The palace banquet – no one ate with peace of mind. Everyone pricked up their ears, listening to what the consorts might say.
But the consorts only chatted idly about trivial, flowery matters, not revealing a shred of useful information.
Among the ladies of the dukes’ households, apart from Zhen guogong furen whose face was full of worry, the rest all looked calm and untroubled.
The Empress being ill – wasn’t this a good thing? They hardly had time to celebrate, so why put on a worried face?
The only real concern was this: once the Empress passed away, would His Majesty use the opportunity to stir up a storm? Would it implicate their own families?
And also – once the court’s balance of power was reshuffled, should their households act first to seize the initiative? But that might arouse the Emperor’s suspicion and bring disaster instead.
After all, as the Kaiyao Emperor grew older, the narrower his heart became. He couldn’t tolerate even a speck of sand in his eyes. Anyone who displeased him – he would make sure their entire clan, three generations up and down, shared the misery.
Thinking of this, the duchesses all tacitly decided to hold back their forces and wait to see what happened.
The banquet was tasteless. Gu Jiu only took a sip of wine. The cold liquid slid down her throat, chilling her from head to toe.
Forget it! There was no way to eat properly at this banquet.
She set down her cup and quietly knelt behind Zhang shi and Xie shi.
Gu Yue kept her head lowered, thoughts unknown. Gu Shan stayed silent as a chicken the whole time – hardly saying a word today.
Bang!
Someone’s wine cup rolled to the ground, instantly drawing everyone’s attention.
Up ahead, Xue guifei covered her lips with a smile, glanced at the fallen cup, and said, “Xian fei jiejie, what’s the matter? Are your hands cold? Those damnable palace maids – how dare they give elder sister such an icy cup. They deserve death.”
“Niangniang, mercy! Mercy!”
At once, all the attendants – no matter their rank – fell to their knees, kowtowing in unison.
Xue guifei gave a cold snort, her authority sharp.
Xian fei spoke with a blank face, “Guifei niangniang overthinks. I didn’t hold it steady myself – it has nothing to do with others.”
Xue guifei laughed lightly. “Xian fei jiejie is as kindhearted as ever. Very well, since you have spoken, bengong will overlook this matter.”
Xian fei frowned, staring at her, dropping her usual calmness, “Overlook? Bengong smashed a cup, and bengong doesn’t care – what business is it of yours to ‘overlook’? Could it be that guifei really takes yourself for the Empress?”
The air inside the hall instantly froze. Everyone’s heart skipped a beat.
So–someone was about to stir trouble! Had the consorts finally lost patience?
The Empress wasn’t even dead yet, and already they were tearing at each other. Weren’t they afraid she might drag someone down with her at the last moment?
Xue guifei’s face changed dramatically, malice flashing in her eyes. “Xian fei jiejie, watch your words. Even if you resent the Empress for her indulgence, you must not curse her. She is Mother of the Realm – how dare you slander her?”
Xian fei trembled with rage – this was pure distortion, turning black into white, accusing the innocent. “You are the one slandering, speaking nonsense. Who here harbours crooked thoughts? Do you really believe this harem revolves around you?”
Xue guifei sneered, “Xian fei jiejie misunderstand. Neither you nor I rule this harem. Naturally, it is His Majesty and the Empress who do. Xian fei jiejie, you are already of such an age – you really should mind your tongue.”
Xian fei flushed red, snorted coldly, rose, and left with a sweep of her sleeves.
Xue guifei smiled with contempt. Just that little skill, and she dares to fight me? Overestimating herself.
Shu fei sat unmoving, never saying a word, sipping her wine at leisure.
Xue guifei turned, smiling brightly, “Shu fei jiejie, let’s drink together.”
Shu fei gave her a half-smile, “Spare me! Bengong would rather not be angered to death by you.”
The wine cup in Xue guifei’s hand froze midair – half like she’d been startled, half like she’d heard a ridiculous joke.
