Chapter Thirty

  Fangfangzhai Hall was a square pavilion with low potted flowers and trees around it. The corridors surrounding the hall were already set up with tables, chairs, and benches. The palace maids were busy moving about, and under the benches, foot warmers had been placed, while charcoal braziers burned beside them. Although they were outside, it was not a bit colder than inside the house. All the high-ranking consorts and imperial noblewomen in the palace had arrived, and De Fei, carrying her ceremonial tablet, had just taken her seat. Outside, the Crown Prince's consort and Tong Guifei supported the sedan chair of the Empress Dowager as they walked in.

  The empress dowager wore a forehead band with autumn fragrance color inlaid with pearls, and on her body was a cyan wrinkled satin sheepskin jacket with a single pearl. With a faint smile, she accepted the courtesy of the crowd and then called out: "Today is also for the ladies to have fun, don't be formal, just enjoy yourselves!"

  Right in front of the pavilion was a soft couch made of Huang Hua Li wood, with several tables and chairs on either side. The Empress Dowager sat down on the couch, while the Imperial Consort and the Crown Prince's Consort sat on either side of her. Only then did everyone else gradually take their seats.

  The eunuch brought up the playbill, and the empress dowager chose "Yutangchun" and "Muguiying Guashuai". The crown princess and the noble consort also each chose one. Then the empress dowager asked Dehui Empress and Yihui Empress to choose. Yihui's fifth brother had been raised by the empress dowager, and Dehui's ninth princess was currently being raised by the empress dowager. The empress dowager's partiality seemed reasonable.

  Huī Fēi glanced at the playbill, then quickly lowered her eyes. Róng Fēi continued to sip her tea, as if the tea leaves in her cup were extremely rare and delicious.

  De Fei asked Quan Pei a sentence, and then nodded to "Gathering of Heroes", Yi Fei nodded to "Third Daughter Teaches Her Son". The people below passed on the play, and Yutang Chun in the pavilion had already started singing. The atmosphere seemed to be improving quickly.

  The eunuchs brought in fresh pastries, one plate per table. The Ninth Princess followed the eunuch to Empress De's side and smiled: "Mother, try some of my freshly baked pastries! Even the Grand Empress Dowager praised me!"

  The Empress Dowager intentionally praised the pastries of Ninth Princess, naturally hoping that everyone would praise them. De Fei smiled and looked at the pastries on the table: "This is really unseen before, just looking at it makes me want to eat, still Ninth Princess's clever hands are truly impressive, no wonder even the Empress Dowager likes her."

  The Empress Dowager deliberately made a fuss over the Ninth Princess, and the consorts on the side naturally followed with praise. The Empress Dowager sitting in the front row heard it, smiled and nodded slightly.

  The ninth princess smiled a little shyly, but also had a slightly self-satisfied expression like a young girl.

  The crown princess pinched a piece of red rice cake and put it in her mouth, feeling soft, sweet and fragrant, leaving a lingering aftertaste. She couldn't help but exclaim: "This flavor is one I've never tasted before, it's really delicious! Ninth sister is so clever and wise, who knows which man will be lucky enough to marry her in the future!"

  She also laughed and said, "The ninth princess blushed and stomped her foot: 'The crown prince's wife has also learned to bully people!'"

  Quan Pei pinched the pastry in her hand and examined it for a few moments, then lowered her eyes. Wu Fu Jin, who was sitting beside her, furrowed her brow and took a bite before speaking up: "I've had this before."

  Although she was only muttering to herself, the Ninth Princess happened to hear her. As a young lady from a good family, she should have pretended not to hear even if she did, and if she had anything to say, she should have asked privately later. If there really was something, it would be impossible for everyone to save face.

  The ninth princess tried her best to maintain a smile on her face and smiled: "What did Fifth Sister just say?"

  Wu Fu Jing was startled and hastily said: "Nothing, just that it's delicious! Ninth sister is really skilled!"

