117. Beauty (3)

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“I shall restore your title as Consort Tong.”

At these words, Lin Tanwei and Jiang Ziqian both rose to their feet and cried out in unison, “Your Majesty!”

Supporting Zhang Bitong with one hand, the Emperor waved the other. “My decision is final. There is no need for further discussion. My beloved, go and sit above. Sit beside me.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Zhang Bitong lowered her eyes slightly as the Emperor led her to the Phoenix Terrace. Her seat was unexpectedly placed beside the Empress.

The Empress, however, possessed far greater composure than Lin Tanwei and Jiang Ziqian. She merely sat quietly to one side, saying nothing.

There was naturally a reason she had become Empress: she was a woman of considerable intelligence. She knew precisely when to speak and when silence was wiser.

From his lofty seat, the Emperor surveyed the assembled consorts, yet his gaze ultimately returned to Zhang Bitong. Their eyes met, and for a moment tenderness and affection passed between them, stirring envy in the hearts of the other women.

Zhang Bitong’s appearance had rekindled their desire to compete for the Emperor’s favor, but it had also diminished whatever admiration they had previously felt.

“Is this the spectacle you were talking about?”

Lord Long had appeared behind me again without my noticing.

I started and turned to him. “Does Lord Long not find it entertaining?”

Lord Long gave a faint smile. “I have seen every imaginable method these women of the inner palace use to compete for favor. Still, today’s scheme is rather ingenious. Was it your idea?”

I smiled as well. “You give me far too much credit, Lord Long. I could never have thought of such a brilliant plan.”

“Oh? Do not tell me it was Consort Tong’s own idea.”

I only smiled and said nothing. Lord Long had probably already guessed whose idea it was.

“General, so you are here.”

A young man with clear, handsome features approached. He appeared to be about twenty years old.

“Zhenwu? What is it?”

“The banquet is about to end, but His Majesty has yet to decide where he will spend the night. How should we make our arrangements?”

Long Zhan glanced toward the Phoenix Terrace. “Take a few men and go to Emerald Palace first.”

“Yes, General. I shall carry out your order.”

After the young man withdrew, I asked with a smile, “How did Lord Long know that His Majesty would certainly spend the night at Emerald Palace today?”

“Given the circumstances, is there any other possibility?”

“That remains to be seen. The man who just left—was he the one you promoted to replace Lord Di?”

Long Zhan nodded. “His name is Liang Zhenwu. He placed fourth in the military examination that year.”

“Your Lordship is surrounded by talented men indeed!”

“Little Xiao, do you wish to join the Imperial Guards?”

I laughed. “I am hardly capable of that.”

Just then, a fragrance of flowers suddenly drifted over. It filled the air without becoming overpowering—fresh and delicate, though impossible to identify.

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At that very moment, flower petals began to whirl through the banquet hall, as though flowers were raining from the heavens.

A woman approached with graceful, measured steps. Her robe was embroidered with a hundred different blossoms. As she moved, it seemed as though every flower upon it bloomed at once, surrounding her with a sea of petals.

Her hair was loosely gathered into a flowing cloud coiffure. Every gesture she made was graceful and languid, like a spring breeze teasing the riverbank, setting the leaves trembling. The instant she appeared, every gaze in the hall was drawn toward her.

And this beauty, who outshone all the others, was none other than Xiao Ruo.

To see Xiao Ruo appear here was entirely beyond my expectations. She was involved with Jiang Yun, yet she had chosen to appear at this banquet at precisely this moment. Clearly, she intended to win the Emperor’s favor.

Xiao Ruo—what exactly was she planning?

Before I could make sense of it, Long Zhan murmured beside my ear, “Did you already know there would be an even more spectacular performance, which is why you said those things to me earlier?”

“What?” I was startled. “I do not possess such foresight. I had no idea this would happen.”

“Is that so? In my view, an even more精彩—an even more remarkable scene is yet to come. It seems I truly should not have sent Liang Zhenwu to guard Emerald Palace.”

I paid no attention to his words, keeping my eyes fixed on the banquet. If Xiao Ruo wished to gain the Emperor’s favor, matters could hardly be so simple.

“Who are you?” the Emperor asked. His delight was plainly visible. “Are you a celestial maiden descended from the heavens?”

Xiao Ruo lifted her eyes toward him. With every sidelong glance and graceful turn of her head, she was radiant and captivating, enough to seize the soul.

Through the translucent pink gauze of her robe, one could vaguely see her jade-white skin and slender arms.

Xiao Ruo was just about to speak when the Emperor interrupted her.

“No, no. You are the Fairy of a Hundred Flowers. Yes—that is what you are.”

I saw the Emperor cast a glance at Jiang Ziqian, then discreetly raise a handkerchief to his lips.

Jiang Ziqian spoke with unmistakable sarcasm. “Is this not Lady Ruo, the former Minor Attendant? You look so different now that I almost failed to recognize you.”

The Emperor looked puzzled. “Lady Ruo? Was she also granted the rank of Minor Attendant by me?”

Jiang Ziqian rose and replied, “Your Majesty, she was a palace maid who entered the palace last year. Before she had even had the chance to serve you, she committed an offense and angered the Empress Dowager, who demoted her to a common maid. What was her name again? Ah, yes—Xiao Ruo. She has never been content to remain in her place. She was originally assigned to the Laundry Bureau, yet she went and seduced another man, so she was sent to the Hard Labor Office. Who could have imagined that she would use some other means to gain entry into the Wardrobe Bureau?”

“Oh? Xiao Ruo, is this true?”

When the Emperor questioned her, I looked toward Crown Prince Jiang Yun, who was seated to one side. His face had turned livid, but he remained silent.

