Synopsis Male Consort Upgrade System
What? Xiunan selection?!
Outrageous!
Being a male consort is a delicate art; the key lies in holding your thighs tightly. ╮(╯_╰)╭
[Minor palace intrigue, upgrading, wealth accumulation, and strengthening of the nation.]
Translator Notes:
* Xiunan are handsome young men who are being considered or evaluated in the selection of male concubines/consorts in the imperial harem in ancient China. These individuals are usually chosen based on their appearance, talents, and other desirable qualities to serve in the imperial palace.
+Xiunu for the beautiful women.
The Yan family in the imperial capital is a true aristocratic family. According to the Yan family genealogy, it began with Yan Xiangzhi during the reign of Emperor Daoguang and has been passed down to the 21st century. Yan Ge is the second young master of the Yan family.
The term "second" somehow turned into a derogatory term. Although Yan Ge was of noble status as the second young master of the Yan family, he was a nobody within the family. He has an older brother, Yan Weifeng, who was three years older than him, and was a responsible and astute person. He also has a younger brother, Yan Yan, who is only sixteen years old and is lively and cute. No matter how hard Yan Ge tried, he always fell short when compared to the composed Yan Weifeng and the lovable Yan Yan.
Before the age of twenty-two, Yan Ge struggled to become self reliant, he immersed himself in reading books and poetry, as well as building his own business, hoping to gain attention and recognition from his parents. However, after turning twenty-two, he gave up. The repeated feeling of being ignored despite his efforts became too difficult to bear, and living for others was too exhausting.
Later on, he began to think that it wasn't entirely a bad thing for the Yan family to have three brothers who were ignored by their parents. He discovered that he actually liked men. He held a glimmer of hope in his heart: with Yan Weifeng and Yan Yan able to carry on the family line, his attraction to men might be more acceptable to his parents, or at least easier to accept than in an ordinary family. However, he was more inclined to believe that if his parents couldn't accept the fact that he liked men, they would be more willing to sever their father-son relationship than to scold or correct him.
He had silently admired that man for three years, never revealing his feelings in front of him because he disdained being a third party. However, last week, he accidentally stumbled upon the man's lover flirting with another man, and they were kissing. He knew his chance had come. He decided to confess to the person he liked as soon as possible, even if he wasn't accepted, at least he would have closure.
"Yan Ge, I asked you to watch TV with me. What are you daydreaming about?" Lu Yanyan pushed the man sitting next to her, who was physically present but mentally absent.
Yan Ge snapped back to reality. Lu Yanyan was introduced to him by his mother. Since he liked men, he had never brought a girlfriend home. His mother, seeing that he hadn't made any moves, wanted to arrange a marriage alliance with the Lu family to solidify the Yan family's position in the imperial capital.
"I truly don't understand how a gentle and lovely young lady like you could enjoy watching these scheming TV dramas."
The TV screen flickered inexplicably, probably due to an unstable signal.
"Don't you think these women are all clever?" Lu Yanyan had an admiring expression on her face. "I particularly admire Concubine Yue. Who is your favorite?"
"I don't like any of them," Yan Ge sipped his coffee. "In my opinion, these women are extremely foolish. Take Concubine Yue, for example. If she doesn't want to compete for favor or attract attention, why did she dance in the imperial garden from the very beginning?"
The screen suddenly flickered again.
"Shut up," Lu Yanyan pouted and playfully punched him, sarcastically saying, "If it were you, you wouldn't necessarily do any better than her. Regardless, she successfully climbed from a small maid to the position of a concubine. That is a gap of seven ranks! I've read plot summaries online, and she eventually becomes the empress."
Yan Ge remained silent, not wanting to argue about such boring matters. Such assumptions were completely unrealistic—he was a mature man.
Yan Yan's cat, Dou Ding, proudly jumped over by the TV and knocked over a cup of water that someone had carelessly left on the TV cabinet. The TV screen went black once again.
