Female Consort Extra Story 1: Everyday Life

March, the season of blooming spring flowers.

The Ganyu Temple, now a modest monastery, welcomed once again crowds of men and women seeking love and companionship.

Abbot Shanyu stood on the steps at the temple entrance, guiding each visitor who came to pray.

Among the crowd was a young lady accompanying her mother. She clearly didn’t want to be there, her lips were pursed, and she mumbled complaints the whole way.

Yet her reluctance began to fade the moment she saw the Taoyuans stretching out from the temple courtyard. Her eyes lit up in wonder.

“Mother…” she asked, puzzled, “Why are there peach trees growing in a temple?”

It wasn’t just one or two trees either, there were quite a few.

Her mother chuckled, patting her hand. “Ah, that’s something you don’t know. Ganyu Temple is the very place where Lady General Qiu and Her Highness the Eldest Princess first met and fell in love.”

“The one who became... the female Prime Minister?” the girl asked in surprise.

“That’s right,” her mother said with a sigh. “When the new laws were first enacted, many believed it was utterly absurd for two women to marry. It caused quite a stir among the court officials.”

“But later, when the grand wedding procession stretched for miles and they married again in full ceremony, anyone who witnessed it couldn’t forget it. I was there myself.”

“I could see clearly, Lady Qiu and the Eldest Princess truly loved each other. They longed to spend their lives together, but Lady Qiu couldn’t bear to abandon the people or the nation. She only resigned from her post after serving five years as the Prime Minister, despite the Empress’s repeated efforts to persuade her to stay.”

“This temple used to be a royal sanctuary. Lady Qiu insisted it shouldn’t receive special treatment, so it gave up the imperial designation.”

“Because Master Shanyu is known for his uncanny divinations, and the story of Lady Qiu and the Princess’s unbreakable bond has been passed down from mouth to mouth, every March people flock here to pray for love. Even elders come to offer blessings. It’s said to be very effective, and over time it became a grand annual gathering here in the capital.”

The young lady nodded thoughtfully.

A gentle female voice called from behind them, “Excuse me, Madam.”

Startled, both mother and daughter turned.

Between the flickering shadows of the bamboo grove stood a figure clad in dark red martial attire, with a white feather crown securing her high ponytail. Her features were androgynous, but strikingly handsome, her posture straight and proud, exuding an effortless charm, like a young gallant.

Beside her stood another woman in a white robe and pale blue skirt, her long hair elegantly pinned with a carved wooden phoenix hairpin. Her eyes were like spring water, gentle, clear, serene. She radiated composure and grace.

Though neither dressed flamboyantly, their looks were striking. In the midst of the bustling temple path, they stood out effortlessly.

The young lady was completely entranced.

After over a decade behind the walls of her boudoir, this was the first time she had seen anyone who looked so otherworldly.

The one in red spoke, her smile warm. “Forgive me for overhearing your conversation. I didn’t mean to intrude. But just now I heard you mention that Master Shanyu is skilled in divination. Is that true?”

“Of course,” the mother said confidently.

“Is there proof?” the red-clad woman asked.

“Master Shanyu is an old acquaintance of Her Majesty the Empress,” the mother declared, “There’s no way he would ever deceive others. If he speaks, it’s always accurate. Besides, if he weren’t, he wouldn’t have the reputation he does. Ultimately, though, it’s about whether you believe.”

“You’re absolutely right.”

“Are you here to have your fortune told?” the mother hesitated, then offered, “Master Shanyu is indeed skilled, but he only reads for those he deems fated. It’s not uncommon for him to go months without accepting a single request. You might have better luck offering prayers instead, the goddess here is also quite accurate.”

The red-clad woman, Qiu Che, smiled and thanked her. The young lady beside her had been hesitating for a while, but finally blushed and asked shyly, “May I ask… may I know your names? Would it be alright if we became friends?”

“I’m Qiu,” said Qiu Che.

Li Qingwu nodded and, after a pause, softly added, “Li.”

“Li…” The girl blinked, suddenly unsure. “Isn’t that... the imperial surname?”

