The hour had arrived!
The crowd straightened their postures and filed into the palace in order.
Feng Ying also followed behind Prince Qin, performing the ceremonial bow.
The Emperor noticed but said nothing beyond a few formal words before declaring the banquet open.
Just then, a eunuch outside the hall suddenly announced, "The Dowager Noble Consort arrives—Princess Roumin arrives—"
Everyone turned solemnly toward the entrance, where an elderly woman with a scarred face entered, supporting a blind young girl. The ministers rose and bowed in unison. "We greet the Dowager Noble Consort, we greet Princess Roumin."
Even the Emperor and Empress Dowager stood to personally welcome them. "Dowager Noble Consort, weren’t you in quiet seclusion at Mount Wutai? Why have you suddenly returned with Princess Roumin?"
This Dowager Noble Consort was no ordinary figure. Years ago, shortly after the late Emperor’s ascension, the King of the Western Frontier led his army to the capital’s gates.
At the critical moment, it was she—who had ties to the previous dynasty—who stepped forward, carrying a two- or three-year-old girl to meet the Western Frontier King.
The King withdrew his troops, but her face soon festered with sores, leaving it as scarred as it was now.
Yet she remained a national hero. So when she later requested to retire to Mount Wutai, the Emperor agreed without hesitation. Considering her advanced age and lack of heirs, he had even intended to assign an imperial clansman to her lineage.
But the Dowager Noble Consort refused them all, insisting on keeping only that girl by her side.
The Emperor had no choice but to exceptionally ennoble the girl as Princess Roumin—the blind maiden before them now.
The Dowager Noble Consort smiled warmly. "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty and Sister Empress. This old one thought it time to bring Roumin back to the capital, as she is no longer a child."
The Emperor and Empress Dowager nodded, and the Dowager Noble Consort acknowledged the assembled crowd with a gracious nod.
But when her gaze landed on Chu Ruoyan, she stiffened in shock. "You—who are you?"
Chu Ruoyan was bewildered. Yan Zheng stepped forward, frowning, and shielded her behind him. "Your Grace, this is my wife, County Princess Changle."
Empress Pei added with a smile, "You haven’t met her yet, Dowager Noble Consort. This is His Majesty’s newly appointed Chief Grand Secretary. The lady you just saw is his wife, also the legitimate daughter of Duke Chu."
"The legitimate daughter of Duke Chu?!" The Dowager Noble Consort whirled around, scanning the crowd for Chu Huaishan.
She found him standing with an icy expression, offering only a perfunctory salute. "Indeed, my unworthy daughter. Forgive her, Your Grace."
The Dowager Noble Consort inhaled sharply. Before she could recover, Princess Roumin gently nudged her twice, prompting her to murmur, "Ah... I see. Then let the banquet proceed. We mustn’t delay the festivities on my account."
Soon, cups clinked, music swelled, and the grand annual celebration was in full swing. Yet Chu Ruoyan had little appetite for merriment. She leaned toward Yan Zheng and whispered, "What was that about? Why did the Dowager Noble Consort react so strongly to me? It was as if... she recognized me."
A shadow flickered in Yan Zheng’s eyes. "This isn’t the place. I’ll explain later."
No sooner had he spoken than officials began approaching to toast him.
Worried they might disturb Chu Ruoyan, Yan Zheng guided them to another table.
Meanwhile, Lady Xue arrived with her two sons to offer their respects. "Niece-in-law, I haven’t yet thanked you for your help with your second uncle’s matter—"
Her eldest, Yan Chengwu, cut her off. "Mother, you’re her elder. Why bow to her?"
Lady Xue glared. "Fool! Your cousin’s wife is now the Chief Grand Secretary’s lady. Rank comes before family—understand?"
But Yan Chengwu scoffed. "Chief Grand Secretary’s wife? Even if she became an imperial consort, she’d never compare to Miss Feng in my eyes!"
Lady Xue nearly exploded in fury, but Chu Ruoyan merely arched a brow. "Oh? Which Miss Feng has captured my cousin’s heart?"
"The only daughter of General Zhenbei! The one even Prince Qin pines for!" Yan Chengwu declared proudly, only for his mother to pinch him viciously. "You disgrace! Get out of my sight!"
