The first day of the year marked the most significant celebration throughout the entire palace.
During the day, the outer court banquet was held at the Hall of Supreme Harmony, attended primarily by princes, ministers, and foreign envoys, showcasing the majesty and imperial authority of the Great Qi.
In the evening, the inner court banquet took place at the Hall of Precious Splendor, with attendees shifting to the imperial consorts and close relatives, embodying the spirit of family reunion.
Consort Yi was naturally responsible for the inner court banquet at the Hall of Precious Splendor.
On the day of the celebration, the Hall of Precious Splendor glittered with gold and splendor, the continuous melodies of strings and bamboo instruments filling the air.
The Empress Dowager sat dignifiedly at the head, dressed in a crimson-purple ornate robe, exuding grace and propriety.
Beside her, Emperor Zhaoheng wore a bright yellow dragon robe, which accentuated his stern countenance, creating a subtle sense of distance between him and the Empress Dowager.
The Empress, frail in health, was absent, with Noble Consort Li and Consort Yi seated on either side of the high positions.
Noble Consort Li, adorned in a vibrant red and gold palace attire and bedecked with pearls and jade, reveled proudly in her status second only to the Empress, casting an undisguised look of arrogance toward Consort Yi.
Consort Yi, dressed in sapphire blue and gold-woven palace attire, sat with impeccable poise, her makeup exquisite, a perfectly gentle smile gracing her lips—a stark contrast to Noble Consort Li.
The remaining consorts were seated according to their ranks behind them. The music of strings and pipes drowned out the hushed whispers below, leaving only a faint murmur audible.
Just then, the hall doors opened and closed, and a graceful figure stepped into the Hall of Precious Splendor.
Shuixian today wore a moon-white brocade skirt, draped with a light-jade woven brocade cape. Her entire appearance was so plain and unadorned that it stood out starkly against the resplendent hall.
Yet it was this very cool elegance, like orchids in a secluded valley, that instantly captured Emperor Zhaoheng’s gaze.
Emperor Zhaoheng felt a stir in his heart. The vexation of being pressured by court officials and the Empress Dowager for an heir over recent days dissipated slightly at the sight of her.
He raised his hand, his voice not loud but cutting clearly through the hall’s music: “Changzai Shuixian, come to this emperor’s side.”
The Emperor’s command immediately drew the attention of those around toward Shuixian.
A mere Changzai, permitted to accompany the Emperor in his presence?
This was an honor even many high-ranking consorts might not receive!
Noble Consort Li’s expression of pride froze, while Consort Yi’s hand holding the teacup tightened almost imperceptibly…
Shuixian felt the complex gazes directed at her from all sides. She slowly lowered her eyes, concealing all emotion, and respectfully walked to the brocade stool beside Emperor Zhaoheng, seating herself with a docile demeanor.
As she drew near, Shuixian caught a faint whiff of alcohol on Emperor Zhaoheng.
With a slight lift of her eyes, she noticed the nine-dragon golden cup before him had been refilled several times. A shadow of gloom lingered between the man’s brows, clearly indicating that today’s banquet was no joyous occasion for him.
Understanding dawning on her, Shuixian softly advised, “Your Majesty, excessive drinking harms the body. On this New Year’s banquet, it is all the more important to preserve your imperial health.”
Her gentle voice, filled with concern, flowed like a murmuring stream, soothing the Emperor’s inner restlessness.
Emperor Zhaoheng turned his head to look at her, his tone softening: “Mm, this emperor knows.”
At that moment, a eunuch at the hall entrance loudly announced: “Prince Duan, Princess Duan, and Duan Qinwang Shizi seek an audience!”
The atmosphere in the hall shifted subtly.
Prince Duan, clad in a Prince’s python robe, entered accompanied by a woman adorned with jewels and pearls. Ahead of them, a five-year-old boy, plump as a ball and dressed in a scarlet brocade jacket, charged in like a little cannonball.
He roamed the hall without any regard for decorum, glancing left and right, even attempting to snatch pastries from a palace maid’s tray.
“Chengge’er! Slow down!” Princess Duan called out from behind with feigned concern, her face showing nothing but doting indulgence without the slightest hint of restraint.
Upon seeing the chubby child, the Empress Dowager’s cold expression melted away, replaced by an exceedingly affectionate smile as she repeatedly beckoned, “Chengge’er, come quickly to your imperial grandmother!”
Encouraged by the Empress Dowager’s summons, Chengge’er grew even bolder. He pattered over to her seat without bowing, throwing himself directly into her embrace to whine, “Imperial Grandmother! Chengge’er wants to eat that!”
