“Lady Shen speaks wisely. Once one enters the imperial family, the first thing one must uphold from then on is the imperial family’s rules.” The Empress glanced at Noble Consort Lan and said slowly, “I heard that Lady Shen was personally selected by Noble Consort Lan. It seems Your Consortship has a discerning eye for people—you did not choose wrongly.”
The smile on Noble Consort Lan’s face did not change. “Your Majesty flatters me. Entrusted by His Majesty and Your Majesty, it is only right that I do my utmost.” As she spoke, she turned her gaze toward the docile-looking Shen Yanshui and said with a smile, “Just look—doesn’t Lady Shen have quite a clever little tongue?”
Lady Shen, seated behind her, was somewhat surprised as well. She was four years older than this half-sister of hers, and there was the distinction between legitimate and concubine-born daughters. They had not interacted much in ordinary times.
All she had known was that this younger half-sister, who had become remarkably eye-catching at such a young age, was unlearned and extraordinarily indolent. She had always looked down on her for it.
She had never expected her to be so quick-witted, nor to show the slightest timidity in such an occasion.
It made Lady Shen regard her somewhat more highly. What a pity... she had entered the Crown Prince’s Eastern Palace.
Her gaze shifted to the Crown Princess, who sat before her with a poised and appropriate smile, then finally settled on the Crown Princess’s abdomen, where there was as yet no visible sign. Her eyes darkened slightly.
She remembered that news of the Crown Princess’s pregnancy had been announced only today.
But in her previous life, she had already begun to fall out of the Emperor’s favor and had not gone to Jinming Pool with the others.
She remembered it so clearly because she had later heard that, during the gathering at Jinming Pool, the Crown Princess had suffered a miscarriage by accident.
The Empress had flown into a rage afterward and punished a great many people, shaking the entire palace.
In the end, it was discovered that a maid serving the Fourth Prince’s consort had been responsible. The Fourth Prince consequently lost the Emperor’s favor and was severely punished, while the Eldest Prince, who had been in charge of security for the Jinming Pool gathering, was implicated as well.
It was only after that that the Sixth Prince gradually began to stand out among the many princes.
Shen Yanshui keenly sensed her elder half-sister’s brief glance toward her, but paid it no mind.
Hearing Noble Consort Lan steer past the earlier topic of their “deep sisterly affection” and merely allude to her being “quick-tongued,” Shen Yanshui quietly relaxed. Nor did she care about the faint barb hidden in the consort’s final words.
She merely lowered her eyes, bowed her head, and smiled with her lips pressed together. A faint blush rose on her face, as though she were a little embarrassed by the praise, and she said nothing further.
“Cough, cough.”
In an instant, everyone’s attention turned to the Empress at the head of the gathering, and many voices expressed their concern.
“It is merely an old ailment; there is no cause for worry.” Having said this, the Empress covered her lips and coughed twice more. Her calm yet faintly imposing eyes swept over the crowd as she said unhurriedly with a smile, “It seems to me that the hour is about right. We may continue our idle chatter once we arrive at Jinming Pool, while we enjoy the festivities.”
Everyone rose and bowed. “Yes, Your Majesty.”
★
After leaving Kunning Palace, sedan chairs were already waiting outside. The sky was clear and cloudless, stretching for miles without a trace of haze.
The Empress’s phoenix carriage led the way. The Crown Princess, the high-ranking consorts, and the consorts of the married princes followed behind. Several elderly princess consorts and first-rank titled ladies had also been granted sedan chairs, while the rest proceeded on foot along either side.
Among the crowd, Shen Yanshui caught sight of her stepmother and the younger girls from her household. After a single glance, she withdrew her gaze.
She saw Countess Zhongyi, and Countess Zhongyi naturally saw her as well. At the sight of Shen Yanshui’s face, radiant as a spring blossom, Countess Zhongyi felt her chest tighten with resentment.
This Fourth Miss had apparently been feigning her usual laziness and meekness. The moment an opportunity arose, she had clawed her way into the Eastern Palace. Not only would she be of no help to Hua’er, but she might even drag her down in the future.
