#noble consort wei

[consortmadness]

𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐞/𝐊𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬,𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐬, 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐮𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 (𝟓/?)

𝐖𝐞𝐢 𝐆𝐮𝐢, 𝐍𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐖𝐞𝐢 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐞𝐢 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐧 (𝟓𝟗𝟕-𝟔𝟔𝟓)

*𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐠𝐢𝐟𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐠𝐨 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐞𝐫*

[hundredthousandtimes]

Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace 如懿传: Episode 75

Wei Yanwan's dianzi

[chinesedramaoutfit]

Wei Yingluo, Noble Consort Ling

[vermillioncourt-if]

Well I'm interested in the RO's reaction for the kidnap ask, and I totally get doing the mom and bro first I also want more asks for the family.

Hello! ❤️

I'd be happy to write this for the ROs!

I, too, wish to get more family asks, as long as they aren't about Kutuo or Consort Xing skfjsjdjdk Those two are living rent free in your heads skdjsjdjd

ROs React to MC Getting Kidnapped and Reappearing Beaten

Si Huaiqiao - Huaiqiao will be so distraught with himself when you're first kidnapped. He's your personal guard! It's his job to make sure this exact thing doesn't happen! When you're found, he'll be relieved you're alive, but feel very guilty. He'll either spend no time with you as you're healing or he will hover around so much your Mother will have to dismiss him. He would join the group looking for revenge, but he's a little too sad for that.

Xu Chanyu - If Huaiqiao is distraught, Chanyu is furious. She doesn't understand how you could've been taken from under her watch! She's an assassin! Or was one, anyways. She resolves to training harder once you're found. Speaking of, she is one of the people Consort Huo sends out to go find you. When you're found, either by her or someone else, she'll be diligent in your care. She'll listen to the doctors closely, taking careful notes. She's not overly smothering, but she's definitely more serious about her job. As for revenge, well... of course she's coming. She probably was the one who found the kidnapper to begin with.

You Kounao - Kounao will be upset. He can't join in the search, but is happy when you're found alive. He spends all day with you as you're healing. He brings various things to help occupy your time, like books and weird things he found on the ground. You have to tell him to stick with bringing books or arts and crafts when he brings in a jar of worms he found. In his free time, he lends his help to the search for your kidnapper. It's not much, but he's a filthy little rich boy, and money will go a long way.

Shen Sandong - Sandong will also be very upset when she hears you've been kidnapped. She also can't participate in the search, but is by your side as soon as you're found. She, much like Chanyu, will take care of you as you're healing. She's not over as much as say Chanyu or Consort Huo is, but it's enough. She brings light and quiet things to do to help occupy your time. You find the silence to be refreshing and her presence is comforting. In her free time, she lends her help for the search for your kidnapper. She has a few choice words and actions for them when they're found.

Wei Duqiong - Duqiong will be furious, like Chanyu, but his is a silent rage. If you're not found in a matter of time he deems appropriate, he'll launch his own search for you. When you're found, he'll still be very angry. He won't spend much time with you as you heal, focused on finding your kidnapper and making them pay. He's not some stuffy noble, he's a commoner, and he's not afraid to use some of his more shady contacts.

Wu Nahou - Nahou will also be upset. She won't join the search to find you, but will be happy when you're found. She'll come spend time with you as much as she can. She'll bring poetry and her instruments to keep you entertained while you heal. She seeks your opinion often for her poetry. When she's not with you, she's lending her services to the search for your kidnapper. She may be a pretty courtesan, but she knows the city inside and out. She, like Duqiong, is also a commoner and playing dirty is just what comes natural.

[innerpalaces]

THE PRINCESS WEI YANG - 184 PART 1

CHAPTER 184: Python Horror

At the banquet, Princess Lin'an unexpectedly attended with Jiang Nan, which attracted everyone's attention. If Jiang Nan sat at the bottom like everyone else, maybe everyone wouldn't criticize her so much, but he happened to sit next to the princess, very close to her, so close that their bodies were touching. Not only that, as if he was afraid that others would not know about their relationship, he actually leaned close to her to whisper a few words, and the princess suddenly chuckled. The guests looked at this with no expression on their faces, but started whispering in private.

Madam Guo shook her head and said, "This princess is getting more and more outrageous."

Li Wei Yang glanced at it and said with a smile on her face: "Mother, has the princess always been like this?"

Madam Guo is a very gentle and cheerful person who never gossips about others, but she is obviously disapproving of Princess Lin'an: "Not long after she got married, she fell in love with the prince's brother-in-law. The two of them went out in public together in the city, yet Prince Consort Ye didn't dare interfere in this matter. This is all the connivance of Empress Pei."

Li Wei Yang glanced at Princess Lin'an, her face thoughtful.

Empress Pei has three children in total, one is Crown Prince Yongwen, the other is Princess Lin'an, and the youngest daughter is Princess Anguo. All her thoughts are on her son, and it is not surprising that she lets her daughter take care of themselves, but from a certain perspective, the Emperor also played an important role in developing such a wanton character in the dignified princess. Li Wei Yang really wants to know what kind of person the Emperor of Yuexi is, and why he still turns a blind eye even though he knows the actions of Empress Pei and others...

Madam Guo thought that her daughter was interested in this news, so she couldn't help sighing and said: "The men around Princess Lin'an come and go like a revolving door, but she has never brought anyone to such a banquet. It can be seen that this person has an extraordinary status in her heart."

Li Wei Yang smiled and said nothing. Jiang Nan was handsome and upright, with a very sharp mind and a cold arrogance. He was already very popular with women when he was in Dali. No matter how indifferent he was, there were still people who would stick to him regardless. This was probably due to a mentality that the more one was rejected, the more one wanted to get it. He had always been ignoring Princess Lin'an's appetite and never surrendered to her until she was completely obsessed with him. This method was not bad. Just thinking of the scene just now, Li Wei Yang's smile had a hint of ridicule. Being reduced to relying on a woman for revenge is an extremely painful thing for Jiang Nan.

After what happened just now, Princess Lin'an went to change her clothes. The red background made her skin look as white as snow. When raising a glass to drink, the wide sleeves slipped down to her elbows, revealing a section of arms that looked like mutton-fat white jade. Her already gorgeous face became even more vibrant after drinking the wine. Jiang Nan lowered his head and joked with her again, but a his eyes lightly swept over Li Wei Yang's face.

Li Wei Yang sighed in her heart. It seems that Jiang Nan has become twisted in this kind of pain.

On the male guest's side, it was a different scene. Zhou Jing, the youngest son of Zhou Zhen, the Marquis of Chengting, was good-looking and liked beautiful women. From the moment Princess Lin'an appeared, he stared at her non-stop and said regretfully: "That man must be Princess Lin'an's new pet. He doesn't look like much, why does the princess just keep him alone!"

He spoke with an envious tone. One must know that although Princess Lin'an had been married before, because she is extremely beautiful, charming, and has a noble status, she has always been the target of many popular young men. Zhou Jing had always wanted to get close to her. However, his aunt had repeatedly warned him not to get close to the romantic Princess Lin'an, let alone have any thoughts of marrying her, so he suppressed all those desires. It was fine when she had many lovers, and he didn't think anything of it. But now that he saw her giving up her other pets for some "Young Master Nan" who appeared out of nowhere, Zhou Jing couldn't help but feel uncomfortable.

There was so much sarcasm in his words that all the noble gentlemen in the room laughed knowingly. Guo Cheng smiled slightly and said: "Don't just take everything at face value. I heard that there were many people in the princess's house who were jealous of him. Many even provoked him openly and made trouble secretly, but they all died in his hands. However Princess Lin'an turned a blind eye to this, and proudly told others that Young Master Nan was extraordinary in both civil and military affairs. Although this statement contained an element of favoritism, it was not far from the truth."

