Chapter 151 If I can't be Empress, I'll be Emperor...

After passing through the corridor and walking a little further, we finally arrived at the Guanxia Terrace, where the flower banquet was being held today.

Dozens of rosewood desks are arranged in two rows in a goose-wing shape, and precious peonies are planted all around the seats. Skilled gardeners have pruned the peonies into different shapes, and each pot of peonies is a scene in itself, making it a feast for the eyes.

As the hostess, Madam Chen leaned casually against the low couch placed in the middle of the viewing platform.

She wore a black and gold brocade skirt, with a large peony pattern embroidered on the hem, like clouds stretching across the ground and the night mist shimmering with gold, exuding an air of nobility.

The peonies in the garden were vying for attention, yet even they seemed to pale in comparison to her.

Time never defeats a beautiful woman.

This sentence popped into Shen Lingyue's mind at an inopportune moment.

Madam Chen was in her fifties, no longer young, but her thick, black hair was still easily styled into a high bun, adorned with pearls and gold ornaments. In the center of her bun was a peony, freshly picked that morning, its red hue tinged with deep purple, which looked even more elegant and mysterious in the sunlight.

Meng Wanyin led the two up to the Guanxia Terrace and greeted Madam Chen.

As she got closer, Shen Lingyue noticed that a large patch of land behind Madam Chen was actually planted with flowers—

She blurted out, "So many bicolor peonies?!"

Meng Wanyin was startled, tugged at her sleeve, and apologized repeatedly: "Please forgive me, Madam. This child rarely sees so many rare and precious flowers, and he couldn't help himself."

Madam Chen raised her gaze with great interest: "You must be the young lady of Minister Shen's family? Come here and let me take a look."

Shen Lingyue took a few steps forward hesitantly, forcing out an awkward yet polite fake smile.

"Little girl, how do you think my bicolor peonies are growing?"

Madam Chen turned to the side, raised her hand and plucked a flower branch. Her long, nail-painted fingers casually pinched the petals of the pink and white peony, leaving crescent-shaped marks.

She tilted her head and suddenly laughed, "I heard there's a camellia in the south called 'Scratched Beauty's Face,' named for the red marks on its white petals. Look at this peony, doesn't it have a similar feel to it?"

...The camellias are formed naturally, how can they be the same as the ones you scratch with your fingernails!

Shen Lingyue secretly rolled her eyes in her heart. Such a beautiful and large peony flower, it would be heartbreaking to lose even a single petal, how could it withstand such destruction by you, you old hag.

But she still had to feign surprise: "Madam, you truly are a master at cultivating peonies. I've heard that bicolor peonies are extremely rare, but I never expected to see so many here. It's truly an eye-opener!"

Madam Chen scoffed lightly, her face showing a mixture of pleasure at being flattered and a hint of haughty disdain.

"What's so special about bicolor peonies? I have as many as you want in my garden. Only ignorant country bumpkins would treat them like treasures."

Shen Lingyue: ...I was scolded while passing by.

Yan Yi stood behind Meng Wanyin and glanced up at her without making a sound.

Madam Chen's words were loaded with meaning.

Did she think that sixteen years had passed, and now no one in the world remembered the two-colored peony at Empress Wei's birthday banquet?

However, Empress Wei's "illness" lasted only a few days from onset to death, and the entire Imperial Hospital was unable to find out the cause. In the end, they could only conclude that it was a sudden heart disease. No wonder Madam Chen was so fearless.

However, the more arrogant and conceited she becomes, the more advantageous it will be for their next plan.

Yan Yi secretly assessed Madam Chen's personality and psychology in her mind.

Madam Chen was also observing Shen Lingyue discreetly.

This little girl is no ordinary person.

Her father was the Minister of Rites, her maternal grandfather was the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, and several of her maternal uncles were in the court. Her aunts were also sent to different posts with their husbands.

My eldest sister is the wife of the heir of the Pingxi Earl's Mansion, and my eldest brother married the granddaughter of the Sanglao Jijiu.

