Chapter 60: The First Page
Emperor Chongzhao’s exclusive favor towards Consort Xiao was known to all in the imperial court and the inner palace.
Therefore, Xue Yuechen, as the Princess Consort of Prince Duan, held a very distinguished status. Not only did the wives of officials show her deference, but even the unfavored consorts in the palace had to greet her with a smile. Wherever she went, she was respected.
The female guests invited to the Imperial Garden today were by Empress Xie. To avoid making the matchmaking purpose too obvious, Empress Xie also invited many young masters from princely and ministerial families in the Crown Prince’s name, claiming it was merely for the young people to join in the fun.
Emperor Chongzhao, on a whim, added some incentives to the spring flower banquet, while simultaneously summoning ministers to discuss matters in the Hanyuan Hall, and then to admire the hundred flowers and comment on their merits…
As a result, this spring’s flower banquet was even more lively than in previous years.
Xue Yuechen maintained a proper smile, leading Xue Sui as they admired the flowers, and walked directly towards the inner garden.
The inner garden was even more resplendent with flowers. Many young ladies were engaged in flower and grass competitions in the courtyards, with laughter occasionally echoing.
The young masters, on the other hand, had gone to the Changchun Plain on the other side of the Imperial Garden.
There, archery and equestrian skills were being demonstrated, with cheers erupting from time to time.
The corners of Xue Yuechen’s lips curved upward almost imperceptibly.
The wives of princes and ministers brought their daughters, but they did not flock to Empress Xie. It seemed they all knew their place.
In this world, there were only two situations where one would not want to marry into the Eastern Palace—
Either the Eastern Palace was inadequate, or the Crown Prince was too detestable.
Coincidentally, Li Zhao was both.
Xue Yuechen glanced at the Yi Cui Pavilion not far away and said to Xue Sui, “Sixth Sister, wait for me in the pavilion for a moment. I’ll go and pay my respects to the consorts over there, and then I’ll take you to the waterside pavilion for tea and opera. There’s no need to get involved with them. We’re just here to make an appearance today.”
The Consort faction and the Empress faction were clearly divided.
She had no intention of introducing Xue Sui to any other consorts.
Xue Sui smiled and replied, “Yes.”
Xue Yuechen, still worried, cautioned her again, “Don’t wander around, don’t be too curious. Listen more and speak less. When you meet someone you don’t know well, be humble. If someone says something you don’t like to hear, or you don’t want to speak, just smile. I’ll be back.”
Xue Sui smiled, “Princess Consort, please don’t worry.”
Xue Yuechen playfully chided her, “I am your elder sister. There’s no need to be so formal in private.”
Xue Sui bowed, “Yes.”
She walked calmly towards the Yi Cui Pavilion.
Xiao Zhao and Ru Yi followed closely.
The Yi Cui Pavilion was surrounded by blooming flowers, and white curtains hung from the corners of the pavilion, swaying gently in the breeze, creating a very elegant and secluded atmosphere.
It was still some distance from the main hall, so not many people came here.
Xue Sui sat among the flowers, inhaling the faint floral fragrance, enjoying the moment, when she saw a woman in magnificent robes, surrounded by a group of female attendants and palace servants, walking along the flower path below the pavilion.
Her hair was styled in a towering bun, adorned with inlaid gold pearls and jade ornaments. A crimson brocade gown trailed on the ground, exuding an air of extravagance, passion, and supreme elegance, making her stunningly beautiful.
Upon seeing her, the palace maids and noble ladies all bowed.
Looking around, everyone was silent as if in fear…
Xue Sui’s hand, which was holding a flower petal, paused slightly.
Xiao Zhao looked intently, her eyes lighting up.
“I know her! In the picture album, she’s on the first page.”
Xue Sui curved the corners of her lips speechlessly.
Xiao Zhao had a very good memory.
This was indeed Princess Ping Le.
She was Emperor Chongzhao’s full sister, showered with immense affection, and held a status equal to that of a Prince.
It had been ten years since they last met.
No! While Ping Le hadn’t seen her for ten years, she herself had seen countless glimpses of Ping Le from afar. Therefore, she was intimately familiar with Ping Le’s voice, appearance, and demeanor, as if they had met just yesterday…
The answers she had desperately sought countless times in her youth, struggling in the mire, were also found on Ping Le’s face.
Why was I born lowly?
Why did they bully and humiliate me?
Why were my efforts in vain?
Why was there no one to turn to for help?
Why was I punished for not doing anything wrong?
Why did those who committed evil deeds go unpunished?
Why were jackals and wolves so revered?
Why did those who lost all conscience enjoy all the glory?
Why did the heavens, despite their justice, fail to illuminate the suffering of the world?
It was Ping Le’s face that told her.
Become strong.
Only by becoming strong.
Strong enough to tear her apart and snatch the crown from her head, then she would get the answer.
As long as her weapons were sharp enough, she could find a way out for the lost justice and trampled dignity, and mend those tattered wounds…
The flower branch sprang back from Xue Sui’s hand.
In the blink of an eye, Ping Le’s gaze swept over.
It passed over Xue Sui’s face without lingering.
Ping Le did not recognize her.
That little girl whom she had wantonly tormented, that little girl whose bloody wounds she had personally sprinkled with coarse salt, curious if she would dissolve like a slug, Ping Le did not recognize her…
She was merely a creature from Ping Le’s innocent years of exploring the world, not worth remembering…
Xiao Zhao clenched her fists.
Xue Sui smiled gently, took her hand, and gave her a flower.