She covered her lips, laughing softly. “Shu fei jiejie really knows how to jest.”
Pure Consort glanced at her coldly. “Bengong never jests.”
Xue guifei gave a silent snort. “Enough – why should bengong press warmth against a cold face?”
Shu fei ignored her completely.
Gu Jiu, seated farther away, couldn’t hear the words clearly but saw all their movements.
From Xian fei storming out, to Shu fei’s cold rejection, to Xue guifei’s self-satisfaction – she observed it all.
She clicked her tongue inwardly. Had their relationships really sunk to this level? Showing open hostility right in front of everyone?
Was this really wise? Or had the palace conflicts already reached such a boiling point that there was no longer any need for pretence?
Gu Jiu heard Zhang shi sigh softly.
So she whispered, “Da bomu, is this serious?”
Zhang shi quietly advised her, “Leave the palace as soon as possible. If you stay longer, I fear something will happen.”
With the Empress’s health declining by the day, the consorts were almost literally tearing off their masks, ready to bare arms and fight openly.
Gu Jiu felt a chill of dread. This harem – truly no place fit for humans.
She thought of Jiang Yan, who had longed so much to climb upward. Had she managed to enter the palace smoothly? Where was she now? Was she satisfied, or was she trapped at the very bottom, suffering bitterly, seeing neither hope nor future?
A woman’s most beautiful youth lasted only a few short years. If Jiang Yan couldn’t seize the chance to rise at the height of her beauty, then her entire life would be bitterly hard.
Lost in such wandering thoughts, Gu Jiu continued to endure the torment of the palace banquet.
The palace banquet was tasteless to all, and it dispersed quickly. Zhang shi led Xie shi to pay respects to the matriarch, Wei lao furen, hoping to leave the palace early.
Wei lao furen nodded. “Yes, let us leave the palace. This year is unsettled. Everyone must be cautious.”
Zhang shi instantly breathed a sigh of relief.
Just then, the eldest madam, Wei shi, hurried to Wei lao furen’s side.
“Lao furen, I have just received news.”
“What news? Could it be about the Empress niangniang…”
Wei lao furen’s expression changed slightly. Could it be that the Empress had not even survived the very first day of the new year?
If the Empress had truly passed away, then everyone present today…
Wei lao furen’s brows furrowed, her complexion darkening. With her frail old bones, she feared she would not outlast the Empress’s mourning and might well die before her coffin.
But Wei shi quickly added, “It is not as lao furen imagines. I’ve heard that in the next few days, the imperial grandsons are to choose wives collectively. If nothing changes, both Qi’er and Ying’er are on the list.”
“What?”
The second madam, Wang shi, and the third madam, Duan shi, were immediately alarmed. “Dasao, is this news certain?”
Wei shi affirmed, “It is confirmed. The wives of the dukes heard it first – they are already discussing countermeasures.”
Everyone searched the hall for those duchesses, and sure enough, they were gathered together, each with a grave expression.
Wei lao furen asked, “Whose idea was this? Who would think of having the imperial grandsons choose wives en masse?”
Wei shi whispered, “It is said to be niangniang’s suggestion, and His Majesty agreed. This time, it seems the Pei family’s daughters will not be able to escape.”
So many eyes were fixed on the Pei daughters’ marriages because Lu hou held immense military power and influence.
As Lu hou’s daughter, the attention Pei Yun received far exceeded that of any princess or noble lady.
She had once fled her arranged marriage and run off to the northwest – did she really think no one in the capital knew? Everyone merely chose to keep silent.
If one could not marry Pei Yun oneself, then one would rather no one else have her either.
That Pei Yun had been able to slip out of the capital and reach the northwest safely was thanks to many open and hidden favours.
Now, just before the New Year, she had quietly returned.
It was clear to anyone with eyes that the Pei family was preparing to arrange her marriage.
Would Pei Yun wed into the imperial clan, or into the great noble houses? Everyone watched closely – because her marriage represented the Lu hou political stance.
