The ladies of the harem and the Inner Court dressed lavishly in order while being led by Cao Zhaoyi made their way to the Central Palace, mounting the stairs that led to it's great hall they found that forty eight seats had been arranged and each of them with tea sets.
They moved in order with the Seniority sitting on the right while the lesser on the left and while everyone was settled, a silence prevailed for a moment.
"Are they all here?" Empress Yang asked Xiaoyang while Manyin was helping her finalise with her hair.
"Yes Your Highness." She responded and the latter standing up immediately, she moved towards the direction of the Central hall.
"Her Highness deigns you all with her presence." She announced and the doors being opened, the latter majestically walked in from the side to the forefront seat and the highest in the room.
Everyone taking a closer look at her they bowed their heads still standing and while she settled on her throne they shortly did the same in their seats.
"Greetings Your Highness." They said in unison.
"It's but a pleasure." She remarked calmly.
"Are you sure you're alright Your Highness?" One of the Imperial Concubines asked.
"Yes Xu Jieyu." She responded, "what happened to the Imperial Princes was rather unfortunate and I understand that you sympathize with me I don't take it for granted, but we are the harem and the Inner Court, the Emperor's garden if gloom resides in our midst much longer than expected how could we fulfill our duty as faithful wives and restore youth to His Majesty?" She asked them.
"We understand Your Highness." Cao Zhaoyi spoke up as she looked at her cheerfully while the latter did the same.
"The days ahead are going to be very busy, I ask that you cooperate with me that we keep the Palace running immediately." The Empress said.
"No worries Your Highness, I and the rest of the Imperial wives will ensure that it is so." Cao Zhaoyi assured her while she smiled and the Empress taking a cup of tea that was poured for her she sipped it first while they watched.
Lowering it onto the table ahead of her, she stood up at that moment and walking around she stopped in front of Cao Zhaoyi's table and poured her a cup of tea personally that everyone seemed surprised.
"There is a story that I doubt any of you would be familiar with." She slowly said as she stirred the tea in the cup while an awful silence lingered all over the room.
"Your...." Cao Zhaoyi about to speak the Empress put her left finger on her lips signalling for her to remain silent the latter immediately complied.
"There once was a naughty chameleon, very hard to read or tell who he was, his appearance changed more frequently that no animal in the forest could recognize him, this chameleon loved to steal the eggs of other animals that were very small so one day wondering on the ground he came upon a nest and seeing that it was beautiful and filled with eggs, certain that the mother was out he charged towards one of the eggs in the hall." She said as she placed the spoon down and eventually lifted the cup from the table.
"He was too hasty, he didn't know, the mother who was a very long and poisonous snake this time was not sleeping in front of the door but she was rather behind it that when she caught his scent, she opened her mouth wide enough and swallowed the chameleon whole before it even had a chance to resist." She concluded as she handed Cao Zhaoyi the cup after blowing on it and cooling the tea the latter seemingly unafraid took it and sipped the tea while the Empress turned around and faced the other ladies.
"Tell me my dears, what moral do you draw from this tale?" She inquired.
"To always think twice before doing anything." One of the ladies responded.
"It's good but not the answer that I was looking for." The Empress said to her.
"If I may Your Highness?" One of the Concubines asked.
"Please go on Concubine Liang." The Empress permitted.
"What goes around comes around, certainly
It must have been karma had the chameleon not robbed so much he wouldn't have come across the worst person to offend." She responded.
"Your answer is very practical." The Empress said, "I'll give one more chance to you?" The Empress said.
"If I may Your Highness?" Cao Zhaoyi muttered and the Empress turning around to look at her smiled.
"Tell us Zhaoyi, after all as it currently stands you so happen to be the most senior of the Consorts." The Empress remarked.
"The Chameleon died unfortunately but amidst all that it is worth noting that in everything he did, the eggs that he stole and fed on, he was struggling, he was fighting to survive." She responded.
"There are two ways to survive." Empress Yang said, "you survive by avoiding trouble, you survive by being loved." She asserted while everyone seemed to notice that their personal session was gradually evolving into something else and the Empress was unusually calm.
"The purpose of this story my dears that I am looking for is the fact that everyone in this world is given something that they call their own, something that they protect with their lives, we must be cautious not to extend our hands to far and try not to take what belongs to others because who knows...?" The Empress halted as she turned around and looked at Cao Zhaoyi, "you may end up being swallowed by the giant snake." She said.
"Yes Your Highness." The ladies said to her bowing their heads and turning around she mounted the stairs that led to her seat and gracefully in the presence of everyone watching, she picked up her cup and cooled it before taking a sip and resting it onto the table again.
"That wench." Cao Zhaoyi said barging through the doors of her Chambers she hurriedly sat down behind her table while Linxiang stopped in her presence.
"Please appease your anger Ma'am, Her Highness certainly narrated that story intending to infuriate you." She claimed.
"Whether threatening me or not, Her Highness seems more determined, it might have been that she was warning the other ladies and advertising her temper but I understand that she was talking to me in particular." Cao Zhaoyi remarked.
"The Empress won't stop Ma'am, nothing is more painful than losing a child and ourselves having put her in that predicament she won't let us off easily." Linxiang reported.
