অধ্যায় একশত তেইশ: রাজকুমারীর আগমন

এ all thoughts floating through her mind made Han Lianyan lose much of her enthusiasm, and her tone grew perfunctory. Since neither Lianyue nor Yaoyao felt any need to deliberately flatter her, the conversation gradually dwindled, and Lianyue’s gaze began to wander around the grand hall, taking in the female dignitaries she hadn't had time to observe earlier.

Judging by their appearances, most of the women in the hall were imperial consorts. They wore the most exquisite makeup and the most lavish attire, chatting softly amongst themselves. Yet, after sweeping her gaze across the room, Lianyue could not find a single one who possessed the majestic aura fitting an empress. Nor did she spot her primary target for the day, the coveted Consort Yun.

Suddenly, Lianyue’s eyes locked onto a gaze brimming with jealousy. The owner of this gaze was dressed in a rouge-pink court gown, the hem embroidered with pale blue butterflies poised for flight, draped in a sheer white outer gauze. Her raven-silk hair was fashioned into an elegant Han-yan hibiscus bun, adorned with a tasteful arrangement of gold-sprinkled pearl-centered begonia silk flowers.

Her oval face was as delicate and fair as jade, with a pair of faint, enchanting dimples gracing her cheeks. A light dusting of rouge tinted her complexion to resemble a newly blossomed qiong flower, white tinged with a rosy flush. Her arched, dark brows looked as though they had been naturally shaped rather than painted. If not for the heavy veil of jealousy clouding her eyes, she would have cut a truly touching and beautiful figure.

Noticing Lianyue studying her, the woman instantly wiped the jealousy from her gaze. Her eyes sparkled with a dazzling, intoxicating charm, as if the bitter look a moment before had merely been an illusion on Lianyue’s part.

Lianyue recognized her. When they had first entered, this very woman had been keeping the Empress Dowager company, only moving to a lower seat after Lianyu paid her respects.

Lianyue rubbed her nose, realizing she and Yaoyao seemed to have offended quite a few people the moment they stepped into the palace. As for just how genuine the Empress Dowager’s affection towards her and Yaoyao truly was, Lianyue harbored no illusions.

She had no desire to linger near the Empress Dowager any longer, but lacking a proper excuse to leave, she cast a helpless glance toward Lianyu more than once, only to receive no response.

Just at that moment, a eunuch entered from outside to announce the arrival of the Grand Princess, Princess Ziyun, and Princess Zhaoyue. Joy lit up the Empress Dowager’s face, instantly revitalizing her spirits.

Seizing the opportunity, Lianyue pulled Yaoyao back to where Lianyu and Lanshui were standing. Having already witnessed the princess she mentally dubbed the "turkey," she had very little affinity left for the royal princesses.

Instead, she whispered to Lianyu, "Elder sister, which one in the hall is the Empress, and which one is Consort Yun?"

Lianyu replied in a voice meant only for the two of them, "The Empress should currently be in the inner hall overseeing the upcoming banquet. As for Consort Yun..." A rare, satirical smile touched the corner of Lianyu's lips, "...she won't show her face until the banquet actually begins."

Lianyue had initially thought Consort Yun was someone of consequence, but hearing her eldest sister put it this way, it seemed she was merely someone who resorted to petty, underhanded cleverness. Relying on having given birth to an imperial prince, she acted with such arrogance and overbearing pride. To treat the Grand Emperor's birthday banquet with such disdain meant she likely didn't hold a very deep place in the Empress Dowager's heart either.

While they were whispering, a group of people walked through the entrance of the grand hall. The woman in the center was slightly older, around twenty years of age, wearing a verdant green sheer gauze gown patterned with large hibiscus blossoms, trailing a pink narcissus-and-green-leaf patterned skirt that swept the floor, draped in a gossamer green silk cape with gold threads. Her dignified wind-fall hair bun was pinned with a pearled and jade-inlaid hanging hairpin, her face as radiant as a lotus emerging from water, exuding an air of utmost grace and virtue.

Her hands held two small children, one on each side. The little girl wore a smoky butterfly dress with a quiet, pursed pout, while the little boy was cinched with a jade belt, sporting a square little face with thick brows and large eyes, looking quite adorable.

To the left of the little girl stood a slightly shorter woman dressed in a floor-length, smoky-plum white silk gown. As she walked, she swayed like a delicate willow in the wind. Looking closer, Lianyue noticed a sickly pallor beneath the woman’s striking features—she was the epitome of a frail beauty.

To the right of the little boy was a plump woman whose water-patterned eight-treasures skirt only served to accentuate her full and curvaceous figure, though the sheer abundance of pearls and gemstones draping her body felt somewhat gaudy.

Behind them followed two matrons and three maidservants.

They gracefully dipped their knees in a joint salute to the Empress Dowager. "Your grandchildren pay their respects to Grandmother, wishing her peace and longevity."

Then they turned to salute the direction of Lianyu. "Greetings, Fourth Aunt."

"We are family, no need for such formal courtesies. Grant them seats. Yuniang, Shuilang, come quickly to Grandmother's side."