  The ninth princess followed up, "I heard that the fifth sister seemed to be talking about something she had eaten before, I don't know where she ate it? This is my first time making it, how could others have it?" There was a hint of intimidation in her tone.

  The five blessings laughed awkwardly: "Sister heard it wrong, indeed I haven't eaten yet."

  De Fei coughed lightly and pulled the hand of Ninth Princess: "What's wrong with you, talking to your Fifth Aunt like that? You must have misheard. Quickly sit down and watch the play, listen to how good the singing is."

  The ninth princess pouted and sat down reluctantly, after all it was the virtuous consort who spoke up.

  Wu Fu Jin patted her chest gently, glanced at Quan Pei, and smiled apologetically. Yi Fei saw this and her eyes became inscrutable.

  The Ninth Princess said that the first pastry she made was almost all done by Quan Pei, and coincidentally Wu Fu Jin had eaten a Gui Fei Hong once, fortunately without saying anything, otherwise it would have hurt the Ninth Princess's face, fearing another trouble.

  "...he was born of a prostitute's cunning scheme, deceiving me, Su San, with a fake letter..." The eunuch holding the feather duster walked closer and closer, while Su San on top sang: "...having stayed at the Shen family for half a month, that Pi Shi's wife harbored evil intentions..." The eunuch stood beside Quan Pei and said softly: "The Empress Dowager requests Fourth Lady to go over."

  "Gu Yanxi got up: 'I don't know what the Empress Dowager wants me to do?'"

  "This servant doesn't know."

  Ruan Pei glanced at De Fei: "Mother, then I'll go over."

  The Empress Dowager smiled and nodded slightly.

  The ninth princess stood up enthusiastically: "Mother, I'll go with sister!"

  There were nine princesses present. Even if Yu Pei made a mistake in responding, someone would be able to cover for her. De Fei smiled and nodded: "Then let's go together."

  The wind started to pick up outside, and the corridor didn't feel as warm as before. Jiugongzhu spoke warmly, "This morning it seemed like nothing was wrong, but now I think there's a change in the weather, it looks like snow is coming soon." She also said, "Don't worry too much, Imperial Grandmother is the kindest and most benevolent person!"

  Jiuyue smiled and said: "Ninth sister is really great!"

  The ninth princess's eyes sparkled with a smile as she whispered: "Fourth sister is actually my own sister!"

  Indeed, Jiuniang and Yongzheng were full siblings with the same mother.

  The Empress Dowager, sitting at the top, seemed to have a forever gentle and loving gaze, seeing Guan Pei and Jiugong arrived, smiled and beckoned: "Come sit down, it's really cold today!"

  The Ninth Princess sat directly on the soft couch of the Empress Dowager, and the eunuch added a chair for Quan Pei beside her. Quan Pei also sat down obediently. On the low table next to them was a crystal plate of apples. It was unexpected that such fruit would still be available at this time. The Ninth Princess wanted to peel the skin for the Empress Dowager, but Quan Pei said: "Let me do it instead, it's rare to have an opportunity to show filial piety to the Empress Dowager like this."

  The empress smiled gently and affectionately held the hand of Quan Yu: "I called you over for no other reason, only because among your generation of granddaughters-in-law, aside from the crown prince's consort, you are the most virtuous and kind-hearted one. While I still have some dignity left, I will help you gain more respect, so that others know that the imperial family likes daughters-in-law like you."

  The soft and slender fingers were not a bit rough, and the Empress Dowager's smile deepened by several degrees.

  There were a few points of just-right delight and shyness on Quan Pei's face: "It was all done by Sun's daughter-in-law."

  The little eunuch brought over the fruit knife, and Quan Pei took it into her own hands. She wasn't used to eating apples, and even when she did, it was usually Lian'er who peeled them for her. Quan Pei looked quite clumsy, peeling off skins of varying thicknesses that didn't come out in one piece, breaking after just a few cuts. She felt a bit embarrassed, looking up at Ninth Princess: "I peel like this because..."

