All the noble ladies from inside and outside the court nervously and expectantly looked toward the direction of the Empress’s phoenix throne. The two center seats were reserved for Emperor Delong and Empress Wen respectively.
On either side of them, Consort De, Concubine Lian, and several other ranked concubines had already taken their seats. Princess Yongjia, Princess Fuping, and some high-ranking imperial family members and nobility sat in rows before and behind the concubines.
The appointed time had passed, yet Emperor Delong and Empress Wen had not arrived.
People in the hall whispered to each other. Though they dared not discuss loudly, they continuously exchanged various thoughts through glances.
The Crown Princess’s seat was below the Empress’s. She was the Crown Prince’s second wife, in her twenties, dignified and elegant with bright eyes and white teeth, smiling gracefully as she spoke with Princess Yongjia.
The Crown Princess normally didn’t attend banquets hosted by noble families and ministers. The noble ladies could usually only see her at palace banquets or imperial family gatherings.
At this moment, many people frequently glanced toward the Crown Princess.
Empress Wen’s formal appearance before the ladies indicated Emperor Delong’s attitude. Then, the future realm would belong to the Crown Prince, and the Crown Princess would be the future Empress.
Therefore, the ladies’ attitudes had changed dramatically.
Consort De and Concubine Lian’s expressions were no longer natural – their smiles were stiff and they spoke much less.
At this moment, Concubine Lian was extremely furious inside. If Xu Shi hadn’t fallen ill, she could have attended the banquet. But when Zhou Qin told her the whole story, Concubine Lian was so angry she swept all the tea utensils off the table.
Truly more trouble than help!
Consort De was also very annoyed.
After returning from Fenglai Palace that day, she told Princess Fuping about Empress Wen. Princess Fuping actually laughed and said: “Mother, it seems this time Father Emperor will no longer hesitate.”
Consort De didn’t quite understand Princess Fuping’s words, but her implication was obvious – Princess Fuping actually welcomed the Crown Prince’s ascension to the throne!
If not for Consort De being the mother and Fuping the daughter, Consort De would almost suspect whether she and Fuping were actually birth mother and daughter.
Li’er was Fuping’s blood brother – how could she stand on the Crown Prince’s side?!
But Princess Fuping advised her: “Mother, no matter what we do, Father Emperor will still have Crown Prince Brother inherit the throne. Moreover, Crown Prince Brother is kind and virtuous – he’ll be a good emperor. As long as we follow Father Emperor’s wishes, we’ll still live in glory and wealth for life. What’s wrong with that?”
Consort De was so angry she almost slapped Princess Fuping across the face.
Because of Princess Fuping’s interference, many of Consort De’s plans died in the womb before they could succeed. Things don’t happen more than three times – Consort De’s feelings toward Princess Fuping gradually became somewhat complicated.
Princess Fuping wasn’t blind to Consort De’s changes, but she still tried every means to obstruct Consort De. Zhou Li was quite puzzled by his sister’s behavior.
Zhou Li was different from Zhou Qin.
Zhou Li had more depth and calculation. These past years, he had handled every task assigned by Emperor Delong exceptionally well. Emperor Delong appreciated him, his advisors placed earnest hopes in him, and his maternal uncles fully supported him.
He was very confident, high-spirited, and ambitious.
Everything went smoothly for him, yet he hit a wall with his own sister.
However, Zhou Li was different from Consort De. A sister was ultimately just a sister, especially an imperial sister. Even blood siblings might develop insurmountable barriers over certain matters. If she married in the future, her heart would turn toward others. So Zhou Li just patted his sister’s head and smiled it off, treating her like the little Princess Fuping from childhood.
Princess Fuping looked at Zhou Li with complex eyes, but no one noticed this abnormality.
At this moment, Zhou Li wasn’t present. Consort De looked at Princess Fuping’s profile, harboring nameless anger in her heart.
Princess Fuping seemed to know her mother was watching her and smiled at Consort De.
Qin Shuying had been paying close attention to Princess Fuping. She happened to be watching Princess Fuping and noticed her smile carried an indescribable sadness and melancholy.
Qin Shuying lowered her head to drink tea, her thoughts swirling.
Princess Fuping’s friendliness toward her, and the possibility that she might also be reborn like herself, had always weighed on Qin Shuying’s mind.
She didn’t know what kind of life Princess Fuping had lived in her previous life, why she would be so melancholy and silent. Based on the fragments Princess Fuping had said when summoning her before the ice sculpture banquet, Qin Shuying speculated that she must have experienced very painful emotional experiences in her previous life.
However…
“His Majesty arrives! Her Majesty the Empress arrives!”
The sharp voice interrupted Qin Shuying’s thoughts.
All the ladies nervously looked toward the main entrance, watching the woman in deep red and yellow robes beside Emperor Delong.
Her smile was faint. Though her appearance couldn’t be called devastatingly beautiful, her skin was like jade, ethereal and otherworldly. In her grand attire, she had an even more stunning presence.
Her skin and figure were extremely well-maintained. She appeared to be nearly thirty years old.
“Rise.”
As Emperor Delong’s steady and majestic voice rang out, the ladies rose again. Amid the tinkling of jewelry, all eyes focused on Empress Wen.
Needless to say, everyone’s gaze was filled with amazement.
At the same time, everyone more or less recalled that rumor, and many then intentionally or unintentionally looked toward the Wen family ladies – Madam Wen and Miss Wen.
Old Grand Tutor Wen had already passed away, and Old Madam Wen had also been gone for many years.
The current head of the Wen family was Empress Wen’s blood brother, Master Wen. Master Wen’s position wasn’t high – only fourth rank, and he had already retired. His son was quite good though – in his early forties and a third-rank civil official.
Therefore, those from the Wen family who could enter the palace were only Madam Wen and her granddaughter, seven-year-old Miss Wen.
Though Madam Wen’s gaze also looked toward Empress Wen, after one glance she lowered her eyes, making it impossible for outsiders to discern her emotions.
Qin Shuying’s expression changed slightly.
Empress Wen’s appearance was somewhat different from when she had seen her before.
This time, she wore makeup, making her features more refined. Her eye corners were lined, making her entire person appear more dignified. Her eyebrows were obviously darkened, adding several degrees of grandeur to her whole being.
Flame-red lips, paired with the phoenix crown and robes, made her appear both seductive and elegant, both charming and imposing.
Consort De and Concubine Lian were also very surprised, because having the comparison of her previous unadorned appearance, today’s Empress Wen looked markedly different from before.
They were all women and knew the difference between wearing makeup and not. Before makeup, one could be ugly; after makeup, one could be a peerless beauty. Before makeup, one might look old and worn; after makeup, one could appear young and vibrant.
Empress Wen’s makeup was different from others’.
Others made themselves look younger with makeup, but Empress Wen made herself appear much more mature and stable than before.
This way, those who hadn’t seen her true appearance only thought she maintained herself extremely well – nearly sixty years old yet looking like a woman in her thirties. They had no idea her real appearance looked only seventeen or eighteen.
Consort De and Concubine Lian couldn’t help but exchange glances.