Before she could finish, a young gentleman who had just left ran back and called out from several steps away, “Hey! What are you two still doing here? Hurry up, your little sister is waiting just for you!”

Qiu Che raised her voice to reply, “You go ahead! We finally made it to the festival. We’re going to look around Ganyu Temple.”

She nudged Li Qingwu with her elbow and murmured, “Right?”

Li Qingwu gave her an exasperated glance. “Right.”

Wu Yiqi muttered, looking deeply regretful, “Knew I shouldn’t have come back to find you. Of course you want your little world of two.”

He walked off, waving his fan.

Moments later, voices could be heard drifting in from farther away, 

“Where’s my young lady?”

“No idea. Probably off hiding and playing again. Let’s just go first.”

“...And what’s the point of you then?”

“You know how clingy those two are. If you’ve got the guts, go call them.”

The laughter faded into the distance. Qiu Che turned back to the mother and daughter, nodded, then suddenly remembered something. She fished out a small painted wooden dove from her sleeve and said with a grin, “Fate brought us together, consider this a gift to thank you.”

Before they could decline, she grabbed Li Qingwu’s hand and headed up the temple steps, still smiling.

Carried by the breeze came faint murmurs, 

“You’re carving these and handing them out as you go? Don’t you get tired?”

“You know me, I can’t sit still. And we’ve got too many of these at home anyway... Should we pray for our love to last forever? They say it’s very effective here.”

“...Who else would you be asking for love with?”

“For us to grow old together, what’s wrong with that?”

Up ahead, Master Shanyu clasped his hands together in greeting and personally led the two into the temple.

The mother and daughter were stunned.

“Looks like… all that advice I gave might’ve been unnecessary.”

The young lady stared after them, dazed for a long moment before finally coming to her senses.

She turned to see her mother frowning at the wooden dove. “What’s wrong, Mother?”

The woman stared at the carving for a while, then suddenly remembered why those two had looked so familiar.

Hadn’t she seen them before, those two renowned figures?

“I once heard,” she said slowly, “that back when Lady Prime Minister Qiu led the northern campaign against the Xiongnu, she would carve white dove tokens and give them to those she met along the way… as a symbol of peace.”

“These days, many border towns in the north use the white dove as their emblem.”

The young lady’s eyes widened. “Qiu and Li…”

They exchanged a look.

Then the girl suddenly declared, “I’ve made up my mind!”

Her mother jumped. “Made up your mind about what?”

“You and Father asked me what I want to do in the future, didn’t you? I’ve decided, I want to join the army! I want to be a general, just like Lady Qiu, and protect our country! And I want to be just as handsome, and find a beautiful husband… or maybe a beautiful wife, hehe…”

Her mother: “…”

It’s over.

Just one meeting and her daughter’s already been “converted.”

….

Inside Ganyu Temple.

Devotees moved through the temple while monks greeted Master Shanyu with respectful bows, a clear sign of his esteem.

Only once they reached the secluded courtyard behind the meditation rooms did the crowds begin to thin.

Qiu Che glanced around and saw a peach tree full of bright red prayer plaques hanging from its branches, it was a dazzling sight.

She smiled. “We came with a request from Her Majesty the Empress herself, to ask for your divination. But Master, why did you bring us here instead?”

“I’m sorry,” said Master Shanyu gently. “What you seek... I cannot help it.”

Though he looked no older than thirty, he was already over fifty and had the calm air of a monk far removed from worldly affairs.

Qiu Che and Li Qingwu exchanged a look.

“You know why we’ve come, Master?”

“A soul from another world,” Shanyu said softly. “Not meant to remain here. The fact she’s survived twenty years is already a miracle. As for what the future holds… I cannot see it.”

Qiu Che’s smile faded. “If you could see that much, why not what comes next?”

“The time distance is too great,” Shanyu lowered his gaze. “If I were to speak more, it would violate the laws of fate and rebirth.”

Qiu Che fell silent.

Li Qingwu didn’t speak either. Just as she was about to tug on Qiu Che’s sleeve and say something, Shanyu continued, “However, you may still ask for a talisman of safety, for her.”

