"A woman as beautiful as a goddess?" Li Gaosun mulled over the prophecy, his expression quickly darkening with fury.
"It could only be that harlot Mu Ying! A woman with a face as divine as the goddess Ma Gu, but a heart as cruel as a demon from the abyss!"
"If that's the case," Empress Li Hua said firmly, "then our true threat isn't Minister Zheng. It's Consort Hua who brings ruin to me and my child. If she succeeds in uniting with Zheng, she will bear the crimson and white phoenixes destined to overthrow the Dragon Throne. We must act swiftly to eliminate her."
"If Zheng Shihwei is secretly conspiring with that vixen Mu Ying, then surely he's planning to rescue her from burial in the imperial tomb," Li Gaosun growled, slamming his fist against the table in frustration.
"But how could he help her?" asked the Empress, puzzled. "On the day of the Emperor's funeral procession, Minister Zheng will be stationed in the palace, overseeing internal security to guard against enemy uprisings."
"Then perhaps he's sending someone else to do the deed."
"But how would they know which carriage holds Consort Hua?" the Empress questioned. "It's not as if hers is the only one. Several concubines will be buried alongside the Emperor, and the carriages are nearly identical."
"Or perhaps…" Ah-Zhi blurted, then immediately fell silent, realizing she had interrupted. She lowered her head again in apology.
Li Hua glanced at Zhong Lin and nodded. The trusted handmaid understood and turned to address the kneeling girl.
"Ah-Zhi, is there something else you wish to tell Her Majesty?"
Ah-Zhi hesitated, then retrieved a bolt of silk and offered it. Zhong Lin stepped forward, took it from her hands, and presented it to the Empress.
"What is special about this silk?"
Ah-Zhi responded uncertainly.
"Before I fled, Consort Hua ordered me to embroider a phoenix upon this cloth and to have it affixed to her carriage for the funeral procession."
"How dare that harlot use such an auspicious symbol for a funeral!" Li Gaosun bellowed.
"I tried to protest," Ah-Zhi added quickly, "but she insisted."
"Strange," murmured the Empress, studying the fabric. "Though cruel, she knows decorum… she knows what is proper and what is not. Or perhaps…"
"What is it, Your Majesty?" Li Gaosun asked.
Li Hua smiled slightly and handed the silk back to Ah-Zhi.
"Do exactly as she instructed. Embroider the phoenix with the finest thread. And when you craft its eyes, be sure to use the brightest crimson rubies. I suspect Consort Hua will be most pleased with such a fine banner for her carriage."