“Mother, Fourth Sister is only a Zhaoxun. Is she really qualified to attend the Golden Bright Pool gathering?” the fifth young lady, born of the principal wife, asked softly.
The sixth young lady, whose cheeks still bore a touch of baby fat, watched Shen Yanshui’s retreating figure and said with certainty, “Fourth Sister is so beautiful. His Highness the Crown Prince is sure to like her.”
Countess Zhongyi pressed her lips together and said nothing. She knew full well how lovely her fourth daughter was. She had originally intended to send her into the palace to support Hua’er, yet who would have thought the girl would dare to defy her parents?
Still, what woman in the palace could do without the support of her natal family? Sooner or later, she would come begging at their door.
*
Shen Yanshui had no idea what her stepmother was thinking. Had she known, she would probably have rolled her eyes on the spot.
At the moment, she was quietly walking behind the Crown Princess’s sedan chair. By coincidence, Lady Shen—her elder sister—was walking beside her.
Though perhaps it was not much of a coincidence. By the rules of etiquette, although the Crown Princess belonged to the younger generation, her rank was second only to the Empress’s, even higher than Noble Consort Lan’s. Just as they had been seated in the main hall of Kunming Palace earlier: the Crown Princess sat below the Empress on her left, while Noble Consort Lan sat on her right. The sedan chairs of the other princes’ consorts had been placed behind those of the Four Consorts.
★
At present, the Crown Princess and Noble Consort Lan were following behind the Empress. Naturally, Shen Yanshui and Lady Shen were walking behind their sedan chairs.
“It has been a long time since I last saw you, Fourth Sister. You seem much sharper now, and your tongue has grown far more eloquent,” Lady Shen said with a smile, lowering her voice. After all, Shen Yanshui had even dared to contradict Noble Consort Lan to her face.
Shen Yanshui replied in a soft voice, her smile not reaching her eyes, “I am not even a tenth as clever as Your Ladyship. Otherwise, Your Ladyship would not be seeing me here today.”
Her words were far from polite. She was referring to the letter that had sent her into the palace.
Though she had quickly thought matters through and come to terms with entering the palace, and no longer felt overly angry about it, she had not forgotten that letter.
Besides, no matter what happened today, even if the two of them did not openly trade barbs, they still had to make it clear to onlookers that they were not on good terms.
Of course, there was no need to overdo it. They simply had to display the distant relationship they had always had.
Lady Shen’s expression shifted slightly. In her memory, her fourth sister had almost never talked back to her. Whenever she caught Shen Yanshui neglecting her studies or being lazy and undisciplined, she had rebuked her without mercy, and Shen Yanshui had always meekly accepted it. When had she ever dared to answer back?
For a moment, Lady Shen did not know how to respond.
When she recovered, she felt surprise, then amusement, and... disdain. With a quiet laugh, she said, “It seems Fourth Sister has indeed been living rather well in the Eastern Palace these past days.”
Naturally, many people kept a close eye on the affairs of the Eastern Palace, and scraps of news inevitably leaked out. She knew that her fourth sister had recently won quite a measure of the Crown Prince’s favor, but she had not expected that a little favor, after such a short time, would give her so much confidence that she dared speak to her so bluntly.
Though somewhat displeased, Lady Shen remembered that her letter had indeed turned what had once been her fourth sister’s smooth and promising life into a dead end. In the end, she did not press the matter further. There was even a trace of pity in the way she looked at Shen Yanshui.
Shen Yanshui caught the look in her eyes, her mind full of questions. But seeing that she had quieted down, she did not make a point of finding something else to say.
By the time the Empress led the noblewomen of the inner and outer courts to Xuande Gate, the Emperor and Crown Prince had also arrived with the civil and military officials.
What followed was a round of mutual bows and formal greetings. Shen Yanshui did not even get a proper look at the Emperor before kneeling with the others to kowtow and pay her respects. All she had time to glimpse was the hem of his dark, gold-edged robe embroidered with dragon motifs.
Emperor Pingkang’s voice was far gentler than she had imagined.
“Rise.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” everyone replied in unison as they rose.
Once she was on her feet, Shen Yanshui swiftly glanced up and finally saw what Emperor Pingkang looked like.
