The Job of an Imperial Concubine

Power Ranks in TJOAIC

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Okay, in TJOAIC there are so many ranks of imperial concubines. So I’m making this post to make it easier for ya’ll to keep track.

As a disclaimer, the author mixes and matches imperial concubine ranks from different dynasties, so don’t expect this list to be useful in other novels lol.

UPDATED 8/14/20 

powerranks1

 

Yes, I know this isn’t finished. Yes, I know I’m missing a few people and ranks. But the author never gave a hint where they fit on this list so I left them out for now.

Hope it helps bwahaha

As a note, I recently discovered the official translation to some of these ranks:

  • Jieyu: Lady of Handsome Fairness (婕妤)
  • Zhaorong: Lady of Bright Countenance (昭容)
  • Cairen: Talented Lady (才人)
  • Ronghua: Lady of Lovely Countenance (容華)
  • Chongyi: Lady of Complete Deportment (充衣)
  • Xiuyi: Lady of Cultivated Deportment (修儀)

Also, here’s a list of characters: UPDATED 8/14/20

Imperial Concubines:

Zhuang Laoyan (庄络胭): Our MC. In her previous life, she was the manager of the public relations department for her company. Due to a problem with one of their milk products, she had to face the anger of the customers and the questions of the quick-tongued reporters. When she died, she woke up in the body of Zhuang Laoyan, the legitimate daughter of the Zhuang family. Her new father is a high-ranking official and the previous owner of the body was spoiled by her family and arrogant to the bone. Her body is beautiful and curvaceous and at the physical age of seventeen at the start of the novel. Shortly after the previous ZL entered the palace, she was promoted from a mid-tier fifth-rank Guiji to a proper fifth-rank Wanyi. Once MC took over, she was promoted to a lesser fourth-rank Imperial Concubine, and even given the title of “Zhao,” which is unique and a great honor. The emperor believes she is one of the foolish women in the harem that truly loves him, so he treats her well. MC is slowly training the emperor lol.

Empress Zhao Caifu: Isn’t very favored but Feng Jin does respect her. She is the legitimate daughter of the Zhao family.  She gave birth to a daughter who died at the age of two. Tries to paint herself as the most noble, benevolent, and magnanimous person in the harem. Is 29 years old at the start of the novel, one year older than Feng Jin. They have been married for more than a decade. She lives in Jingyang Palace.

Noble Consort Shu: The second most noble woman in the imperial harem. Lives in Anqing Palace. At the start of the novel, she is one of the most favored imperial concubines and a talented dancer.

Consort Rou: Marvelous singer. Lives in Hele Palace. At the start of the novel, she was one of the most favored imperial concubines. Hates ZL and tried to cause trouble for her by gifting her a Thousand Layer Weizi bolt of cloth. If ZL used it, she would be in huge trouble since only consorts who were bestowed the cloth by the emperor or empress could wear it. But ZL activated a reverse uno card and publicly told people who gave her the cloth. It made the empress pissed at Consort Rou, and caused the latter to lose a lot of face for putting on airs. When she first entered the palace, Consort Yuan made things difficult for her. So now they don’t see eye to eye.

Consort Ning: Excellent painter. Is favored at the start of the novel.

Consort Yuan: Pushing 30 years old but still stunning in appearance. One of the people who had attended to the emperor since his days as the crown prince. Hates ZL and tried to give her corporal punishment but was stopped by Consort Rou of all people. She and Consort Rou have an antagonistic relationship.

Consort Xian: One of the people who had attended to the emperor since his days as a crown prince. Is part of the empress’ clique.

Shurong Ye: Gentle temperament. Suffered a miscarriage after her sister Shuyi Ye accidentally knocked into her down the stairs. Although whether it was accidental remains to be seen.

Shuyi Ye: At the start of the novel, she was favored by the emperor. Sister of Shurong Ye. Has a more intense aura. After allegedly causing her sister’s miscarriage, she is demoted to a fifth-rank Ronghua.

Zhaorong Xu: At the start of the novel, she was favored by the emperor. Likes to put on airs like she is a poetic intellectual untouched by worldly things.

Noble Imperial Concubine Yan: At the start of the novel, she was one of the most favored imperial concubines. Her birth is humble, so even though she was so favored, she could only be of a mid-tier third-rank. Her smile could topple nations.

Virtuous Imperial Concubine Jiang: Social butterfly to the other imperial concubines. Wooden, dull, and doesn’t speak much when in the emperor’s presence. She comes from a renowned scholarly family from Jiangnan. She, Imperial Concubine Wang, and Jieyu Ma entered the imperial palace at the same time.

Imperial Concubine Wang: An honest individual and doesn’t like to compete with others.