"For heaven's sake what is Han Touzhou doing?" Cao Zhaoyi asked herself.
"He has just lost most of his power there's nothing that will be more ordurous than trying to gain it back again, besides, he needs to be cautious." Linxiang responded.
"What about the Grand Chancellor, is there still no word from him yet?" Cao Zhaoyi inquired.
"No." Linxiang responded.
"We must do something." Cao Zhaoyi muttered.
"What Ma'am?" Linxiang asked, "worrying too much isn't good for your child." She remarked.
"Keep a close eye on the Empress." She ordered Linxiang.
"Yes Ma'am." Linxiang replied.
The Empress returning to her personal room Xiaoyang, Manyin and Beiyuan alone with her, Beiyuan handed her an envelope.
"What is it?" She inquired.
"It's a message from our spy in the nunnery, Consort Han is restless and she vanishes frequently of recent our men looked into it and she was spotted around the Han residence yesterday." Beiyuan responded as the Empress opening the envelope she pulled out the letter that was inside and looked through the contents.
"What about the Deposed Crown Princess?" She asked.
"There hasn't been a sight of her." Beiyuan replied.
"In hiding as usual I suppose, I don't blame her either, Consort Han on the other hand is restless I suppose that blood is thicker than water after all." The Empress muttered to herself putting down the letter as she smiled.
"She's violating His Majesty's order." Manyin pointed out.
"We all are sinners that never stop believing that we deserve a second chance in life, " Empress Yang remarked, "if she's restless at the temple then it must be because she misses the Palace she was once fond of." She said.
"I am concerned Your Highness, you couldn't possibly be thinking of...." Beiyuan hesitated.
"You know me well enough, I don't mind the large number of our enemies these days, however, they have very frail alliances without of course the exception of Cao Zhaoyi as well." The Empress replied.
"Your Highness, there's no telling what Consort Han is capable of doing this time." Manyin cautioned.
"When a cow drinks water it becomes milk, when a snake drinks water it becomes poison." Empress Yang remarked as she looked at them confused at that moment she took a deep sigh.
"Cao Zhaoyi has no powerful political allies, Han Touzhou lacks a strong woman he can wholeheartedly rely on for support in the harem, besides I am benevolent, at the very least the people say, many of them believe, Consort Han's presence in the Palace surely is disastrous but it can save us much trouble." The Empress remarked.
"How can you be so sure Your Highness?" Xiaoyang inquired.
"Cao Zhaoyi tried to reason with Chen Ziqiang, but she noticed that sooner or later Han Touzhou will not be as useful to him, Han Touzhou anxious to regain his lost power must gain influence in the Palace and the only person he can trust enough to enable him see this come to pass is his niece as they are linked by blood and common grudges the outcome which is positive on their side satisfies both their interests." The Empress responded.
"In any way, both parties surely shall be frightened of each other." Beiyuan asserted.
"It will create the schism we need to push our action forward." The Empress remarked confidently.
"But how are we going to bring Consort Han back into the Palace?" Manyin inquired.
"Leave that to me." The Empress said.
"Yes Your Highness." They all replied in unison while bowing their heads to her.
The Deposed Crown Princess Cao Xuan in a small room with her child at her breast, Shaanxi made her entrance with a small tray in her hands.
"Milady." She said bowing her head to her.
"I am alright." She replied, "first put the concoction aside." She demanded.
"The physician said that you hadn't fully recovered, that strain you went through after delivering his....." She hesitated as her mistress fiercely looked at her, "your baby." She rectified herself, "it was too much." She remarked.
"Don't worry, as it is I am in a very light mood, the heavens must have been merciful that what the Empress wished for me she got herself, heaven protected my one child but couldn't protect her two." She asserted with relief.
"Such is the fate of the wicked, this is the law of Karma." Shaanxi claimed when they heard a knock on the door.
"Come on in." The former Crown Princess said and the doors being opened her benefactor walked in.
"Milord." Shaanxi standing up immediately she bowed her head to him while the deposed Crown Princess about to do the same halted her.
"It's alright, you don't have to." Young Master Xie said and the young woman complied.
"I am really grateful, you have helped me so much that I don't know how it is that I can possibly repay you." She muttered.
"It's alright, you don't have to do anything Yue'er." He responded staring at her lovingly that she could feel her cheeks burning up she looked down while the young man stared at the young boy.
"How is he?" He asked.
"He's fine Milord." Cao Xuan replied.
"Did you give him a name?" He asked.
"Not yet." Cao Xuan replied.
"Why?" He asked while she became awfully quiet and depressed that he seemed to drop the issue instantly.
"It's alright." The young man replied.
"I don't know." Cao Xuan replied, "perhaps it's because I couldn't seem to come up with a name for him." She asserted.
"In that case, I can be of great help, after all, I am quite knowledgeable when it comes to choosing names." He remarked and the two laughing between themselves, Shaanxi slowly withdrew from the room without them noticing while they got along well enough.
The Empress walked up to the Grand Palace and mounting the stairs that led to the Emperor's study, she halted in front of Eunuch Deng.
"I wish to have a word with His Majesty." She said.
"I'll announce you." The latter replied as he walked into the room and notified the Emperor returning a short while later.
"You may go in." He said to her and jumping over the doorstep she got in alone and found her husband seated behind his table while looking through a couple of memorials.
