Chapter 116: Mandarin Duck Ledger
Last night, Wei Zhang had already sent over the detailed information on the inner residences of the Mu and Shen families. Yue Tang had a clear idea about the few people mentioned in the palace maid’s words.
Mu Shuyun is Mu Chang’s eldest daughter, sixteen years old, who studied with the Emperor since childhood and is not yet married.
Shen Yizhu is Empress Dowager Shen’s brother Shen Yi’s daughter, who will come of age in three months and is also unmarried.
As the beloved daughters of the two greatest imperial relatives’ mansions in the court, both are top-notch talented women.
Yue Tang remained composed and accompanied Empress Dowager Shen to Qionghua Palace.
The hall was quiet until the palace maid entered to announce, after which four people came out in two rows to greet them at the door.
“Greetings to the Empress Dowager, Princess Yongjia.”
Empress Dowager Shen raised her hand: “It’s quite cold today, why come out? Come inside and sit.”
The room was filled with the fragrance of clothes and hair ornaments.
After Empress Dowager Shen sat at the head seat, she looked below: “You two misses haven’t met Princess Yongjia before, have you?”
All four in the room looked toward Yue Tang. The two madams had often been in the palace before and naturally had seen her, so they both smiled slightly at Yue Tang.
Under their respective mothers’ encouraging gazes, Mu Shuyun and Shen Yizhu stepped forward again to curtsy: “Greetings to the Princess.”
Yue Tang smiled: “I’ve long admired your two reputations.”
After saying that, she glanced at Lan Qin, took two strings of pearl beads offered up, and gave them to the two.
“Thank you, Princess.”
The two knelt and thanked her simultaneously, their manners equally proper.
Empress Dowager Shen teased: “Who told you to marry early? You could have called them sisters and received gifts together, but now you’re the one giving gifts.”
Yue Tang smiled: “It’s fine, I prefer giving gifts.”
Empress Dowager Shen’s expression slightly sobered.
She glanced below, then smiled again: “I heard Miss Mu accompanied Old Madam Mu back to Jiangling for a short stay and just returned to the capital. I remember you hadn’t been gone long, how did you come back so soon?”
Mu Shuyun glanced at her mother and replied gently: “Replying to the Empress Dowager, our Old Madam Mu is accustomed to the capital’s climate, and being old, she always worries about her grandchild, so we returned early.”
The grandchild naturally referred to the Emperor. This was a reminder to Empress Dowager Shen that the Emperor on the throne had no relation to her Shen family.
Yue Tang glanced at this still gentle and poised Mu eldest young lady and casually picked up a walnut kernel to eat.
Even a young lady from the Mu family could be so pointed in front of the Shen family, showing how determined the Mu family was to help the Emperor take back the power from Empress Dowager Shen’s hands.
The scene appeared calm, but everyone present was sharp-minded and couldn’t pretend not to understand, so some awkwardness showed.
But the Empress Dowager and Madam Shen were elders, with no reason to pick on a junior, so at this moment Shen Yizhu spoke up: “Mu elder sister, your birthday is next month, right?
“Perhaps Old Madam Mu wasn’t missing her grandchild, but wanted to hurry back early to celebrate elder sister’s birthday.
“After all, not many young ladies from great families in the city can stay at their maternal home for their sixteenth birthday; elder sister has such good fortune.”
Yue Tang glanced again at the Shen family’s young lady.
Not yet fifteen years old, of course not considered grown-up, but her sharp-tongued retort showed that the Shen family had put effort into her upbringing.
After this mild remark, Mu Shuyun’s smile had become somewhat forced.
Ordinary girls would start looking for marriage prospects at twelve or thirteen, formally discuss marriage after coming of age, and staying at the maternal home for a sixteenth birthday was indeed awkward.
In an ordinary family, it might lead to gossip about hidden illnesses or improper conduct. For their Mu family, wasn’t it obviously aiming for her to enter the palace as a noble?
The key was their childhood sweethearts relationship, and the Emperor had already entered the capital and ascended the throne three years ago; if there was intent, shouldn’t the betrothal have happened long ago?
These words truly poked at Mu Shuyun’s sore spot!
Empress Dowager Shen let out a light chuckle, satisfied, and picked up her teacup.
The two madams’ expressions were no longer pleasant at this point.
Meanwhile, Yue Tang ate another preserved fruit.
According to the information Wei Zhang had gathered in recent days, the Emperor was nearing his coming-of-age, but the rear palace was still empty. Since ascending the throne, the Ministry of Rites had submitted memorials requesting the Emperor to establish the empress.
But the Emperor had rejected it at the time, as the overall situation was just stabilizing, he had lived outside since childhood, and needed to focus energy on court affairs, truly having no time for other matters.
But continuing the imperial lineage was also extremely important and couldn’t withstand the urging of civil and military officials, so later it was agreed to discuss after his coming-of-age.
