***

The Imperial city has been eerie ever since Dong Mei's death. The pitch-black, midnight sky was a safe sign for Su Yin to execute her friend's plan. In a black, bulky robe, Su Yin quietly sneaked out of her chamber with her dainty fingers gripping on the hood over her face. She nervously looked down to her feet, avoiding the gentle moon illuminating her face. The spring night was chilly. The breeze ran into the large sleeves of her robe, trickling to her skin.

Su Yin knew the Emperor and the Empress would want her to maintain her health, but she would risk catching a cold for her friend.

She jogged briskly to a certain pavilion. One hand was on her stomach, and the other gripping the hood over her face. Tap. Tap. Tap. Each time her foot hit the pavement, it would make an obnoxious sound. Although she tried to soften the tone, it did almost nothing.

"You made it." Su Yin gasped to catch her breath. She kept the hood on while approaching the middle-aged man in front of her.

He was also in a black robe but kept his face visible. The eyes of the man meant business. His lips were thin, almost non-existent, but Su Yin could tell he was smirking at her. The man cleared his throat. "The money first."

Su Yin placed a few taels in the man's hand, which ended up in the pocket of his robe. He then held out his other hand and folded his four fingers twice into the palm of his hands, an indication that he was ready to receive what the object was. The quiet concubine reached into the deep pocket of her robe and placed the medium-sized folded paper into his hand.

Crows continued to caw, and the soft murmurs of crickets filled the silence of the surrounding atmosphere. With haste, Su Yin and the man left the pavilion with satisfaction.

It was another morning where Su Yin would wake up to see whether everything would go well.

"Let's pray before we go." Jia Ying, her lady-in-waiting and also sister, whispered, but the chatty maids interrupted their conversation.

The morning was quite a disappointment.

Su Yin walked into the hall with her maids behind her and Jia Ying to the side of her. They both scanned the hall casually. It was a busy morning with many of the women louder than the last morning. Women laughed with each other while they wrapped their petite hands around small teacups. They were very well groomed and well dressed.

The women in the harem were more disobedient than usual. After the absence of two imperial Noble Consorts, all the responsibilities were given to the Empress. There was light darkness under her eyes. It contrasted her porcelain, glass skin. The contrast was noticeable and even the girls were glancing up at her occasionally. The Empress paid no mind to the gossiping women. Niu Lin and a few other girls were smiling at the Empress, complimenting her dress, her hair, and anything about the Empress that was no different from yesterday or tomorrow.

While Su Yin was adjusting herself, the two palace maids provided a chair. Across the hall, the two other women that were pregnant were also quietly sitting.

Before the Emperor and the Empress spoke, all the women bowed elegantly in unison to show strong respect and courteous. Su Yin observed around the hall, gritting her teeth. The palm of her hands clammed up which she could not wipe on her hanfu.

This is a bad start, she thought.

The Empress, as she sat on her throne, grinned from ear to ear. She had been radiant as ever. Regardless of the noticeable weariness in her eyes, her skin was dewy and as bright as the stars on a spring night. The Empress cleared her throat. "Fellow sisters, good morning!"

"Good morning, Your Majesties," the women chanted out loudly.

Su Yin stayed quiet, but pretended to mouth the words as she had always done.

The morning was a bore, and Su Yin used her pregnancy to excuse herself earlier. She panicked when she arrived back to the chamber. It was not that the plan had failed yet. She had several hours left and if what she wanted has not come yet, Ying Yue will be doomed.

"We have a day," Jia Ying gave Su Yin a reassuring smile. The sweet tone of her voice relaxed the facial muscles Su Yin was tensing. "Don't lose hope."

It had finally come. The banquet hall the Emperor had hosted was busier than the morning, as there were more people. Although the Emperor was hosting it, the Empress Dowager was in high importance and attended. Her dazzling, youthful face was charming to all the people present in front of her. There was plenty of conversation to go around. When Su Yin finally arrived, she felt a rush in her body. The relief was overwhelming.

Su Yin's face had softened.

There she was. Chang Ying. Her doll-eyed expression was alluring to the Emperor. The Emperor had a visible smile on his face, and it was genuine. He had restricted himself from any emotion and showed nothing as his exterior until his favoured woman had arrived back. But he had a puzzling facial expression, with his eyebrows knitting and a small frown on his face.

"Chang Ying," he said, quite loud and clear for everyone to hear. "Why have you come back so early?"

