Page 87 of Forest of a Thousand Lanterns

She abandoned her bed late that evening, unable to sleep. She passed chrysanthemums, lanterns, and flowing cloths on every surface, pearl-white to mourn Lihua’s passing. Sticks of incense lay against each door, emitting strands of smoke that smelled of anise, cloves, and cinnamon to help bid her spirit farewell on her journey to the skies. White jasmine perfumed the air, too, for they had been Lihua’s favorite flowers. Their scent made Xifeng almost believe she might turn around and see the Empress as she had once been, gentle and elegant. The rightful queen.

No,she corrected herself, for there was only one rightful queen now.

In the shrine, she lit a candle in Lihua’s honor and placed it on the altar, bowing her head.

“Forgive me,” she whispered, “for once I was like a daughter to you.”She imagined the Empress’s spirit watching and listening on its ascent to the heavens.

On her way back, she paused by the railing over the gardens. In the afternoons, it was common now to see Ama, the old nursemaid, hobbling there after a little girl with eyes like the stars themselves. Jade, a princess. Motherless, as Xifeng was, and now the Emperor’s only living child at court.

That will change,Xifeng vowed.

The girl and her nursemaid would be sent away at the first opportunity. A poor village somewhere, to teach her humility, or perhaps a monastery. It didn’t matter, as long as the memory of her faded in both Xifeng and Jun’s minds. The Emperor would agree with whatever Xifeng decided for the girl. Jade belonged to the past, and she would be forgotten as soon as Xifeng gave Jun his legitimate sons. Princes of the blood, robust and healthy boys a thousand times more valuable than one worthless princess.

In one year’s time, when the period of mourning was fully over, the enthroning ceremony would be held in the heart of the palace.

In one year’s time, Xifeng would be crowned Empress of Feng Lu.

•••

Xifeng found the Emperor already dressed and waiting for her when she came to his chamber. He looked magnificent in robes of red and gold, the Imperial headdress adorning his proud head. The servants respectfully stepped back ten paces to allow him and Xifeng privacy.

She had dressed tonight with greater care than usual, which meant she had been preparing for the banquet since the early morning hours. It was the Festival of the Summer Moon, the first celebration at which she was not a lady-in-waiting, but the Empress-to-be. She had chosen asilk as red as fire, with exquisite gold embroidery at the wrapped collar, hem, and sleeves.

His eyes caressed her face. “You are the image of a true queen.”

“Your Majesty.” Xifeng bowed, fully aware of how her silks caught the light, giving the impression of flames curling around her body. Her women had agreed it was a stunning effect, especially with the Empress’s emblem worked in metallic gold thread on her back: a phoenix rising to the heavens, its tail burning a trail of brushed satin flames down the train of her skirt.

Jun touched the gold-and-ivory pin she wore in her hair. “I remember this. It was one of my first gifts to you. It suits you, but then a beauty like yours can wear anything.”

She beamed at him. She knew how striking she was, with frost-white flowers blossoming in her hair, their simplicity suiting the gold dust dotted on her eyes and on the center of her blood-red lips. There was no need to pretend modesty, and Jun knew it well. He too was full of youth, beauty, and vitality—they were two sides of the same coin.

The Emperor lifted her chin. “I am proud to have you by my side.”

“I am proud to be here,” she said, taking his hand in both of hers. “I am yours to command. Your happiness is the chief pursuit of my life.”

“And yours, mine.” His thumb stroked her fingers, light as a nightingale’s wing, and she felt a tingle at the base of her spine. She still kept up the guise of a virtuous maiden, but she knew he would be a skilled lover when the time came. His fingers tightened around hers and his face sobered as he added, “Before we go, I’d like to speak to you about my daughter.”

Xifeng blinked. It had been almost a year since the girl and her nursemaid had left court and Jun had never brought her up in Xifeng’s presence before. “Of course. What would you like to discuss?”

He perched on the edge of the table, still holding her hand. “Ama, the nursemaid, has sent word to say the princess is happy and thriving in the monastery, though she misses being in the forest. She is her mother’s daughter, after all.”

“Naturally.”

He cleared his throat. “She is her mother’s daughter and I must honor Lihua’s dying wish for her. She was adamant that Jade be added to the line of succession. I saw no reason to argue.”

Something seized up inside Xifeng like a clenched fist.

“There have been female regents in the past,” Jun continued. “My ministers tell me royal daughters have never been pronounced heirs before the age of twenty. This gave their parents time to determine their ability to rule. So this is a special case, as Jade is not yet three.”

It was a bold, daring request, and for a moment Xifeng was rendered speechless by Lihua’s audacity.In weakness, you find your strength,the former Empress had once said. Even on her deathbed, slowly withering away from the effects of Kang’s poison, she had rallied her spirits to secure the throne for her beloved child—the last of the line of trueborn Dragon Kings.

“I know this displeases you, my love, but let me remind and assure you that our own children will take precedence. They will be the sons of my living Empress, after all,” Jun said, his eyes searching her face anxiously. “We are young and healthy, and I’ve no doubt you will give me many heirs of my blood. This little wish of Lihua’s will have no bearing on us at all.”

He spoke as though the death of the Crown Prince was already a certainty. Xifeng supposed it might seem callous to anyone else, but she brought his fingers to her lips, touched by his confidence. He, too, had every certainty she would secure her position immediately, andshe knew the worship in his eyes would grow stronger once she did.

Emperor Jun was like other men, after all, so sure of his superiority he didn’t realize how easy it would be for her to control him. To plantherson on the throne and make use of the Serpent God’s power, ensuring her bloodline would control the kingdom forever.

“Well, then,” she said, glancing at him through her lashes, “I look forward to the day I may present you with a prince.”

---