The Empress Star

The favourite, or rather, the most important past-time of any court official that was of a high-enough rank to attend morning court was to predict the emperor's mood that day. This was imperative if they were going to get anything done.

For example, if Emperor Xuanjun was feeling amendable, then it would be the opportune moment to push out a policy that might be slightly unfavourable to the common populace. Every minister in attendance knew that Emperor Xuanjun's heart was with his people and that he would reject any suggestions that didn't favour his citizens over the interests of the nobility.

This was why, despite being relatively new to the throne, the emperor had already made more enemies than his predecessors combined.

But today was not the best day to be pushing radical ideas forward. The frown on the emperor's brow was so deep and the anger blazing in his obsidian eyes was so fierce that all officials who had come prepared to present their reports to the emperor today found themselves hesitating. Could the matter wait until tomorrow?

"Present your petitions if you have one, otherwise court will be adjourned!"

At the foot of Emperor Xuanjun's throne stood the head eunuch Cao Mingbao. Every morning, he would ask this same question, his loud voice echoing through the painted rafters of Weiyang Hall. Most mornings, this would herald a flurry of activity from the officials, all of whom would bring up a variety of state matters that warranted further discussion.

But today, as though they had colluded in advance, no one else spoke up but for the elderly gentleman who stood first in line on the right side of the hall.

This was the right prime minister, Ren Hao, and the patriarch of one of the 6 noble clans. He had risen to power after playing a significant part in revealing the ex-prime minister's treasonous ploy.

Upon the dais, his face obscured behind the twelve strings of jade beads that dangled from his court headdress, sat Liu Yao. His expression, which had already been dark to start with, became thunderous when the right prime minister walked out of his line on the red carpet in the centre of the hall to speak his piece.

Morning court started at the hour of the rabbit when the moon was still a white jade disc in the inky sky. No matter how industrious Liu Yao was, he didn't enjoy waking up before the sun even rose to begin another day of work. To make matters worse, he'd received bad news this morning, right before stepping into his private study at the back of Weiyang Hall, which was where he sat waiting for the officials to fully arrive.

It turned out that Her Highness, the empress dowager and his dearest royal mother, had specifically kept all the male beauties from yesterday's selection for him. She'd been like this ever since that year Liu Yao fought with the previous emperor about his candidate for his future crown princess. Liu Yao had decided to come clean with his preferences, declaring his cut sleeve tendencies there and then in the centre of Tianlu Pavilion and had nearly lost his position as Crown Prince.

His eyes narrowed at the reminder of those difficult days. Ren Hao had had a big part to play in it too, as he recalled.

"Your Majesty," Ren Hao said with a deep, respectful bow. "Congratulations on your acquisition of new members of the inner palace."

Liu Yao leaned against one arm of his throne. "If that's all you have to say, Beloved Subject, this sovereign assures you it is not in order." Congratulations? He would only have cause for celebration if he could find a way to dismiss his harem without inciting rebellion. At the end of the day, despite securing his position by regathering military might under the throne, he still needed to deal with the private armies that these old clans and warlords had.

The longer he allowed them to wield power against him, the harder it would be for him to seize complete control of state affairs.

Of course, Ren Hao had more to say than just a couple of useless, phatic utterances.

"Reporting to Your Majesty," Ren Hao said. "It has been five years since your ascension and still the country does not have an empress. It would shake the foundations of the stability of the nation if it does not have a mother, this old subject humbly begs you to consider appointing one!"

His words were echoed by a large proportion of the rest of the court. "We humbly beg Your Majesty to consider appointing an empress!"

Liu Yao scoffed out loud. Not appointing an empress would shake the stability of the nation? All his predecessors had empresses but it wasn't like the dynasty had been better off under their rule. His mother had done nothing to help curb his father's despotic reign.

He didn't bother concealing his disdain, which scandalised the older officials. They exchanged disapproving glances but didn't make their thoughts known. Let the Censorate voice their criticisms of the emperor's behaviour later. It was safer than speaking up themselves.

From the row next to the officials that worked in the Ministry of Rites, a young man stood out too. Unlike the other officials, who were dressed in court garb, he wore long flowing robes with a silvery sheen that was the uniform of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau.

This bureau was a special branch of the Ministry of Rites and they often worked hand-in-hand to arrange auspicious dates for rituals and ceremonies. Their role was to chart down the movements of the stars and to use them to predict the fortunes of the empire.