"The workload today seems a bit too much." She said.
"It's three days' work." He replied as he closed the memorial in front of him and put it aside while the Empress getting closer to him she took the seat that was stationed directly in front of him quietly.
"You aren't so lively as it seems, is there anything that you wish to say to me?" The Emperor Ningzong asked.
"It's been a while now Your Majesty, I am bothered as it is." She responded.
"What could it be?" He inquired.
"It's about Consort Han Your Majesty." She replied and that very instant, her face went pale.
"Consort Han?" He asked in disbelief.
"Yes." She confirmed.
"Why does she bother you?" Emperor Ningzong asked.
"Consort Han sinned and she paid the crimes for her evil deeds, but I am worried that the Han Clan weren't convinced with the new governmental adjustments put to keep Han Touzhou beside you as your Left Chancellor, I think it necessary that he is assured of your affection." The Empress replied.
"I can make her free." Emperor Ningzong remarked.
"That isn't necessarily what I am asking." She replied.
"Then I don't understand what it is that you want." The Emperor pointed out.
"I am kindly asking that Your Majesty reinstates Consort Han as a part of your harem and the Inner Court." She responded.
"I can not do that." Emperor Ningzong asked.
"Because you are worried for me?" She inquired from him.
"Perhaps," he replied, "I am worried enough that I don't want the politics of this country to make life for you in the Palace burdensome." He added.
"But I can't even do that for a moment, I can not stop worrying for your Majesty, not as your wife, not as the Mother of this nation." She professed.
"Does it trouble you that much?" Emperor Ningzong asked.
"I will keep trying to reconcile you Your Majesty and I am willing to give her a second chance, after all we all deserve it and I still believe that there's a good part of her somewhere in there." The Empress replied as she looked innocently at him.
"You have such a good nature that at times I can't help it but worry for you in the future." The Emperor said.
"My people are faithful and many people have tried to fight me Your Majesty, thank the merciful heavens that appreciate my righteousness, my enemies will never defeat me." She assured him.
"If you insist my Empress then I'll let you do it, besides, politically it's worthwhile." He remarked.
"Thank you Your Majesty." The Empress said bowing her head to him and smiling heartily.
"It's nothing, I can do anything for you." He assured her.
Manyin and Xiaoyang waiting outside, the doors of the study were opened and the Empress appeared before them.
"Your Highness." They said rushing towards her.
"Send the good news to the Nunnery, the Han residence should be informed as well as I am certain that they will find delight in learning that Consort Han will be reinstated as His Majesty's Consort prior to the Farewell feast, no, the day after tomorrow." The Empress ordered.
"Yes Your Highness." The two replied in unison.
"One more thing." She said to them.
"Yes Your Highness?" They inquired from her.
"Make sure that Cao Zhaoyi receives the good news." She responded before continuing her way while they followed her.
The Emperor Ningzong inside was still lost in his thoughts as he thought the move to be suspicious when Eunuch Deng walked up to him.
"You seem worried Your Majesty, is there anything wrong?" He inquired.
"The Empress personally asking me to allow Consort Han to be reinstated to her position in my harem and the Inner Court is quite strange." The Emperor replied.
"It is her good nature Your Majesty, she really is a kind hearted woman, to forget all the ill that was done to her and be forgiving, she's right." Eunuch Deng praised.
"I suppose." The Emperor remarked still doubtful.
"I understand that you are in a very tough position Your Majesty but she's right, Han Touzhou might doubt your confidence in him concerning everything that happened with the Governmental positions but first there's a farewell feast to the outgoing Courtiers and now Consort Han's return to the Palace, certainly, the Empress wants to deliberately reconcile the house of Han with the Crown, in my opinion there is no harm in that." Eunuch Deng convinced him.
"Truly thoughtful of her." The Emperor praised.
"I couldn't agree more Your Majesty." Eunuch Deng muttered joyfully.
Han Touzhou standing on top of the pavilion that overlooked the Palace, Lin Xue rushed towards him and mounting the stairs he halted right in front of him.
"Your Excellency?" He said, "there's something urgent." He asserted.
"Seeing that you are short of breath it must be unpleasant." He responded as he turned to him.
"Actually, maybe strange." Lin Xue claimed.
"What is it?" Han Touzhou asked.
"It's the Empress Your Excellency," he replied, "His Majesty has approved of the return of Consort Han into the Palace the day after tomorrow." He replied.
"Impossible." Han Touzhou remarked.
"I too think the same but I have seen the Imperial declaration with my very own eyes." He asserted.
"It isn't the Emperor to act like that." Han Touzhou remarked, "and what about the Empress, she best knows the danger of my niece's return to the Palace." He mentioned.
"But she consented, she pleaded with His Majesty at least I heard that Consort Han returns to the Palace." Lin Xue responded.
"But why?" Han Touzhou asked.
"I don't know." Lin Xue replied.
"I thought that this was something between us but somehow the Empress perceived it, perhaps she heard of it and if it is so it's likely that she is watching us or she has a mole within this house. However, it still doesn't make sense whether she knew or not." Han Touzhou muttered.
"Something is surely wrong." Lin Xue concluded.
"The Empress wouldn't make such a move, she wouldn't take such a big gamble unless she was planning something ahead of time." Han Touzhou muttered under his breath.
