The banquet was in full swing. The fluorescent glow of the chandeliers reflected off ornate silk and polished jade, casting a warm shimmer across the hall. Bai Liu sat quietly at the far end, hands folded in her lap, observing the room.
Drums rolled, and nobles chattered, their voices mingling with the rhythmic pounding of silk-clad drummers moving in perfect sync. Bai Liu swore it sounded heavenly—no music artists from her studio could pull off moves that precise and elegant.
Whispers circulated about her, and she felt the Emperor glance at her with disdain. Of course, he hated her—after the Empress' miscarriage, he wanted an heir more than anything. Every Emperor did.
Bai Liu's father had brought in a mistress because she bore him a son. But Bai Liu was determined to change her fate. She would make him regret treating her like this—just as Zhou Wei had once felt bitter toward her own father.
From afar, Bai Liu noticed a pair of familiar dark hazel eyes watching her. A guard. She couldn't make out his face completely, but unease prickled her defenses. She resisted the urge to signal Lin Yan—she didn't want anyone to notice something was off.
A senior officer stepped forward, announcing, "A presentation by the consorts!"
Loud cheers and clapping followed as all the other consorts rose. Bai Liu froze. Lin Yan leaned close and whispered urgently, "You haven't mastered the dance, Seventh Consort… and your dancing is terrible."
Zhou Wei screamed internally. What? No one had ever derided her like this. She was a skilled dancer, trained and featured for elite performers.
Bai Liu's hands tightened, but she stayed seated. Lin Yan tried to pull her back to her chair. "Stop! Please, my lady, do not embarrass yourself!"
The Emperor raised his hand to halt Lin Yan, his face a mask of surprise and disbelief.
"It seems Lady Bai Liu wants to dance?" he said, his tone laced with mockery. A low chuckle went through the nobles and consorts.
"Oh! Emperor Xuanwu, surely if she wishes, she may," the Empress added, gently holding his hand, while the consorts chuckled at her hesitance.
Bai Liu realized she didn't know the dance steps well enough. Better to sit than disgrace myself. She began to sit, but the Emperor's piercing gaze pinned her in place.
"Oh, but you must," he said.
"Oh! She wouldn't want to fall like last time and break a chair," the Fifth Consort sneered, recalling Bai Liu's accident during a previous practice. A memory surged—Bai Liu had tripped over a deliberately misplaced foot, crashing into a chair.
Even if Zhou Wei wanted to unleash her full skill, the unfamiliar body constrained her.
"What does she even think she is?" one of the twins snickered.
"I will perform," Bai Liu said softly. Her voice was gentle, soothing, nothing like Zhou Wei's commanding tone—but perfect for negotiations and commanding attention subtly.
"Emperor Xuanwu, surely you know she is unwell," Lin Yan added.
The Emperor raised a hand to silence her, disbelief flashing across his face.
"If the Emperor permits," Lin Yan added cautiously.
The hall went silent, as if Bai Liu had blasphemed.
"Okay," the Emperor said coldly.
"But after the Empress and other consorts' performance," Bai Liu added, asserting her terms. He agreed, and she returned to her seat.
The drums rolled alongside other instruments as the six consorts lined up, twins at the front, their silks flowing beautifully in contrast to the dull garment Bai Liu wore. They twirled gracefully in unison.
After the short dance, the Emperor mounted the stage.
"What's she doing?" Bai Liu asked Lin Yan quietly.
"Her never-ending love poems… You used to love them," Lin Yan replied dryly.
The Empress locked eyes with Bai Liu, rolling her eyes, and began reciting:
"Moonlight falls on your shoulder
Like an unposted letter
My heart's already sailed home
Anchored in your gentle harbor
Every moment is a wait
Just to spend starlit nights with you
In your eyes I see the universe
In your smile I find eternity
My rare Jade."
The hall erupted in applause. Zhou Wei admitted it was well-performed; she had never been skilled with poetry. But her secret weapon—her grandmother Mõ Wei's mastery of the guqin—was about to play a key role.
"The Seventh Consort… Bai Liu," the senior officer announced. Bai Liu rose confidently, ignoring whispers, and approached the guqin player. He hesitated.
"Is this a joke?" a noble whispered.
"She's playing the guqin?"
"Oh my… we'll be assaulted by that sound."
Bai Liu snatched the wooden instrument and her delicate fingers began working on the strings playing, the notes flowing slowly and softly. The palace fell into a hushed, almost reverent silence as her smooth voice sang the words slowly. Zhou Wei knew the words but Bai Liu's voice made it sound like a Sirens song.
She played Guângling Sán, a sorrowful tale of two brothers and their little sister struggling to survive during wartime, their only treasure a guqin once owned by their father. Zhou Wei had grown up learning the story and the music from her grandmother.
Memories surged—her grandmother's passing, her mother's accident, her father bringing another woman into their lives. Tears welled, and for a moment, she disconnected from the room.
The palace cheered, oblivious to her momentary detachment.
"Wow! The Seventh Consort is impressive!" a noble commented.
As Bai Liu turned to return to her seat, the Sixth Consort kicked out her leg. Normally, Zhou Wei's training would have kept her upright, but the unfamiliar body faltered.
A pair of strong, muscular arms caught her, preventing her fall. She looked up—those dark hazel eyes she had noticed earlier.
"Thank you," Bai Liu said politely, stepping back. Something about him felt… off. She had to be careful. She offered the Sixth Consort a side grin. The woman looked away, unnerved.
"I never knew you had such talents… I thought the Seventh Consort was just a clumsy, fat fool," the Emperor said, his tone cold.
Zhou Wei's curiosity sparked—what kind of man was this, both sadistic and intrigued?.
Well, this clumsy fat consort was just started.
Lin Yan's eyes never left Bai Liu. She couldn't hide her astonishment at the display.
Zhou Wei grinned internally. Playing instruments was a powerful tool in the palace. She knew how to use it.