But more often than not, they were wielded like a pawn in court. Liu Yao would know this because he'd made use of them before too.

The anger in Liu Yao's gaze went from searing heat to a deadly cold. Already, when he received the scroll with the finalised list of names from the selection of beauties, he had anticipated that his hardworking ministers would choose today to make their move. Perhaps a select few of them were even in cahoots with either the empress dowager or Noble Consort Li, delivering blow after blow to him on a single morning to catch him unawares.

But luckily, Liu Yao knew this bunch of wily officials as well as they knew him, if not more.

He raised an eyebrow. "You're Director Chen of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau."

Director Chen bowed low. His every move was elegant and made him appear ethereal.

"This subject, Chen Jiaran, pays respects to His Majesty, long live His Majesty!"

"Dispense with the formalities," Liu Yao said. "Why have you stepped forth now?"

Chen Jiaran flicked his long sleeves out in front of him before folding into a full kowtow. "This subject is here to report a finding in the stars. The eight chief astronomers discovered that within recent times, the Tian Fu star, which has been dim for almost half a decade now, has finally returned to full blaze!"

An excited murmur swept through the ranks of the ministers at this announcement. Liu Yao's lips curled upwards but his smile didn't reach his gaze.

"Oh? Do elaborate."

"As Your Majesty commands." Chen Jiaran didn't raise his head as he spoke. "On the 20th day of the last month, during the central hour of the pig (1), the eight chief astronomers noted a white brightness in the sky in the position of the Tian Fu star."

Liu Yao nodded to show that he was listening. "And what about it?" he asked.

His question made Chen Jiaran hesitate. "This…" He finally raised his head with a slight confusion on his face. "Your Majesty is familiar with the significance of the Tian Fu star?"

Liu Yao was. The Tian Fu star was all he'd heard about that time he'd been forced by his father to take the oldest legitimate daughter of the Li Family's main branch as crown princess. The Tian Fu star had been shining brightly in the sky too on the day of his marriage and everyone had treated that as a sign that she was destined to be a future phoenix. The previous emperor had refused to heed Liu Yao's words when he'd insisted that the star was referring to someone else, that besides that one person, Liu Yao would never acknowledge another as his lawful wife.

And then, the next morning, that person was gone. And that night, the Tian Fu star vanished from sight.

The rumours about Noble Consort Li not befitting the role had spread like wildfire. Liu Yao hadn't been responsible for them but it had taken him no effort at all to fan the flames.

He'd already told his father, after all. She wasn't the right candidate.

So yes, of course Liu Yao knew what the Tian Fu star meant.

"Are you suggesting," he asked softly, "that this sovereign's empress is among the new arrivals to the inner palace?"

More than one pair of eyes brightened up at this suggestion but no one dared to speak because they knew that the gentler the emperor appeared, the more dangerous a mood he was in.

Liu Yao's gazes swept over them one by one. From his adult younger brothers who were assisting him in court to the members of the Six Ministries, all he saw were agendas against his people and him.

This court was truly festering beneath its gleaming surface. He needed to exterminate the maggots before they ate a hole right through the dynasty.

"Which new concubine is worthy of the title then?" he asked, keeping a tight rein on his temper as he took stock of their little petty schemes. "Left Prime Minister, perhaps you think it might be your daughter? This sovereign recalls she was chosen by the noble consort, amongst others."

Liu Yao's words gave away the fact that he didn't participate in the selection himself. Already, some of the expressions of the ministers with vested interests soured.

The left Prime Minister, Zhao Xu, immediately stepped out and bowed. He was a serious middle-aged man whom Liu Yao quite respected. Despite being from an old noble clan, he was one of the precious few who didn't challenge Liu Yao's authority.

"This subject wouldn't dare," Zhao Xu intoned. "Your Majesty's inner palace is a personal matter and should not be discussed in court."

"Your Majesty! The appointment of an empress and the production of heirs have a direct impact on the state!" the right prime minister objected. "This old subject humbly begs that you consider who is the most virtuous of the newly selected concubines to see if she would be suitable for the appointment!"

More and more dissenting voices started speaking up. Some agreed that the Tian Fu star's return to brightness must indicate that a suitable empress was among the new concubines. Others argued that it could also mean that one of the older concubines, who were more loyal and more experienced in matters of the harem, might have matured into the role.

They weren't even trying to hide their factions from him. It was almost amusing to watch them squabbling like this in court as though they thought he was still a foolish naïve young prince who didn't know better than to let them lead him around by the nose.

