Chapter 8: Lotus (Part 1)

Su Mi stood silently before the empty bed, her mind adrift. Something felt missing, a void that seemed to echo the emptiness in her heart. Early in the morning, Wei Qing'er's body had been taken by the Ministry of Internal Affairs for cremation. Since her death had been caused by illness, it was forbidden for the body to remain for too long.

According to custom, the items for setting up a small Buddhist altar had already been brought in.

In the harem, there were strict taboos regarding funerals. Only the Empress, the Emperor, and the Empress Dowager were allowed to conduct funerals openly. For consorts of lower ranks, the term "funeral" could not be used; it had to be referred to as a "Buddhist rite," and the altar could not be called a "mourning hall," but rather a "small Buddhist altar."

Now, as night fell, Su Mi found herself the only one left in the palace.

She sat down beneath the flickering lamp, lost in her thoughts, when suddenly, a loud noise broke the stillness. The door swung open, and to her surprise, it was Gao Shengnuo, a eunuch who should have been attending the Emperor at this hour.

"You're the maidservant who served Wei Caizhen, aren't you?" he asked.

Su Mi nodded. "Yes, Master Gao. May I ask what instructions you have?"

"Then you're the right person. Come with me. The Emperor and Consort Yun wish to see you," he said, motioning for her to follow.

Su Mi stood up, already understanding the reason for this summons—it was undoubtedly related to the painting.

She followed Gao Shengnuo past the shimmering Bi Po Pond and into Juhe Palace, entering the main hall. She lifted her gaze just enough to see both the Emperor and Consort Yun seated within. Consort Yun, holding a scroll of painting, was speaking with a bright smile, her voice filled with delight. "Your Majesty, I was hesitant at first, but who would have thought this really is a genuine work by Dong Youyuan! The flowing water and ethereal atmosphere—it's no wonder His Majesty the late Emperor often praised it as 'a true masterpiece.'"

Her voice was soft and seductive, like a melodic lullaby.

For the past few days, Consort Yun had been in an unsettled mood.

Growing up in Qianzhou, she had earned a reputation far and wide—her beauty and talent were renowned throughout the region, and no one was unaware of her exceptional gifts. So many suitors, both wealthy and of noble birth, had courted her, but her father had turned them all away. He had always told her, "My daughter has the world's most extraordinary beauty and talent. She deserves to be married into the most prestigious family, one worthy of her gifts."

It wasn't until she turned sixteen that an official from the palace came to seek her out, and her father, finally seeing the opportunity for his daughter to rise to imperial favor, was overjoyed. He believed her unparalleled beauty would surely catch the Emperor's eye, and with it, wealth and glory would soon follow.

Once in the palace, however, Qu Yiran quickly realized that being the most beautiful woman in Qianzhou was hardly a distinction within the imperial harem. Though her beauty was still rare, the palace was filled with women equally as enchanting, if not more so. The consorts—each with their own allure—did not compare to her in beauty, but many came from noble, high-born families, with backgrounds that far exceeded her own humble roots.

Fortunately, she was not only known for her beauty but also for her remarkable talent. In a court where military prowess was held in high esteem, many of the women of noble houses were less distinguished in the arts. Qu Yiran quickly caught the Emperor's attention, and her rare blend of beauty and intellect earned her his affection.

To outsiders, it seemed that her favor with the Emperor had remained unshaken since she entered the palace, but Qu Yiran knew the truth. Her real favor had lasted only the first few months after her arrival, when the Emperor had showered her with tender affection and praise. He would often stay in her chambers until dawn, helping her with her makeup and admiring her features. His compliments were endless, and at times, the more indifferent she seemed, the more insistent his attentions became.

However, after several months, she began to sense a change. The Emperor's passion for her had noticeably faded, though the frequency with which he summoned her remained unchanged. Had she been overly suspicious? Her instincts told her that something had shifted, and soon, she found herself increasingly unsure of his feelings. She had tried to subtly encourage his affection through carefully worded suggestions and small gestures, but nothing worked. Doubts crept in, and her frustration began to manifest in her increasingly sharp behavior.

But then, the unexpected happened—she discovered she was pregnant. It was a joyous and unexpected blessing, one that filled her with a thrill she couldn't contain.

The Emperor's heirs had always been sparse. Many consorts had fallen pregnant, but most of their pregnancies ended in miscarriage. It was a frequent occurrence in the harem, with rumors circulating that the palace, filled with women and eunuchs, carried an unnatural, inauspicious energy that made it difficult for pregnancies to thrive. There were also darker rumors whispered in private: Da Qi had waged countless wars in the past, and the bloodshed and violence had left a lingering curse on the imperial line.

