Chapter 143: The Princess Arrives

Thinking of this, Han Lianyan’s interest waned, and her tone became perfunctory. Since Lian Yue and Yao Yao had no intention of currying favor with her, their conversation gradually died down. Lian Yue’s gaze began to drift around the grand hall, scanning the women she had not yet had the chance to observe.

Most of the women in the hall appeared to be the Emperor’s concubines. They were dressed in the most magnificent finery, their faces adorned with exquisite makeup, whispering to one another. Yet, after a full circle, Lian Yue found not one among them who possessed the aura of a true empress. Even Concubine Yun, the target of her visit, seemed to be absent.

Lian Yue’s eyes suddenly met a gaze filled with jealousy. The woman was dressed in a rouge-pink palace gown, the hem embroidered with pale blue butterflies poised for flight, draped in a layer of white gossamer. Her ink-black hair was styled into a dignified Han-Yan hibiscus bun, meticulously pinned with golden-dusted begonia silk flowers.

Her face, oval-shaped and as fair as jade, featured a pair of faint dimples when she moved. Lightly applied rouge made her cheeks glow like a blooming crabapple flower, white with a flush of red. Her arched, dark brows seemed painted by nature; had her eyes not been clouded by jealousy, she would have been a truly captivating beauty.

Seeing Lian Yue observing her, the woman shed her envious glare. Her eyes instantly brightened with a bewitching, flirtatious charm, as if the previous look of jealousy had been nothing more than a trick of the light.

Lian Yue recognized her. When they had first entered, this woman had been by the Empress Dowager’s side, only taking a seat below once Lian Yu had finished her salutations.

Lian Yue rubbed her nose. It seemed she and Yao Yao had offended quite a few people the moment they stepped into the palace. As for how much of the Empress Dowager’s warmth toward them was genuine, Lian Yue was under no illusions.

She no longer wished to remain by the Empress Dowager’s side, but without a proper excuse, she could not simply leave. She cast several pleading glances toward Lian Yu, but to no avail.

Just then, a eunuch entered to announce the arrival of the Eldest Princess, Princess Ziyun, and Princess Zhaoyue. The Empress Dowager’s face lit up, and her spirits visibly lifted.

Taking the opportunity, Lian Yue pulled Yao Yao back to where Lian Yue and Lan Shui were sitting. After witnessing the princess she dubbed the "Turkey," she had little affection for the royal princesses.

She leaned in to whisper to Lian Yu, "Big Sister, which one in the hall is the Empress, and which is Concubine Yun?"

Lian Yu replied in a voice only the two of them could hear, "The Empress is likely in the rear hall, overseeing the preparations for the banquet. As for Concubine Yun..." A rare, mocking smile touched Lian Yu’s lips. "She will not appear until the banquet begins."

Lian Yue had initially thought Concubine Yun might be someone of substance, but hearing this, she realized the woman was merely playing petty tricks. Flaunting her arrogance and insolence simply because she had birthed a prince—and showing such disrespect at the Retired Emperor’s birthday banquet—suggested she did not hold much favor in the Empress Dowager’s heart.

As they spoke, a group of people entered the hall. The woman in the center, looking to be about twenty, wore a gown of layered green and pink gossamer, trailing elegantly upon the floor. Her hair was styled in a dignified falling-horse bun, accented with a pearl and jade hairpin. Her beauty was like a lotus rising from the water, and her entire demeanor exuded grace and virtue.

She held the hands of two small children. The little girl wore a butterfly-patterned dress, her lips pursed in a demure pout, while the little boy, adorned with a jade belt, had a square face with thick brows and large eyes—quite an adorable sight.

To the little girl's left stood a slightly shorter woman in a white plum-blossom gown. As she walked, she swayed like a willow in the wind. Lian Yue observed that her delicate features carried a sickly pallor; she was the very picture of a frail beauty.

The woman to the boy’s right had a fuller, more curvaceous figure, emphasized by her brocade gown, though her excessive jewelry made her appear somewhat gaudy.

They curtsied in unison to the Empress Dowager, "Granddaughter pays respects to Grandmother. May Grandmother be in good health." Then, they turned to Lian Yu, "Greetings, Fourth Aunt."

"No need for formalities among family. Take your seats. Yu Niang, Shui Lang, come here to me."