"But what could it be that the Empress wants, what does she hope to achieve by doing this?" Lin Xue wondered.
"Politically we are weak but if Consort Han will return to the Palace if we can't understand what the Empress is up to it makes her the most dangerous person." Han Touzhou said.
"We can't avoid this Your Excellency, Consort Han's absolution and return to the Palace is something essential to us, our refusal will be a violation of the Imperial decree." Lin Xue said.
"Then we'll have to be prepared for the worst." Han Touzhou mentioned.
"What?" Cao Zhaoyi said smacking the table with her fist.
"The Empress influenced His Majesty, she pleaded with him to forgive Consort Han and the day after tomorrow she will be welcomed back into His Majesty's harem and the Inner Court." Linxiang reported while Cao Zhaoyi leaned her hand on her forehead.
"Why now of all times?" She asked in a lowly tone.
"Her Highness has clearly articulated her intentions." Linxiang remarked, "but I don't seem to get why now of all times especially when considering the history between the two and besides Consort Han wherever she is she will surely be suspicious." She added.
"I seem to have understood." Cao Zhaoyi confessed.
"Anything you think Ma'am?" Linxiang inquired.
"Han Touzhou may be powerless as it is, his influence might have diminished but he is still valuable because someone as hardheaded as he is he is a perfect match against the Empress, on the other hand, our alliance was strengthened by the fact that he had no one in the Palace to rely on but me." Cao Zhaoyi responded.
"And with the return of Consort Han to the Palace it is bound to complicate the relationship between Han Touzhou and Your Grace." Linxiang muttered.
"If it's the Empress behind it, this is logically what comes to mind." Cao Zhaoyi mentioned, "that is why I needed the support of Chen Ziqiang more than anything else." She added.
"With his position, he can garner sufficient influence with which we can contend with the Empress." Linxiang said.
"Further divisions on our side give the Empress immense power and she's in the position to exert considerable influence in the Imperial Court, she becomes stronger as a result of this to supplant her won't be easy." Cao Zhaoyi remarked.
"What are we going to do then Ma'am?" Linxiang asked.
"With the presence of Consort Han Han Touzhou's devotion to us will be undivided, Consort Han on the other side I am certain isn't one that could trust the Empress, besides, the Empress is smiling but holding a dagger behind her back that means that in this game the most important piece on all parties involved is Consort Han." Cao Zhaoyi responded.
"She can equally be of value to us then Ma'am." Linxiang resolved.
"Therefore we should remind her who supplanted the Late Empress." Cao Zhaoyi remarked as she smiled at herself ghastly.
"Yes Ma'am." Linxiang agreed with her smiling just as wide.
Consort Han seated in her small room the doors were opened and through them, Lin Xue walked in and bowed his head.
"Your Grace." He said.
"I understand that my uncle has sent you to be honest, I was expecting this visit sooner or later." She muttered.
"Then I'll presume that from your expression you have been informed." Lin Xue said while sitting down in front of her.
"Quite reliably after all in this world, nothing travels faster than gossip." Consort Han remarked.
"His Excellency couldn't make it because after what happened he feels that it would have been unsafe for him to make this journey, besides he seems to be concerned equally that you might be aware that the Empress' reaction can only hint to the fact that she's up to something." Lin Xue reported.
"Surely," Consort Han responded, "I must be alert now more than ever that I am aware so he doesn't really have to worry about it and besides, he shouldn't be bothered that much." She remarked.
"You understand how the Empress works, but seeing that she's hasty to make you return to the Palace you must equally be thinking about something." Lin Xue mentioned.
"The Empress is now the most powerful person in the Empire but her only challenge is that she isn't dependant on a single clan to remain in power and not even her relatives as well." Consort Han responded.
"It's rather hard to tell where she lies but as such happens to be the case her greatest merit is that by all means necessary they share the glory and power." Lin Xue remarked.
"But of course it is very hard to suppress human greed and for the sustainability of the government all parties should co-exist with one another in perfect harmony which therefore requires an element of trust." Consort Han said.
"I seem to be confused Your Grace." Lin Xue mentioned.
"The Empress is very cautious about the concentration of power at the very least because if it moves out of control it can be used against her which could besmirch her of everything." Consort Han said.
"Therefore her influence is decentralized which means that it's possible that some ambitious loyalties are not satisfied." Lin Xue reported.
"But we have nothing to lose." Consort Han said, "because we have nothing to lose we can at least offer a definite framework of power." She asserted.
"Yet we can't simply offer everyone the highest position." Lin Xue muttered.
"But who knows that?" Consort Han asked, "because the Empress has all the power at the very least every individual expects so much more from her that if she can not offer...." She ceased.
"The discontented will defect and cross the floor." Lin Xue concluded.
"Once I can get back into the Palace, I can use my position to rejuvenate our diminished influence but in the mean time what matters is to identify which of those loyalties of the Empress can defect to us." Consort Han confidently remarked.
"Yes Your Grace." Lin Xue agreed with her.
The supporters of the Empress gathered right in front of her she picked up her cup and gokk a small sip of its contents before she lowered it onto the table amidst their silence.
"You sure must be having a lot of questions." She said.