He wore dark imperial robes and a Tongtian crown. His face was fair and lean, his features well formed, but the looseness of his skin was already evident, making the shadows beneath his eyes particularly noticeable.
He was tall and slender, with a beard along his jaw. A smile rested on his face, giving him an air of both authority and gentleness.
The Divine Martial Imperial Guards cleared the way. The Emperor’s carriage led the procession, followed by the Empress’s phoenix carriage, while the rest proceeded in order of rank.
Before boarding her carriage, Shen Yanshui glanced ahead and saw the Crown Prince mount his horse with swift, practiced ease. He rode beside the imperial carriage as part of its guard, with several princes following close behind.
Once inside her carriage, Shen Yanshui did not look any further. Before long, the carriage beneath her began to move slowly.
All around them rose the cries of the people of Shengjing, kneeling in the streets and shouting blessings of “Long live the Emperor! Long live the Empress!” Through a gap in the carriage curtain, Shen Yanshui gradually caught sight of Shengjing’s bustling streets, overflowing with festive cheer.
Though she had seen such a Shengjing many times before, she could not help but feel sincerely delighted and uplifted by the peace and holiday celebration that filled the city.
They passed through the inner city and then the outer city, eventually arriving at the heavily guarded Jinming Pool.
Jinming Pool was vast. It had been an artificial lake excavated by the founding emperor of Great Yong for naval exercises. Walls surrounded it, with several gates set into them. The northwestern corner served as the inlet, while the main southern entrance was the Lingxing Gate.
From the southern shore to the center of the pool stretched an enormous arched bridge—the Immortal Bridge—several hundred paces long and broad across, its surface lined with fluttering colored banners. Guards in armor, sabers at their waists, stood in neat ranks with their heads held high. Palace maids and eunuchs attended to their respective duties, standing quietly with lowered eyes.
At the bridgehead stood the Baojin Tower, five halls joined together. At the far end of the Immortal Bridge lay the center of the lake, where layered halls and jade-like pavilions rose amid rare flowers and strange stones, exotic birds and precious fowl. Shipyards, docks, warships, and dragon boats were all in place.
Willows dipped their branches into the water, while a haze of grass spread along the embankments.
North of the bridge, near the eastern shore, stood the waterside Linshui Hall, facing north. In previous years, Emperor Pingkang had hosted banquets for his officials there. At present, he had already taken his seat with the civil and military ministers.
Meanwhile, Shen Yanshui followed the Empress and the Crown Princess to the Watermoon Pavilion, not far from Linshui Hall, where they took their seats according to protocol. She let out a quiet breath. At last, they had arrived.
The Empress sat in the center. To her left sat the Crown Princess, the wives of the First, Second, and Fourth Princes, as well as several high-ranking female members of the imperial clan.
Shen Yanshui’s seat had been arranged in the second row, still positioned behind and slightly to one side of the Crown Princess. Beside her, seated closer to the Crown Princess, was Lady Zhang.
Seated on the other side was Secondary Consort Tang from the Eldest Prince’s residence. Apart from exchanging polite greetings at the beginning, the two had not spoken further.
Shen Yanshui was quite satisfied with her seat. It was one of the best viewing spots at Jinming Pool, and with only a single row of people in front of her, nothing obstructed her view.
She turned her gaze toward the eastern bank. In previous years, she had always come with her maidservants to watch the festivities from the temporary awnings erected there.
Sure enough, when she looked over, she saw many commoners already gathered beneath them, their faces bright with smiles and laughter.
A smile rose to her own lips as well.
The palace halls stood lofty and grand, banners snapping in the wind. After the Emperor and Empress each delivered a brief address, palace maids and eunuchs who had long been waiting filed in, carrying assorted rice dumplings and fruits, which they set before the guests on their tables.
Then the drums began to thunder.
The opening water-pageant performance had begun.
There were countless water spectacles: the annual Dragon Boat Festival naval battle drill; a variety show in which Celestial Master Zhang drove away evil and prayed for disaster relief; dragon boat races; amusing water puppets; the highly entertaining water swings; and the fiercely contested dragon boat bidding races...
