Chapter 502: Zhenzhen is Willing (6)_1
"I’m willing, Zhenzhen is willing," Shen Yizhen quickly responded with joy. She knew that as an illegitimate daughter, she couldn’t become the Prince’s principal wife, but still, to become a consort was also fine. "Zhenzhen is willing to follow the Prince for a lifetime, never to leave or forsake..."
"But I cannot grant you the status of the principal wife," Qi Jingrong sighed, "It would be an injustice to you."
In the Great Xuan Dynasty, the Imperial Family had clear regulations for the wives and concubines of its members.
For example, the Emperor’s principal wife was the Empress, a super-first-rank position, followed by a regular first-rank Imperial Noble Consort. Then came two second-rank Noble Consorts, and after them were four second-rank Consorts, virtuous and wise. Next were the third-rank nine Concubines, and so on. The lowest rank was the ninth-rank Talents, all of them belonging to the Emperor, all with salaries and court attire.
Moreover, there were countless palace maids without rank, but if they were favored by the Emperor, they would generally be granted a rank.
Below the Emperor was the Crown Prince, with a first-rank Crown Princess Consort, followed by two third-rank Consorts, and four fifth-rank Consorts... and so on, not to be listed in full here.
Beneath the Crown Prince were the members of the Imperial Family and their kin. For instance, the Emperor’s brothers and sons were all princes, and one step further were the Commandery Princes. Their wives and concubines were also regulated; the ancestral system stipulated one principal wife, one noble consort for the prince, and four Consorts. These five needed to be registered in the royal family’s Jiabao Register, and would enter and leave with formal escorts and court attire, so they had ranks. Their ranks were determined by their husbands’ titles; in other words, they could draw a salary from the Imperial Family every month.