Not to mention that she herself married into the Changning Marquis's household, a trusted and loyal minister who was highly regarded by His Majesty.

She alone could draw out two major factions: nobles and civil officials, with numerous branches and swells behind her.

By the way, I heard that she is also the godmother of the young master of the Duke of Lingguo's mansion, a close friend of Lady Deyi, and a guest of honor of Princess Tongan.

Princess Lekang treated her like a sister, and Consort Gao publicly praised her as a lucky star...

Madam Chen waved her hand generously, "I felt an instant connection with you today. Whichever peony in this garden you like, take it or leave it to me."

Shen Lingyue never expected this turn of events. Wasn't she here today to spy on the enemy?

He shook his head repeatedly, "You are too kind, Madam, but I don't know how to grow flowers and I'm afraid I'll ruin your precious plants..."

“That’s easy. I’ll just pack up two more gardeners for you.” Madam Chen made the decision on her own, and smiled slightly. “For people of our status, why should we need to tend to flowers and plants ourselves? It’s just a matter of hiring a few servants.”

Shen Lingyue recalled seeing the large flowerbeds where charcoal was burned for warmth on her way back, and she forced herself not to show any unusual reaction.

Ugh, those despicable Celestial Dragons! I'll hang you on a streetlight sooner or later!

Madam Chen was completely unaware of the situation, and even became interested, personally getting up and pulling Shen Lingyue to comment on each of her collection of precious peonies.

"Everyone says that Yao Huang is the king of peonies, but I find it quite vulgar and uninteresting."

"How about this pea green? The green petals still have a bit of freshness, but if there are too many extraneous branches and leaves, it won't stand out. Making flowers is like making people; naturally, one should be unique and spectacular."

Shen Lingyue: ...Is this why you can't be the empress, but you want to be the empress's mother?

Madam Chen stopped in front of a peony that was almost jet black, and a pleasant smile curved her lips.

“Look at this ‘Azure Dragon Lying in the Ink Pond’ embroidery. The dragon lies hidden in the abyss, but it will surely soar to the heavens. This is the pattern embroidered on my dress. It’s the only one of its kind in the entire capital.”

Finally, Madam Chen cut off a pink peony and pinned it to Shen Lingyue's hair, clapping her hands in satisfaction. "Not bad, young girls should wear bright and beautiful hair."

A flower the size of a bowl was placed on Shen Lingyue's head: ...

Yan Yan, help! The enemy seems to be using sweet-coated bullets on me!

She walked shakily back to her seat, feeling as if several bees were buzzing in her ears the whole way, making her tremble with fear.

Fortunately, it seemed that Mrs. Chen was only having a passing fancy and quickly turned her attention elsewhere.

As more and more guests arrived, each one respectfully stepped forward to pay their respects to her, the mother-in-law of Prince Yu, showering the peonies in the garden with praise. Her attitude gradually became impatient, her brow furrowed, revealing a hint of displeasure.

It wasn't until Princess Yu arrived and took over the reception for her mother that the atmosphere was warmed up again. She was charming and eloquent.

Shen Lingyue laid out tea, melon seeds, and snacks, then activated her "melon-eating radar" and started cricket fighting:

"Wasn't it said that when Madam Chen married into the Cao family, she was attracted to Young Master Cao's good looks? Why didn't Princess Yu inherit her parents' good looks?"

It's not that Princess Yu is unattractive, but standing next to Madam Chen makes one wonder if the babies were switched at birth.

No wonder there are so many beautiful women in the backyard of Prince Yu's mansion...

But that's not entirely true either. Some men marry beautiful wives and still cheat on their wives, let alone a prince who is a celestial being.

Maybe it's just pure masochism ^_^

Yan Yi: "Even if both parents are beautiful, their children may not be good-looking. It might be due to generational inheritance or atavism."

Shen Lingyue stuck out her tongue: "This is a case of positives equaling negatives. Sure enough, ugly genes are always more stubborn."

After saying that, she realized what she had said and quickly touched Yan Yi's belly, whispering, "Baby, don't listen to these things. Your parents are both great beauties, so you'll definitely be fine too!"

