Palace of Glorious Beauty.
In a room full of pink peonies and valuable decorations, two women with similar facial features and enticing figures sat together, unattended by a single servant. Although they were physically close, their faces held no warmth and the atmosphere between them bore the cool distance between superior and subordinate.
Currently, one of them was engaged in a one-sided rant while the other listened languidly.
"...don't know what trick she pulled, hogging His Majesty for four days straight. Four days!" Meng Fan was saying. "Yang Zi Hua looked like a naive country bumpkin at first, but she's just a sly, two-faced seductress!"
When she was done, Noble Consort Meng scoffed. "This is what you were losing your mind over? Meng Fan, if you make me lose face in front of the empress again..."
Meng Fan swallowed. "I-I admit I made a mistake the other day, but... it won't happen again, I swear!" she sputtered.
Seeing her panic, Noble Consort Meng's sternness melted into reluctance. She patted Meng Fan's shoulder and held her close. "Third Sister, I'm saying all this for your own good," she sighed. "We are sisters, so one wrong move will affect us both. You remember your mission as an imperial consort, yes?"
"I do..." Meng Fan raised her head, full of determination and youthful vigour. "To assist you in strengthening the position of our family in His Majesty's heart."
Noble Consort Meng's smile turned meaningful. "Yes, and when you bear an imperial child, both your and our family's status will rise," she coaxed. "If it is lucky enough to be a prince... You know what I mean, don't you?"
A dreamy look spread across Meng Fan's face as she envisioned the glorious future her sister painted. A child—a boy, an imperial heir... And she, his mother, would become...
The image of that phoenix throne was so vivid, she almost wished she could grasp it immediately.
"Older Sister, you're the Noble Consort, so you must know what His Majesty likes!"she said fervently. "What should I do to catch his attention?"
She was radiating equal parts impatience and excitement, barely able to sit still, but Noble Consort Meng took her time admiring her manicure. They were peony pink today, her favourite.
When Meng Fan was close to bursting, she finally replied: "Nothing."
Meng Fan nearly threw hands. "But why? At this rate, he'll forget about everyone but that vixen!"
She smirked. "Because someone else is more desperate than you."
***
Palace of Longevity.
In the empress dowager's palace, a similar conversation was taking place.
"Rong'er, what do you think about this situation?"
Qiu Rong blew away the steam rising from her teacup, unruffled by her aunt's question. "It's just a temporary fancy. His Majesty will have to favour someone else in time, and Noble Beauty Yang will become old news... Just like Noble Lady Bai."
"Oh? Don't you think you are underestimating Grand Chancellor Bai's granddaughter?" Empress Dowager Qiu asked. "Her backing is by no means feeble."
"Aren't you my backing, Imperial Aunt?" Qiu Rong said off-handedly.
"Hahaha, good point!"
"Either way, I don't believe Noble Lady Bai holds substantial weight in His Majesty's heart, or else he wouldn't have turned a blind eye when you taught her a lesson," she continued.
'And what is favour anyway, except the fleeting illusion of love—lust?'
Empress Dowager Qiu was pleased with her analysis. "I am glad you see things clearly," she praised. "You will do our family proud."
"It's the least I can do, Imperial Aunt," Qiu Rong replied steadily, taking a sip of her drink.
Its temperature was perfect now, and the rich brown colour of oolong finally revealed itself, with a few tea leaves at the bottom of the cup.
Let the other consorts fight amongst themselves first. When the steam dissipates, she will be the one true constant.
Cousin Emperor will see her eventually.
***
Crystal Palace, western chamber.
The atmosphere in Concubine Lin's residence was so stifling that servants with fearful expressions gathered outside her bedchamber door, soundlessly gesturing between each other, a bowl of medicine, and the tightly-shut door. In the end, Kan'er, her personal lady-in-waiting, was pushed in as the sacrifice.
"Mistress, it's time to take your medication," she announced softly.
Concubine Lin got up from bed with a frown. "Again?
"Answering mistress, Imperial Physician Tao said the baby is a little weak, so he has added some new herbs and modified the dosage," Kan'er explained.
'So far so good...'
"It can't be helped then," Concubine Lin grumbled. "Bring it over."
"Yes, mistress."
After gulping down the bitter concoction and making a face in disgust, Concubine Lin routinely asked, "Where is His Majesty?"