Zhou Jing opened his mouth in surprise, "Is this guy really that evil?"

Guo Cheng's smile contained a hint of insight: "There are many masters in the Princess Mansion, but they were all defeated by him one by one, and not a single one was left alive. This shows that this person is ruthless and has poisonous intentions. Of course, if it is Young Master Zhou, If you don't believe it, you can try the opponent's martial arts—"

What he said was actually very pertinent and not exaggerated. Men will be jealous of each other, especially in order to please a great beauty like Princess Lin'an who is also the pearl in the palm of her parents. Naturally, they have to spend all their efforts to fight for her. Furthermore, those people who were taken into Princess Lin'an's residence were all truly outstanding in terms of literary talent or martial arts, but now they have all quieted down and did not dare to compete with Jiang Nan. This shows that this person is not an ordinary embroidered pillow (t/n: term for a person who looks good or appears noble, but is mostly useless), but someone witha lot of talent.

Guo Cheng's eyes fell on the stern-faced Jiang Nan, and he couldn't help but think of the investigations he conducted after confirming the other party's identity. Every word and every report was a compliment to the young man's great achievements. His bravery was by no means comparable to ordinary people, it is natural for him to stand out, and, judging from the current situation, he has hidden most of his strength.

From the bottom of his heart, Guo Cheng despises such a man who relies on nepotism to climb up the ladder. But if he were in Jiang Nan's position and was forced to the end of the road, he would never be able to do such a thing, because he is deeply influenced by the Guo family. Those who have been well educated and raised would rather die with the enemy than live in humiliation. But what he couldn't do, Jiang Nan did. Such people are very dangerous.

Zhou Jing ground his teeth in jealousy and looked at Jiang Nan with more and more displeasure, but he said bravely: "What's the point? I'll have a good competition with him when I have the energy next time!"

Although the Zhou family has invited countless famous instructors to teach him, it is also known to everyone that Zhou Jing is still an embroidered pillow. He said this just to conceal the envy in his heart. Everyone tried to hide it by drinking, but they all laughed at him secretly.

Of course, some people noticed Li Wei Yang. One of them was Chen Xuanhua, the legitimate son of the Chen family, one of the top ten aristocratic families in Yuexi. The Chen family has been officials for generations. According to the historical records of Yuexi, there were 12 generations and more than 100 people in the House of Chen, and most of the them entered official careers and spread throughout the political and military circles. They gave orders and held high positions. Like the Guo family, they were a century-old family. However, great things must come to an end. During the reign of the late emperor, a sudden disaster occurred - a rebellion swept across the south of the Yangtze River, which affected the Chen family. Coupled with the former emperor's suspicion of the Chen family, they declined rapidly. Fortunately, today, the Chen family first established a successful foothold, and one of their daughters entered the palace and became Noble Consort Chen, and they soon rose to be one of the first-class noble families again.

The Chen family is well-known and their daughters are all true noble ladies, with both talent and beauty. Therefore, when they reach adulthood, the Chen family's threshold will be worn down by matchmakers. However, after careful consideration, the Chen family rejected all suitors. Instead, they took the initiative to send people to the Guo family to negotiate, and married Chen Bingbing, the eldest daughter of the Chen family, into the Guo family. She was Young Madam Chen, the wife of Guo Yan, the second son of the Guo family.

Of course, this is just the external explanation, and many people know the inside story. While Chen Bingbing was on an outing she fell in love at first sight with Guo Yan, an auxilary general, who was riding a tall horse and armed with a long sword. For this reason, she stopped eating or drinking, and was restless day and night until she was wasting away. Finally, she was forced by the matriarch of the Chen family to reveal her true feelings. When the Chen family realized that who their daughter was interested in was not some prodigal son, but a promising young general, they immediately went to the other party to discuss the matter. In the end, Miss Chen happily married into the Guo family and became a general's wife.

Chen Xuanhua is Chen Bingbing's biological brother, the legitimate son of Chen's family, a true son of an aristocratic house. In addition, he is elegant, handsome, and friendly, and has always had a good reputation among the noble ladies. As he listened to people talking about Princess Lin'an, his face was careless, but his eyes fell on Li Wei Yang. From then on, he has observed this  daughter of the Guo family who suddenly returned. She sat quietly next to Madam Guo, with clear black eyes and a strong smile in the corner of her mouth, like a bouquet of indescribably elegant flowers, captivating to look at.

After all, although the gorgeous and dazzling Princess Lin'an is eye-catching, not everyone likes the domineering peony. What Chen Xuanhua admires happens to be a gentle beauty like Li Wei Yang. Such a woman has the power to move people's hearts.

He whispered to Guo Cheng: "After the banquet, can you introduce your sister to me?"

Guo Cheng glanced at him with a little surprise on his face and said, "Xuanhua, don't tell me that you're interested in my sister."

Chen Xuanhua's features were very distinct and handsome, and upon closer inspection, his eyes were like bright rivers, indescribably elegant. He just smiled shyly and said, "I hope you will consider the fact that our families are on friendly terms and do me this favor."

Guo Cheng felt his head ache so he pressed his brow and said: "Well...I'm afraid I can't make the decision. My sister is my mother's lifeblood. If she knows that I took you to see her, she will definitely break one of my legs. Not only is the risk too great, it wouldn't be worth it at all." He was embarrassed to say that his brothers were all bandits, especially Guo Dun. He wished that his sister would stay at home to please their mother all her life, and tried every means to block the many suitors. He's afraid that before the gentle and elegant Chen Xuanhua could even get to Li Wei Yang, he would be injured. That's fine with others, but the Chen family and the Guo family are closely related, so it's hard to handle.

Chen Xuanhua glanced at Li Wei Yang, and felt that the elegant smile was more and more moving. He couldn't help but say: "On the account that we've been classmates for so many years —" Let him take a shortcut.

Guo Cheng shook his head and said: "I advise you to give up on this idea. My family has already married a daughter of the Chen family, so they definitely will not send a daughter to your door."

Chen Xuanhua asked anxiously, "Why can't we marry each other?"

Guo Cheng did not have to answer, but because Chen Xuanhua came to ask this question sincerely, for the sake of being a classmate and friend for many years, Guo Cheng thought for a moment, then lowered his voice and said slowly: " Xuanhua, to tell you the truth, my family has already given your family second brother, isn't that enough?"

Chen Xuanhua was stunned for a moment, and then a trace of sadness slowly appeared in his handsome eyes. He stopped talking and lowered his head to look at the wine in the glass.

Guo Cheng sighed. This is Chen Xuanhua's personality. He is a good man, responsible and honest, and he is gentle and elegant. He is talented in both civil and military affairs. If he marries Li Wei Yang, he will definitely take good care of her. However, Li Wei Yang would not be willing to do so, let alone that she is not the real Guo Jia. Even if she is, Madam Guo will respect her personal wishes at all costs.

Get up to 30 advanced chapter parts on Patreon

[mademoiselle-red]

If the Romance of the Three Kingdoms were a palace drama, Shu-Han edition | 如果蜀汉是一部宫斗剧：

Liu Bei’s harem | 备备の后宫

Empress Zhuge Liang | 诸葛皇后

The emperor’s soulmate, the love of his life

Rules over the imperial palace with absolute authority, manages the affairs of state, oversees the crown prince’s education, and advises the emperor on all major political decisions.

Occasionally gets dragged off by the emperor to some scenic spot for a couple days and forced to take a vacation.

Usually the arbiter of palace power struggles, such as protecting Royal Noble Consort Fa Zheng from his enemies when they accused him of cruel and unjust punishment towards his subordinates

Convinced the emperor to kill his rebellious older adopted son because he finds him difficult to control

Royal Noble Consort Fa Zheng ｜法皇贵妃

Won the emperor’s favor with his passionate and straight-forward personality.

