Chapter 7: Phoenix Grace

Su Mi had been standing respectfully at the palace gates for nearly an hour.

At last, she heard the steward eunuch's long, drawn-out summons, "Enter."

She followed the little eunuch who had come to guide her and stepped into Fengyi Palace, the imperial palace of the Empress of Da Qi.

Inside, the palace was a dazzling display of gold and splendor, every corner gleaming with opulence. But what caught the eye more than the decor were the women seated within. Countless embroidered robes shimmered, each more radiant than the last.

At the center, upon a grand throne, sat the Empress of Da Qi. She wore a water-red court robe woven with gold and silver threads, adorned with the intricate pattern of birds worshiping the phoenix. Her head was crowned with a golden phoenix, delicately embroidered with pearls, exuding a regal and dignified aura. She was listening attentively to a palace consort sitting to her right.

"…After extracting the essence of the rouge, we use red-gold foil, like rouge itself, along with pearl dust, coral fragments, blood amber, and plum flower ice, mixed into a paste with gold foil. We then place the mixture into a fine porcelain bowl, dividing it into portions. The mixture is placed under the scorching sun to dry halfway, before being carefully stored in a bamboo vessel. Then we add fresh flowers and let it absorb the moonlight. When it is thoroughly dried, we seal it with silk and use it as needed," a woman in a soft yellow gown, her skin delicate and complexion flawless, explained while gently fanning herself with a silk handkerchief.

The Empress nodded with a smile, her expression calm and composed. "Rarely do I hear such a detailed method, Consort Wen. If it proves effective, it would be a great contribution, not only for the Empress's personal use but also for the ladies in the palace."

Consort Wen smiled lightly, clearly pleased by the Empress's praise.

However, a faint cold huff came from the woman seated to the Empress's left. She wore an expression of subtle displeasure, her brows dark like willow leaves, lips stained a rich red. Her dark hair was styled in a fashionable "hanging cloud" hairstyle, adorned with a pair of red phoenix hairpins. Dangling from her ears were bright tortoiseshell earrings that swayed with her movement. She wore a crimson robe embroidered with delicate purple-gold threads forming a butterfly and flower pattern, highlighting her curvaceous figure and radiant beauty. This was the Empress's second-in-command, the Imperial Noble Consort, Ni Yelin.

The atmosphere froze as Consort Wen's smile faltered.

At that moment, the Empress turned her gaze toward Su Mi, who had just entered, and asked, "You are the maidservant by Wei Caizhen's side from Caiwei Palace?"

Su Mi lowered her head, acknowledging, "Yes, Your Majesty."

The Empress sighed softly. "Ah, the news about Wei Caizhen came this morning from the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Such a pity for a young girl… How did she…"

With a gentle touch, she lifted the lid of her teacup, speaking slowly, as if the topic were of little consequence.

"The Ministry of Internal Affairs has already made the necessary arrangements. Since she was a Caizhen, I will promote her a rank and arrange for her burial according to the proper rites," the Empress added, then turned to the others seated before her. "What do you think, my sisters?"

Before anyone could speak, the Imperial Noble Consort interjected, her tone swift and assertive. "That may not be appropriate, Your Majesty. Since Wei Caizhen entered the palace, she has never been favored. She has no contributions to the imperial heirs, and furthermore, just days ago, the Ministry of Internal Affairs spent a great deal of effort preparing for the birthday celebration of Consort Yun. With the new year approaching, how can we afford such an extravagant gesture now? In times like this, we should be focusing on frugality, not indulgence."

The Empress, though interrupted, did not seem at all offended. She calmly turned back toward the assembly, asking, "Do any of you have differing opinions?"

The women sitting there remained silent, clearly reluctant to voice their thoughts.

Everyone in the palace knew that the Empress came from the royal Wang family, one of Da Qi's most prestigious and powerful noble houses. The Wang family had long been at odds with the rising Ni family. Though outwardly cordial, rumors about the Empress's strained relationship with Ni Yelin had circulated for years.

Consort Wen, who had been attempting to smooth things over, now smiled and spoke, "Your Majesty and Imperial Noble Consort are both wise and far-sighted. We humble ones cannot compare. We are simply fortunate to be in the presence of such brilliant women and to hear your wisdom."

The other women quickly echoed her sentiment, murmuring their agreement.

Ni Yelin, however, felt a heavy weight of frustration settle in her chest.

The Ni family, once an influential clan in the Kingdom of Liang, had fallen under Da Qi's rule after the kingdom was conquered. Though they had contributed greatly to the empire's rise, their early days as subjects were far from easy. Despite their high rank and prestigious titles, they had not been trusted by the late emperor and held little real power. However, after the new emperor ascended the throne, they received significant promotion. Ni Yelin's father, Ni Yuan, had been appointed Minister of the Ministry of War and General Zhenwei, and her elder brother, Ni Tingxuan, had been made Deputy Head of the Imperial Guards. Both were highly trusted by the Emperor.