The Imperial Noble Consort, that had exchanged heavy eye contact with Su Yin, faced the Emperor with puppy dog eyes and a dreamy smile. "I just could not be separated by you, Your Majesty. I had missed the environment of my palace and my sisters around me. Ah, how I've missed this!"

The Emperor was convinced.

"That is great news," he nods approvingly to himself. "It is quite unfortunate that you and the Empress will handle all of the duties as—" the Emperor blinked a couple of times—"Dong Mei is not here."

"We are very glad to have you back." the Empress nods, but the forced smile was easy to see through. She frowns immediately after and gulps—almost chugging—down the wine in her hand.

Her husband placed his hand on hers and whispered something sternly in her ear.

The evening feast was pleasant. Chang Ying was the main center of attention at one point until it switched to Su Yin. Su Yin had a smug look on her face when being talked to. Nevertheless, her cheeks hurt from forcing various laughter.

"Ah, Su Yin, how is the baby?" the Empress Dowager begun, her lips curling as she spoke.

Su Yin nodded. "Great! I've been quite fine. I cannot wait to see the beautiful prince or princess!"

The person who was the first to respond to Su Yin's excitement was the Empress. She cocked an eyebrow in amusement and, almost in a patronizing manner, chuckled. "Oh, I'm sure all of us are ready to see that baby. Su Yin, you must take good care of your health! Who knows, maybe you'll get the title... of... Oh, Your Majesty"—the Empress fakes a concerned look—"I apologize for talking about harem affairs... during—"

Su Yin fought the urge to throw her food at her.

"Empress, there is only one spot," the Emperor placed the wine cup on the table. "It depends on what happens after birth. I do ask that you refrain from discussing rankings from now on."

"There may not even be a new Consort!" the Empress chimed in, hesitating whether to release a furious look or keep the facade of a smiling empress.

"Why not? I think Imperial Concubine Chun has been very careful... She is such a benevolent woman!" Su Yin answered in a matter-of-fact tone. She disagreed with the statement. Su Yin washed the dirtiness of Li Mei's name down with the tea.

Li Mei looked away from her conversation and eyed Su Yin skeptically. There was a small glint in her eyes.

Chang Ying shook her head at the Empress with a laugh. "Empress! Of course, there will be! I cannot wait for you to announce who!"

The rest of the people felt uneasy. Some were looking at each other in confusion, while some were having conversations within their groups. It may have seemed disrespectful, but the higher authorities were too caught up in their own conflict to notice. The Empress was already balling her hands into fists under her hanfu sleeve and was tensing her shoulders. It was no use to be gentle with the two girls who were taking sides. Before she could burst, the Emperor snapped.

"Please do not talk about harem affairs while we are having a peaceful dinner." the Emperor demanded, but it was not of a solemn tone. It had an underlying gentleness to it as his wife, favoured mistress, and a woman carrying his child were bickering.

The spring night had returned, as expected.

Day and night is a routine. Constant survival in the harem is a routine, and it was as if Chang Ying was repeating history over and over again. It was repetitive. But if Chang Ying could be able to stop this cycle with Ying Yue, she would. If Chang Ying could protect at least one woman in the harem from disaster, she would. There were also benefits to gain from this situation. Protecting Ying Yue and releasing her would put the Empress in jeopardy.

Chang Ying held her gaze with herself, boring her eyes into the woman in front of her. She sat stiffly in front of her mirror. The chamber was quiet. Chang Ying had dismissed her maids a couple of minutes ago, and now she was idle with her thoughts.

"Madame Chang Ying..." an old, skinny physician walked carefully near the doorway but chose not to enter without permission. There was an uncomfortable smile settling on his face. Chang Ying chose to ignore it.

"Please, come in." Chang Ying spoke solemnly as she took off her dangling earrings. While setting the pair of earrings, gifted by the Emperor himself, on the table, she continued to stare at him from the mirror.

He dipped his head and bowed. "Your Grace, is there a reason why I have been called? You have never called me down before... I'm afraid—"

"No need to worry about me." Chang Ying interrupted before rising from her chair.

She turned around and faced the physician, still on his knees. While placing herself casually on the edge of her bed, she was debating whether she wanted to approach this situation with conviviality or earnest. In the five seconds she settled on her bed, Chang Ying decided.

