On New Year’s Eve, the imperial family banquet was held.
Gu Jiu entered the palace with Pei shi.
They entered through Mingde Gate and got out of their carriage before the second palace gate.
After that, they went to Changchun Palace to pay their respects to Shu fei.
The three unmarried young ladies of the wang fu had been living in the palace during this period, attending upon Shu fei and showing filial devotion.
As soon as Gu Jiu’s group entered the gates of Changchun Palace, the three young ladies of the manor came out to greet them.
“Greetings, mufei, three saosao.”
“Rise.”
Pei shi first glanced toward the main hall of Changchun Palace and then asked, “Has Shu fei niangniang been well recently? Have any of you been mischievous?”
“Reporting to mufei, your daughters would not dare be mischievous. However, there is one matter that has been troubling Grandmother.”
The one speaking was Liu Hua, the eldest of the three sisters.
Pei shi first gave an “Oh?” and then asked, “What matter is troubling Shu fei?”
Liu Hua looked around before lowering her voice. “Who will preside over tonight’s family banquet? And at tomorrow’s court audience, who will be regarded as the foremost?”
The moment Pei shi heard this, her heart began pounding.
Ever since the passing of Empress Ruizhen Cui, there had always been voices at court urging the appointment of a new empress, but the Emperor had consistently ignored them.
The Emperor’s indifference did not mean the imperial consorts of the harem could remain detached and unconcerned about the position of Empress.
Once a woman was invested as Empress, her son would become a legitimate son.
The words legitimate son held an attraction for the consorts comparable to the attraction of a magnet to iron nails, unmatched and irresistible.
Suppressing the panic in her heart, Pei shi instructed Liu Hua, “Do not spread this matter. Pretend you know nothing.”
“Your daughter will obey mufei.”
Pei shi gathered herself and led her daughters and daughters-in-law toward the main hall to pay their respects to Shu fei.
Gu Jiu exchanged a glance with Ouyang Fu.
Since the Emperor had not yet decided who would hold precedence at tonight’s family banquet, it seemed unlikely that the banquet would be peaceful.
The palace consorts all appeared kind and amiable on the surface, but when they fought in private, they could be even more ruthless than men.
Blades flashed and swords crossed. At the slightest disagreement, blood would be shed and lives would be lost.
Entering the bedchamber, they found Shu fei reclining lazily against a couch.
“Greetings to mufei. May mufei enjoy blessings, longevity, and good health.”
Shu fei glanced at Pei shi. “You’ve come. Sit and speak.”
Afterward, as the wife of the eldest di grandson, Gu Jiu led her two sisters-in-law forward to pay their respects.
Shu fei gave an “Mm” and lazily said, “Sit and speak.”
Pei shi asked with concern, “Is mufei in good health?”
Shu fei shifted into an even more comfortable position. “The same as always. Neither good nor bad. When one grows old, one no longer wishes to move about all day.”
Pei shi immediately apologized. “Erxi is unfilial for being unable to attend upon mufei.”
Shu fei smiled. “Enough. Stop saying such meaningless things. Is everything well at the wang fu? I heard Huyang went to her brother asking for money again a few days ago.”
Pei shi nodded. “A few days ago, Huyang indeed visited the wang fu and spoke at length with wangye.”
Shu fei asked, “Why didn’t wangye come?”
“At the moment, he is leading the children to Xingqing Palace to pay respects to fuhuang.”
Shu fei gave an “Oh,” clearly lacking any interest in continuing the conversation.
Pei shi cautiously asked, “Is mufei worried about tonight’s family banquet?”
Shu fei neither confirmed nor denied it.
Pei shi muttered quietly, though loudly enough for Shu fei to hear, “I wonder what sort of activity there has been on guifei niangniang’s side.”
Shu fei let out a derisive laugh. “She has plenty of activity. Who in this palace doesn’t know that the guifei wants to ascend to the position of Empress? The entire Xue family and their followers are waving banners and beating drums on her behalf. Looking at how smug she is, you’d think the position of Empress already belonged to her.”
Whenever Shu fei spoke of Xue guifei, she was full of resentment.
The two had begun fighting from the moment they entered the palace and had competed for decades, neither willing to submit to the other.
Now they had to continue fighting, competing for the position of Empress, and through it, competing for the throne.
Pei shi hurriedly said, “Mufei, please calm your anger. Guifei is far too ostentatious. Fuhuang surely dislikes that. She will never succeed.”
Shu fei frowned. She was not nearly as optimistic as Pei shi.
Recently, members of the Xiao family had also been working on her behalf.
