Chapter 84

Chapter 84 The next day, Xie Run brought Xiaoshu and Zihu to the banquet, leaving the steady Dantao to guard Spring Mountain Courtyard. Prince Jing was quite fond of his daughter, Princess Ruyi, and for this birthday banquet he went all out to give her face, hosting it with considerable grandeur. More than a dozen tables were set up in both the front and rear courtyards. Several princes and imperial sons all came, and those who couldn't make it made a point to send gifts. Before the banquet even began, rewards from the palace arrived. The most eye-catching was a set of four-piece necklaces inlaid with various gemstones, looking resplendent and noble, along with numerous other gifts. It seemed that joy nourished one's spirit—Consort Yun's usual sickly pallor had faded somewhat, and she appeared much more energetic. When the banquet commenced, Consort Yun genuinely brought Princess Ruyi over to offer tea to Xie Run. Consort Yun: "I must thank you today for gracing us with your presence, sister. You are a woman of great fortune, and I thought to have Ruyi offer you a cup of tea, so she might borrow a bit of your luck." Xie Run naturally dared not accept such a gesture. "Sister, you flatter me too much." "The Princess is born so lovely and adorable, doted upon by both the Prince and Princess Consort, and now favored by the palace—that is true fortune." Xie Run's delicate, gentle features softened into a faint smile. "If anything, I'm the one hoping to borrow some of the Princess's fortune, praying that I too may give birth to such an adorable daughter." Consort Yun smiled. "Sister has good fortune—this pregnancy will surely bring a son." Xie Run merely smiled, not responding to that remark. Her gaze unconsciously drifted to the small white dog held by a maidservant nearby. Princess Ruyi asked timidly, "Does Concubine Xie also like puppies?" Xie Run shook her head and said gently, "I was bitten by a dog as a child, so I'm a little afraid." Consort Yun waved a hand. "Take the rabbit away first—don't frighten Sister Xie." "Rabbit?" Xie Run looked curious. Consort Yun smiled helplessly. "That's the dog's name. She insisted on calling it that, and the Prince indulges her." As Princess Ruyi left with the little dog, Consort Yun offered an apologetic smile. "I didn't know you were afraid of dogs, sister." "Strictly speaking, I shouldn't have brought the little thing out to today's banquet, but Ruyi is attached to it because the Prince gave it to her. She can't go a day without it—if she doesn't see it, she starts crying. It's quite a headache." "Children are like that—it's rare for them to have something they truly love." After exchanging a few more words, Consort Yun went to attend to other guests, and Xie Run sat back in her chair to rest. Today's rear courtyard banquet included not only the Prince's concubines and consorts but also many female relatives and titled ladies—quite a lively affair. Not just Xie Run—all the pregnant women had their nerves wound tight. Concubine An had two maidservants flanking her, and she grew jittery at the slightest movement, drawing more than a few glances from others. Her behavior was certainly looked down upon, but it also spared her many troubles. No one approached her to converse. The banquet proceeded according to schedule. The opera troupe performed the latest plays, guests chatted and laughed, and children wove through the crowd. Princess Ruyi was the center of attention today, and Consort Yun basked in reflected glory. An hour later, many guests began taking their leave one after another. Xie Run was contemplating finding an excuse to return herself when she saw Concubine An rise and walk over to Consort Yun. Concubine An said softly, "Sister Yun, I'm feeling rather tired right now. I'm afraid I'll need to return early to rest." Consort Yun asked with slight surprise, "Is Sister An feeling unwell?" Concubine An, evidently not skilled at social pleasantries, had a flushed face as she stammered, "I—I'm fine." Consort Yun: "Then could you bear it a little longer?" Concubine An was taken aback. Ping'an beside her was about to speak up in support when she heard Consort Yun say softly, "Please stay, Sister An." "Today the Prince has specially prepared a surprise for Ruyi, and he's waiting for the banquet to end so our own family can enjoy it together." "If anyone is missing, then