Chapter Nine, The Banquet of Contention

Those three months were the most tranquil and secure times in the imperial harem, yet they were also the most troubling times for the Empress Dowager and Yuan Qi, as people came in droves to weep and plead for help

She extended her hand and decisively stopped Mei Pin

At this moment, the Queen raised the issue, prompting whispers among those in the know. Concubine Qi, infuriated, had her brows furrowed in anger, yet she was unable to express her frustration.

Upon seeing the situation, the Queen quickly and discreetly eased the tension: "Yunluo is a dutiful child, but seeing that I am weak, she tries various ways to cheer me up. Qi Fei, as an elder sister, why do you take offense at a child's words... In fact, which woman in the royal family has not experienced the delicacies of the world? — Qi Fei, I heard that your father recently lingered over the dishes at the Cui Se Lou, is that true?"

She stepped forward, bowed to the queen, and then took her seat at the vacant head of the table

At first glance, the concubines felt greatly relieved, as it was merely a delicate-looking young girl, lacking any beauty that could captivate the emperor. Only Qi Fei let out a cold snort, likely recalling that this was the one she had sent out from her palace.

She looked at the morning dew behind Mei Pin, her gaze becoming increasingly affectionate and gentle: "What a delicate little girl... The Emperor is truly willing to put her to work"

She has clear evidence against those who cause harm to others, and none of those who spread rumors or engage in corruption have been spared

Before long, the eunuch's voice calling out commands was heard, and everyone ceased their laughter and conversation, turning their attention towards the entrance.

At this moment, the dishes were being delivered in an endless stream, instantly filling the air with an extraordinary fragrance. The Empress, truly deserving of her noble lineage, presented dishes in her palace that were unheard of by the other concubines. Upon tasting them, they all applauded in delight.

The morning dew looked coldly upon the scene, revealing the extraordinary layout of the Zhaoyang Palace. Various treasures, all exuding a restrained antiquity, clearly represented luxury to the utmost degree, yet bore no hint of ostentation. Observing the arrangement and posture of the items, it seemed they had been in place for quite some time.

This flavor ... ...

As soon as Consort Zhou took her seat, Consort Qi smiled and said in a delicate voice: "Sister Zhou, you truly have an impressive presence; everyone has been waiting for you!"

Still the old way... tell that girl Shuqing to keep her composure, when the boat reaches the bridge, it has no choice but to go straight!

Lady Zhou did not even raise an eyebrow: "The Empress's decree states that it is time; did you arrive too early—could it be that you are too hungry?"

Seated in the center is the empress, who has been ill for a long time but has recently shown signs of improvement. She is adorned in the traditional phoenix crown and ceremonial robes, and her features bear a resemblance to the late empress, possessing a rare beauty. However, her complexion is somewhat pale, giving her a frail and gentle appearance. With every gesture, the noble elegance of a high-born lady is distinctly evident.

She was a woman dressed in a style reminiscent of ancient times

There is no ill intent? Look at the meaning behind his words, it seems he is doubting me...

Chen Lu confidently stepped forward and respectfully paid her respects to the queen. The queen, increasingly pleased, held her hand and spoke for quite a while before finally allowing her to leave.

Hearing such malicious and explicit sarcasm, the Yungui person was so enraged that their chest heaved: "What is my sister saying? I didn't hear it at all!"

Aunt Ye, who was beside her, understood the situation well. She dismissed the crowd and stepped forward to pick up the painted fan, comforting her by saying, "My lady, do not let your health be affected by anger. The Emperor has always been like this; he means no harm."

In the palace, flowers bloom in profusion, and the orioles sing melodiously, conveying endless charm and tenderness

Dozens of gazes immediately converged, as they had long heard that the Emperor had conferred the title of Shangyi and appointed a personal female official. In their anxiety and fear of losing what little favor they already had, they felt as if they were facing a formidable enemy

These ambiguous and obscure words, laden with bloodshed, caused Aunt Ye to shudder. She quickly said, "I will go tell Sister E right away"

She said to the morning dew: "Poor thing, seeing you reminds me of my sister... Come closer, let me take a good look at you."

Your Highness, this cannot be eaten

The Empress Qi is surrounded by several concubines, and she seems to look down upon the Empress sitting at the head, frequently glancing towards the opposite side.

The queen looked at them as they sat down and spoke unfavorably, quickly shifting the topic. She turned to Mei Pin with a kind smile and said: "Sister, how is your health today? You are carrying the dragon's offspring, it must be very difficult—by the way, you sent someone today to say that Xin Shangyi is also coming, is this her?"

This is the main hall, where a dozen or so concubines appear to be as close as sisters. Upon closer inspection, however, one can discern subtle signs—there are faint divisions into three factions here.

With wide sleeves and a flowing robe, she wore a belt of black and red patterns around her waist, adorned with a golden dagger. On her feet, she did not wear embroidered shoes, but rather the wooden clogs of the Jin style, neither made of gold nor jade

The noblewoman from Yunnan and Guizhou wore a lotus pink palace gown today, adorned with scattered pearls, presenting a delicate and refined appearance—presumably to avoid overshadowing the Empress.

This must surely be the work of the Empress Dowager from years past, thought Chen Lu.

