บท 13: A happy tea party
Qing Chan was gliding in the corridors of the Inner Palace on her way to pay a visit to her mother-in-law, Empress Li Feng Lan. Her bearing had never been so noble, she overshadowed every woman, even the prettiest, around her. Her beauty shone from head to toe, a good health could do this sometimes. She was especially proud of her flawless complexion and felt she could now, at last, rival with Wei Lin's charms fair and square.
The maids and the lower ranked concubines greeted her, curtsying or kneeling according to their status. Some of them couldn't help but squint their eyes or purse their lips secretly in dismay or hatred. But Qing Chan didn't care, she felt quite satisfied to be back in the imperial capital and smiled benevolently. However, her smile was only her usual facade. Deep inside, she knew whom she could trust, that was to say that everyone around her at this moment was her direct enemy or at least obeying a foe.
She had always been smart and was now able to read people's expression quite well, deciphering the slightest change in their moods and most of the feelings behind their demeanors. Whether it was an unconscious movement or a tiny twitching, every little thing now held a meaning. It gave her a sense of pride and superiority compared to her former self. She really had to thank her husband, First Prince Zhou Xi, for her stay in the temple. It had deeply changed her, she was no longer the witty but naive sickly girl.
If her body was still on the weak side, albeit healthier than ever, her mind was strong and sharp now. She had really matured in just a few months and was back to claim her rightful status. Never again will she gracefully take the bullying of others. It was useless to wait for her husband to be crowned Emperor and for herself to become Empress. Most of all because she might not see the day when she would rise to power.
Her sojourn in a faraway and unknown place with only a handful of servants had been a real eye-opener and a powerful reminder of the vulnerability of her standing. She was willing to do anything to grasp her fate in her own hands. Zhou Xi was weak and unreliable in Qing Chan's eyes. He had to cope with lots of pressure on all sides. Either his parents and especially his mother, or his lover Wei Lin, or the noble families. Even the people of the Selnan Empire held part of his leash. Far from being a dictatorship, the political regime in Selnan had its rulers serve the country, and not the other way around.
Zhou Xi currently had power without recognition therefore he had to try and please as many people as possible. It must have been exhausting and previously, Qing Chan had done all she could to lessen his burden, or at least not to add her own difficulties to his burden. But now it was all over. The years of enduring were now definitely behind her. It was high time for her to retaliate and punish the ones who bullied her and she intended to get back at them ten or even a hundred fold.
She greeted the Empress and, with the appropriate decorum, offered several cakes and delicacies she brought back from the Northern province where she spent the last few months. Being isolated from the court and the Inner Palace for so long, she felt her hands might shake but the genuine smile of the Empress warmed her heart. She knew Li Feng Lan had always supported her from the very beginning. However, shrewed as she was, the Empress' backing was far from free of charge. It was in itself a huge shackle burdening Qing Chan and she had often felt her mother-in-law's affection was stifling.
The whole Imperial Palace's atmosphere had always been peaceful and harmonious, thanks to Emperor Guo Ning. On the contrary, the Inner Palace had been full to the brim with simmering conflicts. For years, it had been the place where political influence was harshly fought for and where many feuds took place. It was the price Li Feng Lan had been willing to pay in exchange for peace almost everywhere else in the Empire. The Imperial couple had previously held so much power and control over everything that power struggle had been restricted to the Inner Palace only. Under Li Feng Lan's rule, it was the perfect outlet for the frustration, greed and thirst of power of the noble families of the Empire. Definitely not the place to grow beautiful but useless flowers obediently waiting to be plucked.
All the newbies had learned the harsh way that one had to make things happen and had to create her own opportunities. The smallest favor bestowed upon a concubine could mean a great reward for the noble family behind her. Besides, a powerful backing power and influential family meant additional protection for the daughter in this lions' den.
For a split second, Qing Chan regretted the relative freedom she had at the temple. However, it was necessary for her to come back and fight, for herself, her family but also for the Empire. She felt Selnan and its people needed her.
On her way to the temple, while passing through the Northern Duchy, she saw the living conditions in the small hamlets and villages. This Duchy had been the poorest of the Empire, always on the brink of starvation. Her family was from the fertile and wealthy Southern Duchy. The southerners were blessed with rich land, mild climate and many natural resources deposit including gold and gems. Moreover, the Kalianit sea, at the far South of the Empire, offered a fast access to trade with many islands and countries. The harbors as well as all the cities in the Southern Duchy were bustling with activities. The Southern Coast was the only access to the sea for the whole Empire. Many trading business from all over the country converged here, increasing the duchy's wealth and influence.
By contrast, the Northern Duchy had been so eerily silent Qing Chan couldn't help but shiver when she first arrived. Her small group of bodyguards, attendants and maids even got rid of a couple of gangs of half-backed would-be robbers who were only trying to get through as they didn't have enough to even eke out a living. People just barely survived thanks to the non-stop help from the rest of the Empire and Qing Chan felt it was nowhere near enough.
After a few months, Qing Chan unexpectedly found herself attached to this Duchy and its people. They had almost nothing and were too good-natured to even resent the other Duchies or feel envious. They even gave her all they could to help her feel at ease and regain her health, when all they had in abundance was cold and pure air and several beneficial hot springs. However, maybe this was just what she needed.
