Chapter 155: The Eight Major Powers
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Updated: August 16, 2013
“All right, let us go.” The Empress Dowager seemed to have forgotten that Consort Yun was supposed to offer her respects and simply gave the order.
From the side, Lianyue noticed that the corner of Empress Wei’s ornate sleeve was visibly wrinkled. It seemed the empress was far from pleased. Lianyue then glanced toward the empress’s three daughters. Even the gentle eldest princess was lightly biting the corner of her lip, a trace of anger in her eyes. Her excellent upbringing, however, told her that this was absolutely not the time to speak.
The fourth princess stared coldly at Consort Yun, her proud lips curved in open mockery. She was just about to speak when the sixth princess standing beside her stopped her.
The sixth princess bore the greatest resemblance to Empress Wei. She had married the son of the empress’s maternal family, Grand Secretary Wei—in other words, her own cousin, Wei Huaiyu. The Wei family now supported Crown Prince Qiao Ke, and having grown up surrounded by such influences, the sixth princess understood the current situation even more clearly.
If the sisters questioned Consort Yun now, they would only create trouble for their mother.
The sixth princess also seemed to notice Lianyue’s gaze. She nodded at her courteously, then glanced at her fourth sister with faint reproach.
That gesture immediately increased Lianyue’s favorable impression of the sisters. Perhaps this time, she really could help them.
Aside from the empress, the three consorts and imperial concubines who had been ignored by Consort Yun also wore rather unpleasant expressions.
The midday banquet was arranged in the rear hall of the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility. In the magnificently decorated hall, low tables stood in neat rows. In the side hall, a lively gathering of noblewomen who had entered the palace to offer their congratulations chatted animatedly.
When Lianyue crossed the threshold of the main hall, silence fell. Then a chorus of voices rang out in perfect unison.
“Greetings to Her Majesty the Empress Dowager, Her Majesty the Empress, and His Highness the Crown Prince. May Your Majesties and Your Highness live for ten thousand years.”
“Greetings and blessings to the imperial consorts, the Princess of Nanping, Consort Yun, and the princesses.”
“You may rise.” The Empress Dowager’s voice was as warm and gentle as ever.
Lianyue secretly clicked her tongue. The rules of the imperial palace were truly excessive; at every turn, one had to bow and offer greetings. Following her eldest sister, Lianyue sat beside the low table on the second step of the dais. Lanshui and Yaoyao sat close beside them. As a secondary consort of the princely household, Zhong Yufei sat at the low table behind Lianyu.
The empress sat across from them, while Consort Yun took the seat opposite Yaoyao. Her displeased eyes remained fixed on Qiao Ke, who was obediently following at the Empress Dowager’s side.
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Once they had taken their seats, the other people in the hall sat down in turn.
The empress gave a slight signal to the matron behind her, and jade plates laden with rare delicacies began arriving in an orderly, seemingly endless stream.
The women of the imperial palace once again began their subtle schemes and intrigues. Lianyue quietly ate the delicacies before her. As one would expect from the imperial chefs, every dish was both exquisite and delicious.
To be honest, Lianyue wished time would pass more quickly. Such splendid food was being wasted on these tedious people and their tiresome conversation. As a result, she no longer had much anticipation for the evening banquet either.
Her thoughts began to drift, and she could not help wondering what An Ming was doing at that moment.
The man she thought of day and night was currently in the Palace of Heavenly Purity, where the eight great powers of the Nishang Empire had gathered beneath one roof. Aside from Yue Lingjun, representing the Yue family; Meng Chuchen, representing the Hidden Sect; Yu Wen Lingxi, also known as Xiao, representing the Yu Wen family; Zhou Man, representing the Zhou family; and An Ming, representing the Rakshasa Hall, there was also a middle-aged man dressed like a scholar, with a scholarly beard, and a young woman in flowing white robes whose beauty was breathtaking.
They represented Dawnwind Pavilion and Misty Rain Tower respectively.
Together with the current emperor, they were the only eight people in the hall.
On the surface, this birthday banquet was held to celebrate the Supreme Emperor’s birthday. In truth, its real purpose was to provide the eight great powers with a legitimate place to gather. Once every three years, the eight powers held such a meeting. Disputes that had arisen among them over the preceding three years, as well as the division of interests among the various powers for the coming three years, would all be settled and determined at this gathering.
The current emperor of the Nishang Empire was not seated upon the throne symbolizing his supreme status. Looking at the new faces who had appeared this year, he felt a surge of emotion. Each of the eight great powers possessed an exceptionally talented successor. Only the imperial family, in his generation, had reached a point where capable heirs were in short supply.
He also understood that if the Supreme Emperor had not been guarding the imperial family, and if his full brother had not married the eldest daughter of the Yue family—while the Yu Wen and Zhou families had consistently stood alongside the Yue family—the imperial house would long ago have become a cake for everyone to divide, with not even a crumb left in the end.
