Reborn as a Noble Consort from Songyang County [Empresses in the Palace Fanfiction]

[A writing exercise, completely free, with amateur writing. Please read at your own discretion.]

After swallowing the last bitter almond, An Lingrong closed her eyes, exhausted.

What she thought was the end was actually a new beginning.

Given another life, An Lingrong embroiders, blends fragrances, and raises cats. Whenever she has some free time, she visits the palaces of her sisters, and she even raises two adorable little ones.

The three friends drink tea, admire flowers, and play with the children. An Lingrong looks up at the sky over the Forbidden City once more.

The sunshine is so lovely. She should get to see it for decades to come.

She sees Huanhuan, no longer tormented by being a substitute for Wanwan, spending her days chatting and laughing with her sisters;

Meizhuang, her proud spirit unbroken, content with her daughter;

Cao Qinmo, devoted to raising Wenyi; Xin Bajiji, talkative and blunt; Chun'er, always dropping by to beg for food; Noble Lady Fucha, foul-tempered and haughty; and Ye Lanyi, no longer confined within the palace walls.

And the empress, once again fated to "never meet again in life or death."

And... Consort Hua, no longer attached to the imperial city.

An Lingrong smiles at the square patch of sky. In this life, may everyone get what they wish for.

Content warnings:

The story focuses mainly on sisterly bonds and palace intrigue.

The Si-Huan and Guo-Huan couples will be broken up.

This story is written out of love. I do not accept low ratings. The rating ratio only counts VIP chapters, not free chapters. Please be aware.

"Meeting You Again"

Zhou Youwu has been having nightmares lately.

The cold, handsome emperor lifts the plump little boy she worked so hard to raise with one hand and says coldly, "You dared let my son call someone else Father?"

He tosses the wailing child aside and leans over her, looming above her like a jade mountain, making her remember that unsettled night.

Zhou Youwu soon wakes in fright.

Before she can wipe the cold sweat from her brow, her maid rushes in from outside, beaming. "Congratulations, my lady! His Majesty has just sent an imperial decree. He wants to welcome you into the palace as a noble consort!"

Zhou Youwu: "Huh?"

Ever since Zhou Youwu, once the most beautiful woman in the capital, divorced her husband, noble ladies have been going out to visit friends far more often.

After much excited chattering, they reach a consensus: How could a divorced woman ever have a good marriage? They may as well sit back and watch her fall into misery and ruin.

Delighted, they start a game of mahjong.

A little maid rushes in, flustered. "The eldest daughter of the Zhou family has been made a noble consort!"

Noble Lady A says resentfully, "His Majesty must be taken with her looks! How long can anyone prosper by relying on beauty? Just wait and see!"

The ladies perk up and resume their game.

Before long, the little maid returns with a mournful look. "Her son from her previous marriage, that burden she brought with her, has been made crown prince!"

Noble Lady B: "How could His Majesty be so foolish? Hmph! That wicked consort will have the censors impeaching her in no time!"

The ladies rally and resume their game.

The little maid reports mechanically, "Noble Consort Zhou is going to be empress."

The ladies flip over the mahjong table. Forget it, we're done playing.

Theme: A woman should rely on herself