All these years, his attitude had remained vague, ambiguous. The nobility said he was unsteady, biased, and likely to stab them in the back. The officials called him corrupt, ambitious, and untrustworthy – some even said he deserved death by a thousand cuts.
And yet, no matter how much the nobles and officials cursed him, all sought to win him over.
Whoever secured Lu hou’s allegiance would have the emperor’s throne firmly in hand.
But the old bastard – he took everyone’s money, yet never acted. A scoundrel through and through, infuriating beyond words.
And still, no one could touch him.
Fortunately, though the houye himself was immovable, he had children. Several daughters still unmarried – that was the opening.
His sons had all married either noblewomen or daughters of his generals – hardly a clear political signal.
But now it was the daughters’ turn. Surely he could not marry off his precious girls to mere subordinates’ sons?
As people said: daughters must marry up, sons may marry down. To marry Pei Yun to a general’s son would be like thrusting a fine blossom into cow dung – a waste.
Thus, Pei Yun’s marriage carried immense weight, full of possibilities and implications.
Wei lao furen thought it over and saw it clearly: though it seemed like an imperial match-making, in truth, it was a contest of factions.
“This water runs too deep. None of you is to reach your hands into it. As for Qi’er and Ying’er’s marriages, I shall decide with the houye as soon as possible. Now, let us leave the palace.”
Her expression was grave, and everyone grew anxious with her.
Zhang shi quietly sighed in relief – thank goodness she had no daughter, else she would worry herself to death.
Xie shi, however, began plotting. The imperial grandsons choosing wives – what an opportunity.
Gu Yue’s marriage was already set, but there was still Gu Shan. If Gu Shan could marry into the imperial line, what a blessing from the ancestors!
Seeing her look, Zhang shi quickly warned, “Dimei, this matter is not as simple as you think. Do not act rashly and bring disaster upon the whole family.”
Xie shi smiled faintly. “Dasao is right. Don’t worry, I won’t act rashly. My Shan’er is still young – her turn has not come yet.”
Zhang shi frowned, her tone serious. “Come, let us follow lao furen out of the palace.” But in her heart she was already resolved: once back home, she must remind Gu daren.
Whatever Xie shi was scheming must be nipped in the bud.
Meanwhile, Gu Jiu walked beside Gu Mei. “Mei jiejie, will this be all right?”
“I’m fine. But Qi meimei and Ying meimei may be in trouble.”
Gu Jiu whispered, “Has the matter with Zhao wang fu been resolved?”
Zhao wang fu had once tried to propose for Gu Qi, but the hou fu had firmly refused – even allying with the Empress herself.
Gu Jiu had never forgotten it, always wondering what became of the matter.
Gu Mei murmured, “For now, Zhao wang fu is quiet – it seems they’ve given up. But with this imperial selection, I fear they will stir again. I’ve heard that once an imperial grandson chooses, His Majesty will immediately issue an edict for marriage.”
Gu Jiu shook her head slightly. “That is not certain. For His Majesty to decree a marriage, the chosen bride must first meet his requirements.”
“For example, take Pei Yun jiejie of Lu hou fu – not just any imperial grandson can casually choose her as a wife. If someone doesn’t understand the situation and makes a reckless choice, His Majesty would not only refuse to grant the marriage decree, but might even be enraged.”
Gu Mei said, “Those imperial grandsons – Xiao Jiu, you haven’t interacted with them – each one is shrewd, sharper than the next. I’d say, this time when they choose their brides, there will surely be people fishing in troubled waters, taking the chance to stir up trouble.”
Gu Jiu nodded. That much was true.
The imperial grandsons had all received the very best education of the age – in thought, vision, and ability, none were comparable to ordinary men.
When it came to scheming and manipulation, they left most of their peers ten streets behind.
Even something as simple as selecting wives could be twisted by them into endless tricks and stratagems.
That the Empress suggested the imperial grandsons collectively choose brides – clearly, she harboured no good intentions.