Often entertains the emperor with parties, wine, and games.

Noble Consort Pang Tong ｜庞贵妃

Initially did not win favor because of his unattractive appearance

Rose in favor after a strong recommendation from Empress Zhuge Liang and a demonstration of his talents

Became very jealous of the empress

Died on the emperor’s campaign to conquer Yi Zhou

Consort Xu Shu ｜徐·纯元·妃

The emperor’s first consort, snatched away from him by Cao Cao

Recommended Empress Zhuge Liang before he left

Zhuge Liang’s harem ｜亮亮の后宫

Empress Liu Bei｜刘·纯元·皇后

The love of his life, the soulmate, the one he will never stop grieving

Royal Noble Consort Jiang Wan｜蒋皇贵妃

Entrusted with state affairs and helping the emperor manage his many jealous consorts and their interpersonal drama

Owes his life to the emperor, who saved him from execution when he was young and was caught drinking while on duty

Noble Consort Jiang Wei｜姜贵妃

The emperor’s favorite, the young hot foreign consort who came into the palace and stole his heart.

Noble Consort Yang Yi｜杨贵妃

Won favor with the emperor for his organizational talents

Harbors intense hatred for Noble Consort Wei Yan and is always attempting to sabotage him

Noble Consort Wei Yan｜魏贵妃

Won favor with the emperor for his military talent.

Got mad at the emperor for not following his advice but never lost favor over it

Terrible at getting along with his fellow consorts but the emperor tries his best to smooth things over for him and shelter him from the court

Harbors intense hatred for Noble Consort Yang Yi and is always trying to sabotage him

Extremely jealous of Noble Consort Jiang Wei

The Honorable Lady Fei Yi ｜费贵人

A young and talented consort, favored to succeed Royal Noble Consort Jiang Wan as the next ruler of the imperial palace

The Honorable Lady Dong Yun｜董贵人

A young and talented consort favored as another potential successor for the Royal Noble Consort

Divorced Noble Consort Li Yan｜李·打入冷宫·贵妃

Divorced for trying to challenge the emperor’s power and fucking up his own job

Divorced Consort Zhang Yi｜张·打入冷宫·妃

A former favorite, divorced for unknown reasons

Divorced and beheaded Consort Ma ｜马·问斩·妃

A former favorite, divorced and beheaded for fucking up a really critical job and then running away

[247reader]

Day 26: Lady Wei, Empress Xiaoyichun

Lady Wei (like many women of her era, her personal name is lost to history) was a palace servant during the reign of the Qianlong Emperor. Her family was eventually raised to the nobility as the Weigiya, but that was thanks to her - they began as hereditary bond servants, if relatively elite ones. Lady Wei seems to have been a servant for either - or both of - the Emperor’s influential mother, Lady Niohuru, or his beloved first wife, Empress Fucha. This enabled her to catch the Emperor’s eye, and in 1745, she entered his harem as Noble Lady Wei. Her rise after that was remarkably quick - she rose two ranks to Consort Ling before she’d even given birth to a child, and her ensuing four surviving children solidified her place in the Emperor’s favor.

In 1765, a figurative earthquake struck the court - Empress Nara, the Qianlong Emperor’s second wife and a previous Awesome Lady of History herself, was abruptly disgraced and stripped of power. Lady Wei, trusted by the Emperor, was promoted to Imperial Noble Consort, giving her most of an Empress’s duties but not the full title; duties she seems to have carried out diligently and well - perhaps too diligently and well for her health.

Lady Wei died in 1775, after a long illness exarbated by the death of her daughter, Gurun Princess Hejing. The Emperor, as he had done after the death of his first wife, wrote poems in her honor; he had already secretly selected her elder son, Yongyan, as his heir. Upon Qianlong’s “abdication” (as Emperor Emeritus, he retained his hold on the court - he had abdicated both as a show of filial piety towards his long-reigning grandfather and to better control a potential succession crisis), Yongyan became the Jiaqing Emperor - and Lady Wei was posthumously declared Empress.

[selfshipping-superhero]

If you love women and are in the market for a new f/os I highly recommend checking out Story of Yanxi Palace! I watched it when I was 17 and it was integral to my development as a person. I self shipped with Yinglou before I even knew it was a Thing. I will say some characters begin the series at 16 but by the end of the series they’re all in their 30s/40s.

Let’s get into some of the characters:

The main character Wei Yinglou! She’s witty, highly intelligent, and cunning. She’s also highly determined and fiercely loyal. Mischievous and playful with a strong moral compass. She sticks up for what she believes regardless of consequences. That audacious Wei Yinglou, who always manages to come out on top and outsmart anyone that opposes her. To quote one of the characters; “If she loves you, you will be safe forever.”

Fucha Rongyin, the Empress. She’s incredibly kind, gentle, and clever. A free spirit she’s stifled by the rules and regulations imposed on her by her position as empress. That, coupled with the trauma of losing her son, she’s suffers from severe depression. Despite her position she never abused her power or schemed against the other ladies. because, “she couldn’t stand to hurt the women trapped in the same prison as her”

Noble Consort Gao. If you like them dramatic and kind of evil here you go! She’s loves performing opera and looking fabulous. She’s charismatic and is the main antagonist for about half the series. “Arrogant and domineering.”

Consort Xian, gentle and devoted, all she cared about was living her life in peace. Much to the disappointment of her family, she had no ambition to climb the ranks. But unfortunately due to the scheming of others she lost most of her family. She then dedicates her life to getting revenge. She becomes the series main antagonist. highly intelligent and cunning, you can’t help but root for her. A little. “The most patient huntress” I might add her to my f/o list ngl

Those are only a handful of the gorgeous and well written women that star in this series. I’m sorry I just started rewatching it after six years because someone posted it all on YouTube with subtitles and I just, love them all so much 😭 Not matter how terrible some of them act, you always carry the knowledge that they’re all trying to survive and make the most of this incredibly misogynistic prison.

[aworldforastage]

just finished: 穿成苏培盛了 by 一渡清河

Finally, another story that makes me feel a bit hollow inside after finishing it. It has almost 2 million characters and took me weeks, and now I have to leave these characters behind but I can't stop thinking about them ...

Warning for period-typical polygamy and mutilation for a Qing Dynasty court drama: the shou is a real eunuch, and the gong is married to multiple women and has biological children

The Premise

Thirty-year-old Su Wei dies in the modern world and transmigrates to the Kangxi Era into the body of eight-year-old Su Peisheng, who has just entered the Imperial Palace to become an eunuch. After two years, he is assigned to serve the five-year-old Fourth Prince, Yinzhen. Su Wei knows Yinzhen will eventually become the next Emperor, though currently the young prince looks like he will be lucky to survive until adulthood.

In a story that spans four decades, Yinzhen grows from a child completely at the adults' mercy, to a young noble fighting for room to breath in complicated imperial politics, to a powerful prince with a vision for his nation, eventually making his way to the throne. He falls in love with Su Wei in his teens, and Su Wei stays by his side through all the highs and lows of his turbulent life.

[see end of this post for a more detailed plot summary]

Why I am obsessed with this story

Fantastic plot. This story tracks very closely to real history, and covers a lot of real events like wars, natural disasters, and political turmoil as documented in history -- the author did serious research, even if she did take major artistic liberties. The Qing Dynasty is undergoing a paradigm shift as it consolidates and stabilizes its governance of China. The struggles between the Princes are proxies for the conflicting interests of different political factions and ideologies. Every remark at court is a battle of wits between lots of smart people. As a danmei novel, we experience this through a personal lens, and see these conflicts strain familial relationships, make and break alliances, launch some into stardom and ruin others' lives.

