As the golden crow dipped westward, Huaqing Palace grew lively once more.
"Your Majesty, please try this new dish I've prepared."
Li Shengyuan took the chopsticks and picked up a strand of liangfen. "What is this called?"
"It's called liangfen, made from Ficus pumila seeds. It's very refreshing in summer heat."
Li Shengyuan took a bite. "Not bad."
"I'm glad Your Majesty likes it."
"Aside from yourself, am I the first to taste this liangfen?"
"Well… Aunt Qi, Zhi Zi and Fo Shou have also tried it."
"Anyone else?"
"Also Junior Consort Cui and Imperial Concubine Sun."
"Heh, you're quite close with them."
Li Zhu watched Li Shengyuan's suddenly darkened expression, confused by his reaction.
"I've been busy in Qinzheng Palace all day, hungry and thirsty, yet you didn't bring me any liangfen."
"Your servant…"
Li Zhu was speechless. She couldn't believe the emperor would be so petty.
Hungry and thirsty? Tea was served eighteen times a day! Even if everyone in the world died of thirst, he wouldn't!
Li Shengyuan raised an eyebrow. "It seems you've truly forgotten about me!"
"No, no! I was just afraid of disturbing you."
"Hmph, I don't believe that! After I sent people everywhere to find medical books for you, this is how you repay me?"
Li Zhu rarely felt guilty.
"I'm considering whether to continue searching for medical books for you."
Li Zhu anxiously said, "Your Majesty, your words are imperial edicts."
Li Shengyuan glanced at her. "Indeed, and only I can change imperial edicts."
"Your servant was wrong. From now on, whenever I make food, I'll come to Qinzheng Palace immediately!"
"Do you truly understand your mistake?"
"Yes!"
"I'll forgive you this time. Don't let it happen again."
"Yes."
With Li Zhu's assurance, Li Shengyuan's mood improved significantly.
[Damn emperor! Always manipulating me. If I ever ask you for help again, I'm a dog!]
Li Shengyuan cheerfully continued eating the liangfen.
If they were both dogs, that wouldn't be so bad.
~~
With the banquet menu finalized and the Empress Dowager's gift in preparation, Li Zhu suddenly found herself with free time.
At dusk, Li Zhu was strolling through Yu Garden.
Unexpectedly, she encountered Su Jieyu, who was also taking a walk.
"Oh, Sister Li, how do you still have time to wander around here? Didn't His Majesty put you in charge of the Empress Dowager's Birthday Banquet?"
"No need for Sister Su to worry."
"I'm just concerned that with your background as a palace maid and no proper guidance, you might make mistakes at the Empress Dowager's banquet."
The jealousy in Su Jieyu's words could reach the heavens.
"Sister Su is very kind-hearted, but you worry too much – you're even getting wrinkles on your face."
Su Jieyu instinctively touched her face, only realizing later that Li Zhu was teasing her!
Li Zhu hadn't wanted to attack Su Jieyu, but she started it first!
Su Jieyu was indeed jealous of Li Zhu – jealous in every aspect.
They were both Jieyu, so why was Li Zhu entrusted with organizing the Empress Dowager's banquet instead of her?
Seeing the dazzling ruby peony hairpin on Li Zhu's head made her even more bitter.
"Such a large gemstone hairpin – isn't it presumptuous for Li Jieyu to wear it?"
"Gemstone hairpin? Doesn't Sister Su have one?" Li Zhu covered her mouth. "Oh, I forgot – this hairpin was bestowed by His Majesty. It seems Sister Su truly doesn't have one. As for presumption? His Majesty said that since he bestowed it, I should wear it."
"Don't get too arrogant, Li Jieyu! Be careful of falling from great heights. We'll see!"
"Yes, we're both in the palace. Sister can watch slowly how the future unfolds!"
After speaking, Li Zhu gracefully departed.
Leaving Su Jieyu alone in place, seething with helpless rage.
"Wretched woman! Wretched woman! Just you wait!"
As the Empress Dowager's birthday drew nearer, Li Shengyuan gathered a large chest of medical books for Li Zhu.
Staring at the massive chest of medical books, Li Zhu voiced her doubt, "Do all physicians love writing books this much?"
"Of course not, these were all painstakingly collected on my orders!"
"Your Majesty, you are truly remarkable!"
Li Shengyuan lifted his head with prideful arrogance, while Ji An beside him could hardly bear to watch. Since when had the Emperor become like this?
Was this still the Emperor he once knew?
Why did he act like… like a dog in front of Li Jieyu…
At this thought, Ji An immediately slapped himself twice. How could he describe the Son of Heaven in such a way!
The Emperor was simply too fond of Li Jieyu.
Meanwhile, Li Zhu faced a new dilemma due to the abundance of medical books—which ones should she choose to present to the Empress Dowager?
"Just pick a few at random for now, and send the others gradually later."
