Chapter 80
Proofreader : Mim
On the day of Qixi Festival, the area in front of the Chunyu Gate was filled with carriages belonging to high-ranking officials and nobles.
Officials, in small groups, beaming with joy, walked through the winding corridors flanked by red walls and green tiles. Everywhere they passed, lanterns and fireworks lit up the scene, and flowers bloomed in vibrant clusters.
In previous years, the Qixi celebration in the palace was nothing more than a small family gathering. This year, however, was special.
The Emperor, following the suggestion of Consort Lu, decided to emulate the common folk by hosting a grand Qixi banquet in the palace to celebrate with the people.
As the Director of the Palace Administration Bureau, Li Zhi was tasked with maintaining order at the banquet, working alongside the Ministry of Internal Affairs. To ensure the event went smoothly, she had not slept a wink the entire night.
When Xingde Palace was finally filled with neatly seated guests, the Emperor entered with a radiant smile, accompanied by the elegantly dressed Noble Consort Yi, who walked in a slow and deliberate manner.
“Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!”
The officials turned sideways from their dining tables, knelt, and saluted Emperor Xie Shencong, who took his seat on the dragon throne.
As a fifth-rank female official, Li Zhi, seated in a corner of Xingde Palace, blended into the crowd and also performed a formal bow.
“Rise, my beloved subjects.” Emperor Xie Shencong smiled warmly as he scanned the room. His gaze stopped on Lu Yao, who was seated in the front row among the concubines. “Consort Lu, since this idea of celebrating with the people came from you, don’t sit so far away. Come sit by my side.”
Noble Consort Yi had spent considerable time preparing for tonight’s banquet. Not only had she meticulously applied her makeup, but she had also spent an extra hour styling an intricate, towering hairdo. She looked every bit like a fairy who had stepped out of a painting.
She had assumed she would be the center of attention. Upon hearing the Emperor’s words, however, the “fairy” instantly transformed into an angry pufferfish.
“Your Majesty, this is improper!”
Sitting in the front row, Consort De, the mother of Prince Jing, didn’t even glance at Noble Consort Yi as she replied with a faint smile, “There have been many times when Noble Consort Yi has acted improperly, yet His Majesty has never said anything.”
“You—!” Noble Consort Yi straightened her posture like a rooster ready for battle.
“Enough! It’s the Qixi Festival. Can we not maintain some harmony?” Emperor Xie Shencong frowned.
Noble Consort Yi had no choice but to swallow her indignation and fall silent.
Lu Yao, with the support of palace attendants, struggled to climb the steps, holding her swollen belly.
Xingde Palace was brightly lit, but Lu Yao’s face was pale, devoid of any color. Her frail body seemed to be wasting away, her belly the only part of her that protruded conspicuously, as if something parasitic was feeding off her.
Emperor Xie Shencong extended his hand, taking Lu Yao from the palace attendants and seating her by his side.
The dragon throne, meant for one, now had three people seated on it, making it noticeably cramped.
Noble Consort Yi was unceremoniously shoved to the side by Emperor Xie Shencong and looked utterly incredulous.
“Let the banquet begin,” Emperor Xie Shencong announced with a smile.
At the sound of a gong, dancers from the Jiaofang Division, clad in translucent costumes, entered in a flowing line. From her distant seat, Li Zhi could only make out the vibrant red ribbons that twirled and soared in the air to the accompaniment of flutes and strings.
She decided to focus her attention on the sumptuous dishes provided by the imperial kitchen instead.
There was a reason why imperial chefs earned their title. The moment Li Zhi tasted the first spoonful of ginseng chicken soup, her eyes widened involuntarily.
She had two more spoonfuls, marveling at the culinary skills of the imperial chefs. When she looked up, the soup still in her mouth, her eyes locked with Xie Lanxu, who sat across from her in the second row.
Xie Lanxu rested his right hand on the table, supporting his chin, his lips curled into a faint but teasing smile. It was unclear how long he had been watching her.
Li Zhi’s face flushed red, and she instinctively looked away.
Once she swallowed the soup, she discreetly shifted her gaze back to Xie Lanxu’s direction.
The “smelly carp” was still watching her, his smile seeming even broader.
