Chapter 8: Garden Gambits

Chapter 8: Garden Gambits (Part 1)

His departure this time felt final. I hurried back inside. My entire household clustered anxiously in the main room. Seeing me, they surged forward, checking my arms, my face, voices tight with worry: "Your Majesty! Did the Emperor harm you?"

"Harm me? Shangguan Mochen wouldn't dare!" I flashed a reassuring smile, warmth blooming in my chest at their concern. "No need to fret. I'm perfectly safe here. No one dares cross me!" My mind snapped to tonight's plan. I turned to Ningshuang. "Do you sew?"

"Forgive me, Your Majesty. My needlework is clumsy," Ningshuang shook her head, gesturing to another maid. "But Ninglu is quite skilled."

I focused on Ninglu. "Excellent. Come with me. I need a gown… altered."

I swept towards my inner chamber, leaving a trail of bewildered faces. Ninglu cast a confused glance after me before following.

Inside my bedchamber, I pulled out yesterday's opulent palace gown. Ninglu stared, bewildered, as I thrust it at her. "Lower the neckline. Cinch the waist tighter. And…" I pointed decisively to the skirt hem. "Slit it. Make it flow. More… ethereal."

Ninglu's jaw slackened further with each instruction. "Do you understand?" I pressed.

"Y-yes, Your Majesty," she stammered, taking the heavy silk gingerly. Hesitantly, she added, "B-but… Empress… if altered thus… this gown…"

"Will be scandalously revealing?" I finished for her, cutting off her hesitation. A triumphant smile spread across my lips. "Perfect! That's exactly the effect I want!"

Imagining Shangguan Mochen's apoplectic face tonight sent a thrill through me. Underestimate Luo Xiaoxiao, the Little Demoness? Ha! Beneath the scholar's veneer, Chenhao Gege inspired, the street-smart brawler still lived. In this world without him, why not let her loose?

My eyes gleamed with pure, unadulterated mischief. Ninglu stared, utterly mesmerized. "Your Majesty, you—"

I quickly schooled my features. "Go on. Alter it. Bring it back when it's done."

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Ninglu scurried away, likely convinced her Empress had lost her mind. The thought only made me laugh harder. The sound froze Ningshuang and Nanny Zhang in the doorway, expressions stunned.

Nanny Zhang rushed forward, grabbing my arm. "Miss! Miss! Are you alright?!"

I choked back the laughter. "Fine! Just remembered something hilarious. I'm going back to sunbathe. Don't follow!" Before they could react, I bolted. Staying under their bewildered scrutiny, especially Nanny Zhang's knowing gaze, felt too risky. Best to vanish.

Outside, I ditched the familiar courtyard – too predictable. Exploring the palace again seemed ideal; plenty of time before the banquet. Yesterday's encounter still unnerved me, but my inherent optimism prevailed. Just avoid the remote corners. No repeat performances.

Still, that insolent minister would be dealt with. Luo Xiaoxiao wasn't some brainless beauty. Cross her, and pay the price.

Which direction? Opposite to yesterday. Decision made, I strode out of Yongning Palace.

The path, paved with smooth bluestone, was deserted and peaceful, birdsong the only sound. I stretched languidly, muscles remembering old brawls. Been a while. My fighting days ended with Chenhao Gege. But the skills? Rusty, maybe, but present. Four or five thugs? I might not put them in the infirmary, but I'd walk away. And as Empress? Who here dared touch me?

Chapter 8: Garden Gambits (Part 2)

The scenery shifted. Trees gave way to vibrant flowerbeds. Intoxicating fragrance filled the air. Lacking strong civic virtue (and feeling ownership), I plucked a stunning purple bloom without a second thought.

"Audacious!" A shrill voice cut through the peace. "Who dares pick the Emperor's prized Purple Irises?! Ten heads wouldn't suffice for this offense!"

Seriously? Annoyance flared. Waited until I picked it to speak up? I turned slowly. A stout, scowling woman stood there, face like thunder. The sight of me transformed her instantly. She dropped to her knees, trembling. "This lowly one deserves death! I didn't recognize the Empress! Forgive my insolence!"