"Your Majesty speaks wisely! Let's do as you say!"
Excellent! Finally, the Empress Dowager's gift was settled!
On the thirteenth day of the eighth lunar month, in the height of summer, the entire palace bustled with activity.
Palace maids and eunuchs moved silently but swiftly, carrying various items needed for the banquet in their hands.
Li Zhu rose early that day to oversee the preparations, bustling about until noon.
"Your Highness, the birthday banquet will begin this afternoon. Let us return to change clothes and prepare your appearance."
"Very well. Also, have the small kitchen prepare a bowl of fresh meat wontons for me. I need to fill my stomach."
"Yes."
Upon returning to Huaqing Palace, the palace servants began their busy work.
Today was the first time the Jieyu would attend a palace banquet, and her first appearance before the imperial clan, royal relatives, and distinguished nobles of the court.
There must be no mistakes!
Zhi Zi, serving as Li Zhu's wardrobe and hairstylist, was happily occupied.
Li Zhu cooperated fully, allowing them to dress her up.
Midway, the wontons from the small kitchen were ready, but Li Zhu had no time to eat them.
An hour later, Li Zhu was finally almost fully dressed, and hunger struck her fiercely once again.
"Aunt Qi, where are my wontons?"
"Oh, Your Highness didn't have time to eat them earlier, so they were taken back to the small kitchen to keep warm."
"Bring them quickly, I'm hungry!"
Soon, a young palace maid brought over the wontons. "Your Highness, please enjoy."
But Li Zhu did not take the bowl, instead staring directly at the maid.
It was the first time Li Zhu had seen someone with a red exclamation mark above their head!
She immediately clicked on it.
The wontons brought by this maid had been tampered with!
The maid grew nervous and began to sweat under the gaze but still urged, "Your Highness, the wontons will get cold if you don't eat them soon."
"Are you one of Su Jieyu's people?"
The maid froze. "This servant is not."
"Hah, then would you dare eat the bowl of wontons in your hand?"
"This servant… this servant dares!"
With a resolve to face death, the maid ate one wonton.
Hearing this, Aunt Qi immediately shielded Li Zhu behind her.
"Could these wontons be…"
"Yes, they've been drugged, though I don't know what kind."
"This servant did not drug them!"
"Whether you did or not, you know the truth."
In fact, the maid herself did not know what medicine Su Jieyu had provided.
After a while, the maid showed no reaction.
Everyone in the hall wondered if Li Jieyu had wrongfully accused this maid.
"It seems it's not poison after all. Aunt Qi, have someone keep an eye on her."
"Yes, Jieyu. Should we summon an Imperial Physician to examine her?"
Li Zhu pondered for a moment. "No need. The birthday banquet is about to begin. We mustn't disturb the Emperor and Empress Dowager. Keep this bowl of wontons preserved."
"Yes."
Su Jieyu… We'll settle accounts after the banquet!
Li Zhu arrived at the Great Celebration Hall in her sedan chair, where the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet was being held.
When she arrived, the Emperor and Empress Dowager had not yet appeared. Only the imperial concubines from the rear palace, imperial clan relatives, nobility from the court, and their female family members were present.
The moment Li Zhu entered the hall, she captured everyone's attention.
Even without anyone pointing her out, they all knew who had arrived.
Li Zhu was dressed in magnificent attire today, possessing an ethereal beauty so stunning that one dared not speak loudly for fear of disturbing celestial beings.
"Greetings to Li Jieyu."
"Please rise, everyone."
Li Zhu stepped forward to pay respects to the higher-ranking imperial concubines. Shufei had also emerged from her confinement.
Her gaze toward Li Zhu was sharp, but Li Zhu had no time to deal with her at the moment.
Li Zhu scanned the room and met Su Jieyu's eyes.
Su Jieyu didn't avoid her gaze but instead revealed a provocative look.
Noticing the similarly red exclamation mark above Su Jieyu's head, Li Zhu clicked to view it.
It turned out the drug Su Jieyu had ordered administered was a laxative—apparently intending to make her disgrace herself publicly during the banquet.
If Li Zhu couldn't see everyone's secrets, she might have truly fallen for it.
Unfortunately for Su Jieyu, since her scheme had failed, she would now face Li Zhu's retaliation.
Without saying a word, Li Zhu calmly took her designated seat.
Shortly after, Li Shengyuan entered the hall together with the Empress Dowager.
"His Majesty arrives! Her Majesty the Empress Dowager arrives!"
The hundred-plus people in the hall simultaneously rose and knelt.
"Long live His Majesty! Long live the Empress Dowager!"
"Wishing Her Majesty the Empress Dowager boundless longevity!"
"All rise!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank you, Empress Dowager!"
Li Shengyuan and the Empress Dowager ascended to the highest platform of the great hall.
Once the Empress Dowager was seated, the next step would be the presentation of gifts.