Chương 6: Chapter 4 Interlude 1 (R)

Sun Hao, Emperor of the Tianjing Empire, made his way to his study after leaving the throne room following his daughter's Man Yue. Upon opening the door he sank heavily into the chair at his desk and stared fixedly at a letter resting on its surface. The figure of Jiangjun Han Xin, principal general of the Empire's left army, tall and lean, with a thick mustache framing his face, entered the study laughing and closed the door behind him.

"What kind of madness was that, old friend?" Han Xin asked as he made his way to a small table laden with bottles of liquor.

"You went off script during the ceremony, granted unexpected titles, and nearly gave Taijian Li Ming a heart attack." Sun Hao, without taking his eyes off the letter, replied in a tone that conveyed weariness "I received a letter from my father this morning." Han Xin, his expression turning curious, poured himself a cup of liquor and approached the desk.

"And what does the meddlesome old man want this time?" he asked, taking a sip of his drink. Sun Hao sighed deeply before answering.

"He has ordered me to kill my daughter", he said, his voice full of bitterness.

"He considers her condition a disgrace to the Sun family and a stain on our reputation." Han Xin's smile vanished at once, and he fell silent, processing what he had just heard.

"Does he think he's still the Emperor and can order whatever he likes?" he asked at last.

"He isn't even the leader of the sect, just an honorary elder." Sun Hao snorted, his expression hardening.

"As far as I'm concerned, he can order whatever he wants. I'm not going to kill my daughter just because some crotchety old man thinks I should. Now that I've finally been able to have a daughter, I won't lose her to the whims of someone who no longer holds power in the palace", Sun Hao replied.

"But because of that I've had to move her into the inner palace, where security is tighter and it won't be easy for him to do something drastic should he tire of waiting for me to obey." Han Xin sighed and sat down, still holding his cup.

"I've never understood your obsession with having daughters. Mine have only been good for spending money", he remarked with a touch of humor. Sun Hao fixed him with a look before replying "Someone who only thinks with the sheath of his sword cannot comprehend my idea of happiness." With a wave of his hand, Sun Hao motioned for Han Xin to leave "I want to be alone for the rest of the night." Han Xin stood, drained the liquor in his cup in one gulp, and set it on the table "Be careful, Hao.

The old man is completely irrational and nobody knows what he's capable of."

"I know", Sun Hao answered.

"I already know what I have to do." Han Xin bid farewell with a nod and left the study, leaving Sun Hao in the half-light. The Emperor sat in silence, drumming his fingers on the desk as he reflected on recent events. After a while, having apparently reached some kind of decision, he rose from the chair and left the study. The Hall of Supreme Harmony blazed with opulence and grandeur.

The walls, adorned with silk tapestries embroidered with scenes of landscapes and ancient legends, reflected the power and wealth of the Tianjing Empire. Great golden chandeliers hung from the ceiling, bathing the hall in a warm, resplendent light that gleamed off the polished marble floors. The tables, arranged in a semicircle around a central space, were draped with brocade tablecloths and decorated with exquisite floral arrangements.

The servants, dressed in silk tunics embroidered with golden details, moved with grace and precision, serving the dishes traditional to this kind of celebration. Among the delicacies were lacquered duck, abalone in oyster sauce, and steamed pork dumplings. The fragrance of spices and herbs filled the air, awakening the senses of everyone present.

Guifei Xiang, formerly known as Fei Xiang, surveyed the splendor of the hall with a mixture of bewilderment and unease over the events that had occurred shortly before, during her daughter's Man Yue ceremony. Although she had been elevated to the title of Guifei, she could not fathom the reason behind the honor. She had always assumed her position as the Emperor's favored consort was due to being the most recent addition, not to any merit of her own.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. And not only that: Guifei Xiang knew she had attained the rank of consort through a political maneuver intended to humiliate Taijian Li Ming, and as if her position weren't precarious enough because of that, she had given the Emperor only a daughter, and that daughter was disabled on top of it. She could not understand the real reason behind her promotion.

The Emperor's other consorts, eleven in total, occupied their seats in the hall. Fei Zhi, the former favored consort, known for her sharp tongue, directed a malicious, envy-laden glance at Guifei Xiang.