“It’s very fragrant, smell it.”
Ping Le walked quickly.
She went around to the other side of the Yi Cui Pavilion, where the flowers and trees were even denser, and no one could be seen.
Ping Le’s voice came through the flowers.
It was still languid and arrogant.
“If it weren’t for my Imperial Mother’s insistence, I wouldn’t have wanted to come. Who wants to give her that bit of face.”
The dignified Empress was not even in her eyes, which showed her arrogance.
Lu Xi, following beside Ping Le, cautiously glanced around before bowing to support Ping Le’s sleeve and asked her in a low voice, “Your Highness, have my affairs been arranged properly?”
Ping Le didn’t even raise her eyes, a cold, thin curve forming on her lips.
“Rest assured. Even if you wanted to marry, I wouldn’t bear to part with you…”
Lu Xi’s delicate eyebrows furrowed, looking very uneasy. “My grandfather is autocratic; he has the final say in everything. Last night, my mother told me that my grandfather had already spoken with Empress Xie, and Empress Xie was also very pleased with me. It’s possible that the marriage will be decided today…”
Ping Le chuckled, her eyes glancing sideways, full of mockery.
“Look at you! Why are you panicking? Don’t I have my backing? After today, your stubborn grandfather will never force you to marry into the Eastern Palace again…”
“Thank you for your consideration, Your Highness.”
A smile appeared on Lu Xi’s pretty face, but a faint unease lingered in her heart.
It was good to have Princess Ping Le’s support.
She was just afraid that she wouldn’t be willing…
Xue Yueying was still imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice Prison, yet Ping Le could turn her back on people without hesitation. They had grown up together, yet she hadn’t even interceded for her.
Ping Le smiled and looked at her, then suddenly changed the subject.
“Young Master Su Jin is quite good; his talent and appearance are worthy of you.”
Lu Xi gave an awkward hum, unable to articulate her feelings.
Su Jin was the third-place scholar in the tenth year of Chongzhao’s reign. He was not as handsome as Li Zhao, but his temperament was much gentler. Moreover, the Su family had no high-ranking officials in their ancestry, and his father was only a minor fifth-rank Director, not someone her grandfather would notice.
However, Su Jin had allied himself with Ping Le, became her person, and worked for her. Ping Le said his future was promising and wanted to arrange a marriage for him, leaving Lu Xi unsure how to refuse…
If Li Zhao wasn’t so fierce towards her, and if the Eastern Palace’s influence could suppress Prince Duan, marrying Li Zhao would actually be good.
If Princess Ping Le insisted on arranging this marriage for her, making her “one of her own,” Lu Xi felt she could neither accept nor refuse, which was truly difficult…
Ping Le sensed Lu Xi’s silence and said displeasuredly, “What’s wrong? Do you feel that marrying Su Jin is beneath you, the granddaughter of a Grand Tutor? Or are you still yearning for the position of Crown Princess? That’s fine too, I can fulfill your wish…”
Lu Xi had known Ping Le for many years and understood her personality well.
Those who obey me prosper, those who defy me perish.
It would be terrible if she incurred Ping Le’s resentment.
So she gritted her teeth slightly and lowered her head to reply:
“I certainly won’t marry into the Eastern Palace. I will listen to Your Highness’s arrangements.”
Ping Le then smiled with satisfaction, “Don’t worry! I won’t treat you unfairly. That Su Jin is exceptionally talented and highly regarded by His Majesty. In the future, he will reach the highest positions in the government. Are you still afraid of not becoming a first-rank noble lady?”
A first-rank noble lady’s status could not compare to the nobility of a Crown Princess.
Lu Xi’s mouth felt bitter, and her heart was filled with a sense of aimless melancholy.
She was only seventeen years old. Having grown up following Ping Le, she was accustomed to following Ping Le’s lead in everything and going against her family. Even if she vaguely felt something was wrong, she couldn’t muster the will to resist, nor could she discern right from wrong.
Behind the Yi Cui Pavilion, light gauze fluttered.
Xue Sui slowly withdrew her hand from a blooming peony, a meaningful smile playing on her lips.
Li Zhao’s troubles were coming.
–
When Xue Yuechen returned, Xue Sui accompanied her to the waterside pavilion for tea and opera, and watched her socialize with the wives and madams, speaking very little herself.
She noticed the female officials and nannies guiding guests in the garden. Whenever an unmarried young lady arrived, she would be led by her family’s madam to pay respects to Empress Xie.
Upon their return, without exception, they all received a flower and a string of beads as a gift.
Xue Yuechen quietly told her.
“The Eastern Palace has been vacant for so long that His Majesty is getting impatient. This time, many imperial daughters will likely be sent to the Eastern Palace. They will be carefully educated by the nannies, and after the Crown Prince’s wedding, they will be granted corresponding ranks…”
After speaking, her eyes flickered, and a smile appeared on her lips.
“It’s all about family background. The imperial court and the inner palace have always been intertwined.”
Xue Sui looked at her and smiled slightly, “The Princess Consort is indeed fortunate.”
If not for the “Eight Auspicious Star,” she naturally wouldn’t have such good fortune.
Although it was meant to be a flattering remark, Xue Yuechen found it a bit jarring. She turned her face away, pretending to adjust her lips with a handkerchief, and lowered her head to drink her tea without replying.
Xue Sui had no interest in the flower banquet and was bored. Finally, a female official came to announce.
“Her Ladyship has decreed a banquet at Chang Chun Pavilion. Please, Noble Persons, proceed.”
