"Qianyi Pavilion, Qianyi Pavilion..."
"Affection so shallow, intentions even colder—His Majesty has treated me with such cruelty." Concubine Zheng gazed despairingly at the tables and chairs in Qianyi Pavilion. Though the place had been cleaned, the musty scent of long neglect lingered in the air.
"My Lady..." Bai Shao reached out to steady her.
"Silence!" Concubine Zheng slapped her across the face, eyes bloodshot with fury. "How dare you call me 'Lady'? Are you trying to kill me? All of you—you all want me dead!"
Her hands trembled as she sank into a chair. "Since I was a child, people like you have wanted me dead."
Biting her nails, she recalled the events of her youth, her mind gradually calming.
No panic. Not yet. It wasn’t the worst.
She still had Yanze.
Yes, she still had Yanze.
The successive demotions of the Prince of Qi County and his mother had stunned the court officials. Before they could even plead for leniency, Emperor Longfeng issued another decree—stripping the Prince’s maternal family of their titles and imprisoning all adult members.
"Your Majesty." Sun Yichun, head of the Sun family, stepped forward under the scrutiny of the court. "Might I inquire what crime the Zheng family has committed?"
"Plotting against the imperial bloodline." Emperor Longfeng’s gaze fixed on Sun Yichun. "Lord Sun, are you pleading for the Zhengs?"
Plotting against the imperial bloodline?
The officials exchanged uneasy glances. What had the Emperor uncovered during the days he confined the princes to the palace?
Many civil officials refused to believe it. The Fourth Prince had always excelled in both scholarship and martial arts, renowned for his benevolence and filial piety. How could he conspire with the Zhengs to harm his brothers?
This had to be a frame-up by other princes—or worse, the Emperor’s deliberate suppression of the Fourth Prince.
Sidelong glances were cast at Ming Jingzhou. For months, the Emperor had elevated the Ming family at every turn, clearly paving the way for the Fifth Prince.
"Your Majesty." Ming Jingzhou stepped forward, seemingly oblivious to the stares. "With Your Majesty’s permission, this humble official wishes to speak."
"Proceed, Lord Ming." Emperor Longfeng nodded.
"Though the Zheng family has committed grave offenses, they are the maternal family of the Fourth Prince. Matters involving the imperial bloodline are never trivial. I propose that officials from all six ministries jointly investigate this case to determine the truth and absolve the Fourth Prince of any guilt by association." Ming Jingzhou bowed deeply. "This would also ensure justice for the Zheng family."
Emperor Longfeng nodded slowly. "A fair suggestion. Let it be as you say—the six ministries and the Court of Judicial Review shall handle this jointly."
Unaware of the undercurrents, some officials were moved by Ming Jingzhou’s words. The Ming family’s integrity was beyond reproach—even as the future in-laws of the Fifth Prince, they defended the Fourth Prince’s innocence.
But the seasoned officials who sensed the truth wore subtle smiles.
Ming Jingzhou wasn’t pleading for the Fourth Prince. He was preserving the Emperor’s impartial image, preempting any accusations of bias.
No one suspected his motives were tied to the Fifth Prince, however. Rumors of the Fifth Prince’s misadventures in the Ministry of Rites had already spread like wildfire.
The privilege of having aided the Emperor’s rise to power was undeniable—anyone else would have faced wrath long ago.
The day after Concubine Zheng was demoted, every consort of the fourth rank or higher gathered outside the gates of Bright Moon Palace at dawn, awaiting their audience with Consort Su.
When Jiuzhu stepped out of her courtyard that morning, the sight of these meticulously adorned consorts startled her. None looked young, standing in perfect silence with lowered eyes.
One noticed Jiuzhu and offered a strained, polite smile before resuming her submissive posture.
Jiuzhu pressed herself against the wall and scurried into the main hall.
Consort Su was breakfasting. Spotting Jiuzhu, she smiled warmly and beckoned. "Come, sit with me and have some porridge."
Xiangjuan served Jiuzhu a bowl. "Try this, Young Miss. See if it suits your taste."
"Thank you, Aunt Xiangjuan." Jiuzhu took a spoonful. "It’s delicious."
"Have another bowl if you like." Xiangjuan passed her side dishes. "If there’s anything you crave, just say the word."
Jiuzhu nodded, then hesitated. "My Lady, outside..."
"They’re here to pay respects," Xiangjuan explained lightly. "Don’t trouble yourself with palace formalities—they’d only give you a headache. After breakfast, I’ll have someone escort you to Prince Chen’s palace for amusement."
Jiuzhu glanced at Consort Su, who sighed theatrically, rubbing her temples. "If you’re curious, you may stay and listen..."
"I’d rather visit His Highness." Jiuzhu shivered and hastily finished her meal.
Amused by her reaction, Consort Su stifled a laugh and summoned attendants to escort her out once she set down her chopsticks.
"You," Consort Su chided Xiangjuan playfully, "why frighten her? She ate less than usual."
"Don’t blame me alone—My Lady was complicit!" Xiangjuan retorted as she helped Consort Su wash her hands. "You didn’t want those consorts bothering the Young Miss, so I played the villain. And now I’m the ungrateful one. Alas, no one pities poor Xiangjuan!"
