Chapter 60: Night Banquet (晚宴)  

The annual new year banquet for the imperial clan members was exquisite and luxurious. But because he didn’t have many brothers, after Emperor Chengxuan had ascended the throne up until now, such banquets weren’t as lavish as the ones from the previous emperor.

Since it was the new year, Zhuang Laoyan put on the fine clothes the emperor had bestowed her in a very tactful manner. Before the mirror, she slowly put on her makeup, making her complexion rosy to the max.

“Master, why are you putting on this kind of makeup?” asked Yunxi, looking at the glamorous Zhuang Laoyan. She didn’t understand why her master had changed from her previous plain appearance.

“In the blink of an eye, one year has passed.” Zhuang Laoyan touched up her brows. Smiled. “Everyone wants to be happier today. Why should I make myself look like that and cause others upset?”

At that moment, realization struck Yunxi. A delicate appearance made others pity the person. However, as women of the imperial harem, they must also know the general principles to garner good fortune during the New Year. Who would feel happy seeing such a sour expression?

The New Year Banquet was to be held at Taihe Hall as well. Apart from the imperial clan members, the guests consisted of envoys from the surrounding subsidiary states. It was bustling with noise and excitement to the extreme. Just as Zhuang Laoyan had stepped foot within Taihe Hall, she encountered the dressed-to-the-nines Noble Imperial Concubine Yan.

“This concubine greets Xiuyi Zhao.” Noble Imperial Concubine Yan performed a light curtsy. “Xiuyi Zhao’s complexion has improved. It seems your condition has recovered a lot after the miscarriage.”

Just how badly did this Noble Imperial Concubine Yan want to hurt her feelings? Quite suitable for the occasion, Zhuang Laoyan stiffened her expression. “Noble Imperial Concubine Yan’s complexion seems decent today as well.”

Noble Imperial Concubine Yan smiled as beautiful as a blossoming flower. “You as well, you as well.”

Ontop the dragon throne, Feng Jin held a wine cup. Swept his gaze toward the corner of the hall. He beckoned for Gao Dezhong. “Gao Dezhong, We remember that a few months ago, we said we would not promote Noble Imperial Concubine Yan for two years.”

Gao Dezhong bowed. “Reporting to Your Majesty, your honored self has indeed said such words. Because your honored self is always busy, this matter seems to have been forgotten. It is this slave that did not do my duties well, and forgot to remind Your Majesty. May Your Majesty forgive this slave.”

“Enough. You also have many things to attend to every day.” Feng Jin waved. Tone tranquil, he said, “Since this is the case, let’s have the Department of the Palace cancel the bestowment for Noble Imperial Concubine Yan. Because she neither has the merit of birthing a son, nor the virtue of governing the harem, letting her remain as a noble imperial concubine is enough.”

The emperor did not say these words too loudly. However, it was loud enough for the empress, who sat next to him, to hear. Expression not changing, she looked at the Noble Imperial Concubine Yan who wore a pink blouse and wrap-around skirt. Ridicule flashed in her eyes.

In this imperial harem, the list of people who would be promoted had already gone out to the public. If word came out in public that the emperor cancelled Noble Imperial Concubine Yan’s promotion now, she would lose all her face. That Noble Imperial Concubine Yan was stupid. She just had to do something the emperor disliked. Even if he had still favored her a little, she squandered it all.

The women in the imperial harem ought to bring their brains when they left their residences.

Noble Imperial Concubine Yan did not know that her destiny in the imperial harem had already been set. After she had provoked Zhuang Laoyan, she returned to her seat in a good mood. Her expression carried content.

Zhuang Laoyan’s seat was to the left of and next to Xiuyi Su’s. Just by seating position, one could tell whose status was higher. After they each greeted the other, Zhuang Laoyan sat down, adjusting the golden dangling hair ornament by her temples in the shape of a butterfly spreading its wings. She tilted her head, sizing up the imperial clan members and envoys of other countries across from her.

Zhuang Laoyan covered half her face with her handkerchief, asking the Tingzhu behind her in a soft voice, “The Crown Prince of Changfeng Country?”

“Responding to Master, that is the case. Two days ago, this Crown Prince of Changfeng Country sent a few chests of rubies to our palace,” said Tingzhu purposely near whisper. “The person who delivered the items even said they hoped Master would say a few good words about his country in front of His Majesty.”