A large, dynamic ensemble cast is the key to a good political drama. Characters in this story are intelligent, principled, and consistent, even if they are not always sympathetic. Each of the "Nine Princes Competing for the throne" have strengths and flaws, people they care about, and people who cares for them. They change and grow with their experiences, and it's not always for the better. The same is true of their consorts, concubines, servants, and allies. There are no pure-hearted saints or dramatic cartoon villains in this story: just people swept up in the tides of history and time.

Interesting female cast. This is by far one of the largest and most dynamic cast of female characters I have ever seen in danmei. At least ten of the Emperor's imperial consorts and just as many women from Yinzhen's generation have active roles in smaller story arcs. They show off incredible social, political, and emotional intelligence, but are also flawed in a human way. They love their family and children and lord husband, maybe too much or maybe not enough. Some learn from their mistakes, and others lose their best selves after being worn down by grief, trauma, and systemic oppression, but most of them have held on, fighting with impossible resilience to make the most out of life in a world that never saw them as fully human.

A complicated main relationship, to put it mildly. The gong is a prince with a legal harem, remains intimate with them throughout his adult life until he has "enough" biological children. The shou is the gong's personal eunuch, a slave who is considered more like property than person, but also his first and closest companion and confidante. For most of the novel, they have "old married couple" vibes, completely comfortable and relaxed around each other, loving and trusting each other unconditionally. Their relationship is consensual and fulfilling, but there is an insurmountable power difference, and it needs to remain an illicit secret forever.

Rich interpersonal relationships. Every relationship in the imperial family is a careful balancing act between emotion and politics. The Emperor loves his children, but has to treat them like subjects. The princes are constantly engaged in vicious competition with each other, but everyone values the few brothers they stay on good terms with. Yinzhen tries to love and raise his children in a gentler way, unlike his own stressful childhood. Su Wei and even Yinzhen have important friends, allies, colleagues, and family outside of their romance. This world come alive with these relationships and the hopes and vulnerabilities they inspire in the characters.

Just a laundry list of characters still living in my head rent-free. Kangxi is a father and an emperor but can't be both at the same time. The Fourth Princess Consort, who is never the same after losing her child. Shiyue is trapped by her gender and social position but keeps trying to convince herself to just live with it. Consort Nian's intelligence and ambition are wasted in an "inner court". The Fourteenth Prince, trying a find a balance between his family and his own ambition. The tragedy that is the original Crown Prince, doomed to fail by history and the impossible expectations of his position. And Dezhu-gongzi, who bought the best writing brushes and kept the soup warm for his lover, becomes a raw, bleeding wound that never heals in the heart of the man he died to protect. I absolutely hate the Eighth-prince in this adaptation, but his tenacity and resilience is sort of amazing.

But on the other hand

Transmigrator Golden Thumb. Su Wei knows the general course of history, but not enough specifics to help Yinzhen too much. Instead, his modern knowledge and experiences are used to make some toys for a young Yinzhen, and starting a business empire with a hotpot chain restaurant. His business ventures take off when Yinzhen needs to lay low in politics and they need to spend some time apart, but it is an exceptionally smooth enterprise. The business "side quest" is necessary to help Su Wei maintain a sense of self away from the power hierarchies of the imperial palace, but imho it feels a bit out-of-place in the narrative.

Su Wei's status as a eunuch and a slave is heavily downplayed in most of the novel; in 80% of the text, he lives in Yinzhen's estate outside the palace and is treated with great respect as the prince's right-hand man. His business ventures are about building an identity as a respected boss and master outside of imperial affairs. Even though the royals still treat Su Wei like a servant, he believes the indignity of slavery is a state of mind that he has saved himself from. It makes the story easier to read, but I do feel like it hand waves something very dark and fundamental to the premise and setting.

Length and Pacing. The novel is nearly two million characters long -- which is twice the length of QJJ, but covers a time frame that is around 15x longer. Slow and uneventful periods get skipped over, so you need to pay attention to the "Year x of the Kangxi era, Month y" annotation for each section. I have a hard time adjusting during Yinzhen's teen years, when the character grows a lot emotionally and physically, and still get a bit of a shock every time another young prince seems to grow out of their cute kid phase to broody teenager in the blink of an eye.

Character Decay, sort of. Remember how I said there are lots of interesting female characters? Well, sadly most of them don't stay that way. With very few exceptions, they either die as interesting and memorable icons of the potential they could have had, or live long enough to become another petty and scheming harem drama stereotype. But maybe that's the point, that such an oppressive and misogynistic system will ruin even the best women trapped in it.

Overall

This story feels like an epic period drama. Su Wei and Yinzhen spends nearly a lifetime together, and their relationships is impossible to ignore, but this story is so much bigger than just the two of them. It takes a lot of time for the author to build such a rich world, and also takes time for the reader to digest it, but it's all worth it in my opinion. All this context really helps the reader appreciate how special and important the main relationship is, and it feels extra-rewarding seeing other characters we have grown to care about also get satisfactory resolutions to their stories.

And Finally, A Plot Summary

[reasonably spoiler-free, covering roughly the first half of the novel]

Su Wei, in the body of Su Peisheng, is the protagonist. But as a prince's personal eunuch, his life is almost entirely defined by serving and supporting the prince.

Fourth Prince Yinzhen's first decade of life is marked by the tension between his adopted mother Imperial Noble Consort Tonggiya and biological mother Consort De, who resents being forced to give him up. The clan of his adopted mother has little interest in maintaining a relationship after her death. His biological mother Consort De has chosen to prioritize the younger children she has raised herself, and holds back on advocating for him. Yinzhen nominally has a prestigious background but very little substantial support.

In a few years, the rivalry between the two oldest princes, the First Prince and Crown Prince, intensifies as they grow up. Powerful officials at court and consorts in the Imperial Harem subtly (or not so subtly) start taking sides. Kangxi Emperor repeatedly sidelines Yinzhen, unwilling to see him building up a power base and complicate the rivalry between the older princes at court. Yinzhen is forced to step back from politics, and only supports the Crown Prince from time to time.

At around fifteen years old, Yinzhen is given two concubines, and soon takes a primary consort. It's around this time that Yinzhen realizes his feelings for Su Wei. They move out of the palace to his estate, where they have more freedom to be together. Yinzhen becomes closer with Su Wei, and keeps a diplomatic but not very emotional relationship with the women in his harem. However, he loves the three children he has with them, and is content to keep things like this for now. (The number and fates of his children differ from history due to Su Wei's presence.)

As time passes, the Eighth Prince grows up to become a substantial competitor against the Crown Prince and First Prince. He is smart, articulate, and strategic about building alliances with younger princes and key officials. Yinzhen's only son, Honghui dies as collateral damage in a political scheme, and it becomes a key turning point in Yinzhen's life.

Yinzhen's primary consort is wrecked by the grief of losing her only biological child, and the entire household is thrown into disarray. Su Wei and Yinzhen can't bring themselves to talk openly about the whole thing, because both of them feel guilty. Their relationship have caused Yinzhen to be emotionally distant with the mothers of his children, while the children's existence continues to be a shield for their illicit affair. And it's worse because they both genuinely love those children.

Su Wei and Yinzhen decide take some time apart. Su Wei travels and gets ideas to start his business. Yinzhen is determined to avenge his son, and dives deep into the dangerous court politics that has killed Honghui. Even though Su Wei has already made small changes in history with his transmigration, the general trajectory of history seems unmoved, and we all know it will get much worse before it gets better ...

