At dawn, the courtyard before the emperor's palace was filled with mourners dressed in white, standing in solemn rows according to their ranks. Grand Chancellor Li Gaosan stepped forward and bowed deeply before the golden coffin of the late emperor, initiating the funeral procession.
The ceremony proceeded until the ritual of pouring three cups of wine onto the ground—a duty traditionally performed by the crown prince and the future empress dowager. However, since Empress Li Hua had concealed her pregnancy, the identity of the crown prince remained undisclosed. Consequently, this responsibility fell to Grand Chancellor Zheng and Empress Li Hua.
Now, former lovers stood side by side, their once-deep bond strained by mutual suspicion.
Upon completion of the rites, soldiers lifted the emperor's coffin onto a palanquin. Courtiers knelt to pay their final respects as the funeral procession commenced along its designated path.
Empress Li Hua did not accompany the procession to the imperial mausoleum. Aware that bloodshed was imminent, she feigned illness and collapsed before the assembly. Her attendant, Zhong Lin, promptly assisted her back to her quarters.
Receiving his daughter's signal, Li Gaosan set the plan to eliminate Consort Hua into motion. He ordered his trusted eunuch to affix a phoenix-embroidered banner to Consort Hua's carriage. The moment the banner was displayed, her carriage drew immediate attention. Onlookers were shocked to see an auspicious symbol used in a funeral procession, leading to widespread condemnation of Consort Hua. No longer did they fear her; they anticipated her imminent demise in the imperial tomb.
As Consort Hua's carriage arrived at the Yanggong Palace, eunuchs rushed inside to escort her. However, extracting her proved challenging. Sounds of struggle and breaking furniture echoed from within before silence fell.
Soon after, a figure wrapped in a blanket was carried out and placed in the carriage. With the phoenix banner prominently displayed, the carriage rejoined the procession, making it easily identifiable even from afar.
Observing from a tower, Grand Chancellor Zheng spotted the phoenix banner and instructed his loyal guards: "Mark that carriage well. Consort Hua is inside. Once the procession exits the palace, seize her immediately." He added ominously, "Fail, and you will not be spared."
Zheng's guards accepted the command without hesitation, unaware that Li Gaosan was meticulously monitoring their every move.
As the procession left the palace, Li Gaosan's agents discreetly attached over fifty phoenix banners to the other consorts' carriages. The carriages then interchanged positions, creating confusion about Consort Hua's whereabouts.
From his vantage point, Grand Chancellor Zheng was alarmed by the ensuing chaos. Realizing that Empress Li Hua had outmaneuvered him, his face flushed with rage, and he trembled with fury, exclaiming, "Empress!"
Despite his desire to act, Zheng recalled Consort Hua's warning: "Once I leave the palace, remain passive, regardless of what transpires. Disregarding this will provide the empress an opportunity to dethrone you."
Heeding her advice, Zheng restrained himself.
Witnessing Zheng's inaction, Li Gaosan believed his adversary had been defeated. He laughed triumphantly, declaring, "Consort Hua, today marks your end. No one can save you now!"
He then handed a secret message to his confidant, who attached it to a carrier pigeon's leg. The bird was released to deliver the message to "shadow wolf," the assassin assigned to eliminate Consort Hua.