88. The Conspiracy at the Banquet

Morning, Palace, Heart Cultivation Courtyard

While Hui Yue'er was teaching Qi Qi martial arts in the courtyard, she suddenly heard a knock at the door. She asked Qi Qi to answer it. Yue'er's position in the palace was rather peculiar—not high, not low. She had her own courtyard, which distinguished her from the other young ladies, yet she had not been officially conferred the title of concubine. Nevertheless, the eunuchs and maids treated her as they would a concubine, for etiquette forbade them from doing otherwise. Despite this, Yue'er's courtyard housed only Qi Qi as her sole maid, making her situation no different from the other young ladies.

Yue'er waited in the courtyard for the visitor to enter. A somewhat frail eunuch came in, holding a red skirt. He gave Qi Qi a proud glance, then approached Yue'er with a fawning smile. “Princess Siyue, to celebrate your recovery, Lady Shu has sent me to deliver a modest gift. She hopes to see your graceful figure adorned in this skirt at tonight’s banquet celebrating the Empress’s pregnancy!”

It was odd to receive a gift without any prior acquaintance. Something felt off. If Yue'er wore such a striking garment at tonight’s banquet, she would surely be suspected of attempting to outshine the Empress, thus sowing discord between them.

Sensing something amiss, Hui Yue'er declined politely, “I am grateful for Lady Shu’s kindness, but I cannot accept such a gift without merit. Please return it to her, good eunuch.” They had never exchanged a word before; this abrupt gesture was simply too suspicious.

The eunuch sneered coldly, “Princess Siyue, are you refusing Lady Shu’s favor? Lady Shu insists that you must wear this skirt at tonight’s banquet. She only wants what is best for you—win the Emperor’s favor and you may soar to greatness!” His smile was sharp as a blade. Another young lady might have been tempted by such words, but Yue’er, whose sole desire was to leave the palace, felt nothing but indifference.

Yue’er, clever as ever, understood Lady Shu’s intent. Yet, under another’s roof, one must sometimes bow to circumstance. She instructed Qi Qi to take the red skirt and smiled, “Please thank Lady Shu for her kindness on my behalf.” If refusal was impossible, accepting it was easy enough—but whether she wore it or not was her own decision. Yue’er had already made up her mind.

The eunuch left the Heart Cultivation Courtyard, seemingly satisfied. Qi Qi, puzzled, asked, “You don’t know Lady Shu. Why would she send you a skirt?” A naïve young girl could hardly grasp the intrigue of the inner palace.

Yue’er went inside, picked up scissors, and shortened the skirt’s hem by a few centimeters. Noticing Qi Qi’s bewildered gaze, she explained, “I refuse to be a pawn in the rivalry between the Empress and Lady Shu. Last time, the Empress made me dazzling at the little prince’s birthday feast to steal Lady Shu’s thunder. Now Lady Shu repeats the trick. Does she think I’m so easily manipulated? If she asks why I didn’t wear it, I’ll say the skirt didn’t fit. Qi Qi, every day in the palace demands caution.” Qi Qi nodded, but if someone truly wished to harm you, there was little you could do to prevent it.

Evening, Palace, Jingren Palace

Tonight’s banquet was a private affair, with no ministers present—just a family gathering among the women of the inner palace. Xuanyuan Ren thoughtfully helped Du Haiju to her seat. With no ministers, the concubines could sit below the dais, arranged according to rank. Mothers sat with their children in the front, while the young ladies took the last seats. As ever, the Emperor, Empress, and Empress Dowager occupied the dais.

Having attended such banquets before, Hui Yue’er could not help but wonder: Emperor, do you truly recognize all your wives?

Lady Shu stood and addressed Xuanyuan Ren, “Your Majesty, I would like Princess Siyue to sit beside me. What do you think?” To survive as a concubine in the palace required both courage and wisdom; without them, one would not last.

Xuanyuan Ren nodded, “Permission granted.” Du Haiju regarded the concubines indifferently. All she wanted was for her child to be born safely and grow up healthy—she had little concern for anything else.

A eunuch summoned Yue’er. Tonight, she wore a modest white dress and sat beside Lady Shu with a gentle smile. Inwardly, she was delighted: I refused to wear your skirt, so what can you do about it?

Xuanyuan Ren looked at Du Haiju, then at the assembled guests, his face gleaming with excitement. “Tonight, we gather to pray for the Empress and her unborn child, wishing for the baby’s safe arrival in this world…” He spoke many words of blessing. In truth, every pregnancy among the concubines was marked by such a ceremony, usually presided over by the Empress, and the Emperor did not always attend. This time, he hosted it himself for Du Haiju, partly as a warning to those with ill intentions.

Lady Shu had not expected Yue’er to defy her instructions. She whispered angrily, “A mere young lady dares to disobey my orders? Your audacity is astonishing. Are you truly the Empress’s confidante?” The gift of the skirt had been a test. If Yue’er complied, Lady Shu would let her be, but Yue’er’s stubbornness was not so easily subdued.

Yue’er shook her head. “Your Ladyship, what do you mean? The skirt you gifted me simply didn’t fit, so I had to wear this instead. If you doubt me, I can show you the skirt later. I regret disappointing your kind intentions!” She was secretly overjoyed; she would not be anyone’s pawn.

Lady Shu glared at Yue’er, thinking: If you choose unwavering loyalty to the Empress, then I cannot be blamed for what comes next! Yue’er underestimated the complexity of the situation, believing it was merely a rivalry between Lady Shu and the Empress. She had not realized how far from simple things truly were.

Ladies, gentlemen, elders, youth, and those neither young nor old, hurl your gold medals, red envelopes, and gifts at me. Spare nothing—let the storm rage on!