The hot spring on the temple's cloister had been renowned for its healing properties, supposedly bestowed by a famous Saint wielding powerful healing magic. Qing Chan felt they could run a business and earn a lot of money out of it but she couldn't bring herself to disrupt the quiet peace and holy atmosphere. The temple, as well as many places in the Nothern Duchy, was bereft of everything except holiness. And indeed, after returning to the Imperial capital, Qing Chan felt she had been reborn and blessed.
But the change in her hadn't been only on the physical level. Her mind and heart had never been so clear before. Under the priestess guidance, she meditated or discussed the scriptures and found that the holy thoughts of the Saint could be interpreted in a very modern way even suitable for the day-to-day life in the Empire.
Moreover, these pieces of wisdom had been an eye-opener for Qing Chan. She knew she would make a good Empress, maybe better than Li Feng Lan. She would give her all for the Selnan Empire and its people. It was her call and nobody else could do it in her stead. She didn't thirst for power in itself, she needed it to accomplish her goal. Her resolve would not be shaken by mere obstacles in the Inner Palace. Like never before, she felt up to the task, she was ready to crush any opponent standing in her way.
Qing Chan sipped her tea, her meek demeanor contrasting with her hidden ambition. However, the Empress Li Feng Lan was not fooled. She had that special glint in the eye showing she was interested and curious. She was also quite satisfied that the small chick she supported and nurtured for so long was, at last, about to spread her wings and become a true phoenix.
However, during this impromptu tea party to celebrate her return, Qing Chan was not idle or daydreaming. She had been carefully watching everyone around her. Aside from Lady Wei who was feeling unwell, everybody was here to enjoy the party. Qing Chan was also secretly checking anything she drank or ate, sampling when possible the dishes she herself brought to the Empress. It was the first time she was so deeply aware of all the people surrounding Li Feng Lan. Both the ladies and the numerous maids, everyone was a potential threat.
Qing Chan tried to decipher any suspicious expression and at the same time cautiously observed the dishes people ate. When she had been at the temple, the nuns first developed a detox diet to cleanse her body since she had be fed tiny doses of poison for years without her knowing. It had been utterly unsettling but the facts proved the nuns to be right.
Who would benefit from her poor health ?
The first thought would be Wei Lin, her rival. However, both women had known each other for a long time and even though they mostly hated one another, Qing Chan didn't think Lady Wei would stoop so low as to sap her strength and health with a mild poison. It was too cowardly and indecisive, it didn't fit Wei Lin's persona at all, at least it wasn't befitting the Wei Lin she knew.
Moreover, Lady Wei preferred more drastic solutions. She could be patient and refined but when the opportunity arose, she never wavered. If she had wanted to poison Qing Chan, the latter would be long dead. She even had enough power over Zhou Xi to send Qing Chan away against the Empress' wishes. She definitely didn't need to take the risk of slowly poisoning her rival. It was also highly unlikely that she could find so many opportunities, Qing Chan had never lowered her guard with regards to Wei Lin or her entourage.
If Qing Chan excluded Wei Lin, she felt anyone could have ordered it. She simply couldn't trust anyone. Except for Empress Li Feng Lan and her own little sister Qing Li Na, anyone could gain from eliminating her. Qing Li Na was a concubine of the Third Prince. Their family was the only one with two direct descendants in the Inner Palace, one even being the official wife of the First Prince – and heir to the throne. It showed how powerful they were and Qing Chan's high status also helped to protect her sister. But most of all, the two sisters were very close to each other. Qing Chan couldn't resist doting over her cute little sister, showering her with presents whenever possible.
Qing Chan was still pondering about who the culprit could be, wondering if she could ask the Empress' opinion in a private audience and intending to warn Qing Li Na against this kind of dangers, when suddenly she heard a commotion. An attendant entered and kneeled on the floor, waiting respectfully despite being out of breath.
From Li Feng Lan's behavior, Qing Chan surmised he was only a messenger, not a trusted servant, nor a secret spy. Otherwise, the Empress would have excused herself to hear him in private. Qing chan could see her mother-in-law was upset. Even with her usual straight face, Li Feng Lan was tense. It was obvious that the interruption was unexpected and unpleasant to her. The eunuch would very likely be punished for disturbing such a happy reunion and tea party.
When the Empress asked what this was all about, the attendant explained that Lady Wei was not in her chamber and nowhere to be found in the entire Inner Palace. The tea room fell silent at once. Everyone was aware of the implication of Wei Lin's vanishing, moreover, she was pregnant with the Empress' grandson. They had all heard about the assassination attempt, this was probably the follow-up and this time it succeeded inside the Inner Palace, under the nose of Li Feng Lan. Such offense to the Empress' authority probably deserved a heavy punishment, maybe even a death penalty.
Qing Chan's mind was furiously working, trying to understand what happened while she was away. She sincerely hoped that Wei Lin was alive since she was carrying Zhou Xi's first child and the next heir to the Empire. In any case, Qing Chan didn't think that Wei Lin would have left by herself. Even if the Inner Palace was full of enemies, she would fight. Even if someone tried to slander her or found proof that the child was not Zhou Xi's – which Qing Chan would never believe – Wei Lin would just crush the threat. Her eternal rival was in danger and unexpectedly Qing Chan found herself worrying. But little did she know that she was immediately, in the eyes of many, the principal suspect. Who would have thought that Wei Lin's disappearance on the very day Qing Chan came back would throw the latter's life in chaos ?
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