Half of the imperial power was still in Empress Dowager Shen’s hands, which was naturally a major confidante threat. The Emperor’s considerations were reasonable, so the officials no longer mentioned it.
But now, less than a year remained until the Emperor’s coming-of-age; discussing marriage and betrothal now, and formally welcoming the bride after his coming-of-age ceremony, would be just right.
So today’s palace banquet was originally just to gather a few close ministers as guests to show the Emperor’s respect for his elder cousin, but each family brought a daughter.
“Empress Dowager, someone has come from the Emperor’s side. By the Emperor’s decree, please have the Empress Dowager, the Princess, and the various madams and misses proceed together to Zichen Hall for the banquet.
“Also by decree, requesting Grand Tutor’s Madam and Miss Mu to go ahead to the banquet hall and select a few paintings to hang in the banquet hall.”
The palace maid came in to report, and the atmosphere in the hall finally eased a bit.
For the Mu mother and daughter, this decree was like a shot in the arm.
How could there be no one in the palace who could select paintings?
This was clearly the Emperor giving face to the Mu family.
Light returned to Mu Shuyun’s dimmed eyes. She stood with her mother, curtsied, and said: “The Emperor has decreed, so this subject daughter will take her leave first.”
Her gaze swept over Shen Yizhu sitting on the other side, she smiled and nodded gracefully, straightened her chest, and walked away.
Yue Tang turned to Empress Dowager Shen, ignoring the frost on her face, and said: “Let’s go too.”
……
Yan Bei rushed to Zichen Hall, but Yue Tang had gone to Yongfu Palace instead. Who could be bothered to sit there listening to Mu Chang and Shen Yi spar verbally?
After finishing one cup of tea, he suggested to the Emperor to start the banquet early.
The Emperor saw his lack of interest, sent someone with a decree, and himself led the group leisurely toward the banquet hall.
Yan Bei spotted Empress Dowager Shen from afar, and soon saw another person beside her in splendid robes trailing the ground, hairpins covering her hair, radiant like a person from a painting approaching, and his iron frame of steel softened uncontrollably.
Yue Tang usually wore light makeup, showing a different kind of peerless elegance; now in full formal attire, every smile and frown was even more captivating.
Taking advantage of Shen Yi going to greet Empress Dowager Shen, and the Emperor talking with Mu Chang on the other side, he lagged slightly behind them and walked to the shade of the trees at the fork in the path.
He had just turned sideways to admire the bare plum branches when a familiar fragrance wafted into his nose.
He turned around to see Yue Tang before him, stunningly beautiful, sighing.
He smiled: “Noble Princess Your Highness, what are you sighing about?”
Yue Tang said: “The Mu and Shen families have started competing for the empress position. The Mu family seems to have a big advantage, but the Shen family is fully prepared too.
“Now the Shen family has only two paths: one is to hand over the imperial seal when the time comes; the other is to hold onto the imperial seal with all their might.
“If following the first path, the day they hand over the imperial seal is the day the Shen family loses power. If they can secure the empress position for the Shen family, they can still hold a place in the court.
“This turns it into a struggle between the Shen and Mu families.
“If they can’t compete for it and the empress position goes to the Mu family, then to preserve power, the Shen family has no choice but to fight desperately: either cling to the imperial seal or simply bring down the Emperor and support the Fourth Prince to the throne.
“Of course, these two paths aren’t mutually exclusive; they can still pursue both to maximize their security.”
Yan Bei tilted his head and thought: “And then?”
Yue Tang casually plucked a red leaf from overhead: “The Mu thief wants to hide now; he wants to pin all the conspiracies on the Chu family to cover up his meddling in palace affairs.
“Since the Shen family brought their mansion’s young lady today, they’ve clearly recovered from the panic of suddenly losing the Chu family as an opponent.
“Their current countermeasure is what I just said: make the empress candidate from the Shen family, while preparing two plans.
“No matter Mu or Shen family, the more one side wants the empress position, the other will definitely strike proactively.”
Yan Bei glanced at the Mu mother and daughter on the other path behind him and said: “That’s easy; watch me later, I’ll add some fuel to the fire.”
Yue Tang nodded and said: “You didn’t bring A Li, right?”
“Am I that stupid?” Yan Bei said. “That kid would give it away immediately.” He lowered his eyes: “The Mu mother and daughter have spotted us.”
Yue Tang unhurriedly turned around, glanced into the distance, and did not avoid because of it.
Zichen Hall is the Emperor’s sleeping palace.
The palace connects to Baohua Hall where the banquet is set today.
The two halls are linked by winding long corridors, with seasonal trees of varying heights between the corridors.
Their current position was exactly the terrace outside Baohua Hall, while the Mu mother and daughter stood at the other end of the hall’s doorway.
Madam Mu said: “It seems the rumors are true; the Princess and Prince Jingyang indeed have a close friendship.”
