Chapter 160 Another Scheme [1]
“En. That’s good then.” The Empress Dowager’s smile had lightened by a lot. Her obviously happy mood had been destroyed. She didn’t talk to the Emperor anymore, but instead stretched an arm out to Shangguan LingRan and Zi You. “The banquet should start soon. Support Aijia to the banquet.”
Zi You didn’t dare to refuse. She curtsied to the Emperor and held the Empress Dowager’s left arm.
Shangguan LingRan happily went over to hold the Empress Dowager’s right arm.
This scene stabbed the Emperor’s eyes. His fists clenched and he took a deep breath before he smiled to Old General Mu. “Old General Mu, let’s go over too!”
The banquet was held in the Jade Palace Hall. The Empress, Empress Dowager, and the womenfolk were on the left side. There was a screen in the middle. The Emperor and his subjects were on the right.
When they arrived at the Jade Palace Hall, the Empress Dowager told Shangguan LingRan, “You, your imperial uncle, and Old General Mu go over! It’s enough that Aijia has You’er to help.”
“Okay. Don’t drink wine, imperial grandmother.” Shangguan LingRan spoke to the Empress Dowager like he was reminding a child. Then he looked at Zi You and said overbearingly, “Hey! You take care of imperial grandmother. If someone gives her a toast, you have to drink for her. Do you hear me? If something happens to imperial grandmother, I will hold you responsible.”
Zi You coolly curtsied. “Yes. I will obey Shizi Ye’s orders.” Then she didn’t look at him anymore and helped the Empress Dowager go to the left banqueting hall.
The Empress Dowager shook her head helplessly. He obviously liked her, but didn’t express it. How was this good? The Empress Dowager patted Zi You’s hand and comforted. “Don’t be angry at Shizi. He actually often praises you in front of Aijia.”
Zi You quickly nodded. “Please rest a.s.sured, Empress Dowager. Chennu will never dare to be angry at Shizi Ye.”
At this time, someone shouted, “The Empress Dowager has arrived.”
Zi You saw that the Empress, consorts, women, and xiaojies were gathered and talking to each other. Imperial Tutor She’s female members said something that made the Empress and Taizifei smile proudly. When they saw Zi You and the Empress Dowager arrive, they were startled, as if they clearly did not expect it. They all knelt down to greet the Empress Dowager.
Zi You walked to stand behind Nee Liu and followed everyone in greeting the Empress Dowager. When the Empress Dowager told everyone to get up, Zi You walked over to the Empress and knelt down again. “Chennu pays respects to Empress. Chennu pays respects to Taizifei. Wishing you thousands of good fortune!”
“Get up.” The Empress looked amazed at Zi You. She laughed in exaggeration to Taizifei. “No wonder Taizi praises Mu Xiaojie for having a heavenly posture. It really is true. She manages to surpa.s.s the whole banquet hall xiaojies.”
The Empress’ words pushed Zi You to where the wind and waves were the strongest. Everyone’s eyes filled with envy, jealousy, resentment, and even hatred landed on her. Some people even hated that they couldn’t come forwards and scratch Zi You’s delicate goose-egg face.
That was true especially for Shangguan Lingluo and Yu Lanxuan. Their eyes were sharper than a knife. They glared at Zi You and hated that they couldn’t tear her limb from limb.
This Empress wasn’t simple! One sentence garnered her a whole group of enemies. Zi You looked at everyone. Her heart was vigilant, but she modestly replied, “Chennu doesn’t dare to be praised by Empress. Flowers of four seasons each have their own charm and style. Only the peony is said to have national grace and divine fragrance and is the king of the flowers. Zi You only wishes to be peppermint to provide clarity for the soldiers on the battlefield.”
Her words were very clear. Each xiaojie was a flower with her own charm. The Empress was the king of flowers: a peony. She just wanted to be a medicinal herb to be useful on the battlefield. She had no desire to compete with them.
The Empress wasn’t stupid. Taizifei was also not a fool. So, how could they not understand Zi You’s words?
They were originally afraid that because of her outstanding appearance, she would threaten their positions. Now that they heard her, although they didn’t completely let down their guards, they felt a lot better than when they heard the Emperor and Taizi paying her too much attention.
At the very least, the underage girl who was already capable of causing the downfall of a country had no intentions of entering the Palace to compete with them. She was already better than those vain xiaojies who wanted to be the n.o.blest woman in the harem.