“What do they take me for?” Zhuang Laoyan sneered. “Just a few small boxes of gems and they think I’d help them?”

She felt as though she’d been looked down on. What’s more, she wasn’t a fool. She clearly knew how that scum emperor thought. So why would she let these few small boxes of gems affect her career as an imperial concubine?

Definitely no. magic

Tingzhu choked from her master’s impolite words. From her memory, her master was a more lenient person. So to hear such harsh words all of a sudden, she started to wonder how the crown prince of Changfeng Country had dissatisfied her.

Perhaps Master didn’t like rubies?

As servants, it was difficult to understand the thoughts of their master. As such, up until the start of the banquet, she still did not comprehend why things were like so.

Everyone in the court knew that Xiuyi Zhao had miscarried. However, many did not know the reason. That said, they saw how much importance the emperor attached on Xiuyi Zhao. The Zhuang family had grown more and more prestigious in the capital. What a pity that the Zhuang family only had a scholarly background and was quite low-profile. Those who wanted curry favor with them couldn’t find a gap to slither through.

Ever since Emperor Chengxuan had ascended the throne, he kept the imperial clan members under his control until they were submissive to him. No one wanted to bring forth bad luck for themselves. For this reason, they never talked much about the imperial harem. Why should they interfere with the business of the emperor’s family?

As such, when everyone saw Xiuyi Zhao in such splendid and appropriate attire at the banquet, and not a hint of sickness and weakness on her face, they all thought the following while feeling moved: no wonder the emperor favored her so much. To understand the general principles and not grow arrogant due to favor was hard to come by.

Perhaps this Xiuyi Zhao might become the next Noble Consort Shu. In the future, they must pay attention to anything that had to do with her. Although they were members of the imperial clan, in the emperor’s eyes, how could they compare in importance to a favored concubine?

At times, the pillow talk of these women had a more formidable power than a petition or memorial.

Naturally, Zhuang Laoyan didn’t know what the imperial clan members were thinking. When it came to the women of the harem, what others thought might not be the most important. What was important was what the emperor thought.

Although the banquet for the imperial clan members was exquisite, one thing stood as inauspicious: she was only able to pick up a few pieces of the current dish before it was exchanged for the next. She preferred the banquets of her previous life, where the dishes were placed out in the open.

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Yunxi and Tingzhu carefully attended to Zhuang Laoyan in her meal. They even checked for foods that couldn’t be eaten by a woman who had just suffered a miscarriage. After all, it hadn’t even been one month since their master had “experienced” one. So they had to be careful.

Yunxi blocked a dish a palace maid brought over. “This dish is too spicy. No need to bring it over.” If one must act out a play, one must act until the end. And at least convince people that their master truly did miscarry.

Zhuang Laoyan ate a piece of light refreshments. Watched as the dancers on the stage performed the dance called The Joy of Heaven and Earth. In a somewhat exhausted manner, she blinked, pulling the fur cloak closer to her body.

Upon seeing this, Tingzhu hurried to present a handheld brazier to Zhuang Laoyan.

After the dance had ended, another dance started that used pipa music for accompaniment, called Celebration of Spring. Zhuang Laoyan looked at the lead dancer. And she found her somewhat familiar. After a good while of thinking, she recalled that on the day the emperor had allowed her to see the promotion list, this dancer had been present.

“Your Majesty, this dancer’s posture and movement are lithe and graceful. She truly doesn’t lose to the Noble Consort Shu of the past,” said the empress with a smile. “This concubine remembers that back then, Noble Consort Shu’s dance was so prepossessing it could topple nations, could make countless flowers ashamed. Ever since this concubine saw Noble Consort Shu dance, in so many years this concubine has not seen such an outstanding dance like this one. A dance that could compare to hers.”

Noble Consort Shu’s expression wasn’t good. However, she said, “Your Majesty the empress is praising this concubine too much.”

Feng Jin looked at the two women, then shifted his gaze to the lead dancer. “Since Empress thinks this person is decent, then let’s confer her the rank of cairen. We also think her dance posture and movement can compare to those of Noble Consort Shu.”

