Chapter 180

The carriage rumbled along, all the way from the Duke's Residence to the Imperial Palace Avenue.

Today's Imperial Palace was exceptionally lively.

The grand annual palace banquet was being held today. During the day, the ladies could roam freely in the Imperial Garden to appreciate the snow, and at night there would be a magnificent fireworks display.

I heard the Imperial Harem was even raising a pair of red-crowned cranes. When they had nothing to do, they would elegantly strut about the snow-covered Imperial Garden.

The young girls had never seen such rare and exotic creatures before, so they came in groups of three or five to watch.

After enjoying themselves for a while, a palace maid came to pass along the message that Her Majesty The Empress had summoned them.

Laughing and chatting, everyone headed to Yuhua Palace to pay their respects and offer Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress their New Year's greetings.

After Gu Ying entered, the first person she saw was The Empress sitting erect on the phoenix chair. She had a face as round as a silver tray, and when she smiled, two faint dimples appeared on her cheeks. Her eyes were kind and amiable, making her seem very approachable.

The Emperor sat on the dragon chair, possessing the majestic air of the Son of Heaven, making it difficult for anyone to look at him directly.

Seated below to the right was the esteemed Concubine Wan. Concubine Wan was from Jiangnan, and had the refined charm unique to Jiangnan women.

As for the other few unfavored consorts and concubines, Gu Ying did not know their names.

However, since today was a grand occasion at court, practically every minister ranked five-pin or higher was in attendance, including Prince Duan Li Hao and Prince Shu Li Yang seated in the front row.

An atmosphere of peace and harmony filled Yuhua Palace as the emperor and his officials celebrated together.

Gu Ying sat together with the Heir Apparent. As soon as she sat down, she felt countless gazes weigh upon her, some obvious and some subtle.

She knew her reputation outside the palace was poor—she had been called a shrew, jealous, abusive toward her mother-in-law, incompatible with her sister-in-law, unwilling to allow the Heir Apparent to take concubines, and more gossip along those lines.

Therefore, all the men and women present were very curious about her.

No matter who was looking at her, she was able to remain composed with steady poise.

However, when Li Yang's venomous, icy gaze turned to look at her, she still couldn't help but frown slightly in discomfort. "What's wrong? Feeling unwell?"

Zhao Changdu reached out and grasped her little hand in his own.

Gu Ying shook her head. "It's nothing."

If she remembered correctly, in her past life she had not crossed paths with Li Yang even once. And in this life they had only met that one time.

Perhaps she was overthinking things. A skirt chasing playboy like Prince Shu would not be interested in a married woman like her.

When the banquet reached the halfway point, each family began presenting gifts. Cheng's gaze sharpened as she glanced meaningfully at Gu Ying. The provocation in her eyes was obvious.

Gu Ying gave a faint smile. She saw the distracted Ning Si rise to present the copy of scriptures she had prepared.

The Empress' expression was not very good. "Miss Ning's constitution is weak, so it must have been difficult for you to finish copying these scriptures neatly in such a short period of time to present today."

Ning Si's face turned pale white. She knew The Empress was expressing both approval and subtle disapproval over the matter of her affair with Prince Shu, making her feel even more apprehensive.

In contrast, Empress Wan spoke in a warm, unconcerned manner as she praised Ning Si's beautiful calligraphy, and told her she ought to visit Chunxi Palace more often in the future.

Her words were loaded with meaning, speaking as if Miss Ning would soon become her daughter-in-law.

The Empress' expression grew even more unpleasant.

Ning Si didn't say a word as she withdrew in a daze, her soul clearly not present. Gu Ying gave her another look before seeing Huo Qiyun rise to present the repaired sitting mat.

Huo Qiyun's embroidery skills were exceptional, making her one of the top choices for a daughter-in-law among scholarly families in Bianjing. This exquisite double-sided embroidered sitting mat depicting carp frolicking on ice immediately attracted everyone's attention.

The crowd continuously sang its praises.

Naturally The Empress was also very fond of it. As the daughter of the Huo family, a family of three generations of prime ministers, the young miss educated in the Huo household was always unlike other girls.

If Ning Si were to become Empress Wan's daughter-in-law, she could take this chance to get closer to the Huo family.

