Zhao Mei's rank as a Concubine is at the Empress Dowager's behest.
The vacant rank of Empress is one thing, but there wasn't a single concubine holding the rank, so she directly proposed to the Emperor to appoint Zhao Mei as a Concubine.
Given Zhao Mei's family background, this concubine rank was undoubtedly suitable.
Yan Xiu rarely went against the Empress Dowager regarding the ranks within the harem; it was just a concubine rank, so he conceded.
However, when issuing the decree, Yan Xiu not only appointed the Jiang Family as a concubine but also stared at the character "Wu" in Zhao Mei's title for a long while, then wrote the character "Jin" before it.
Wu Fei, "Wu" suggests a graceful and charming demeanor.
When viewing the woman's portrait, the Empress Dowager chose her for her charming and radiant appearance and felt that the name Zhao Mei was well-chosen after inquiring.
However, the character "Jin" signifies boundless favor.