  The ninth princess seemed very happy, immediately took it in her own hands and started peeling, the skin was thin and long, the palace staff beside her flattered: "The princess peeled it really well!"

  Even Empress Dowager smiled with her eyes narrowed, seemingly delighted.

  Guan Piao accompanied the Empress Dowager for a while before returning to De Fei's side. De Fei smiled and asked, "How was it?"

  "The empress said she wants to give me a boost in prestige."

  Yang Qing whispered a few words beside the Empress Dowager, only to see the Empress Dowager slightly nod her head.

  It snowed silently in the sky, and after watching the play for a while, a thin layer of snow fell outside, covering the green brick floor. The weather was getting colder and colder, and the empress couldn't sit still, so she got up to leave, leaving only a message: "Those who like to watch plays can continue to watch."

  Yang Qing followed the Empress Dowager until they were far out of sight of the crowd before the smile on her face gradually faded.

  "How are you?"

  "Look at the way he uses his knife, it doesn't seem like he's skilled in martial arts, let alone killing two people with one move."

  "Her palms are delicate and soft, she has never done any rough work, let alone be a martial artist."

  Yang Qing said cautiously: "That..."

  The Empress Dowager waved her hand: "It's better to be safe than sorry."

  The Empress Dowager left, and the others didn't want to watch anymore. The palace maid held up an oil-paper umbrella, and Quan Pei followed behind De Fei as they walked out of the corridor. Snowflakes fell quietly on the umbrella, making it seem serene and cold. De Fei glanced at Quan Pei's sheepskin boots: "You were indeed farsighted."

  Quan Pei stretched out her slender hand to catch a few pieces of cold snowflakes. I wonder if the Empress Dowager was satisfied with what she had just seen? Was there still another move to test her?

  Out of the imperial garden, Quan Pei and De Fei parted ways. The cool wind blowing through the alley sent snowflakes swirling under the eaves, covering everyone in a thick layer. In this alley, apart from Quan Pei and Xiao Yue, no one else was visible, only the sound of the whistling wind could be heard.

  A small eunuch in grey clothes suddenly turned out from a small door, lowering his head and only knowing to hurry forward, and before he could stop his footsteps, Quan Pei had already stuffed him with a full load, and with a clang, a package of gold scattered out.

  Quan Pei's pupils constricted, and she immediately fell to the ground. She stretched out her hand and tightly grasped Xiao Yue, seeing the little eunuch flash a knife in his hand and stab towards them. Quan Pei could only exert all her strength to pull Xiao Yue down to the ground, and both mistress and servant rolled onto the snowy ground. The gleaming knife stabbed into Xiao Yue's arm, and the little eunuch hastily picked up the gold, threatening in a low voice: "If you dare speak out, it will be death!"

  The footsteps gradually disappeared, leaving only the sound of the wind. Xiaoyue's arm was bleeding all over the ground, and her face was covered in sweat from the pain. Quan Pei tore off a piece of cloth and bandaged Xiaoyue's arm, looking into her eyes: "Don't be afraid, it'll be okay!"

  Xiao Yue slowly came back to her senses from her panic-stricken state, as Quan Pei slowly got up and took step by step towards the back.

  In the Western Warm Pavilion, Empress Dowager wore only a thin purple jacket, and had also removed her hairpiece. In the warm inner chamber, a pot of narcissus flowers was in full bloom, and several goldfish swam leisurely in a blue-and-white porcelain vase.

  "...the master and servant both fell down, the knife flashed out and Siu Fok-yun was stunned, only stabbing the maid, not a serious injury."

  The Empress Dowager threw the fish food into the aquarium: "Looking at it this way, the Fourth Imperial Concubine is no longer suspicious."

  Yang Qing said: "If the Fourth Mistress had known earlier that we were testing her..."

  The empress's hand paused, her eyes slowly becoming a deep and bottomless pool of water: "If she can even see through this, then she must die..."

  There is such a formidable figure in the harem, posing too great a threat to the Empress Dowager...

  Let me stress that I am a real mom and have always been...