"But she's the Wise Consort!" Yue'er exclaimed, shock breaking her carefully-cultivated silence.
Zi Hua nodded fervently. "How did she become Wise Consort if the emperor doesn't favour her at all?" she added.
Qiu'er shook her head. "Perhaps there are private reasons. I only know Wise Consort Tang was His Majesty's side consort when he was crown prince, and that she's the youngest legitimate daughter of Marquis Tang. The rest is beyond the bounds of my curiosity."
"...Nor mine, I suppose," Zi Hua mused.
Digging into an Upper First-Rank Wise Consort's private matters? No, thank you. She had better things to do, like minding her own business and guarding what she had left.
"Back to the main topic, we have yet to discuss the imperial scions," Qiu'er said.
"Oh! Of course..."
Zi Hua didn't know why she felt surprised upon hearing the emperor already had children. She'd heard the capital's nobles married young, let alone the imperial family who placed near-fanatic importance on having more heirs to preserve their legacy.
Was it because she had never imagined parenthood before? She was eighteen after all, and Emperor Tian was supposedly twenty-four...
But then she mocked her own idiocy. Of course any healthy man in his right mind would have children after marriage. She just never thought it'd be her own... husband.
"How many children does His Majesty have?" she asked airily, tucking her disappointment away.
"Currently, four: Empress Zhao's Second Prince, who is also crown prince; Virtuous Consort Liu's Third Prince; Consort Chen's First Prince; and Noble Concubine Gong's First Princess," Qiu'er answered. "Although, that might change soon since Concubine Lin is four months pregnant."
"Noted."
Zi Hua made a mental note to avoid Concubine Lin. Jiu'er had told her enough stories about jealous concubines scheming for their love rivals' miscarriages to deduce that being around pregnant woman was akin to playing with fire—you never knew when it would backfire.
Although, come to think of it... Where did Jiu'er hear those stories? Her father didn't have any concubines either...
Tak! Tak!
Two knocks sounded from the door outside, bringing their private discussion to an end.
"Come in!"
A familiar-looking servant with freckles dotting her cheeks entered.
"Greetings, mistress. Pardon my intrusion—"
"Chun'er, it really is you!" Zi Hua interrupted with a grin. "I wasn't sure during your self-introduction earlier, but I'm glad fate brought us together again."
Chun'er lowered her head sheepishly. "Actually, I begged Madame Xiu to assign me here so I could continue serving you," she admitted. "I've never forgotten your generosity in Blossom Palace."
'Neither Noble Lady Luo nor Noble Lady Song rewarded my efforts, and Courtier Ding was too busy socialising to notice who tidied up her messes. Ugh.'
Thankfully, Zi Hua was oblivious to her thoughts.
"What's the matter?" she asked. "I hear some noises outside."
"Answering mistress, I was just about to inform you the other palaces have sent housewarming gifts, and Madame Ye's attendant requests an audience." Chun'er scoffed and muttered under her breath, "Acting like our mistress should go out and greet her herself."
"Chun'er!" Qiu'er hissed in warning.
"Sorry, Sister Qiu'er," Chun'er said half-heartedly. "But you know how aloof the western chamber servants are."
"Ahem!" Zi Hua coughed. "Chun'er, I'll see Madame Ye's servant now."
"Yes, mistress. I'll let her in."
Awhile later, Chun'er returned with a stone-faced servant carrying a large, flat box.
"Ying'er greets Lady Beauty Yang."
Madame Ye's attendant had a voice and appearance that matched Chun'er's description. Zi Hua didn't sense any respect from her, but there was no disdain, either. As if she were a mere proxy of a flower atop a snowy mountain, dispassionate and cold.
"Did your mistress send you?" Zi Hua stood up. "I was just about to pay my respects."
"My mistress is frail and unable to entertain visitors. This servant came to pass on this welcome gift, as well as relay her message: Lady Beauty Yang is to be exempted from all formalities in the future," Ying'er explained, presenting the box with extended hands and a small bow.
Zi Hua accepted it personally. "Tell your mistress I appreciate the gift, and that I hope her health improves."
At her actions, Qiu'er and Ying'er stiffened.
Masters weren't supposed to directly accept items from other representatives.
Ying'er recovered first, as if nothing was wrong. "Then I shall take my leave, Lady Beauty Yang."
With that, she left without a backward glance, not even waiting for Chun'er to show her the way.
Chun'er clicked her tongue and stayed rooted to her spot. "See? Aloof."
