Upon hearing this, Ji Zeyu’s expression remained unchanged as he replied in a low, indifferent voice: “The Qin family doesn’t keep male favorites either, so naturally she deserves good treatment.”
“You!” Princess Imperial An’yang’s face instantly flushed purple with rage. She stopped in her tracks, clenching her fists as she glared at the man’s tall, receding figure that still carried the leisurely gait of someone strolling through a courtyard. “How dare you! I am a princess!”
Ji Zeyu halted his steps and turned back to look at her, his eyes filled with undisguised mockery: “Oh. I fail to see what Your Highness Princess Imperial can do besides being born well.”
“Outrageous!”
“Princess Imperial should calm her anger. Today is the Empress Dowager’s birthday celebration.”
Ji Zeyu continued walking forward briskly, leaving Li Helan alone, so furious that her chest heaved with rapid breathing.
After this quarrel with Ji Zeyu, by the time she regained her composure, the figures of Pang Xiao and his wife had already approached the Ci’an Palace.
Li Helan darkened her face and scolded the palace attendants beside her: “Why aren’t you keeping up? What kind of propriety is this dawdling?”
The palace servants, thoroughly chastised, flushed red and followed behind Li Helan with lowered heads and cautious steps.
Naturally, Qin Yining had no idea what had transpired behind her. At this moment, she and Pang Xiao had already been granted permission to enter the main hall of Ci’an Palace under the announcement of the inner attendants.
Today being the Empress Dowager’s birthday, she wore magnificent scarlet robes embroidered with gold phoenixes throughout, her head crowned with a golden phoenix headdress adorned with tassels, dressed with regal elegance and dignity.
Seated beside the Empress Dowager was a middle-aged woman also wearing light golden phoenix robes, her high chignon topped with a phoenix crown. Though her appearance could not be called stunning, she was quite pleasant to look at.
This was the Empress.
When the Empress Dowager, Empress, and the imperial relatives attending the banquet in the hall heard someone announce the arrival of Prince Zhongshun, even their conversations quieted somewhat as they all turned their gazes toward the entrance.
They saw Pang Xiao, dressed in a magnificent purple python robe and wearing a purple-gold crown, slightly bending his waist as he carefully supported a pregnant woman. She wore a light azure brocade jacket with arrow sleeves, a dark azure long skirt below, her belly prominently round yet still graceful as she walked slowly into the hall.
The Empress Dowager smiled.
Seeing how that fierce warrior Pang Xiao didn’t mind lowering his dignity to support his own wife, and watching Qin Yining walk carefully with her hand supporting her waist and belly protruding, yet still strikingly beautiful and captivating, the Empress felt sourness rising in her heart.
Some women were simply born fortunate—beautiful themselves with husbands who loved them wholeheartedly.
And what about herself? Though she held the noble position of Empress, every concubine in the Emperor’s harem was beautiful, while she had already lost her youthful bloom. Having conceived first, she inevitably became a target in the palace. To put it unpleasantly, even when sleeping she wished she could keep her eyes open. Being pregnant while worrying so much, even the thick powder on the Empress’s face couldn’t hide her exhaustion.
Looking at Qin Yining again—good complexion, skin that seemed it would break at a touch—her situation was completely different.
With Prince Zhongshun’s devotion, her days must all be smooth and pleasant.
While the Empress’s thoughts churned, Qin Yining and Pang Xiao had approached.
Pang Xiao first helped Qin Yining slowly kneel on the brocade cushion brought by a palace maid, then knelt beside her himself. Together they respectfully performed the grand ceremony to the Empress Dowager.
“We respectfully wish the Empress Dowager a blessed birthday, peace, and ten thousand fortunes.”
“Good, good. You child, still being so formal before this old woman. Your wife is heavy with child—why don’t you help her up?”
The Empress Dowager smiled as she extended her hand toward Pang Xiao.
However, Pang Xiao, following the command to help Qin Yining up, lowered his head to support her and missed the Empress Dowager’s gesture.
