Compared to the warm reunion of mother and daughter in Yanqing Residence, the atmosphere in other palaces could not be said to be very good.
In Chengqian Palace, Lady Yuan held the Eldest Prince close for a long time, only letting go reluctantly when the prince grew impatient.
Lady Yuan sighed, "Only with a child around does one's side feel lively. Your mother wasn't wrong, was she?"
Concubine Shu reclined halfway on the couch. "If you want to hold a grandson, you should talk to Zishi about it."
Lady Yuan: "That would only work if he listened to me. You have no idea, ah..."
The situation in the Yuan household was truly a mess of scattered feathers.
Concubine Shu really wasn't clear on the details. "What's going on? Is it Zishi's problem, or Zhaoyun's?"
"It's all because of that incident before, when Zishi took a concubine?" She was almost embarrassed to say the concubine was from a pleasure quarter. "She's a vixen who has completely bewitched your brother. He doesn't go to Zhaoyun's rooms at all now, spending all his time fooling around with her. And you know Zhaoyun's temper, how could she possibly endure such an insult? The two of them quarrel every few days, a small spat every three days, a big fight every five, truly stirring up unrest in the household!"
Concubine Shu was astonished. No wonder Zhaoyun hadn't come to Chengqian Palace today, but had instead followed the Grand Princess to Cining Palace. She had thought Zhaoyun was deliberately giving them mother and daughter time to talk privately, not knowing there was such a reason behind it.
Concubine Shu raised her eyebrows. "Has Yuan Zishi gone mad? That kind of home-wrecker, why don't you just have her sold off?"
"You think I haven't thought of that? But the moment I sent the old maidservant to seize her, your brother got word. He even swore an oath to me that if I dared to sell that courtesan, he would sever ties with the Yuan family. It directly made your grandmother ill with anger, and he got another beating from your father."
Lady Yuan sighed. "Back then, we traded his official career for the safety of our Yuan family. He holds a grudge in his heart, and now he's willfully throwing himself away. Who has the heart to criticize him?"
Watching her son sink deeper into gloom day by day, Lady Yuan no longer dared to demand anything from Yuan Zishi.
Concubine Shu was silent for a long while before comforting Lady Yuan. "Tell him he is the Eldest Prince's maternal uncle. He definitely won't remain a commoner forever. Let him wait a little longer. When my royal son grows up a bit, there will be changes."
Lady Yuan nodded. The hope of the Yuan family now indeed rested on the Eldest Prince.
In Kunning Palace, Chengen Marquis' Wife sat quietly in the side hall, with Mei Yi serving tea by her side.
"Madam, Her Majesty the Empress will be back shortly. Please wait a moment." The Empress had gone to Cining Palace early in the morning to accompany the Empress Dowager in receiving some female relatives.
Chengen Marquis' Wife nodded faintly. "It's fine. I'll wait."
Mei Yi asked again, "Would Madam like this servant to invite the Eldest Princess to come keep you company? The Princess has been mentioning you."
Chengen Marquis' Wife's eyes flickered, but she still shook her head. "Never mind. She's so young, how could she remember me? There are many people in the palace today. It's not good for the Princess to move about, lest she gets jostled."
Her words were all consideration for the Eldest Princess, but Mei Yi felt somewhat helpless. Knowing she couldn't persuade her mistress, she could only wait quietly to the side.
Fortunately, they didn't have to wait long before the Empress returned. Zhuyi had someone invite Chengen Marquis' Wife to the main hall.
Upon entering, Chengen Marquis' Wife, following protocol, knelt to perform the formal greeting. Mei Yi hurried to support her, but was refused by Chengen Marquis' Wife, who insisted on completing the ritual.
The smile at the corner of the Empress's mouth faded. She watched quietly as Chengen Marquis' Wife finished the ceremony, then said, "Rise. Mei Yi, grant her a seat."
The words of concern she had originally intended to speak were swallowed back. As if receiving an ordinary clan matron, the Empress said, "I didn't expect Mother to come to Kunning Palace today. Is there something happening at home?"
Upon hearing this, Chengen Marquis' Wife took a pouch from her sleeve. "This is what your father asked me to pass on."
Mei Yi took it and presented it to the Empress.
The Empress opened it and saw it was a prescription and a slip of paper. The note read: "Prescription for Conceiving a Son."
Without changing her expression, the Empress stuffed the note and prescription back into the pouch. "Father still hasn't given up hope."
