Chapter 41: The Gift

  This banquet was set up outdoors, right in the middle of the boundary between the front and rear palaces. It was extremely spacious. Although it was a cold winter day, it didn't feel chilly today, plus thick cotton fabrics had been set up everywhere to block out the wind, and there were continuous fires burning, so it felt like being indoors.

  It was a family banquet, and naturally, members of the imperial family were present. Either princes or royal relatives by marriage. I looked around and saw that the consorts, including Shu Fei and Xian Fei, were seated among the concubines. Even Yu Xiuyi and He Chongyuan were there, but Mu Yan was nowhere to be seen. Among the officials, it seemed that Zhou Renzhi was also absent. This deep palace was indeed a place where people curry favor with those in power and abandon those who have fallen out of favor.

  Major events in the palace have always been handled by the Ministry of Rites, and Zhou Renzhi, who was appointed as the Temple Commander of the Temple of Heaven, is an official of the Ministry of Rites, responsible for managing ceremonies such as court meetings, banquets, and sacrificial rites. However, he is now nowhere to be seen, suggesting that someone must have carefully arranged this.

  When one person achieves success, even chickens and dogs rise to heaven; but when one person loses favor, the whole family suffers!

  Such a palace, it's really chilling.

  The words at the wine party were endless, and the empress, who had always been economical with her words, finally spoke up. Everyone stopped what they were doing and listened quietly.

  "Today is the emperor's birthday, it is a joyous occasion for the whole nation, and also a joyous occasion for our family. I wish that heaven will bless my son, his dragon body will be healthy, protect our country, and last forever!" After saying this, she raised her cup and took a drink, everyone else followed suit, keeping up with the empress dowager's rhythm!

  Who would have thought that the sickly and frail Empress Dowager, who seemed like an ordinary old woman, had a tone of voice that was reminiscent of the mother of the nation. Indeed, the imperial family's daughter-in-law, the women in the harem, were truly different.

  Only today did I meet that old woman, bringing the wine cup to her lips, lightly sipping a mouthful, as if she had drunk it, yet also as if not a drop was left.

  He slammed his cup down on the table in discontent.

  Such an impolite behavior was naturally seen by many people, some looked surprised, some were furious, some pretended not to see it, and some sneered silently.

  Wow, this old lady is so impressive, not even giving the empress any face. No wonder Consort Shu has to be polite to her, what a character! Doesn't she fear that the emperor will get angry and have her executed? I have to admire her courage!

  "Auntie!" The Empress secretly pulled the woman's sleeve under the table, making eye contact to signal her to be quiet, but was met with the woman raising her hand and brushing the Empress' hand aside, ignoring her.

  Aunt? No wonder! The two of them are so alike in their behavior! Equally arrogant and rude, equally proud and willful. It turns out they're both daughters of the Shen family! However, this aunt is really too old, she's already at the age where she can be called a grandmother!

  "Lately it's been chilly and cold, my mother-in-law hasn't been feeling well, can't sit for long periods of time. Today she entered the palace, exhausted from traveling by boat and carriage, must be tired."

  The one who spoke up to defend herself was not someone else, but the middle-aged woman who had entered the palace with the old lady. Judging from her speech and mannerisms, she was definitely not a daughter from an ordinary family. Encountering such a mother-in-law, anyone would find it difficult to endure.

  After his wife's explanation, everyone seemed very satisfied with this answer and was no longer embarrassed, but instead became concerned about the old woman's health.

  The old woman was somewhat impatient with such a conversation, but it wasn't good to continue causing trouble, so she picked up a pair of white jade chopsticks and started eating on her own.

  "Taifei, how is your second brother doing?" The emperor smiled warmly, leaning forward, extremely affectionate, not showing any displeasure towards what had just happened.

  She is the Empress Dowager? It turns out that she was the wife of the previous emperor, no wonder! Speaking of which, this empress dowager seems to be more majestic than the other empress dowager, and has a more motherly air.