The Empress Dowager’s hand remained awkwardly extended for a moment. Seeing no one acknowledging her, she had no choice but to embarrassedly withdraw it, though the loving smile remained on her face.
Pang Xiao then helped Qin Yining settle into the rosewood chair brought by the inner attendants. Due to Pang Xiao’s status, the family members of the imperial relatives had to move back one seat. Moreover, as Pang Xiao was a prominent figure in the court, the recent incident where Li Qitian had ordered people to impeach Pang Xiao unsuccessfully had spread throughout the capital. When the imperial relatives saw Pang Xiao now, they naturally felt even more awe.
Qin Yining naturally noticed that the atmosphere in the hall had become quiet after their arrival. She sighed inwardly but maintained her dignified composure outwardly.
The Empress smiled and spoke to Qin Yining: “Looking at your condition, you should become a mother in about four more months, shouldn’t you?”
Qin Yining hastily started to rise, but the Empress gently stopped her: “We’re all family here—no need for such formalities. Today is mother’s family banquet. We’re just relatives gathered together for conversation.”
“Yes, thank you, Your Majesty the Empress.” Qin Yining still bowed and lowered her head in courtesy, her attitude humble and respectful.
At this moment, they heard an inner attendant at the entrance announce: “Princess Imperial An’yang and Prince Consort have arrived!”
Everyone turned to look and saw Li Helan in brilliant attire, her exquisitely made-up face still bearing traces of unsubsided anger as she strode quickly inside. Ji Zeyu followed behind in an ivory arrow-sleeve brocade robe.
These two—one a rich flower of the mortal world, the other a desolate moon in the night sky—seemed like they didn’t belong to the same world at all.
When the pair reached the Empress Dowager and Empress, both performed the proper ceremonies.
Without waiting for the Empress Dowager’s instruction, Li Helan had already risen and coquettishly moved closer, sitting beside the Empress Dowager and separating her from the Empress. “Mother, did you miss this daughter?”
The Empress Dowager helplessly tapped Li Helan’s forehead and gently chided: “You little monkey, when will you learn the composure of your relatives and sisters here?”
Li Helan proudly raised her chin and surveyed everyone present.
Immediately, those Li family relatives who had “gained position when one person achieved success” began chattering their praise of Li Helan. Some said the Princess was purely sincere, others praised her innocent heart—all was one-sided flattery that delighted the Empress Dowager beyond measure.
The Empress sat beside them with lowered eyes, remaining silent. She knew her sister-in-law’s character all too well. If one were to identify the culprit who had shaped Li Helan’s temperament, the Empress Dowager’s and Li Qitian’s unreasonable indulgence were the root causes.
Li Helan felt much more pleased after being praised, but when she saw Pang Xiao and Qin Yining sitting side by side in the first position below, with Qin Yining carrying such a large belly, Li Helan’s smile stiffened again.
“So Prince Zhongshun and the Princess Consort have also arrived. This palace somehow failed to notice—how discourteous of me.”
Pang Xiao stood and cupped his hands: “Princess Imperial speaks too seriously. This minister and my wife have just arrived.”
Li Helan raised her eyebrows, looking at Qin Yining who remained seated: “I see that after Princess Consort Zhongshun’s trip to the barbarian lands, not only is her belly larger than a normal woman’s at six months, but she’s also forgotten all proper etiquette. It’s true what they say about environment shaping a person.”
Li Helan’s harsh words made everyone present frown.
Now, everyone in attendance knew that Qin Yining was carrying twins, so her larger belly was perfectly normal. Moreover, regardless of whether her chastity remained intact, since Prince Zhongshun himself didn’t mind, what business was it of outsiders to comment? Furthermore, this was the Empress Dowager’s birthday celebration, and as Princess Imperial, she was the first to stand up and cause trouble—truly lacking in propriety.
Everyone shook their heads inwardly.
Qin Yining simply observed her nose with her eyes, her heart with her nose, treating what she heard as mere dog barking.
