Chapter 245
**Chapter 243: The Empress Dowager's Birthday**
Shen Wei chuckled softly and said, "You silly child, always lost in your thoughts."
Li Chengtai frowned, his little face serious. His mother was being poisoned by the other consorts, and here he was, trying to lighten the mood. All he wanted was for his mother to be safe and sound, to live a life free of suffering.
He shifted his gaze and locked eyes with his father.
Like a young wolf in a den, he scrutinized the king of the pack.
Li Yuanjing narrowed his dark eyes, seeing defiance reflected in his son's gaze.
This stubborn child.
Li Yuanjing thought to himself, other princes bowed respectfully before him, but Li Chengtai, who resembled him the most, shared his unyielding spirit.
He patted his son's shoulder, his voice low and steady: "There’s been flooding in the south. I’m heading to Chang'an Palace to gather the ministers and discuss relief efforts for the disaster areas. Since you have nothing to do, come with me."
Li Chengtai's eyes widened in surprise, stammering, "Me... me?"
Li Yuanjing nodded.
He wanted the boy to experience the daily affairs of the emperor, so he wouldn’t think that the emperor was idle all day.
With a long arm, Li Yuanjing pulled his son along to handle state matters. Shen Wei hurried after them, worriedly saying, "Your Majesty, Chengtai is still young; please don’t tire him out."
Inside, Shen Wei felt a surge of joy.
The emperor taking the child to participate in court affairs was a good omen! It laid the first foundation for Li Chengtai to inherit the great enterprise in the future.
Li Yuanjing replied, "I know my limits."
With that, he took his eldest son away.
In the room, another child, Li Chengyou, raised his empty bowl, looking at Shen Wei with wide eyes, calling out in a sweet voice, "Mother, I want a third bowl!"
Shen Wei smiled and pinched his chubby cheek, saying, "No, you’ll get too fat to ride a horse."
Li Chengyou: ...
After sending the three children away, Yongning Palace fell silent. Shen Wei stretched lazily and asked Cai Lian, "Has there been a reply from Master Ye at Wei Yan Pavilion?"
Cai Lian nodded, "Master Ye replied, saying he won’t let you down and will seize the opportunity."
Shen Wei smiled with delight.
The Empress Dowager's birthday banquet was a great opportunity for Ye Qiushuang to make an appearance before the Empress Dowager, allowing Shen Wei to open new markets for her shops in Yanjing and join the ranks of royal merchants.
...
On the fifth day of the fifth month, it was the Empress Dowager's birthday. Recently, some areas in the south had suffered from flooding, and the Empress Dowager, concerned for the people's suffering, decided to keep the birthday banquet low-key, avoiding extravagance.
Only the court ladies, noblewomen, and consorts of the harem were invited.
The banquet was held in Qinghua Hall.
As dusk approached, the noblewomen of Yanjing began to enter the palace for the feast. A luxurious carriage rolled up to the palace gates, and as the curtain was lifted, Lu Yun, the youngest daughter of Duke Lu, stepped down.
Dressed simply tonight, Lu Yun didn’t stand out among the flamboyant noblewomen. Her maid, puzzled, asked, "Miss, why are you dressed this way today?"
Lu Yun smiled slightly, "The Empress Dowager is concerned about the flooding in the south, and the banquet is modest. Naturally, I should dress simply."
This was a scene she had dreamt of before.
In that ominous dream that hinted at the future, Lu Yun had also seen herself attending the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet. She had been scolded by the Empress Dowager for her extravagant attire, and her sister, the Shufei, had suffered the consequences as well.
Learning from her mistakes, Lu Yun vowed not to err again by dressing simply.
She followed her maid into the palace. The long palace path stretched ahead, and as she casually glanced back, she noticed a woman in a light golden dress behind her, strikingly beautiful, poised and composed, with a sharp glint in her eyes.
Lu Yun frowned slightly. When did a new face appear in the circle of Yanjing noblewomen?
"Who is that young lady?" Lu Yun asked the maid leading the way.
The maid replied, "Miss Lu, that’s Ye Qiushuang, the shopkeeper of Wei Yan Pavilion."
Lu Yun was taken aback.
A woman from a lowly merchant family was actually invited to the banquet by the Empress Dowager?
Lu Yun racked her brain to recall her dream; it seemed there hadn’t been any merchant women in the palace.
Could it be that the dream and reality were diverging?
A wave of worry washed over Lu Yun as she discreetly assessed the woman named "Ye Qiushuang"—she looked decent enough, but her face showed signs of age, and her fingers were not delicate.
