Phoenix in the Moonlight

His mother, Xia Jingfei, the noble consort of the previous emperor, had not deteriorated with time. Her face was still lively and the small lines around her eyes only appeared when she smiled. She had taken well care of herself over the years and still looked as youthful as ever.

But Wang Yifeng's mother was a vengeful woman, she had to be when she was vying for the emperor's favor. And she received it. It says a lot about how scheming the woman was. In appearance, she was just as virtuous as her son, but deep inside she could see that this new marriage was not suitable.

"Son, mother is worried, must you marry this girl?" she had asked when her son broke the news to her. He had always been independent and never one to rely on his mother, but it could be said that they had a good relationship. "She is not from a noble family. Her father is a merchant!" Wouldn't this hamper his footing in the court. In this harsh world, you needed to marry well to remain in power. A qinwang marrying down to such a level would cause others to laugh.

"I have my own thoughts, mother. I will not trouble you with such trivial matters," he said as he offered her cup of tea.

"You must tell me." She had worked too hard and gotten enough blood on her hands. She had to know that this son of hers was not walking down the wrong path.

"Her father will benefit me greatly and open up avenues that can solidify my position," Wang Yifeng said vaguely. "You must not worry about this. She will be a consort. The position of my legal wife shall remain open."

"I hope you will allow your mother to search for a suitable candidate." She would not allow the paranoid emperor to choose a bad wife for his son. To pull all the strings necessary, she would go to great lengths.

"Son will do as mother says," he said lightly with a smile. He raised his hand to beckon the eunuch forward.

Two servants with golden platters arrived inside the hall and presented the decorative jewelry to her. Several hairpins adorned with pearls and rubies, telling delicate tales and jade bracelets and rings of the highest quality. She brushed her hand over it, satisfied.

"Son takes good care of me." She patted the back of his hand with hers and asked a servant to put a particularly beautiful hairpin into her styled hair.

"There is no one as beautiful as mother," he flattered.

"Silver tongued brat." She laughed. "Now tell me, what do you want from me?" she gave him a sly smile. He coughed, trying to hide his embarrassment. "What? Did you think that I wouldn't see through your plot?"

"Son wouldn't dare. Mother, indeed, knows best." He paused and looked at her expectantly. "Please teach this new son's consort proper etiquette." Her expression did not falter. She smiled generously and agreed to his proposal.

Once he left, she twisted the ring on her finger and sneered. Unfilial brat, he wanted to take away power from her. Did he think that she would give up her authority in the wangfu so easily? He could try, but he wasn't old enough to handle the business himself. His immaturity would only lead to chaos, and as his mother, it was her duty to prevent him from bringing harm to himself.

But this was before the marriage. Wang Yifeng's mother had not met the new consort since she came. It had been a few days and the girl had not come to greet her.

"This Jia Lixue is a terrible girl, not following etiquette and dismissing her mother-in-law in such a fashion," she grumbled to her trusted servant as she dressed for the day. "Feng'er will leave for the south in a few days and this girl is yet to share a bed with him." Her spies in Wang Yifeng's courtyard had told her that he was yet to have any relations with the girl. "I fear that he treats this Lixue too well. He is sparing her."

"Grand Imperial Consort, please punish this servant for not filtering her words, but wangye is intelligent. He is still young and has time to bear heirs. The new consort is also young, they should have no problem." This older servant had been serving the grand imperial consort since she first entered the imperial harem. The servant herself was a little girl and had grown up with the grand imperial consort and done everything that was asked of her to strengthen the position of her mistress.

It could be said that this servant was a close confidant and got away with a lot more than any other servant in the courtyard could.

Xia Jingfei gave her servant a look "Lan Lan, don't overstep your boundaries." The servant tucked her head and continued to dress the Grand Imperial Concubine.