"Your Highness, Consort Han returning to the Palace we are deeply concerned." Shi Miyuan mentioned.
"For who?" She asked.
"Who else could it be?" Shi Miyuan responded.
"I am very grateful that you truly care for me and I am moved, but until now I have never thought of something more brilliant than this." She said.
"Your Highness, you understand Consort Han well enough and we do agree that Han Touzhou as it is might not be as powerful as he was at first however, the Presence of someone in the Palace can be an excuse, a chance for him to remobilize his forces and strike back at us." Yang Cishan remarked.
"I doubt that you'll be hearing this for the first time but you must certainly be well aware with the common saying keep your friends close but also your enemies closer." She said.
"Your Highness, to stay away from potential danger should be our biggest concern." Peng Zishou claimed.
"If we had not stayed away from potential danger the Imperial Princes Zhao Zeng and Zhao Jiong would still be alive to this day." She spoke in a serious tone that the latter seemed rather frightened.
"Your Highness...." Master Bao speaking she interfered.
"What does it matter if we take the power of our enemies that has been misused, what could it matter if we defeated them and left them their pathetic lives?" She asked while everyone remained silent.
"Whoever sheds the blood of another is bound to have their blood shed, those people that have vindicated Innocents to not deserve to be reprimanded alone, besides, I don't really care if my life is to be put at stake but if we must slay every last one of them from the face of the Earth for the stability of our Heavenly Empire then so be it." The Empress assured them and taking a quick grasp of the situation at hand, they immediately halted their resistance.
"Your Highness wouldn't have suggested the return of Consort Han into the Palace without having an ulterior motive." Peng Zishou remarked.
"Cao Zhaoyi is trying to reach an alliance with Chen Ziqiang seeing that he holds an ultimate position in the Imperial Court which could isolate Han Touzhou from exerting influence of his own in the harem and the Inner Court, on the other side Consort Han's return can not mean good news for this nation or Cao Zhaoyi because at the very least if Chen Ziqiang can not be cultivated into a strong political ally then the relationship between both Cao Zhaoyi and himself will be compromised." Empress Yang replied.
"That means that Consort Han's presence is intended to accelerate division between Han Touzhou and Cao Zhaoyi." Yang Cishan muttered.
"As it is that blood is thicker than water, definitely Han Touzhou would rather trust his niece than a random stranger he's barely affiliated with, meanwhile Cao Zhaoyi will be isolated one way or another because she doesn't realise that she's climbing a weak stem unless of course she retaliates and that could only mean that her best option at hand would be to propagate conflict between Consort Han and me." The Empress professed.
"It is a move to suffocate loyalties." Jinglan concluded.
"All I have to do is to make one incapable of resistance and the other unworthy to supplant me." The Empress said as she smiled at herself ghastly while the rest of them stared at each other.
Once the meeting was over, she stepped outside the building with Manyin and Xiaoyang and found Beiyuan waiting outside.
"Did you look into what I had asked you to investigate?" She asked.
"Everything from Cao Zhaoyi's meals seems normal and she's confined herself to the Palace, intentionally she chooses to send away visitors and doesn't allow any of the Imperial Physicians to visit her, however apart from that I realised that there were rumours that were spreading amongst her ladies in waiting and servants and it seems that she was still having her periods earlier this year." He replied.
"Then that means that she can still become pregnant." Empress Yang remarked.
"How so when His Majesty rarely spends a night with her?" Xiaoyang asked.
"It's possible that even His Majesty isn't aware." The Empress replied.
"But for two months she's not been going into her periods." Beiyuan reported.
"It's possible that she has reached menopause." Manyin resorted.
"But two Imperial Princes died natural deaths however what is very strange is that it was on the same day." Empress Yang replied.
"What should I do Your Highness?" Beiyuan asked.
"Concubines have a record of the nights spent with the Emperor kept so that the legitimacy of their children born with him isn't brought under question," she responded as she looked at him, "help me find a record from two months ago and bring it to me." The Empress ordered.
"Yes Your Highness." Beiyuan responded and bowing his head, he moved aside as the Empress moved away into the direction of the Palace.
The Palace beaming with celebration and the entertainers amusing the crowds, the ladies of the harem and the Inner Court led by the Empress Yang and the Grand Empress Dowager Xie present they stood in the Central Hall of the Central Palace.
The gates to its courtyard being opened, a palanquin that was covered was born through until it was lowered right in front of the staircase that led to the Central Hall.
Being opened immediately, Consort Han dressed in her pheasant robes with a miniature headdress on her head she walked out holding in her hands a Jade ceremonial tablet.
Accompanied by a couple of Ladies in waiting, she mounted the stairs gracefully and arriving in the Central hall, everyone in the building turned their eyes to her.
She seemed to have maintained her beauty despite having been away from the Palace and her hair was still dark and clear of grey strands, her eyes were rather sharp and fiery while her lips cherry like and smile, she seemed meeker and more innocent than her previous self.
Halting in front of the Empress and the Grand Empress Dowager she went onto her knees and kowtowed to them thrice.
"Greetings Your Grand Highness the Grand Empress Dowager, Greetings Your Highness the Empress." She spoke in a very soft tone while the Empress not responding she kept her head held high as Beiyuan stepped out from behind with the Imperial Edict in his hands.