Qiu Che raised a brow. “Will that help? Didn’t you say the timeline is too distant…”

“Sincerity brings results,” Shanyu said gently. “Some bonds can’t be measured by time.”

After a moment, Qiu Che exhaled softly. “You’re right.”

Now she understood why Shanyu had brought them here.

Moments later, the two of them, side by side, hung a safety charm with a pair of earrings onto the branches of the peach tree.

They belonged to Yao Tai, her most-worn, and her favorite.

The red tassels swayed gently in the breeze, blending into the spring scenery.

Not far away, the silhouettes of two women walked off together.

Red and blue, side by side in perfect harmony.

….

That night, in the palace.

As soon as Qiu Che and Li Qingwu arrived, they were surrounded by Yu Ming, Fu Ling, and a few other palace maids who teased and chided them for being late. They said it was rare for everyone to gather, and for being the last to arrive, the two of them had to drink three cups as punishment.

The maids no longer served by their sides, they had all gone their separate ways, pursuing their own paths, and had become bolder in speech and manner.

No longer subordinates, just friends now.

It was a reunion of old friends. Qiu Che didn’t spoil the mood and simply drank all three cups for both of them.

Li Qingwu glared at her and muttered, “You can’t hold your liquor either. Why are you drinking for me?”

Qiu Che laughed, holding her hand. “Better one drunk than two, right?”

On the other side, Wu Yiqi watched the commotion and even whistled. Yang Qiu, seated properly beside him, raised his cup with a gentle smile toward the two of them.

The Empress Dowager, or rather, now the Empress herself, knew that her presence made it hard for the others to relax. Seeing that everyone had arrived, she thoughtfully excused herself along with Consort Xu, now the Imperial Dowager Consort.

Once the Empress and her mother left, the Crown Princess Li Qingshu immediately sprang from her seat and threw herself into Li Qingwu’s arms.

“Big Sister! You and Sister-in-law have been gone for so long, and you didn’t even come back to visit me! I just knew it, you only care about Sister-in-law!”

Now in the bloom of her twenties, Li Qingshu had grown into a stunning beauty, graceful when still, lively when in motion.

Li Qingwu pinched her cheek. “You’re all grown up, and still clinging to your big sister?”

Qiu Che had only watched for a moment before being dragged away by Wu Yiqi. “Your wife is chatting with her sister. Surely Lord Qiu doesn’t need to supervise that too?”

Yang Qiu sighed softly, “Lord Qiu truly lives freely. One moment she’s off traveling and wandering the mountains, then vanishes for two whole years. I’m honestly a bit envious.”

“You envy her?” Wu Yiqi teased. “Go find yourself a loving wife, then. The two of them go everywhere as a pair. What’s the point of you wandering around all alone?”

As soon as he said that, the atmosphere went quiet for a moment.

Yang Qiu’s expression didn’t change. He smiled faintly and said, “I would, if I could… But you? What right do you have to talk? Aren’t you single too?”

Wu Yiqi instinctively glanced in the direction of Yu Yan. His sun-darkened face flushed slightly as he muttered, “That depends… if she’d even be willing…”

A voice floated past behind him like a wandering spirit. “Obviously not. Didn’t you see her arguing with you every time you meet?”

Wu Yiqi: “…”

He snapped back, “Like you’re any better!”

Fu Feng gave a cold snort and floated away like a ghost again.

Qiu Che clinked her cup against Wu Yiqi’s and chided, “Just eat your food.”

The three of them drank a couple more silent cups. Then Yang Qiu suddenly said, “You two won’t get your wish.”

Wu Yiqi blinked. “What?”

Yang Qiu nodded toward the center of the hall where Yu Yan was preparing to perform a sword dance.

Flushed from the wine, she held the wooden sword Qiu Che had given her long ago. Clearly tipsy, she grinned and announced, “A dance for everyone’s enjoyment, this one’s called Ambush from Ten Sides!”

As her sword flashed with sharp brilliance, her radiant eyes shone all the more.

