Chapter 4: The Spring Tea Banquet

Phoenix Palace was filled with the fragrance of tea and blooming spring flowers.

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.

To her right sat Consort Shen Yuyan, elegant and composed as always.

Beside Shen was another seat—still empty. It belonged to Imperial Concubine Zhao Wanru.

Next to it sat Lady Su Qingyuan.

Across from them, on the Empress's left, sat Consort Ning Xinyue.

Beside Consort Ning was another empty seat, reserved for Senior Noble Lady Qing Yao.

At the end of the row sat Noble Lady Lin Ruozhi, the youngest among the ladies present. She held her teacup with both hands, too nervous to join the conversation.

The banquet had not yet begun.

The hall was peaceful.

Then—

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 Qing 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 Qing followed half a step behind.

The two women walked to the center of the hall and knelt.

"This concubine greets Her Majesty."

Su Mingshu nodded. "Rise."

They rose.

Zhao then turned toward Consort Shen. "This concubine greets Consort Shen."

Shen inclined her head with a faint smile. "There is no need to such formality.”

Following palace etiquette, Zhao then greeted Consort Ning.

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 Qing.

"This humble concubine greets Imperial Concubine Zhao and Senior Noble Lady Qing."

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 Qing 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 Qing 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 arrangement was decided by me, Your Empress."

She looked calmly at Zhao. "Is there a problem, Imperial Concubine Zhao?"

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 banquet… had only just begun.

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.