Shen Yanshui came to watch every year, yet each year brought no shortage of new delights.
Even she, a modern-born person who could be considered widely experienced, found herself engrossed. Needless to say, for the capital’s common folk—who had far fewer entertainments available—this event, attended by the Emperor and Empress themselves as they celebrated alongside the people, drew immense crowds both inside and outside Jinming Pool every Dragon Boat Festival. It was lively beyond compare.
“This year’s variety performance is quite impressive. Reward them,” the Empress said with a gentle smile.
“Yes, Your Majesty.” At once, a palace maid accepted the rewards with a beaming expression and carried them down.
“As long as Her Majesty the Empress is pleased, I am relieved. I have not failed the trust placed in me by Your Majesty and His Majesty,” Consort De said with a smile from nearby.
Shen Yanshui reached for a small rice dumpling tied with five-colored silk thread. Rather than having Chunping do it, she unwrapped it herself at an unhurried pace. As she watched the water swings in the distance, she also spared a little attention for Consort De.
As far as she knew, Consort De had been born a palace maid. In her youth, her beauty had caught the Emperor’s eye, and fortune had favored her as well. At the time, the imperial harem had either produced no children at all, or the princes who were born had failed to survive. Yet she had given birth to the Eldest Prince and the Second Prince in succession—and both had lived to adulthood.
Thus, despite Consort De’s humble family background, she still held one of the Four Consort positions.
Hearing this, Noble Consort Lan smiled alluringly. “Her Majesty the Empress has been unwell, and Consort De has gone to great lengths for today’s event. I heard that even when a new little imperial grandson was recently born in the Eldest Prince’s household, she had no time to attend to it. Her Majesty truly ought to reward Consort De generously.”
“Could it be that Elder Sister Consort De has so many grandchildren that she no longer finds them precious?” Another teasing, smiling voice chimed in. Beauty Li, whose features were exquisitely lovely, said with a laugh, “Among all of us sisters, Elder Sister Consort De has the least to worry about. The Eldest Prince has only been married for five years, yet he already has five little imperial grandsons and three little imperial granddaughters. It truly makes one terribly envious.”
Before the words had even finished falling, Shen Yanshui keenly sensed the vague, probing gazes around them settling upon the members of the Eastern Palace—especially the Crown Princess.
Shen Yanshui: “...All right. So this round is aimed at the Eastern Palace.”
Sure enough, at an occasion like this, it was impossible to simply sit back and enjoy the show. Still, having long been mentally prepared, she remained quite calm.
Even if the sky came crashing down, the Empress and the Crown Princess were in front of her to hold it up. She was merely a minor Zhaoxun of the Eastern Palace—what was there for her to worry about?
Holding the zongzi she had just unwrapped, she inhaled its fragrant aroma and took a bite. Half of it disappeared in one mouthful. Mm, savory pork filling. It tasted quite good.
Lady Zhang, whose nerves had been wound tight: “...??”
“...?” Secondary Consort Tang could not help but glance sideways, watching Shen Yanshui take a second bite as though she had heard nothing at all...
How could she remain so utterly composed?
And then... Secondary Consort Tang lifted her eyes toward the Crown Princess, whose expression was serene and whose lips still bore a faint smile. A trace of puzzlement arose in her heart.
Under ordinary circumstances, the Crown Princess would surely have been unable to maintain that smile after hearing such remarks.
What was different today? Had she gone somewhere to cultivate inner peace or something?
Secondary Consort Tang was curious.
The smile on Consort De’s face did not change, and her voice remained as gentle as ever. “Your Highness Noble Consort, Sister Beauty Li, please do not tease me. The more children one has, the more debts one owes. Not one of those boys of mine gives me any peace of mind. They are nothing like the Crown Princess, who has raised her child so well. I heard His Majesty say that the little imperial grandson’s health has been improving by the day.”
As she spoke, her brows curved in a smile and her tone became reflective. “We have all been mothers, so we understand the hardships involved. Not only has the Crown Princess managed the Eastern Palace in impeccable order and served the Empress with filial devotion, she has also cared for the little imperial grandson so well that his health continues to improve. She is truly worthy of being Crown Princess—a model for all women who marry into the imperial family. The other sisters-in-law and younger generations should all learn from her.”