Meanwhile, the physician was still waiting for Chang Ying to tell him to rise. He was still bowing.

"I need you to do me a favour." Chang Ying pushed loose strands from her hair back.

"Anything, Your Grace." he flashed a toothy grin.

"You may rise," the consort raised her hand in an indication to rise. She averted her eyes from him to look at her freshly painted nails. "Yes, I am expecting you to do this for me... But it may go against the many rules placed here."

The physician rose. His old, fragile body cannot handle getting up, but he hid the groan that he wanted to release. As he winced, Chang Ying was still admiring her hands. The man was quite glad she hadn't noticed. It would be embarrassing for him, as he did find the Imperial Noble Consort breathtakingly gorgeous.

Chang Ying fixed her gaze at the physician again, before forcing a wide smile to make him at ease. The chamber was very calming, so calming that the physician didn't know what he was getting himself into. She was smart to set it up that way. Her maids had set up candles in a strategic way where the scent would relax the physician.

She took a deep breath and exhaled the silk of her breath. "I will give you one a hundred taels if you can carry this out."

The man in front of her bugged his eyes out. His eyebrows raised in astonishment and all Chang Ying did was cock an eyebrow to lure him in.

"Oh yes," he nodded continuously. "Oh, yes, of course..."

Chang Ying couldn't help but give the man a big, genuine smile.

"Why, Empress! That is so beautiful!" Su Yin gasped in an authentic shock, that she forgot that she despised the Empress with her might.

The Empress nodded. A small smile curled on her lips as she held the miniature outfit she had crafted herself. It was already secured that Su Yin would have her baby. The Empress could care less if Su Yin was ever ranked up. She had put the concubine's close friend in an isolated, dirty estate. It was the least she could do for Su Yin.

The small gathering for the Empress by the women in the harem was very uplifting. Chang Ying was in her best mood. There was a lively atmosphere with the women. Endless chatters filled up the hall and Chang Ying was ready to carry out what Ying Yue had allegedly wanted. By now, it was ready for the Emperor's turn to speak but he was destined to be interrupted by the same old physician who had been in Chang Ying's bedroom.

"Your Majesty!" the physician rushed in, bowing standing up to signify the absolute urgency of the matter.

"What is it?" the Emperor asked with an irritated tone to his voice.

The physician avoided looking at Chang Ying. He was afraid he'd mess up and not receive the generous amount of money to support his wants and needs. "I had an amazing dream, Your Majesty! A concubine of yours, going by the name Chun Li Mei, will be having a son!"

"Ah! Already a potential heir to the throne? What a beautiful prophecy!" Chang Ying exclaimed, clasping her hands together in agitation.

She shivered under her hanfu. There was a small burst of adrenaline in her system and she couldn't wait to see how it would unfold.

The Emperor couldn't help but let out a loud laugh and a bright grin. He was ecstatic about the news. When he looked over at the Empress, the Empress quickly changed her mood of discomfort to a mood that matched her husband.

Although it would be foolish to think a low-class concubine could produce an heir to the throne, the Empress felt her stomach knotting tightly.

"If so, she will be moved to 'Noble Consort'! Her father has a great status, in the noble family of Chun," he kept his eyes on the Empress, smiling and nodding as he spoke. She couldn't do anything else but mimic him. "Her father has also contributed positively in court!"

While the Empress blinked back dismay and tears, Chang Ying was beaming with the bright lights of the hall. It was sudden to announce a big jump.

There was nothing the Empress could do. She fought and fought hard to maintain the title of "Empress" but she continues to feel threatened over little things. If she plotted again, one very minor mistake can lead Chang Ying into taking her throne.

Chang Ying was well-respected, highly virtuous, but not a better woman than the Empress, in her eyes. The Emperor and the Empress have known each other longer. It would make sense that they stayed together until the end of time. Her undeniable love for the Emperor, might have made her into some crazed, envious wife, but she would do anything for her husband and his love.

But would her husband do the same?

"It is quite a shame that Imperial Concubine Chun couldn't hear this. I cannot blame her, she must rest." the Emperor continued. He then rested his hand on the Empress's thigh.

"Empress, you would be glad to give the title of 'Noble Consort' to her, wouldn't you?" he asked, already knowing the answer.

The Empress dared not to argue back and nodded in tearful silence.

Chang Ying and Su Yin both, felt the sudden change of their mood, looking at each other as if they both got away with murder.