Noble Consort Gao, the second son of the high esteemed Primine minister Gao, whose family is consider the pillar of their nation sitting on top of wealth upon wealth for generations.
Noble Consort Gao, or less known as second son Gao Min, is very aware of their family's generational wealth. Fortune brought by being the Emperor's most trusted prime minister within court.
It is said that only a natural catastrophe needs to happen for the Gao family to be shaken up, but even then, it would barely even be felt by them.
However, they didn't get to where they are now through being the Emperor's favorite lap dog. Connections, assassinations, manipulation, and loopholes around the laws have kept them pretty secure, Gao Min is very aware of it.
Though it is not like he cares. That is just how the world works. It is balance.
He signals his eunuch to escort his father's messenger away. Another report to his father about the situation in the harem. As if anything has happened in recent years, not since the Emperor's ascend to rule. Ever since that certain someone's death, everything has been so dull since.
Gao Min sighs, fingers tapping and scraping on the expensive ingrails of the dark wood of his daybed. He stares lazily as his maids sort the expensive new textiles, silks, furniture, and accessories gifted by the Emperor.
Lightly painted lips perk up at the memory, whispers of love and affection, and kinder promises made in the heat of passion.
Gao Min takes a grape from one bowl near him, pealing the skin off meticulously before eating it.
The smell of incences is thick in the air, taking away any hint of the scent of fresh snow outside from his chambers. Maybe it's best to take a walk, it's been boring sitting for the better part of day and while his father wants him to continue his streak of entertaining the Emperor three days in a row, there's only so much Gao Min can take of talking about their son, love affections, and politics, before his lovely mask falls off.
"Xiao Zhi," He calls for his personal eunuch, as he walks towards the doors," Bring me my coat, I'm taking a walk outside."
Xiao Zhi, haughty and proud, with a mean streak that he hardly hides, comes out holding a black coat embroidered with golden ascents and designs made for the Emperor which he left behind and a golden umbrella.
Gao Min smiles, sharp features smothering down in affection, many would think that Noble Consort Gao is smiling due to the Emperor's blatant display of favor. And while that is somewhat true, Gao Min likes the coat because he gets to see the results around him for wearing it.
Xiao Zhi moves to his side, walking at his languid pace through the gardens of his palace and out towards the entrance doors. Before they step out, Xiao Zhi calls for his attention.
"Noble Consort Gao, First Prince is due to come at any moment from his tutors. Shouldn't we wait for him? Im sure he would want to see you. Today was his calligraphy test after all! I bet he scored quite high." He proudly states.
Ah. Yes. Jing Hua, his son. "It'll be fine. The walk won't take that long." Gao Min crosses the door and walks away his eunuch and a few maids not far behind.
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Xiao Zhi is very lucky.
His life hadn't been very lucky for a long time when he was a kid. He was rich once, but his parents were too dumb to understand the concept of saving money. Then his father had the brilliant idea of selling Xiao Zhi into working in the royal palace through some connections. After all, there's no use in a fourth son. Xiao Zhi thought he didn't have to work much as his father was well-known throughout town.
But he was wrong.
Once he became a lowly eunuch he had to slave away into cleaning and running errands for the three new concubines from the concubine selection out of the Emperor's thirteen official ones in his entire harem. And it was torture. They were spoiled beyond belief and treated him like garbage as if they weren't closer to his level than being actual concubines.
Xiao Zhi calmly walks behind Royal Consort Gao, his clothes arranged in different shades of gold and oranges long black hair tied high up in a ponytail swaying smoothinghim in a hypnotizing trance. Xiao Zhi was so lucky that he managed to catch the sight of someone as important and beautiful as Royal Consort Gao years ago. Now, he, as the personal eunuch of the favored Consort of the Emperor, is untouchable. No one can bad mouth him or treat him lower than a slave.
He can get away with so many things, he doesn't even have to do much work as he can send a maid or lower eunuch to do his chores or hand him food, and no one, not even when he criticizes and yells at one of the maids for doing his highness tea wrong. No one questions his decisions, not even the Royal Consort.