"The cat must have bumped into the plug," Lu Yanyan urged, "Go and check it."
Yan Ge stood up and glanced at the cat. He couldn't understand why Yan Yan, a grown man, liked such delicate little animals. The man he liked also had a pet, but it was a majestic Tibetan Mastiff.
He absentmindedly walked towards the TV, but suddenly slipped, losing his balance and falling forward. He desperately reached for the TV cabinet, but still uncontrollably fell forward, banging his forehead hard against the TV screen. After a moment of intense pain, he completely lost consciousness…
"Second Young Master… doctor… yesterday…"
In the midst of his slumber, Yan Ge kept hearing voices of several people incessantly chattering by his ear. It was vexing and it made his head throb with pain. He struggled to wake up from his dream, closing his eyes and rubbing his temple. "If you continue to make noise, my head will explode."
The room fell silent for a few seconds, then a tender and joyful female voice exclaimed, "Second Young Master, you're finally awake!"
Immediately, a few more voices chimed in, repeatedly calling out, "Great news! Second Young Master is awake!" Then the footsteps of several individuals hurriedly faded away.
Yan Ge found those voices unfamiliar, but his head still ached severely, so he paid no attention. He laboriously sat up, supporting his head with one hand, and asked, "What happened to me?"
The voice that spoke first replied, "Second Young Master, have you forgotten? You fell into the water and have been ill for several days. The doctors said it might not end well. Fortunately, heaven blessed us, and you've finally regained consciousness."
Yan Ge thought he must have misheard, and he repeated dazedly, "Fell into the water?"
A delicate hand of a young woman reached over to tuck in his blanket.
"Yes."
Yan Ge became slightly more alert, opening his eyes to see the floral blanket covering him. His eyebrows raised.
Who gave him such a tacky blanket?
He turned his head towards the person speaking and was taken aback. Who was this little girl? Slender eyebrows, round eyes, round face, probably only fifteen or sixteen years old, dressed in ancient maid attire, with two buns on her head resembling ram horns, she tilted her head to look at him with worry and concern.
He surveyed his surroundings, the hanging curtains, the round table with embroidered fabric, the vermilion carved beams, and it completely baffled him: Where was this? He clearly fainted after hitting the television, and even if he didn't wake up at home, it should have been in a hospital. Why was it in this strange place?
"Second Young Master, are you still feeling unwell? Qiu Xi has gone to fetch the medicine." The maid's large eyes were filled with worry.
Yan Ge suddenly remembered a time-travel palace intrigue drama that he watched with Lu Yanyan, and his temples throbbed. It couldn't be true. He couldn't have traveled through time. Time travel wasn't something you can do just because you want to; it's not as simple as bumping into a television.
He attempted to get up but felt weak all over, and it wouldn't be appropriate to ask a fifteen or sixteen-year-old girl to support him, so he gave up and carefully examined the furnishings in the room, becoming increasingly alarmed.
"Second Young Master? What's wrong with you?" The maid approached, feeling at a loss.
Yan Ge glanced at her and waved his hand. The more he said, the more mistakes he would make. Given the current situation, it would be best for him to adapt to the changes. Thanks to watching those few episodes of the protagonist just after he traveled through time, he knew pretending to have amnesia was the best option. He quickly calmed down, covered his head, and spoke in a pained voice.
"My head hurts terribly, and I can't remember anything. Why is it like this?"
"What?" The maid's face turned pale, and she rushed out of the room, calling out urgently, "Doctor! Doctor…"
As the commotion outside subsided, Yan Ge listened intently. He leaped off the bed, his knees almost buckling, and after steadying himself, he went straight for the dressing table.
At first glance in the mirror, he saw a man with ridiculously long hair. He reached out and gave it a firm tug, causing a sharp pain that made him grit his teeth.
The hair was real!
