Chapter 1

Everyone in the imperial harem knew that I was the gentlest, kindest consort in the palace.

No matter how grave a servant’s mistake, the most I ever did was dock half a month’s wages with a mild word.

Even the Emperor often said, “My Consort Rong is truly the most peaceable woman in this entire palace.”

Thus, although he did not love me deeply, he treated me with respect and granted me a measure of favor.

And where there was imperial favor, children naturally followed.

That was how I came to have my Jia’er.

She was only a princess, but she was as lovely as carved jade and white snow. The Emperor adored her so much that he conferred the title Princess Jiahe upon her at birth.

There were few children in the palace. Apart from three princes, there were only two princesses, and one of them was my Jiahe.

The other was Princess Qinghe, born to Consort Chao a few years ago and only now learning to toddle.

I heard that Consort Chao made her recite something called the multiplication table all day long.

Everyone said daughters took after their mothers. Consort Chao’s Qinghe was clever and studious, whereas mine was simple and foolish.

Jiahe loved to bare her little teeth and giggle. Catching a single rabbit in the imperial garden was enough to send her racing over to show me.

“Mother, look! Isn’t it adorable?”

Only women of consort rank or above could be addressed by their children as Mother or Mother Consort. No matter how favored the others might be, their children could call them only Concubine Mother. Rank and order had to be observed.

Yet Jiahe had always called me Mother. No amount of correction could make her stop.

She would blink those enormous eyes of hers, rescuing a palace maid in distress one moment and pleading for a guard who had made a mistake the next. Even when others bullied her, she never complained.

The Emperor said Jiahe resembled me: sweet, obedient, and gentle.

That always amused me. How was she anything like me? She took after her father far more.

On Jiahe’s sixth birthday, the Emperor held a special banquet in her honor. It was the season of winter’s first snow, and the consorts were all enjoying delicacies inside the warm main hall when I realized Jiahe was missing.

Just then, a young palace maid rushed inside, panic written across her face.

“Something terrible has happened! The Fourth Princess fell into the lake!”

Everyone was shocked. The hall descended into chaos as people called for the imperial physicians.

Lady Shi, my close friend, sprang to her feet in alarm. Shi Hua and I had entered the palace together, and she had always loved Jiahe as though the child were her own daughter.

The young maid kept her head lowered, hiding most of her expression, but her fear and agitation were unmistakable.

I knew her.

Her name was Xiaoping. A year ago, Jiahe had saved her in the imperial garden. Xiaoping had offended a certain lady and been punished by kneeling until she happened to faint at Jiahe’s feet. She had served at Jiahe’s side ever since.

As I studied Xiaoping, Consort Chao, who was standing beside the Emperor, spoke.

“Your daughter has fallen into a lake. Aren’t you worried, Sister Rong?”

Dressed in flamboyant finery, she watched with open delight at my misfortune. Hooking her arm through the Emperor’s, she prepared to leave the hall.

I rose slowly. By the time I lifted my head, two tears were already slipping down my cheeks. I looked helplessly at the Emperor.

“Your Majesty, my Jia’er…”

Before I could finish, darkness engulfed my vision. I collapsed straight toward him, landing neatly in his arms.

“Rong’er! Summon the imperial physicians! Now!”