Chengen Marquis' Wife looked directly at the Empress. "I have thought it over for a long time, and find your father's words not without reason. Your Majesty may not fear Concubine Shu, but you should still be wary of the Eldest Prince. Perhaps Your Majesty is not in a hurry to bear a prince, but the Eldest Prince is already the eldest. If the age difference between him and a legitimate heir is too great, it would still pose a significant threat. Your Majesty should consider the long term."
The Empress was somewhat surprised that her mother had said so much to her today, and words that were genuinely considering her welfare at that.
Her heart softened involuntarily. "I have an idea of the situation."
Chengen Marquis' Wife nodded. "It's good that Your Majesty has an idea. The hour is late, and others outside wish for an audience. I will not disturb Your Majesty further."
The Empress said, "There is still some time before the banquet begins. Mother, please rest in the side hall for a while. Mei Yi, accompany the Madam."
After the two left, the Empress handed the pouch to Zhuyi. "Put it away."
Zhuyi hesitated. "Does Your Majesty intend to use this prescription..."
The Empress shook her head. "Do you think he could find any good prescription? He's just sending it in to claim credit, hoping I'll grant him more favors. Find a time to burn it."
She gazed distractedly in the direction Chengen Marquis' Wife had left, taking a long time to regain her focus. "Who else is requesting an audience? Invite them in."
The Empress remained busy until evening, when the banquet was about to begin. After changing her clothes, she headed to Cining Palace. By then, the Emperor had also arrived at Cining Palace, and the two of them accompanied the Empress Dowager to Baohe Hall.
Over at Baohe Hall, Consort Ning was presiding over the overall arrangements.
On the side for female relatives, some had already arrived, such as Consort An, Consort Zhuang, and Consort Hui.
Qi Daiyu's seat was next to Qin Saizhu's. After they were seated, the two began to chat.
Qin Saizhu: "I heard you saw your family today. You must be very happy?"
Qi Daiyu smiled, her eyes unconsciously drifting towards a distant corner. The Qi family was not a prominent one; being able to enter the palace today was already due to the Empress's favor. The seats for Mrs. Wan and the other two were naturally not very good, extremely far back.
Qin Saizhu: "I also wish to see my family, but my hometown is simply too far from the capital. I'm afraid I'll never have the chance to see them again in this lifetime." Her eyes held both nostalgia and regret.
In truth, from the day she entered the capital, she knew it would be difficult to see her family and close friends ever again.
"Let's not talk about this. I heard there are many performances today, including the most popular ones from the capital. We should enjoy them properly."
By now, a theatrical troupe had already begun performing in the center of the hall. They were the most renowned troupes invited from various regions, each with their signature pieces. Soon, the hall grew lively.
When the Emperor, Empress Dowager, and Empress arrived, the atmosphere reached its peak.
Starting with the Emperor, everyone took turns offering birthday blessings to the Empress Dowager.
The concubines' birthday gifts had been sent to Cining Palace the previous day and were not presented at this moment. The gifts being presented now were from local officials and various ministries of the court.
All sorts of rare and precious gifts were presented. Qi Daiyu listened with great relish.
Until an announcement: "The Ministry of Works presents its birthday gift — Buddha Bestows Blessings and Favor, A Thousand Years Without End!"
They saw over a dozen eunuchs pushing a huge chest into the hall. The chest was covered with a red cloth, adding to its mystery.
Such a large object captured the attention of everyone in the hall, all wearing expressions of curiosity.
However, the focus of Qi Daiyu's attention was on the fact that next to those eunuchs were several ministers from the Ministry of Works, and the last one—wasn't that her cheap father, Qi Caishang?!
He actually managed to sneak in!
Sharing Qi Daiyu's surprise were the three members of the Wan family in the corner.
Old Madam Qi nearly cried out, "That's my son…" but was silenced by Mrs. Wan's hand over her mouth.
Qi Qinglong whispered excitedly, "Mother, it really is Father! He said he would get into the palace, he didn't lie!"
"What is this object?" asked the Empress Dowager from the seat of honor.
Cui Xing, the Minister of Works, replied, "Your Majesty, this object was jointly created by eminent monks from one hundred and eight temples across the nation. It can be said to gather the blessings of the entire realm, offered in celebration of Your Majesty's thousand, thousand, thousand years of life!"
Cui Xing stepped aside, and the eunuchs untied the red cloth.