[roseunspindle]

Li Chun: What I've See Her In

Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace - Wei Yanwan - Palace maid → Palace maid of Consort Chun → Palace Maid of the Royal Garden → Palace Maid of Consort Jia →Palace Maid of the Yangxin Palace→ Second Class Female Attendant Wei (衛答應) → First Class Female Attendant Wei (衛常在) → Noble Lady Ling (炩貴人) → Concubine Ling (炩嬪) → Consort Ling (炩妃) → Second Class Female Attendant Wei → Concubine Ling → Consort Ling → Noble Consort Ling (炩貴妃) → Imperial Noble Consort Ling (炩皇貴妃) → Imperial Noble Consort Lingyi (炩懿皇貴妃, posthumous)

[duhdumb89]

A Forbidden Happiness | Chapter 16

Jiang gui ren ran her hands over the silken collar of her brand-new Imperial Concubine's chaofu*. All the little pieces were dazzling. The embroidered jacket, the precious necklaces, the golden chaoguan!† She had toiled so many years for this, and it was finally happening. Was it bittersweet that His Majesty didn't personally promote her? Sure. But being part of a group promotion for The Empress Dowager's birthday celebration was better than no promotion at all. The notice of her promotion and her chaofu was delivered last week. However, she was still recovering and couldn't venture outside. Now, for the first time in a month and a half, she was leaving her rooms as the soon-to-be mistress of Xianfugong.

"Mistress," said Susu, "You're going to look so dashing when you wear this for your promotion ceremony. Not even Lian pin will be able to match you,"

Another bittersweet mouthful to swallow.

Lian pin would soon become Lian fei. She bore no children and made no merits, yet she somehow was going to be a Consort.

"His Majesty is set on respecting her family," replied Jiang gui ren, "At the very least, Xiang gui ren got nothing,"

"It's so embarrassing. Even Wang chang zai is getting a promotion!" Said Susu.

"The Empress Dowager is just showing her pity. His Majesty wouldn't dare to clean away the cobwebs between the legs of that old fish," said Jiang gui ren.

Their giggling was interrupted by a delivery of purple fabric. As a Noble Lady, purple was a color far above her station. Now, she would wear it as often as she could.

"Did Huan momo unpack all of my jewelry yet? And my good clothes?" Jiang gui ren asked, digging through the stacks of silks.

"Yes, I even convinced them to leave a few gold pieces. I tried to tell momo that you could wear kingfisher feathers, but Haun momo wouldn't listen," replied Susu.

"No matter," replied Jiang gui ren, "Once I have a son, I can send them all back home with some money. I asked Lou taiyi about my odds of having a child, and he said nothing should stop me from getting pregnant. I only have to suffer them for a bit longer,"

"You don't...." Susu dropped her voice, "You don't want to get rid of them sooner?"

Tsking, Jiang gui ren rolled her eyes, "Idiot, don't be so impatient,"

"Mistress," Yao gonggong said, coming into the bedroom, "His Majesty and Her Highness have invited you to share a meal with them and a few of the other mistresses to celebrate your promotion,"

"Shall I call Huan momo and Cui momo to help you dress?" He asked.

"Yes, quickly, quickly!"

–––

In all, The Empress Dowager had chosen 12 women to promote. The majority were first and second-class attendants. Beside Lian pin and Wang chang zai, there was Jiao gui ren and Cha chang zai. Jiang gui ren smiled as Zhang Wei led her to the chair on the other side of The Emperor. It should've been Lian pin's seat, as she was the most senior concubine at the table. The Emperor was gracious enough to let Huaguang come to the celebration. While it demonstrated how far above she was of the other women, it was so annoying. Huaguang was squirmy and fussy, crawling into His Majesty's lap and back to hers again. Whenever she tried to converse with His Majesty, Huaguang was pulled at her collar or made a mess at the table. Luckily, His Majesty appreciated Huaguang's vigor instead of finding it unkempt.

To make matters worse, Xiang gui ren arrived. An gui ren had done her duty and kept Jiang gui ren company, but Xiang gui ren still needed to visit her daily. It was awful to watch that whore gloat about how The Empress Dowager loved her gift and how happy it made His Majesty. Just looking at her was making her sicker. At least in a few days, Xiang gui ren would never be able to look down on her again.

The Empress ordered that Cha chang zai move one seat down so Jiang gui ren and Xiang gui ren could sit together.

"I'd like to propose a toast," said Xiang gui ren, "To my jiejie. No one is more deserving of becoming mistress of Xianfugong than you,"

It took everything in Jiang gui ren to keep her lips from curling in disgust. She raised her cup and sipped her wine.

"Xiang gui ren, I can't help but feel sorry for you," said Lian pin, "You and Jiang gui ren are two peas in a pod. You both should be called Your Highness by now,"

Lian pin covered her mirth with a polite cough. Jiang gui ren fumed. Lian pin had a lot of never comparing her to a prostitute like Xiang gui ren.

Xiang gui ren bowed her head, "Jiang jiejie is of noble blood and has given His Majesty a daughter. I can't compare,"

"Yes, jiejie," said Jiang gui ren, "I hear a few doctors have come by your Jingrengong. Is there good news on the way?"

Lian pin shifted in her seat, "...No. It was just a bit of sickness from the heat,"

Jiang gui ren frowned softly, "That's too bad. Jiejie is young and healthy. I"m sure you'll be able to give His Majesty a child soon. You can come to me for advice if it ever happens,"

"Enough," The Empress said, "If fate allows, a child will come. There's no use in talking like this," 

When Huaguang began to cry loudly in His Majesty's arms, Jiang gui ren pulled her over,only for her to squirm and cry even louder.

"What's gotten into you?" Jiang gui ren muttered.

Xiang gui ren leaned in close, "Oh, is she sleepy? Should her nursemaid take her back?"

"Not at all," said Jiang gui ren, "She's just being fussy,"

"You should let Xiang gui ren hold her for a moment then," said His Majesty, "The Empress says Huaguang behaves with her at the A Ge Sou,"

It rankled Jiang gui ren to be reminded that Xiang gui ren could spend more time with her daughter than she did, but she passed Huaguang over anyways. Amazingly, Huaguang did quiet down in Xiang gui ren's arms.

"Maybe I'll go to Xiang gui ren for advice when I get pregnant," said Lian pin.

Jiang gui ren glared at Huaguang lying quietly in Xiang gui ren's arms. It was obvious that the momos were turning her daughter into a brat.

"Are you tired? You can sleep in my arms," Xiang gui ren whispered to Huaguang.

With a roll of her eyes Jiang gui ren let Susu refill her wine. If that bitch wanted to play nursemaid, Jiang gui ren wouldn't stop her. She lifted her cup and leaned into The Emperor's side.

"A toast to Your Majesty,"

The Emperor locked eyes with her and smiled. Just as they touched the rims together, a chorus of gasps erupted around the table.

"Huifen!" The Emperor sprang to his feet and nearly knocked Jiang gui ren over in his haste.

Xiang gui ren moaning in pain, clutching her head. Her forehead was split open, and rivulets of blood were dripping through her fingers. Huaguang was screaming in Xu niang's arms, face red and blotchy. Xu niang looked frantic, bashing her head to the ground, begging for forgiveness.

His Majesty grabbed a handkerchief and pressed it to Xiang gui ren's face, "What happened?!" He asked.

"I don't know!" Said Lian pin, "Xiang gui ren was holding Fifth Princess when she suddenly grabbed a plate and...hit her!"

It was as if the blood was draining from Jiang gui ren now. How could a two-year-old child do so much damage? Was it a trick? She and her daughter were favored, but there wasn't enough favor to return from something like this. Jiang gui ren flinched as The Emperor kicked Xu niang to the ground, not caring that Huaguang was in her arms.

"You worthless thing! How have you been raising Fifth Princess?"

Xu niang cried, "I deserve to die, I deserve to die!"

Jiang gui ren threw herself at The Emperor's feet, "Your Majesty! Forgive Huaguang. She's just a child! She didn't mean it!"

That was a mistake. The Emperor turned his rage to her."