Li Qingshu clapped cheerfully, “Amazing! Sister Yu Yan is incredible!”

Amidst the rising cheers around them, Yang Qiu calmly took another sip of wine. “I remember she once spoke with Her Majesty… Said she wished to protect Great Xia for the rest of her life, and never marry.”

Wu Yiqi’s smile faded slightly.

They chatted a while longer before Yang Qiu was called away by a servant.

Wu Yiqi looked at his retreating back and laughed. “Old Yang, you wouldn’t think it from how calm he acts, but he’s already over thirty. I heard his father recently pressured him to get married, and he flat-out refused. They had a big fight at home.”

“He has older brothers in the Yang family, so there’s no pressure for him to continue the line. His father’s just worried he’ll never be willing to move on.”

“At least I still have hope. But him…”

Qiu Che took a small sip of wine and glanced at the empty seat that had been left beside Yang Qiu. “Someone once told me something.”

“What?”

“That just being able to meet is already a rare kind of fate.”

“There are bonds in this world that are deeper than love.”

She patted Wu Yiqi’s shoulder. “Not all love needs to possess the other person.”

“One can still roam the world alone.”

“That thought… is for you, and for Yang Qiu too.”

Wu Yiqi was quiet for a long moment, then smiled. “I know.”

Not everyone could be like them, fall in love, find happiness, and walk this far together.

Partings and reunions were life’s true rhythm.

Qiu Che clinked glasses with him.

After several more rounds of wine, the moon climbed high, and the palace banquet came to an end.

Reluctantly, everyone said their farewells.

Qiu Che looked perfectly clear-headed as she walked down the empty palace path with Li Qingwu. But when Li Qingwu leaned in, she caught the heavy scent of wine on her.

“How much did you drink?”

“Does it smell?” Qiu Che sniffed her own sleeve with a slow reaction. “Maybe… ten cups? Fifteen?”

Li Qingwu scowled, but the lecture on her lips stalled when she met Qiu Che’s misty eyes. In the end, she just sighed. “Just this once… It’s lucky you’re still standing. Otherwise, I really wouldn’t be able to carry you back.”

Before she finished speaking, she suddenly felt a weight on her shoulder.

Qiu Che had dropped her head there with a soft thunk, her voice dramatic like a storyteller’s: “Ahhh, I’ve collapsed!”

Li Qingwu: “…”

Qiu Che turned her head pitifully, arms outstretched for a hug. “I can only get up if the pretty lady hugs me.”

Li Qingwu was mortifyingly charmed.

She hesitated, then reached out and embraced her. “Happy now?”

“Nope,” Qiu Che said immediately. “Now I need a kiss to get up.”

Li Qingwu squinted. “Why are your demands going up?”

Qiu Che, emboldened by alcohol, pouted shamelessly. “Don’t care. I want one.”

Li Qingwu tried not to laugh. “Fine, but I have a request too.”

“What is it?”

Li Qingwu hesitated, then figured she was already drunk, so she took the plunge and said evenly, “Call me ‘sister’ again.”

She was two years younger than Qiu Che, and Qiu Che had never called her that. But just now, hearing it… had made her heart skip a beat.

They locked eyes for a moment. Then Qiu Che suddenly let out a long, meaningful “Ohhhh…”

“So you like that kind of thing, huh?”

“Well, now that I’ve said it, shouldn’t ‘Sister’ keep her promise?”

Li Qingwu’s face flushed as she turned quickly and kissed her cheek. “Let’s go. Mother’s waiting at home. If we’re late, the palace gates will close…”

Only to be yanked back by Qiu Che gripping her collar.

Her voice turned husky. “What’s the rush, Sister?”

Li Qingwu, now red as a cooked shrimp from all the “Sister”s, muttered, “Then what do you want?”

Qiu Che stared at her for a long while, then finally let go and tidied her collar. Her tone returned to normal.

“I called you so many times… Isn’t it only fair you call me ‘Sister’ once too?”

Li Qingwu: “…”

Childish idiot.

Don’t ask what happened next. Just know that two childish idiots took turns calling each other “Sister”, 

And then the bed broke.