"This is His Majesty's order." He said and the rest of the ladies with the exception of the two Empresses went onto their knees.
"As of today the heavens have been very merciful and the Palace celebrates the return of Consort Han, I trust that she has found her absolution for her crimes and therefore with the power vested in me I reinstate her as the Pure Consort of my harem she'll therefore reside in the Rongchang Palace." He read and folding it he brought it over to Consort Han who held it inside her arms.
"I thank His Majesty." She said as the Empress gazing at her she smiled at herself ghastly while Cao Zhaoyi where she was seated she clenched her fists.
Throwing the doors open, the latter furiously barged into her Chambers while being accompanied by Linxiang up to her usual seat behind her table.
"Please appease your anger Ma'am." Linxiang tried to talk to her.
"It's not that easy." Cao Zhaoyi responded, "I couldn't bear to see the look on the Empress' face, she was hardly moved, only excited but perhaps too careful not to let it show." She remarked.
"You need to care not to be too furious as it's not good for your child." Linxiang reminded her.
"Anything from the Grand Chancellor?" Cao Zhaoyi asked.
"I expected that he might seem curious but our people have reported no movements on his side and nothing special at all." Linxiang responded.
"I wonder what it was that His Majesty saw in him." Cao Zhaoyi remarked.
"He's resolute and he's loyal to the Crown, besides now that we have supplanted the two Princes that were hindering your unborn child's path to the throne we need his position to act up." Linxiang asserted.
"His alliance is necessary but it isn't something that we can guarantee." Cao Zhaoyi assured her.
"Is this why you dread Consort Han's presence?" Linxiang asked.
"Perhaps we understand why the Empress willed that she returns to the harem and the Inner Court and even if we hope to use her equally against the Empress it is necessary that we rid ourselves of her." Cao Zhaoyi responded.
"Have you thought about something Ma'am?" Linxiang asked but the latter remaining silent she smiled at herself ghastly.
The Empress walking into her Chambers she sat down while Xiaoyang and Manyin approached her.
"Are you alright Your Highness?" Manyin asked as she seemed lost in her thoughts.
"Yes." She replied casually when Beiyuan walked in a couple of moments later.
"Your Highness, Consort Han is here to see you." She said.
"Let her in." The Empress responded and the latter withdrawing from the room the young woman walked in before her.
"Your Highness." She said.
"Your Grace." Empress Yang muttered while Xiaoyang and Manyin departed as well leaving the two women alone inside.
"You may have a seat." The Empress said while pointing at the seat in front of her and without any hesitation Consort Han humbly complied.
"You come to see me the moment you arrive in the Palace, I am certainly moved." She said.
"Of course Your Highness, how is it that I could forget how close we are?" She responded.
"We have so much history between us that can't easily be erased by time." The Empress remarked.
"I heard that the harem is peaceful in your regime." Consort Han reported.
"As long as everyone understands their boundaries, as long as everyone does what is expected of them, the Imperial Concubines and the ladies in waiting know what to do and as my kindness surpasses that of many, I find myself endeared to the people." The Empress confidently remarked.
"I see." Consort Han muttered.
"You didn't come to tell me this though." Empress Han insisted.
"I was but a sinner in this Palace even perhaps against Your Highness, but sure you are benevolent and I am forgiven, I don't take it for granted however much I am curious Your Highness." Consort Han responded.
"I trust that surely you have spiritually cultivated yourself, at least you should allow us to perceive that aura around you Your Grace, additionally, I heard that Your Grace seemed restless the past couple of days, weeks, I couldn't help but think it's because you missed the Palace so much." Empress Yang remarked.
"It does hold many precious memories." Consort Han said.
"That I do understand." The Empress asserted.
"As it is many things have changed in the harem and I do not wish to take my return for granted." Consort Han said as she slightly tilted her head.
"Bring them in." She said and the doors being flung open a couple of ladies in waiting walked in bearing in their hands a series of gifts ranging from ornaments to clothes, shoes and cosmetics all which were brought ahead of the Empress.
"This is?" She inquired.
"My simple gift to show gratitude Your Highness." Consort Han replied.
"Thank you so much." The Empress said, "as it is that the people outside the Palace are struggling and you care well enough to grace me with such expensive gifts, I'll keep a few and have the rest sold if you don't mind." The Empress replied.
"As you wish Your Highness." Consort Han said.
"Thank you for understanding me." Empress Yang said and the latter standing up she bowed her head.
"Then allow me to take my leave Your Highness." She muttered.
"Already?" Empress Yang said.
"Yes." She replied.
"You must be tired so I'll let you retire to your Chambers." The Empress said as she withdrew from the room with her servants and Manyin and Xiaoyang ceasing that opportunity they walked in.
"What happened Your Highness?" They asked her.
"Nothing." The Empress replied as she looked at the gifts that had been placed right in front of her.
"Consort Han seemed calm, that is rather strange." Manyin remarked.
"Her eyes were clear and for once I couldn't see through her, or what she was thinking, at the very least she didn't even demand for my protection and neither did she seem enraged." The Empress asserted.
"Don't worry Your Highness, I have a couple of our people posted in Rongchang Palace and they'll inform us of her every move." Xiaoyang mentioned.
