Chapter 9: Lotus (Part 2)

Consort Yun lifted her gaze and saw Su Mi kneeling before her. A smile appeared on her face. "Ah, you've arrived just in time. I wanted to ask you—where did your mistress acquire this Immortal Pool painting? And besides this one, are there any others?"

"Immortal Pool painting? Your Majesty and Consort, please forgive me, but the painting my mistress presented is not an original by Dong Youyuan. She only copied it during her leisure time, as she has always admired the works of Master Dong. My mistress is a humble person; there's no way she could have such an expensive original painting," Su Mi explained, panic rising in her voice.

"What?!" Consort Yun's expression immediately shifted. Could it be that she had committed a crime of deceiving the Emperor? Even if the Emperor did not pursue the matter, her reputation as a talented woman would be tarnished.

"Bold servant! How dare you claim this painting is a fake! The seal and signature on the painting are clearly Dong Youyuan's. Could it be that Wei Caizhen intentionally deceived me with a counterfeit?" Consort Yun snapped, her voice rising with anger. She quickly decided to shift the blame onto the unfortunate Wei Caizhen.

"Please, Consort, allow me to explain. The authenticity of the painting was already addressed in the accompanying letter that was sent with it," Su Mi hurriedly countered.

"A letter?!" Consort Yun's mind raced. She remembered that a letter had indeed come with the painting, though it seemed to have been a poetic expression of palace grievances. But when she first laid eyes on the painting, she had been so enchanted that she hadn't paid much attention to the letter—she had only skimmed it before tossing it aside.

At once, one of her quick-witted servants retrieved the letter.

"Hmph, Consort Yun, renowned as the literary genius of Qianzhou, and yet you can't even distinguish the authenticity of a painting?" The Emperor spoke up, clearly displeased.

Consort Yun immediately knelt in apology, her heart sinking. She dared to steal a glance at the Emperor, who wore a frown and a look of quiet disappointment. It was clear that he was not only displeased with her, but deeply let down. She had hoped to win his favor with this painting, but instead, it had backfired spectacularly.

At this moment, the servant presented the letter, and Emperor Qi Long flipped it open. His eyes scanned the words, which were a poem written in self-pity:

When I first entered the Hall of Ascending Glory,

I deeply report to the endless skies.

The long gates are deserted and empty,

No longer can I see my Emperor.

Spring's chill pierces to the bone,

I lie alone in my sorrowful room.

The sound of footsteps echoes in the courtyard,

But my heart remains lost in its sadness.

Once cherished, now abandoned,

Beauty fades, what fate remains?

The Emperor's grace has grown distant,

My heart wanders in endless sorrow.

Does my family have no kin?

Only old ties in the northern hall.

Here, I have no wings to fly,

How can I escape the high walls?

My life is precious,

But to abandon it would be a great pain.

Resolutely, I step into the land of death,

And from there, I return to the realm of the dead.

After reading the poem, Emperor Qi Long could not help but feel a sense of melancholy. In the palace, he was accustomed to hearing the praises and flattery of concubines vying for favor, but rarely did he come across such a raw expression of sorrow. This melancholic, tragic poem made him realize that there were women in his harem who, despite their beauty and talent, lived lives of quiet despair.

"This poem and painting were both created by Wei Caizhen?" he asked, his voice soft but filled with curiosity.

"Yes, Your Majesty," Su Mi replied. "Wei Caizhen has already passed away, she left us yesterday."

For a moment, Su Mi could not help but feel a pang of sadness. Such a delicate, talented woman had passed away so quietly. She glanced at the Emperor again, noticing that, though she had not seen the newly appointed Liu Shi, this girl's beauty was certainly not inferior. If even a maid could possess such grace, how could her mistress, the late Wei Caizhen, have fared?

"The body of Wei Caizhen, how is it...?" the Emperor asked, his voice faltering slightly.

"It has already been cremated by the Ministry of Internal Affairs," Su Mi replied.

"Such a pity, such a pity… To have such a beauty and yet never have met her," he sighed, regret clouding his tone.

"If Your Majesty wishes to see a portrait of Wei Caizhen, it would not be difficult. I still have her self-portrait," Su Mi said carefully.

"Hmm," Emperor Qi Long gave a non-committal reply. After a moment, he asked, "Since your mistress copied the painting, she must have seen the original. Do you know where?"

Su Mi hesitated. "Well... Mistress often painted, and I couldn't always tell the difference between her works and the originals..." she trailed off, unsure.

"If that's the case, then I shall go and see it for myself," the Emperor declared, his tone decisive. "Gao Shengnuo, prepare my carriage!" Without another word, he turned and strode away, ignoring Consort Yun entirely.

Yun Fei knelt down in fear to bid the Emperor farewell. After he had left, she rose to her feet, watching his imperial carriage disappear in the distance. Her face alternated between flushed and pale, a mixture of embarrassment and frustration. This time, she had truly miscalculated. When word reached the Western Palace, she could only imagine how pleased Ni Yelin would be.

She picked up the poem she had set aside earlier. At first glance, she had assumed it was just another complaint from a neglected concubine, asking her to intercede on her behalf with the Emperor. That's why she had casually placed it aside. Now, upon reading it more closely, she saw that the inscription at the end read: "Written under the moonlight, with a painting to accompany the poem, a small gesture of my feelings."

Furious, Yun Fei threw the scroll down. After a long pause, she suddenly chuckled bitterly, "Hmph, luckily, it's from a dead woman."

"Are these works all from Wei Caijin?" Qi Long asked, unrolling a scroll. To his surprise, the painting depicted a beautiful woman, her grace and beauty evident in every stroke. Beside it, a short poem read: "The fragrance is cool, the beauty is pure, who could resist her innocence? The jade plum blooms after the sun's warmth, scattering with the spring's flowers."

