From the depths of the heavily fortified palace, arose the curling scent of sandalwood incense. The sight that met one's eyes was a picture of lavish magnificence.
In the Phoenix Fern Palace, the palace gates were tightly shut. Many maidservants were kneeling with their heads bowed. The eunuchs held their breath unanimously, no one daring to move even slightly, much less cast a glance at the woman in the throne hall who exuded opulence. She sat there, her phoenix crown illuminating her grandeur.
Her hair, pitch black as if woven from sapphire silk, was twisted into a beckoning bun, dotted with jade green pearls. Golden ornaments dangled from her shoulders, her porcelain face illuminated by the austere shadows, throwing their dim designs on the ground.
"To the Moon, report the time!" Her thin lips parted slightly to let out the words in a taped tone.
Each word echoed every corner of the hall, as if pearls hitting the floor, making everyone kneeling beneath shudder.
Beside her stood a woman dressed in light green court clothes. With a slight bow, she turned to the outer hall and replied, "Your Majesty, it just past the hour of the sheep!"
"Oh?" There was a tinge of surprise as she slightly raised her eyes. Her phoenix eyes, long and narrow, shone a pale blue light, adding an icy touch to her demeanor. Her petite melon seed face displayed a tranquil and indifferent grace among its profound delicacy.
The empress’s gaze lingered on the palace brimming with red jade and green porcelain. She seemed listless as she caressed the cloud silk. Then, turning to the shivering maids below, she suddenly broke into a gentle smile.
“What are you kneeling for? Wanting to let the entire six palaces know that I treat the palace maids harshly?"
All the palace maids led by To The Moon knelt down together. Out of fear they promised, “Your Majesty is extremely kind and generous, we shall never forget it. We pledge our lives to follow Your Majesty!”
“Follow?” The empress said with a wry smile, "If you all sincerely pledge your lives to me, why don't I just gift each of you a white silk to fulfill your wishes?”
At that moment, the color drained from everyone's faces. Some of the more timid ones gasped in fright.
At this point, the sky outside the hall was filled with dark clouds, as heavy rain rolled in. A mocking shadow flickered in the Empress's serene eyes. "What, not brave enough now?" Her voice was full of anger, and the maids trembling, barely managed to whisper a reply, "We dare not!"
A middle-aged palace maid standing at the palace gate cast a peculiar glance at the feignedly angry Empress and couldn't help but sigh. Despite the crisis, the Empress appeared so composed.
Clearing her throat, the maid was about to speak when a group of people approached from outside the hall. The crimson palace doors were pushed open, and her voice dropped instantly, "Your Majesty, they are here!"
Following the sound, she looked afar. Nearly twenty imperial guards, armored and dignified, were swarming in. The Phoenix Pavilion was completely surrounded, without a single gap!
The kneeling maid's face turned even more pale. She bit her red lips, refusing to make a sound.
After the Imperial Guards, a eunuch in his fifties stepped out, holding up a bright yellow Imperial edict, and said indifferently, "Your Majesty, the imperial edict..."
Looking at these people who used to flatter her and now displaying such a lofty demeanor, Xu Changyin didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
An imperial decree, several Imperial Guards searching the palace, even the Captain of the Guard arrived personally. This grand display made her nerve-wracking.
Xu Changyin lightly chuckled a few times and slowly walked down with the support of her maid Zhumo, "Eunuch Su, I've been in the palace for seven years and never seen such a spectacle. It's truly unique!"
Finishing her words, she lifted her phoenix dress, walked gracefully to the hall's steps, and faced the cold-faced Eunuch Su, the gold hairpins on her head jingling.
Xu Changyin, however, like a phoenix, even while kneeling, gazed at everyone proudly!
Eunuch Su's face tightened, and he nervously stepped back. At this moment, Xu Changyin suddenly waved her water sleeve, raised her jade hand, and knelt down to say, "I, your humble servant, accept the imperial edict!"
A gust of wind brushed past his ear, and the hanging heart of Eunuch Su finally settled.
If the Empress was willing to accept the edict, it certainly meant that she wouldn't resist the Emperor.
Reflecting upon the seven years of Her Majesty's reign, ruling over the six palaces with her fierce methods – although he hadn't witnessed them firsthand, he'd definitely heard rumors.
Such as the mysterious dark guards at the Empress's command. Anyone in the harem who dared to go against Her Majesty was killed without exception!
Just like three years ago, when Concubine Zhao spoke audaciously, the queen herself inflicted corporal punishment, leaving Concubine Zhao battered and bruised!
And just a year ago, the queen surprisingly held a longsword, intending to put Consort Wan to death.
It was only from that time that he had truly witnessed the stern and ruthless side hidden beneath the gentle demeanor of the queen, who rules over all mothers under the heavens!
And today, he was sent by decree to Fengzao Palace. Even Consort Wan had specially entered the palace to ask for permission. If not for this reason, how could the Imperial Guard have followed so easily?
His thoughts were swirling in his mind. Eunuch Su collected his thoughts, opened the royal edict in his hands, and declared loudly, "By the Mandate of Heaven, the emperor decrees that Queen Xu, who possesses combined virtues of talent and morality and behaves according to the rites, only lacks a son to continue the lineage and cannot serve the ancestral temple. Now, under our venerable ancestral instruction, she is to be demoted from her position as queen to Virtuous Consort and relocated to Fengzao Palace. This is my command!"
What had arrived amidst great suspense was, in fact, the imperial decree to depose the queen!