Chapter 94: New Year’s Day part 1
A beautiful face surfaced within the water chestnut mirror.
Zhao Yiyi paused, her hand holding a flower hairpin hovering in mid-air. She smiled wryly. “I’ll ask her about it a bit later.”
She said she would ask, but Gu Zhen had prepared everything thoroughly this time. He had even had the palace hall tidied up and the palace servants arranged one by one. clearly, he was determined to move Duanduan to the Qinglu Palace.
No matter how unwilling the girl was, it probably wouldn’t matter.
As Yunzhu painted the Xiehong makeup on her temples, she smiled and said, “The Eldest Princess has mostly recovered from her injuries. Changing to a new place might make her feel brighter inside. Qinglu Palace is by the Taiye Pool; it is very cool in the summer. The Late Emperor used to stay there to escape the heat as soon as summer arrived. The layout inside is excellent. It is evident that His Majesty put great thought into choosing it.”
Gazing at the face in the mirror, which looked as tranquil as autumn waters, Zhao Yiyi frowned and whispered, “Later, take some people to look around. If there is anything unsatisfactory, change it immediately.”
Yunzhu responded with an affirmative “Yes,” then lifted her brush and lightly dotted the final two dimples on her cheeks.
“Except for those who asked for leave, everyone has arrived. They are standing and waiting to pay their respects to Your Highness.”
Zhao Yiyi nodded slightly. Supported by her maids, she rose and proceeded to the front hall. She was dressed in a deep blue, wide-sleeved Yi robe bound by a leather belt, upon which the pheasant patterns were embroidered so vividly they seemed alive. A white jade pendant strung with black silk hung at her waist, and the twelve flower hairpins in her hair trembled gently with her steps.
The Empress rarely held banquets and had been away in Chang’an for several months. Calculating the time, many titled ladies had not seen the Empress for a long while.
Due to the imprisonment of the Marquis of Huai’an, although everyone dared not speak openly, they inevitably muttered in their hearts. Before entering the hall, they were secretly speculating about the Empress’s current state.
However, when they saw the beauty in magnificent attire sitting high on the phoenix dais, all previous speculations vanished into nothingness. Everyone was astonished to find that not only did the Empress show no sign of distress, but her every gesture exuded an air of graceful dignity.
Her appearance was bright and beautiful, her demeanor solemn and correct.
“You may rise,” Zhao Yiyi said indifferently, then ordered the palace attendants to serve refreshments and tea.
Her calm demeanor and soft, gentle voice, falling into the eyes of those with ulterior motives, inexplicably became evidence of unfilial piety.
With the Marquis of Huai’an in prison, not only could she sit peacefully as Empress, but she also showed not a shred of sadness. Some people, seeing this, inevitably felt indignant. Even if parents made mistakes, how could children bear resentment and hostility because of it?
Among them, a Grand Consort of the imperial clan found such behavior the most intolerable.
Relying on her high seniority and the merits of her deceased husband, Grand Consort Lujiang was accustomed to flaunting her age and status. Facing the Empress now, she showed no restraint, keeping a stern face throughout. Due to her expression, the nasolabial folds on both sides of her face looked like two deep gullies.
Runan covered her lips with a handkerchief and laughed. “Today is New Year’s Day; one should be happy for the new year. Aunt is keeping such a straight face on New Year’s Day; be careful lest you keep a straight face all year round.”
Her voice was not without implication, the ending note hooking up slightly, carrying a unique charm.
Grand Consort Lujiang cast a glance at her, the coldness on her face undiminished. “Princess, it is better to worry more about yourself.”
Among so many princesses, this Runan girl was the most spoiled. Not only was her temperament arrogant and domineering, but she also usually lacked virtue. Grand Consort Lujiang had always disliked her frivolity. In the past, it was out of respect for the Late Emperor, but now that her son was involved in the Henei affair and had been removed from office until now, there was naturally no need for scruples.
It just so happened that the Empress up above was Runan’s niece. truly, people of the same sort flock together.
Since her eldest son’s accident, Runan had gradually restrained her temper. Recently, she had visited the Empress Dowager several times and began to cultivate her character. It was rare for her to show kindness, but who knew the other party wouldn’t appreciate it? She sneered, too lazy to pay her any more attention.
