The Imperial Consort's Daily Wellness Routine (Qing Dynasty Transmigration)

"Hearken: You, Imperial Noble Consort Tong, are the daughter of Tong Guowei, Minister of the Imperial Bodyguard. Your family is of distinguished lineage, blessed by your kinship with the imperial house. You have been diligent and thrifty in the inner chambers, and have shown devotion and filial piety in the palace. Your kindness has nurtured the imperial children, treating them all with fairness. You have honored the rites and embodied virtue and modesty. Your good reputation has long been established, and you deserve this great honor. Now, in accordance with the Empress Dowager's decree, I bestow upon you the imperial seal and appoint you Empress."

-- Edict Appointing Imperial Noble Consort Tong as Empress by the Kangxi Emperor

What should you do after transmigrating into the body of Empress Xiaoyiren, a historical figure born into a powerful ministerial family, related to the emperor by blood in countless ways, and blessed with unique advantages, yet destined to lose her daughter and die young, when transmigration doesn't come with a cheat that lets you defy fate or a System?

Knowing her fate, Yun Xiu decides: cherish life and build up her health.

And, most importantly, never have children!

As a modern woman, she knows the dangers of having children with close relatives. To avoid spending her life regretting the birth of a child with disabilities, Yun Xiu resolves not to have children and only hopes to live out her days in peace.

With her background and family connections, all she has to do is stay alive, occasionally put some effort into maintaining her relationship with her imperial cousin, and avoid making trouble. She can coast to victory.

To avoid repeating history and becoming another "short-lived empress," after entering the palace she focuses on wellness and exercise, maintains a good routine, and supplements her diet with nourishing foods, gradually restoring her frail, sickly body to health.

Ever since she entered the palace, the Palace of Eternal Harmony has often been filled with the unusual aromas of medicinal cuisine and delicious food. Before long, the consorts can't help wondering how this Imperial Noble Consort went from frail and sickly to robust and healthy.

Yun Xiu waves a hand: Come on, let's work on our health and eat nourishing food together.

*

To Xuan Ye, Yun Xiu is both his consort and a cousin with whom he shares an unbreakable blood bond. He therefore treats her with affection and care.

But after years in the palace, his cousin still has no children. Just as Xuan Ye is considering which prince or princess to raise at her side, he discovers that several children have already joined the wellness army at the Palace of Eternal Harmony.

Yin Zhen: In summer, you simply must have a bowl of the Imperial Noble Consort Mother's honeysuckle tea.

Yin Si: The yam porridge in the Imperial Noble Consort Mother's palace is delicious in winter, too.

Yun Xiu: ...Stop stealing them from me!

*

Years later, Yun Xiu sits on the imperial throne and looks at the children, now grown, and the harmonious consorts in the harem. She feels entirely fulfilled.

This is what it means to win at life.

As for Kangxi? He's not important.

Her life's goal was never to win favor or find love.

*

Xuan Ye has always known that his cousin was frail from childhood, so as soon as she entered the palace, he ordered the Imperial Medical Academy to do everything in its power to care for her.

And so, after entering the palace, his cousin grew healthier day by day, her complexion rosy, no longer frail as a willow in the wind.

Only then did Xuan Ye realize that his cousin was actually a wellness enthusiast.

Later, he watched helplessly as everyone in the harem began learning wellness techniques from the Imperial Noble Consort, and even lost interest in competing for his favor.

What he never expected was that this cousin, who had been frail and sickly since childhood, would outlive him by sheer force of will.

[Important reading notes!]

1. The female lead is a pure transmigrator, with no System, golden finger, or special powers.

2. The female lead will not have children, but she loves them. According to historical records, Empress Xiaoyiren raised many children, so there will be scenes of her raising children, though this is not a child-rearing story. Do not read if you mind the female lead liking children and raising someone else's kids.

3. The female lead will not fall in love with the male lead. At most, they will share the familial affection of people living together.

4. The female lead will live to become empress and will become empress dowager after the Fourth Prince takes the throne.

5. This is a semi-fictionalized Qing Dynasty setting. The timeline has been adjusted, and there are many invented details. Much of it does not match history, so please don't nitpick.

6. There are some food-related elements.

7. All wellness and food recipes come from relevant books and are for reference only. Please don't imitate them carelessly.

8. This story is entirely fictional.

Theme: Love yourself a little more.