Typical palace toady. I eyed her with disdain. "Rise. It's nothing."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" She scrambled up, launching into sycophantic overdrive. "Your benevolence rivals the Bodhisattvas! Qin is blessed to have such an Empress! To overlook this worthless one's offense… Should Your Majesty ever require anything, this servant would brave fire and flood!"

Sweeter than song, emptier than air. Who'd trust such a weathervane? She'd be the first throwing stones if I fell. But… I was stuck as Empress, for now. Allies, even fickle ones, had uses. Luo Xiaoxiao knew how to play this game.

I stepped forward, steadying her exaggerated trembling. "Your words warm my heart. You are welcome at Yongning Palace anytime. Your name?"

"This unworthy one is Shen Tianxiang, Your Majesty, overseer of the Imperial Flower Garden." She simpered.

Tianxiang? Heavenly Fragrance? I bit the inside of my cheek hard. On her? The cosmic joke almost broke me. "Tianxiang," I managed gravely. "A name… I shall remember. Always." Truer words…

Her gratitude overflowed. "Your Majesty's compassion and grace are unparalleled! Even an illiterate wretch like me sees it! Only you are fit to rule the harem! The others aren't fit to touch your hem! Serving you is this life's greatest honor! Command me, and I shall scale mountains of blades!"

My skin crawled. Illiterate? Her flattery was positively literary. Before I could respond, a cold, utterly unpleasant voice sliced through the floral air.

"Overseer Shen speaks true. The Empress is a golden branch, jade leaf—far beyond our reach." Figures emerged from a nearby grove, led by a woman in pink silk, hair adorned like a jeweler's display. Consort Liu Rumai. Her peach-blossom eyes held shards of ice. "Such discernment in choosing one's patron… A pity I overlooked such talent."

Shen Tianxiang blanched, trembling violently.

Ah. The pieces clicked. Consort Liu's power was palpable; her entourage radiated matching arrogance. Shen's desperate pledge made sense now. Caught red-handed. Rescuing her could earn fierce loyalty… but openly defying Consort Liu? Unwise. A plan snapped into place.

As Consort Liu drew nearer, Shen's face turned ghostly white. I raised my hand.

Thwack!

A sharp crack echoed. Five red welts bloomed on Shen's cheek.

"Worthless wretch!" I thundered. "On your knees! Do you know your crime?!"

Shen froze, stunned. But palace survival instincts kicked in. She dropped instantly, voice quavering. "Y-Your Majesty! Enlighten this ignorant servant!"

Good girl. I glared down. "Must I spell out your stupidity?! Has the Emperor not decreed harmony among the consorts? No discord! No whispering! Those who stir trouble face his wrath! Your poisonous words today… Thankfully, only Consort Liu and I, both merciful souls, heard them! Your head stays… for now! Speak such filth again? Mercy ends! Begone!"

My shout made her flinch. She kowtowed frantically. "Mercy, Your Majesty! Mercy! This servant will remember! Never again!"

"See that you do!" I snapped. "Lucky for you, it was Consort Liu and I. Others might not be so forgiving. So don't just thank me! Thank Her Grace as well! And I trust Consort Liu, in her boundless magnanimity, will overlook this trifle? Isn't that right, Sister Consort?"

I turned a sweet, challenging smile on Liu Rumai, whose icy eyes revealed she saw right through the charade. She offered a thin, equally false smile. "Since the Empress shows such clemency, how could this humble consort be less generous? Overseer Shen is spared… this time. But let her be warned: if such talk reaches the Emperor's ears… Well. She knows the stakes."

"Thank you, Empress! Thank you, Consort!" Shen kowtowed again. I willed her to flee.

Consort Liu's voice halted her. "Empress, you've graced the palace for days yet neglected my humble Crescent Moon Palace. Won't you honor me with a visit? His Majesty gifted exquisite Maojian tea. Allow me to serve you?"

Invitation? Or trap? Harem politics thrived on poisoned honey. I glanced at Shen's terrified eyes. Need backup. I snapped at Shen, "Still here? Plotting more discord? Go!"

"Yes! At once, Your Majesty!" Shen scrambled away like a startled rabbit. As she fled, I caught her eye, shooting her a look that screamed, 'Fetch reinforcements!' Whether she understood… remained to be seen.