Our Yan Yan is the divine messenger chosen by the Goddess Xuan Nu!

Yan Yi sighed and rubbed her forehead in exasperation.

The baby is growing up in this kind of "prenatal education," I really don't know what kind of person he will become...

"No matter what, Madam Chen still loves this daughter. Without her and the Chen family's strong support, Prince Yu might not have married her as his princess."

After all, it was common knowledge that Prince Yu was indeed a womanizer.

Princess Yu's family wasn't very influential, but she had a powerful mother and grandfather.

Shen Lingyue touched her chin.

“If your dad is rich, you’ll have countless brothers and sisters; if your mom is rich, you’ll have endless money and endless blessings.” Yan Yi: “…You’ll corrupt my baby sooner or later.”

Shen Lingyue made an exaggerated face. Yan Yi hadn't intended to laugh, but when she looked up and saw the large peony on Shen Lingyue's head, she couldn't help but chuckle softly.

Just then, a girl of about fourteen or fifteen years old ran in, holding a bouquet of flowers in her arms, smiling brightly, "Grandma, these are for you!"

It turns out she was Princess Jianan, the daughter of Princess Yu.

Madam Chen looked up and her gaze instantly darkened.

"There isn't a single crabapple tree on this mountain, where did you pick it from?"

Princess Jianan stood there, stunned. Her smile faded, and she said timidly, "I picked it in the Prince's Garden. My grandmother invited us to admire the peonies, and I wanted to give you one of my favorite flowers..."

Madam Chen turned and glared at Princess Yu, saying in a low voice, "She's young and doesn't understand, but don't you understand either? I hate crabapple blossoms the most, take them away right now!"

Princess Yu was startled. She hadn't ridden in the same car as her daughter when she arrived, and she hadn't expected her to prepare such a big "surprise" without saying a word.

She strode over to Princess Jianan and roughly snatched the bunch of crabapple blossoms from her arms, snapping them in two or three strokes, the pale pink petals falling to the ground.

Princess Jianan pouted, burst into tears, and ran away.

My grandmother is so fierce, she's never coming again!

“This crabapple blossom…it has a story.” Shen Lingyue’s eyes lit up. “Could it be related to Empress Wei?”

“It’s possible,” Yan Yi replied softly. “Princess Tong’an once said that Empress Wei preferred crabapple blossoms to peonies. It is said that she and His Majesty first met under a blooming crabapple tree.”

The petals drifted in the wind, like a light snowfall.

Perhaps it was just a turn of the head, a glance back, that left a mark on the young prince's heart, a mark he could never forget.

Shen Lingyue blinked, then thought of something else.

"Even at her age, Lady Chen is still stunningly beautiful. She must have been even more beautiful when she was young. Why didn't the old emperor take a liking to her? Was it because Empress Wei was more beautiful than her?"

She had never met Empress Wei, so she could only ask Yan Yi.

Yan Yi thought for a moment and shook her head. "Empress Wei is certainly beautiful, but she's not as aggressive as Madam Chen. But who can say for sure about matters of the heart? Sometimes it has nothing to do with beauty; it's more about a feeling."

At the right time, you meet the right person, and it's love at first sight.

Shen Lingyue ruthlessly retorted: "But after Empress Wei passed away, the old emperor took a liking to Consort Gao's type."

Doesn't that mean he still prefers stunningly beautiful women?

Yan Yi: ...

She silently covered her lower abdomen. "Baby, don't listen."

On the Guanxia Terrace, Madam Chen suddenly got up and walked towards a waterside pavilion beside the mountain stream behind her.

Could it be that she's getting old and got tired after sitting for a while, so she wants to go back to her room to rest?

Shen Lingyue looked around and saw several unfamiliar female relatives sitting at the end of the seats also stand up, as if they were following Madam Chen.

She thought for a moment, told Meng Wanyin and Yan Yi that she was going to change her clothes, and quietly followed them.

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Author's Note: Moon Child: [Starry-eyed] So my background is this amazing!