Ruyi's fortune won't be complete." At the mention of the Prince, Concubine An had already retreated in her heart. And now with the weight of "incomplete fortune for Princess Ruyi" placed on her shoulders, Concubine An immediately dared not make another sound. No matter how eloquent Ping'an was, she couldn't override her mistress's decision. Xie Run lowered her eyes and rose with Dantao's support. Consort Yun came over with a cordial manner. "Sister Xie, where are you off to?" Xie Run smiled. "I just need to go freshen up." She took the initiative to ask, "I'm not familiar with the paths here. Could Sister Yun send someone to show me the way?" "Of course." Xie Run then asked curiously, "I heard the Prince has prepared a surprise for the Princess?" Consort Yun said with a modest air, "It's nothing major, but let me give you a little hint, Sister Xie." "This girl Ruyi has been going on about wanting to fly kites lately, but with snow everywhere, how could I dare let her out?" "It so happened that the Prince overheard her one time and mentioned that there's a folk custom of flying kites to pray for blessings. So he promised Ruyi he'd give her a surprise." As she spoke, Consort Yun's expression was a mix of helplessness and delight—a kind of humble boasting. Xie Run smiled along. "It shows how much the Prince dotes on the Princess." Prince Jing was not one to favor sons over daughters. Even when the Second Young Master of the household was still alive, Prince Jing had never slighted Princess Ruyi for being a daughter. On the contrary, because Ruyi was Prince Jing's first daughter, she was granted the title of Commandery Princess as soon as she was born, and the reigning emperor even personally bestowed her a title of honor. This was an immense glory. The Fifth Prince, Prince An, was amorous and fickle, with countless daughters, yet none had received the title of Commandery Princess, simply because the Fifth Prince paid them no mind at all. In other princely mansions, those who could be granted the title of Commandery Princess at a young age were mostly legitimate daughters born to the Principal Consort. If Princess Ruyi had no title or rank, being merely the daughter of an ordinary Concubine Consort, the status of those attending today's birthday banquet would have been vastly different. With a maidservant arranged by Consort Yun to lead the way, Xie Run was in no hurry at all, strolling along at a leisurely pace. She even had the mood to admire the plum blossoms planted in the courtyard. For a simple trip to freshen up, she took nearly half an hour. Only when Consort Yun sent someone to inquire did she prepare to return to the banquet. Xie Run asked the messenger maid, "Has the banquet dispersed by now?" "Most of the guests have already left; only the people of the mansion remain." "Everyone has left the courtyard and is heading to Jingyuechi to see the surprise the Prince has prepared." Xie Run sighed quietly to herself. She really had underestimated Consort Yun. Consort Yun indeed had not caused any trouble at the birthday banquet, and today's birthday celebration for Princess Ruyi had been carried out perfectly. But this surprise that Prince Jing had prepared—that was likely the true Hongmen banquet. Xie Run glanced at Zihu, signaling her to stay close and not stray even half a step away. She felt very insecure at this moment. The Prince Jing's mansion had two ponds in total—the larger one was Guanyuechi, and the smaller one was this Jingyuechi. Jingyuechi was small and somewhat secluded, with scenery inferior to Guanyuechi, so fewer people came this way. By the time Xie Run leisurely arrived at Jingyuechi, quite a few people had already gathered on the front terrace of the distant Zhishui Pavilion, all eagerly looking upward. Prince Jing stood at the very center, with an air of majestic elegance, handsome and composed, extremely dazzling. Beside him was the Princess Consort, slender and petite in figure, with a serene and beautiful countenance. Consort Yun said with a beaming smile, "Sister Xie, we've been waiting for you to arrive." Xie Run said shyly, "It seems I've come late." "Not late at all..." Just as she was speaking, someone suddenly shouted joyfully, "Kite! The kite is flying!" Princess Ruyi's voice was crisp and pleasant, "Father, it's a rabbit! That kite is a rabbit!" "And a little tiger, a butterfly..."