Empress Wang said that for the sake of a possible hundred years of harmony between the two nations and one territory, she had deliberately arranged the seating to be interspersed, allowing originally unfamiliar relationships to deepen.
The tables were long tables for two people. Noble Consort Ying shared a table with Noble Consort Hui, while Mo Zi shared a table with Imperial Consort Chen, Xiao Mingrou. It seemed that things were just as Noble Consort Ying had revealed—the Empress had placed Imperial Consort Chen, who carried the dragon’s seed, beside Mo Zi, undoubtedly to make Mo Zi bear responsibility for the tragedy about to unfold. And knowing that Mo Zi hadn’t brought a maid, the Empress used Xiao Yi being a guest as an excuse to separate the two, creating an isolated and helpless small environment.
Mo Zi noticed that at the neighboring table sat the former Crown Princess Wang Xilan, expressionless, accompanied by Wang Shiniang. Suddenly it occurred to her—Noble Consort Ying had said all eyes would testify that she, Song Mo Zi, was the murderous culprit. What about Wang Shiniang’s eyes then? Wang Yang had once hoped she would save Shiniang, but a woman who went along with wrongdoing and lied through her teeth—she would not save her.
“Seeing you again makes me so happy.” Xiao Mingrou placed her hand on her not-yet-swollen lower abdomen.
This was a mother’s subconscious instinct to wholeheartedly protect her child. Mo Zi looked back at Xiao Mingrou and said with a smile, “I feel the same. You’ve only just conceived—you really shouldn’t have come to such a lively occasion. What if you get frightened?”
A flash of fierceness crossed Xiao Mingrou’s eyes, but it instantly transformed into gentleness. “The Empress is also thinking of me, worried that I’ve been cooped up in the palace these days feeling stifled. Besides, the imperial physician says this pregnancy is very stable—I just need to be careful.”
Mo Zi almost thought she’d seen wrong. Xiao Mingrou was a beauty with a cold exterior but pure heart. From her attempt to resist entering the palace through suicide to developing genuine feelings for the Emperor after receiving his favor, this could be clearly seen. But after that look just now, no one would think her very innocent.
“Palace life must be quite dull.” Mo Zi offered this comment.
“…” Xiao Mingrou froze, pondering for a moment before replying, “It’s alright.”
“I find it terribly boring. Because of the boredom, one can only find things to do. But Your Graces are masters—needlework and cooking all have dedicated people to handle them. What you learned about managing a household in your natal family may not necessarily be useful once in the palace. Music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, and song—it’s hard to find kindred spirits. The palace looks large but is actually quite small.” As she spoke, the corner of her eye constantly received glimpses from the Empress’s direction.
“Put that way, it is boring.” Xiao Mingrou suddenly realized that Mo Zi wasn’t like those women in the rear palace—she didn’t need to be guarded against in ten thousand ways with a thousand precautions. “Don’t blame me for lying.”
“Your temperament used to be too straightforward. I didn’t necessarily dislike it, but we couldn’t really talk about things together. Then you became Imperial Consort Chen, and it seemed like you had eyes only for His Majesty with no one else—I didn’t dare presume. Now that you’ve matured, if you don’t mind, shall we consider ourselves sisters?” All the women present might be intimidated by Empress Wang’s authority, but Xiao Mingrou wouldn’t be. Like herself, she was a victim of schemes, so they could join forces.
“Matured?” Xiao Mingrou laughed somewhat helplessly. “This word is actually praising me? How could I not mature? My first pregnancy was going well, but while taking pregnancy-stabilizing medicine, I miscarried. The imperial physician said my body was weak and couldn’t sustain it, so I lost the child. I told His Majesty there was a problem with the pregnancy medicine and asked him to seek justice for me, but all the physicians at the Imperial Medical Bureau said there was nothing wrong with the prescription. They turned it around and said I was questioning their abilities, collectively requesting to resign to His Majesty, so His Majesty could only let the matter drop. This pregnancy—I didn’t dare speak of it until after three months. I pour out all the medicine sent by the Imperial Medical Bureau. Every time the imperial physician comes to check my pulse, I pretend to be weak and without strength. I claim to be resting quietly, and except for a few trusted people, no other palace maids or eunuchs can enter my sleeping quarters. Yet I still can’t escape today. My heart is so anxious—I keep feeling something will happen.”