His chubby little finger pointed toward a plate of exquisite tribute pastries on the Imperial Desk.
“Alright, alright, alright, whatever you want!”
The Empress Dowager laughed heartily, personally taking a pastry and feeding it to him, allowing him to climb all over her phoenix chair and tug at the tassels on her robe.
The unruly child’s clamor clashed starkly with the solemn palace banquet, yet no one dared utter a word of criticism.
Shuixian, seated beside Emperor Zhaoheng, clearly saw the emperor’s fingers tightening slightly around his wine cup, his eyes filled with icy coldness deep within.
She discreetly withdrew her gaze, just in time to see Consort Yi’s face break into an even more radiant smile than before as she addressed the Empress Dowager and Chengge’er.
“Her Majesty is absolutely right. The young prince is so lively and adorable, clearly much brighter than ordinary children!” Consort Yi’s voice was gentle and pleasing, carrying deliberate flattery. “This humble consort has heard that despite his tender age, the young prince already recognizes thousands of characters and can recite thousands of poems. Such extraordinary intelligence truly befits the heir to the imperial family!”
Her lavish praise made Princess Duan beam with joy, nodding repeatedly.
The Empress Dowager also stroked Chengge’er’s head, her face full of pride.
Shuixian raised an eyebrow. Recognizing thousands of characters and reciting thousands of poems, indeed!
To curry favor with the Empress Dowager and the Prince Duan household, Consort Yi’s flattery had gone beyond ridiculous.
Beside her, Emperor Zhaoheng let out a soft, barely audible snort that only Shuixian, being so close, could hear clearly.
Shuixian’s heart stirred slightly, sensing the emperor’s subtle attitude.
Consort Yi wanted to ingratiate herself? Then she would deliberately disrupt things.
She leaned slightly closer to Emperor Zhaoheng’s ear and whispered conspiratorially in a voice only the two of them could hear:
“Your Majesty, this humble consort finds the young prince quite amusing, and Consort Yi’s praises are so extravagant… I wonder if I might help you test their veracity?”
Emperor Zhaoheng glanced sideways at her, meeting the lively sparkle in her eyes. The slight irritation in his heart unexpectedly eased at her playful complicity.
A flicker of interest passed through his eyes as he gave an almost imperceptible nod.
With this silent permission, Shuixian looked toward Chengge’er, who was currently munching on pastries in the Empress Dowager’s embrace, and asked with curious innocence, “Young Prince, Consort Yi just praised your ability to recite thousands of poems—how truly remarkable! Might Your Highness recite one for His Majesty and Her Majesty? So we lesser consorts might also broaden our horizons?”
Her tone was sincere, as if merely curious after hearing Consort Yi’s claims, without any ill intent.
Consort Yi glanced at her, uncertain what Shuixian was up to.
Reciting poetry—how difficult could it be for a five-year-old royal child… She turned to look at Chengge’er, who was nestled in the Empress Dowager’s embrace, wiping his greasy hands on the phoenix robe.
Consort Yi’s heart sank… Surely this Chengge’er wouldn’t actually be unable to recite anything?
Chengge’er, his mouth full of pastry crumbs, looked up blankly when suddenly called upon, his chubby face gleaming with grease.
Recite poetry? What poetry? Usually spoiled beyond measure, he hated nothing more than his tutor making him memorize texts!
Emperor Zhaoheng seized the moment to fuel the flames, saying, “Oh? Is what Consort Yi says true? Chengge’er can already recite a thousand poems? I would like to hear one myself.”
The Empress Dowager coaxed her grandson gently, “Chengge’er, quickly, recite one for your imperial uncle. Recite your favorite ‘Ode to the Goose’?”
Chengge’er glanced at the Empress Dowager, then at Emperor Zhaoheng, and finally at the numerous eyes fixed upon him below. He felt nothing but irritation.
He abruptly twisted his body, breaking free from the Empress Dowager’s embrace, stomped his feet, and shouted, “I won’t recite! I want snacks! I want to go play!”
With that, he recklessly ran and jumped on the carpet before the imperial throne, his chubby legs kicking over a fruit platter held by a nearby attending eunuch. Fruits scattered across the floor, eliciting soft gasps of surprise.
The hall fell silent instantly, and the music tactfully ceased.
Prince Duan’s face turned ashen, while Princess Duan was so flustered she didn’t know what to do, torn between grabbing her son and fearing a breach of decorum before the emperor.
The Empress Dowager’s affectionate expression could no longer be maintained, replaced entirely by a dark scowl.