The Cui Color Tower is the most famous restaurant in the capital. This statement may sound ordinary at first, but Qi Fei's father, Qi Rong, was recently caught spending the night in revelry with a beautiful courtesan from this establishment, and he was seen early in the morning, causing a stir throughout the city.

Chen Lu stood behind Mei Pin, observing her as she curiously and naively watched the crowd engage in a verbal sparring match, while continuously bringing food to her mouth, occasionally revealing a blissful smile

From the side, Qi Fei was still sulking. She inadvertently looked up and happened to see this scene.

In the Zhaoyang Palace, the concubines of the imperial harem arrived one after another. Only then did the Empress rise and take her seat. After receiving the homage of the concubines, she quickly instructed everyone to rise and take their seats.

The chief seat over there is vacant, as if it is waiting.

Initially, the queen's demeanor was discordant, and Yuan Qi appointed her to oversee the affairs of the six palaces. Unexpectedly, she governed the inner court according to military regulations, and within three months, she dismissed four concubines, with as many as eleven palace servants being executed by beating.

Hmph, both of them are so troublesome. When Shuqing was young, she was fine, but now she has become utterly foolish... Sigh, it's no wonder; my son, though he appears gentle, is actually quite rigid. Shuqing has violated his greatest taboo!

She knew even before arriving that today was the earliest for Consort Qi, and this level of influence is simply astonishing

The Empress let out a cold snort, casually tossing aside the exquisitely beautiful fan, her expression as somber as water. Those around her fell silent, not daring to make a sound.

The Empress Dowager frowned in disappointment, as Shujing was the given name of the Empress, and she was indeed the apple of her second brother's eye

In the imperial harem, she is the one most favored by the emperor, enduring for two years without decline. Recently, Yuan Qi became infatuated with Consort Mei, but she quickly became pregnant and could no longer enjoy the emperor's favor. In this period, a new noblewoman, Yun, has appeared, yet when counting the days of shared nights, she still surpasses the others by a significant margin

The Empress and Lady Yun, who arrived at Yunqing Palace that day, share a considerable understanding. Reflecting on the words of Concubine Qi from that day, it was the Empress who supported Lady Yun, allowing her to escape from her lowly position and subsequently gain favor.

She was eating comfortably! Morning Dew was at a loss whether to laugh or cry, and as she leaned down to remind her to pay attention to her posture, suddenly, she froze.

The morning dew chuckles softly; this person truly embodies the military's demeanor, neither early nor late, but simply punctual

To the right of the next seat, sat Consort Qi. She raised her eyebrows, looking somewhat defiant as she observed the deep sisterly bond between the Empress and her companions, a faint, elusive smile of disdain on her face, as if victory was assured.

So that's how it is... such a trickery!

She raised her voice so that everyone in the room could hear: "Shang Yi, what are you doing?"

After the formal commencement of the banquet, the Empress spoke a few words, remarking on the bright spring day and the pleasure of enjoying a drink in such a setting, before announcing the start of the feast. The various concubines, having dressed and prepared themselves, exchanged many warm and intimate words, and they were also feeling somewhat hungry.

The legendary Rakshasa demon, the renowned Consort Zhou, has finally arrived

In the end, compelled by circumstances, the queen still took charge, with the assistance of the two consorts from Zhou and Qi, thus resolving the disputes

She is the daughter of General Zhou from Tianmen Pass, having grown up in the military since childhood

She also comes from a noble background, being the daughter of Qi Rong, a trusted minister appointed by the late emperor. Qi Rong has always regarded himself as a significant minister, and many in the court look to him as a leader. This faction is quite dissatisfied with the Empress Dowager and the Lin family, and there are even rumors that he once remarked, "A hen crows at dawn."

At this moment, the drum of noon finally sounded, which was precisely the time mentioned on the queen's invitation

Lady Mei had a plate of freshly served pine nut fish sauce beside her. She picked up a piece and was just about to bring it to her mouth

Indeed, upon looking back closely, one can see the gauze curtains made of fish skin hanging low, with pearls glistening like mist; the scenery of the inner courtyard is distinctly different from this.

The noblewoman from Yunnan and Guizhou hurriedly flattered the Empress: "Your Majesty, the imperial kitchen in this palace has gathered renowned chefs from across the world, yet it is truly a hidden gem, with talents beyond imagination. These dishes, I not only have never seen before, but even in my dreams, I could not have imagined such exquisite flavors"

It was as if a flash of lightning had crossed my mind, and the morning dew suddenly became clear and bright

"The Empress Mei is pregnant this time; how should we handle it?" Aunt Ye observed her downcast expression and changed the subject to ask.

The Empress looked at her hurried departure, took the painted fan from the table, and still wore an expression of serene elegance.

... ...

What the maid behind her held was not a handkerchief of good fortune, but a short sword

Morning Dew had heard many rumors about this Concubine Zhou, and whenever people spoke of her, they would look around cautiously and say with lingering fear: "That is a malevolent spirit..."

The Empress Qi, upon seeing her, felt a deep-seated resentment, yet her face wore an even more charming smile: "Oh, Sister Yun, you love to eat so much. In that case, from now on, when the Empress dines, you may wait by the side, and there will surely be a portion left for you!"

The Emperor is likely harboring some grievances in his heart... It is no wonder, considering the actions of Her Majesty the Empress last time.