"That is if they can see or hear her." The Empress remarked confidently.
Consort Han moving towards her residence with her retinue, she crossed paths with Cao Zhaoyi who was moving along with hers.
"Your Grace." She mentioned.
"Ma'am." Consort Han replied bowing her head to her.
"You have just returned to the Palace and have visited the Empress." Cao Zhaoyi asserted.
"As the head of His Majesty's harem it certainly is right that I accord her my respect." Consort Han replied.
"Really?" Cao Zhaoyi asked.
"However you seem too concerned." Consort Han said.
"People can be quite forgetful of the past, I thought that you might have equally experienced something similar seeing that you are well aware that in that very seat the Empress is seated your sister the Late Empress Gongshu is supposed to be." Cao Zhaoyi said while Consort Han's face became sulky.
"I was out of the Palace and learnt that Her Highness committed suicide with poison." She said.
"Do you believe so?" Cao Zhaoyi asked.
"Do you have any evidence to suggest otherwise Ma'am?" Consort Han asked.
"You are a very smart young woman I trust, you and I both understand how small this gilded cage can be, how big of a gutter the Palace is that it eats off of you slowly." Cao Zhaoyi said.
"I heard that you seem to have the best relationship with Her Highness amongst the Consorts of His Majesty, perhaps because you once were her personal hand maid, you also couldn't be an Empress, perhaps because you didn't have what it takes." Consort Han said while bowing her head and about to walk past her Cao Zhaoyi ceased her arm.
"The Left Chancellor is powerless as it is and the Palace is under the control of the Empress, be careful what you see or eat, who knows, the moment you set foot in it, you sure have one foot buried in the grave." She mentioned to her as she pulled away.
"You worry for nothing Your Highness, I so happened to hear that your power and influence has waned as well, however I can promise you, I will survive in this Palace, perhaps even much longer than you." Consort Han whispered to her as she continued her way.
Beiyuan looking through the records office, he checked the records of the past couple of months and looked through them secretly until he landed on one book in particular when he heard someone coming in.
Quickly, he hid it in his sleeve when he bumped into Eunuch Deng.
"Superintendent Beiyuan?" He said to him.
"Superintendent Deng?" He replied.
"What are you doing here?" He asked.
"I happened to be running some errands on the orders of Her Highness." Beiyuan responded.
"I see." Eunuch Deng muttered.
"What about you, aren't you supposed to be with His Majesty?" He asked.
"His Majesty is resting in his quarters and he had sent me to run some errands for him as well." Eunuch Deng replied.
"Then I'll leave you to it." Beiyuan said preparing to go away when Eunuch Deng ceased his arm.
"About Her Highness, I am curious, why did she have Consort Han return to the Palace?" He asked.
"Honestly, even I don't know, as it is you must be aware that the Empress is an unpredictable person but I am firm that whatever the case is, she must be in the know of what it is that she's doing." Beiyuan assured him before he let go and the latter got out of the room.
Beiyuan appearing before the Empress, he handed over the book to her and opening it she looked through its contents.
"It's nearly empty." She said.
"His Majesty has many Concubines in his harem but he doesn't seem to enjoy their company as much as he enjoys yours Your Highness, besides of recent he seems to busy with state affairs it's likely that Cao Zhaoyi isn't pregnant." He said.
"How sure can you be?" Empress Yang asked.
"Do you have any other reason to think otherwise Your Highness?" Beiyuan inquired.
"Cao Zhaoyi was able to get rid of my two sons without being caught that is new to me, besides if she wanted to keep her pregnancy a secret then she'd do sometimes like this." The Empress replied, "besides, if the pregnancy is something that could endanger her then what would be more interesting for us is the possibility that the child she's carrying in her womb isn't even the Emperor's." She asserted.
"Your Highness...?" Beiyuan seemed astonished.
"Everything is merely our speculation unless we find concrete evidence to prove it." The Empress remarked.
"What are we going to do Your Highness?" Beiyuan inquired.
"No one is perfect and nothing remains a secret that is hidden forever." Empress Yang replied as she looked up at him, "it's possible that Cao Zhaoyi would have kept all the evidence that suggests she is pregnant with the Emperor's child or perhaps even pregnant with someone else's, I don't care what the result is I just need to make sure that I get my hands on something that will justify our claims." She asserted.
"What about Consort Han Your Highness?" Xiaoyang asked.
"Everyone is aware that she is back in the Palace, it's inevitable for her to act and even so I am certain she'll be very cautious for a good beginning what we need is a stroke of bad luck." Empress Yang replied as she smiled at herself ghastly.
The sun rising over the Palace, Consort Han asleep in her Chambers her Head Lady rushed out.
"Your Grace." She cried aloud that the latter awakening she looked at the fairly old woman falling onto her knees.
"Who are you?" She asked.
"Mi Yue Your Grace." She responded but there's something more urgent that I wish to inform you about." She said panicking.
"What's the matter?" Consort Han asked.
"All the plants in the Rongchang Palace, they have withered." She responded while bowing her head.
"How is that even possible?" Consort Han asked as she got out of her bed.
"Prepare me." She said and a couple of more ladies in waiting joining her they started to wash her and help her get dressed.
Once she was done she stepped out of the Palace and approaching her Courtyard she studied all the flowers and leaves along with the trees but they had been reduced to nothing.