“Your Majesty, when this servant first entered the palace, I did not understand the rules, and that was why I offended the Empress Dowager. But now I have learned the palace regulations. I have worked diligently in the Wardrobe Bureau and applied myself seriously to my studies. I embroidered this gown of a hundred blooming flowers stitch by stitch with my own hands, all so that I might bring a smile to Your Majesty’s face today.”

The Emperor was visibly moved. “You were originally my Minor Attendant, yet you were reduced to the rank of palace maid, while I remained unaware. You have truly suffered unjustly. Xiao Ruo, I—”

Before he could finish, Jiang Ziqian suddenly cried out as though she had discovered something astonishing.

“Oh my! The embroidery is indeed exquisite. But these gold threads—surely they are not something a palace maid in the Wardrobe Bureau could possess?”

Lin Tanwei rose as well. “I remember that these gold threads were sent to the Wardrobe Bureau by imperial decree of the Empress, specifically for embroidering garments for the consorts. For a mere palace maid to use such thread is a grave offense!”

Xiao Ruo had clearly not expected matters to develop in this way, and I began to worry for her safety. She stood alone and powerless. Jiang Yun certainly would not help her now, and how could the consorts of the inner palace tolerate the sudden appearance of yet another rival for the Emperor’s favor?

“Your Majesty, this gold thread was collected bit by bit from the women in charge. It was all leftover thread, discarded after garments were embroidered for the noble ladies. I only wished to make Your Majesty happy; I never imagined that I would commit an offense. Your Majesty, this servant knows she was wrong.”

As she spoke, tears began to fall like pear blossoms in the rain.

“My heart delights in you, yet you know it not. I am willing to accept punishment.”

“I remember now,” the Emperor suddenly said. “You are Xiao Ruo, the daughter of a county magistrate. You were also the greatest beauty and scholar in your entire county. Now that I see you, I find you truly gifted in both appearance and talent. I actually overlooked you back then.”

“Your Majesty,” the Empress finally spoke, “if Your Majesty has taken a liking to her, I have no objection. But she is a palace maid who has already violated the palace regulations. If she is not punished, I fear—”

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The Emperor said, “I know what you are all saying. She is merely a palace maid, yet she used materials reserved for consorts. Very well. I shall now confer upon her the title of Noble Lady. In that case, her use of these gold threads is perfectly proper, is it not?”

“Your Majesty, this—”

“Enough. Today is my birthday. Do you intend to spoil my pleasure?”

The Empress had no choice but to bow. “I would not dare.”

Jiang Ziqian was still unwilling to let the matter rest, but the Empress shot her a warning glance and signaled for her to withdraw.

“Enough. I am somewhat tired today. You may all leave. Consort Tong, I—”

“Your Majesty.”

Xiao Ruo interrupted him.

“I have also prepared a sleeve dance. It is somewhat different from the one Consort Tong performed last year. I had hoped to perform it for Your Majesty tonight, but since Your Majesty is tired, I shall dance for you another day.”

“Oh? So Noble Lady Ruo can perform a sleeve dance as well? I had thought Consort Tong was the only one capable of it. Since the night is still young, I shall go and see it. Come, we shall go to your palace.”

“Your Majesty, I do not yet have a palace.”

“Ah, you are right.”

The Emperor thought for a moment, then looked around at the others.

“Then you may stay at Noble Lady Jun’s South Fragrance Hall. You are both women of talent—one dances while the other plays the qin. When I visit, it should make for a splendid evening.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“Qiu Ronghai, make the arrangements. I shall accompany Noble Lady Ruo to the Imperial Garden to admire the moon first, then we will proceed to South Fragrance Hall.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I shall see to it at once.”

The Emperor personally placed an arm around Xiao Ruo and led her away. While the consorts remained behind, fuming with resentment, Jiang Yun had already risen and left the banquet.

“Crown Prince! Crown Prince!”

Gong Wu’e called after him several times, but Jiang Yun ignored her. She stamped her feet furiously where she stood, then turned to the Empress.

“Aunt, look at the Crown Prince—”

“If you cannot find a way to bind your own man’s heart, yet always expect others to do it for you, what use are you? And in this palace, I am the Empress. From now on, do not call me Aunt.”

The Empress was clearly in a foul mood, and Gong Wu’e’s behavior had been thoroughly embarrassing. Her tone therefore grew especially harsh.

Zhang Bitong sat upon the Phoenix Terrace, so furious that she could not bring herself to rise.

Lin Tanwei smiled. “I thought tonight would belong to Sister Tong alone. Who could have imagined that a palace maid would steal the spotlight from you? Sister Tong, should I congratulate you—or advise you to take it more lightly?”

“Hmph. You would do better to congratulate me and advise yourself to take things more lightly. I remember very clearly how you have treated me these past few days. I told you long ago that I would return to my former position sooner or later. You should be thinking about your own future. Yunqing, let us return to the palace!”

Zhang Bitong departed with Yunqing. Long Zhan turned to me and said, “You should return as well. I am going to the Imperial Garden to protect His Majesty.”

“Take care, Lord Long. Lord Liang should be heading to South Fragrance Hall as well.”

I never would have imagined that Xiao Ruo would emerge as the greatest victor tonight. She must have been planning this day for a long time.

I remembered the day I had gone to the Wardrobe Bureau to find her and the garments she had secretly hidden away. She must have been sewing this gown of a hundred blooming flowers then.

Yet she had concealed it from me as well.

Had a rift already begun to form between us?

Unable to stop worrying about Xiao Ruo, I quietly set off to see what was happening on Jiang Yun’s side.

Unexpectedly, I encountered the Empress and Jiang Yun in a pavilion.

“Yun’er, you have been acting strangely today. Is it truly because of Wu’e, or is there something else? Surely it is not because of that Xiao Ruo?”