After Huo Qiyun came Gu Ying's turn.

As the new young wife of the Heir Apparent Duke's Residence, Gu Ying attracted even more attention than Huo Qiyun. Everyone turned to stare at her in unison, some watching for her embarrassment, some just there to spectate the show, and still others speculating and making conjectures. After all, Miss Huo was the Heir Apparent's unattainable first love from his youth. As for this Miss Gu who intruded on them, no one knew how she was actually getting along after marrying into the Duke's household.

Gu Ying did not bat an eye as she calmly and gracefully offered the scriptures to the little eunuch, "Your subject wife Gu Ying wishes Prince Duan a speedy recovery."

The Empress picked up the scriptures and glanced at them in pleasant surprise.

The entire page was filled small, neat calligraphy resembling orchid hairpins. Judging from this, it was clear the scribe had exercised great care while copying them. At this point, someone spoke up. "Wasn't it said Miss Gu can't recognize many written characters and has no literary talent? Could these scriptures have been copied by a ghostwriter?"

Instantly, whispered discussions broke out across the hall.

Princess Yueyan fixed her gaze on the woman standing in the center of the palace hall. Tall and straight as a proud bamboo, a classical beauty with willowy grace. Even her face seemed to have won heavenly favor, flawlessly exquisite and pretty. Today she wore a pink court outfit with her jet black hair coiled into a new bride's hairstyle. Interspersed in her upswept tresses were several wisps of white rabbit fur, adding both a playful cuteness and mature charm. An aura unique to her— of absolute purity and allure simultaneously—made anyone who saw her have the impulse to possess her.

In this hall, many young men gazed at her fixedly, their eyes blazing. Her husband the Heir Apparent's eyes in particular never left her side for even an instant.

Jealously burned in Princess Yueyan's heart as she twirled the handkerchief in her grasp. Her mind raced with thoughts. Tonight she would definitely make the Heir Apparent drink that cup of liquid...

"That's right, we heard early on that Miss Gu can't write characters. These graceful, flowing scriptures we see here definitely could not have been written by an ordinary person!"

"When copying scriptures, sincerity is the most important thing. Having someone else act as a ghostwriter would be deceiving His Majesty."

Discussion rose from all over the great hall.

The corners of Cheng's lips curved smugly, delighted her scheme was going smoothly.

She had expected early on that Gu Ying would not dare defy The Empress and would certainly have someone else act as a ghostwriter. But because The Empress had done this for the sake of her son's wellbeing, Gu Ying's actions didn't completely constitute deceiving the ruler, instead just nicely incurring The Empress' displeasure while also letting the esteemed young ladies of prominent households mock her. In the future she likely wouldn't have a chance to enter the palace again.

Scattered laughter rang out in the hall. Most looked down on her—she had only married a good husband, but was otherwise a worthless vase beautiful on the outside with nothing on the inside.

Zhao Changdu's gaze turned icy cold as he languidly spun the wine cup in his hand, exuding a bone-chilling air.

Before he lost his temper, Gu Ying's red lips parted slightly. "Your Majesty, Esteemed Empress, please observe carefully. This subject-wife did indeed copy these scriptures with my own hand. If I have told a lie, may heavenly lightning strike me dead five times over, for an unnatural death."

Her words stunned everyone into silence.

Zhao Changdu knitted his brow in displeasure. This girl, cursing herself over nothing.

The Empress spoke plainly, "You claim you copied these scriptures personally, so what proof do you offer?"

The corners of Gu Ying's mouth lifted. "I ask that Esteemed Mother bestow brushes and ink to me."

The Empress raised her brow. "Servants, bring brushes, ink, paper and an inkstone."

A little eunuch presented writing supplies while others prepared a desk.

Gu Ying pushed back her sleeve and on the spot copied a section from a Scripture of the Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha.

The flesh on Cheng's face twitched violently as panic overtook her and she looked at the written characters on the paper before abruptly turning pale.

She had miscalculated! So the woman actually knew how to write!

The Tianqi Emperor commanded his servants to compare the newly written sample to the previously presented scriptures. Sure enough, both the calligraphy and characters were exactly the same, proving these scriptures were indeed personally hand-copied by Gu Ying, who also possessed impressive rote memory.