[Note: Xie Lanxu’s nickname is Ah-Li which is the same Li as in carp lǐyú]
Just as Li Zhi was contemplating how to retaliate, Xie Fengshao, seated in front of Xie Lanxu, accidentally made eye contact with her.
Xie Fengshao, who had been engrossed in the performance, froze momentarily before breaking into a delighted grin.
…What was he so happy about?
Li Zhi could only return an awkward but polite smile.
The Imperial Palace Qixi Banquet featured not only dances but also carefully rehearsed theatrical performances by the Jiaofang Division. The plays mostly revolved around lovers overcoming obstacles to be together or the bittersweet tale of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl, separated by the Milky Way.
The guests were in high spirits, raising their glasses and exchanging laughter amidst the music and performances.
By the middle of the banquet, many guests were visibly tipsy.
“Father!”
Prince Jing stood up, raising his cup to Emperor Xie Shencong on the dragon throne.
“Your son wishes Father a long life, that you may enjoy this day year after year and live as long as the heavens themselves!”
From the dragon throne, Noble Consort Yi rolled her eyes dramatically, not bothering to hide her disdain.
“You’re very thoughtful!” Emperor Xie Shencong replied, smiling as he raised the wine cup before him and took a small sip.
Prince Jing downed his drink in one gulp, then clapped his hands.
Six servants carried in a large dining table, upon which sat a massive celadon jade bowl carved with Kui patterns. Inside the bowl, a pale pink substance could be seen, garnished with mint leaves.
“Do you remember, Father, the delicacy I presented to you last year?” Prince Jing asked with a smile.
“I do—it was a Bi Yi bird.”
“This year, I’ve prepared something even more extraordinary for you: Xi Shi’s Milk.”
“Oh? What is Xi Shi’s Milk?” Emperor Xie Shencong asked, intrigued.
“It is the milk of pufferfish, known for its pristine white color, so beautiful it’s named after Xi Shi, the famed beauty. The bowl before you contains only the finest essence, collected from sixty pufferfish. These sixty pufferfish were sourced from fourteen coastal prefectures of Great Yan at great expense, just so that you, Father, can taste the vastness and grandeur of our empire in a single bowl. This banquet is a testament to your civil and martial excellence, which has brought peace to the four seas under your rule!”
Prince Jing’s eloquent speech was delivered with an air of calm confidence, and Consort De, his mother, looked on with pride and satisfaction.
The flattery pleased Emperor Xie Shencong immensely, and his face lit up with a broad smile.
“Well, in that case, I must personally sample the essence of Great Yan!”
Prince Jing personally carried the bowl of Xi Shi’s Milk to Emperor Xie Shencong. “Father, please enjoy.”
Noble Consort Yi and Lu Yao had likely never seen such a rare delicacy before. Noble Consort Yi eyed the bowl with suspicion, while Lu Yao exclaimed, “It smells wonderful!”
“You’ve got quite the keen nose,” Emperor Xie Shencong joked. “I haven’t even caught the scent yet! Where’s the imperial physician? Can pregnant women eat Xi Shi’s Milk?”
A man stepped forward and bowed. “Your Majesty, pregnant women can safely consume a small amount of pufferfish.”
“You haven’t eaten much all day. Since the imperial physician says it’s safe, I’ll gift this Xi Shi’s Milk to you,” Emperor Xie Shencong said, pushing the bowl toward Lu Yao.
“Your Majesty, this… this is improper…” Lu Yao stammered, visibly flustered.
The expressions of Prince Jing and Consort De shifted immediately, while Noble Consort Yi’s face lit up with smug satisfaction.
“Oh, what nonsense! If the Emperor grants you something, you must accept it! Or do you think the Emperor’s gift isn’t good enough for you?” Noble Consort Yi teased, her voice dripping with mockery as she backed Lu Yao into a corner.
With all eyes on her, Lu Yao had no choice but to eat. Hesitant at first, she eventually picked up the porcelain spoon, her hunger evident, and took a large spoonful of the pale pink Xi Shi’s Milk.
“Well? How is it?” Emperor Xie Shencong asked, his gaze fixed on her.
Lu Yao savored the dish carefully before nodding vigorously, her bright, tearful eyes filled with delight as she looked at the Emperor.