What sort of devious child have you raised, Jiang gui ren?" He hissed, "How could you birth this beast?"

"Your Majesty, please dissipate your anger," said The Empress, stepping between them, "Take Xiang gui ren into the side hall. I'll call for Hwang taiyi to stop the bleeding,"

The Emperor nodded before turning to Xu niang again, "Get that child out of my sight!"

Xu niang scooped up Huaguang and ran off. 

The Emperor followed as Xiang gui ren's limp form was dragged away. Jiang gui ren stayed collapsed on the ground.

"You can all withdraw," The Empress said, "The mood's been spoiled,"

Susu helped Jiang gui ren to her feet as the other women exited the courtyard.

"Jiang gui ren," said The Empress, "Make yourself scarce,"

––––

An gui ren's spirits soared as Weiwei recounted the events at His Majesty's promotion meal.

"What about Jiang gui ren?" An gui ren asked.

"She's locked in her rooms," Weiwei replied, "There's no word if His Majesty will take back her promotion,"

An gui ren sighed. Jiang gui ren really did have all the luck. Her child damn near bludgeoned Xiang gui ren, and she was still becoming an Imperial Concubine. An gui ren didn't have much of an idea when she started to fuss with Huaguang. At best, the girl would embarrass Jiang gui ren and have her lose a bit of face. It seemed the scare tactics made Huaguang go above and beyond.  It all meant nothing in end. Jiang gui ren was going to be a mistress, and An gui ren was not.

As she continued her stroll, An gui ren spotted a large group of servants clustered together, giggling and whispering.

"Has there been any good gossip lately, Weiwei?" She asked.

"Not that I've heard. We're still talking about Fifth Princess going crazy," replied Weiwei.

An gui ren hurried over to the group, watching their backs shift with laughter. 

"How absurd!" Weiwei said. 

The servants jumped and at the sight of An gui ren, dropped to their knees. 

 "An gui ren is here and you won't even acknowledge her! She should report you to The Emperor right now!" said Weiwei. 

"We beg your forgiveness! Please have mercy on us!" A eunuch cried.

"I don't know," said An gui ren, "Is it really worth it to spare such useless things like you?"

The servants began to beg for lives with renewed fervor.

"Alright, alright. I'll forget about this if you tell me what's so interesting these days. What were you chatting about just now?"

The servants fell silent and glanced at one another. It was something juicy then. "I recognize every one of your uniforms. One word and you'll lose your heads," Said An gui ren.

A brave maid spoke up, "It was...A'Fen from the ice house just came from visiting her new baby sister and told us about the rumors in the capital about First Princess,"

"First Princess?" Said An gui ren, "What about her?" "I don't want to dirty your ears with this sort of talk," said the maid.

An gui ren rolled her eyes, "Spit it out already,"

"They're saying First Princess is...keeping company with the eunuchs here," said the maid.

"What?" Asked An gui ren, "How can anyone believe that?"

"Some palace eunuch from the palace was bragging about it in a brothel. Apparently First Princess' underwear and love tokens are hidden in a eunuch's room,"

"Which eunuch?"

The maid shook her head, "Nobody knows,"

An gui ren shook her head, "And this is all over the capital?"

"Even the gêgês are talking about it,"

"You're all dismissed," said An gui ren, "Don't you dare speak more of this,"

She tugged Weiwei down the road, "Hurry! We have to see His Majesty,"

Finding The Emperor was a struggle, and when she did, An gui ren waited outside his doors for almost an hour.

"An gui ren, His Majesty has no time to see you. Please, return to your palace," said Zhang Wei.

"Wei gonggong, this is important. Announce me, please," she begged.

When it looked like he wouldn't budge, she added, "It's about First Princess," An gui ren said.

Zhang Wei stared at her for a moment longer before sighing, "Fine then,"

The Emperor was sitting behind his desk, missives nearly covering the entire surface. An gui ren's heart began to race. It had been some time since she and His Majesty were alone like this. He hadn't flipped her tag in almost a year.

"This concubine wishes–"

"Speak quickly and withdraw. I don't have time for nonsense today," The Emperor said.An gui ren paused before quietly finishing her greeting. The Emperor was still in a bad mood because of Xiang gui ren's injury.

"Your Majesty, I have something to report,"

––––––––––––

*chaofu: Court attire for women of Imperial Concubine status and above †chaoguan: Hats worn by consorts have two tiers of dongzhu pearls and phoenixes topped by a cat eye stone

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[hundredthousandtimes]

Li Chun as Wei Yanwan Ruyi’s Royal Love in the Palace 如懿传 Episode 50

[chinesedramaoutfit]

Ivory outfit of Wei Yingluo, Noble Consort Ling

[comicdissectionpod]

After considering his options, Shen Wei held out his hand for the bottle. "I'll go in your place, then."

He hadnt even finished speaking before an ominous stare pierced Lin Jing’s spine. Even if Lin Jing had been ten times braver, he wouldn't have dared use the "noble consort" as bait.

-Guardian (Zhen Hun), Guardian

[innerpalaces]

THE PRINCESS WEI YANG - 190 PART 1

CHAPTER 190: Princes Gathering

Gracious Consort Guo obviously didn't take Empress Pei's words to heart. She glanced at her niece and said with a smile: "What the Empress said is true, but the child was born beautiful and dignified. Even in two or three years, everyone will still want her. If Your Majesty doesn't believe me, you can wait and see."

Her words were soft, yet carried a hint of toughness within them. If others heard this, they would definitely be angered to death, but Empress Pei smiled faintly, looked at her steadily with the tea cup in hand and said: "It seems my sister is very confident." "

Gracious Consort Guo smiled leisurely, looked down at the jade-inlaid rings on her hand, and said, "If I don't have confidence, the daughter of the Guo family will be looked down upon by others."

Madam Guo and Li Wei Yang looked at each other, but their expressions were calm and composed.

Lady Guan Xin beside the Empress raised her brows and looked at the three people opposite. Gracious Consort Guo's words were thorny, Madam Guo's face was calm, but the youngest Miss Guo was smiling. It turned out that each one was more difficult to deal with than the other. As her eyes moved, she collided with Li Wei Yang's gaze. She seemed to suddenly fall into a cold pool, and her heart was shocked. She looked for that gaze again, but she couldn't see it. Court Lady Xin was secretly shocked, how could a girl of eighteen or nineteen have such cold eyes? It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that those eyes were icy.

The Empress took a sip of tea and said slowly: "My sister's words are certainly reasonable. The daughters of the Guo family are worth thousands of gold. Didn't someone say in the past that the girls of the Guo family can even compete with the imperial family's children? In the future, I really wonder where Miss Guo will look for a husband."

These words carried a lot of weight, and even though the Gracious Consort had a tough personality, her expression changed. In fact, the Guo family did indeed have its most glorious era, and it did reject marriage from the imperial family. Because of this, for many years, the imperial family and major aristocratic families were wary of the Guo family. In order to keep the family prosperous for a long time, the Guo family in this generation mainly keeps a low profile. They would never take the initiative to attack, but this did not mean that the Guo Family would be easily bullied. That's why Gracious Consort Guo didn't hesitate to fight back when faced with Empress Pei's aggression. But once what Empress Pei said just now spreads out, who knows how others would talk about the Guo family's outstanding achievements.

Seeing that Gracious Consort Guo was speechless for a moment, Madam Guo smiled and said calmly: "Empress is being very generous, but His Majesty is considerate of the fact that we have just reunited with our daughter, so we don't plan to consider marriage for the time being. Whoever the marriage candidate is in the future will be chosen with His Majesty's grace."

"Oh, so that's it." Empress Pei changed the topic without hesitation and said: "There will be a banquet in the palace tomorrow. Madam Guo and Miss Guo should also come to attend."