Lian Yu whispered, "The one in the center is the Eldest Princess, Qiao Meng, born of the Empress. To the left is the Eighth Princess, Princess Ziyun, Qiao Yun, born of the late Consort De. To the right is the Ninth Princess, Princess Zhaoyue, Qiao Jing, born of Consort Rong, who is currently in the rear hall."

"Yu Niang and Shui Lang are the Eldest Princess’s children, a pair of twins."

Lian Yue watched the Empress Dowager dote on them, a faint curl of her lip betraying her thoughts; blood was indeed thicker than water. The Empress Dowager’s attention remained fixed on her grandchildren.

The mothers of these three princesses were all sensible and respected consorts, so the Empress Dowager held them in higher regard, especially the frail Qiao Yun, whom she fussed over with extra concern.

"I heard the Fourth Sister-in-law’s younger sister has come as well. Which one is she?" The voice was gentle—naturally, it was the Eldest Princess, Qiao Meng. Lian Yu, only two years her senior, had always admired this poised princess. She took Lian Yue’s hand and said, "This is my younger sister."

Their conversation naturally drew the Empress Dowager’s attention. While playing with the children, she said, "Yue’er, if you count carefully, you are actually their elder. You must look after them well. And Yao Yao, I find her quite agreeable. Especially you, Yun’er, spend more time with them; a brightened spirit will surely improve your health."

"Yes, Grandmother," the three replied in unison, before turning to chat with Lian Yue and Yao Yao. Lian Yue felt a flicker of confusion—why had the Empress Dowager never mentioned Sister Lan? It was a question Lian Yu was also pondering.

With the Empress Dowager’s capabilities, she must have been aware of Lan Shui’s future standing. To leave Lan Shui so pointedly ignored was unfathomable. Fortunately, Lan Shui had always been indifferent to such things, though Lian Yu still felt a sense of unease.

As time passed, the hall grew increasingly crowded and lively. In the intervals, Lian Yu gave Lian Yue a brief introduction to the guests. Lian Yue finally learned that the woman in pink who had spoken earlier was Consort Jin, a long-favored concubine and the eldest daughter of the current Prime Minister; she was the mother of the Sixteenth Princess, born two years prior.

Only those with the rank of Pin or higher were invited to the banquet, yet even so, there were fifteen concubines present. Of the sixteen princesses, all were in attendance except for the young fourteenth, fifteenth, and sixteenth, and those married far away.

As for the wives and daughters of officials, those not close to the Empress Dowager had only offered their respects before being led by palace maids to a side hall.

The "Turkey," Princess Qiao Yu, was the last to arrive. Being the eleventh princess and not yet of age, she held no formal title. Perhaps Qiao Zhi’s words had truly stung her, for she had traded her usual fiery red attire for a purple-patterned gown. Compared to her usual arrogance, she was much more cautious before the Empress Dowager. After offering a submissive greeting, she retreated to the side of the concubines. Lian Yue recalled Lian Yu mentioning that this was Concubine Wan, a neglected consort.

Lian Yue filtered out the hostile glares Qiao Yu kept casting her way, deliberately whispering and gesturing toward the princess with Yao Yao. The mockery in their eyes was plain to see, and to Qiao Yu, it was clear they were mocking her.

Qiao Yu was seething; because of them, her Sixth Uncle no longer spoiled her as he once did. Just earlier, in the garden, she had tried to cling to him, only to be brushed aside.

Now they were bad-mouthing her? It was intolerable! She had to find a way to teach them a lesson while they were in the palace.

Concubine Wan noticed her daughter’s agitation and tugged at her sleeve, whispering, "Do not cause trouble today. They are not people you can afford to provoke."

Qiao Yu angrily shook off her mother’s hand and downed her tea, lacking any grace of a princess. A flicker of hidden light passed through Consort Jin’s eyes. She had never forgotten the things Qiao Yu had done to her own younger sister—not for a moment. It seemed today might be a good time to settle some debts.

With this thought, Consort Jin’s gaze toward Qiao Yu became more spirited, and her mood brightened. She turned to Lian Yue and Yao Yao with even greater enthusiasm.

She did not yet know that Qiao Zhi, whom her sister adored, had already lost his heart to Lian Yue. That, in truth, was her sister’s real rival.