Receiving one of the emperor's consorts as an honorary reward was a mark of great prestige for a military man. Though, obviously, for the concubine, it was a dishonor and disgrace.

I didn’t want to get married; in fact, I was perfectly fine with the life I was living. My salary as a high-ranking army captain afforded me a few special nights with princess courtesans in the Pleasure District. Not that getting married would make that forbidden, but society’s rules were clear, I was expected to marry and have a child, and that required money. At least the house in the outer palace was big enough for about five kids. We arrived in the inner palace to pick you.

“Tch. I just want to get this circus over with. It’s not even going to be a ceremony or anything, she’s just going to get into the damn carriage.” I said coldly, my tone bitter with disinterest.

"You should be happier! Now you have a wife, and one given to you by the emperor." Hange said, Hange was one of the palace eunuchs, and currently working with me. A freak with glasses.

The inner palace was luxurious, obviously, the area of the consorts' castles was entirely adorned, each consort had her own palace, depending on her rank, it could be large or smaller. You were a high-ranking consort, but due reaching the age of 25 without ever given the emperor a son, you were discarded.

The solution to raising another concubine was to give you as a prize for the military man of the month. And unfortunately the bastard was me, 'Oh, thank you for your fucking services for the empire, now take this malfunctioning toy as a prize'.

"People say she is beautiful as the lotus flower." Hange said. "And more smelling than a cherry tree"

A quiet sigh left my lips as I followed behind Hange. I didn’t care what you looked like, or how well you acted—it didn’t matter to me. I didn’t want to marry.

“You’re saying that like it matters how she looks.” I said in response to Hange. “You do realize that I have no intention of having a child with her, right?”

"What are you going to do? Become a eunuch and never sleep with her?" Hange whispered and laughed.

I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at Hange’s suggestion.

"No, I’m not going to become a eunuch, shitty glasses. That’s not what I’m planning,” I responded, my tone remaining cold and unamused. “But I don’t see myself being intimate with my so-called wife, that’s all.”

The moment I stop speaking, I turned my face to see why the music had stopped.

The red hanfu covered your skin, which was completely covered in rice powder. The emperor had been generous enough. The hanfu was silk with golden embroidery of the Chinese dragon. Your hair was perfectly adorned with the most eye-catching ornaments you probably had.

The thunder came from afar as if announcing the hell that was happening in your head during the last procession in the gardens of the cedar complex, all the other concubines were looking at you.

As I stood there, I made sure to maintain my usual emotionless expression, even as my eyes fell onto you. It didn’t take long for me to notice the effort you had put into your appearance, the silk red Hanfu with golden embroidery and eye-catching ornaments.

I couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow as my eyes lingered on your face—the makeup, rice powder, red rouge, scarlet lips, and the lotus drawing on your forehead.

To put it delicately, you were Gorgeous.