Qing Dynasty Time Travel: Retirement Life in Yongzheng’s Harem

Su Muyao transmigrates into the body of Guaerjashi Huyi, a fifteen-year-old show-girl and granddaughter of a former sub-commander, in the Forbidden City during the reign of Emperor Yongzheng. Having fallen ill immediately upon entering the palace, the original owner died two months prior, leaving Su Muyao as the sole remaining resident of Qianxi Sisuo. While Yongzheng’s decree allowed her to stay and recuperate rather than guard the imperial mausoleum like the other twenty-five show-girls, this act of imperial grace effectively condemns her to a life of poverty and obscurity within the palace walls. Stripped of her kitchen and merged with the Empress Dowager’s provisions, Su Muyao and her loyal maid Yun Mo face severe food shortages and inadequate heating supplies.

Survival becomes the immediate priority. Su Muyao utilizes her knowledge of palace logistics to manipulate meal collection times, avoiding the supervisors who skim rations, and discovers a hidden spiritual spring within a jade pendant left by her mother. This spring water accelerates her recovery from the original owner’s frail constitution. When the winter charcoal supply is found to be water-damaged, threatening their ability to stay warm, Su Muyao leads a systematic search of the abandoned rooms left by the other show-girls. They uncover hidden caches of high-quality Hongluotan charcoal, gold, silver, and various supplies, resolving their immediate crisis of hunger and cold while amassing enough wealth to sustain them for years.

A significant turning point occurs when a rare Haidongqing, a sacred hunting falcon of immense value, wanders into their courtyard. Rather than fleeing or harming the bird, Su Muyao feeds it roasted quail. The falcon, named Xiao Bai, becomes a daily visitor, eventually starting to hunt live prey such as rabbits and birds to bring to Su Muyao. This unexpected alliance provides a steady source of fresh meat and transforms their diet, while also offering a unique companion in the isolated palace environment. Su Muyao’s pragmatic approach to the falcon contrasts with Yun Mo’s fear, highlighting Su Muyao’s adaptability and lack of adherence to rigid social hierarchies.

As the month ends, the Yingzaosi department delivers the next batch of charcoal. The supervising eunuch, Zhou De’an, attempts to embezzle funds by delivering damp charcoal, assuming Su Muyao’s low status makes her an easy target. Su Muyao, however, anticipates this and instructs Yun Mo to inspect the delivery with calculated precision. When a basket is found to contain water-damaged charcoal, Yun Mo confronts Zhou De’an, using the threat of imperial displeasure and the potential accusation of endangering the emperor’s grace to force a replacement. This incident marks Su Muyao’s shift from passive survival to active defense of her rights, establishing her as someone who will not be easily bullied despite her lack of political power.

With winter’s harshness mitigated by their hidden resources and the falcon’s gifts, Su Muyao begins planning for the future. She fertilizes the courtyard soil with charcoal ash in preparation for spring planting, aiming for agricultural self-sufficiency. Her long-term strategy involves maintaining a low profile while securing her material needs, leveraging her knowledge of history and her spiritual spring to navigate the treacherous palace politics. The story follows her efforts to build a comfortable, self-sustaining existence in Qianxi Sisuo, a palace destined to remain unused for centuries, as she balances the dangers of the Yongzheng court with the quiet opportunities of her secluded residence.