The eunuchs hurriedly set down the palanquin.
Li Yuanjing surveyed the dilapidated palace walls—it was Xiangyun Palace. Years ago, Liu Qiao'er had angered him and was demoted to the rank of Concubine Qiao. She had lived here with their two children ever since.
Though Concubine Qiao was technically the mistress of this palace, the outer walls were shockingly worn. If the envoys from the Yue Kingdom were to see this, they might gossip behind Qing State's back, claiming the imperial consorts were poorly treated.
As the emperor arrived, the palace servants dropped to their knees in haste.
The two children in the courtyard, upon seeing Li Yuanjing, stammered nervously, "F-Father... Your Majesty, we greet you."
Li Yuanjing beckoned them. "Come here."
The children shuffled forward reluctantly.
His gaze lingered on them—their clothes were worn, their frames thin, and their demeanor timid as quails. At the sight of him, they trembled, eyes downcast.
They were overly cautious, lacking the poise expected of royal offspring.
Li Yuanjing's brows furrowed slightly.
A concubine's stipend was substantial enough to ensure her children lived comfortably. So why were these two still dressed in old garments?
"Your Majesty, this humble consort greets you." Inside, Liu Qiao'er, who had been embroidering, rushed out in a fluster upon hearing the commotion.
She hadn't expected the emperor's sudden visit. Clad in plain attire, her face bore no trace of makeup, the fine lines at the corners of her eyes starkly visible.
She even looked somewhat sallow and gaunt.
At first glance, Li Yuanjing barely recognized the once-glamorous Liu Qiao'er. Now, her beauty had faded, her skin rough, resembling more a washerwoman from the laundry bureau than an imperial consort.
Perplexed, Li Yuanjing asked, "Has the empress withheld Xiangyun Palace's stipend?"
Trembling, Liu Qiao'er hastily denied it. "No, never. It's just... this consort prefers simplicity and eschews cosmetics."
She had always kept a low profile, avoiding trouble. The empress paid her no mind, and the palace staff, ever opportunistic, gradually neglected Xiangyun Palace. Most of Concubine Qiao's monthly allowance was quietly siphoned away.
But she dared not protest. Resistance would only invite the empress's wrath.
Plain meals sufficed—survival was all she sought.
Li Yuanjing fell silent.
Even if she disliked makeup, she could at least take minimal care of herself. A consort in her twenties looked closer to forty, an embarrassment to the imperial household.
He turned to De Shun. "Have Xiangyun Palace's outer walls renovated. Send the Tailoring Bureau to deliver five new sets of well-fitted robes."
After a pause, he glanced at Liu Qiao'er's pallid complexion. "And some rouge as well."
De Shun bowed in acknowledgment.
Li Yuanjing then inquired about the studies of Concubine Qiao's son, Li Chengxun, who was also his own child and had begun basic education at Anguo Temple.
Yet the moment Li Yuanjing spoke, the boy stuttered fearfully, unable to string together a coherent sentence. Pressed further, the child burst into tears.
Disappointed, Li Yuanjing lost interest. Such timidity was unbecoming. With a flick of his sleeve, he departed.
Liu Qiao'er stood at the palace gates, bowing respectfully as she watched the emperor's palanquin fade into the distance, her eyes lingering.
"His Majesty still remembers me," she murmured with a faint, sorrowful smile.
Lately, Noble Consort Shen Wei had monopolized the emperor's favor, basking in glory. Night after night, Li Yuanjing stayed at Yongning Palace, neglecting all other consorts.
Yet today, he had come to her, offering warmth and concern. Deep down, he hadn't forgotten their childhood bond.
"Your Majesty, this consort dares not covet your affection," Liu Qiao'er sighed. She couldn't bear to relive the tragedies of her past life—the fall of her family, the deaths of her children—all vivid nightmares haunting her across lifetimes.
Only by avoiding favor could she survive the harem.
Let Noble Consort, Virtuous Consort Lu Xuan, Orchid Consort, and the empress battle among themselves. Perhaps their strife would leave them with nothing.
Perhaps, in the end, Liu Qiao'er might quietly outlast them all.
---
Meanwhile, Virtuous Consort Lu Xuan received word that the emperor would visit her that evening.
She exhaled in quiet relief.
It seemed His Majesty had grown weary of Noble Consort Shen Wei.
In the harem, no woman could hold the emperor's exclusive favor forever. Whether it was Noble Consort or herself, they could only watch as the imperial affection dwindled.
