TFRLTOP Chapter 55 Part 2

“With meat, please!”

The maids were just about to give in when a furious voice rang out outside:
“Jiang Zhelan! Come out here!”

Mingming poked her head out. Well, wasn’t that something—over a dozen concubines stood outside, with more drifting over. Even Jiang Ruotian had joined.

Their eyes roamed up and down her body, full of open dissatisfaction. None of them could see what made her so special.

Mingming: Feels like I’m being gawked at like a monkey in a cage.

She put on a lazy smile. “Oh my, I just woke up. What’s the matter, sisters?”

Everyone knew what her late rising meant. The emperor had stayed the night.

Jiang Fuling’s glare was filled with venom, as if Mingming had stolen her man. “You… did His Majesty really… with you…”

Nothing had actually happened, but Mingming was sorely tempted to stab her where it hurt: Yes, your precious male lead is no longer “pure.”

She thought that alone might kill Jiang Fuling with rage.

But she wasn’t ready to expose herself as a fellow transmigrator.

Jiang Fuling jabbed a finger at her face. “What’s so good about you? How could the emperor possibly like you?”

The other women with her gave the same cutting looks.

Mingming stroked her own cheek. “Oh, maybe because I’m ugly? Sister, don’t you agree I’m unsightly? Perhaps His Majesty just has… unique taste and prefers me this way.”

She sighed lightly, feigning distress. “I really don’t understand His Majesty at all.”

At that moment, an older concubine stepped in with a sweet smile. “This little sister is amusing. It’s plain she’s new to the palace and doesn’t know much. Perhaps His Majesty enjoys her innocence and charm.”

Mingming stared at her silently. This one wielded words like hidden blades—cutting without leaving blood.

The woman went on, “Although we’re all the same rank, there’s still seniority. Normally, when we meet, the newer sisters should salute the older ones… oh dear, don’t take me the wrong way. I’m not saying you must do it. It’s just an unwritten rule, that’s all…”

Jiang Fuling shot the woman a look but kept quiet. She’d never heard of such a rule—and even if it existed, she had no intention of following it. But since this woman’s barbs were aimed at Jiang Zhelan, she was happy to sit back and watch.

After all, if one concubine had to bow to another, it meant acknowledging she was beneath her.

Jiang Fuling smirked, eager for a show.

“System, can I hit her?” Mingming asked seriously. “I don’t feel like scheming through palace intrigue. Let’s just settle this with a fight.”

“Why don’t you try bullying them with power instead?”

“What power? I don’t have any.”

Just then, Mingming spotted a large group of palace servants approaching.

“Look—your power just arrived.”

Sharp-eyed women immediately noticed the leader: the emperor’s chief eunuch, Gao Fu.

The concubine who’d just spoken hurried forward with a flattering smile. “Eunuch Gao, what brings you here today?”

“Oh, Ling Cairen, blessings upon you. I wouldn’t dare ‘ride the wind’ here. I’m only carrying out a task for His Majesty.” Gao Fu drew out a decree from his sleeve. Ling Cairen’s face darkened. Behind him, servants were hauling a long line of chests. A bad feeling crept into her heart.

The concubines knelt to hear the decree.

Jiang Fuling was still seething when her own name was suddenly read out.

“Jiang Fuling is promoted to Guiren.”

She gasped. She had never expected the emperor to raise her rank.

The other women who came with her instantly gave her wary looks. She had pulled them together out of shared resentment for Jiang Zhelan—but now she’d leapt ahead, betraying the “alliance” and leaving them behind.

Basking in their jealousy, Jiang Fuling felt triumphant. She lived for that kind of attention.

But her joy barely lasted two seconds before her sister’s name was read—Jiang Ruotian was promoted to Xiaoyuan, a full rank higher than her.

And then came the real blow: Jiang Zhelan’s name. From a mere cairen, she leapt three ranks in one stroke, promoted to sixth-rank Liangdi.

Jiang Fuling’s smile froze.

Worse still, the decree included a long list of rewards—all for Jiang Zhelan alone. Not even a needle or a thread for the other two.

In one decree, the Jiang sisters became targets of every eye in the harem.

Envy wasn’t about having little—it was about unfairness. Before, when everyone was cairen, they were more or less equals. Now things were different. The emperor had stepped into the harem and openly elevated a few.