After Zhuang Laoyan had heard the trio’s words, the corners of her lips raised a hint. These words of the emperor were truly ruthless. He actually attacked both the empress and Noble Consort Shu.

“She’s merely a dancer.” Xiuyi Su snorted softly. And she had not spoken too loudly either. If it weren’t for Zhuang Laoyan being so close, she wouldn’t have even heard this grumble.

Zhuang Laoyan examined the dancer. Beautiful brows slightly raised, bright eyes and white teeth. A soft waist that could be held in two hands. Truly stunning. However, for the emperor to compare this dancer to Noble Consort Shu was making her lose face.

Although the Su clan wasn’t that distinguished in the capital, Noble Consort Shu had used her dances to attract the emperor’s favor. In any case, they were considered a family that had been influential for many generations. Who knew what kind of poverty-stricken family this dancer hailed from?

Once the dance had concluded, the emperor summoned the dancer forward. “What is your name?”

With amorous emotions that were not put into words, the dancer curtsied. “Reporting to Your Majesty, this slave is Emei¹.” “A beautiful woman folds a pearl curtain. A deep frown on a beautiful face²,” muttered Feng Jin to himself. “It’s a good name. Then let’s bestow you the position of Cairen Zhen³, and have you move to Linyue Pavilion’s side hall.”

The dancer called Emei showed a happy and bashful expression, rushing to kneel in thanks.

Zhuang Laoyan couldn’t help but look at the newly-promoted Cairen Zhen. It truly wasn’t a good thing that the emperor had recited this poem. A beautiful woman folded a pearl curtain. A deep frown on a beautiful face. Though one saw wet tear stains, one did not know whom she lamented in her heart. Such was a poem about the resentment of an abandoned woman. For the emperor to use this poem to describe this dancer, whether he was treating her as a plaything or had a different intention was anyone’s guess.

Seeing the emperor add another stunning woman into the imperial harem, the imperial concubines felt somewhat upset. They could not taste the subsequent dishes in the banquet.

Upon Zhuang Laoyan’s face was loneliness that could not be concealed. But she didn’t slow down her pace in eating. No matter the situation, she would not refuse culinary delicacies.

At this moment, the person most upset was Noble Consort Shu. Her gaze fell upon that Cairen Zhen, and she felt that the emperor was embarrassing her. However, to protect her status, she could only force herself to endure it.

The empress’ expression had long since recovered. She smiled with insipidness. “Since Your Majesty is fond of her, this concubine will not slight her. Heyu, bring the bolt of red Suzhou embroidery⁴ from this palace’s storeroom and bestow it to Cairen Zhen. It seems that only Cairen Zhen’s good looks can match this bolt of red Suzhou embroidery.”

Once the empress had finished speaking, Zhuang Laoyan indeed caught sight of a few imperial concubines present with poor expressions. The empress’ scheme of recruiting hostility against her enemy was truly brought to the point of perfection.

Smiling, Noble Consort Shu followed that topic by saying, “Since the empress praises you so much, we cannot compare to you. This palace should bestow you something.” She beckoned to Lingsha. “Bestow this palace’s red jade hairpin to Cairen Zhen.”

Was this act shifting the hatred to the empress? Zhuang Laoyan found this act of Noble Consort Shu to be decent. She lowered her head and placed a piece of tangerine into her mouth. She watched the show in delight.

Who would have known that after the two had bestowed the items, the other higher-ranked imperial concubines would start bestowing things as well? Zhuang Laoyan looked at the Cairen Zhen whose face was full of smiles. She wiped clean the corners of her mouth before saying, “I don’t have any rare things. Let’s just give the jadeite bracelet I received previously to Cairen Zhen.”

“Thanking Xiuyi Zhao for the bestowment,” said Cairen Zhen in a kneel, face rosy from happiness.

Expressionless, Zhuang Laoyan averted her gaze. To be taken into the harem in this kind of situation, who knew if glory or sadness stood at the end?

Xiuyi Su looked at the Zhuang Laoyan whose head was lowered. All of a sudden, she smiled. “Xiuyi Zhao seems to be in a bad mood?”

Zhuang Laoyan turned to look at Xiuyi Su. Did she just try provoking her?

That Xiuyi Su truly doesn’t fear death, does she? And rip Noble Imperial Concubine Yan LOL. She’s in for a hell of embarrassment.

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