After Concubine Lin broke Noble Beauty Yang's streak of favour, the breaths everyone held were finally released, sweeping through the rear palace like a tempest. It was as if an unspoken seal had been lifted, and the emperor began favouring the new consorts one by one.
For a week or so, the rear palace was in an unprecedented state of competition and unpredictability: the emperor would flip a high-ranking consort's plaque one day, only to change his mind when stumbling upon a junior consort dancing in the Imperial Gardens. Others who heard of their peer's lucky success swarmed to the Imperial Gardens in hopes of replicating a chance encounter with the emperor, and it became very crowded indeed.
Nonetheless, where there was people, there was bound to be conflict. After a consort accidentally fell into a pond during a tussle to contend for the emperor's attention, His Majesty officially banned consorts from performing in the Imperial Gardens, and the ridiculous scenes of public talent shows were put to an end... to the chagrin of many.
Consort Xu, whose palace was nearest to the Imperial Gardens and who had repeatedly tried and failed to ward off the motivated junior consorts, expressed her utmost relief at the newfound peace and quiet.
However, none of those were Empress Dowager Qiu's concern. Her only worry was her niece's lack of favour, which had become apparent after the emperor visited Noble Lady Meng and proceeded to favour the other new consorts in descending order, seemingly forgetting about Qiu Rong, who was also a Noble Lady.
Sss...
Qiu Rong poured boiling tea from a Yixing clay teapot into matching cups, causing steam to rise between the two people sitting ramrod straight at the table, weaving lies and truth on their faces.
The heavy silence between Empress Dowager Qiu and the emperor nearly made Qiu Rong squirm. For all her confidence, it wasn't every day one was in the presence of the two most regal people in the empire. Still, she didn't want to waste this hard-earned opportunity.
"Imperial Aunt, Cousin Emperor, have some tea," she said, meticulously serving them. "Be careful, it's quite hot."
"Thank you, Rong'er," Empress Dowager Qiu said.
Li Zhen Tian nodded and spared her a careless glance.
Empress Dowager Qiu broke the silence first. "Ever since you ascended the throne, Emperor, my residence has become so quiet and dull," she reminisced. "Now that Rong'er has entered the rear palace, she can keep me company. I keep telling her to socialise with the young ones, but she insists on spending time with this old woman."
She was bragging about her niece's filial piety in a roundabout manner, but Li Zhen Tian's reaction was lukewarm:
"Then I must thank Noble Lady Qiu for accompanying you in my stead."
"It's nothing, Your Majesty," Qiu Rong spoke up. "I'm more than happy to keep Imperial Aunt company."
"Silly girl, it's not me whose company you should be keeping!" Empress Dowager Qiu admonished. She turned towards Li Zhen Tian, oblivious to his waning patience. "Emperor, although Rong'er is an excellent companion, it is improper for her to live in the Palace of Longevity with me. If there were a grandchild... It would be a different story indeed."
Qiu Rong blushed at the unsubtle hint, but her aunt had unknowingly crossed a line.
"Unlike Imperial Mother, I prefer taking things one step at a time," Li Zhen Tian snapped. "I have business to attend to now, so I will take my leave."
With an unrefutable sweep of his robes, he strode towards the exit. Behind him, Empress Dowager frowned, muttering under her breath.
Qiu Rong bit her lips in disappointment.
Cousin Emperor didn't even touch his tea.
***
Orchid Palace, western chamber.
The last note of a relaxing melody echoed in the small chamber, its player removing fair fingers from an elegant zither with orchid carvings.
Bai Nan Feng loosed the breath she had held when focusing and admired the man sitting opposite her.
"Your Majesty, was the song to you liking?" she asked.
Li Zhen Tian ignored the shy anticipation tinging her voice. "Your dedication to your craft is palpable," he said. "I remember there being a famous seven-string zither called 'Clouds on the Pine Tree' in the treasury. An instrument of that caliber deserves to be in skilled hands as yours."
Stars lit up in Bai Nan Feng's eyes, but she suppressed her joy. "Thank you, Your Majesty. I will treasure it forever."
"Mm. I heard the empress dowager instructed you to copy Buddhism scriptures. How is your progress?" Li Zhen Tian asked casually.
This topic brought back sour memories of being isolated by the other consorts ever since her first day. She had lamented the emperor for never reaching out to her, but now that he was here, she suddenly realised all the sufferings were worth it.
She lowered her head. "I wouldn't dare keep Her Highness the Empress Dowager waiting, so there's only a few pages left."
"Good. Although... you need not rush," Li Zhen Tian added, giving her a meaningful look. "I just visited the empress dowager and she conveyed her concern for you. As did Noble Lady Qiu. It is fine to take a break now and then."
Bai Nan Feng's breath hitched. Was this what she thought it was...?
Clink.
Li Zhen Tian finished his tea and stood. "I have state affairs to attend to. You should rest early."
Bai Nan Feng hastily got up to see him off.
"I bid you good night, Your Majesty," she said, mildly disappointed he wasn't staying.
He didn't look back, but her heart did a happy flip anyway. There was no reason for His Majesty to drop by just to explain his whereabouts to her, unless he was purposely giving her information.
To first bring up her punishment, then tell her "not to rush" and "take a break". As for the part about the empress dowager's concern for her... Bai Nan Feng would sooner believe pigs could fly than Empress Dowager Qiu's consideration for consorts unrelated to her.
She was more inclined to believe the main point was Qiu Rong's presence at the meeting. Could it be the empress dowager had pressured the emperor to favour Qiu Rong?
It had to be—he had already favoured all of the high-ranking new consorts except Qiu Rong. It was reasonable if she got desperate enough to resort to using her imperial aunt.
Thus, there was only one conclusion: the emperor was displeased with the empress dowager's arrangement, and sought to delay Qiu Rong's favour using the scriptures as an excuse.
Step. Step. Step.
Her lady-in-waiting entered the room. "Mistress, I've brought the new ink stick as ordered," she said, placing it on the table full of copied scriptures. "Shall I add another lamp so your eyes won't be strained while writing?"
Bai Nan Feng walked over and started rolling up the scriptures into bamboo cylinders.
"No need."
A smug smile curled on her lips as she stacked the cylinders inside a drawer and shut it.
"I won't be copying scriptures for awhile."