As an imperial prince, Ning wang could not directly involve himself, so he could only arrange for others to speak in his stead.
Given the Emperor’s authority, if the Emperor decided to make someone Empress, no one would be able to change that decision. Therefore, efforts had to be made before the Emperor reached a final decision, influencing him as much as possible.
But was the Emperor truly so easy to influence?
Empress Ruizhen Cui had spent ten or twenty years trying and still failed to dispel the Emperor’s prejudice against the Crown Prince.
This showed that the Emperor was a man of firm will and domineering conduct, someone not easily swayed by others.
To influence the Emperor’s decision would be extraordinarily difficult.
Gu Jiu’s heart skipped a beat. The harem was once again fighting over the position of Empress.
When the harem stirred, it would inevitably affect the court.
And once the court was affected, how could the wangye and princes remain seated and unmoved?
Since it concerned their own interests, they would naturally exert every effort.
At this moment, a palace servant announced that Princess Huyang had arrived.
At last, a trace of a smile appeared on Shu fei’s face. “Quickly, invite Huyang in.”
Before long, Princess Huyang was ushered into the bedchamber.
Princess Huyang resembled Shu fei. When she looked at people, there was a sharpness in her eyes and brows.
Princess Huyang smiled brightly. Though she was already in her early thirties and had given birth to two children, she had maintained her figure extremely well. From behind, she looked like a young maiden.
Of course, her face was no longer young and already bore the marks of time.
Her smile was flamboyant and arrogant.
She had every reason to be proud. She was a princess, a favored daughter of heaven. How many women in the world could be more noble than she was?
In Changchun Palace, she was as comfortable as if she were in her own home.
The moment she entered the bedchamber, she walked straight toward Consort Shu and sat closely beside her.
“Mufei, your daughter has missed you so much.”
She wrapped her arm around Shu fei’s and acted like a charming young girl, coquettishly seeking affection.
Shu fei rarely revealed such a loving smile. “Have you been mischievous again? I heard that some days ago you went to see your brother. Your wangxiong must have been annoyed by you.”
The moment this matter was mentioned, Princess Huyang’s anger surged.
That bastard Liu Zhao had been far too ruthless. His beating had been so severe that the fuma had been confined to bed for several days, unable even to get up.
Today was the family banquet, yet the fuma still had to drag his not-yet-healed body into the palace for the feast. Once the banquet ended, who knew how miserable he would be.
A venomous look flashed through Princess Huyang’s eyes. “Mufei, later you must speak to wangxiong on my behalf. I merely asked him for a small favor, but he sent Liu Zhao to beat the fuma. The fuma suffered so much. He was only able to get out of bed a couple of days ago, and today he has to attend the palace banquet. Your daughter is worried that after today, his injuries will worsen again.”
Shu fei was not muddle-headed when it came to important matters. Although she doted on Huyang, it was not blind and unconditional indulgence.
She said, “If your brother beat the fuma, he must have had his reasons. Did you and the fuma do something wrong again and anger your brother?”
Princess Huyang stamped her foot anxiously. “Mufei, the fuma has suffered such a great grievance, and yet you still speak for wangxiong.”
Shu fei’s face instantly turned cold. “You and your brother are bengong’s children. As for the fuma, even if he dies, at worst bengong can choose another husband for you.”
Princess Huyang froze, her heart turning cold. “Mufei, your daughter…”
“That’s enough. Bengong does not wish to hear you talking endlessly about your fuma.”
Princess Huyang lowered her head aggrievedly. “Even if mufei does not care about the fuma, you should at least think of your two grandchildren.”
Princess Huyang’s two children were still standing in the hall.
One son and one daughter. The elder was a boy named Chen Lu, while the younger was a girl named Chen Min. Both still carried the innocence of childhood.
The siblings spoke in unison, “Grandson (granddaughter) greets Grandmother. We wish Grandmother blessings, longevity, health, and peace.”
Shu fei smiled again. “Good children. Sit down and speak.”
The siblings obediently sat in the seats below.
Princess Huyang tugged on Shu fei’s sleeve and pleaded softly, “Mufei!”
Consort Shu snorted but gave no response.
Pei shi coughed lightly twice, preparing to speak.
She truly could not bear to watch anymore. Huyang was shameless beyond measure.
Pei shi said, “Huyang meimei, I’ve never seen this set of jewelry before. Is it newly made?”
Princess Huyang smiled and said casually, “Since saosao asks, this set of jewelry took the craftsmen several months to make and cost over a thousand taels. The gems alone are worth a fortune.”
