Lu Xuan crushed the pink rose in her hand, her face etched with regret. "I had hoped to use the Empress to eliminate Consort Chen and reap the benefits. But who knew the Empress would be so foolish as to attempt harming the Empress Dowager as well?"
It was practically digging her own grave.
If the Tantai family wished to preserve the Empress and their century-old glory, they would have to offer the Emperor a substantial "gesture of sincerity"—a heavy price for the family.
Little Qin approached Lu Xuan with news. "Mistress, Consort Chen also has connections in the Imperial Hospital—the newly appointed Doctor Mo."
Lu Xuan turned, her tone laced with subtle curiosity. "That young physician in his early twenties?"
Little Qin nodded. "Indeed. Rumor has it that Doctor Mo and Consort Chen were acquainted years ago. His entry into the Imperial Hospital was entirely orchestrated by her influence."
Lu Xuan narrowed her beautiful eyes, lost in thought.
A handsome young physician and a recently returned imperial consort, with ties between them.
With a little manipulation, this could become the key to toppling Consort Chen.
After a moment of scheming, Lu Xuan instructed Little Qin, "Have someone keep an eye on Doctor Mo."
Little Qin understood immediately. "This servant will arrange it at once."
...
Kunning Palace.
Ever since Li Wan'er was taken away by the servants of Cining Palace, the Empress had felt as though she had plunged into an icy abyss, her entire body trembling with dread.
"Her Majesty must know. She knows everything." The Empress paced restlessly, clutching her prayer beads, rolling them one by one between her fingers in a futile attempt to calm her frayed nerves.
Bead after bead, scripture after scripture, time slipped away unnoticed.
"Mistress, Imperial Physician Shen and the others have been taken away by the Tiger Guards!" A senior maid rushed into the chamber in a panic.
Clatter—
The prayer beads slipped from her grasp, the string snapping, sending the smooth beads scattering across the floor.
The Empress's lips trembled, her mind buzzing. She seized the maid's wrist with a death grip. "The... the Tiger Guards?"
In Yanjing City, the outermost defense was the city garrison. Within the imperial palace, the Forbidden Army maintained order. And beside the Emperor stood the Tiger Guards—his eyes and ears, tasked with uncovering secrets both inside and outside the palace.
If the Tiger Guards had taken Imperial Physician Shen and the others, it meant the Emperor had already traced the poisoning of Consort Chen and the near-fatal attempt on the Empress Dowager and Princess Leyou back to the Empress.
Her legs gave way, and she collapsed to the floor, helpless. She couldn't comprehend how she had fallen from the heights of power into the abyss in mere moments.
Her plan had been flawless, executed without a hitch. Where had it gone wrong?
"The Emperor and the Empress Dowager will surely punish me..." The Empress murmured, her eyes reddening as tears spilled down her cheeks.
The senior maid knelt beside her, silent and bowed.
A gust of wind howled through the chamber, tangling the Empress's hair.
Granny Liu, witnessing the Empress's unraveling, couldn't bear it. She stepped forward, offering gentle counsel. "Mistress, this old servant warned you long ago—do not oppose Consort Chen and the Empress Dowager. You cannot win against them."
The Empress scowled, fury flashing in her eyes. "I am the Empress! The rightful wife of the Emperor of Da Qing! How dare the Shen woman and the Empress Dowager oppress me!"
Born into nobility, Tantai Shuya would never bow to anyone!
She seized Granny Liu's arm, tears streaming as she screamed, "Tell me, Granny Liu! How do I save myself? Tell me! Speak!"
Granny Liu winced at the pain in her arm but replied steadily, "Mistress, you have erred. The only path now is to confess your wrongdoing. Remove your jewels, don plain garments and cloth shoes, and walk bare-faced to Cining Palace and Chang'an Palace to kneel before the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, begging for forgiveness."
Dressed in mourning white, stripped of vanity—a display of true remorse.