Qiao Yi’s gaze lingered only briefly before he coughed twice and spoke first.
“Since everyone has gathered here today, let me begin.”
Qiao Yi was not trying to play the gracious host. Compared with the others, the imperial family was indeed facing the most serious problems.
“First, Crown Prince Qiao Ke’s position will not be shaken. Once he reaches adulthood, I will abdicate in his favor.”
Yue Lingjun’s brows lifted slightly, and he gave a cold snort inwardly.
Adulthood? Qiao Ke had just turned five today. In other words, so long as Qiao Yi continued sitting upon the throne, Qiao Ke would have to wait until he was fifteen before ascending it. By then, Qiao Yi’s own son would already be eleven. Would the only imperial prince willingly submit to the position of a subject? Besides, ten years was more than enough time for ambitious people to accomplish many things, and enough to bring about countless unforeseen changes.
Yet Yue Lingjun did not voice these thoughts. According to the agreement among the eight great powers, once one party was speaking, no one—regardless of identity—was permitted to interrupt.
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“Second, all of you must promise me that my imperial son will live out his life in peace and safety.”
This condition was directed at the Rakshasa Hall. In other words, from the moment of their birth, all of his sons would be placed on the Rakshasa Hall’s red list and would never be removed from it for the rest of their lives.
“Third, no direct member of any of the seven great powers may marry an official of the Nishang Empire holding the fourth rank or higher, nor any relative of such an official.”
When he stated this final condition, Qiao Yi’s tone was the heaviest. This was the matter he cared about most.
According to seniority, the Zhou family naturally went next. Zhou Man was secretly astonished. Qiao Yi’s three conditions had all been predicted by his son without exception. Before setting out, his son had naturally also told him the conditions on behalf of the Zhou family. Zhou Man knew them by heart and, after embellishing them slightly, expressed them in his own words.
“If the imperial family wishes to decide who ascends the throne, my Zhou family has no particular objection. We have only one request: my second brother’s grandson must not suffer the slightest harm. As for your third condition, it is too rigid. If two people truly love one another, are we really supposed to tear them apart? However, the Zhou family can guarantee that we will never support or provide assistance to any officials under your authority.”
Qiao Yi frowned slightly, but all disputes would have to be left until the end.
“Of course, this old man has one more request. My Zhou family wants the rights to transport goods along the north-south canals. I am finished. Let the next party speak.”
Although Zhou Man did not know why his son, who resembled Elder Brother Yu Wen in certain ways, wanted to take food from the imperial family’s mouth, his task was simply to repeat the conditions. Everything else was none of his concern.
The middle-aged man from Dawnwind Pavilion was its master, Yu Tanfeng. He glanced at Zhou Man with an expression that was half a smile and half not, then spoke in a single, simple sentence.
“Dawnwind Pavilion has no other demands. We require only jurisdiction over the Southern Barbarian Mountains. We have no objection to any of your conditions.”
If Zhou Man’s demand had merely caused Qiao Yi to frown, Yu Tanfeng’s demand made him want to throw a punch.
Dawnwind Pavilion was like a dog that never barked, yet when it bit, it could tear away an entire piece of flesh.
The Southern Barbarian Mountains stretched for hundreds of miles. Tribes stood scattered throughout them, and rare plants and exotic beasts were found in abundance. It was also the Nishang Empire’s principal source of medicinal herbs. Dawnwind Pavilion called it a request for jurisdiction, but in truth, it wanted the enormous profits represented by those medicinal resources. How could Qiao Yi not feel the pain?
Beneath the table, Qiao Yi’s hands clenched tightly into fists.
It seemed that the great powers had all come prepared this time. Did they truly think the imperial family was some soft persimmon to be squeezed at will?
“Hee hee...” The white-robed woman, Chai Mengqing, hid half her face behind her sleeve. Her enchanting gaze swept over everyone before she spoke softly.
“Misty Rain Tower remains as it has always been. We have no changes.”
“The mining rights to the iron deposits,” Yu Wen Lingxi, also known as Xiao, stated. He was repeating the condition his father had given him earlier, though naturally, this was not the final demand.
“My Yue family wants only the true culprit who framed the eldest daughter of the Yue family,” Yue Lingjun said, following immediately afterward.
By now, the Yue family and the Hidden Sect could be said to have become one. They complemented each other in every respect, and this was their true objective.
“The Hidden Sect also hopes that the imperial family will bring the real culprit to justice.”
After these words were spoken, only Yu Tanfeng and Chai Mengqing showed the slightest change in expression. Everyone else had long known of the relationship between the Yue family and the Hidden Sect. However, only two or three people in each family were aware of the connection, so no one was surprised.
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