"My fault, my fault." Consort Su laughed. "Someone come massage Aunt Xiangjuan’s legs—let her vent her grievances!"
The younger maids erupted into giggles, filling the hall with lively chatter.
Outside, the consorts remained frozen, not daring to lift their heads at the sounds of merriment.
Fear gnawed at them—fear of sharing Concubine Zheng’s fate.
For years, Consort Su’s absolute favor had rendered them invisible. She never cared for their presence, seldom demanded obeisance, and most had grown lax in their visits, appearing only on the first and fifteenth days of the month.
But two days ago, when Consort Su forced Concubine Zheng to kneel in Bright Moon Palace, and the next morning saw her stripped of rank and banished to the "cold palace," the illusion shattered.
Their comfort had only ever been Consort Su’s indifference.
If she chose to crush them, a single word would suffice.
After an eternity, the hall doors opened. Xiangjuan emerged and curtsied. "This servant greets the noble consorts. You may enter."
Seated regally atop the dais, Consort Su surveyed the two neat rows of women with an arched brow. "Old faces from the old palace. No need for formalities—sit."
"Your Grace’s kindness does not excuse our lack of decorum." Concubine Min stepped forward, leading the others in a flawless bow. "We pay our respects to Consort Su."
"Rise." Consort Su gestured lazily. Her gaze drifted past Concubine Min. "Consort Xu, you’re here as well? Has your health improved?"
"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. This concubine has been doing well lately." Consort Xu, not yet fifty, already had streaks of white in her hair, and her voice carried little vitality.
"How rare to see everyone gathered so completely today." Consort Su's gaze swept across the assembled women. "By age, I ought to address most of you here as elder sisters."
The concubines hurriedly demurred in unison.
"Those seated here are all mothers to His Majesty’s children." She glanced at the sparse gathering of women—no new concubines had entered the palace in the decade since the Emperor’s ascension. "We are all women and understand the hardships we endure. Over the years, I’ve had no interest in tormenting others as some do."
The concubines held their breath, not daring to respond.
"Yet some matters need no explanation—you may already have guessed." Consort Su’s eyes sharpened. "I care not who among you first overstepped, but from this day forth..."
She paused, watching the women who refused to meet her gaze. "Live quietly. Do not follow in the footsteps of Concubine Zheng. Understood?"
"We heed your instruction, Your Highness!" The concubines scarcely dared to breathe.
"You are dismissed." Consort Su coolly lifted her teacup. "Should any of you thoughtlessly send something improper to my quarters again, you will spend your days copying sutras—reflect, cultivate virtue, and atone."
The concubines withdrew from Bright Moon Palace in uneasy silence. Consort Zhang sidled up to Concubine Min. "Concubine Min, what did Her Highness mean by those words?"
"How should I know?" Concubine Min snapped. "Rather than pester me, question your precious daughter about the affairs of her son-in-law’s family."
Had it not been for the sudden madness of a servant from Princess Roude’s husband’s household—who attempted to assassinate Yun Yanze—none of this turmoil would have arisen.
At the thought, she shot Consort Zhang a mocking smile. The fool still had the nerve to fret over trivialities.
Consort Zhang’s face paled, torn between fury and panic, but she dared not lash out at Concubine Min. Which lunatic had brought this disaster upon them?
Now, no one had gained anything—instead, they’d provoked Su Meidai’s wrath.
"Enough," Consort Xu interjected softly, coughing twice. "Her Highness is not one to punish without cause. So long as none of you violate palace regulations, why would she trouble you?"
"Before the incident at the royal hunting grounds, had she ever given us reason to suffer?" Consort Xu’s words dissolved into another fit of coughing, leaving her visibly pallid.
"True enough." Concubine Min’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. "Sister Xu, ever the wise elder, sees clearer than the rest of us. Though I wonder—why join us today to pay respects to Consort Su?"
"If you wish to flatter her, do so before her. Spare us the performance." With a derisive snort, Concubine Min boarded her palanquin and left without a backward glance.
Consort Xu sighed, watching her go, then wearily settled into her own palanquin. She pulled her heavy cloak tightly around herself, seeking warmth.
***
"Is His Highness reading?" Jiuzhu tiptoed into the inner courtyard of Prince Chen’s residence, spotting him beneath a tree with a book. She motioned for the two attending ladies to wait. "Let’s sit outside for now—we mustn’t disturb him."
Hunched over, she crept away, only speaking once certain they were out of earshot. "Sisters, has His Highness always been so diligent? It must be exhausting."
"Indeed," one lady-in-waiting replied without hesitation. "Since childhood, His Highness has been studious. Sometimes he forgets to eat, so engrossed is he in his books."
Buying the finest fighting cocks, the fiercest crickets, and vying to be the best *could* be considered ambition.
And storybooks *were* books.
Those of Bright Moon Palace never lied.
Jiuzhu opened her mouth to reply when a feline shriek pierced the air—a ghastly, infant-like wail. She glanced around. "Where’s that cat?"
The ladies, long accustomed to the palace’s intrigues, recognized the unnatural cry at once. "Wait here, County Princess," they said smoothly. "We’ll investigate."
No sooner had they left than Prince Huai emerged from a side courtyard, clutching a bloodied tabby by the scruff.