A voluntary admission of guilt, pledging never to repeat the offense.
The Empress froze, then shoved Granny Liu away violently. "I am the Empress! To walk bare-faced through the palace, under the eyes of countless onlookers—I would become the laughingstock of the entire capital!"
Such humiliation was unthinkable.
Granny Liu stumbled back, her aged bones creaking as she hit the floor.
Disappointment etched deep into her features, she struggled to her feet and cast one last glance at the mistress she had served for decades. "If that is your choice, then you must write to your family and beg for their intervention."
The Empress's eyes lit up, as if grasping at a lifeline. She immediately ordered her maids to prepare ink.
The Tantai family was a century-old noble house, their ancestors having fought alongside emperors to forge the Da Qing dynasty. The Empress clung to the thought—surely, given the Tantai family's prestige, the Emperor and Empress Dowager would show mercy.
After all, hadn't Li Yuanjing owed his throne, in part, to the Tantai family's support?
She bent over the letter, desperation guiding her brush.
Granny Liu sighed deeply, clasped her hands, and bowed deeply to the Empress on her throne. Without another word, she turned and walked out of Kunning Palace, never looking back.
...
The Empress's plea for help reached the Tantai family swiftly.
The family head—the Empress's elder brother—immediately summoned the clan elders for counsel. Even Madam Tantai, who had been recuperating by Moonfall Lake, was called back.
Attempted murder of the Empress Dowager, poisoning an imperial consort and a princess—these were grave crimes.
If the Tantai family wished to preserve Tantai Shuya's position as Empress and safeguard their future prosperity, they would have to pay a steep price.
Tonight, the Tantai household would know no sleep.
The Tantai family's movements were swiftly reported to Li Yuanjing by the Tiger Guards.
In Chang'an Palace, the Emperor sipped from a cup of warm honeysuckle tea, the delicate fragrance lingering on his tongue.
After a long pause, he set the cup down. "Has Weiwei's condition improved?"
The Tiger Guard replied, "Doctor Mo's antidote has proven remarkably effective. Consort Chen is recovering well."
Li Yuanjing exhaled slightly in relief.
Dusk deepened, palace lanterns flickering to life one by one, veiling the imperial grounds in a soft glow. After finishing the last of his memorials, Li Yuanjing set out for Yongning Palace under the cover of night.
As the imperial palanquin passed through the gardens, the Emperor spotted Li Chengtai and an elderly maid from Cining Palace. Under the lantern light, the young prince's face was set in a stubborn pout.
"Your son greets Father Emperor," Li Chengtai recited dutifully.
The palanquin halted.
Li Yuanjing stepped down, approaching his son. "It's late. Where have you been?"
Li Chengtai pressed his lips together, muttering, "I went to Yongning Palace to see Mother."
His tone carried a hint of resentment toward his father.
Upon learning of his mother's poisoning, he had rushed to her side in worry. Shen Wei, having just taken her antidote, reassured him repeatedly before sending him back to Cining Palace with the old maid.
On the way back, Li Chengtai's heart remained heavy with unease.
Night-blooming crabapple trees swayed in the breeze. Li Yuanjing's lips curved slightly. "Walk with me," he said, his voice low.
Li Chengtai nodded silently.
Servants trailed at a respectful distance as father and son strolled. The wind whispered through the trees, and Li Chengtai clutched his small silk lantern, trailing behind the Emperor.
Beneath a particularly lush crabapple tree, Li Yuanjing paused.
Lost in thought, Li Chengtai didn't notice and bumped straight into his father, nearly dropping his lantern.
Rubbing his forehead, the young prince shot a reproachful look upward.
Li Yuanjing smiled and asked, "Are you angry with your father?"
Li Chengtai tightened his grip on the palace lantern in his hand, tilting his small head up to look at the man who towered over him. Summoning his courage, he spoke:
"Father, if you didn't like Consort Chen... you shouldn't have brought us back to the palace in the first place."
