Chapter 6: A Gift of Beauty

At that time, Shi Nian firmly rejected the proposal.

“This job is terrifying! Are you even human, wanting to send me to a beauty contest? Even if I’m just a temporary worker, you can’t treat me like this!”

Lu Zhiyao said, “You’ve watched too many Qing palace dramas. There were no beauty contests in the Han dynasty. Once you’re in, you become the emperor’s concubine directly; there’s no such thing as being discarded.”

Shi Nian: …Thanks for the clarification! (╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻

Su Geng comforted her, “You’re not the only one going. I’m going too. Don’t worry, I’ll handle most of the work. You just need to assist me and get familiar with the process.”

Shi Nian still refused, “Why do they want two girls to go? Can’t they send men instead?”

“You said it yourself—they’re men. It’s way too difficult for them to enter the emperor’s harem…”

“What’s so difficult? Aren’t there men inside?”

Su Geng and Lu Zhiyao exchanged a look.

Only then did Shi Nian realize that while there were men in the emperor’s harem, they were all…

She said seriously, “Have you really thought this through? I think it’s possible—for the sake of the mission!”

Lu Zhiyao was right; she had watched plenty of Qing palace dramas and had deep psychological scars from them. The harem was a terrifying place full of intrigue and scheming. She was afraid she wouldn’t even know how she might die there!

Besides, she had thought it through: this whole thing was forced from the start. She never wanted to time travel; somehow, she was just pushed into this situation.

Why should she have to consider whether to join this organization after they assessed her ability?

Nie Cheng, who had been assigned the path of a eunuch, looked at the determined girl and said calmly, “According to regulations, once we arrive, we must complete the mission before returning. If Wei Zifu is truly married off to the Xiongnu, even if we aren’t eliminated, we’ll have to stay in Han forever. Do you want to stay here for the rest of your life?”

Shi Nian’s expression faltered. He added, “Or, if we complete the mission, we could just leave you here alone regardless.”

Shi Nian: “…”

That threat was too deadly. She wanted to stubbornly say, “I’m not afraid of you,” but dared not risk it. After a three-minute breakdown on the spot, she tearfully submitted.

In the following days, Shi Nian locked herself in her room, cramming all kinds of related knowledge. After all, she was going to the palace—it wouldn’t do to be completely clueless. Su Geng once again showed off their ample equipment; she even brought a Kindle filled with materials on historical figures from this era! Shi Nian felt as if she had returned to her student days, burning the midnight oil before final exams!

She thought there would be at least half a month to prepare, but three days later, Nie Cheng told her everything was arranged, and they would be sent to Tian Fen’s mansion the next day.

Shi Nian: “...I haven’t even finished memorizing Tian Fen’s information!”

After years of poor history knowledge, she had so many gaps and always forgot what she memorized. Feeling doomed, Shi Nian desperately begged Nie Cheng, “Give me more time—five days! No, three days! Teacher, I’m going to fail the test tomorrow!”

Nie Cheng: “…Let go! Stop clinging to me!”

No matter how much she begged, they set off as scheduled the next morning. Shi Nian changed into the dark red quju robe and sat in the carriage, still disgruntled.

Opposite her, Su Geng studied her for a moment and said, “Shi Nian.”

She looked up and smiled, “Calling you Miss Shi feels too formal. Can I just call you by your name? Oh, and thank you for agreeing to accompany me to the palace.”

Shi Nian scratched her head, “No, not really—for you, I mean. It’s Nie Cheng… If he hadn’t forced me, I wouldn’t have come…”

“No matter the reason, you came with me. Ah, almost forgot—here.”

She handed over a small black object, short and round like a little wooden stick—her personal stun baton. The night she fainted, she couldn’t find it upon waking and thought she had lost it in the confusion.

Shi Nian looked at it, recalling the young man in the embroidered robe from that night. He was the first person she met after arriving in this era; she still didn’t know who he was or what had become of him.

“I heard this thing saved your life. The captain specifically told me to return it to you. The palace is complicated, so keep it safe—it can protect you in an emergency.”

Shi Nian was a bit stunned. “Did… Nie Cheng tell you to give this back to me?”

Su Geng nodded. “So don’t worry. Even if we enter the palace, the captain will find ways to contact us and keep an eye on our situation.”

She instinctively glanced out as the wind lifted the carriage curtain, revealing a small gap. Nie Cheng was riding alongside the carriage. Due to the limited productivity of Han times, only nobles used horses; commoners relied on ox or mule carts. Yet he arrived on a fine horse-drawn carriage. The man, dressed all in black, sat upright on horseback with an air of pride and coldness.

Shi Nian gripped the stun baton and muttered, “Is he really that good? I don’t buy it…”

The noble residences of Chang’an were mainly clustered around the northern gate of Weiyang Palace, known as the “Northern Gate Mansions,” famous for their illustrious inhabitants. Tian Fen, Marquis of Wu’an, was no exception. Shi Nian and Su Geng moved into his mansion here for pre-palace training.

Upon entering, they discovered they weren’t the only beauties sent to the palace this time. Two maidservants raised in the Wu’an Marquis’s house since childhood—Yue Rong and Lian Qiao—were also to be sent. Both were exceptionally beautiful and talented in singing and dancing; clearly, they were no ordinary servants.