“Has Imperial Consort Chen considered that running away is useless? The person who wants to harm you has greater power and higher status than you. No one in the rear palace dares oppose her. With one word, she can win over everyone’s hearts.” Mo Zi smiled as she raised her wine cup toward the Empress sitting several zhang away at the head seat and took a sip.
The Empress smiled back and drank in return.
Xiao Mingrou maintained a smile throughout—shy, reverent—causing the Empress not to give her a second glance. “I suspected her, which resulted in His Majesty scolding me soundly. Indeed, I had no evidence. But to make the entire Imperial Medical Bureau lie, to have such power to cover the sky with one hand—besides her, I can’t think of anyone else. If I don’t run, what should I do?”
“Would you rather have her chase and beat you, or use the strongest weapon to strike her down?” Mo Zi waited for the meal to begin.
“The strongest weapon?” Xiao Mingrou saw Mo Zi glance at her belly. “You mean this child?”
Mo Zi truly smiled.
Drums and music sounded loudly, covering their conversation so tightly not even wind could leak through.
When they had eaten their fill, palace maids came carrying serving trays again.
The Empress asked curiously, “Are there more dishes?”
The maid replied, “These are fresh fish caught from the lake. The quantity is limited, so the imperial kitchen first served them to His Majesty’s side. His Majesty said they tasted good, and also said that Your Majesty the Empress loves eating fish, so he had us servants send three plates over—one each for Your Majesty the Empress, Noble Consort Ying, and the Minister’s wife to taste.”
“How thoughtful of His Majesty to remember I love fish. Please convey to His Majesty that today the sky is high and clouds clear. After the meal, I’m preparing to release lanterns to pray for his blessings, to pray for the people of the two nations and one territory, hoping the realm will be stable with no more warfare forever.” The Empress had the palace maids withdraw.
Hearing this, Mo Zi realized the Emperor didn’t yet know about the lantern-releasing program, because the Empress didn’t want the men involved, making it convenient for her to act falsely.
“Noble Consort Ying, Minister’s wife, shall we go tour the lake?” Here it came.
“Wonderful, the wind is light today and the lake surface is calm.” Noble Consort Ying then said to Mo Zi, “The Minister’s wife will surely love it most.”
Mo Zi naturally also said good. “Who knows—a fresh fish might jump onto the boat, and we could roast it right there to eat.”
Empress Wang laughed. “Then we’d need to bring a cook along.”
Noble Consort Ying exclaimed, “Your Majesty the Empress, Minister’s wife, we’re releasing lanterns to make wishes. If a fresh fish really jumps aboard, we must quickly release it to accumulate blessings. How can one pray to heaven while killing at the same time?”
Empress Wang suddenly understood and chided, “Minister’s wife, you’re tricking me into a trap.”
Mo Zi also exclaimed, “You’ve seen through me—how utterly boring.”
The three laughed together.
Though crises lurked everywhere, each scheming against the others, at this moment there was actually some genuine amusement.
The painted pleasure boat went onto the lake. When approaching the river mouth, they began preparing to release lanterns. Through special design, the stern railings slid open on both sides with steps leading down to a low flat platform close to the water surface, convenient for placing lanterns directly into the water. But they couldn’t all crowd forward at once—only three or four people could stand there.
“Let’s follow the seating arrangement from dinner just now, going down two by two. It also has the auspicious meaning of being paired.” After the Empress finished speaking, she said that wasn’t right. “Imperial Consort Chen is with child—it’s better to be cautious. She shouldn’t release lanterns. Minister’s wife, why don’t you pair with me? The Empress Dowager has been fasting and purifying these past two days and cannot attend the grand banquet. I am alone, the Minister’s wife is also alone—together we make a pair.”
