The next day, Xiao Yun took Wang Qingyao to the palace to pay respects.
Wang Qingyao wore the apricot-yellow uniform of a princess consort, with a five-tailed phoenix hairpin, also designated for consorts, adorning her hair.
Her status had changed; she could now ride in a sedan chair within the palace and was permitted to bring one maidservant.
As usual, they first went to see the Emperor. This time, the Emperor was not scowling. His inquiries to Xiao Yun were casual, like a family chat. Xiao Yun responded with equal ease, grinning, and thanked the Emperor for bestowing such a wonderful wife upon him.
This time, Wang Qingyao felt genuinely shy without needing to act.
This was, after all, the Emperor.
The Emperor finally turned his gaze to Wang Qingyao. He had been smiling initially, but then his brow furrowed slightly. However, the frown smoothed out as quickly as it appeared, and he said to Xiao Yun, "As long as you like her."
He still felt Wang Qingyao was not good enough for Xiao Yun and considered bestowing several beauties upon him or designating some secondary consorts. But as they were newly married, he couldn't openly slight Wang Qingyao, who was now a princess consort.
He had to put the idea aside for the moment, planning to revisit it after some time had passed.
With no Empress in the harem, they only needed to pay their respects to the Empress Dowager.
However, Xiao Yun told Wang Qingyao, "If you have some free time, you can go talk to Consort Chen."
Consort Chen was the birth mother of the Seventh Prince. She held a high rank but was not favored. She had received care from the late Empress in the past and was very friendly towards Xiao Yun, the Empress's nephew.
Wang Qingyao nodded, "No wonder the Seventh Prince likes to stick to you."
Xiao Yun tapped her head, "Silly, she's from the late Empress's faction and a palace concubine. She must know a thing or two about the late Empress's childbirth..."
Wang Qingyao suddenly understood.
The Emperor had been too embarrassed to immediately provide Xiao Yun with other women, but unexpectedly, Consort Fang was bold enough to do so.
The old Consort Dowager was kind and specifically instructed Wang Qingyao not to worry about arriving precisely on time for morning greetings. She could sleep in a bit longer, and arriving later was acceptable.
Wang Qingyao came from a merchant background, so there were no strict rules from a prominent family demanding a daughter-in-law to serve them meticulously. Even during Consort Fang's time, she didn't have to serve by her side every day.
It was naturally the same for her grandson's wife.
On this matter, Consort Fang showed consideration. Perhaps because her daughter-in-law's life was relatively easy, she felt awkward about having double standards and followed the old Consort Dowager's wishes, telling Wang Qingyao not to wake up too early.
Of course, waking up early for ancient people and modern people were different concepts.
The old Consort Dowager and Consort Fang woke up at four or five in the morning. Wang Qingyao also felt it inappropriate to be too late, and she certainly had to be there before seven.
Thinking about her salary, she could force herself to get up.
The Emperor granted Xiao Yun five days of wedding leave. He was a health enthusiast, believing in early rising and early sleeping for good health. During his leave, he accompanied Wang Qingyao to pay their respects.
With him present, Consort Fang didn't say much, just asked a couple of casual questions before letting them leave.
On the sixth day, Xiao Yun went to the Ministry of Revenue. After Wang Qingyao paid her respects to the old Consort Dowager, she went to Consort Fang's residence.
Consort Fang lived in a courtyard called Jingwu Yuan, which also housed a small Buddhist shrine. Incense smoke perpetually wafted through the air, making Wang Qingyao feel as if she had entered a nunnery every time she visited.
The maidservants in Jingwu Yuan were dressed more plainly than those in other courtyards. While their work attire was uniform and difficult to alter, they were forbidden from wearing makeup. Lipstick was strictly prohibited, and they were only allowed to wear silver jewelry on their heads and bodies.
However, when Wang Qingyao visited this time, she noticed two maidservants in Jingwu Yuan dressed differently.
Their clothes were still maidservant uniforms, but they wore lipstick, and their hair ornaments were more elaborate than those of ordinary maidservants.
Wang Qingyao was momentarily puzzled, then heard Consort Fang say, "These are the maids I've prepared for Ah Yun as concubines. Take them back with you."
The two maidservants lowered their heads, appearing quite shy.
Wang Qingyao was taken aback.
Was this a bit too fast for introducing concubines?
She had only been married for six days!
Of course, she didn't mind Xiao Yun taking concubines. Life in the rear courtyard could be boring, and having a few more sisters to pass the time would be good.
Furthermore, Xiao Yun had vigorous energy, and she needed someone to share the workload with him.
And most importantly, she didn't want to have children too early!
She was only seventeen, still a high school student in modern times, and her body hadn't fully matured.
Giving birth in ancient times was like stepping into the gates of hell. Although she was dedicated, she didn't want to lose her life because of it.
The Xiao family wouldn't have the time to wait for her to grow up.
But even so, there was no reason to provide concubines just six days after marriage.
Who was this looking down upon?
Whose face was this trying to slap?
How could she establish herself in the Ding'an Prince's manor in the future?
Thinking of this, she reached up and wiped the corners of her eyes, her eyes reddening. "What do you mean by this, Mother?"
Consort Fang was stunned. She hadn't expected Wang Qingyao to ask such a question.
Traditionally, a daughter-in-law was expected to obey her mother-in-law's commands. Even if she felt wronged or unwilling, she wouldn't dare to question it openly. Wasn't this how all daughters-in-law behaved? Even she herself had never defied the old Consort Dowager even once.
Of course, the old Consort Dowager had never asked her to do something so difficult. For a moment, she didn't realize how comfortably Wang Qingyao had been living. She only knew that as her daughter-in-law, Wang Qingyao had to obey her.
While she was stunned, Wang Qingyao's tears began to fall, one by one.