Most likely, at the very end of her life, she wanted to stir up a great storm, plunging the situation into deeper chaos.
The more chaotic things became, the more clowns would jump out, all the better to highlight the Crown Prince’s benevolence and excellence.
If so, what reason would the Son of Heaven have to depose the Crown Prince?
When the grandsons looked bad, they indirectly made the princes themselves look bad.
And in a contest of “who is worse,” there is no bottom.
Better to let the Crown Prince inherit, for at least he still had the virtue of kindness.
The more Gu Jiu thought about it, the more she felt the Empress was unfathomable, her methods extraordinary.
It was just a pity – she could not fight fate, nor the Kaiyao Emperor.
Gu Jiu secretly sighed. The Empress was truly a woman who stood shoulder to shoulder with men, yet sadly, her son was not even half her measure. Pitiful, lamentable.
No doubt the Empress herself was deeply unwilling.
The Gu family smoothly left the palace, boarded their carriage, and returned to their residence.
Gu daren also returned in the late afternoon.
Xie shi sent someone to invite him to Furong Yuan.
“You’ve had a hard day, laoye.”
Gu daren’s face was dark and stern. “I hear that at the palace banquet, Xian fei smashed her wine cup and stormed off?”
Xie shi was startled, quickly drawing close to him. “Even laoye has heard of this?”
Gu daren gave a cold snort. “News of what happens at the palace banquet is reported to His Majesty immediately. If I already know, then likely the whole capital knows as well.”
Xie shi felt a chill of fear. “Qieshen never expected to witness that scene. But qieshen was sitting far away, so I didn’t hear what exactly the consorts were saying.”
“No matter. Benguan already know the general reason.”
Xie shi grew curious and asked, “What reason? Does Xian fei bear a grudge against Xue guifei?”
Gu daren lowered his voice. “A short while ago – two, three months at most – Zhao wang slapped Yan wang across the face.”
“What?”
Xie shi could not believe it.
Gu daren continued, “It happened right in the palace, under His Majesty’s very eyes. Zhao wang is the elder, Yan wang the younger. Struck by his elder brother, Yan wang could not strike back, but he surely holds resentment. Since Xian fei is his mother, she naturally shares his hatred toward Xue guifei and her son.”
Xie shi shuddered with unease. “Have the princes and consorts truly reached such a stage?”
Gu daren nodded. “The old houye reminded me – we must keep our distance from these princes. We absolutely must not get entangled in their struggles.”
Xie shi agreed at once. “Laoye speaks wisely. Today I also heard some news – they say the imperial grandsons will all choose wives in the coming days. Lao furen is very worried, afraid that Gu Qi or Gu Ying might be chosen.”
Gu daren frowned. “That is indeed a troublesome matter. But surely lao furen and houye will find a way to deal with it.”
“Laoye, though everyone fears being chosen, if a girl could marry into a wang fu that does not contend for the throne, qieshen was thinking… perhaps it wouldn’t be a bad match.”
Gu daren narrowed his eyes. “What exactly are you trying to say?”
Xie shi, uneasy, nevertheless said, “Qieshen was thinking… perhaps Shan’er should seize this opportunity.”
“Absurd!” Gu daren barked furiously, “Did you not hear a single word I just said? I told you – we must keep away from princes, imperial sons, and imperial grandsons. Yet you still push us toward them! Are you in such a hurry to see me dead?”
Xie shi panicked. “Laoye, qieshen didn’t mean it like that. Qieshen only wished for Shan’er to marry into a good family.”
Gu daren was nearly driven to rage. “Silence! There are countless good families in the world – why must she marry an imperial grandson? Let me tell you, this is the capital, not the northwest.
“Do you not understand? A single misstep here could mean eternal damnation. Do you think a wang fu can live out a peaceful, prosperous life simply by avoiding the struggle for the throne? Foolish dream!
“You are truly a disappointment to me. How blinded by greed are you, that you see only short-term gain and ignore the deadly risks? One day, you will be the death of benguan.”
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