"Guifei Xiang, what a surprise the ceremony turned out to be. I imagine you didn't expect to find yourself with such a… lofty title", Fei Zhi said with a false smile. Guifei Xiang smiled politely "Thank you, Fei Zhi. I didn't expect this honor either." Fei Lan chimed in, her voice laden with sarcasm "At least that will make things easier for your daughter, won't it? It must be difficult raising a child in her situation." Before Guifei Xiang could reply, another voice joined the discussion.

"But at least you have artistic talent, don't you? That's always useful for entertaining the Emperor. I wonder what kind of painting you produced to earn yourself the title", Fei Ming added, her tone equally venomous. Guifei Xiang maintained her composure, though each comment cut her deeply "I have always found solace in my art, and I would not dare presume to guess His Majesty's thoughts." As the servants continued serving the dishes, the conversation grew even more tense.

"A pity it was a girl. That must be a burden. Even more so given her condition", Fei Nuo said with a condescending smile.

"If at least it had been a boy, her future wouldn't have been so complicated."

"It's a miracle the Emperor elevated you to Guifei with so few merits", Fei Xi added, her voice thick with envy. Guifei Xiang felt the weight of their words but responded with serenity "As I said before, I would not dare presume to guess His Majesty's thoughts. If you wish to know the reason, I suppose you'll have to ask him yourselves." These words appeared to silence the other consorts momentarily. They quickly began discussing the latest palace gossip among themselves while deliberately excluding Guifei Xiang.

The banquet continued, but for Guifei Xiang every minute felt like an eternity. At last, when the banquet ended, she rose with dignity and made her way to her residence, exhausted from enduring the other consorts' malice. To her surprise, when she stepped out of the hall a pair of Nei Wei approached alongside Fei Yi Lingxi to escort her through the palace corridors, their footsteps echoing softly on the marble.

As they walked, her handmaiden told her that Taijian Li Ming had ordered the move to be carried out by morning. Wondering at the reason for such urgency and resigning herself to not getting a wink of sleep all night, they arrived at her pavilion. Sighing with relief, she headed to her study followed by Fei Yi Lingxi, where they would have to plan a move in the little time remaining before dawn.

The following morning, in an opulent pavilion of the Outer Palace, the first rays of sunlight illuminated a spacious, elegantly decorated room. The atmosphere was charged with barely disguised resentments. A consort, dressed in a luxurious embroidered gown, complained bitterly to the eunuch who stood with her in the room.

"I cannot believe they've made her Guifei when she has only one daughter, and a useless waste at that", the consort began, her tone full of indignation.

"I have given the Emperor four sons, and yet look at me, still relegated to this position." The eunuch, a middle-aged man with an impassive face, inclined his head slightly, showing respect but no apparent emotion.

"The Emperor's decisions are beyond question, my lady, however irrational they may seem to us", he replied in a voice that was soft yet firm. The consort frowned with evident frustration "It isn't fair. Guifei Xiang has been promoted while I remain here, despite everything I've sacrificed and achieved." The eunuch continued to regard the consort impassively, waiting for her to go on. The consort's eyes suddenly gleamed with a flash of malice as she lowered her voice "Speaking of other matters, how is the…

situation with Fei Zhi's youngest son coming along?" The eunuch hesitated a moment before replying, glancing around to make sure no one was listening "Everything is proceeding as planned, my lady. The boy has begun to cultivate, despite being only six years old. It is merely a matter of time before Fei Zhi discovers what is happening, but by then it could be too late." The consort smiled, satisfied with the answer "Perfect. With a bit of luck, this incident will take care of one of my sons' rivals.

A descendant of the Fu family, however young, could compete for the throne. The competition in this court is fierce, and we must ensure our interests prevail." The eunuch nodded, maintaining his servile posture "Is there anything else you desire, my lady?" The consort sighed, her expression shifting to one of contemplation "Yes. I need to find a way to rid myself of both the mother and the daughter. They cannot stay here enjoying a rank that should rightfully be mine, and even less so with a waste like that girl."

The eunuch kept his gaze lowered, not daring to offer suggestions on so delicate a matter "I will do whatever is in my power to assist you, my lady. But with them residing in the Inner Palace, it will be difficult to act." The consort looked at the eunuch with a cold smile "Then I expect results. Remember, your position depends on your effectiveness in these matters."

With those words, the consort turned toward the room's window and gazed at the maids carrying furniture and at the crowd that had gathered to gossip, held at bay by the Nei Wei. As she watched, she thought about how to make the relocation more efficient for when she finally occupied the position she deserved.