"This is Wei Caijin's self-portrait," Su Mi said.

Qi Long gazed at the painting, lost in thought. After a moment, he asked, "Do you remember when Wei Caijin copied the 'Fairy of the Jade Pool'?"

"I remember. She was fourteen when she saw this painting for the first time. Her birth mother, Consort Rou, had acquired it. Wei Caijin admired it so much that she asked her mother for it, but when Consort Rou refused, she copied it herself."

"Do you recall this clearly?"

"Although my memory isn't the best, I remember it well. I first saw it in the Wei Palace. Wei Caijin would often say that this copy was the closest to the original, and she was very proud of it. Even after entering the Qi Palace, she kept it with her."

"I didn't know this painting had always been kept in Wei's palace. Do you know where it is now?" Qi Long's tone was tinged with urgency.

"When Lord Wei surrendered to the Great Qi, all the treasures and artworks from Wei's palace were sealed and guarded by General Ni Yuan's men before being brought to the capital. It must have been delivered to the Qi Palace. Didn't the Emperor see it?"

Ni Yuan, the father of Ni Guifei, had led the troops that defeated the Wei kingdom. After the King of Wei surrendered, Ni Yuan was granted the title of Marquis of the Southern Return.

Qi Long fell silent, deep in thought. After Ni Yuan returned to the capital, he submitted all the spoils of war, including the captured women and treasures, but curiously, the painting had not been among them. The soldiers had a long-standing tradition of looting from enemy kingdoms. Unless the plunder was excessive, no one paid much attention. Yet this painting, sought by the late Emperor, was widely known in the court.

"Hmph, who knows what else he kept for himself..." Qi Long muttered under his breath, his thoughts darkening.

After a long pause, he lifted his gaze to see Su Mi quietly watching him. Her eyes were like clear spring water, full of vitality, and the kind of beauty that intoxicated without needing a single touch.

"What's your name?" he asked, intrigued by her presence.

"Su Mi," she replied, shyly lowering her head.

In the candlelight, her skin shimmered like jade. Qi Long couldn't help but feel a surge of emotions. He rolled up the scroll and walked closer to her. "How long have you been in the palace?"

"I've been in the palace for almost a year," Su Mi answered, her voice filled with modesty.

Qi Long couldn't help himself. He stepped closer and gently helped Su Mi to her feet. Her touch felt as soft and warm as jade, and the faint fragrance of her skin overwhelmed his senses. "No wonder they say Wei women are so captivating. Now I believe it," he said as he drew her closer into his embrace.

"Your Majesty," Su Mi murmured, pulling back slightly, "the Consort just left. As a servant, how can I—"

"What of it?" Qi Long interrupted. "I appoint you as a wardrobe attendant. This way, you may serve as a tribute to Wei Caijin's loyalty."

Su Mi stepped back, lifting her gaze to meet the Emperor's. Her eyes were full of determination, soft yet unwavering, her beauty now tinged with a quiet strength. "Please forgive me, Your Majesty. Consort Wei was kind to me, like a sister. I cannot betray her."

Qi Long stared into her eyes. There was a chill in them, yet they held a longing, a quiet tenderness that stirred something deep within him. It felt as though he had seen this look before, but he couldn't place where. The delicate fragrance of her lingered in the air, intoxicating and alluring, making it difficult to resist.

He reached out, gently brushing her hair aside, and admired her eyes. "What a pair of eyes, as clear as autumn waters. Why hide them?"

"Your Majesty…" Su Mi lowered her head shyly, her cheeks flushing in modesty.

"Gao Shengnuo!" Qi Long called loudly.

"Here, Your Majesty!" Gao Shengnuo immediately responded from outside the room.

"Make an imperial decree: Consort Wei, of the Wei family, is pure, virtuous, and talented. She is posthumously promoted to the title of Consort, and her funeral will be arranged with all due respect, as befits a second-ranked concubine," Qi Long said, pausing before adding, "As for Su Mi, loyal and virtuous, she will be honored with the title of Wardrobe Attendant, ranked as a junior attendant."

Su Mi immediately knelt, her head lowered in gratitude. "This servant thanks the Emperor for his kindness."

"Are you thanking only Consort Wei?" Qi Long smiled, his eyes twinkling mischievously. "What about your own benefactor?"

"Forgive me, Your Majesty," Su Mi said, her voice steady but filled with a deeper meaning. "Consort Wei's kindness is a debt that cannot be repaid, but as for Your Majesty's… I shall show my gratitude in time."

Su Mi's face flushed with a deeper shade of red, and she nervously fidgeted with the hem of her sleeve, her modesty almost unbearable to witness.

Qi Long smiled, clearly in a good mood. "The floor is cold. Don't kneel so much," he said with a chuckle.

"Thank you for your mercy, Your Majesty."

"You need not thank me. As long as you are loyal to Consort Wei, you will remain loyal to me as well." He reached out to help her up. The touch of her skin was like smooth jade, but it also held an underlying coolness, as though she were untouchable.

Su Mi, sensing his touch, discreetly pulled her hand away.

"You've repaid Consort Wei's kindness. Now, it's time to repay mine," Qi Long said, lifting her chin gently.

"Your Majesty…" Su Mi's voice trembled slightly, her gaze soft yet defiant. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, her beauty beyond words. "Please, have mercy…"

Unable to resist any longer, Qi Long kissed her lips with passion.

The silken red curtains fell, and the room was filled with the faintest sound as the candles flickered and the atmosphere grew heavy with desire.