While chaos reigned outside, Shaoshang remained carefree at Yong’an Palace. The deep palace chambers were like a solid protective wall, blocking all well-meaning and ill-intentioned gossip from outside. Old Lady Zhai still refused to forgive Huo Buyi and excitedly reinforced several of Yong’an Palace’s main gates. Shaoshang kindly told her that if Huo Buyi really wanted to break in, even if she set up the Celestial Dipper Formation combined with Buddha’s Palm for consumption, it would be equally useless.
Old Lady Zhai waited excitedly for two or three days, but unfortunately Huo Buyi was busy with court affairs and never had time to come kick down doors. Instead, the Prefect of Liang finally returned to the capital to report on his duties, incidentally also reporting to the Emperor on the gratifying land survey progress in his governed prefecture and counties.
Empress Yue heard that Qu Lingjun had also returned and was beside herself with joy.
Speaking of which, it was quite moving. Qu Lingjun’s birth mother had been quite close to Empress Yue in her youth. After her beauty faded early, Empress Yue often summoned Qu Lingjun into the palace to care for her. In Shaoshang’s view, if not for the unsuitable age difference, Empress Yue would not have been unwilling to make Qu Lingjun her daughter-in-law (the Third Prince sneezed). Later she also considered the young prince from Imperial Uncle’s deceased elder brother’s family, but who knew Qu Lingjun happened to catch the Prince of Donghai’s eye, leading to a string of regrettable events afterward.
Shaoshang had heard from Huo Buyi that the year Qu Lingjun was suspected of killing her husband, Empress Yue had even made a scene with the Emperor, bluntly and fiercely stating that Liang Shang was a useless waste—even if Qu Lingjun had accidentally killed the Emperor, she couldn’t be convicted. Fortunately, within two days the husband-murder case came to light, giving Empress Yue no chance to escalate the argument, and Imperial Uncle’s beard was able to remain lush and flourishing.
Now that matters had passed, Qu Lingjun finally had a destination. Empress Yue was organizing a welcoming banquet for her.
Shaoshang only treated all this as gossip, but who knew Empress Yue would send someone to invite her to the banquet. Having mixed in the palace for so many years, Shaoshang well knew that occasionally declining Imperial Uncle was fine, but once Empress Yue opened her mouth, you’d better obediently comply.
On the day of the banquet, Shaoshang timed it perfectly, arriving at Changqiu Palace just before the feast began. Stepping into the main hall, she discovered the Third Princess and Fifth Princess in fierce battle, their verbal sparring in full swing, while several tables of imperial relatives and noble ladies sat around watching the show with knowing laughter.
The Fifth Princess stared with wide eyes, her voice shrill: “…You still say it wasn’t deliberate neglect. Mother Empress bore only me and Eldest Imperial Sister as daughters. Why isn’t Eldest Imperial Sister at today’s banquet?”
The Third Princess supported her round belly, slowly peeling an orange: “You should ask Father Emperor about that. It’s Father Emperor who won’t let Eldest Imperial Sister enter the palace. Why question my mother empress? You’re just picking the soft persimmon… oh right, you were also present when Father Emperor reprimanded Eldest Imperial Sister. Why ask about this now? At such a young age already so forgetful—you need to nourish your brain…”
These past few years, somehow Empress Yue’s sharp tongue gene seemed to have awakened in the Third Princess. The words she spoke were both cutting and shrewd. The Fifth Princess was indeed shaking all over with rage. The Second Princess pushed the Third Princess and said softly: “You should also say less. Why must sisters engage in such verbal disputes?”
The Third Princess laughed delicately: “I didn’t start this. Fifth Imperial Sister is in a bad mood today—one moment criticizing the seating arrangement as disrespectful, the next finding fault with the flower-shaped food platter. As her elder sister, shouldn’t I explain things to her?”
The Second Princess sighed. She suddenly missed the Third Princess from years ago who used to hang her head when scolded by herself.
The Fifth Princess sneered: “Stop saying such nice things. If the Empress had intended to plead for Eldest Imperial Sister, Father Emperor would have agreed long ago! When Third Imperial Sister was punished by Father Emperor, Mother Empress kept pleading for her. Now the Empress deliberately doesn’t plead for Eldest Imperial Sister—clearly harboring jealous resentment, treating harshly children not of her own birth!”
Lady Marquis Xuan trembled and waved her hand: “Fifth Princess, you mustn’t speak carelessly. His Majesty and Her Majesty treat us with the utmost generosity. Last year on your maternal great-grandmother’s death anniversary, His Majesty even personally attended the Xuan family to pay respects!”
The Fourth Princess helped Lady Marquis Xuan sit down and said coldly: “Aunt-in-law, don’t pay her attention. Fifth Imperial Sister just loves to talk nonsense! Father Emperor reduced her food estate yet bestowed so much wealth and gold upon the Xuan family. If we’re talking about harboring resentment, I think she’s the one harboring resentment.”