Gracious Consort Guo had already calmed down. She frowned when she heard this, but said with a smile: "This... I'm afraid it's inappropriate. Jia'er has just entered the palace and doesn't understand all the rules. If she runs into any noble person, we won't be able to shoulder the Empress's blame." There are often banquets in the palace, and it's okay to attend them normally, but when Empress Pei mentioned it in person, it aroused their suspicions. She would rather offend Empress Pei than put her sister-in-law and Jia'er in crisis.

Court Lady Xin on the side smiled warmly: "Gracious Consort, we have invited many guests to the banquet tomorrow, and even Miss Pei is coming. She has always said that she felt like old friends at first sight with Miss Guo, and she insisted on seeing her again."

The Miss Pei that Court Lady Xin was talking about was naturally the stunningly beautiful Pei Baoer. Li Wei Yang laughed. When did she fall in love with her at first sight? However, Court Lady Xin's face was soft, with a smile, and she was unassuming in her expression. If Li Wei Yang hadn't already known Pei Baoer, she would have thought that there really was a Miss Pei who fell in love with her at first sight.

Consort Guo still wanted to refuse, but Empress Pei's face darkened slightly, and Court Lady Xin's smile disappeared: "Gracious Consort, the Empress has personally invited Madam Guo and Miss Guo. Such an opportunity and honor has never happened before." Although there was no anger on her face, there was a threat in her tone. What she meant is, don't be too ignorant of compliments. Not just anyone can refuse the Empress.

The Empress is the Empress after all. Even though Gracious Consort Guo hates her, she still has to maintain a superficial peace with her in front of others. After hearing what Court Lady Xin said, Consort Guo knew that if she refused again, it would be unjustifiable, which would give Empress Pei an excuse to go on a rampage. She glanced coldly at Empress Pei's beautiful face and sneered in her heart, thinking: Go ahead. What can you do to the Guo family in public? Then, she smiled and said: "Since the Empress's kindness is difficult to refuse, we will be rude."

Empress Pei didn't care what she said, but looked at Li Wei Yang, her dark eyes calm: "In that case, I won't disturb your family gathering." After saying that, she stood up, supported by the court lady beside her as she walked out. There was no movement at all, only the sway of her skirt was like the floating clouds in the sky, leaving behind countless rays of light.

When Empress Pei disappeared completely from the yard, Gracious Consort Guo had no intention of watching the show anymore. She signaled for everyone to leave, and returned to the house with Madam Guo, then whispered: "I am getting more and more confused about what she does. Why is she holding a banquet?"

There was also a hint of worry on Madam Guo's face, and she said: "It seems that she came here for Jia'er." Li Wei Yang had already mentioned the matter of Princess Anguo to her, and Madam Guo knew very well that although Princess Anguo was extremely charming, she was a willful and shameless woman at heart. According to her daughter's personality, if it wasn't for the other party going overboard and touching her bottom line, she wouldn't have punished her. Madam Guo turned back, looked at Li Wei Yang, and said: "Jia'er, what do you think?"

Li Wei Yang seemed to be still in a trance. She raised her head when she heard Madam Guo speaking. Seeing that both of them looked a little uneasy, she smiled and said: "If we don't participate because we are afraid, won't it give people something to gossip about?"

Gracious Consort Guo saw that although she was young she spoke in an organized manner, and couldn't help but like her more and more, so she nodded and said: "That's right. Since we've already agreed, we must participate. And we'll have to dress up well when we go, so that no one can look down on our Guo family!"

On the second day, Gracious Consort Guo took Madam Guo and Li Wei Yang to Xingchen Palace as she said yesterday. Gracious Consort Guo felt unhappy about what Empress Pei had done, so she spent a lot of time bathing and changing clothes in the morning, and did not arrive at the main hall until almost noon. It had already been an hour since the banquet started. All the close grand princes, ministers, imperial princes and princesses had arrived. But there was no Emperor on the throne, only Empress Pei was sitting there.

At the VIP table, Pei Baoer was dressed in gorgeous clothes and looked radiant. She spotted Li Wei Yang at a glance and said innocently: "Ah, isn't this Miss Guo?"

This voice immediately interrupted everyone's conversation. The singing and dancing in the hall also stopped, and everyone turned to look at them. Li Wei Yang sneered, this Miss Pei, for fear that others would not notice her, is really making things difficult for her, just because of the few words she said last time? It shows that she is small-minded, stupid, and selfish.

Gracious Consort Guo smiled and said, "I'm sorry everyone, I arrived a little late." Then she naturally walked inside, obviously not taking the words of someone like Pei Baoer to heart.

Li Wei Yang was behind her, silent, but paying attention to the situation of the entire hall. This grand hall, which can accommodate a hundred people, was extremely imposing. It had been decorated with flowers and was full of the most distinguished people of the Yuexi imperial family. Two rows of tables full of people were lined up on the east and west sides, and there were beautiful palace maids behind them, standing with their heads down. Li Wei Yang knew very well that the most talked about thing about the extremely honorable imperial House of Yuan was not their political achievements, but the appearance of the members of the imperial family. Not to mention how beautiful and handsome they all were, what was even more amazing was that, although they are all brothers, they also each have their own unique charms. Now, except for the absence of the Emperor, all the proud men of the imperial line are gathered together, and the whole hall is filled with light, and people couldn't help but admire in their hearts. Of course, that was an ordinary person, but Li Wei Yang turned a blind eye to everyone's gaze. Her eyes only lingered for a moment when they fell on Prince Xu Yuan Lie, who was also present.

Yuan Lie winked at her with a hint of smile. Li Wei Yang lowered her eyes, as if she didn't see it, but the corners of her mouth were slightly raised.

A concubine sitting under the Empress had a face with delicate brows and an oval face. She looked very charming and affectionate, and her voice was as sweet as an oriole: "Sister Gracious Consort has such a big demeanor. The Empress is hosting a banquet, but you are the only one who came late. You're not even giving face to the Empress?"

These words were so vicious that Li Wei Yang couldn't help but raise her head and take a closer look at the concubine's appearance, and then guessed her identity.

However, Consort Guo calmly saluted Empress Pei, then walked to her seat and sat down. She looked at the concubine condescendingly and then said slowly: "Sister Obedient Consort, the Empress is generous and tolerant. She has never blamed me. Since when do you represent her? Don't you feel that you are overstepping your bounds? Oh, how could I forget that my sister is thinking that her favor is deeper than that of us old people, so she forgets her place." At a banquet like this, it was best to be on friendly terms with each other. But since Obedient Consort Hu said such words, don't blame her for not saving face for the other party.

Someone from the palace had already led Madam Guo and Li Wei Yang to sit down. When Li Wei Yang sat down, she happened to hear this sentence and couldn't help laughing. Gracious Consort Guo was indeed very strong. In a few words, she said on one hand that Consort Hu was acting as a substitute for others, and on the other that she was pampered and relying on being favored.

Obedient Consort Hu's expression changed slightly, and her smile stiffened: "Sister Gracious Consort is really eloquent, no matter what you say, you are polite. The Empress must know that I definitely didn't mean this..."

Noble Consort Chen was very beautiful, but also had a faint bookish air. She stood out among a group of concubines surrounded by flowers. Hearing this, she smiled and said: "Consort Shun, Gracious Consort was just late by chance. The Empress didn't say anything, so why do you care so much? It seems that you are particularly petty."