Pei shi looked at her with a half-smile. “Huyang meimei is truly generous with money. Yet I wonder why you had to visit the wang fu when there was no festival or special occasion. Whatever was the reason?”
In front of Shu fei, Pei shi still left Princess Huyang a bit of face and did not expose the fact that Huyang had come begging for money.
But even without Pei shi saying it, Shu fei knew perfectly well.
Huyang went to the wang fu every year to ask for money. How could she not know?
She simply left a little face for her daughter.
Gu Jiu and the others lowered their heads and smiled.
Pei shi and Princess Huyang, this pair of sisters-in-law, were openly crossing swords in front of Shu fei. There was a good show to watch.
In truth, everyone in the wang fu resented Princess Huyang’s yearly visits to ask for money.
If she only asked for a few hundred taels each time, that would be one thing. But Huyang never did. Every visit required three to five thousand taels, or even ten thousand taels or more. Nothing less would satisfy her.
Xiao Qin’er was particularly dissatisfied. That money all belonged to the wang fu. When the family assets were eventually divided, part of it would belong to her as well.
Every time Princess Huyang came asking for money, she was effectively taking a share of the wealth that should belong to her and Liu Yi. How could she possibly be pleased?
Ouyang Fu simply looked down on Princess Huyang’s character. She flaunted wealth in public, yet privately begged others for money. Truly shameless.
The corners of Gu Jiu’s lips curled slightly upward. No matter the era, shameless people often lived the most comfortably.
After taking other people’s money, they naturally felt entitled to live extravagantly and freely.
As for how others felt, they never cared.
You scrimp and save, finally managing to put aside a little money, only for someone to borrow it from you under various pretexts.
The borrower carries designer bags worth tens of thousands, wears expensive shoes, uses the most costly cosmetics, goes out to enjoy life every few days, travels every month or two, and lives in luxury.
When you ask them to repay the money, they answer righteously, “I only borrowed a little from you. Why do you keep asking every day? Aren’t you annoying?” Then comes the final line: “I have no money.”
No money to repay debts, yet plenty of money for travel and the latest luxury bags.
Anyone who saw that would be furious.
In some respects, Princess Huyang was exactly the same as certain people of later generations.
The difference was that Princess Huyang was born noble. She had the capital to flaunt her wealth, and she had people to clean up after her.
Thus Huyang courted disaster year after year and yet never truly suffered the consequences. At thirty years old, she was still like a spoiled child whose mind had never fully matured.
Princess Huyang said to Pei shi with complete confidence, “I came to speak with my wangxiong. Does saosao intend to interfere in that as well?”
Pei shi snorted inwardly. If Shu fei had not been present, she truly wanted to step forward and slap Princess Huyang. Shameless, brazen, utterly without dignity, it was enough to infuriate anyone.
Shu fei knew that Pei harbored resentment in her heart, so she stepped in to smooth things over. “Enough from both of you. Huyang, do not be rude to your saosao. Speak more respectfully.”
Princess Huyang lowered her head and admitted her fault. “Mufei is right. Your daughter was wrong. Saosao, please do not stoop to my level.”
Pei shi coughed lightly. “How would I dare argue with you?”
Princess Huyang covered her mouth and smiled. “I knew saosao was the most magnanimous of all.”
Pei shi was furious inside. Magnanimous, my foot.
She did not want to be magnanimous at all.
When she was young, she had suffered enough from concubines. Now that she was older, she still had to endure Huyang’s nonsense.
Absolutely ridiculous.
Shu fei rubbed her temples. Since ancient times, sisters-in-law were natural enemies.
She simply said, “Qin’er, come here. Bengong wishes to ask you, have you been mischievous in the wang fu?”
Xiao Qin’er was overjoyed. Shu fei had finally noticed her.
She cast a glance at Gu Jiu and snorted. Hmph, don’t think you can overshadow me.
Gu Jiu was speechless.
Was Xiao Qin’er really that good at imagining things?
Gu Jiu had not even done anything, yet Xiao Qin’er already looked as if she wanted to compete with her.
If Gu Jiu ever truly made a move, would Xiao Qin’er not tear her apart?
Xiao Qin’er was pretty and delicate, her voice crisp as an oriole’s song.
She answered respectfully, speaking only of good things and not mentioning the bad. Pei shi occasionally added a few comments.
Mother-in-law and daughter-in-law worked together with remarkable tacit understanding.
Xiao Qin’er was delighted. She thought that since wangfei was speaking to her so pleasantly today, perhaps her anger had already dissipated.
Once they returned to the prince’s residence, she would attend dutifully upon the wangfei and consolidate her position.
