Chapter 16

Grand Dowager Empress Wu
The Rose Flower Palace

The Grand Dowager Empress was in a foul mood since the previous night when she was told by her sources, Mistress Ki was seen in the Capital. What was that woman doing back in Nevoria? Was it not enough that she stole what belonged to her?

She asked her people whether Mistress Ki met with the Grand Physician yet, but no one knew. Grand Dowager hoped no news was good news. She didn't want to see those two together. They could discover her secret and conspire against her. It was better things stayed as they were, all blame on Dowager Empress Wang. It wasn't like the Wang villain was not handling being the scapegoat well. It suited her.

She hit her chest. This stress was affecting her at her old age. Can't a woman age well in peace?

Grand Dowager looked down at her court lady who was working on her legs. "How long has Li Lian been kneeling outside?"

"Since last evening, Your Highness. When she came here this servant told her, she can not have an audience, as Her Highness had already retired for sleep. Nevertheless, she declared she would kneel till you woke." The Grand Dowager Empress' court lady placed down the oiled leg and picked the other, massaging some soothing scented oils.

"What does she want? Does she think I am Commoner Grand Consort Shu that everyone can speak to?"

"One night with the emperor and she thinks she is the phoenix." The court lady supported her indignation.

Grand Dowager Empress Wu knew about last night, the scuffle between Li Lian and Bai Shen Hong. Palace walls had eyes and ears. Many rumours have roused around Li Lian since she entered the palace. One word came to mind about her.

Trouble.

Li Lian fainted as she danced, disturbing the ceremony of Yang Liu before she got publicly officiated. As if that was not disgraceful enough, now she was rooted on her doorstep.

The Grand Dowager Empress didn't want to pick sides in the harem. No one was her favourite, and associating herself with Li Lian would be picking sides.

Li Lian suspiciously fainted at the dance. If you lived long enough in the Inner Court you would know that was no usual collapsing.

When she saw Dowager Empress Wang and Consort Wang leave the banquet after Li Lian fainted, she knew there was dirty play. They were behind it.

The Wang and Wu clan had an existing raft. Grand Dowager Empress Wu was not willing to widen it by associating with Li Lian.

"Let her kneel until she faints. I won't get involved with the harem. Dowager Empress Wang is the current overseer, not me."

"But Your Highness, it is said Dowager Empress Wang received a decree this morning announcing her exile to the Frost Palace. There was no morning meeting with the harem women because of this."

"Shénme?" (what) Dowager Empress exclaimed. "It has happened already?"

"Yes, Your Highness. I think His Majesty is attempting to save Dowager Empress Wang face by doing it quietly, though rumours are inevitable."

Saving her face only for the public eyes to see, obviously. Bai Shen Hong didn't care for that woman.

What a grandson. He was stubborn and hard-headed. Shen Hong was set on acting on his set ways without anyone's assistance. He did not confide in her or seek elderly counsel on this matter. This wasn't how an emperor should act.

Apparently, when she opposed his decision to send his entourage home, he said he would visit her after returning from Yi Yuan. Yet, when he got back he never stepped foot in her palace. He kept his distance away from her, avoiding any confrontation. They spoke only in public, general talk that was feigned for people to see.

That bothered her a lot because this way, she could not figure out what was going through his mind and how much he knew. The emperor was like a predator, salivated over his prey from afar and out of nowhere, pounced. People were known to be rebellious in the past then bushwhack: one day they woke up to a death sentence from the dragon they didn't see coming.

"You said Li Lian was cast to the Frost palace too?" Grand Dowager Empress pulled in and out her nail guards.

"Yes, His Majesty announced it to Court Lady Nam."

"Then what did he say to Li Lian coming here instead of going there?"

"That they should lock her up when Grand Dowager Empress has chased her out."

"Is it?" Those were unspoken words from Bai Shen Hong to her saying, 'Don't get involved.' Thus taking Li Lian's side would be defying him, widening the gap between them. "So it is his day to imprison his most hated women. Doesn't that make you suspicious?"

"What does Her Highness mean?" The court lady was done with Grand Dowager's legs. She started to put the socks on for her.

"This Li Lian must have displeased Shen Hong for him to punish her. But what bothers me is that Shen Hong's only method of punishment is death unless he cannot because of duty, Dowager Empress Wang for example."

"Her Highness is right. The dragon is known for killing people for silly mistakes all the time." The Court Lady reached for the blue shoes that were patterned with phoenixes. "What makes this Li Lian an exception?"

Grand Dowager Empress squinted her eyes in contemplation. "Call her in."

"Heh? Is Her Highness sure?"

"Call her in. I want to ask her something."

The Court Lady reluctantly got up and went to relay her orders outside. Grand Dowager Empress had a hunch about something and she knew she wouldn't be able to sleep that night without knowing.

Li Lian entered behind the court lady.

Graceful.

If there had to be a definition of how the empress should carry herself, she was it. No wonder she had the Wang clan up to their necks with worry. She was a walking phoenix without a title.

The first thing Grand Dowager Empress noticed on Li Lian was the patch of cotton tied on her neck. It was soaked with blood.

Whatever happened last night? She thought the rumours were exaggerated that her grandson bit her neck. Shen Hong was a nutcase.

After the happenings of last night, the harem could relax. Li Lian was no competition anymore. What could she amount to as a scarred woman? The Phoenix seat was out her grasp with that neck.

