Chapter Eleven: The Peony Banquet

  Yang Auntie went to fetch the jade pendant and heard Wang Guifei say, "It's been a long time since I've seen my niece, call Yu'er over."

  Pang Luoyu, under the guidance of the palace maid, happily chatted with Wang Guifei, causing a group of young ladies to envy her. Pang Luoyu seemed to enjoy the envious glances, and with her hair styled in a plus knot, she looked elegant and refined, attracting the attention of young men from various families.

  "Yu'er has come over, it's been a long time since we last met, and you seem even more gentle now. It can be seen that your sister has put her heart into teaching you. I understand what your mother means, and I certainly won't let you down."

  "Thanks to Auntie for making it happen." Pang Luoyu said with delight.

  The empress glanced at Queen Wang with a hint of disdain in her heart, thinking that she was indeed beautiful and captivating, no wonder the emperor was always thinking of her. Watching the emperor speak to Queen Wang with a gentle and caring tone, how could she not feel jealous? However, as the empress, she had to maintain her dignity, so she appeared even more calm and composed.

  Pang Luo Xue deeply understood the Empress's gentle and elegant temperament. Since she could become the Empress, it was clear that she wasn't a simple person. Just by looking at her expression now, one could tell that she was jealous, but didn't show it openly. Later on, when the two became irreconcilable, the Emperor eventually deposed the Empress and made Wang Guifei the new Empress instead. The former Empress was then banished to the Cold Palace. The enemy of an enemy is a friend.

  Before long, Yang Aunt brought people to present the jade pendant. Inside the pure white and flawless jade pendant was indeed a lifelike peony, without any impurities, it can be said that its value is worth a city. Everyone competed to praise it, seeing this jade pendant, I glanced at it lightly and knew they were going to make a big fuss about it again. At this time, Yang Aunt followed the Empress to serve, a small palace maid held the jade pendant and put it back in the Empress's bedroom, as she walked by my side, she accidentally bumped into the table, I frowned and gently supported her, then felt something being quickly stuffed into my sleeve.

  "Thank you, miss." The palace maid replied respectfully.

  I smiled and said "Never mind, be careful."

  At this time, Pang Luo Yu had already returned to her own position. Song Zhi was standing behind her. I walked over and stepped on my skirt hem, subconsciously stumbling and falling onto Pang Luo Yu's body. Song Zhi promptly supported me. "Second Miss, please be careful."

  "It's nothing, my skirt is just too long and I accidentally tripped over it."

  They looked down at my skirt and Pon Luoyu pulled me along, saying "Sister, what can be done? Cong Zhi, that muddle-headed girl, put the wrong embroidery in the brocade box. She put the embroidery I was going to give to the Empress today in a different place. Now this brocade box has your embroidery inside. I promised to embroider a peony for the Empress early on, so please help me out, sister. You mustn't say that this is your embroidery." Pon Luoyu had an expression as if she was about to cry. I looked at her and felt disgusted in my heart. So I put on a wronged expression and said "But that's for Mother... And besides..."

  "Sister, I'm begging you, and the embroidery is already presented, it can't be taken back. Just fulfill your sister's wish." Before I could finish speaking, Pang Luoyu interrupted me.

  I showed a helpless expression and had no choice but to agree. Hum, Pang Luoyu, I will naturally fulfill your wish, it's just that I hope you can bear the consequences of this fulfillment.

  The peony banquet arrived, and the young ladies from each family performed exceptionally well in their piano, chess, calligraphy, and painting performances. When it was Pang Luoyu's turn, she lightly curtsied and said, "I present a peony painting to Your Majesty, I hope you won't think my embroidery skills are too shallow." The empress opened the embroidered silk, revealing a vivid scene of blooming flowers, with a faint scent of peonies emerging from it, which made the peonies seem even more lifelike, as if they were blooming before her eyes. The empress was overjoyed, and everyone knew that she loved peony flowers like her life depended on it.

  "Good, good, good, indeed your embroidery skills are exceptional, Yu'er is worthy of being called the number one talented woman, truly a talent overflowing."

  The queen's approval made Pong Rakruet overjoyed, but she remained humble and said "Rain's embroidery being able to enter the queen's eyes is Rain's good fortune."

  The queen saw her so humble and in a good mood, just about to reward her when she heard that one of the palace maids came to report that the jade pendant was gone. The kneeling Pang Luoyu suddenly smiled, Snow, I'm afraid even if your sister is here, you won't have to see her embroidery skills anymore.

  The person who came was the little palace maid from just now, and also the spy that Wang Guifei had placed in the imperial harem. The empress immediately became furious, saying "Nonsense! Just now the jade pendant was still there, but you yourself were careless."

  The palace maid trembled with fear and said, "How dare I, slave? Just now, when the slave went out, she bumped into Miss Pong's second daughter, who helped the slave up. The slave only bowed her head to thank her, and when she returned to the palace, she found that the jade pendant was gone."

  "Hum, so you're saying that I intentionally bumped into you and took advantage of the opportunity to steal your jade pendant. Pang Luo Yu saw the timing was right and said, 'Your Majesty, my younger sister is still young and may not have done it on purpose. Please be lenient in punishing her.'"

  "Yes, sister, I think this girl is still young and inexperienced. The jade pendant represents the emperor's favor, so not punishing her would be unfair. Sister, you can punish her as you see fit. Since she stole, crippling her hand should do."

  Pang Luoxue got down on her knees and saluted, her heart cursing incessantly. You two cheap women are so well-coordinated, effortlessly crippling my hand. Do you think it's easy to be a real queen? She raised her head, neither arrogant nor humble, saying "I am the legitimate daughter of the State of Pang, even if I have poor eyesight, I wouldn't do such despicable things. Your Highness, please be cautious with your words, what evidence is there that this jade pendant has anything to do with me? This maid was fine all the way until she arrived at my place and fell down, I only helped her up and didn't touch the jade pendant. My sister was also by my side at the time, why did you specifically accuse me of taking it?"

  "Sister, it's not that I don't want to help you, but you also know the importance of this jade pendant. The Empress Dowager loves peonies dearly, and the Emperor went to great lengths to obtain this one piece. You're still young, the Empress Dowager won't severely punish you, don't tarnish our family's reputation."

  Pan Luo Xue's face was filled with pain and distress, as if she were truly worried about me.

  "The queen's servant girl has never done such a thing. What evidence is there to prove that it was she who did it?"

  "Sister, since she took it, it must still be on her person. Why not search her? The truth will surely come to light." Queen Wang said calmly as she blew gently on the tea water.

  "My daughter is a chaste and innocent person. As the saying goes, 'a straight body does not fear a crooked shadow.' Since she was present at the scene, everyone around her should be searched; otherwise, I would rather die than yield."

  The queen looked at me with a determined face and said: "Good"

  Before long, several palace maids arrived and surrounded the silk curtain. The ladies nearby went in one after another. Although the empress was anxious, she also had patience to wait. Since the matter involved her authority, it must not be settled easily. She lowered her head to admire the embroidery, slowly stroking it, suddenly becoming furious beyond control. At this moment, a palace maid presented a jade pendant, and the empress's eyes suddenly became deep and mysterious.