Chapter 130: The Beauty
The grand palace feast was, after all, a family banquet for New Year’s Eve. Although everyone was initially intimidated by the emperor’s authority, and even after the feast had been underway for some time, no one dared to speak up—each person either silently focused on the exquisite dishes served by the palace attendants or stared blankly at the dull and tedious dance performances. However, this silence was soon broken when someone brought up Lan Wu.
Lan Wu was seated in such a prominent position, yet she remained low-key. She didn’t know many people, so when the older-looking lady seated across from her mentioned her name, she was taken aback.
Behind Princess Consort Rui sat the consort of the heir, whom Lan Wu had already met and exchanged a few words with earlier. Now, seeing the lady in front of her, Lan Wu instantly guessed her identity.
Princess Consort Rui looked at Lan Wu with a gentle expression and a warm smile, speaking politely as she praised Lan Wu’s beauty.
“I had long heard that Your Majesty had a beautiful new companion by his side. Now that I’ve seen her, I know the praise was not exaggerated. I can only imagine how lovely the child of Your Majesty and Her Ladyship will be.” At this, Princess Consort Rui’s eyes brightened even more as she continued, looking at Lan Wu, “Your Majesty has few heirs. If Her Ladyship could soon bring a royal descendant into the imperial family, it would surely be the greatest joy of the year—”
Lan Wu listened in a daze, instinctively glancing up at the emperor. She remembered Chu Mingheng saying he didn’t like children. Now that Princess Consort Rui had brought this up in front of so many people, would it displease him?
But unexpectedly, Chu Mingheng merely curved his lips slightly and said slowly, “Imperial Aunt brings this up every year. Aren’t you tired of saying it?”
He didn’t seem angry at all; in fact, his tone was gentle. He smiled softly at Lan Wu and added, “But Ah Wu is still young. There’s no hurry.”
With that, he picked up his wine cup and raised it toward Princess Consort Rui. “I heard that Uncle’s household has just welcomed a new son. I haven’t had the chance to offer my congratulations yet. I’m sure the child will grow up to be wise and intelligent. I’ve already prepared gifts, which you may take with you when you leave the palace.”
After these words, Prince Rui and Princess Consort Rui stood up together, followed by the heir of Prince Rui and his consort, all bowing in gratitude.
Once they had expressed their thanks and sat back down, each of them wore a faint expression of joy, especially the consort of the heir. Her child, having just been born, had already received praise and gifts from the emperor, ensuring a bright future as he grew up.
Lan Wu didn’t say a word, but she found it strange that Chu Mingheng’s attitude toward Prince Rui’s family was so mild.
As if sensing her confusion, Dan Shan took the opportunity while pouring tea for her to whisper, “Princess Consort Rui is the younger sister of Empress Dowager Jingwen and has a very close relationship with her.”
No wonder Princess Consort Rui could speak in such a familiar, almost familial manner.
With this exchange easing the atmosphere, the hall soon became lively again. One musical piece ended, and another began.
On Lan Wu’s seat were two cups: one filled with wine, the other with warm tea. Knowing her own tolerance for alcohol, she didn’t touch the wine at all. Just as she was about to take a sip of tea, the music changed again.
Although Lan Wu had grown up in the Music Bureau and had heard many musical pieces, this one was different—it was all too familiar.
She slowly turned her gaze toward the entrance of the hall and saw familiar dance steps.
So that’s how it is. She had wondered why Consort Shu had been so quiet for so long, calmly allowing her to sit in this position. It turned out she had long prepared a way to humiliate her.
Lan Wu watched with keen interest the leading dancer performing the same dance she once did—young and beautiful like her, with a veil covering her face, clearly meant to maintain an air of mystery.
But as she watched intently, she felt the dancing woman looked somewhat familiar.
The imperial concubines fell into a deathly silence, while the opposite seats remained oblivious. They had not entered the palace during the Longevity Festival and thus had not seen the dance Lan Wu performed. Now, as before, they watched this beautiful dance with mild appreciation.
Those who were clever sensed the tense atmosphere across the hall and were the first to wipe the smiles from their faces, falling silent as they cautiously observed the reactions of those in higher positions.
Meanwhile, Consort Shu accidentally knocked over the wine cup on the table.
“Your Highness, are you all right?” Yunqing quickly steadied the cup, preventing the wine from spilling onto Consort Shu’s dress.
Consort Shu gritted her teeth and clenched her hands.
Was she all right? She was in serious trouble.
This dance was not part of her originally planned program. She wasn’t foolish enough to openly provoke His Majesty in his presence—if this could even be considered provocation…
She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and then opened them again, swiftly scanning the faces around her—who was behind this act?
She glanced at Noble Consort Li sitting to her right, only to see her expressionless, not even looking in her direction.
Was it not Noble Consort Li?
Then who could it be?
Before she could figure it out, she suddenly felt a sharp gaze fixed on her, as if she were already a dead woman.
Consort Shu shivered all over, not daring to look up at the owner of that gaze.
Lan Wu, however, glanced at Chu Mingheng and noticed his lowered gaze shifting from Consort Shu to her.
His dark, ink-like eyes clearly conveyed a mix of emotions—displeasure, appeasement, reassurance, and even a hint of teasing.
As the music came to an end, the dance in the center of the hall also concluded.
The others withdrew, leaving only the veiled woman in the center, who stepped forward and knelt.
Her kneeling posture formed a graceful curve, but it was clear she knelt properly—neither deliberately seductive nor intentionally awkward—offering a respectful greeting to the emperor above.
Chu Mingheng cast a casual glance downward, not intending to say anything.
Seeing this, Prince Wei, seated below, hesitated for a moment on his deliberately smiling face. Seemingly wanting to ease the tension as Princess Rui had done earlier, he laughed and said, “Your Majesty, this beauty’s dance and music are quite exquisite. She deserves a reward. With Your Majesty ruling the realm, even beauties flock to you.”
After speaking, he laughed heartily twice.
But when he finished laughing, he realized there was no sound around him.
Prince Wei quickly wiped the smile from his face, looking puzzled for a moment before cautiously raising his head to glance at Chu Mingheng.
“Oh?” Chu Mingheng spoke slowly and deliberately, his icy gaze falling upon him. “You think her dance and music are exquisite, and that she is a beauty.”
Prince Wei didn’t know what he had said wrong, but goosebumps rose all over his body. His face darkened as he forced a reaction, rising from his seat and kneeling before Chu Mingheng. “Your Majesty, this humble brother spoke out of turn earlier. I beg Your Majesty’s forgiveness.”
Chu Mingheng’s expression remained impassive as he shifted his gaze back to the woman standing at the center of the hall. Without uttering a word, he leaned casually against the chair behind him, propping his chin with one hand, and gave Chen Kangan a slight nod.
Seeing this, Chen Kangan immediately understood. He stepped forward and declared, “Since you are in the presence of His Majesty, how can you remain veiled? Remove your face covering at once!”