As the crowd dispersed and the emperor's anger echoed through the palace halls, Consort Mei stormed back to her chambers, her mind ablaze with fury. Lady Lian had been reckless, utterly reckless. The plan was ruined, the engagement shattered, and all their careful schemes laid to waste in a single, humiliating scene. Consort Mei's fingers clenched into fists as she waited for Hanyu and Lian to arrive, her face a mask of barely-contained rage.
Finally, Prince Hanyu and Lady Lian entered her quarters, both looking chastened, heads lowered. Lian's cheeks were still flushed, not only from the lingering effects of the aphrodisiac but also from the shame and embarrassment that flooded her heart. She barely met Consort Mei's steely gaze, her body trembling slightly as she attempted to apologize.
Before she could get a word out, Consort Mei's voice sliced through the silence. "You foolish girl! Do you realize what you've done? Everything I worked for, every plan I painstakingly crafted, ruined—all because you couldn't control yourself!"
Lian's eyes filled with tears, her voice barely a whisper. "I... I'm so sorry, Consort Mei. I didn't mean for things to go this way. It's just—"
"You didn't mean?" Mei's voice was bitter. "Your 'meaning' is irrelevant now! The damage is done, and it is irreversible! Do you have any idea how hard it was to arrange this alliance? And now, instead of a respectable engagement with Yanli, we are left with scandal and shame!"
Lian, overwhelmed with guilt, broke down, tears spilling over her cheeks as she looked helplessly at Hanyu. He took a deep breath, glancing between the two women, knowing that he had to calm the situation before it spiraled even further out of control.
"Mother," Hanyu started, his tone firm yet soothing, "Lian and I never intended to jeopardize our plans. But it is done now, and what's more important is that Yanli is out of the way. I'll still be able to gain favor at court, and with Lian as my consort, we can work towards securing our influence."
Consort Mei scoffed, her disappointment and frustration clearly written on her face. "Do you even hear yourself, Hanyu? The engagement with Yanli was our path to real power! Yanli's family holds influence in court that you have just thrown away in exchange for—" her eyes flashed coldly toward Lian, "this foolish girl's affections."
Lady Lian's head dipped lower, the shame and hurt apparent on her face, but she kept silent, clutching at the fabric of her gown.
"Enough, Mother," Hanyu said, though his tone was strained with frustration. "I am not abandoning my ambition or our goals. And Lady Lian deserves to be treated with respect. What's done is done. We will find another way to move forward."
The room fell into silence as Consort Mei took a deep, measured breath, her eyes sharp as a hawk's. "Another way?" Her voice was laced with disdain. "Tell me, Hanyu, what other way could you possibly mean? The emperor has lost respect for you. The noble families are talking. You may not realize it yet, but you've compromised not just yourself but our entire family's standing in court. You think an apology to the emperor will fix this?"
Undeterred, Hanyu stepped closer to Lian, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I will take responsibility for this," he said with quiet conviction. "I will speak to the emperor, beg his forgiveness, and promise that I will do whatever it takes to restore our family's honor."
Mei's lips pursed tightly as she watched him. "You had better hope that your apologies are enough," she muttered bitterly. "And I want no further involvement with that girl in this household until she understands the value of discretion and caution."
At this, Lian's face fell, her hands clenching. Her voice trembled as she finally spoke up, her words barely more than a whisper. "Consort Mei, I know I have made mistakes, but... I love Hanyu. I have been by his side through everything, never wavering in my support. I thought... perhaps now we could finally be together without secrecy."
"Love?" Mei's tone was scornful, her expression unforgiving. "Love is a luxury we cannot afford. Hanyu's duty is to his family and his ambition. If you cannot understand that, then perhaps you are not as suited to be his consort as you imagine."
The words hit Lian hard, and she fought to keep herself from breaking down further. In desperation, she turned to Hanyu. "Is that all I am, Your Highness? A pawn in this game? After all the promises, after everything I have sacrificed—do I mean nothing?"
Hanyu pulled her close, tilting her face up to meet his gaze. "Lian, you are important to me. You have been my confidante, my support, and yes, my love. You didn't jeopardize my plans; you simply... moved them in a different direction."
Lian looked into his eyes, a small glimmer of hope sparking in her tear-filled gaze. "Then... then you still intend to marry me? To take me as your consort?"
Hanyu nodded, his expression resolute. "Of course. I promised you, didn't I? But we must be patient. Once I restore the family's honor, once my standing is secure, we can be together as we dreamed."
She clung to his words, her heart swelling with relief. "I knew you wouldn't abandon me."
He stroked her cheek, his touch gentle. "Never. You have been by my side through everything, and I will keep my word to you."
However, his tender moment with Lian was short-lived as Consort Mei's frustration erupted again. "Enough of this nonsense. Hanyu, if you think sentimentality will repair the damage you've done, then you are far more foolish than I feared. You need to go to the emperor immediately and fix this disaster."
Hanyu let out a deep sigh, realizing there would be no way to sway his mother at this moment. "Very well, Mother," he said, straightening his robes with an air of resolve. "I will go and seek the emperor's forgiveness."
Consort Mei watched him leave with cold eyes, but her fury was still simmering beneath her calm exterior. She turned to Lian, her words laced with warning. "Do not mistake his words for complete acceptance. Until Hanyu's future is secure, I expect you to keep your distance and not further endanger his position."
Lian swallowed her hurt and nodded, her voice barely a whisper. "Yes, Consort Mei."
As Hanyu made his way to the emperor's chambers, a sense of dread gnawed at him. He had always believed his charm and quick wit could win him favor, but now he was painfully aware of the precarious position he was in. When he arrived, he was ushered in with a grim silence that made him uneasy.
The emperor looked up from his seat, his face a mask of displeasure. Hanyu bowed low, feeling the weight of the emperor's disapproval settle on him like a heavy shroud.
"Your Majesty," Hanyu began, choosing his words carefully, "I have come to offer my sincerest apologies for the... disruption I caused during the festivities."
The emperor's gaze hardened, and his voice was cold. "Do you think an apology can erase the shame you brought upon this family?"
Hanyu swallowed, his pride fighting against his need to placate the emperor. "I did not intend for things to happen as they did. I allowed my personal feelings to cloud my judgment, and I regret that deeply."
The emperor scoffed, shaking his head. "Personal feelings? You are a prince, Hanyu, and as such, you have responsibilities that far outweigh any personal attachment or desire. You have brought disgrace upon our name, and for what? A moment of weakness?"
Hanyu braced himself, struggling to keep his voice steady. "Your Majesty, I am prepared to do whatever it takes to restore our honor."
The emperor's tone was scathing. "Restore it? You lost your chance. You lost the respect of the court. I entrusted you with a role, a future, and you squandered it for your petty emotions."
The reprimand stung, and Hanyu felt himself growing defensive. "Your Majesty, I still have ambition, and I am still capable of—"
The emperor's hand slammed down on the table, silencing him. "Ambition means nothing when you cannot control your own desires. You have made a fool of yourself, and by extension, this family. If you wish to regain even a sliver of honor, you will stay out of the public eye until further notice. You are dismissed."
The weight of the emperor's words crashed down on him, and Hanyu felt his face grow hot with shame and fury. Bowing deeply, he backed out of the chamber, feeling both humbled and bitter.
As he made his way back to his quarters, his mind spun with frustration. Consort Mei's disappointment, Lady Lian's clinging affection, and now the emperor's wrath—it felt as if everything was slipping from his grasp.