Upon hearing this, the Emperor carefully examined the music score.
Indeed, it was a forgery!
Furious, he huffed and puffed, threatening to have the minister who presented the score punished with a beating.
But as soon as the words left his mouth, he remembered that the minister was some relative of Yang Guifei’s family and quickly stopped himself.
Yan Shishu lowered her gaze, secretly curling her lips in disdain.
When she looked up again, she wore a beaming smile.
“Father, I knew you would appreciate this. Look, what is this?”
The Emperor looked at Yan Shishu’s hand and saw her pull a music score from her sleeve.
“Ta-da… Father, this is the original copy composed by Master Liu.”
As she spoke, she presented the music score to the Emperor.
Seeing it was indeed genuine, the Emperor was overjoyed and rewarded Yan Shishu with a red coral as tall as a person.
The coral was truly magnificent, and Yan Shishu was delighted.
Having achieved her goal for the day, she took her leave from the Emperor.
“Father, please study the music score at ease. Your daughter will now visit Grandmother and the Empress.”
“Go ahead. I will join you at your grandmother’s for dinner later.”
“Very well.”
As soon as Yan Shishu stepped out of the Imperial Study, she bumped right into Yang Guifei.
Behind Yang Guifei, two palace maids each carried a large food box.
It seemed another performance of “personally preparing soup and meals” was underway.
Yan Shishu said with a laugh, “Yang Guifei, have you come to deliver dinner to Father? Isn’t it a bit early for that?”
Yang Guifei also wore a warm smile. “Is that Taiping? When did you arrive at the palace?”
“Just a short while ago.”
Yan Shishu glanced again at the food boxes in the maids’ hands and seemed to offer a well-intentioned reminder. “Yang Guifei, Father mentioned he would be dining at Grandmother’s later. I’m afraid your efforts today will be in vain.”
After all, so much ‘personally’ prepared soup was truly laborious.
However, Yang Guifei paid no heed to her words. Smiling cheerfully, she approached the entrance of the Imperial Study and asked the eunuch to announce her.
Unexpectedly, the eunuch returned and said, “Noble Consort, His Majesty says he is busy and requests that you return for today.”
The smug smile on Yang Guifei’s face instantly froze.
Yan Shishu remarked sympathetically from the side, “Yang Guifei, you see, I did not deceive you. Yet you refused to believe me and had to seek humiliation yourself. Ah…”
She let out a long sigh and turned to leave.
Yang Guifei watched her haughty retreating figure, feeling a pang of anger in her chest.
In this palace, if there was one person who could be called her nemesis, it was none other than Yan Shishu!
Moreover, that red coral the eunuchs were carrying was the very one she had her eye on!!!
…
Inside Fengxiang Palace.
Upon learning that her daughter had entered the palace, the Empress freshened up and waited in the main hall.
From afar, even before seeing her, she heard her daughter’s voice.
“Mother, Shuer has come to see you!”
The Empress shook her head and said to the matron Xu beside her, “Even after marriage, she still lacks decorum. When will this boisterous nature of hers ever change?”
Though she said this, her eyes were filled with laughter.
“Mother, Shuer heard that!”
Yan Shishu stepped into the main hall, pretending to be upset.
The Empress laughed. “I wasn’t referring to you. You assumed it yourself.”
“Hmph!”
Yan Shishu threw herself into her mother’s arms, sulking and acting spoiled.
The Empress held her daughter, her face filled with maternal affection—a stark contrast to the indifference she showed when facing the Crown Prince.
“Why have you come to the palace today? Is something the matter?”
Yan Shishu straightened her posture and shook her head.
“Nothing important. I just heard that a cousin of Yang Guifei’s maternal family presented a copy of Master Liu’s qin score to Father Emperor, so I came in to stir up some trouble for her.”
The Empress pinched her nose and sighed helplessly, “You silly child, why bother with such things?”
“Of course I must! Your daughter loves nothing more than seeing Yang Guifei frustrated!”
Seeing the fiery determination on her daughter’s face, the Empress’s eyes clouded with sorrow.
How could she not know that Shuer was doing this to vent her anger on her behalf?
But as for her—she had long ceased to care.
Her life had turned out this way; all she wished for now was her daughter’s lifelong peace, her aunt’s longevity, and her adopted son’s smooth ascension to the throne.
As for other people and matters, they held no importance in her life.
She neither wished to interfere nor to know.
Yan Shishu looked at her mother’s demeanor, feeling a mix of frustration and helplessness.
The prestige and favor she had enjoyed in the first half of her life were almost entirely earned through her own efforts.
Ever since she was old enough to understand, she knew that although her mother held the title of Empress, she was little more than a figurehead.
She was also acutely aware that to secure a lifetime of wealth and honor, she must, like Yang Guifei, win the Emperor’s favor.
She forced herself to understand the Emperor, to study everything that interested him.
That was how she had attained her current status.
Even Yang Guifei dared not act presumptuously in her presence!
Yet her own mother remained so naive.
Well…
Her mother had chosen this path for herself, and no one could change it.
The mother and daughter shared some intimate conversation.
The Empress asked in detail about her relationship with her consort and whether she was accustomed to life outside the palace.
When they noticed it was getting late, they tidied up and went to Cining Palace.
The Empress Dowager genuinely adored Yan Shishu, her eldest granddaughter.
Fearing she might face any hardship outside the palace, she instructed Zhong Momo to select many valuable items from Cining Palace’s treasury for Yan Shishu to take back to her princess manor.
Yan Shishu clung to the Empress Dowager’s arm and sighed emotionally, “Grandmother, you treat me the best.”
The Empress Dowager teased, “I’ll bet you’ve said that several times today, haven’t you?”
“Not at all! Shuer likes Grandmother the most, the very, very most!”
Yan Shishu played the sweet, obedient child, making the Empress Dowager laugh heartily.
Suddenly, as if struck by a thought, Yan Shishu leaned closer to the Empress Dowager and whispered,
“Grandmother, hasn’t my younger sister reached her coming-of-age ceremony this year?”
The Empress Dowager thought for a moment and realized it was true.
Once a girl came of age, it was time to select a consort for her.
She waved her hand dismissively, “This old woman can’t be bothered with her marriage affairs. That Yang Guifei—no matter how excellent the candidate, she’d assume I meant harm to her daughter. On ordinary days, she keeps her precious children away from me and doesn’t allow them to visit.”
“Don’t say that, Grandmother!”
Yan Shishu hugged her arm and said, “Those three youngsters may be immature, but you, Grandmother, are magnanimous. Please don’t hold it against them. My younger sister’s marriage should still be decided by you.”
The Empress Dowager knew this clever girl must have some mischief in mind again. Unable to resist her pestering, she reluctantly agreed.
Yan Shishu was finally satisfied.
As dinnertime approached and the Emperor was expected to arrive soon, the Empress pleaded illness and asked to return to Fengxiang Palace.
Yan Shishu tried to stop her, refusing to let her leave.
The Empress Dowager spoke up from the side,
“Shuer, let your mother go back.”
Yan Shishu released her hand in despair.
……