Kan'er hesitated. She had celebrated too early.
"Answering mistress... His Majesty went to the P-Palace for Tranquillity f-for dinner..."
Smash!
"Mistress! The medicine!"
The porcelain bowl lay in pieces, and the remaining medicine formed a dark puddle on the floorboard, gradually spreading. But Concubine Lin was too blinded by rage to notice.
"Noble Beauty Yang again! As if repeatedly humiliating me in front of Gong Xiu Ying isn't enough, she dares to monopolise His Majesty?! Who does she think she is to stand side by side with him?! She's only a mere sixth-rank— Aah!"
Suddenly, her insides twisted and she bent down in pain, toppling over.
"Mistress!" Kan'er lunged forward to support her. "Mistress, are you alright?!"
"S-stomach... Hurts..."
"I'll go get Imperial Physician Tao!" Kan'er exclaimed, loosening her grip.
"No!" Concubine Lin hissed, grabbing her tightly. "I want to see His Majesty."
She sank her nails into the hands holding her up, disregarding Kan'er's pained yelp.
"Bring. Me. His Majesty. Now."
***
Palace of Tranquillity, eastern chamber.
"This one tastes good too, try some!"
Li Zhen Tian looked at the piece of fish Zi Hua gave him, then at her happily stuffing her face.
He chuckled to himself and ate the fish.
'Some things never change.'
Behind them, Head Eunuch Ming was gawking openly. As if it wasn't shocking enough for Noble Beauty Yang to not attend to the emperor during meal, His Majesty also ate what she put in front of him?!
Yue'er stifled a laugh. She had witnessed this scene too many times to be surprised: Zi Hua piling her favourite dishes into Sir Zhen's bowl while he reluctantly polished them off; Young Master Zi Jun and Lord Yang furiously biting their chopsticks in jealousy at the newcomer who "stole" their privileges.
'Hehe, I look even more composed than Head Eunuch Ming. Mistress and Sister Qiu'er would be proud,' she thought.
At the table, Li Zhen Tian couldn't control his amusement.
"Did the Imperial Kitchens starve you, Zi Hua?" he teased.
Head Eunuch Ming's jaw dropped again.
'His Majesty calls her by name?!'
Oblivious to their servants' thoughts, Zi Hua smiled sheepishly. "The food here is just too good, I can't let the chefs' hard work go to waste. By the way, what's your favourite food, Your Majesty?"
Unexpectedly, this simple question posed a challenge to Li Zhen Tian.
Growing up as a prince, showing favouritism towards a single type of food was a weakness—easily exploited and leading to death by poison. As emperor, maintaining an air of mystery became even more important.
It had been so long since anyone asked what his favourite dish was, if at all.
Did he even have a favourite? Years of hiding and caution seemed to have dulled his senses and ability to enjoying basic joys of life like her...
However, he never had the chance to answer.
Knock. Knock.
"Your Majesty, mistress, Concubine Lin's attendant is here," Qiu'er notified.
"What is she doing here?" Yue'er mumbled.
Zi Hua shot her a look and stopped eating. Li Zhen Tian set down his chopsticks as well. "Let her in," he said.
The second Kan'er entered, she prostrated at his feet with tears streaming down her face. "Your Majesty, this servant is deeply sorry for interrupting your time with Noble Beauty Yang, but I must humbly request your presence on behalf of my mistress!" she cried. "This servant is at wit's end!"
"What happened?" Li Zhen Tian asked with a frown.
"It's the imperial baby," Kan'er answered, wiping her tears. "Imperial Physician Tao said it was unusually weak, and one extreme shift in emotion would... When mistress heard, she fell into denial. Now she won't take her medication and insists on seeing Your Majesty. Please... fulfill my pitiful mistress's small wish. I beg you, Your Majesty!"
Li Zhen Tian shot to his feet. Zi Hua's heart sank to hers.
She already knew what he would say.
"I will be back soon," he promised.
She told herself that this day would come, that he wouldn't stay with her only, despite the past few days together being like heaven.
It was normal. It was alright.
'It's alright, Hua.'
"It's alright," she said. "Go. I'll be right here."
Li Zhen Tian left.
But he didn't come back, nor did he visit the next day.
Or the next.
And the days after...