"How is something like this even possible?" Mi Yue asked and at a distance Consort Han saw a couple of ladies in waiting gossiping.
"Have you not heard, it is a stroke of bad luck." One said.
"Something like this has never been heard of in the Palace in years, Consort Han returned with an evil presence and it hangs above the Palace." Another remarked.
"Surely, how can everything wither in a single night?" One rhetorically asked but the young woman as though turning a deaf ear she smiled at herself.
"How can you be happy Your Grace?" Mi Yue asked.
"How long does it take to make a milestone?" Consort Han asked.
"A couple of weeks." Mi Yue replied, "but why do you ask Your Grace?" She inquired.
"I want to prepare one for the Empress but I don't seem to be aware of what would best suit her." Consort Han asked.
"I heard that the Empress is fond of plum blossoms." Mi Yue responded.
"Then have one that is a hundred kilograms made for her." Consort Han said.
"Yes Your Grace." Mi Yue replied.
"We'd better hurry to the Central Hall otherwise we shall be very late for Her Highness' Daily visit." Consort Han said.
"Yes Your Grace." Mi Yue replied as she continued her way amidst the cruel comments of the rest of the staff in the Palace.
The Empress in the Central Hall with all the other Concubines the doors were flung open and Mi Yue appeared.
"Her Grace the Pure Consort Han." She announced.
"Let her in." Empress Yang muttered and gracefully the latter appeared in their midst and bowing her head to the Empress she stood upright.
"You are rather late." The Empress mentioned.
"Forgive me Your Highness." Consort Han replied.
"It's a first time offense since your return to the Palace that I can't possibly hold you responsible, besides, I am sure that you'll have some time to adjust after a long time in the Nunnery." The Empress remarked.
"Your Highness is right, I shall not make the same mistake again." Consort Han said as she moved up to her seat and sat down and the Empress watching her curiosly Cao Zhaoyi gave her the most attention.
She held up a cup of tea in her hands.
"I heard that all the plants in the Rongchang Palace dried out." She said.
"I am sure it's nothing." The Empress Yang spoke up as though in the defense of Consort Han.
"You should hear the rumours Your Highness," Cao Zhaoyi muttered, "quite a number of people seem content that an evil presence is over the Palace but for someone having been close to God the most over the past couple of years I am certain even demons should be afraid to come anywhere close." She insisted.
"Guess what Cao Zhaoyi?" Consort Han mentioned.
"What is it Your Grace?" Cao Zhaoyi asked.
"A young Prince died in the waters of the Palace and rumour has it that the young man was pushed there by a Court Lady." She responded.
Hearing this Cao Zhaoyi and the Empress about to take a sip of the tea in their cups they halted immediately while some relative silence prevailing she broke it.
"But there's one thing about rumours and it's the possibility that not a single one of them could be true." She said.
"But even then." Empress Yang spoke up, "one can not be in the position to distinguish the truth from a lie." She asserted.
"Because the truth is what everyone believes it to be." Consort Han said.
"Yes." Cao Zhaoyi was quick to agree.
"So which truth should we believe?" The Empress suddenly asked as she looked at the two.
"All the plants in the Rongchang Palace withered and we believe that because we see it, our young Prince on the other hand drowned and he was retrieved without any signs of struggle there hasn't been someone speaking up about him having been pushed by a Court Lady." Cao Zhaoyi responded.
"A young Prince chose to drown so far from his quarters, what was he even doing beside the Imperial pond at such a late hour?" Consort Han asked.
"This conversation seems to be rather awkward." The Empress replied, "let us just get along together." She spoke in a very calm manner.
"I never got to offer my condolences for the passing of the Imperial Princes Your Highness, I am so sorry to have brought that up." Consort Han said.
"However heavy my heart is, no matter how hard I grieve, I can't bring the Princes back to life but I am sure they would have preferred to see their mother as a strong Empress even in this most ordurous time." The Empress responded as she picked up her cup and raising it towards her lips, she took a sip before she set it back down onto the table.
Cao Zhaoyi done with the daily greetings she returned to her Chambers.
"Ma'am?" Linxiang said to her but the latter panicking she took a very deep breath.
"Leave me alone." She ordered and Linxiang at that moment she withdrew from the room at once.
Cao Zhaoyi sure that she was not being watched she changed her clothes and sneaked out of the Palace, stealthily making her way through the streets she approached a very small cottage where she took shelter only to find her mother the second Mrs. Cao.
"Ma'am?" She said bowing her head to her.
"Take me to him." Cao Zhaoyi ordered and the latter leading the way she showed her to a small room where the young Prince Zhao Zeng was lying unconscious.
"Did he gain consciousness?" She inquired.
"Yes Ma'am." Mrs. Cao responded, "but the physician said that thanks to the medicine and the accident he's memory will gradually fade." She added.
"That's wonderful news." Cao Zhaoyi said as she got closer to the bed.
"I don't understand Ma'am, you wanted the Imperial Prince dead more than anything else, why is it that you are still keeping him alive?" She asked.
"Diamond cuts diamond, iron sharpens iron, when it comes to our invincible Empress, I have great plans against her through this young man." Cao Zhaoyi responded as she smiled at herself ghastly.