Jieyu Zhuang/ Zhuang Wanqing (庄琬青): Zhuang Laoyan’s elder illegitimate sister. Hates ZL for her arrogance, her more noble background, and her quick promotion through ranks. At the start of the novel, the emperor had visited her at night recently.

Jieyu Ma: Hates ZL and has been in the palace way longer than ZL.

Liangyi Jin: At the start of the novel, the emperor had visited her at night recently. Wore grand attire during the meeting for Shuyi Ye’s punishment and Shurong Ye’s miscarriage. The emperor demoted her from a fifth-rank Liangyi to the lowest rank of Gengyi because of it. Others speculate her demotion was caused by her brothers’ wicked servants, and for her brothers spreading lies that she was highly favored.

Ronghua Bai: At the start of the novel, the emperor had visited her at night recently.

Xiuyi Su: Noble Consort Su’s cousin. Seems well-behaved and is inconspicuous. Also follows her cousin’s topic of conversation like a subordinate. But she actually has a bad temperament and is quite foolish.

Cairen Kong: Younger sister to the imperial concubine who gave birth to the now-deceased Third Prince. Will stop at nothing for revenge.

Ronghua Sun: The empress’ younger cousin. Entered the palace at around the same time as ZL and is envious of her since she can’t rise ranks as quickly. Schemes against ZL.

 

Servants:

Yunxi: One of MC’s maidservants that came with her as part of her dowry. She is extremely loyal and often pities her master for loving the emperor too much, even though MC only acts being in love. She’s bright but not as bright at MC’s other maidservant, Tingzhe.

Tingzhu: A loyal maidservant of MC. Is really bright. She also often pities her master for loving the emperor too much, even though MC only acts being in love.

Fubao: A loyal eunuch working for MC.

Luyi: One of MC’s previous maidservants. One of the first things MC did upon transmigrating was get rid of all her useless and disloyal servants. Luyi was one of them. MC transferred her to the embroidery workshop to work as a heavy labor laundry servant.

Gao Dezhong: The head eunuch in the palace. Works directly under the emperor. He is very smart and knows how to act appropriately in every situation.

Shiwu: Consort Rou’s maidservant. Is afraid of her master and not very bright.

Fuxiu: Consort Rou’s maidservant. Is smarter than her colleague, Shiwu, and looks down on the latter.

Xieyu: One of Jieyu Zhuang’s (MC’s sister) maidservants.

Lingsha: Noble Consort Shu’s maidservant

 

 

12 thoughts on “Power Ranks in TJOAIC”

  2. Do you have any clue about what the ranks most signify as per the novel? As in how more alike to anyone dynasty they are so we can do some research? I know it is not clear and there are diferences, but just to have an idea cause they are hard to follow up.

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    1. Hmm, well I’ll try my best. First, I’m gonna go over the more common ranks. Then I’ll use those common ranks as benchmarks for the lesser known ranks.

      Common ranks seen in novels: Noble Consort, Consort, Noble Imperial Concubine, Imperial Concubine. Noble Consorts are basically a step under the Empress. I believe there can only be one Noble Consort in the harem. Consort is also a high rank, though lower than a Noble Consort. There can only be four Consorts in the harem. Noble Imperial Concubine is considered a lower high/upper mid-rank position. It’s lower than Consort, and I don’t think there’s a limit. Imperial Concubine is ~mid-rank. It’s obviously lower in position than a Noble Consort, and I don’t believe there is a limit to them.

      Now I’ll try to fit the other ranks into the list using these four benchmarks, and by how ZL refers to them with the identity of a Chongyi. The Shurong rank is lower than a Consort but higher than a Noble Imperial Concubine. It is considered a high rank. The rank Shuyi is probably lower than a Consort and higher than Shurong, and should be considered a high rank. Virtuous Imperial Concubine is lower in rank than a Noble Imperial Concubine but higher than an Imperial Concubine. It should be considered an upper mid-rank. Jieyu is also lower than a Noble Imperial Concubine and higher than an Imperial Concubine. I am not sure how Wanyi, Guiji, Ronghua, Liangyi rank in the other dynasties compared to each other since they appear in different dynasties. But in this novel, they are all lower in rank that an Imperial Concubine, and have been arranged left to right from highest rank to lowest.

      Same with Chongyi. But in this novel, it’s a lower upper rank. Hope this helps a little.

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  3. I think I sort of understand… but I definitely look forward to an updated scale once more promotions come! I am sure our girl will get to consort at least!

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    1. this was supposed to be a reply to your post!
      Also, I just realized that in the Luyi post, you mentioned she replaced Yunxi, I think this may be a typo?

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