Mo Zi glanced faintly toward Noble Consort Ying.
Noble Consort Ying was whispering with Noble Consort Hui—whether intentionally or not, she wasn’t paying attention to Mo Zi.
Seeing Mo Zi didn’t answer, the Empress’s voice rose somewhat, though she smiled. “Could it be the Minister’s wife is dissatisfied with me? Your sister became a songstress for the Wang family—I only just heard about this matter. That Chenliang’s elder brother did do wrong, but she was also far too presumptuous. How could she file charges against her own elder brother? Regardless, her parents died early, and her elder brother did look after her. Ruler and minister, father and son. Within a family, when the father is absent, the elder brother is head. This is the cardinal principle and ethical constant. I know she’s pitiful, but that is her fate. As women, if they all disregarded their elder brothers like her, the world would be in chaos.”
The various wives either whispered among themselves or showed disdain toward Mo Zi.
Mo Zi didn’t refute. Great Zhou’s constraints on women were becoming increasingly severe—it wasn’t something she could change by indignantly shouting out a declaration of gender equality. Moreover, fathers selling daughters, brothers selling sisters, younger brothers selling sisters-in-law, nephews selling aunts—such things were commonplace in this era. Furthermore, these noble ladies before her sat high above others, insufferably arrogant, but most of them were transaction goods exchanged through marriage alliances by their families for benefits. In essence, they were no different from those sales transactions, just sold for a higher price. She wouldn’t preach anything to these people who’d been sold yet felt smug about it, because speaking would be pointless—they’d just think her mad.
“Of course, the Minister’s wife values relationships deeply—I’m extremely moved. How about this—I’ll speak to His Majesty on your behalf to see if he might grant Chenliang a special pardon. It doesn’t sound good for word to spread that the first lady of Song territory’s close friend from her maiden days is actually an official bondservant songstress. How would people view the Minister’s wife then? A perfectly good reputation would turn bad, and people might think the Minister’s wife’s background was just like hers.” Lowborn. The Empress’s eyes were cold while her lips smiled warmly. “I know the Minister’s wife is a heroine among women who doesn’t care at all about such worldly views, but even if you don’t care, I still feel indignant on your behalf. Your father is the foremost Han official of Daqiu—everyone knows this now. Though of noble birth, you never put on the airs of a young mistress and can befriend anyone, make anyone a confidant. No wonder you won the love of the common people in Song territory. I should learn more from you. As mother of the nation, I should go among the people—”
“Your Majesty the Empress, these words would be better placed in lantern wishes, petitioning heaven.” Mo Zi could refrain from refuting her theory of women accepting their fate, but couldn’t tolerate a huge pile of her pretentious kind and amiable nonsense. “That Your Majesty the Empress wishes to release lanterns with me is my honor. Just now I was so delighted I opened my mouth and got a bit choked, so I couldn’t make a sound.”
The one suddenly interrupted by Mo Zi who felt choked was Empress Wang herself.
“Oh, is that His Majesty and the others?” Someone cried out softly.
The Empress looked and saw it was exactly what she feared. She could be certain that everyone on this boat was in the palm of her hand—if she told them to face east, they absolutely wouldn’t face west.
“Minister’s wife, let them watch the excitement. Let’s not delay—let’s go down together.” The Emperor’s boat was still far off—her plan could still proceed.
Mo Zi suddenly felt her body being pushed forward, knowing it was those Northern Divine Sect members secretly causing trouble. She was extremely nervous—at this stage, the slightest deviation would lead to enormous error. Every action had to be precisely executed.
Empress Wang had already reached near the stern.
Mo Zi was one step away from her.
Seeing that foot extend out, Mo Zi tripped upward, suddenly falling toward the side with a loud cry.
Empress Wang heard the commotion and hastily turned around, her sleeves swirling urgently.
Xiao Mingrou, who had already positioned herself, also cried out loudly and fell through the gap in the railing into the lake.
Someone shrieked in alarm, “Ah! Imperial Consort Chen has been swept into the water by Your Majesty the Empress!”
—To be continued.
—