Only by bearing children could they barely cling to his heart.
"Little Qin, set up the chessboard. This consort will play a game with His Majesty tonight." Lu Xuan excelled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. In her heyday, Li Yuanjing had adored playing chess with her.
She meticulously applied her makeup before the mirror.
Blessed with peerless beauty, only Consort Mei could rival her in the harem. A touch of powder concealed the faint lines at her eyes, restoring her radiant glow.
She donned an exquisite gown embroidered with twin butterflies and cloud patterns, adorned with jade hairpins, a red dot gracing her forehead, and rouge tinting her lips. As she dressed, she asked, "Where else did His Majesty visit today?"
The attending maid replied, "After court matters, His Majesty first went to Concubine Qiao's quarters, bestowing garments and silver. Then, his palanquin proceeded to our Changxin Palace."
Lu Xuan's hand paused mid-application. "Concubine Qiao..."
Concubine Qiao had always been inconspicuous, but she was a remnant of Prince Yan's Mansion and had borne two children.
A latent threat.
She would need to be eliminated eventually.
In this vast harem, no one could remain untouched by the fray.
Outside, De Shun's voice announced, "His Majesty approaches!"
Lu Xuan rose eagerly, checking her reflection once more to ensure perfection before gliding out to greet him.
At dusk, Changxin Palace was awash with blooming roses, like scattered clouds of sunset. Lu Xuan led her attendants forward, curtsying gracefully. "This consort greets Your Majesty."
Her etiquette was impeccable, flawless in every detail.
Raising her luminous eyes, she gazed at the tall figure cloaked in dark robes, warmth blooming in her chest.
Li Yuanjing entered.
The imperial kitchen delivered an elaborate dinner, every dish tailored to his tastes. Lu Xuan dined with him, chewing slowly, observing the rule of silence during meals.
Afterward, Li Yuanjing visited the adjacent chamber to see their one-year-old son. Lu Xuan had cared for the child well—plump and fair, the baby slept soundly in his crib.
Studying the child's peaceful face, Li Yuanjing remarked, "You assist the empress in managing the harem by day and tend to our son by night. You've worked hard."
Blushing, Lu Xuan replied softly, "Serving Your Majesty is no hardship. The chessboard awaits in the study—would you honor this consort with a game?"
Pleased, Li Yuanjing nodded.
In the elegantly furnished study, the chessboard was ready, incense curling from a gilded burner. Li Yuanjing took black, Lu Xuan white, and the game began.
Among the harem consorts, Lu Xuan was the finest player.
But Li Yuanjing had noticed she often deliberately conceded moves.
It robbed the game of its joy.
His thoughts drifted to Shen Wei. Back in Prince Yan's Mansion, he had spent days teaching her chess. Gradually, she had grasped the basics.
Shen Wei was terrible at chess, but she never went easy on him. Every time she was on the verge of losing, she would shamelessly take back her moves or even sneakily steal his pieces—a sight that was utterly endearing.
Later, Shen Wei grew tired of playing chess, and if Li Yuanjing wanted her company, he had to coax her for a long time before she reluctantly agreed to play a single game with him.
Chess with Shen Wei was always lively and full of joy.
But with Lu Xuan, it was dull and tedious. She never cheated, never took back her moves, and always tried to anticipate his thoughts, carefully letting him win.
"Your Majesty's skill is unmatched. I've lost again," Lu Xuan murmured softly as she set down her piece, her beautiful eyes lifting to meet his. "Would you care for another game?"
Li Yuanjing had lost all interest. "No need."
Lu Xuan's heart sank.
She could feel it clearly—Li Yuanjing's affection for her was fading day by day. No matter how hard she tried to please him, she could only watch helplessly as he drifted away. The torment was unbearable.
Night fell, and the bright moonlight draped the courtyard in a thin veil of silver. The garden was filled with roses, their petals shimmering under the pale glow. Li Yuanjing strolled through the courtyard, with Lu Xuan obediently following behind.
Everyone knew the Emperor adored roses.
Lu Xuan's courtyard was filled with them, meticulously tended by gardeners, ensuring they bloomed the most beautifully.
"Your Majesty, the roses have been exceptionally lovely these past few days," Lu Xuan said gently. "If you came to see them in daylight, I’m sure you’d be delighted."
But ever since Shen Wei returned, Li Yuanjing had lost all fondness for roses.
After just a few steps, the thorns of a rose snagged his robe.