Inside the wooden crate was revealed a roofless Arhat Hall. Within it, one hundred and eight Arhats displayed emotions of anger, joy, sternness, and folly, representing all living beings.
Some angry, some laughing, each vividly lifelike.
Some devout women among the attendees in the hall had already clasped their hands together and bowed their heads.
The Empress Dowager first expressed amazement, then great delight, asking Cui Xing, "You are saying these Arhats were carved by eminent monks from various regions?"
"Precisely. Each Arhat originates from a different temple, personally carved and blessed with sutra recitations by an eminent monk, then transported to the capital."
"Excellent! Excellent! Truly excellent!" Such a rare and thoughtful birthday gift filled the Empress Dowager with immense joy. "Move this to the Buddhist chapel in Cining Palace. This widow shall recite scriptures and meditate before it daily."
Seeing the Empress Dowager's happiness, Jiang Yuan was naturally pleased as well. He asked Cui Xing, "Whose idea was this? A great reward is in order!" He knew all too well that an old stick-in-the-mud like Cui Xing could never have conceived such an idea.
Cui Xing did not claim undue credit. "Your Majesty, this old minister lacks such ingenuity. The idea was conceived by Qi Caishang, the Director of the Construction Office within the Ministry of Works. It was also under his full supervision that the gift arrived in the capital on time for Her Majesty's birthday celebration."
"Qi Caishang?" Jiang Yuan repeated the name, finding it completely unfamiliar. "Is he present today? Let him come forward for an audience."
"Your subject, Qi Caishang, Director of the Construction Office of the Ministry of Works, pays his respects to Your Majesty!" Without waiting for Cui Xing to call him, Qi Caishang had already knelt down to perform the rites.
At this moment, Quan Fuhai leaned in and whispered a reminder in Jiang Yuan's ear, "Your Majesty, this man is a tribute scholar from the twelfth year of the Chongde era. He initially served as a Supervisor in the Imperial Academy and was transferred to the Ministry of Works last year, assuming the post of Director of the Construction Office. He is also the biological father of Consort Hui."
The earlier details were unimportant; the crucial part was the last sentence.
Jiang Yuan paused, instinctively glancing sideways at Qi Daiyu.
A thought suddenly popped into his mind: Truly father and daughter, their knack for stirring things up is quite similar.
"Rise," Jiang Yuan raised his hand, scrutinizing Qi Caishang carefully. He nodded inwardly; the man's appearance was indeed that of a refined scholar-gentleman, no wonder he was initially assigned to a pure and scholarly place like the Imperial Academy.
Jiang Yuan observed that Qi Caishang possessed a handsome, scholarly exterior with an elegant, Confucian air, yet he did not seem dull-witted, harboring clever ideas within.
Jiang Yuan had a sudden impulse. "This emperor recalls that the Assistant Director of the Waterways Administration was recently transferred. Minister Cui was just worrying about whom to promote. This emperor believes Official Qi would be an excellent choice."
Cui Xing and the others' hearts skipped a beat. The Waterways Administration was responsible for auditing and estimating funds for river courses, seawalls, flood control projects, etc., and even directly managed the Imperial Disbursement Office. It could be considered one of the financial hubs of the Ministry of Works. The administration had a Chief, rank 5a, and an Assistant Director, rank 5b, both crucial positions.
The original Assistant Director had been transferred, and Cui Xing and his faction had intended to promote their own confidant. They never expected the Emperor to suddenly propose elevating Qi Caishang to this position.
Qian Heping, the Chief of the Waterways Administration, shot a subtly hostile glance at Qi Caishang.
Yet this Qi Caishang was clever indeed, having already knelt down to give thanks for the imperial grace.
Jiang Yuan smiled with satisfaction. Quick-witted and bold—perfectly suited for the post of Assistant Director of the Waterways Administration.
"Mother, do you wish to grant an additional reward?"
The Empress Dowager was already grinning from ear to ear. She didn't understand much about politics, but she saw that this Qi Caishang had presented a gift that pleased her, and the Emperor had promoted him because of it, undoubtedly showing respect for her, the Empress Dowager's, face.
"The Emperor has already promoted him; there's no better reward than that. This widow will simply add some gold and silver, that should suffice."
More than suffice. Around them, some people were nearly grinding their teeth in envy.
Why else did every ministry strive so actively for the gift presentation? The chance for promotion and wealth had actually been snatched away by someone previously unheard of!
As for Qi Daiyu, she was utterly dumbfounded.
Her cheap father... just got promoted?