Everyone could see: the harem was about to change. The old peace was gone. From now on, it was every woman for herself.

Mingming rose and politely addressed Gao Fu while servants carried gifts inside. “Eunuch Gao, you know I don’t really understand palace rules. Just now, I heard someone say that among concubines of the same rank, the newcomers must salute those who came earlier. Is that actually true?”

Gao Fu, quick as ever, chuckled. “Liangdi Lan, you must be joking. There’s never been such a rule. Sounds like someone wanted to play Elder just because her looks have already faded.”

Ling Cairen’s face turned pale.

“Oh, I see. Then, since I’m no longer just a cairen, if someone of lower rank meets me, they’ll have to bow, right?”

“Of course.”

Mingming raised her voice. “Ling Cairen?”

The woman’s face burned, but she had no choice. She bowed stiffly and muttered, “Greetings to Liangdi Lan.”

The system was ecstatic: That’s it! That’s the essence of palace drama—public slaps in the face! Flaunting favor! Throwing your weight around! Isn’t it thrilling?

Mingming smiled smugly while they all bowed and left. But the moment she stepped back inside, her smile dropped.

“That damn emperor—he set me up! Now the whole harem will hate me!”

But wasn’t it fun? the system asked.

“Fun? Where?” Mingming groaned.

Didn’t you enjoy putting Ling Cairen in her place? She tried to bully you, and instead, she had to bow. That’s exhilarating!

Mingming flopped into a chair like a salted fish. “Too young, too naïve. Palace intrigue is only fun as a spectator. Living it is pure torment…”

“I have a bad feeling about what’s ahead.”

The system mused, Come to think of it, maybe Jiang Fuling really is the female lead.

Mingming sat up. “Why do you say that?”

Look—His Majesty promoted three women at once. You are the highest, Jiang Ruotian is higher than Fuling, and Fuling is the lowest. That way, all the attention and jealousy fall mostly on you, or at worst on Jiang Ruotian. Fuling, by contrast, looks ordinary, unthreatening. Doesn’t that feel like a deliberate move—lifting the woman he truly favors, but creating a decoy in front to take the heat?

Mingming collapsed again. “I feel like I’m about to become a punching bag.”

The emperor had said he’d dine daily at Luoxue Pavilion, but that turned out to be just words. She hadn’t seen him since.

The good news: she could finally eat the meat dishes of her new rank.
The bad news: people kept tampering with her food.

Even switching to the emperor’s vegetarian meals didn’t help.

In just five days, she’d gone through seven food tasters.

Mingming grew thin and furious until she stormed into the imperial study to confront the emperor.

He wasn’t surprised by her arrival. So soon? She really can’t help herself. Clearly, she has ulterior motives.

But instead of whining about grievances, Mingming dropped to her knees in tears and begged to eat meals together with him.

“Just meals?” The emperor was taken aback.

He’d expected her to act spoiled, to complain about her struggles, to flaunt her favor. After all, he’d promoted her three whole ranks in one go. Surely she thought herself special now, convinced he cherished her. He’d only need to watch, and eventually her arrogance would give her away.

But no—she only wanted to dine together.

Some new trick?

“Lan Cairen—no, Liangdi—aren’t you the one who loves meat? Eating with me would force you into bland vegetarian food. That would be far too much to ask of you. Better we each eat separately.”

“No, Your Majesty!” Mingming clung to his leg, nearly sobbing. “You are the Son of Heaven! You can’t go back on your word! You promised we’d dine together every day—one day short isn’t every day! I love eating vegetarian food! Vegetables are good for the body and mind! They’re full of nutrients like vitamins A, B, C, D, E, F, G—everything I’m lacking! I’ll gladly eat plain tofu with you!”

“Vita… what?”

Mingming caught herself and quickly covered. “Oh, that’s just a folk term for the good stuff in plants. A local saying, that’s all…”

The emperor studied her carefully.

Mingming tilted her chin up, eyes shining with earnest devotion.

“No other requests?”

“None.”

“Very well.” With imperial magnanimity, he agreed.

At last, Mingming could stop living in fear of poisoned food.

She could finally… eat her vegetables in peace!

A blessing indeed—worthy of celebration!