He slumped onto a round stool, hanging his head with a sense of bewilderment. He had truly transmigrated. How could this be? Was the phenomenon of soul transmigration actually real? Did that mean his twenty-first-century self had died? Would that person know of his death? Would they feel even the slightest hint of sorrow or nostalgia over his demise? Why did the transmigration occur at this moment? Even if it was predestined to happen, why not after he had confessed his love to that person? He had loved him for three years.
"Yan Ge! Ge'er!"
A gentle and melodious female voice accompanied by urgent yet gentle footsteps reached Yan Ge's ears.
This name coincided with his own. He snapped out of his daze and saw an elegant lady wearing a embroidered silk dress swiftly approaching, her face filled with concern.
The lady appeared to be around forty years old, with a dignified and extraordinary appearance. Two other women followed behind her—a young maid of around fifteen or sixteen years old, with a melon seed face, and another woman in her thirties, her hair elegantly pinned up in the style of a married woman.
"My son, why have you gotten up? Quickly lie back on the bed. Don't worry, the doctor will be here soon."
Yan Ge couldn't utter the word "mother" for a moment and followed the lady's supportive gesture as he sat back on the bed.
"Poor child, what's bothering you? Qiu Xi said you had a headache and couldn't remember anything."
Yan Ge nodded, his brows furrowing with discomfort. He replied, "Whenever I think of things, I get a terrible headache…"
Madam Yan's expression grew even more anxious as she hurriedly asked, "Do you remember anything about being a xiunan? The xiunan and xiunu selection is just a few days away!"
"What! Xiunan selection?" Yan Ge was so startled that he nearly choked on his own saliva.
"Yes," Madam Yan looked tense, "This selection carries great importance, and there must not be the slightest mistake. You truly don't remember anything at all?"
Xiunan selection… xiunan… xiu…
Yan Ge's world spun before him. Maybe he should just crash into something again! Perhaps another collision would send him back.
He spotted a crimson pillar not far away, lunged towards it, and collided head-on, even the position of impact matching exactly where he had hit the television before.
With a resounding "thud," his head buzzed, and he weakly fell to the ground in pain, with golden stars dancing before his eyes.
He understood, truly understood. This Yan Ge must have jumped into the water to commit suicide in order to evade the selection.
"Ge'er!" Madam Yan hurried to support him, sternly reprimanding the maid beside her, "Why haven't you quickly assisted Second Young Master back to the bed?"
At that moment, Yan Ge suddenly heard a "ding", and a resounding male voice spoke unhurriedly, "Congratulations on activating the Male Consort Upgrade System. Please select 'Yes' to initiate the program now or 'No' for a delayed activation. After 10 seconds, the system will automatically select 'Yes'."
Yan Ge's headache intensified, thinking that the strange voice he heard was a hallucination. Feeling dizzy for a moment, he heard the voice again, "The Male Consort Upgrade System has been officially activated. Main Mission 1: Participate in the Selection. Successful completion of the mission will give you rewards: 5 taels of silver and 1 Transformation Pill. Please select 'Yes' to accept the mission or 'No' to reject it."
*The transformation pill is for cultivation!
Yan Ge shuddered. Was it real or not? What was this talk of "automatic selection"? He couldn't comprehend it. Only then did he notice a screen-like light panel in the void, displaying the content of the voice in familiar Chinese characters.
He blinked, and the screen was still there. He quickly turned his head to look at the others in the room, but they showed no signs of any abnormalities. Yan Ge immediately realized that he was probably the only one who could see the screen. Naturally, he wanted to reject the mission. The thought had barely crossed his mind when the word "No" flickered as if it had been pressed.
"By rejecting the mission, the Yan Family will face great calamity. Are you sure you want to confirm the rejection of the mission?"
Yan Ge fell silent. Although he didn't understand what this system was all about, he deemed it more credible than incredible. He was now a member of the Yan Family, could he refuse?
No, he couldn't. He silently chose "Yes."
"The mission will now commence. Wishing you success in completing the mission."
"Ge Er? Ge Er? What's the matter with you?" Madam Yan looked at him with a mixture of concern and tears in her eyes.