As such, the Empress no longer made things difficult for her. Taizifei also let her off.
The Empress Dowager now had a deeper understanding of Zi You. No wonder Ling’er liked her. She was indeed different.
Her a.n.a.logy was very appropriate. Zi You really was incomparable to those vulgar flowers. If she was really compared to a flower, then she was most like an independent green lotus that could suppress everyone.
Shangguan Lingluo saw that the Empress and Taizifei let Zi You off just like that. She was so angry that she didn’t even feel any pain when her long nails pierced into her palms.
She didn’t understand how Mu Zi You could have such a good life. She had sent more than thirty top a.s.sa.s.sins, but they couldn’t kill her. Instead, the thirty people died. Let’s not mention how Taizi and the Emperor were mesmerized by her. But now, even the Empress Dowager, Empress, and Taizifei let Mu Zi You off even after listening to Shangguan Lingluo’s provocation and dissension. This was really a headache.
Shangguan Lingluo had been rebuked by the Empress Dowager. “Lingluo, Old General Mu has made a lot of effort towards the country’s peace and stability. Although Mu Zi You’s mother has foreign ancestry, she had saved the lives of a lot of soldiers and reduced the casualties during the rebellion in Nanjiang.
“As a member of the imperial family, you not only didn’t express your grat.i.tude, but you actually insulted Mu Zi You’s mother in front of everyone, including Mu Zi You. How can she endure it? Aren’t you afraid of chilling Old General Mu’s heart? You may be a Gongzhu, but you cannot be willful and do whatever you want.”
Shangguan Lingluo was so angry back then that she hated she couldn’t go up and slap the Empress Dowager. Bullsh*t! Gongzhus cannot do whatever they want, but Shizis can? Look at the way you spoil Shangguan LingRan. The only thing missing is you getting the moon in the sky for him. Now, you’re here lecturing me. You’re really biased!
However, being angry was one thing. She didn’t dare to say what she was really thinking. She still wanted to use the Empress Dowager to teach Mu Zi You a lesson.
Thus, she had pretended to be docile. She had pretended to be regretful as she said, “Yes, granddaughter understands imperial grandmother’s reprimand. This is really granddaughter’s fault. Granddaughter shouldn’t have insulted Mu Xiaojie’s mother, but she really angered granddaughter.
“Imperial grandmother, you don’t know, but her thoughts are not simple at her young age. She dares to wear exotic clothing and exotic jewelry and parade around showing off. She wants to seduce Taizi gege and third gege. Even the paralyzed second gege is seduced by her. Granddaughter is really angry. An evildoer like her with another country’s blood in her will be the plague of our imperial family!”
The Empress Dowager snapped, “You are a Gongzhu. Don’t you know shame? You dare to say anything.”
However, Shangguan Lingluo had caught the flash in the Empress Dowager’s eyes. She knew that the Empress Dowager had paid attention to what she had said.
However, why did the Empress Dowager not punish Mu Zi You when she entered the Palace today? Instead, she’s holding her hand and coming here with her?
Shangguan Lingluo had also gone to fan the flames with the Empress and Taizifei. The content was basically the same, but for different subjects. “Empress (Taizifei), Mu Zi You is an absolute evil spirit. Only an evil spirit can attract birds and b.u.t.terflies. And only an evil spirit can make the wise Fuw.a.n.g (cold and calm Taizi gege) lose his soul. When else did Fuw.a.n.g (Taizi gege) have an interest in an underage little girl?”
Although the Empress and Taizifei hadn’t say much, the coldness and maliciousness in their eyes could not be hidden from Shangguan Lingluo.
When Shangguan Lingluo went to the Emperor, she had wept piteously. “Fuw.a.n.g, Erchen is this country’s Gongzhu. She actually dares to force Erchen to publicly apologize to her. Whose power is she relying on? And who gave her the courage? Fuw.a.n.g, you have you stand up for Erchen. You can’t let Erchen be insulted like this. This undermines Fuw.a.n.g’s prestige.”
Fuw.a.n.g had comforted her then. “That Mu Zi You did indeed go overboard. Don’t be sad. Fuw.a.n.g will find an opportunity to censure her for you.”
But he saw Mu Zi You today and not only did not censure her, but spoke pleasantly with her. He even let her be the Empress Dowager’s personal doctor. When someone told her the matters in Chengguang Palace Hall, Shangguan Lingluo was so angry that she almost spat out blood.