Shuixian, seeing this, immediately feigned alarm and unease. She hurriedly rose and made a slight curtsy toward Consort Yi’s direction, saying, “Consort Yi, please forgive me. This is all my fault for putting the young master in such a difficult position. He is still young, and being lively and active is only natural. It was my excessive curiosity that misunderstood Your Ladyship’s meaning…”
Shuixian had made a mistake, yet she apologized first to Consort Yi…
Those present noticed this scene and were reminded of one thing: Shuixian was originally Consort Yi’s maid and still resided in the same palace as her. Could Shuixian’s words also reflect Consort Yi’s intentions?
The Empress Dowager clearly thought the same, her expression growing even darker as she glared coldly at Consort Yi:
“Consort Yi! I have always regarded you as steady and reliable. How could you speak so carelessly today? Chengge’er is just a child, yet you dared to boast and exaggerate before the emperor, misleading everyone and disrupting the palace banquet! This is utterly improper!”
The Empress Dowager believed Consort Yi and her maid were performing a coordinated act in front of her, all to humiliate Chengge’er, and she directed her full fury at Consort Yi.
Consort Yi turned pale and hurriedly left her seat to kneel on the floor. “Your Majesty, please calm your anger! I… I was merely overjoyed and spoke without thinking. I never intended to boast or exaggerate! I beg Your Majesty to see the truth!”
She harbored intense hatred for Shuixian but dared not refute a single word, only bowing her head deeply.
Emperor Zhaoheng watched the kneeling Consort Yi coldly. How could he not know that, in recent times, she had openly and covertly curried favor with the Empress Dowager, advocating for the adoption of Prince Duan’s heir?
Moreover, the Yi family had repeatedly led court officials in pressuring him, much to his annoyance.
Today’s farce provided him with a perfect opportunity to issue a warning.
“Her Majesty’s reprimand is justified,” Emperor Zhaoheng said slowly. “As a consort, Consort Yi ought to be cautious in speech and conduct, setting an example for the inner court. Yet today, she spoke recklessly and breached decorum before the emperor, disrupted the palace banquet, provoked Her Majesty’s anger, and frightened Prince Duan’s heir. Such behavior must not be tolerated!”
He pronounced coldly, “From this day forward, Consort Yi is confined to Changxin Palace for one month. She shall copy ‘Admonitions for Women’ and ‘Inner Training’ one hundred times each and reflect on her mistakes! Without my decree, she is not to step beyond the palace gates!”
“Your Majesty!” Consort Yi looked up abruptly, her eyes filled with shock.
Confinement! And during the New Year’s banquet, in front of all the consorts and imperial relatives! This was nothing short of a profound humiliation!
It was just a few extra words she spoke—how could the punishment be so severe!
“What? Does Consort Yi have an objection?” Emperor Zhaoheng’s voice abruptly turned cold, carrying the indisputable authority of an emperor.
Consort Yi met his icy gaze and felt as though she had fallen into an icy abyss: “Your servant… accepts the decree with gratitude. I acknowledge my fault and will reflect upon my mistakes behind closed doors.”
The hall fell into dead silence; everyone was stunned by the sudden severity of the punishment.
Emperor Zhaoheng no longer looked at Consort Yi kneeling on the ground, instead turning his gaze to Shuixian at his side.
Today, Shuixian had vented his anger for him, making Emperor Zhaoheng cherish her even more. He declared in a clear voice: “Since all six palaces are present, this is an opportune moment to announce something: Changzai Shuixian, gentle and understanding, deeply pleases Us. She is hereby promoted to Guiren and granted residence in Chengming Hall.”
Chengming Hall!
Even Shuixian had not expected the Emperor to grant her residence in Chengming Hall.
It was an exquisite palace complex quite close to Qianqing Palace, far superior to the West Side Hall of Changxin Palace!
More importantly, this decree, issued immediately after punishing Consort Yi, was tantamount to declaring before everyone: He intended to protect Shuixian and completely separate her from Consort Yi’s control!
Shuixian immediately rose and bowed gracefully: “Your servant thanks Your Majesty for this great kindness!”
Moving away from Consort Yi’s Changxin Palace would allow her to recuperate and detoxify more peacefully, without having Xuemei personally supervise her medicine intake every time!
Shortly after, Emperor Zhaoheng did not linger at the banquet. He stepped forward, took Shuixian’s hand, and led her away from Baohua Hall in front of everyone, heading toward her new residence.
Upon arriving at Chengming Hall, before Shuixian could even take in her surroundings, Emperor Zhaoheng bent down, lifted her into his arms, and strode toward the bed.
“Xian’er cares for Us and vented Our anger—We must also care well for Xian’er…”