

The old nanny cleared her throat and began to explain the various etiquette in detail: "Your Majesty, to pay your respects to the Empress in the morning, you must arrive at the Empress's palace before 3:45 AM. When performing this ceremony, you must wear formal attire, and your headdress must not be the slightest bit disheveled. You must bend your body until your forehead almost touches the ground, and your words must be humble and respectful, without any hint of presumptuousness in your eyes. Also, when interacting with other concubines, you must not be too flamboyant, and your words and actions must be appropriate to your status. If you attend a banquet, there are strict regulations regarding seating order, tableware, and the timing of speaking."

I listened carefully, occasionally raising questions of my own: "Mammy, if other concubines deliberately make things difficult for me at a banquet, how should I respond?"

The old nanny frowned slightly. "My Lady, if you encounter such a situation, you must not act impulsively. You must prioritize harmony and resolve the situation with wisdom. You must not lose your dignity and make others laugh at you."

While preparing for the banquet, I took the maids to choose clothes. At this time, I met the maids of other concubines.

"Oh, isn't this Si Qing? Oh, now you should call her Empress Yu. She has really become a phoenix from a tree." A voice was sharp and piercing. I turned around and saw that it was a concubine's personal maid. She was looking at me with disdain, her eyes full of jealousy and ridicule.

I frowned slightly, my eyes turning cold. "This is the king's gift to me. If you don't understand the hierarchy, don't blame me for being rude. I am now Concubine Yu, not someone you can slander at will."

The palace maid snorted, a trace of fear flashed in her eyes, but she still said stubbornly: "Hmph, we'll see." After that, she turned and left in a hurry.

Wanqing said angrily, "Your Majesty, she is so rude. She should be taught a lesson."

I patted Wanqing's hand and said, "Wanqing, don't bother with her. She's just a palace maid, and there must be someone behind her telling her to do this. We can't act rashly now, or we'll fall into someone else's trap."

At the banquet, I arrived in all my splendor. I wore a gorgeous, floor-length purple gown, delicately embroidered with phoenixes. As I moved, the phoenixes seemed to dance gracefully. My hair was piled high, adorned with gorgeous pearls and jade, each bead gleaming brilliantly in the candlelight. As soon as I entered the banquet hall, I felt countless gazes piercing me like sharp arrows: curious, jealous, and scrutinizing, as if they wanted to see through me.

I walked to my seat and saluted the queen: "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you. May you live a thousand years and a thousand thousand years." My voice was clear and pleasant, and my posture was elegant and proper.

The Queen smiled and nodded: "Sister Concubine Yu, there's no need to be so polite. You look so radiant today." The Queen was wearing a phoenix robe and a phoenix crown on her head. She looked dignified and majestic. There was a complex look in her eyes that I couldn't understand.

I replied respectfully, "Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty. You are truly the mother of the nation. I cannot even begin to compare to you. It is my great honor to be able to learn from you."

The other concubines also greeted me, but their words had deeper meanings.

"Sister Concubine Yu, you really surprised us. You suddenly became a concubine. You must take care of us in the future." A concubine in pink clothes said with a smile. Her smile seemed sweet, but there was a hint of imperceptible jealousy in her eyes.

I smiled and replied, "Sister, you're joking. I'm new here and need your guidance. There are still many things I don't understand in this harem, so I hope you can teach me."

At the dinner, the king's eyes fell on me from time to time. The tenderness and appreciation in his eyes made my heart warm, but at the same time it also made the other concubines more jealous.

A concubine stood up and said, "Your Majesty, I have recently learned a new dance and would like to entertain you." She was wearing a light dance dress and had a graceful figure.

The king nodded: "Okay, my beloved concubine is thoughtful."

The concubine danced gracefully on the dance floor, but her eyes kept looking at me, as if to challenge me. Although her dance was graceful, I could sense her hostility.

After the dance, the king praised her a few words: "My beloved concubine's dance is very moving and wonderful."

At this time, another concubine said: "Your Majesty, Concubine Yu is favored today, so she must have extraordinary talents. Why not let Concubine Yu show us her talents?" Her words seemed polite, but I knew they were testing me and wanted to see me make a fool of myself.

My heart tightened, but I couldn't back down. I stood up and said, "Since you sisters want to see it, I will show you my ugliness."

I walked over to the zither and slowly sat down. I gently stroked the strings and began playing "Phoenix in Flight." The sound was melodious, as if a phoenix were spreading its wings and soaring high above the palace. My fingers danced over the strings, each note imbued with emotion. I was lost in the music, oblivious to everything around me.

After hearing this, the king's eyes were filled with admiration: "Concubine Yu, your zither skills are indeed superb. This piece of music is like the sound of nature, and it has mesmerized me."

After the banquet, I returned to the palace and sat down exhausted in a chair. Wanqing brought me a cup of tea. "Your Highness, you were truly wonderful today. Those concubines tried to embarrass you, but you handled them with ease. You shine like a dazzling star in this harem."

I took a sip of tea and said slowly, "Wanqing, this is just the beginning. There's still a long way to go. This harem is like a battlefield without the smoke of gunpowder. Every glance and every word could be a weapon. We can't slack off in the slightest. We must advance cautiously at every step."

From this day on, I officially began my life as Consort Yu in the palace. I knew countless challenges awaited me, but I was ready to fight for my place in this harem and write my own legend.