Mu Shuyun said: “But she is ultimately an inner residence woman; what makes her captivate the Prince?” She withdrew her gaze: “Father has racked his brains for three years to win him over, yet hasn’t seen the slightest softening in the Prince’s attitude.”
Just because Yan Bei holds military power and the former Emperor’s imperial edict; if he fully submits to the Emperor, taking down the Shen family would be no issue?
No one can remain unmoved by the power of Prince Jingyang’s Mansion.
They naturally knew that given Yue Tang’s current situation of single-handedly supporting Prince Duan’s Mansion, she would surely covet it too.
But she had achieved what ordinary people couldn’t, which was very strange.
“Both sides are widowed; perhaps they’ve reached some tacit understanding.” She looked at her mother again: “What if he wants to marry the Princess?”
Madam Mu’s gaze returned to her face: “Impossible. Prince Duan’s Mansion still holds the Imperial City Department. If she marries as Princess Jingyang, she must abandon the Imperial City Department. And the Emperor could rightfully terminate the imperial edict the former Emperor issued to Prince Duan’s Mansion back then.
“But I don’t think she would make such a choice.”
Mu Shuyun nodded slightly: “Whether she will or not, we can test it later, right?”
Madam Mu said: “How will you do it?”
The girl smiled: “Play it by ear.”
……
Mu Chang was discussing banquet matters with the Emperor, while on the other side, after Shen Yi greeted Empress Dowager Shen’s group, his gaze lingered on his daughter’s face for a moment before he couldn’t help asking: “Have you seen the Emperor yet?”
Empress Dowager Shen’s expression was very unpleasant: “The Mu family is truly arrogant; from that girl’s performance, the empress position seems already in the bag.
“Indeed, their bond is different; Yi Zhu can’t compare, which means you must be more proactive.”
The couple both looked at Shen Yizhu, who slightly lowered her head and said nothing.
Empress Dowager Shen said: “Usually such a sharp-tongued child, why at this crucial moment do you become tongue-tied?
“The Emperor is just a few years older, still a fresh young man, naturally liking the lively ones.”
Madam Shen braced herself: “Though not as outstanding as the Mu young lady, she’s still sensible and won’t embarrass Your Ladyship.”
Empress Dowager Shen sighed: “Let’s go.”
The group entered the hall one after another, and someone arrived outside the door—it was Shen Li.
Six seats were set in the hall: the Emperor and Empress Dowager Shen at the head, Yan Bei to the left below, then the Mu family. Yue Tang to the right below, then the Shen family.
Musicians in the center had already begun playing lutes and zithers.
Among these seats, only Yue Tang and Yan Bei were alone.
After one piece ended, the Emperor first raised his cup: “My elder cousin endured hardships three years ago, narrowly escaping from treacherous hands. All of you present are my right-hand ministers and relatives. Today I specially hold this banquet to welcome my elder cousin, and also to issue an imperial decree formally granting Princess Yongjia to take charge of Prince Duan’s Mansion and fulfill her royal duties.”
After speaking, the Secretary of the Imperial Secretariat stepped forward holding the imperial edict.
After the reading was complete, the Emperor granted additional silks and re-granted the mansion’s seal. Yue Tang kowtowed to receive the decree, then raised her cup in thanks upon returning to her seat.
The atmosphere gradually relaxed.
The Emperor also raised his cup to Yan Bei: “I must also thank Prince Jingyang for stepping in to clear my elder cousin’s name and avenge her, while helping the court eliminate treacherous officials.”
Yan Bei said: “This minister receives the court’s salary and should naturally be loyal to the Emperor. Back then, my father was favored by the former Emperor and Prince Duan, regarded as a close friend. Upon hearing the Princess was in trouble, helping her was my bounden duty.”
After downing the wine, the Emperor smilingly called for another piece.
At this time, Mu Shuyun looked at Yue Tang and smiled: “This subject daughter has long heard of the famous friendship between the former Emperor, Prince Duan, and old Prince Jingyang. It’s rare for the Princess and the Prince to have such a connection; why doesn’t Your Majesty play matchmaker?”
Everyone knew the Mu family’s prominent status in the court, and Mu Shuyun’s childhood bond with the Emperor, their usual interactions casual and unbound.
At this moment, her words seemed like her usual playful demeanor, but everyone in the seats stiffened, their gazes shifting between Yan Bei and Yue Tang.
First, who would dare to play matchmaker for Prince Jingyang to his face? Moreover, having Yue Tang, just granted authority over Prince Duan’s Mansion, marry would mean handing over Prince Duan’s Mansion.
If Prince Duan’s Mansion was handed over, the Imperial City Department would go too.
Having the Emperor play matchmaker was tantamount to making Yue Tang relinquish her position in the court.
“Shuyun, nonsense!”
The Emperor immediately shot her a glance.
But before his words finished, Yue Tang had already let out a chuckle!