Lianyu murmured softly, "The one in the middle is Grand Princess Qiao Meng, born of the Empress. The one on the left is the Eighth Princess, Princess Ziyun, Qiao Yun, born of the late Consort De. The one on the right is the Ninth Princess, Princess Zhaoyue, Qiao Jing, born of Consort Rong, who is currently in the back hall."

"Yuniang and Shuilang are the Grand Princess's children, a pair of fraternal twins."

Seeing the Empress Dowager’s clear favoritism toward the two children, Lianyue curled her lip slightly inward; blood truly ran thicker than water. The Empress Dowager’s attention had completely shifted to her own grandchildren.

The mothers of these three princesses were all sensible and well-regarded consorts within the palace, earning them a higher standing in the Empress Dowager's eyes, particularly the frail Princess Ziyun, prompting the Empress Dowager to offer a few extra words of caution and care.

"I heard Fourth Sister-in-law’s younger sister has also come this time. I wonder which one she is?" The gentle, melodious voice belonged naturally to Grand Princess Qiao Meng. Lianyu, who was only two years her senior and had always deeply appreciated this poised and tactful Grand Princess, took Lianyue by the hand and said, "This is my younger sister."

Their conversation naturally drew the Empress Dowager’s attention. While still doting on the little ones beside her, the Empress Dowager remarked, "If you truly count the generations, Yue'er is actually your elder. You should look after her more. And Yaoyao has also struck a wonderful chord with me. Especially you, Yun'er, you should spend more time with them. Once your mood opens up, your health will naturally improve."

"Yes, Grandmother," the three of them answered in unison, before turning to make casual conversation with Lianyue and Yaoyao. A flicker of confusion crossed Lianyue's eyes—why had the Empress Dowager never once mentioned Sister Lan? This was a question currently occupying Lianyu's mind as well.

Given the Empress Dowager's influence, she should be well aware of Lanshui's future status, yet leaving Lanshui hanging in such a manner felt inscrutable. Fortunately, Lanshui had never cared for such trifles, though it still left a lingering discomfort in Lianyu's heart.

As time passed, the crowd within the grand hall grew larger and the atmosphere increasingly lively. Taking advantage of a lull, Lianyu roughly introduced the people present in the room to Lianyue. Only then did Lianyue learn that the powder-clad woman who had spoken first was Consort Jin, who had enjoyed unflagging imperial favor over the past two years, as well as being the eldest daughter of the current Prime Minister. The sixteenth princess was born to her the year before last.

Only consorts of the rank of pin and above were permitted to attend today, yet even so, there were still fifteen consorts present in the hall. As for the sixteen princesses, apart from the young fourteenth, fifteenth, and sixteenth princesses, as well as the third and seventh princesses who had been married far away, every single one of them was in attendance.

As for the female relatives of officials, aside from those close to the Empress Dowager who remained in the main hall, the rest had merely paid their respects before palace maids led them away to an adjacent side hall.

The "turkey" had arrived the latest. She was the eleventh in birth order and had not yet come of age, hence she held no formal title. Perhaps Qiao Zhi’s words had truly stung her, because today she completely discarded her usual blazing red attire in favor of a purple gauze gown patterned with green threads. Compared to her overbearing arrogance the other day, she behaved with far greater caution before the Empress Dowager. Having obediently performed her greetings, she retreated to stand beside the concubines. Lianyue vaguely recalled Lianyu mentioning earlier that this was Consort Wan, a disfavored concubine.

Facing the hostile glare shot her way by Qiao Yu, Lianyue simply filtered it out, purposely exchanging subtle whispers and gestures with Yaoyao while occasionally casting looks of utter mockery toward Qiao Yu. To Qiao Yu, these scenes naturally translated into the two of them conspiring against her and mocking her behind her back.

Qiao Yu was currently boiling with suppressed fury. Because of them, her Sixth Uncle no longer pampered her the way he used to; just earlier, when she had tried to cling to her Sixth Uncle in the garden, he had shaken her off directly.

Now they were actually sitting there making fun of her—it was simply too hateful! She had to find an opportunity today in the palace to teach them a proper lesson.

Consort Wan naturally sensed her daughter’s agitation and tugged at the hem of Qiao Yu’s skirt from below, whispering, "No making trouble today. They are not people you can afford to provoke."

Fuming with resentment, Qiao Yu shook off her mother’s hand and snatched up the teacup before her, gulping down its contents in a manner that bore no resemblance whatsoever to a princess. A fleeting, dark flash crossed Consort Jin’s eyes. She had kept a meticulous record of all the things Qiao Yu had done to her own younger sister, never forgetting a single instance for even a moment. It seemed today presented a fine opportunity to settle a few scores.

With this thought, the gaze Consort Jin cast toward Qiao Yu grew sharper and more astute, lifting her spirits considerably and making her all the more warmly enthusiastic toward Lianyue, Yaoyao, and the others.

She had no inkling as yet that Qiao Zhi, the very man her younger sister was infatuated with, had already lost his heart to Lianyue, making them true rivals in love.