The Fifth Princess flew into a rage: “Father Emperor deposed Mother Empress’s elder brother, showing no regard for years of marital affection. Yet you still express gratitude repeatedly. No wonder outsiders say Uncle and Aunt have no backbone!”
“Fifth Sister!” Even the good-tempered Second Princess darkened her expression, rising angrily: “You dare speak ill of Father Emperor—utterly without ruler or father, rebellious and mad! I see you think your days are too comfortable!”
The Fifth Princess stood there with her neck stiff, refusing to yield even slightly—seeing this, Shaoshang silently pressed against the wall entering the hall, quietly finding a seat.
The Third Princess gently consoled the Second Princess to sit: “Oh my, my good Second Sister, why get angry with her and spoil your own health for nothing? Ordinary princes and princesses who make mistakes either have their rank reduced or food estates cut. At most they’re beaten, scolded, or barred from entering the palace. But Fifth Imperial Sister is a daughter—can Father Emperor beat her or reduce her rank? She doesn’t even have a princely rank.”
The Second Princess sat down huffily. The Third Princess continued: “Back then, Father Emperor could forbid me from entering the palace for months on end, cutting my food estate to nothing. But for the sake of the Grand Empress Dowager of Huai’an, Father Emperor couldn’t possibly do this to Fifth Sister! Especially now that Eldest Imperial Sister has just been punished—he absolutely can’t punish Fifth Sister too! So, Second Sister, now you understand, right? She has nothing to fear. Grand Aunt by marriage, am I right?”
The Grand Lady Marquis Yue said icily: “Third Princess is absolutely correct. Recently, my third younger brother and his wife have been angered ill again. The Court of Judicial Review showing up at the door demanding a criminal—it’s simply a family disgrace!”
“What happened?” The nearby Princess Consort of the Heir of Ruyang asked with a smile.
The Grand Lady Marquis Yue, mindful of her status, kept her mouth shut. The Third Princess picked up with a smile: “It’s the horse slave Fifth Sister kept—he committed crimes and killed people outside, and was reported!”
“What happened afterward?” The Princess Consort of the Heir of Ruyang pressed.
“Who is Court of Judicial Review Minister Ji Zun? Back when Great Aunt’s household slave killed someone, Dong Xuan brought him to justice, and Father Emperor didn’t say a word. Minister Ji couldn’t fall short of him! So, that horse slave was already beheaded for public display some time ago—you didn’t see it, but he was truly an extremely handsome gentleman. When they stripped him for execution, tsk tsk, that physique, so robust and fit…”
Most present were married women. Everyone knew what was implied and turned toward the Fifth Princess with meaningful soft laughter. Only the Middle Lady Marquis Yue had brought her young daughter today. While covering her daughter’s ears, she laughingly scolded: “Third Princess speaks too carelessly. There are still young ladies here!”
Shaoshang rubbed her ears. Now the Third Princess drove the conversation off-road at the slightest disagreement—even she couldn’t quite handle it.
“Fine, fine, fine, then I’ll say something more proper. Fifth Imperial Sister, Third Sister advises you—don’t be too heartbroken over that horse slave. I heard he bullied men and dominated women outside, killed people to seize property, and even took two concubines, clearly not keeping you in his heart.” The Third Princess tore off a strip of fragrant sauce-red dried meat and leisurely placed it in her mouth.
“You all…” The Fifth Princess was so angry her face turned iron-blue. “You bunch of sycophants currying favor with the powerful. Seeing the Yue family势大, you all rush to fawn and flatter. What do I fear? At worst it’s just one life. Either way, it’s just following Mother Empress confined to Yong’an Palace. Even torrential rain can’t extinguish the resentment of us mother and daughter!”
Having spoken to this point, others couldn’t very well interject. The Third Princess picked up the last strip of meat from the food platter, saying idly: “Don’t use those words to scare people. Whether the Grand Empress Dowager of Huai’an resents or not isn’t for you to decide. Shaoshang, tell us—does Her Majesty the Empress currently harbor resentment?”
Everyone’s gaze turned, all focusing on Shaoshang seated in a corner. The Fifth Princess’s gaze turned cold: “You, you’re here too!”
By now, Shaoshang was a seasoned veteran, her expression unchanged: “Her Majesty the Empress summoned me to attend the banquet.”
She smiled warmly at the noble ladies present: “In response to Your Highnesses and Ladies: First, the Grand Empress Dowager of Huai’an is not confined to Yong’an Palace. Her Majesty comes when she wishes and leaves when she wishes. These past five or six years, unless Her Majesty feels unwell, we go to the estates outside the palace to enjoy ourselves several times each year—appreciating spring blossoms, viewing winter snow, avoiding summer heat in the hot season.”
Everyone found her words amusing and laughed.
“Furthermore, the Grand Empress Dowager of Huai’an harbors no resentment. Her Majesty plans to live one or two hundred years. Right now she’s busy recuperating—where’s the idle time to resent this or that?” Over these years, having faced much malice, Shaoshang had long since learned to respond with ease.