The only times he is serious about his work is making sure his highness has no competition. Speaking of competition.
He walks closer to his Highness. " Your Highness, I gave the letter to Concubine Ling as you said. She should be very devastated by the news by now, should we visit her?" He asks.
Concubine Ling is but a mere lower Concubine not even near the position of Consort as there are three more concubines in front of her before becoming an imperial Consort. And there is only one Imperial Consort in the harem.
The Emperor surprisingly doesn't have many women in his harem, only twenty not counting his Empress. Compared to the previous emperor, it's barely nothing. Most of them Xiao Zhi has heard haven't even been touched or visited. Those that have been visited to their palaces are political pawns thrown into the harem. Even then, the Emperor hadn't spent a night with them.
Concubine Ling was more of a gift thrown to his majesty by her low official father to garner favor during his birthday. Even Consort Gao had laughed once he heard of it, the Emperor was not pleased that day, he gave her a title of concubine but was very ecplict how if ever happened again any official would be remove from their position. The banquet had ended early and somber.
Concubine Ling shares her palace with two other ladies. Last Xiao Zhi had heard the three were stuck in power struggle as they all were of same rank, though their fathers weren't.
Consort Gao smiled. "No. Let her make her own assumptions. Will see the result soon enough." With that, the conversation ended. And they headed back to the palace.
Once in, a small child wearing vibrant golds and reds ran through the courtyard, stopping in front of the Consort. It was First Prince Jing Hua.
All servants bowed.
" A-niang!" He bowed perfectly, "I finished my test with full marks from my teacher." He proudly exclaimed.
The servants smiled at the young boy in his proud and confident bravado. It's truly a shining star in the harem. Compared to his other half-siblings, Jin Hua was admittedly the most to be considered as crown prince. Not only was he academly smart for a five year old, but we were healthy and full vigor compared to his unfortunate sibling.
Xiao Zhi watched as his noble consorts face shifts between a calm serenity and neutrality. Then he pats the boys head.
"Very good, A-Hua."
" A-niang, would you like to see my results. I practice a lot for it. The teacher even brought all of my progress for you to see." He walks back to the palace, Noble Consort in tow. " I want to show, Father too. I bet Zhou and Xueyang didn't get the same marks as I did!"
Xiao Zhi nods cheerfully, " Of course not young master! You work much harder, and the emperor already believes you to do well." As he should, Xiao Zhi thought. Jing Hua may not be the legitimate heir, but he is better in every way possible, after all he is related to his Noble Consort Gao.
Jing Hua nods confidently, bringing his paper to show his mother. " I will show father my progress tommorow-"
"-Not tommorow." Consort Gao calmly interrupts, deciding to sit on a chair nearby.
"What? Why not?" He asks, alreday starting to pout.
Xiao Zhi catches Consort Gao neutral face softens as he stares to the snowly landscape outside through the window. " Their is a harem tea ceromny to attend. We must pay our respect to the Empress and be together and civil, so it's said." The Consort chuckles to themselves.
Jing Hua stomps his foot. "But I dont like the Empress! He's scary and hearless. And I dont want to call him Royal Mother. Father doesn't like him, so why should I?"
Before Xiao Zhi can go and calm his young masters temper, he swiftly catches Noble Consort Gao's eye twitch and his smile widening.
Huh?
He takes a second glance. Noble consorts gaze is merely smirking fondly. Must've been Xiao Zhi misinterpreting it then.
Consort Gao stands up, gadering the paper with him. " You will call him Royal Mother, Jing Hua. Alright." He pats his sons head.
The boy nods begrudgingly. Noble consort walks of. " Jing Hua, keep in mind that who your Emperor likes or dislikes is his opinion. How many times have I told you this?"
"Hmph! Fine."
Noble consort Gao gazes down the boy for a few seconds, "Good, let's find your clothes for tomorrow. "
Xiao Zhi smiles, following behind them. He should send a maid to get noble consort Gao's most beautiful jewelery out.
So he can stand out better than the Empress. Better than anyone.