"The doctor is here! The doctor is here!"
Yan Ge watched an elderly man in a gray robe with a long beard come in. He placed a few fingers on his wrist, and he(Yan Ge) frowned slightly. He had truly crossed over, and finding a way back was inevitable, but before that, he needed to make use of his identity as Young Master Yan.
After making up his mind, his heart temporarily settled, contemplating the current situation. Which dynasty had he crossed into? It was certain that this was not any dynasty in Chinese history. He had never heard of any dynasty that selected male consorts. Even Emperor Wu Zetian only kept a few favored men but never conferred them the title of consort.
The doctor finished taking the pulse, adjusted his beard, and said to Madam Yan, "Madam, the young master is not seriously injured. His memory loss is due to the severe fever. His memory cannot be restored through medication. I apologize for my limited knowledge and inability to help. Perhaps one day in the future, the young master's memory will naturally recover. However, Madam, rest assured that the memory loss will not affect the young master's future life. As for the swelling on his forehead, with a prescription from me, it will subside within two days."
"Thank you, Doctor," Madam Yan forced a smile and had a servant escort the doctor out.
Yan Ge leaned weakly against the headboard and coughed softly before saying, "Mother, your son is useless, causing you to worry. Although I have lost my memory, I will still serve you filially in the future."
Madam Yan sighed with distress and said, "You speak nonsense. Have you forgotten that you are about to participate in the Xiunan Selection?"
Yan Ge froze.
Madam Yan sighed again, saying, "You rest well for now. I will come back to talk to you later."
Seeing that she was kind and amiable, Yan Ge hurriedly stopped her. "Mother, I'm much better now. Why don't you tell me about the selection?"
Madam Yan carefully examined his complexion, and seeing that he was indeed not uncomfortable, waved away the attendants, sat back at the bedside, and said, "Your father and your elder brother won't return until tonight. Mother will talk to you about the Xiunan Selection. Two months ago, the former emperor abdicated, and the crown prince ascended to the throne. The new emperor wants to enrich the harem, so he will select young women and men among the children of officials ranked sixth or higher. It is inevitable for all unmarried men and women between the ages of sixteen and eighteen."
Yan Ge mocked, "It's one thing if the emperor favors the male body, but to do it so openly, he truly doesn't fear the ridicule of the people."
Madam Yan looked at him strangely and said, "Have you even forgotten about your 'flower body'?"
"Flower body? What's that?" Yan Ge quickly asked, a sense of unease welling up within him.
Madam Yan paused and said, "Those with a flower body are not much different from ordinary men, except that they are born with a red flower on their chest. Such men must be registered at birth, otherwise it would be a grave offense against the emperor. Since the Kangyun Dynasty over 700 years ago, Flower bodies have always been considered fortunate. Therefore, every emperor has taken four men with flower bodies as concubines, in the hopes of bringing more blessings to the people."
'Only this difference?' Yan Ge felt a hint of doubt, so he discreetly reached between his legs beneath the blanket to confirm that his "treasure" was still there. It was sizeable enough, so he put his mind at ease.
Madam Yan was preoccupied and did not notice his slight movement.
"The emperor dares to allow men into his harem, isn't he afraid of something happening between male and female concubines that would bring him humiliation?" Yan Ge asked, sounding rather perplexed.
Madam Yan covered her mouth with a silk handkerchief, casting him a reproachful glance. She looked around in embarrassment and remained silent.
Yan Ge realized that this was a feudal society and it was not appropriate to discuss such matters with a woman, especially his "mother." So, he changed the subject. "How many men have flower bodies in the entire country?"
"Only one in every thousand men," Madam Yan replied.
Yan Ge was truly disappointed. What percentage of the population participated in the selection process? And how many of them were have flower bodies? Judging by these numbers, his chances of being chosen were high.
Madam Yan patted his arm gently and said in a soft voice, "Alright, you've had a tiring day. Rest well. Mother will explain everything to you tomorrow."