Shen Yanshui watched in every direction and listened intently.
On the surface, Consort De’s words seemed to speak up for the Eastern Palace and the Crown Princess. Yet to Shen Yanshui’s ears, that was not entirely the case...
The fact that the Crown Prince had punished two newly arrived concubines of the Eastern Palace within a single month was no great secret. How could Consort De possibly not have heard of it?
And then there was her remark—though subtle—that “not one of those boys gives me peace of mind.” Was that not a jab straight at the Empress’s sore spot?
After all, everyone knew how few heirs the Eastern Palace had.
Not to mention the lavish praise she had heaped upon the Crown Princess afterward, practically drawing hatred toward her.
In just those few sentences, Shen Yanshui had nearly analyzed every word and phrase. It truly was rather mentally exhausting.
The Crown Princess pressed her lips together in a smile, her back unconsciously straightening a little. “Serving Mother Empress with filial devotion and looking after the child are duties I ought to fulfill as her daughter-in-law. I do not deserve Your Ladyship’s praise. The Liangdi of the Eastern Palace is currently with child; in another two or three months, she will likely present His Majesty with another little imperial grandson.”
Shen Yanshui: “...?” No, Crown Princess... was she actually taking that seriously?
The smile on Noble Consort Lan’s face was nearly impossible to contain as she said delightedly, “Oh my, the Crown Princess truly is exceptionally filial! Dignified and virtuous as well. Elder Sister Consort De was absolutely right.”
The Empress glanced at the Crown Princess, then shifted her gaze to the water, where an elaborate water-swing performance was underway. In an even, indifferent tone, she said, “The Fourth Prince has twenty or thirty wives and concubines in his household. If Noble Consort Lan has nothing better to do, she might as well help him manage his domestic affairs. Don’t let trouble break out every other day and make a laughingstock of yourselves.”
Whoa! Shen Yanshui’s eyes instantly widened.
As Noble Consort Lan’s smile gradually faded, an especially loud announcement rang out in Shen Yanshui’s mind—
First Blood!
The next moment, the Empress, whose bearing had become all the more commanding, unhurriedly took a sip of tea. Her phoenix eyes lifted slightly as she said with a faint smile, “A few days ago, I heard that the Second Prince forcibly took a handsome young man back to his residence…”
Consort De’s face turned deathly pale. The kingfisher-feather-and-mother-of-pearl nail guard on her finger nearly snapped!
Hadn’t she ordered the matter dealt with and suppressed immediately? How did the Empress still know about it?
Once again, Shen Yanshui heard in her mind—
Double Kill!
Consort De no longer sounded as composed as before. Earnestly, she said, “Your Majesty, I don’t know where this rumor came from, but it absolutely cannot be trusted. Though the Second Prince is somewhat dissolute, he is not so lacking in restraint as to do such a thing.”
The Empress glanced at her and smiled lightly. “Oh? Is that so?”
Though she said nothing further, that calm, unruffled gaze left Consort De feeling increasingly uncertain. Perhaps the Empress truly did know something…
She promptly and sensibly yielded. “Please rest assured, Your Majesty. The Second Prince has indeed become more and more unruly of late, allowing such rumors to spread and offend Your Majesty’s ears. When I return, I will give him a severe reprimand, make him understand the gravity of his conduct, and teach him a proper lesson.”
Shen Yanshui’s eyes sparkled.
Triple Kill!
Her Majesty the Empress is magnificent!
From where Shen Yanshui sat, she could only see the Empress’s profile. Yet it was precisely that profile that made her suddenly realize that the Crown Prince and the Empress bore a five- or six-tenths resemblance to one another.
At first glance, it might not have been obvious. But from the side, when those naturally sharp phoenix eyes tilted upward ever so slightly, their brows and eyes looked as much as sixty or seventy percent alike.
So handsome!
The Empress happened to glance back and noticed the almost entirely undisguised gaze from behind her. To her surprise, she met a pair of beautiful peach-blossom eyes shining with admiration.
And when she saw who it was, the Empress: “...”