Emperor Xie Shencong was charmed by her reaction and said indulgently, “If you like it, eat as much as you want. This entire bowl is yours. Don’t let my little dragon prince go hungry.”
Lu Yao leaned closer to Emperor Xie Shencong and whispered something, making him laugh even more. Sitting far away, Li Zhi couldn’t hear what was said, but the sight of Emperor Xie Shencong’s face made her stomach churn. She lowered her head and focused on her meal once more.
As the wine flowed and the banquet reached its peak, Li Zhi speculated that the Emperor would soon find a reason to retire. Suddenly, a piercing scream shattered the festive atmosphere.
Noble Consort Yi jumped up from the dragon throne in terror. Emperor Xie Shencong’s face was a mix of shock and fury. Lu Yao had collapsed to the floor beneath the dragon throne, her face pale and drenched in sweat. One hand clutched her abdomen tightly, and bright red blood seeped through her light-colored palace robes.
“Imperial physicians! Call the imperial physicians!” Emperor Xie Shencong roared, his voice frantic.
Xingde Palace descended into chaos.
The imperial physician who had spoken earlier rushed to Lu Yao’s side, his forehead glistening with sweat. Trembling, he felt her pulse and checked her eyes.
“What’s happening?!” Emperor Xie Shencong demanded angrily.
“Y-Your Majesty…” the physician stammered. “Consort Lu seems to be going into labor. A delivery room must be prepared immediately…”
“Labor?!” Li Zhi was stunned. Lu Yao was only eight months pregnant—how could she be giving birth now?
As Lu Yao was carried to the side hall, midwives were summoned in haste, and her agonized screams soon echoed through the palace.
Noble Consort Yi, both alarmed and suspicious, clung tightly to Prince Feng’s hand. She seemed torn between wanting to enter the side hall and fearing what she might find. Each of Lu Yao’s pained cries made her flinch, as if recalling her own labor pains.
Meanwhile, Consort De and Prince Jing exchanged a glance that carried a mix of shock and hidden satisfaction. Their faces, feigning concern, mirrored each other.
Buckets of bloodied water were carried out of the side hall one after another. The noble guests were quietly escorted out of Xingde Palace by eunuchs.
Li Zhi, despite her status as Palace Director, felt her courage falter as she stared at the basins of blood. Her hands trembled, and even her teeth seemed to chatter involuntarily. She was frozen in place.
The ever-present thunderstorm in her heart threatened to consume her entirely.
Suddenly, a warm hand enveloped her icy fingers.
Startled, she looked up to meet Xie Lanxu’s calm and steady gaze.
He said nothing, simply holding her hand with quiet reassurance. His composed demeanor gave her strength.
Regaining her composure, Li Zhi released his hand and approached the door of the side hall. Chief Eunuch Gao exchanged a look with her and silently allowed her to wait outside.
Unconsciously, Xie Lanxu followed her, standing by her side.
After what felt like an eternity, the anguished screams from inside ceased. A heavy silence fell over the room.
Then, with a loud thud, someone dropped to their knees.
“Your Majesty… the little prince was born with blood streaming from all seven orifices. He… he didn’t survive…” the midwife’s trembling voice reported.
Li Zhi felt her chest tighten as a wave of sorrow and disbelief crushed her.
Inside the side hall, Lu Yao’s faint voice called out weakly, “Your Majesty… I only… ate that one bite… of Xi Shi’s Milk… Please… seek justice for our child…”
Hearing this, Prince Jing and Consort De’s faces turned ashen. Prince Jing instinctively moved to explain himself but was held back by Consort De. She glanced at him sharply, silently asking for confirmation. Prince Jing’s expression shifted from shock to fury, and he hissed under his breath, “It wasn’t me!”
Inside the hall, only Emperor Xie Shencong’s ragged breathing could be heard.
If the poison was in the Xi Shi’s Milk, then Lu Yao had been an innocent victim. The true target of the assassination attempt was the one originally intended to eat the dish.
If not for Lu Yao’s unexpected request, the one writhing in agony would have been Emperor Xie Shencong himself.
Emperor Xie Shencong’s voice, trembling with rage, shattered the tense silence.
“Bring Xie Jingtan in here!”