While they were talking, a palace servant came to report that Ning wang had arrived with the imperial grandsons.
Immediately afterward, Ning wang strode in like the wind, dressed in a dark brown robe.
“Is mufei well?”
Ning wang‘s voice was loud and powerful.
It was obvious that although Ning wang was somewhat absurd in conduct, he paid great attention to maintaining his health.
He only appeared older because he had grown a beard. If he shaved it off, he might once again be considered a handsome middle-aged man.
“There is no need for bengong to have you worry about me. How is your fuhuang?”
Ning wang sat directly in the first seat on the left. “You know the old man’s temper. When is he ever well? Today he scolded all of us brothers thoroughly. I was nearly hit by an inkstone, but luckily I dodged quickly.”
Shu fei cried out in alarm. “Why was your fuhuang so angry? Have you all caused trouble again?”
Ning wang shook his head. “How could that be? The Ministry of Revenue has no money and every year has to be subsidized by the shaofu. The old man is furious. He has long talked about clearing the debts owed to the Ministry of Revenue. It looks like this time he truly means it.
“We brothers each owe the Ministry of Revenue quite a bit of money. Added together, it is a huge sum. The Minister of Revenue submitted a memorial, pointing the spear directly at us princes. He declared that if we repaid our debts, the Ministry of Revenue would no longer have worries, and even military affairs would be free of concern.
“That old man from the Ministry of Revenue deliberately picks fights. He has gone too far. And the old man actually believed him and is forcing us to repay the money. Where am I supposed to find money to repay it?
“Yan wangdi and I tried to argue a few points, and the old man immediately started going mad, as if he wanted nothing more than to kill us.”
Listening to Ning wang‘s stream of complaints, Shu fei felt her heart nearly leap out of her chest.
“You, honestly. When speaking to your fuhuang, can you not be a bit more serious? Must you always quarrel and provoke his anger?”
Pei shi also looked nervous.
Princess Huyang, on the other hand, was panicking.
The Princess fu had also borrowed a considerable amount of money from the Ministry of Revenue. She did not know the exact amount, but it was certainly substantial.
Princess Huyang nervously asked, “Wangxiong, does fuhuang truly intend to clear the debts owed to the Ministry of Revenue?”
Ning wang laughed. “How could it be false? After the Lantern Festival, an imperial decree will be issued.”
Huyang immediately looked miserable. “I don’t have any money.”
Ning wang felt not the slightest sympathy. “If you have no money, think of a solution yourself. Benwang has no money either. Laoda, how is the matter benwang instructed you about last time?”
Liu Zhao frowned and looked at Ning wang. Was he really going to discuss such matters here?
Ning wang‘s face darkened. “If I tell you to speak, then speak.”
Liu Zhao said calmly, “There has been no progress.”
Ning wang was dissatisfied. “After all this time, why has there been no progress?”
Liu Zhao replied evenly, “First, the household expenses are enormous. Second, your son does not manage the accounts. Third, your son spends long periods in the military camp and has no time to handle such matters.”
The moment Gu Jiu heard this, she knew that Liu Zhao and Ning wang were talking about money.
Money gave people courage.
Even a prince, if he had no money, would find himself unable to move forward.
Ning wang had long anticipated that the Emperor was determined to clear the debts owed to the Ministry of Revenue. It was only a matter of time. Thus, before going to the imperial mausoleum, he had instructed Liu Zhao to gather funds and prepare in advance.
Liu Zhao had indeed gathered some money, but the amount was limited. He had added all of it to Gu Jiu’s betrothal gifts.
Originally, Pei shi had prepared only ten thousand taels as the betrothal gifts.
Liu Zhao thought it too little and secretly added another fifteen thousand taels.
Afterward, he had been busy continuously. Combined with the fact that he did not manage accounts and spent most of his time in military camps, the amount of money he could gather was naturally very limited.
In truth, the most important reason was that Liu Zhao had not taken the matter to heart.
He wanted to use this debt-clearing campaign as an opportunity to teach Ning wang a lesson.
He also wanted Ning wang to understand that money did not fall from the sky.
The wang fu appeared prosperous and luxurious on the surface, but signs of decline had already begun to emerge beneath that façade.
If things continued this way, perhaps one day the wang fu would become just like those poor relatives, constantly going around asking others for handouts.
The issue of debts owed to the Ministry of Revenue had given Liu Zhao an opportunity.
Liu Zhao wanted Ning wang to understand that whenever something happened, he could not always expect his son to do all the work.
As the father, he should set an example himself, lead from the front, and shoulder the enormous burden of solving the family’s financial problems.
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