Since you’re all like this, then don’t blame Bengong for being merciless. Bengong will do it myself. The cheap little wench’s stepmother is right. “For your Fuw.a.n.g to kill her, you can only be ruthless. Little schemes won’t do anything. That’s because Mu Junyuan and Mu YingYi ,who hold military power in their hands, are behind the little cheap wench. Only if your Fuw.a.n.g’s trust in them is shaken would Mu Zi You not have a strong backer to rely on. Then it would be a lot easier for you to take care of her.”
Shangguan Lingluo revealed an insidious smile. She secretly stretched out her little finger to her first-rank palace maid Cailing.
Cailing secretly retreated and came to a rockery with no one around. She clapped her hands and a guard quickly appeared. Cailing whispered some words and the guard quickly flashed and disappeared. Cailing looked around and quietly returned to the Jade Palace Hall.
It seemed that no one noticed this. The banquet had begun in the Jade Palace Hall. Cups clinked and everyone wished each other good fortune. Everything seemed peaceful and all the evil schemes seemed to be hidden.
Zi You’s three sworn sisters came over to celebrate the New Year with her. She said to Ji Bingyu, “I congratulate second jiejie on a good match.”
Before the New Year, Ji Bingyu had been engaged to Right Minister’s second Di grandson, Xia Ruoqing’s second brother, Xia Ruochen. As a good friend and sister, Zi You naturally had to congratulate her.
Ji Bingyu’s pretty face turned red. She glared bashfully at Zi You. She said cutely, “When did you learn to be so glib? Wait until you get engaged. See how I will laugh at you then.”
“It’s not being glib.” Zi You clutched her small cherry mouth. She smiled like flowers blooming. “It’s a sincere blessing. My second jiejie’s fiancé is such a talent. What else is it if not a good match?”
Ji Bingyu was very happy. Her shy smile was sweet, making her look charming and moving.
She was wearing rose red silk gold-embroidered magnolia coat, with a white fox fur collar. She was wearing the same color phoenix tailed dress. Her hair was in a Duoma bun. She was charming, but leisure. Her matching pearl accessories made her look n.o.ble and gorgeous.
Zi You then looked at Xia Ruoqing. Xia Ruoqing was wearing a light purple hibiscus-flowered-inlaid gray mink fur damask coat. Her Duoma bun was inserted with a gold inlaid ruby peony-patterned hairpin. She looked very delicate.
She was only four months younger than Ji Bingyu. She would probably be engaged this year.
Zi You smiled and said to Xia Ruoqing, “It should be third jiejie’s turn soon. Meimei wishes that third jiejie will get a good match soon!”
“You little yatou!” Xia Ruoqing’s face was red. She pretended to hit Zi You.
But Liu Ruixue smiled and stopped her. “Fourth meimei is right. It should be your turn soon. You’ll be fourteen this October, right……?”
“I know you’re anxious.” Liu Ruixue had not finished, but Zi You smiled and interrupted her. “Okay, big jiejie. We all know that you’re about to marry soon. You don’t need to remind us.”
Since she had been to Duke Anguo fu and saw Liu Ruixue, they had not had any other contact. She had invited Zi You over, but Zi You had refused because using being busy as an excuse.
Li Ruixue clearly detected her indifference. Thus, when she saw Zi You today, she had been amiable. Zi You could not alienate her, so she teased her.
For a time, the four of them laughed and chatted.
Liu Ruixue was the most attractively-dressed today. Yellow bamboo buds sprinkled on a gold coat. She had on a silvery red pleated dress. There was auspicious golden locket on her chest. Her nine-ringed gold necklace was adorned with twelve gla.s.s beads. She looked like very dazzling, like a red cloud.
She couldn’t be blamed for dressing that way. In less than four months, she was about to marry Taizi and be his cefei. She could never wear red again, unless she became Empress in the future. Otherwise, she had to say goodbye to bright red for the rest of her life.
[Bright red color can only be worn by main wives after marriage or Zhengfeis, in this case.]
Zi You thought of Taizi and Shangguan Lingluo’s matter and glanced sympathetically at Liu Ruixue. Then she looked at Shangguan Lingluo, who had constantly been sending her knife-like sharp gazes. Zi You faintly smiled and lightly curtsied.