Since entering the palace, Ni Yelin had always been treated differently by the Emperor, enjoying his favor far more than others. Soon after, she had become pregnant, which only further cemented her position. But her good fortune was short-lived. When Qu Yiran entered the palace, the Emperor's affection for Ni Yelin began to wane. To make matters worse, Ni Yelin lost her child during her pregnancy. Rumors spread throughout the palace, suggesting that the miscarriage had been caused by a clash with Consort Yun's powerful fate, and Ni Yelin's resentment only deepened. She had even gone to Consort Yun's palace to confront her, but the Emperor, instead of showing sympathy for her loss, scolded her and ordered her to reflect in isolation. It wasn't until Ni Yelin offered a formal apology that the Emperor's anger was quelled.

From that moment on, her hatred for Qu Yiran had only grown.

Though her rank was only second to the Empress, and she had been appointed to help manage the inner palace alongside the Empress, she was well aware that the Empress, who was often feigning illness, had left the day-to-day operations to her. The imperial harem had almost become her domain.

Recently, despite the Emperor's occasional visits, it was nothing like the past.

And now, the Empress's "illness" had mysteriously improved, and she acted with complete disregard for Ni Yelin's authority.

"Indeed, what Sister Ni says makes sense," the Empress put down her teacup and said. "In that case, this promotion will be postponed for now. However, as sisters, please instruct the Internal Affairs Bureau to handle the burial arrangements according to the rites for a noblewoman. The costs will be deducted from my monthly allowance."

Su Mi immediately expressed her gratitude, and a small eunuch led her to the side.

The other concubines began to praise the Empress for her wisdom and virtue.

Ni Yelin's expression darkened. Her earlier objection was merely an attempt to curb the Empress's authority, reminding everyone that she, Ni Yelin, also held sway in the harem with her supervisory duties. But in contrast, she now appeared petty and small-minded.

At that moment, soft footsteps approached, and a palace maid supported a concubine into the room.

Su Mi raised her eyes and was taken aback—it was Liu Qiyan.

In just three or four days, Liu Qiyan had transformed completely. She wore a pale pink silk gown with delicate embroidery, her hair adorned with a trembling flower pin, and her cheeks glowed like peach blossoms, resembling a lotus freshly risen from the water. She appeared delicate and charming, evoking a protective instinct in anyone who looked at her.

A palace maid guided her to kneel before the Empress.

"Since Liu Dowager is still recovering from her injury, there's no need for such a formal greeting," the Empress raised her hand, gesturing for her to rise with a gentle smile.

The sight of Liu Qiyan's greeting left the other concubines exchanging looks. After a night with the Emperor, it was customary for a concubine to present herself to the Empress the next day with a formal bow. However, the Empress's reaction and Liu Qiyan's posture suggested that the Emperor had visited her during the night.

But last night had been Yun Fei's birthday. The Emperor hadn't stayed with Yun Fei?

Ni Yelin's expression froze before she quickly rose from her seat and walked up to Liu Qiyan, pulling her hand warmly. "What a beautiful face! You make us all look like old hags. I can't help but feel protective of you. How could Yun Fei treat you like that?"

"Yun Fei is just looking out for me," Liu Qiyan lowered her eyes, speaking with mild humility. "I broke the palace rules, so punishment was inevitable."

"Has your injury improved? Did the medicine I sent over help?" Ni Yelin asked with concern.

"Thank you, Your Excellency, for your care. My injury has healed," Liu Qiyan replied, her gaze briefly meeting Su Mi's. At once, her face changed, and she seemed about to speak, but when she saw the others around, she hesitated.

"Speaking of which," Ni Yelin continued, "my Western Palace has always been so empty. I've been meaning to invite a few sisters to move in, but I've been busy with chores, so it's been delayed. I see you're not too comfortable living in Juhe Palace. How about moving to my place? I fear Yun Fei might not want to part with you though."

"Since Sister Ni has such a kind invitation, Yi Ran wouldn't want to spoil your mood. Liu Dowager, please feel free to move," a melodious sound of bells and fragrance filled the room as Yun Fei entered.

This was Su Mi's first time seeing the Emperor's beloved consort up close.

She wore a long silver gown, adorned with hidden magnolia flower patterns, which reached the floor. Her figure was slender and graceful, her waist delicate as a willow branch. She wore a silver phoenix hairpin with a jade clasp, and a pearl-studded flowerpin tilted at an angle in her hair. Her brows were like distant mountains, her nose finely sculpted, and her lips like cherry blossoms. Her eyes were pools of autumn water, sparkling with light.

She was indeed a rare beauty—her features flawless and exquisite, but what set her apart was not just her physical beauty but the air of elegance and grace she radiated, unlike the ostentatious wealth of the other concubines. No wonder she had enjoyed the Emperor's favor for more than a year. But how much longer would such favor last?

In the palace, white and black were considered inauspicious colors, but Yun Fei had a particular fondness for white. The Emperor had allowed her to wear it, and even the Imperial Household Bureau had woven special fabrics with silver thread for her. Despite its simple design, the fabric shimmered with various colors under different lights. It moved with her like liquid light, rivaling the most exquisite silks. It was said that the common people had attempted to replicate it, but its price was as high as gold.

"Since that's the case, I must thank you, Sister," Ni Yelin said, smiling sweetly.

Yun Fei's expression remained cool and indifferent as she acknowledged the two with a slight bow, then turned toward the Empress.

Liu Qiyan said nothing but couldn't stop glancing furtively at Su Mi, her expression unsettled. Her low rank prevented her from speaking freely.