What kind of thing is she? Does she really think I have so much free time?
Witnessing this dispute below, Zhao Yiyi merely shifted her gaze indifferently and said to Yunzhu, “Send a bowl of fermented milk curd to Aunt, and replace the wine on Duanduan’s table with tea.”
This was Zhao Duanduan’s first time attending the New Year’s audience.
She was the Emperor’s sister, theoretically the most noble among all the Eldest Princesses. Although one should uphold the principle of order between old and young, no one would—or rather, dared to—fight her for that position.
Even though Zhao Yiyi had planned ahead and specially moved her seat forward, placing her next to Runan, there were still many gazes falling on Zhao Duanduan—some sizing her up, some scrutinizing.
This seat should have been occupied by Linchuan in the past.
Now that Linchuan was proven to be a fake and everything in the past had vanished like smoke, the real one before their eyes happened to have been raised by the Empress’s maiden family. Thinking of the rumors about the discord between the Empress Dowager and the Empress in the past, a strange look appeared on everyone’s faces.
Facing everyone’s inquiring gazes, Zhao Duanduan was able to face them calmly. She even smiled at one person. “Madam keeps looking at me; is there something inappropriate on my face?”
Not only was she caught peeking by the person in question, but she was also bluntly called out. The woman’s face flushed red, and she laughed awkwardly. “No, no, it is because the Eldest Princess’s demeanor is too magnificent. This old woman was dazzled for a moment and lost her senses.”
After the audience, the palace servants distributed the bundles of silk bestowed for this year according to rank.
Although the silk bestowed by the palace was good, the titled ladies who came for the audience naturally didn’t come for a few bolts of cloth; they came for the honor of participating in the New Year’s audience. Therefore, regardless of value, they all rose and bowed respectfully to give thanks.
Only when it reached Grand Consort Lujiang did a hiccup occur. A palace maid held a few bundles of cloth before her, whispering that it was a New Year’s reward. She merely put down her wine cup and glanced at it, not accepting it immediately. She sighed, “This subject wife lacks virtue; how can I accept such a reward?”
Zhao Yiyi’s movement of picking up a pastry paused slightly, but she couldn’t be bothered to pay attention to her, continuing to clamp onto that piece of chestnut cake with her chopsticks.
Runan, however, grew interested and asked with a smile, “How does Aunt lack virtue?”
A perfectly good phrase was twisted by her. It sounded like she was cursing her.
Grand Consort Lujiang choked and turned to glare angrily, but thinking that it was Runan, a person who had always been accustomed to arrogance, she felt it was no surprise.
Holding back her anger, a look of worry appeared on her face. “This subject wife’s mother has just fallen seriously ill and is still recuperating in our hometown. Yet today, this subject wife is here attending a banquet. It is truly a loss of virtue.”
Anyone could hear the insinuating nature of these words.
The hall suddenly fell silent. Everyone’s faces were tense; they barely dared to breathe.
They didn’t even dare to look at the Empress’s expression above.
Being scolded almost to one’s face on New Year’s Day—no one could swallow such an insult.
After a long while, it was Zhao Yiyi who chuckled first, breaking the silence. She looked up slightly toward Grand Consort Lujiang’s direction and nodded. “Indeed, it is a loss of virtue. Since that is the case, let the Grand Consort’s reward be waived.”
Not only the seated crowd, but even Grand Consort Lujiang was stunned. Shock was visibly written on her face, as if she had been slapped hard—a stinging pain.
What she relied on was nothing more than the status left by her late husband, plus her identity as a widow of high seniority. The Empress had a soft and glutinous personality; she had thought that a little hint would be enough for her to understand.
She hadn’t expected the Empress to give her no face at all.
Before Grand Consort Lujiang could reply, Zhao Yiyi gently fiddled with a string of red agate on her wrist, her voice indifferent. “Since such a matter exists, the Grand Consort should have asked for leave. Knowing your mother is still recuperating yet entering the palace for a banquet—could it be you were afraid I wouldn’t agree?”
Those almond eyes, seemingly containing spring dew, were half-closed. Although she didn’t look over, Grand Consort Lujiang’s body stiffened, and a look of uneasiness flashed across her face.
To say yes would be slandering the Empress; to answer no would be unfilial.
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