Pang Xiao’s distinct knuckles clenched into tight fists as he looked at Li Helan with cold disdain and smiled: “Princess Imperial is still the same as before—naive and innocent, unaware of worldly matters. The Empress Dowager has taught her well. This minister admires it.”
Li Helan’s face immediately darkened.
The Empress Dowager’s brow also furrowed.
The imperial relatives were even more shocked and drew in sharp breaths.
Looking across all the civil and military officials from top to bottom, including the Emperor himself, who else would dare to directly suggest, even obliquely, that the Empress Dowager had failed in educating her daughter?
But Pang Xiao was someone who had dared to consecutively resist thirty-three imperial edicts while the Emperor could do nothing about it. Among everyone present, no one truly dared to do anything to him. Moreover, Li Helan had been in the wrong first.
Seeing that the Empress Dowager’s face had turned green with anger, the Empress quickly smiled and changed the subject: “The time is about right. The opera stage has also been prepared. Mother, shall we move to Fangting Garden?”
The Empress Dowager finally felt less awkward and nodded, instructing everyone to go listen to the opera together, adding: “It’s cooler there. Let’s have the banquet arranged in Fangting Garden as well.”
“Yes, Mother should just enjoy herself today. Leave everything to this daughter-in-law to arrange.” The Empress smiled gently, supporting one of the Empress Dowager’s arms as they walked ahead.
Everyone followed behind.
Li Helan watched Pang Xiao protectively escorting Qin Yining toward Fangting Garden, her heart filled with suppressed anger, wishing she could rush forward and pin Qin Yining to the ground for a thorough beating. Who hadn’t gotten married? Was she showing off that she had married Pang Xiao?
Li Helan’s mood remained sour, and throughout the entire opera performance, she kept a dark expression. Even when the Empress Dowager spoke to her, she petulantly refused to respond properly, making it difficult for the other imperial relatives to laugh and chat, creating a particularly oppressive atmosphere in Fangting Garden.
This oppression continued until Li Qitian arrived.
Accompanying Li Qitian were several ministers and nobles whom he trusted greatly. Lu Heng was among them.
When Lu Heng entered, the first person he saw was Qin Yining.
She lowered her elegant head, accepting fruit that Pang Xiao handed her, her lips curved in a gentle smile. Especially when she lightly caressed her round belly, that maternal tenderness made Lu Heng momentarily dazed, even fantasizing in his heart how wonderful it would be if that were his child.
Lu Heng quickly forced himself to look away and followed behind Li Qitian with the other ministers to pay respects to the Empress Dowager and Empress.
After both sides exchanged courtesies, seating was rearranged.
Li Qitian then loudly recited birthday wishes, expressing gratitude for the Empress Dowager’s nurturing and guidance. The scene became quite moving, with some emotional female relatives even getting misty-eyed.
After the birthday wishes came the longevity banquet. With Li Qitian’s command, people from the imperial kitchen sprang into action, bringing out delicacies, fresh fruits and vegetables, and exquisite pastries one by one.
The palace servants were well-trained. Despite so many people present, no one heard a single cough or the sound of dishes being set down.
Once the wine and food were ready, Li Qitian raised his wine cup and stood: “For this first toast, I propose we all drink together to wish the Empress Dowager eternal health and peace!”
Everyone stood, raising their wine cups and saying in unison: “May the Empress Dowager enjoy eternal health and peace!”
The Empress Dowager’s heart filled with joy. She gracefully took a sip of wine and instructed everyone to sit and enjoy themselves freely.
The ministers and female relatives began toasting each other enthusiastically.
Some noble ladies formed small groups to toast the Empress Dowager.
Some ministers also gathered together to toast the Emperor.
The atmosphere gradually became more lively, with everyone appearing quite joyful.
Just then, a guard hurried in from outside, approached Li Qitian’s side, bowed, and whispered near his ear: “Your Majesty, there’s a monk outside the palace gates who has brought you something, saying an old acquaintance seeks an audience.”