Su Geng explained, “This is the usual procedure. Wei Zifu was originally a singer in Princess Yangxin’s residence, carefully trained in hopes of catching the emperor’s eye one day.”

Despite having insiders like these, they still sent Shi Nian and Su Geng in, which puzzled her. Su Geng explained, “Tian Fen is greedy for wealth and power. After being dismissed from office, he’s eager to recruit talents to strengthen his influence. The captain gave him treasures and gained his favor; sending us later was only natural.”

It sounded simple, but the ability to pick Tian Fen from among many court officials, exploit his personality and situation to achieve their goals—that kind of insight wasn’t common.

However, Shi Nian had no time to marvel at Nie Cheng’s brilliance because she was just too busy!

Entering the palace was a serious matter. The marquis’s house assigned someone to teach them the rules: how to walk, stand, sit, lie down; how to address the nobles; and the etiquette when meeting the emperor. Everything had to be learned. Shi Nian suffered through painful days and still had to memorize historical materials at night. Even Su Geng felt sorry and advised her to rest, but Shi Nian dared not. She was afraid of death.

Perhaps because of this, they rarely spoke with the two maidservants. One day, while studying the current emperor’s preferences, Lian Qiao suddenly asked, “What kind of person do you think His Majesty really is? If he saw me… saw us, would he like us?”

Her expression was dreamy, cheeks flushed. A lowly maid chosen to serve the most prestigious man in the world, learning all about him daily—though she hadn’t met him yet, her heart was already stirred.

Shi Nian and Su Geng exchanged a glance but said nothing.

Actually, according to Su Geng, they might not even see the emperor. The current empress was the famous Chen A’jiao, jealous and domineering, backed by her mother, the Grand Princess Guantao, and the Empress Dowager Wang, to whom even the emperor yielded. This worked in their favor since their real mission was to infiltrate the palace to find Wei Zifu, not to genuinely become the emperor’s concubines.

Yet, having read the materials lately, Shi Nian was somewhat curious. Emperor Wu of Han, Liu Che, was undoubtedly the most famous emperor in Han history. Historical records praised his literary and military achievements, a visionary who founded the Western Han's golden age. But Shi Nian found his romantic escapades more interesting: Chen A’jiao, Wei Zifu, Lady Li, and Lady Gouyi—throughout his life, he left behind vivid stories, never dull.

Lost in thought, a sudden commotion outside the mansion caught her attention. Everyone was on edge, as if facing a grave threat.

A maid hurried over, and Shi Nian asked anxiously, “What’s going on?”

The maid bowed nervously. “His Majesty is here in disguise. The marquis has gone out to receive him! Several ladies have already prepared; you might be summoned to serve shortly!”

“Clang!” Turning around, Shi Nian saw Lian Qiao so excited she smashed her wine cup on the ground.

The imperial visit had alarmed the entire Wu’an Marquis’s mansion. Guards fully armed with halberds and swords stood sentry, servants stood ready for summons. All had to be done discreetly to avoid spoiling the noble’s mood.

In the tranquil main hall, Tian Fen knelt respectfully, saying, “Your Majesty, why not give advance notice? I am truly honored…”

The emperor, dressed in dark clothing, sat casually. He was only nineteen and had yet to personally govern. Usually, he was informal, like today, when he came to visit his uncle’s mansion on his way back from a trip to Ba Bridge with a few attendants.

Relaxed, his voice carried a hint of laziness. “I came to see my uncle. What preparation do you think I need? I come as I please.”

Such closeness thrilled Tian Fen even more. Since being removed from his chancellor position by Empress Dowager Dou in the second year of the Jian Yuan era, he had longed for a comeback. His sister was no help, so he knew his greatest reliance was this emperor nephew. That was the motivation behind offering beauties previously.

They chatted about court affairs. Noticing Liu Che’s distracted demeanor, Tian Fen cautiously said, “I heard Your Majesty recently met a celestial maiden?”

The emperor, holding a wine cup, paused. “Where did you hear that, uncle?”

“The palace is abuzz. They say Your Majesty suddenly returned from Ganquan Palace that night, met the fairy of Guyue, and has been distracted ever since…”

He teased as if a senior mocking a junior. A dark gleam flashed in Liu Che’s eyes, but a smile played at his lips. “Uncle, is that all you’ve heard?”

Tian Fen was taken aback. There was more—rumors that the emperor was actually attacked that night, but his sister denied it. Could it be true?

Still hesitant, Tian Fen was cut off as Liu Che changed the subject. “Uncle, do you believe there really are celestial maidens in this world?”

Seeing no anger, Tian Fen relaxed and grew bolder. “I do not know if such beings exist, but if they do, surely only Your Majesty, the Son of Heaven, could meet them.”

Liu Che fell silent, gazing toward the horizon as if recalling some ethereal beauty beneath the clouds and moonlight.

Tian Fen said, “There are no celestial maidens in my house, but there are some talented and beautiful mortal women. If Your Majesty is interested, why not summon one to meet you?”

Liu Che stared at him a moment, then laughed.

He tapped Tian Fen’s finger with his own and shook his head. “Uncle, uncle… very well, since you’re prepared, let’s see them.”