This time, Qiu'er didn't stop her.
Zi Hua opened the gift from Madame Ye. Inside lay a landscape painting of a peach blossom forest, similar to the one outside the Palace of Tranquillity.
She wasn't an art connoisseur, but the ink strokes of boughs and trunks were bold and unbroken, craning for the skies; while the pink petals were dotted with care, either lovingly entwined with the branches they bloomed on, or twirling as they reached for the earth's eternal embrace.
The artist's free spirit resonated with her own through the aged paper, bringing a smile to her face.
"Yue'er, hang this in my bedchamber. I'd like to admire it every morning."
"Yes, miss. Tomorrow, I'll pick some peach blossoms to display on the dressing table. It'll match the painting and spruce the room right up!" Yue'er said happily.
"Sounds nice. And Chun'er, could you unbox the other consorts' welcome gifts and pick suitable ones as decorations? Qiu'er, please supervise the other servants and ensure there are no mix-ups in the process," Zi Hua instructed.
"Yes, mistress."
"I'll do my best, mistress!"
Chun'er turned to leave, but Qiu'er hung back.
"I almost forgot, mistress—who will you assign as your ladies-in-waiting?" she asked.
Step—
Chun'er stopped, just shy of the doorway. She subconsciously held her breath.
Behind her, Zi Hua sounded curious. "How many am I allowed to have?"
"Answering mistress, two. Only Noble Concubine and above qualify for four ladies-in-waiting, while Lady Talent and below only one."
"Then you and Yue'er will be my ladies-in-waiting from now on."
"Thank you, mistress." A pause, likely for a grateful bow. "I won't let you down."
The anticipation she had held became a lump in her throat. Chun'er huffed and left.
***
Night.
"Hmm hmm hmmm~"
"Yue'er, do you have a moment?"
The young, bubbly servant stopped in her tracks, her humming abruptly cut off. She blinked in confusion at the woman leaning against the wall.
"What's wrong, Sister Qiu'er?"
"Nothing. There's just something I need to remind you," Qiu'er started seriously.
Yue'er's eyes shone with naivety and admiration. She pushed on, anyway.
"Earlier, I noticed you kept addressing mistress as 'miss'. I understand you have been together since childhood, but things have changed the moment you entered the palace. Didn't the madams teach you palace etiquette when you arrived?"
Yue'er recalled the month her young lady had spent in Blossom Palace, and the training the courtiers' attendants were put through simultaneously in another palace.
The tragic memories made her shudder.
"Yes... They did," she confessed.
"Why did you disobey them?"
"I-I was just too happy to see miss again— I mean, mistress!"
Her courage faltered under Qiu'er's withering stare. Before she started trembling uncontrollably, the older servant sighed.
"Yue'er, always keep this in mind: status and power are everything in the imperial palace, and we are servants who have neither," she said. "Go to bed. I'll attend to mistress tonight."
"Yes, Sister Qiu'er..."
Yue'er's retreating figure looked dejected under the faint moonlight, but Qiu'er only took one look before entering the main chamber.
Inside, Zi Hua was leaning over a table, poised to blow out a candle.
Qiu'er took in her untied hair and simple nightgown with a confused frown. "Mistress, won't you get ready?"
Zi Hua straightened and matched her expression. "Get ready for what?"
"His Majesty the Emperor!" Qiu'er exclaimed. "It's the new consorts' first day in the palace. Traditionally, he must pick one to spend to spend the night with."
Zi Hua waved her off casually. "Trust me, that's got nothing to do with our eastern chamber."
"But—"
"So many new consorts are ranked higher than me. Meng Fan and Qiu Rong, for example. Why would the emperor choose me over them?"
"Still... What if?" Qiu'er said, clinging to a glimmer of hope.
"The possibility is non-existent!" Zi Hua's reply was final.
"Besides," her tone softened, "isn't it better to rest early and be refreshed tomorrow, instead of pointlessly waiting and attending the morning assembly in a sleep-deprived state?"
"I suppose that's true..." Qiu'er mumbled, reluctantly convinced. "I will be outside if you need me, mistress. Goodnight."
"Goodnight, Qiu'er."
On the day the new consorts of the Fourth Year of Tian moved into their respective residences, at the Yu hour, the eastern chamber of the Palace of Tranquillity locked its gates and dimmed its lights.
The rest of the rear palace awaited the emperor's news with bated breaths, the women's hopes flickering like the lanterns they kept lit. It was destined to be a sleepless night for all... but one.