Organza flowers, luminescent pearls, and glittering gems... Silver, gold, and jade adorning silky black hair in braids, twists, and updos...
At first, it was gratifying to look down and see nothing but the tops of obediently lowered heads. But as the number of heads increased every year, Crown Princess Zhao, and then Empress Zhao, gradually got used to it.
Now, she just found it fascinating how much one could observe from the top, be it the nerves they tried to calm, or the fists hidden between the folds of shawls. You truly would never see the whole picture until you reached a certain position.
"You may rise."
At her words, they straightened. Faces, old and new, were presented before her. She didn't bother sizing them up just yet.
"New consorts, step forward. The rest may sit."
A chorus of "yes, Your Highness" reverberated through the large hall.
Half the women went back to their seats, while the remaining half stepped forward.
Awe. Ambition. Anticipation.
It was written so clearly on their faces, almost endearing. But not quite, if she pictured the hardened reflections they would become in time.
"After completing the tea offering, you will officially be recognised as imperial consorts," she proclaimed.
With a commanding wave, servants streamed into the hall, carrying trays full of teacups. One by one, the new consorts took a cup and knelt, swearing fealty as per tradition.
But one cup remained unclaimed.
Empress Zhao frowned. "Where is—"
"Madame Ye and Noble Lady Bai are entering—!"
Under oppressive gazes, two women stepped into the hall.
The former was pale, sickly; dressed in clothes more suited for winter than spring and unable to walk a few steps without muffling a cough. Nobody paid her much heed.
The latter was the one they had been waiting for: Bai Nan Feng, sole legitimate daughter of Upper First-Rank Grand Chancellor Bai, the "Most Talented Lady of Kunning", Lower Fifth-Rank Noble Lady Bai... and the first of the new batch to gain the emperor's favour.
Her porcelain skin was slightly flushed, uncertain whether from the walk here, or her overnight transition from maiden to woman. She held her chin high and her back as unbending as the bamboos embroidered on her white skirt, stiffly adhering to small, controlled steps that didn't allow a strand of ivory-adorned hair to blow out of place.
Despite her physical discomfort, her face betrayed nothing; it was a mask of cool indifference: lashes hooded, nose upturned, and lips pressed together just so—meticulously trained to fall between haughtiness and feigned disinterest.
"Noble Lady Bai greets Your Highness the Empress."
Her voice was crisp and cold, like first frost that chilled all equally without care... But her etiquette was impeccable, so despite the blatant lack of reverence, Empress Zhao could only let her rise.
Concubine Lin scoffed as she stoically thanked the empress.
"Madame Ye's tardiness is reasonable due to her health, but what about you, Noble Lady Bai?" she asked accusatorily.
Meanwhile, the consort who had sniped at Virtuous Consort Liu earlier called out to Luo Yin: "Noble Beauty Luo, the two of you are from the same palace. Why didn't you arrive together?"
Bai Nan Feng stared at them coldly, and Luo Yin fidgeted on her small stool.
"Now, now, Sister Lin and Sister Gong," Virtuous Consort Liu interjected, "don't overwhelm Noble Lady Bai. Can you not see how pale and exhausted she is?"
Noble Concubine Gong rolled her eyes, somehow making the gesture look graceful. "As if she's the only one among us who has experienced the first night. Your Highness the Empress, what do you think?"
Empress Zhao had barely reacted to Virtuous Consort Liu's intervention. After so many years, it was clear the woman had inherited her Imperial College Headmaster father's tendency to overstep and lecture—she would be surprised if she had held her tongue instead. Sadly, it was easier to move Mount Tai than change a person's nature.
She drummed her nail guards against the armrest, each fingertip a golden phoenix pecking thoughtfully.
Click. Click. Click.
"Noble Lady Bai, see to it there is no second time," she declared, letting her off the hook.
Bai Nan Feng bowed perfunctorily. "Yes, Your Highness."
The tea offering continued without a hitch. After that, the empress led the introductions.
Virtuous Consort Liu, Wise Consort Tang, and Concubine Lin went without saying. Noble Concubine Gong was friendly to the new consorts despite her palpable dislike of Virtuous Consort Liu. Her lively beauty and matching temperament made it hard for Zi Hua to believe she was the First Princess's mother, but that was the case of reality.