Had it really been so long since he'd removed a minister from office for attempting to manipulate him?

"Silence!" Cao Mingbao yelled after he caught the gaze of his liege. Just as his words rang out, a figure appeared at the entrance of Weiyang Hall.

Liu Yao's smile finally took on a sincere edge. He'd sent a carrier pigeon just a couple of days before the selection of beauties but he hadn't been certain that his message would be able to reach this elusive wanderer in time.

"The state preceptor has arrived!"

The ministers exchanged shocked glances but bowed their heads in reverence. It was still dark outside but the state preceptor was like a ray of sunshine as he stepped into the hall. He was in a simple scholar's tunic and this, along with his hair, was the colour of snow. Despite this, he stood straight and tall like a young man and his face was even more unusual in that it was unmarked by age. He held a long beggar's staff in one hand and he had a flask of wine attached to his hips.

Liu Yao too stood up to welcome his timely aid.

"State Preceptor," he greeted, walking down the dais to stand before this otherworldly man. In comparison to him, Chen Jiaran's attempts to exude a mysterious aura fell laughably short.

"Your Majesty," the state preceptor acknowledged. He alone in the hall didn't bow in front of the emperor as his rank garnered him an exemption.

State Preceptor. It was just one word different from Grand Preceptor but it carried a whole other meaning. Despite the power he wielded, his role in the court was an unclear one. Sometimes he was involved with matters of the supernatural. Other times, he was just a mere figurehead that represented the country's good fortune and helped the emperor to maintain spiritual peace among the people.

Today, though, he was here to rescue Liu Yao.

Without any preamble, he strode towards Chen Jiaran, who was still kneeling on the ground after his passionate delivery of the status of the Tian Fu star.

"You're the Director of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau?" he asked. His voice was oddly hollow, as though he was speaking in the great wilderness instead of a crowded hall.

"I—In response to the state preceptor, this subject is," Chen Jiaran stuttered out, overwhelmed by the presence of the man before him.

The state preceptor nodded. "Not anymore," he said, delivering this verdict so calmly that Chen Jiaran couldn't process it for the longest time.

When he finally did, however, the state preceptor was already talking over his weak protests.

"Your Majesty," the state preceptor said with a simple salute as he addressed Liu Yao directly. "I would like to report a mistake in the eight astronomers' reading. The Tian Fu star did indeed start to glow brightly on the 20th day of last month but it had nothing to do with the new selection of beauties."

"Oh?" Ren Hao said suddenly. He was one of the only individuals present who didn't regard the state preceptor with awe. "State Preceptor, with all due respect, you have been roaming the lands for so long that you might not be aware of the matters of the court. But on the 20th of last month, the list of the selection of beauties was finalised by the Ministry of Revenue."

The Minister of Revenue stepped out and gave a polite bow to both Liu Yao and the state preceptor. His tone was genial when he spoke but there was a gleam of challenge in his eyes.

"This subject can confirm what the right prime minister is saying," he added.

The state preceptor merely chuckled. It was a boyish noise, at odds with his true age, although no one knew what that was. They just knew that he'd been around since the reign of the forefather of the Ye Dynasty.

"Your Majesty," he said, without bothering to debate with Ren Hao. "If it was indeed as the right prime minister suggested, that the Tian Fu star indicated that the new empress' name was in the list of beauties selected, why would it only start shining brightly at night?"

"Because you can only see stars at night," Ren Hao gritted out.

The state preceptor tutted. "Ignorant child," he said pityingly. "You can see stars with the advent of nightfall. Are you saying that nightfall only happens at the end of the central hour of the pig? Besides, the timing is also inaccurate." He shook his head. "I am disappointed, I expected more of the bureau."

"What is the correct timing?" Liu Yao asked. He couldn't tell what the state preceptor was getting at. In his message, he had told the state preceptor to help him dismiss the importance of the Tian Fu star, not to ascribe some other significance to it.

He wasn't sure he liked where this was going.

"To be very precise, it was in the third major ke (2) of the hour of the pig, which is still the early hour instead of the central one."

He gave Liu Yao a knowing smile. "May this old man know what Your Majesty was doing at that exact moment?"

This was the state preceptor's idea of assistance? Why did it seem like this old codger was causing more problems than solving them?

The look Liu Yao directed at the state preceptor was inscrutable but he chose to trust him once again. He answered the question in the end.

"This sovereign was asking his fourth brother for a boon," he replied.