Grumbling, Yan Chengwu slunk away. Chu Ruoyan smirked. "When did my cousin take an interest in the Feng girl? Did you know, Aunt?"
Lady Xue flushed. "Well... On the day Miss Feng returned to the capital, her handkerchief blew into his hands. When he returned it, she smiled at him, and so..."
Chu Ruoyan’s eyes gleamed. So Feng Ying was casting her net wide!
First Prince Qin, now even Yan Chengwu?
Was she hedging her bets—if she couldn’t marry Yan Zheng or Prince Qin, she’d settle for Yan Chengwu to still enter the Yan family?
Her tone turned probing. "Then it seems fate has brought my cousin and Miss Feng together?"
"Don’t say such things! That girl is trouble—didn’t she slander you before?" Lady Xue waved her hands frantically. "Besides, she’s Prince Qin’s beloved. My fool son isn’t worthy. Please don’t tease him, Niece!"
Only then did Chu Ruoyan relax, adding pointedly, "I heard the Feng household was recently placed under imperial confinement, with etiquette instructors sent to discipline them. You understand what that means, Aunt?"
Lady Xue nodded vigorously. "Yes, yes! Thank you for the warning. I’ll keep that idiot in check!"
She returned to her seat, watching her son like a hawk.
Sure enough, a maid slipped him something while refilling his wine.
Lady Xue’s eyes narrowed as her son’s face lit up with excitement. He stood to leave.
"Stop right there!"
Yan Chengwu froze. "Mother... what is it?"
"Hand it over!"
He hid his hands behind his back, but she snatched the note away.
"'Tonight at the side palace—I await you'? With a plum blossom drawn here? Who wrote this? That little Feng tramp?!" Lady Xue was livid. This was the Imperial New Year’s Banquet! If her son was caught sneaking off to meet a woman, his reputation and future would be ruined!
But Yan Chengwu protested, "Mother, Miss Feng isn’t a tramp! She just wants to talk!"
"Talk? Here? Now? Are you brainless?!" Lady Xue snapped. "Guard the young master! If he leaves this hall tonight, it’s your heads!"
Her servants scrambled to obey. After a moment’s hesitation, Lady Xue approached Chu Ruoyan again.
After reading the note, Chu Ruoyan frowned. "Yan Chengwu likely isn’t her primary target—at least not the first. The side palace... the side palace..."
Yan Wenjing piped up, "Third Aunt, when I went looking for Cousin Chengwu earlier, I saw someone heading that way."
"Oh? Who?"
"Couldn’t see clearly, but they wore a dragon-embroidered robe. Must’ve been royalty."
Chu Ruolan, who’d come to find her sister, gasped. "Not Prince Qin again? Is that Feng woman still scheming to ensnare him?"
Chu Ruoyan’s lips curled. "If you could marry a prince as his principal wife, would you let go?" She then shook her head. "Never mind—you only have eyes for your 'Little Six.'"
Lady Xue trembled with rage. "Then why send my son that note? What does she take him for?"
Chu Ruolan snorted. "A pawn! If she succeeds with Prince Qin, your son’s her alibi!"
Chu Ruoyan finished the thought. "And if she fails, she’ll pivot to him. Two birds with one stone—quite the strategy."
Lady Xue gritted her teeth: "Then what are we waiting for? Let’s report this to the Emperor and the Empress Dowager at once—"
"Report it? And then have His Majesty’s younger brother and the Empress Dowager’s youngest son arrested?" Chu Ruoyan cast her a cool glance. "Aunt Xue, calm yourself. There’s no need to make this public. Just return to your seat and keep an eye on our cousin."
Lady Xue, reminded by her words, realized she had lost her head and hurried back to the banquet.
Chu Ruolan said worriedly, "Elder Sister, but if this is true, wouldn’t Prince Qin be in danger? He seemed genuinely concerned about Second Sister tonight. What if Feng Ying schemes against him…"
After a moment of contemplation, Chu Ruoyan replied, "If he truly cares for Second Sister, he ought to restrain himself. Now that he knows Feng Ying’s true nature, if he still stubbornly persists, then it’s simply fate."
