The Phoenix Split

The Phoenix Split-Chapter 56

The next morning, Emperor Yanxu sat in his study reviewing documents with Concubine Huan accompanying him. His eyes were bloodshot from the lack of sleep and she grinded the ink for him, "Your majesty, are you okay?"

He gruffly responded, voice almost cracking, "The palace is in chaos now. From Consort Hao's poisoning to Noble Consort Yan's brutal beating of Zhihao." he sighed, ink brush trembling slightly.

Concubine Huan raised her eyebrows and stopped grinding the ink, "Are you going to do anything about Noble Consort Yan, your majesty?"

Emperor Yanxu shook his head and sighed, "If I do anything to her, Yan Ming willl surely retaliate...I cannot risk that."

Concubine Huan nodded slowly and continued grinding the ink. The harem was destabilizing, Zhao Lian was becoming too influential, Qin Xun was unraveling, the Empress was cornered, and Wang Renqiu was surely to fight back, the emperor had to come up with a solution soon.

For Concubine Huan, the only reason that she was able to achieve a higher ranking and not be cornered by the rest of the consorts was because of Zhao Lian. If Zhao Lian had not backed up her case back at Jingyang Palace during Consort Hao's poisoning, Concubine Huan wouldn't be alive now. Zhao Lian spoke up when no one else dared to. She had heard from many different people of the relationship between Zhao Lian and Qin Xun and she felt that it was only necessary to return the favor back to her.

Concubine Huan set the ink stick down and walked to the front of the table to kneel. Emperor Yanxu raised his eyebrows as Concubine Huan continued, "Your majesty, I may have came up with a solution."

The emperor lifted his chin to allow her to present her said solution, "The palace is a mess now, only a marriage can subdue the conflicts temporarily."

Emperor Yanxu folded his arms together, "Are you talking about officially arranging the wedding between Zhao Lian and General Zhenyuan?"

Concubine Huan nodded and the emperor sucked in a breath. He knew fully that Qin Xun and Zhao Lian were bound to be enemies in this entire lifetime. A marriage would be a death sentence to them both, but what other choice did he have?

Concubine Huan added, "Peace bought with blood is still peace."

Zhao Lian would hate him. Qin Xun will break. The Empress will think she had won. He closed his eyes and swallowed hard, "The eldest daughter of the Zhao family, Zhao Lian, will be wed to the son of General Qin, Qin Xun, in three days."

Concubine Huan bowed, shakily, "Your majesty is wise."

The Emperor's hand trembled. A candle flickered. The ink on the decree dried too quickly. A storm was brewing and they all knew it.

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At Zhongcui Palace, away from all the chaos, Liang Yue was cleaning the wounds on Chen Zhihao's back, fingers trembling everytime she touched his skin. He sucked in a breath as she dabbed some medicine onto an open wound. She clicked her tongue, "Don't move."

He chuckled, trying to joke through the pain, which made him move more but she sniffled slightly as she continued to treat his back, wiping her eyes with the back of her wrist. Her breath hitched everytime he winced. He raised his eyebrows and turned his back to face her slightly despite it hurting, voice hoarse, "Were you...crying?"

She avoided his gaze and slapped him so he would return back onto his stomach, "No...why would you think that?"

His eyes softened, "I just wanted you to know that I was-"

She placed her warm hand on his back, where there weren't any injuries, "You don't have to be sorry about Hua Yating."

Zhao Lian sat across the room from them, like a ghost, not letting the tenderness touch her. She didn't want an ounce of their lovey dovey romance near her. She stared coldly at the floor. She knew that Liang Yue was falling hard and she clicked her tongue with a flicker of bitterness.

Zhao Lian was still surprised from the leniancy of Consort Hao. How could she let An Shihan near her? Was it to show something to the Empress? Or did Consort Hao merely want someone to vent her anger out on? Either way, if it were up to Zhao Lian, she would never let her murderer be so close to her. Mercy was never mercy in the palace. It was strategy. She scoffed to herself, thankfully not attracting the attention of anyone nearby, and thought, "It was almost like a prophecy...ironic wasn't it?"

Zhao Lian and Liang Yue both didn't know that Chen Zhihao had apologized for something different. For dragging Liang Yue into danger, failing to protect her, for being too weak to stay conscious. He opened his mouth to respond but outside, a female voice announced, "A decree from his majesty!"

Liang Yue's eyes widened and she almost dropped the ointment bottle in her hand as Zhao Lian walked over to open the door. Liang Yue quickly covered Chen Zhihao's back to keep him decent as Concubine Huan stepped in.

Concubine Huan gave both ladies a soft smile and a nod to Zhao Lian, "This decree is for you."

Zhao Lian gulped unsteadily and her knees almost buckled while kneeling. Liang Yue kneeled her with Chen Zhihao watching behind a cover-screen as Concubine Huan announced, "Miss Zhao, the eldest daughter of the Zhao family, shall be wed to General Zhenyuan in three days."

Zhao Lian's eyes lowered just a fraction too low. Her fingers twitched.

She didn't cry.

She didn't scream.

She didn't argue.

She simply bowed her head to receive the verdict, "I understand, thank you your majesty."

Concubine Huan folded the decree up and placed it in Zhao Lian's trembling hands. Everyone in the room felt the temperature drop and Zhao Lian's hands tightened around the decree. On the other hand, Liang Yue panicked and grabbed Zhao Lian's shoulder, "Y-you can't marry him...you'll die!"

Zhao Lian pressed her lips and closed her eyes shut, responding with only a nod.

"I know."