Yin Zhuli remained quietly within Zhaohua Palace. Whenever Shen Tingjiao was free, he would come to stay the night. If he was truly overwhelmed with work and stayed up late, he would rest in his own bedchambers. He had not visited Qu Lingyu’s quarters even once, let alone the residence of Noble Lady Chen—the mother of Zhang Qing.
Everyone in the palace knew that he held Empress Wenxu in the highest regard; consequently, the servants of Zhaohua Palace felt themselves a cut above those elsewhere. However, this was merely the inner palace; the relationships within the imperial court were far more complex. An emperor’s harem was never intended merely to house the women he loved.
More often than not, it served as a mechanism to balance the various factions of the court. The women here did not rely on beauty, talent, or even intelligence; rather, the Emperor looked to their family backgrounds. Many powerful officials had beloved daughters and harbored ambitions of their own. Empress Dowager He had proposed expanding the harem several times, but Shen Tingjiao had refused each time, claiming that while the state was unstable and the people were restless, he would take no more concubines.
Of course, this was only the public excuse. Privately, everyone knew that the woman in the palace was formidable. It was rumored that even when he had only taken Consort Hui, the Empress had dared to poison the Emperor—and Emperor Jiayu had actually endured it.
Who would dare offend a woman that ruthless?
Imperial favor was not something that could be monopolized. Yin Zhuli understood this well. She recalled a joke she had once made to Shen Tingjiao: "The lake is very cold. Aside from women, there are only eunuchs; you can't even find a single cucumber... Everyone has been using their fingers for so many years; it's very lonely."
An emperor’s harem should consist of three thousand beauties. Yet, in these deep palace walls, there was only one man for so many people to share. That "item" wasn't particularly large to begin with; even if it were sliced into thin wafers, how many pieces could one person get?
She sat at her desk, leafing through a volume of the *Lotus Sutra*. Thinking such wicked thoughts in the presence of Buddhist scripture and Zen philosophy, she couldn't help but sigh at the impurity of her own "six roots."
Empress Dowager He had signaled several times that Shen Tingjiao must take more concubines. Currently, several ministers had daughters of appropriate age and excellent character, one of whom was the daughter of a powerful provincial governor. Yin Zhuli merely maintained a faint smile: "This concubine shall respectfully obey the Empress Dowager’s decree."
However, when the portraits reached Shen Tingjiao, there was still no movement. Empress Dowager He grew anxious. A person’s perspective changes depending on the seat they occupy. Fu Chaoying had executed Qu Tianji and supported Shen Tingjiao’s ascension because the situation had forced his hand—firstly, because Shen Tingjiao was his own flesh and blood, and secondly, because Qu Tianji’s military brilliance made him a difficult opponent to defeat.
But now that he held the bulk of the military power, if the political situation remained unsettled, would he continue to serve Shen Tingjiao with a single heart?
As portrait after portrait was returned, the Empress Dowager no longer knew what to do with her son. Her resentment toward Yin Zhuli deepened. Daji had brought down the Shang, and Wu Zetian had usurped the Tang; a woman with too much wit was, by nature, a malevolent force.
Because the transition of power had delayed the civil service examinations, Shen Tingjiao decided to reopen the Grace Examination on the sixth day of the twelfth month. The Son of Heaven would personally act as the chief examiner, meaning all successful candidates of this session would be "Disciples of the Emperor." No scholar wanted to miss such an honor.
As the date approached, he became busy until late at night, and even Zhaohua Palace rarely saw his face. Empress Dowager He sent someone to invite Yin Zhuli to Tianlan Pavilion to admire the plum blossoms, but Qingwan turned them away, citing that "Her Majesty is currently grounded and cannot go out." Unexpectedly, the Empress Dowager sent gifts several times to show goodwill and repeatedly dispatched servants to inquire after her well-being.
The entire staff of Zhaohua Palace was astonished. Then, on this particular afternoon, the Empress Dowager actually came in person.
The scenery within Zhaohua Palace was quite fine. Shen Tingjiao favored this palace exceptionally, which was why he had settled Yin Zhuli there. Within the palace grounds, pavilions were scattered amidst rows of winter plums. The water was clear, with fish darting to and fro. A winding white stone path meandered through the grounds, lined with jade balustrades that were waist-high, offering a perfect view of the water.
Beneath that white stone path lay a hidden marvel. On the reverse side of the white marble, the "Goddess Chang'e Flying to the Moon" and the "Dunhuang Flying Apsaras" were carved. After Shen Tingjiao ascended the throne, he had secretly ordered craftsmen to rush the completion of a "Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix" motif.