Madam Yan had good intentions, so he was unable to refuse. He nodded and watched her leave. He needed some time to process the information he had obtained.
His body was still not fully recovered and felt somewhat weak. He pondered for a while in bed, then drank the medicine brought by the maidservant before falling into a drowsy sleep.
When he woke up, it was already dark outside. Two lanterns were lit in the room, emitting a gentle glow through the beige lampshades.
Neatly folded garments lay by the pillow. Yan Ge shook them out one by one, contemplating how to put them on. As he looked at himself in the bronze mirror, he discovered that this Yan Ge resembled him exactly, only younger, appearing to be around seventeen or eighteen years old. His genes were not bad, and when dressed in ancient attire, he became a graceful and elegant young gentleman.
"Second Young Master, are you awake?" a maidservant outside heard the movement and asked softly through the door.
"Come in."
The two maidservants slowly entered, carrying washing utensils.
The round-faced maid said, "Second Young Master, I am Chunxi."
The other little maid said, "I am Qiuxi."
Yan Ge had seen these maidservants before. They were the ones who came in with Madam Yan. He nodded silently, they were clever maids.
"What time is it? I'm feeling a bit hungry," Yan Ge asked.
Chunxi replied, "It's the hour of You. You woke up just in time. The meal in the mansion will be served shortly. Master, Madam, and the eldest young master are all in the dining hall."
Qiuxi added, "After Master and the eldest young master returned, they came to see you. Seeing you sleep so soundly, they didn't wake you up."
"Very well, lead the way." Yan Ge speculated about his father. However, as a modern person, he was confident in his ability to handle someone from ancient times, so he wasn't overly worried.
Chunxi and Qiuxi each carried a lantern and led the way in front. Yan Ge followed leisurely, taking the opportunity to appreciate the scenery outside the corridor. The night was pitch black, making it difficult to see clearly, but the surrounding atmosphere exuded an ancient charm, bringing a sense of tranquility and delight.
Passing through an arched gate, Yan Ge caught sight of a horizontal plaque hanging above the main entrance of the dining hall, inscribed with the characters "Dining Hall." He immediately refocused his wandering thoughts.
Two male servants at the entrance of the dining hall slightly bent their knees and greeted in unison, "Second Young Master."
Yan Ge gestured with his hand and stepped over the threshold, entering the dining hall.
In the center of the hall, a round table was set, with three individuals seated around it. One of them was Madam Yan, whom he had seen before. The other two were men. The elder one wore a gray cloud-patterned silk robe, appearing to be around forty years old. His demeanor was imposing, and his countenance stern. The younger man was in his early twenties, exuding a charismatic and dignified aura despite his youth.
Yan Ge silently nodded; his big brother was truly a handsome man.
"Father, Mother, Elder Brother, you have been waiting for a long time." Yan Ge was unsure how to perform the etiquette, so he simply wore a smile on his face and greeted each of them.
"Second Brother, how is your health?" Yan Su stood up and approached him, examining him from head to toe before patting his shoulder.
He had a faint sense that his Second Brother had changed. Previously, his Second Brother was willful and ignorant of any decorum. However, now his Second Brother seemed much more sensible, standing tall with an innate air of nobility. Even when he smiled, his eyes sparkled, making him quite endearing.
Yan Ge responded, "Thank you, Elder Brother, for your concern. I am much better now. However, I don't remember anything." As he said this, an apologetic expression appeared on his face.
Yan Su was about to speak when their father, who was seated at the head of the table, suddenly slammed his hand on the table and said, "Rebellious child, why haven't you knelt before me yet!"
Yan Ge was taken aback and asked in surprise, "Father, how have I angered you?" Apart from paying respects to his paternal and maternal grandparents during the New Year, he had never knelt before anyone else. Kneeling was something he absolutely did not want to do.
Master Yan glared at Yan Ge and said in a stern tone, "You dare to talk back? You knew well that the selection of talents is of great importance, yet you jumped into the river to escape the selection. To evade the Xiunan Selection is to show disloyalty to the Emperor and filial disobedience to your parents!"