"Morning greetings to Her Highness, Grand Dowager Empress Wu." Li Lian knelt.

"Confess to me whether you are Elora or get out." The dowager did not want to waste time.

Li Lian looked down and spoke like it was no big matter. "Yes, this servant is Elora."

Grand Dowager examined Li Lian's features. Her beauty glowed like the firefly's light in darkness. It was comparable to none. She held her own when it came to appearance.

"Alright, Elora. What do you seek?" She rested on the back of her seat. "Prepare me chrysanthemum tea." It was an instruction for her waiting palace maids.

The court lady nodded to the maids by the entrance and two excused themselves to abide.

"Your Royal Highness. I am here to let you know that you need me."

Like Dowager Empress Wang, Li Lian dared to drop the honorifics when speaking to her. This one was going to be a pain too. Better squash her before she grew wings.

"Presumptuous. You dare speak to me informally?"

"I am not formal when I bargain. You need me."

The Grand Dowager Empress broke into a huge fit of laughter.

A serious expression blanketed her face as soon as she stopped entertaining herself. "Get her out of here!"

Few maids of her entourage ran in to capture Li Lian. "Beat her to death. I will do the job Shen Hong cannot do. Make her regret she was ever born."

"You think killing me will help you? You need me! If you want this nation at peace with you being the grandmother of the nation, you will listen to me!"

"She is still spouting nonsense! Beat her hard!"

One maid grabbed Li Lian by the hair, the other two grabbed her hands and started to pull her. Li Lian was insolent. She thought she could come here and play games. Well, she was going to die. It was Grand Dowager's normalcy to fry people to death at least once every moon. Last time she killed, it was the old woman greedy for money, who shared that she was the one who spotted Elora on the bridge.

Grand Dowager Empress would have killed again if Shen Hong did not do it for her. The stupid woman she hired to be Elora was bad at acting, Shen Hong saw through her. He instantly had her killed which was a relief but the mystery remained whether the emperor was aware his grandmother was the mastermind behind the staging.

Li Lian wrestled against the maids. They were to overpower her but the opposite happened. She twisted her body and flipped over. Skillfully, she whipped her foot into the air, toppling one maid. She manoeuvred her hand, buckling the next one with her elbow. The remaining one screamed and ran out for her life. How humiliating. This cunning woman just took down her maids.

Grand Dowager was frightened when Li Lian walked toward her. Her court lady hurriedly bundled her mistress to protect her.

Grand Dowager was about to scream for more of her attendants to come help, when Li Lian grabbed a vase and pointed it at her. "Please, listen to me." She was breathing fast from the exercise. "If you do not listen, we both lose. You need me."

Now it made sense why Bai Shen Hong was entranced with this woman. She was clever, smart and calculating.

"Why do I need you?" Grand dowager pretended she was not fearful for her life.

"The Wu clan has no power at the moment. Your clan's advice in the court is looked down upon." Li Lian put back the vase. "The Wang clan, your enemy, have a strong foundation. They are rebellious, and do you know what they plan?"

"What?"

"They want the throne. They will abdicate your grandson.

"Yang Liu is officially a princess. She is unmarried and in love with a great general, General Feng." Li Lian spoke with confidence. "The emperor is being criticised for his sly activities as the grand general. He may not keep that position for long and guess who may take that position?"

"You are just a dancing maid and you know all this?"

"I was raised by the South Clan to represent them in the harem. It is no secret."

The eyebrows of Grand Dowager lifted in speculation still taking in what Li Lian just shared. "I still don't understand why I need you."

Li Lian smirked. "You are tired. Since I came in here, you continuously touch your chest. Age is getting to you, and the stress is a lot. Why don't you let me take care of you? I am a rising phoenix, help me help you."

"Cunning." Grand Dowager Empress rebuked.

"When I become empress, I will uplift your clan along with mine. I will take care of your grandson and help you gain his trust. You will live well off, no one to challenge you. Are these not your wishes?"

The more Shen Hong's woman spoke, the more Grand Dowager was impressed. She reminded her of herself at her youth. Although, Li Lian lacked the coldness she had. Her eyes were a little too bright. She had not yet lived long enough to know life's difficulties. She doubted her tiny hands had killed either.

"It is said you did not redden the sheets last night. You have a scarred neck. Word was spoken that you must be exiled to the Frost Palace." Grand Dowager chuckled. "You are mistaken, I don't need you."

Li Lian laughed along. "This lion still sleeps. Lure me out of the cave and I will bring home meat from the hunt."

"You want my help to not get locked up?"

"Help me and I will be at your disposal."

Grand Dowager Empress cackled. This surprised herself and her court lady. It was unlike her to tee-hee with anyone not close to her. "I title you Second Class Female Attendant Wei Li Lian, to not be disposed to the Frost palace." The older woman stood as she officiated. "You will start off as a seventh rank, that is a two ranks head start. Make the most of it."

Li Lian threw herself on the floor. "Her Royal Highness is magnanimous."

The Grand Dowager Empress wondered how her grandson would react to this. Would he retaliate?

Her decree stood ground over his because he ruled the outer court and she ruled the inner court. Yes, if he sought to oppose this decree he would win as he was the dragon. The emperor always had the last say concerning anything. But retaliating against her decree, on his part, would cause rumors and discomfort in the courts. For the sake of peace, she hoped Shen Hong gave in. His wings were still weak for tantrums.

S.V