Looking at the reflections from one side to the other, the ripples in the water and every line of the carving had been ingeniously designed to make the images appear lifelike. It did not scream luxury; its beauty lay in its exquisite craftsmanship.
The Empress Dowager stood by the railing for a long time. Seeing the reflection, she was full of praise: "The King has truly put a great deal of thought into the Empress."
Yin Zhuli merely bowed slightly. Though she was respectful on the surface, there was an underlying coldness: "The Emperor’s grace is vast; Zhuli is overwhelmed with trepidation."
The Empress Dowager took her hand with great warmth: "Do not say that. Your Yin family is also a great contributor to the prosperity of Daxing."
Yin Zhuli was highly suspicious of this sudden change—she felt much like a chicken might feel when a weasel comes to pay a New Year’s visit. But the Empress Dowager soon made her intentions clear: "Today, I have simply come to see the Empress. After all, the Empress is not familiar with the palace and has no acquaintances to talk to. This is a distant niece from my maternal family; she is usually quite clever and lovely."
A young girl stepped out from behind her. She was a daughter of a noble house, like a famous flower meticulously cultivated by a gardener—her movements were proper, her manners refined, and she was beautiful without being gaudy. However, most "famous flowers" that are frequently pruned tend to feel too deliberate and conventional; though beautiful, they ultimately lack a sense of natural, wild charm.
"This humble girl, Xue Cangshi, greets the Empress. May Your Majesty live for a thousand years." she performed a formal bow, her etiquette perfect and her bearing dignified. Yin Zhuli reached out at just the right moment to help her up, inwardly sighing. *Damn it, how can someone be born looking so much like an Empress?*
The Empress Dowager maintained her shallow smile: "Empress, this girl has been a darling since birth." She waved her hand for Xue Cangshi to withdraw. As Yin Zhuli watched her graceful gait—walking like a late breeze swaying the willows—she felt a deep sense of cosmic injustice. The Empress Dowager spoke with an almost pleading tone, "Zhuli, she is the only daughter of Xue Chengyi, the Marquis of Anchang. I promise you, she will never threaten your position as Empress. No matter what happens in the future, you will always be the Empress of Emperor Jiayu of our Daxing Dynasty."
Her expression was sincere and her tone earnest; anyone would have believed her. Yin Zhuli, however, sneered inwardly—*Years from now, once you've carved my name onto a memorial tablet, I'll naturally be the Empress for ten thousand generations.* On the surface, she remained smiling: "This child looks quite good, and her family background is suitable. This concubine has no objections."
The Empress Dowager was overjoyed to hear this: "Good child, I knew you were one who understands the bigger picture. It’s just that the King is still young and very stubborn. See if you can... in front of him..."
Yin Zhuli nodded without hesitation: "I should, I should."
The Empress Dowager was still not entirely at ease: "Tomorrow, I shall host a banquet at Tianlan Pavilion. Why don't you invite the King to join us? Our family should find a day to gather. It would also be a good time for the King to lift your punishment of confinement. You are, after all, the mistress of the inner palace; staying cooped up in your quarters all the time is unseemly."
Yin Zhuli laughed inwardly—this was clearly a ploy to let Shen Tingjiao see this Cangshi girl. Yet she still nodded: "Certainly, certainly."
The Empress Dowager did not trouble her to see her out and departed with a graceful air. Yin Zhuli picked up a piece of fruit and tossed it far into the water; the "Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix" was blurred into a mess of ripples.
Leaning against the railing, she couldn't help but let out a sigh. It happened that Tianxin returned after seeing the Empress Dowager out. Ever since the incident when she delivered the sweet soup to Shen Tingjiao, she had been terrified that Yin Zhuli would think she was the Empress Dowager’s spy. She had been constantly trying to win Yin Zhuli’s favor, performing her duties with utmost diligence. Seeing Yin Zhuli’s somber expression, she couldn't help but ask, "Is Your Majesty displeased because of what just happened?"
Yin Zhuli looked at her with total confusion: "Why would I be displeased?" As the words left her mouth, she herself froze. The first time Shen Tingjiao took a concubine, she had been jubilant, wishing she could grow wings and fly back to the Prince of Fortune’s manor to see the beauty. The second time he took a consort, she had been neither sad nor happy, watching coldly while snacking on melon seeds. Now, the third time he was about to take a consort, she was leaning against a railing and sighing.
She pulled her red satin cloak, embroidered with gold thread in the "Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix" pattern, tighter around her, suddenly feeling a jolt of dread.