On the other hand, Madame Pei and Noble Beauty Wang were elegant and soft-spoken respectively, with subtle presences who wouldn't be missed. First impressions could be unreliable, though.
Consort Xu, Zi Hua noted, hadn't said a peep other than her self-introduction, to the point where she suspected their encounter this morning was a fever dream.
"There are a few more sisters, but they are below upper sixth-rank, hence ineligible to attend the morning assembly," Empress Zhao shared. "If you all meet them someday, remember to act harmoniously and according to the palace rules."
By the time greetings were exchanged and welcome gifts were handed on to servants, an awkward silence permeated the hall.
It was getting increasingly hard to ignore the fact that the leftmost seat directly under the empress, as well as the one next to Virtuous Consort Liu, were still empty.
One of Empress Zhao's ladies-in-waiting leaned in and whispered something by her ear. She nodded. "Let her in."
Awhile later, a short servant entered, showing no sign of restlessness despite being surrounded by people who could dictate her life any second.
"Your Highness, this servant is here on behalf of my lady, Consort Chen, to request a leave of absence," she stated. "The First Prince caught a cold last night, and my lady has been sleeplessly caring for him until dawn. She expresses her sincerest apologies for not being able to greet Your Highness and the new consorts."
"The First Prince's health is far more important than a daily assembly. I will introduce the new consorts to Consort Chen another day." Empress Zhao waved her hand graciously. "Tell your lady to send word if the First Prince requires anything. As his imperial mother, I will not spare any expenses."
The servant bowed. "Yes, Your Highness. Thank you for your compassion. This servant shall take her leave."
When Consort Chen's servant disappeared from view, Noble Concubine Gong looked at the empress. "Your Highness, this just leaves Noble Consort Meng," she sighed, tilting her head towards the second-fanciest seat in the hall.
"As usual," Concubine Lin clicked her tongue. "This isn't the first time the Noble Consort has been late to a morning assembly, but to do so on the day of our new sisters' debut..."
"I, for one, would never dare to keep Her Highness waiting," Noble Concubine agreed. "The Noble Consort is too—"
"TOO WHAT?"
A rich voice cut through her unfinished sentence, loud and clear.
The entire hall whipped around. Near the entrance, a woman of unparalleled beauty stood, annoyance failing to mar her allure regardless of the beholder.
A beat too late, the eunuch's voice rang out:
"Noble Consort Meng is entering—!"
Step.
Step.
Step.
Step.
Where Virtuous Consort Liu was mellow, Wise Consort Tang was aloof, and Empress Zhao commanded respect, Noble Consort Meng demanded attention and stole breaths.
Each confident step, each sway of her hips, and the half-smile curling on sultry red lips... Unlike the empress's, her phoenix eyes held a daring blaze comparable to fire. Wherever her gaze landed, others involuntarily shirked.
Not out of apprehension, nor out of admiration. But because they would see their hypocrisy and flaws revealed in those piercing eyes, and that arouse the human nature of escapism within.
Even those who dared to meet her eyes, or to study her unabashedly, soon stopped for fear of her boldness teetering on the edge of treachery:
From the peony ornaments dangling from a tall and intricate headdress, to the rose red gown that fluttered like petals with her movements, Noble Consort Meng was a walking provocation to the indomitable empress.
This was a level of audacity none could emulate—nor muster the courage to.
Noble Consort Meng reached the Phoenix Throne.
She swept into a minimum curtsey before straightening a second later. "Greetings, Your Highness. What did I miss?"
For the first time since her entrance, Zi Hua saw something awaken behind Empress Zhao's stony eyes. It wasn't a fire, much less an ember... but it was close.
It was the look of an intrigued predator.
The empress smirked, an imperceptible hook of thin, crimson lips.
"Nothing important," she replied, smoothly standing. "Now that the Noble Consort is finally here, let us move to the Palace of Longevity."
She paused, looking down at them from her raised position. Soaked in their meekness and Noble Consort Meng's pointless defiance.
"Her Highness the Empress Dowager awaits."