So far, the only consort who had safely given birth to an imperial child was Consort Wen. Though she had long since fallen out of favor, the Emperor still frequently visited her to see the daughter she had borne him. Having a child gave her an undeniable standing, and no matter how much her favor with the Emperor had waned, her rewards never ceased.

This child, without a doubt, was her most reliable and cherished guarantee for the future. She had used every possible strategy, exhausted herself with careful attention, and placed all her hopes on this one precious promise. Yet, despite all her efforts, it ended in failure—the child was lost. After the miscarriage, her heightened sensitivity made her feel an overwhelming sense of despair and panic. Perhaps her favor would not last much longer. The Emperor's displeasure had become all too evident.

Not long after, news came of Ni Guifei's father, General Ni Yuan, suffering a great defeat on the front lines against the Southern Chen army, pushing them back over three hundred miles. Ni Yelin, with whom she had always had a strained relationship, was especially unsettled by this. The news intensified her unease.

But then, surprisingly, the Emperor grew even closer to her. He ignored the protests of others and ordered a grand celebration for her birthday, with flowers, decorations, and all the pomp and circumstance. Perhaps, she thought, the Emperor did have some genuine affection for her. This thought gave her a small measure of comfort.

Yet in the harem, new faces constantly appeared. It was hard to say when she would lose her youth and beauty, and who could predict if the Emperor's favor would eventually fade. Before that time came, she realized, perhaps it was wise to start planning her future. A few days ago, when the Emperor was in a good mood, she had taken the opportunity to request higher positions for her family members, ensuring that even if she lost favor, she would still have connections to rely on. Ni Yelin's arrogance, after all, was sustained by her powerful family.

However, when the Emperor heard her request, his expression darkened. He simply responded with a few vague words, giving her no further hope. She felt the sting of her failure and, unable to resort to her usual tactics, had to withdraw awkwardly.

A few days later, news arrived that Liu Qiyan had won the Emperor's favor. This news, spurred on by Ni Yelin's provocations, pushed her to the edge. Enraged, she lost control and struck someone. Though the Emperor said nothing publicly, his increased rewards and promotions for Liu Qiyan sent a clear message to the harem—the winds were shifting. What troubled her the most was that on her own birthday, the Emperor did not stay the night with her but instead went to Liu Qiyan. This was a blow greater than any she had felt before.

Desperate to regain the Emperor's favor, she poured all her energy into the effort over the following days, but nothing seemed to work. In fact, the Emperor's affection for Liu Qiyan only deepened, making the other concubines view her with renewed suspicion, just as they had when she first entered the palace.

What was she to do now? Could this birthday be the pinnacle of her glory?

The Emperor had not entered her chambers for several days. As she idly browsed through the various gifts sent by the other palaces, she came across an unexpected item—the Fairy of the Jade Pool, a painting by Dong Youyuan.

Dong Youyuan, a famous artist from the early Liang Dynasty, was known for his ink paintings, particularly of flowers. His most famous works were the Five Beauties, which symbolized the five most beautiful women he had ever seen. The Fairy of the Jade Pool was one of these works, though it had long been scattered during the chaos of war.

The late Emperor had been a great admirer of his work and had spent a fortune attempting to collect all five pieces. Unfortunately, he was only able to acquire three. He had always regarded this as a great regret.

Not long after Emperor Qi Long ascended the throne, a strange incident occurred: two of the three paintings, which had been safely kept in the palace, mysteriously disappeared without a trace. The Emperor was furious and ordered a three-year search, but to no avail.

Yun Fei waited until evening to summon the Emperor.

Indeed, when the Emperor saw the painting, his mood seemed to improve at once.

"Look at this lotus," the Empress remarked softly. "It stands so elegantly, with such delicate brushstrokes. Truly, Master Dong's work is unparalleled."

"Yes," the Emperor nodded thoughtfully. "My late father always wanted to collect these paintings, but unfortunately, he was unable to fulfill that wish. As his son, it is my duty to carry on his efforts. When I gather all five of these works, I will have them burned in his honor, as a final act of filial piety."

Yun Fei smiled gently. "Your Majesty is blessed with great fortune and unmatched filial piety. The gods will surely protect you and help you complete your father's wish."

Emperor Qi Long smiled but said nothing, clearly in high spirits.