The Guo and Chen families were in-laws. Noble Consort Chen was gentle, while Gracious Consort Guo was strong-willed. They were completely different from each other, but they could always talk to each other. In fact, Gracious Consort Guo suffered a lot when she first entered the palace because of her stubborn personality. Noble Consort Chen secretly helped her fight in the palace, so the two were almost inseparable for many years. Now that Obedient Consort Hu spoke with such sarcasm, Noble Consort Chen naturally would say something. Consort Hu couldn't out talk these two people, and she felt even more annoyed. She subconsciously clenched the armrest of her chair, and the gold bracelet on her hand suddenly hit it with a crisp sound. She said angrily: "Consort Chen, you--"

Empress Pei just smiled reservedly, glanced at everyone, and interrupted: "Okay, okay, today is just a small banquet. As long as sister Gracious Consort is here."

The Empress had said so, which meant she didn't care about Gracious Consort Guo's rudeness. A trace of jealousy flashed across Consort Hu's face, and she didn't dare to say anything more. In terms of power, her Hu family is just a newcomer and she has always been looked down upon by those century-old wealthy families. They say her Hu family is a nouveau riche, so she has a vicious mentality in her bones. Empress Pei is so powerful that she dare not offend her but what about Consort Guo? Why is her status in the palace so special? Obedient Consort Hu boasted that she was the Emperor's favorite concubine and gave birth to the prince Yuan Sheng. Of course she would be dissatisfied and look for opportunities to embarrass Gracious Consort Guo.

When the other concubines saw this scene, a faint sneer flashed across their faces. The relationship between the four major families of Pei, Chen, Guo and Hu has always been very delicate. Such dialogues happen several times a day, but no one can do anything. Whether it is for the country or the harem, this kind of balance is best.

The silk and bamboo orchestra sounded again, and fifteen pairs of beautiful women danced in the center of the hall, their movements all exceptionally beautiful.

Li Wei Yang glanced at Yuan Lie not far away. At this moment, he was wearing ordinary brocade attire. His eyes were quiet, showing unparalleled leisure. He sat silently and was completely out of tune with the people around him, as if no one else was there. She smiled. Although all the princes were handsome, none had his peerless charm. She was lost in thought when she heard Madam Guo whisper: "You arrived in Dadu not long ago, so you haven't seen these imperial children yet."

Li Wei Yang smiled slightly and said: "Yes, although I often hear my brother talk about them, I have never seen most of them." Madam Guo laughed, and while others were immersed in singing and dancing, she introduced each of them to Li Wei Yang one by one. Li Wei Yang was familiar with the Crown Prince, so Madam Guo only said a few words and then turned to introduce the other princes.

Madam Guo pointed to a man wearing mysterious clothes and a resolute face and said, "This is His Highness the Grand Prince Qin."

Grand Prince Qin, Yuan Hong, was born to Virtuous Consort Zhou. He was twenty-three years old and his uncle was in charge of a hundred thousand imperial troops. There were several other members of his family serving in the court, and he was one of the most powerful contenders for the throne. Li Wei Yang sorted out the information previously provided by Yuan Lie and Guo Cheng, and had a general impression of this person.

At this moment, she saw Yuan Hong smiling at a young man sitting next to him and say: "Third brother, I heard that you brought back a beautiful concubine recently who was born with exceptional looks and is adept at group fan dancing. I don't know when you might invite me to go and enjoy a performance?"

The young man being questioned had a noble apperance, with bright eyes and a high nose. At first glance, he already had a picturesque face, but when one looked again, they felt that he was even more extraordinary. Every frown and every smile showed his charm. When he heard this, he just smiled and said, "Is second brother talking about Tao Yao?"

Madam Guo said softly: "That is Grand Prince Jin, Yuan Yong, who was born only one month later than the second prince and ranked third."

Li Wei Yang's eyes passed over Grand Prince Jin's face. Grand Prince Jin raised his head as if he was aware of her gaze, glanced at her, and gave her a friendly smile. Li Wei Yang then remembered what Yuan Lie once said. His Imperial Highness the Grand Prince Jin was not of high birth, and his biological mother was a singer who was sent as tribute from another country. She was once very favored by the Emperor, but unfortunately she later died of a serious illness. Grand Prince Jin did not like political intrigues and took pleasure in raising cranes every day. He never wanted to get close to the imperial family for competition, so he was always very popular. Now, seeing Grand Prince Jin's eyes that were as clear as water, and seemed indifferent to everything, Li Wei Yang had a strange feeling in her heart.

Grand Prince Qin laughed and said, "Yes, she is Miss Tao Yao. I am very interested in her fan dance."

Who would have thought that Grand Prince Jin's next words would be: "Tao Yao is indeed good at group fan dancing. Since you want to see it, I will give her to you as a concubine. Are you willing?"

Grand Prince Qin looked at him in surprise and said in a loud voice: "What? Give her to me as a concubine?" Then he realized that he had lost his composure and looked around. Everyone heard it, but pretended to watch the song and dance as if nothing had happened. He turned back, his eyes sparkling, and said with great surprise: "Are you really willing to give up your lover?"

"Of course I am." Grand Prince Jin sighed softly. Seeing his lonely expression, Grand Prince Qin immediately said, "Why, you still can't bear to part with her?"

Prince Jin smiled and said, "What's the reluctance? She's just a singer, how can I make the princess unhappy because of her?"

The princess consort of Grand Prince Jin is Pei Mian, the only daughter of Empress Pei's eldest brother Pei Yuan. In other words, she is Pei Baoer's cousin. Since she is the eldest daughter, she is naturally doted on by thousands of people. If you marry the Grand Prince of Jin, of course you have to deal with her. When Li Wei Yang heard this exchange, she subconsciously glanced at Empress Pei on her high seat and couldn't help but smile. She vaguely felt that there was something more profound hidden behind the conversation between the two brothers. Everyone here knew this, but no one could reveal it. But what exactly is it?

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How did intermarriage with other noble families and clans strengthen or weaken the Northern Wei dynasty?

At first, the main clans that the Tuobas intermarried with were other Xianbei clans. Tuoba Shiyijian made a marriage alliance with the Murongs, and the Helans also became a clan frequently married into during this period. The alliance with the Helan clan was a great asset in Tuoba Gui's early rise to power before he defeated his Helan uncles in 391.

Tuoba Gui likely made Lady Murong empress not only because she was successful in casting a golden statue but also because she was the daughter of Murong Bao, and he had integrated many old Later Yan officials into his own government. He also took the daughter of the Tiefu's Liu Juan as his concubine, and took his aunt from the Helan clan as his own, though that was also about her beauty. Had he purely wanted a political alliance he wouldn't have chosen his married aunt for it.

It is mentioned that Consort Du (or Duguhun) became Tuoba Si's concubine because she was from a noble family. The Book of Southern Qi asserts that she was Han, but the book also makes several basic errors in its recording of Northern Wei history so is not reliable. The Duguhun clan shortened their name to Du under Xiaowen's reforms, so it is impossible to know what her actual ethnicity was.

The marriage of Tuoba Si and Princess Xiping was a standard alliance between states, though there was genuine affection in the marriage. Tuoba Dao likely married Empress Helian for political reasons, as he never had any children with her and there is no record of him having favoured her.

Tuoba Huang's mother was either from the Helan or Helai clan. The Helan clan had lost a lot of influence after Tuoba Gui executed Helan Digan and Tuoba Si defeated Tuoba Shao, as the Helans had backed Tuoba Shao's coup attempt. The Helai clan didn't seem to have much of an influence in Northern Wei.

Tuoba Jun's Consort Li had been taken captive in Tuoba Dao's 450-1 southern expedition during the part where he massacred many civilians in six province. So her clan did not have much power.

Tuoba Hong's Consort Li's clan had more power. In fact, Empress Dowager Feng felt threatened by this clan's power and she therefore had the clan exterminated.

Despite the policy of killing the crown prince's mother, there would be several important consort kin in Northern Wei. Consort Du's brother Du Chao had some prominence in Tuoba Dao's reign, and Empress Dowager Feng and Consort Li's relatives also had power.