Everyone knew the Grand Empress Dowager of Huai’an’s health was deteriorating. Hearing Shaoshang’s perfectly appropriate response, they all smiled with satisfaction.
The Fifth Princess said shrilly: “What a glib tongue! What right do you have to speak for my mother empress! You’re nothing but a lowborn social climber who deceives my mother empress’s affection to swagger about like a fox borrowing the tiger’s might!”
“Fifth Princess, no matter how lowborn my origins, I serve your mother empress. I’m the Palace Command of Yong’an Palace personally designated by His Majesty.” Shaoshang’s expression remained normal. “I have an official rank from the court and Her Majesty’s trust. I don’t need to swagger about like a fox borrowing the tiger’s might.” Her gaze was indifferent, each word resounding clearly.
The ladies thought: What a formidable young woman.
The Fifth Princess was blocked from speaking and said resentfully: “Your character is base and vile! You’re unfit to serve my mother empress!”
“How is my character base and vile?” Shaoshang said.
“You’re fickle and frivolous, causing storms throughout the city, ruining my mother empress’s reputation. If you still know shame, you should hurry and get out of the palace!” The Fifth Princess had finally grasped a handle and greatly expanded on it.
Shaoshang smiled faintly: “First, let’s discuss being fickle. My first broken engagement was to fulfill the dying wish of the loyal General He and his entire family. My second broken engagement was because Marquis Huo acted recklessly, and I couldn’t condone his conduct. Princess, so you mean women shouldn’t remarry? If even remarriage is a common matter, what’s wrong with me changing marriage arrangements?”
To put it indelicately, the Middle Lady Marquis Yue was a remarried widow, and the Princess Consort of the Heir of Ruyang had also been betrothed before, breaking the engagement due to circumstances before marrying into the Prince of Ruyang’s residence. It’s just that they all quietly slipped in without fanfare, while Shaoshang caused a complete mess—also extremely unlucky.
“Now let’s discuss being frivolous. Though I’ve been engaged three times, I’ve always maintained propriety and self-restraint, never overstepping boundaries even slightly. Fifth Princess, what say you?” Shaoshang looked mockingly at the Fifth Princess, her eyes clearly conveying ‘you little tramp who kept a bunch of male favorites before marriage—what qualifications do you have to criticize others?’
The Grand Lady Marquis Yue very cooperatively sneered. The Fifth Princess was furious with shame and roared: “You little slut…”
“I think what Shaoshang said is correct.” The Third Princess interrupted. “She did nothing wrong. As for why there’s such commotion outside, Fifth Sister should go ask the men outside. What kind of hero picks on women?”
The Fifth Princess was so angry she laughed instead: “Fine, fine, you’ve ganged up to bully me, mock me, watch my joke! Fine, you say my words and actions are indiscreet? I’ll do some things to show you all…”
“What are you going to do?” Suddenly a familiar cold female voice came. All the ladies rose to perform grand bowing rites.
The Fifth Princess was startled, then quickly turned and prostrated herself—she wasn’t truly recklessly shameless. Over these years she’d been scolded and disciplined by Empress Yue many times. If not for the tragic death of her beloved horse slave this time, she wouldn’t have had another mad episode.
Following the young eunuch’s announcement ‘Her Majesty the Empress arrives,’ Qu Lingjun supported Empress Yue as they arrived gracefully.
Empress Yue stood in the center of the place of honor, looking at the Fifth Princess with cold, majestic authority: “I see you’ve been comfortable too long—your old habits have returned. You don’t know whether you’re alive or dead!”
“No, no, Your Majesty Empress, they were the ones provoking…” The Fifth Princess rushed to deflect.
“I also heard a little of what was said just now. You needn’t rush to deny it.” Empress Yue stared at her coldly. “Your father emperor values his reputation. I’m not afraid of people calling me harsh. If you dare rely on His Majesty’s respect for the Grand Empress Dowager of Huai’an to speak wildly and act without restraint again, I guarantee I’ll make it so you can’t even be a princess anymore!”
The Fifth Princess pressed her forehead to the ground, constantly breaking out in cold sweat.
From the corner of her eye, Shaoshang glimpsed this and silently cursed her spinelessness. If she’d really held firm to the end, Shaoshang would respect the Fifth Princess as a true man. As it turned out, she was just an outwardly fierce but inwardly cowardly wimp.
Empress Yue said: “Lingjun has emerged from suffering to sweetness. Today everyone is happily welcoming and celebrating her. If you can’t feel happy in your heart, don’t force yourself to stay here. Go back and think things over properly.”
The Fifth Princess was so angry she gnashed her teeth, yet didn’t dare lash out at Empress Yue. Humiliated and resentful, she lowered her head and left.
Shaoshang very pettily gloated over her misfortune. When rising to take her seat, she saw Empress Yue quickly glance over, her gaze seemingly lingering on her for a moment.
Her heart jumped. What was that about?