Phoenix Palace. Chen hour.
Zi Hua finally exhaled upon passing Phoenix Palace's towering gates, a sense of security washing over her.
If not for Qiu'er's intervention and their impending tardiness, no doubt Luo Yin and Song Chang Ge would've continued interrogating her earlier. At least they wouldn't dare to pull anything in the empress's territory, though they were still subtly trying to get ahead of one another.
It was kind of funny watching from behind—they started out at a slow pace, but with each larger step one took, the other would one-up it with a glare, and their attendants would scramble to catch up while hissing: "no running in the palace!"
Now they were both speed walking towards the imaginary finish line, as if a grand prize awaited there. And knowing them, that prize was probably pride.
Zi Hua kept a measured distance behind, rare nervousness prompting her to enter the hall with them, rather than hang back and do so alone. The thought of meeting the senior consorts had stirred more anxiety within her than anticipation.
What did they look like? How would they react to the new consorts? Was her attire "respectful" enough? Her etiquette good enough?
Was she enough?
She had no idea.
The middle-aged eunuch guarding the reception hall's entrance bowed upon seeing the unlikely trio come up the stairs. He extended a hand in a welcoming gesture and announced:
"Noble Beauty Song and Noble Beauty Luo are entering—! Lady Beauty Yang is entering—!"
With a victorious smirk, Song Chang Ge crossed the raised threshold with her long legs like it didn't even exist, leaving Luo Yin to adjust her scowl before following suit with less fluidity. Zi Hua slipped in behind the petite girl, taking in Phoenix Palace's interior.
The first thing she noticed was the Phoenix Throne.
It was positioned in front of black folding screens, but its splendour left no room for one to fathom what lay behind the screens, if it were screens at all.
Made of dark red sandalwood and polished to gleaming perfection, the phoenixes circling its back and headrest were poised to take flight, while the peonies below had petals which seemed to stretch beyond the contraints of lifeless wood, symbolising the eternal pride of the flower queen.
Though empty, the Phoenix Throne represented a position so high and unattainable that other women could only gaze up at it from the three-step dais.
Forever close enough to bestow mercy upon its subjects, yet never close enough to challenge.
Two rows of seats, decreasing in size and elaborateness the further down the line, framed the throne, two-thirds already occupied by women of diverse yet equally eye-catching appearances.
If the courtiers of Blossom Palace were saplings waiting to be nourished by sunlight and morning dew, then the imperial consorts were blossoms in full bloom, each more beautiful, graceful, and noble than the last.
One of them, seated at the frontmost right, drew Zi Hua's attention. Not just because she was seated closest to the Phoenix Throne, but because of the unnerving contradiction between the superiority her posture radiated, and the gentle smile etched on her face.
A conservative violet dress contributed to the mature consort's dignified appearance, accentuating her classical beauty without being so formal as to age her beyond her years. Her hair, secured in an updo by white organza flowers and amethyst-studded hairpins, added a touch of vivacity without diminishing her status.
Coincidentally, she was also the first to speak after their arrival.
"Welcome, Noble Beauty Song, Noble Beauty Luo, and Lady Beauty Yang," she said warmly. "Now that the three of you are here, that makes all of the new consorts."
A melodious giggle sounded from a pink-clad consort a few seats down. Her hands were folded protectively over her slightly swollen stomach. It was none other than Concubine Lin.
"Virtuous Consort, your memory eludes you," she chuckled. "The star of last night has yet to arrive."
"Ah, my mistake." Virtuous Consort Liu inclined her head, unaffected by the slight. "I do hope Noble Lady Bai makes it in time. It is getting late..."
At that, more consorts joined the conversation, pitching in their opinions on the missing consort who had snagged the emperor on her first night.
"I heard His Majesty is quite pleased with her. Perhaps she'll be exempted from the morning assembly altogether."
"She wouldn't dare be absent after receiving favour... Would she?"
"Who knows? A relative of mine once said she had a habit of showing up last at gatherings, and was very selective about which ones she attended."
"Really? How conceited!"
As the new topic unfolded, Zi Hua, Luo Yin, and Song Chang Ge stood forgotten by the entrance, hesitant about whether to interrupt or find a seat, until...
"Wise Consort Tang is entering—!"
A sylphlike woman appeared in the doorway, backlit by the rising sun.
Each step she took—a whisper of light blue fabric against jade green tiles; a mere sway of silver fringes dangling from accessories—exuded breathtaking poise.
Though taciturn, she looked so ethereal, lotuses could've bloomed beneath her feet. But when Zi Hua blinked, there was only a woman rooted to the earth, looking at them with pure detachment.
"What is this?" she asked.
Her voice wasn't loud, yet its frostiness plunged the entire hall into silence.
"Oh, how rude of us—" Virtuous Consort Liu gasped, as if just noticing the three neglected consorts. "Look at the new sisters still standing by the entrance. Go on, take a seat. You shouldn't have let our idle chatter deter you!"
"It's nothing, Virtuous Consort," Song Chang Ge said emotionlessly.
"Yes, Virtuous Consort," Luo Yin quickly added. "We were inexperienced and unsure if it would violate etiquette."
Zi Hua nodded along silently. Moments like this, it was best to keep quiet.
For a second, she caught Wise Consort Tang's eye, but the latter strode away without acknowledgement.
Unexpectedly, the consort a seat away from Virtuous Consort Liu spoke up.
"Actually, Noble Beauty Luo needn't be so on edge. We are permitted to act freely before Her Highness arrives," she said, looking at the Virtuous Consort meaningfully.
Zi Hua's breath hitched. So did everybody else's.
"Her Highness" could only refer to one person here... The empress.
She was insinuating Virtuous Consort Liu was pulling rank.
To her credit, Virtuous Consort Liu looked unfazed, but before she could respond, a servant walked out from behind the folding screen.
Her presence brought on an entirely different silence. Heavy solemnity sealed unspoken words and trapped wandering thoughts.
And soon Zi Hua knew why.
"Her Highness the Empress is entering—!"
Fans were tucked away, dresses were smoothed, and jewelleries clinked in motion. The seated consorts stood and lined up below the dais in order of rank; the ones standing rushed to find a spot behind them.
Step. Step. Step.
Where murmurs were swallowed, slow, purposely footsteps resounded. A figure emerged from behind the mysterious folding screens.
She neither gestured nor spoke. She did not need to.
In unison, they curtseyed and paid their respects:
"Long live Your Highness the Empress!"
Scarlet robes. Phoenix crown.
"Long live Your Highness the Empress!"
Regal bearing. Peerless presence.
"Long live Your Highness the Empress!"
Amidst the imperial consorts' dutiful submission, Empress Zhao turned with a flourish of gold-embroidered sleeves, sending a rustling snap through the air... and lowered herself onto the throne.
"You may rise."
The phoenix of Li Empire had arrived.