  Taifei Tong raised her eyes to look at the displeased Empress Dowager, a slight smile playing on her lips as if in defiance. In an instant, she suppressed her cold smile and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your concern. I'm just an old woman, what's good or bad about me? Compared to the Empress Dowager, it's not even worth mentioning. As the saying goes, 'when the husband dies, follow the son', after the late Emperor passed away, we are simply following etiquette."

  "Oh? So it seems that my second brother is too busy with official duties and has no time to accompany you. If so, I will immediately summon him back to the palace and have someone take over some of his work, leaving him more free time to spend with you!!" The emperor's smile grew brighter as he spoke.

  "It's a blessing for the young one to be able to share the Emperor's worries. What more can he ask for, considering that the late Emperor had already agreed to this arrangement? I'm afraid that if he were to have too much free time, he would feel uneasy instead. With Rourou by my side, I am content." The Empress Dowager gazed at her daughter-in-law with a look of approval.

  "It's settled then, I'll have to trouble you and your sister to take care of the Empress Dowager!" The Emperor said, raising his cup towards Le Xiang.

  "Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty. It is a daughter-in-law's duty to serve her parents-in-law, I dare not take credit!"

  "Good!!! You are indeed the Four Virtues woman personally praised by the previous emperor! Come, let us toast to the extraordinary Four Virtues woman, to the Second Brother for having such a virtuous wife, and to the soldiers of the Second Brother who are far away on the border!"

  The emperor has spoken, who would dare not to comply? Cups and dishes are interlocking, what a lively scene.

  This is not a family dinner, it's a feast of Hongmen, and when we talk about it, it's all about fighting wits and bravery.

  The emperor is genuinely concerned about the death of the Empress Dowager, but letting someone's son return home to take care of his mother is false. Seizing power is true! Relying on the prestige of the Shen family in the imperial court and the military power in the hands of the prince, this combination cannot help but make the emperor worried!

  This is probably the real-life version of "a cup of wine to relinquish military power"!

  As they spoke, a tinkling sound came from afar, crisp and pleasant.

  "Hmm... "

  "Whoa!!!" A red figure suddenly appeared beside the horse, and when he turned around, it was a young girl of only 13 or 14 years old. Her bright red velvet cloak made her face look even more rosy, and she wore a cherry-red brocade riding suit underneath. She had a gentle yet heroic air about her, with a pair of round eyes that sparkled brightly as they darted back and forth.

  "Your Majesty, Xueying has arrived late, please forgive me! The woman knelt on one knee, with both hands clasped in a fist and raised to her head, kneeling beside the Emperor."

  "You little scamp, where have you been playing? On the emperor's birthday, you dare to be late. You really deserve to be punished!" The emperor said he wanted to punish her, but his face was full of joy. Everyone could see that he loved this princess from the bottom of his heart.

  Princess Yuki listened and pouted, "If it's Father the Emperor, after seeing his daughter's gift, he still wants to punish me, I'll gladly accept the punishment!"

  The emperor's curiosity was piqued by the princess's words, "What gift? If it is something I like, you will be spared punishment and rewarded in various ways. But if I don't like it, you will have to stay in the Tianlu Hall for a month without being allowed to go out."

  "Father, you!!!" The princess was quite dissatisfied with this reward and punishment, wanting to argue, but hesitated. After a pause, she opened her mouth and said, "Alright, I won't joke around!"

  "You must be kidding!!"

  Princess Snow gently clapped her hands, and in an instant, snowflakes filled the sky. A strand of piano music floated over, wafting gently, its origin unknown, carried by the wind, gone with the wind.

  The sound of the zither ceased, and the sound of the flute came again, but no one was seen playing.

  The emperor looked at Princess Yuki with a questioning gaze, and before he could ask anything, he heard the crowd's gasps of amazement. He came to his senses, lifted his head, and was truly shocked!

  That scene is unforgettable for all eternity!