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Chapter 4: The Spring Tea Banquet
publish date:
2026-07-06 07:42:01The next morning.
Phoenix Palace. The Spring Tea Banquet had begun. One by one, the imperial consorts entered the grand hall. Each stepped forward to greet the Empress. At last—a palace maid announced, "Lady Su has arrived." The hall grew still. Su Qingyuan stepped gracefully across the threshold. The moment Mingshu saw her… the solemn expression on her face softened almost imperceptibly. "Come here."Her voice was gentle. Not like an Empress addressing a consort. Everything… was about to begin. Soft conversations drifted through the grand hall as palace maids moved gracefully among the guests, replenishing teacups and arranging delicate pastries. At the head of the hall sat Empress Su Mingshu. Consort Shen Yuyan occupied the first seat below her. Consort Ning Xinyue sat opposite, composed as ever. Noble Lady Lin Ruozhi the youngest present, clutched her teacup with both hands, far too nervous to join the quiet conversations around her. Noble Lady Su Qingyuan sat quietly between Consort Ning and Noble Lady Lin, exactly where palace protocol placed her among those of equal rank. Only two seats remained empty. One belonged to Imperial Concubine Zhao Wanru. The other, to Senior Noble Lady Qin Yao. A young palace maid hurried over to Nanny Xu and whispered. Nanny Xu stepped closer to the Empress and bowed. "Your Majesty. Imperial Concubine Zhao and Senior Noble Lady Qin have arrived. They await Your Majesty's permission to enter." Mingshu nodded. "Let them in." "Yes, Your Majesty." Nanny Xu sent a young maid to the entrance. The murmurs inside the hall instantly ceased. Every pair of eyes turned toward the doors. Imperial Concubine Zhao entered first, dressed in a magnificent pink palace robe embroidered with crabapple blossoms. Senior Noble Lady Qin followed half a step behind. The two women walked to the center of the hall and knelt together. “This concubine pays her respects to Your Majesty the Empress.” “You may rise.” “Thank you, Your Majesty.” After rising, Zhao Wanru turned first toward Consort Shen. “This concubine greets Consort Shen.” Qin Yao also lowered herself in a graceful curtsey. “This concubine greets Consort Shen.” Shen Yuyan smiled gently and inclined her head. “There is no need for such ceremony.” The two women then turned toward the opposite side. “This concubine greets Consort Ning.” Qin Yao repeated the greeting in unison. Ning Xinyue returned the courtesy with a soft smile. “Please rise.” Only then did she slowly turn, her eyes settled on Su Qingyuan and smiled. "Lady Su." Her voice was warm, almost affectionate, "I've heard so much about you." Every person in the hall heard it clearly: "I thought someone so favored by His Majesty would know palace etiquette..." Another pause, "...but it seems I was mistaken." Upon hearing this, Su Qingyuan quickly rose and bowed to Imperial Concubine Zhao and Senior Noble Lady Qin. "This humble concubine greets Imperial Concubine Zhao and Senior Noble Lady Qin." Zhao looked at her for a long moment before speaking: "Your etiquette is impeccable." She smiled faintly. "So why… did you remain seated when I entered?” No one spoke. Senior Noble Lady Qin lowered her eyes and said softly, "Lady Su was seated even closer to Her Majesty than Lady Lin. If anyone should have noticed Your Highness's entrance, surely it would have been her. Perhaps… she simply forgot." A few consorts exchanged quiet glances. Everyone understood what Qin Yao was implying. His Majesty's favor had made Lady Su forget her place. Qingyuan straightened calmly: "I did not forget." She looked directly at Zhao. "When Your Highness entered, you were still paying your respects to Her Majesty. It would have been discourteous of me to interrupt. She paused, then miled softly, “In the Inner Palace, Her Majesty comes first." Silence. Complete silence. Even Consort Shen looked up from her teacup. The corner of her lips curved almost imperceptibly. Zhao's smile froze for the briefest moment. She had intended to accuse Su Qingyuan of ignoring palace etiquette. Instead… Su Qingyuan had used palace etiquette itself to answer her. Without raising her voice. Without showing the slightest disrespect. At the head of the hall, Su Mingshu finally spoke. “The seating was arranged according to palace protocol.”She looked calmly at Zhao, “Do you find fault with the palace regulations?” The smile on Zhao's face remained unchanged. She immediately bowed. "This concubine would not dare." Mingshu gave a small nod. "Then take your seat." "Yes, Your Majesty." Zhao walked toward the empty seat beside Consort Shen. As she passed Su Qingyuan—she smiled as though nothing had happened. Yet beneath the sleeve of her robe… her nails quietly dug into her palm. The palace maids entered in a line, carrying freshly brewed tea. One young maid passed behind Su Qingyuan. Then—her foot caught on something. The tray lurched violently. The pot of boiling tea tipped forward. Straight toward Su Qingyuan.
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