Yan Ge raised an eyebrow inwardly, silently lamenting when his father had become such an expert at divining intentions. So, it turned out that this Second Young Master really did jump into the river to avoid the selection.
Before he could speak, both Madam Yan and Yan Su pleaded on his behalf.
Madam Yan poured a cup of hot tea for her husband and said in a gentle voice, "Master, please calm down. Ge'er is still young and doesn't understand these matters. Let me explain to him patiently. There's no need to get angry. Please take care of your health."
"Yes, Father. I can see that Second Brother has realized his mistake. Although he has lost his memory, he has become more sensible. Previously, he never used the term 'you' when speaking to you, Father." Yan Su teasingly glanced at Yan Ge.
*The formal "you".
Yan Ge quickly and earnestly said, "Father, this time I truly understand my mistake."
Yan Xiaojing stared at him for a while before snorting, his tone slightly softened, "Sit down."
Yan Ge complied and took his seat as instructed.
Worried that Yan Ge might be upset, Yan Su said in a gentle voice, "Second Brother, don't blame Father. The matter of the Xiunan Selection is different from others. Fortunately, it didn't become known to others. If it were reported to the court, it would be a grave crime deserving execution of the entire family. In the future, you mustn't be so willful."
"Elder Brother, I truly understand my mistake!" Yan Ge once again expressed his sincere repentance.
Yan Su smiled slightly and said, "That's good."
The bond between the two brothers was deep, and Madam Yan also felt relieved. She turned to the butler standing aside and said, "Serve the food."
"Yes, Madam," Butler Yan Fu hurriedly responded.
During the process of waiting for the food to be served, Yan Ge asked Yan Su, "Elder Brother, I still don't know your name. Could you tell me?"
Yan Su chuckled and replied, "You really have lost your memory completely. My name is Yan Su. And you are Yan Ge. At least you remember that."
Yan Ge smiled awkwardly and said, "Actually, I don't remember. I only found out when Mother called me."
Yan Su did no doubt that the person in front of him was no longer his younger brother. Seeing how obedient and likable he had become, he added, "Father's given name is Yan Xiaojing, he currently holds the position of Minister of Rites in the court."
"Why does this name sound so familiar…" Yan Ge muttered to himself, searching his mind for where he had heard this name before.
"What did you say?" Yan Su didn't catch it clearly.
"It's nothing," Yan Ge asked again, "Who is the current Emperor?"
Yan Su glanced at him helplessly and whispered, "The Emperor's given name is Huangfu Yuchen. But it's forbidden to mention it in front of outsiders. I will explain the details to you another day."
"What?!" Yan Ge exclaimed, sitting up straight, his mouth half open and eyes wide open.
He remembered now!
Huangfu Yuchen was the name of the Crown Prince in that time-travel palace intrigue drama "The Empress from the Future" that he reluctantly watched with Lu Yanyan. And Yan Xiaojing appeared in the nineteenth episode, where he cleverly handled the challenges posed by the envoys from neighboring countries, displaying remarkable abilities. That's why Yan Ge remembered it so clearly.
But at that time, Yan Xiaojing was not yet a Minister.
Lu Yanyan had mentioned it to him that in "The Empress from the Future," Huangfu Yuchen had always been the Crown Prince. In disbelief, he asked further, "What was the given name of the previous Emperor?"
Yan Su replied, "The given name was Huangfu Zhao."
Once again, it matched with "The Empress from the Future." Yan Ge couldn't help but gasp, then furrowed his brow. No, the Yan Xiaojing in front of him looked nothing like the one on TV, and Madam Yan had mentioned that the Emperors had been taking male concubines for over seven hundred years, but male concubines didn't exist in "The Empress from the Future."
Yan Ge couldn't figure out what was going on and had to temporarily hide his doubts deep in his heart. However, the actual truth didn't matter at all. The only fact was that he had indeed traveled through time!