Lu Yun felt a bit relieved.
The emperor, having seen all kinds of beauty, would surely not be interested in such a rough appearance.
She touched her own fair cheek, a sense of anticipation bubbling within her. Tonight, at the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet, the emperor, who valued filial piety, would also be present.
She had to perform well, hoping to catch the emperor's eye and be chosen as a consort.
...
As the moon rose above the willow treetops, Qinghua Hall was bustling with activity.
Lu Yun sat among the noblewomen, eagerly gazing at the central seat of honor. Behind a beaded curtain, the thrones of the Empress Dowager and the emperor stood empty.
At the auspicious hour, the voice of the eunuch rang out: "The emperor has arrived, and the Empress Dowager is here."
The ladies all rose to pay their respects.
Once the formalities were completed, the banquet began.
Lu Yun had no interest in the delicacies before her; she fanned herself with a round fan, secretly observing the emperor at the main seat. Even through the translucent beaded curtain, the emperor's tall and imposing figure stirred the hearts of those who beheld him.
The empress was unwell and recuperating in Kun Ning Palace, unable to attend the banquet tonight. Below the main seat were the two most esteemed consorts in the harem, Chen Fei and Shu Fei.
Lu Yun cast a discreet glance at her sister, the Shu Fei, who was dressed simply today, with only a light touch of makeup, looking weighed down by worries.
Lu Yun shook her head inwardly.
Her sister had indeed aged; after having children, her charm had diminished.
Lu Yun’s gaze shifted to Chen Fei, Shen Wei, sitting nearby. Lu Yun furrowed her brows slightly; tonight, Chen Fei was radiant, her dark eyes bright and her skin as fair as snow, exuding an aura of vitality.
Among the array of colorful consorts, Chen Fei stood out the most.
Lu Yun was puzzled, murmuring to herself, "How did she become so beautiful...?"
The last time she saw Chen Fei, she had looked weary, like a pearl covered in dust; but now, she shone brightly, radiating brilliance.
Just as Lu Yun was lost in thought, the emperor rose from his seat, and the hall fell silent.
It was time for the gift-giving ceremony.
Li Yuanjing presented the Empress Dowager with a jade ruyi, symbolizing long-lasting blessings.
Next was Chen Fei, who gifted the Empress Dowager a delicate glass lamp, perfect for placing by the bedside, casting a soft light that was easy on the eyes and very practical.
Shu Fei Lu Xuan presented the Empress Dowager with a five-hundred-year-old ginseng; Yu Fei Zhang Miaoyu offered a rare fresh longevity peach from Jiangnan; and Mei Fei gifted a painting she had created, titled "Ink Plum Blossoms."
When the Empress Dowager saw the "Ink Plum Blossoms," her eyelids twitched.
Mei Fei Liu Ruyan was known for her cool demeanor, avoiding palace intrigues. The Liu family was loyal to the emperor, and although the Empress Dowager was displeased with Liu Ruyan, she refrained from expressing it openly.
When it was time for Lan Pin Xie Fanglan, she stood up with a beaming smile, respectfully bowing to the Empress Dowager: "On your birthday, I have prepared a special gift for you!"
With that, Lan Pin clapped her hands.
Two eunuchs wheeled in a cart covered with bright red cloth.
As the red cloth was lifted, a uniquely shaped Taihu stone appeared before everyone.
Its ancient charm was striking, with a beauty that was rugged, porous, slender, and translucent.
Lan Pin proudly declared, "Empress Dowager, I know you love Taihu stones, so I’ve brought you a hundred pieces, symbolizing longevity. This is just one of them. Tomorrow, I’ll have the palace servants move all the Taihu stones to your courtyard, with the rest placed in the imperial garden."
Lan Pin was from the Xie family, the Empress Dowager's own niece.
For this birthday banquet, Lan Pin had racked her brain to please the Empress Dowager. She had written home to inquire about the Empress Dowager's preferences and learned that she adored the "wondrous stones of Taihu" from Jiangnan.
Lan Pin catered to her tastes, having the Xie family procure a hundred Taihu stones from Jiangnan and transport them all the way to Yanjing to win the Empress Dowager's favor.
"Empress Dowager, I wish you longevity like the Taihu stones," Lan Pin said with a bright smile as she bowed.
The gifts from the other consorts were of little value. Only hers was the most expensive and rare.
The Empress Dowager sat behind the beaded curtain, her expression darkening.
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