In the winter of the fourth year of Emperor Yunwu's reign, the emperor hosted a banquet at Penglai Palace to celebrate the birthday of Empress Dowager Zhaoren, and royal relatives and concubines also attended the banquet.
After the bumpy feeling disappeared, Wei Shuyi got off the carriage, walked at the end of the maids in the palace, and followed Xie Yanqing back to the palace.
A black plaque with golden nanmu threads hung atop the red gate. Unlike usual, red lanterns were hung on either side to signify festivity. Ornaments were also placed along the edges of the glazed tile eaves, their gentle tinkling in the breeze reminiscent of Buddhist chants.
"Others who want to win favor will carefully prepare dances, hoping to achieve success through ingenuity. You only brought this wooden box with you. Is it really useful?"
He slowed down his pace and finally asked.
Wei Shuyi retracted her gaze and said, "I am not good at singing and dancing, so I won't embarrass myself in such an important occasion. Losing my own face is a small matter, but accusing Prince Lian of disrespecting the emperor is a big deal!"
"Just be sensible."
There were so many people around that it was inconvenient for him to communicate too much. After giving a soothing look, he walked towards the seats reserved for the royal family.
She and the other maids stood not far away, enjoying the performance and thinking to themselves.
As Xie Yanqing had said, whether it was for the court or the royal palace, any program would inevitably focus on singing and dancing. After several rounds of rotation, the beauty's face had become so dazzling that people even had the illusion that it was "nothing special."
"Eighth brother has been admiring it for a long time. Didn't he prepare a gift for Mother?"
When Wei Shuyi heard the low and familiar voice, his hand holding the wooden box trembled slightly!
It’s him, the emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty!
The emperor who treated her as an antidote and promised not to treat her unfairly!
Xie Yanqing drank a glass of fine wine, stood up and bowed, "Your Majesty, you have truly misunderstood me! This new girl has never seen the world and is very scared. She's been hiding in the background, which is why we're delayed... Ah Shu, why don't you come over here quickly?"
She gathered her spirits and walked out with the maids who assisted in the performance. She saluted the people on the platform and said, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I am humble and my humble skills are not worthy of such a high-class place. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."
Immersed in the endless chores of the palace, Wei Shuyi had long heard of the Queen Mother's leniency.
Even further back, when her father held a high position, he would always take her to banquets at the palace. In her memory, she was still the Empress at the time, gentle and elegant, and deeply loved by everyone.
Today is her birthday, so I won't be harsh with her.
As expected, Empress Dowager Zhaoren raised her hand slightly and said, "Stand up! No matter what, this is Prince Lian's good intention. How could I blame you?"
"Thank you, Queen Mother!"
Wei Shuyi stood up and walked to the center of the maids. The others spread out the rice paper they had prepared in advance and stood in their designated positions. After the wooden box was opened, two ordinary brushes were revealed. Those who were nearby began to discuss it, confused.
Until someone beat the drum, the woman started dancing.
Each move eschews gentleness for sheer force. It resembles a military sword dance more than a traditional court dance. Its blend of strength and softness is breathtaking.
She used pen and ink instead of a sword, leaving marks on the white paper as she swirled, and then skillfully outlined and connected them, gradually painting a portrait of a kind woman!
"Empress Dowager, that looks like you were young!" The leading minister stroked his beard. "Time flies. It's really not easy to reproduce this look!"
A few more drops of ink splashed!
She had covered her eyes with a white veil, but she was still able to write the congratulatory message accurately on the right side of the portrait!
The brushwork is vigorous and graceful like a swimming dragon!
"Excellent!" The emperor stared at the final stroke and couldn't help but applaud. "A truly long-lived Nanshan Mountain, unshakable and unbreakable! A truly luxuriant pine and cypress, all of you will surely appreciate it! Reward!"
Wei Shuyi took off the white veil, but did not thank him. Instead, she turned around and rolled up the portrait.
The next moment, the maids pulled out prepared paper lanterns from their sleeves and, using the candlelight from the banquet, lit them. The paper remained intact, and a dark portrait of a person gradually emerged in the center.
Every frown and smile of hers is actually the current empress dowager!
"I have long heard that the Empress Dowager governs with kindness and is considerate of the palace maids. I have had the honor of witnessing your grace from afar. For this birthday banquet, I will boldly use my humble painting skills to recreate the Empress Dowager's appearance. I hope you will accept it!"
She couldn't talk about the past and could only use this excuse to cover it up.
"Good boy, that's great!" The woman sitting in the main seat was quite pleased, her voice choked with sobs, "Come forward quickly, let me see you!"
Wei Shuyi moved closer as he was told, his eyes fixed on the ground, not daring to overstep his bounds.
The Queen Mother was even more delighted by this: "He knows etiquette! How long have you been practicing writing with a mask on in the mansion?"
"Not long." Her red lips parted slightly, her expression extremely respectful. "The Empress Dowager's voice, appearance, and smile have long been engraved in this servant's heart. Whether she opens her eyes or not makes little difference to this servant."
Her answer instantly won the other person's heart.
Xie Yanqing quickly chimed in, "Mother, this girl has been hiding in her study all day long, and she's lost a lot of weight. It seems your charm is still greater. Even if I were to follow her around every day, I couldn't resist that glimpse of her from afar!"
"You monkey, you're talking nonsense again!"
The Queen Mother scolded him and turned to look at the Emperor: "This is the first time the Emperor has given a reward tonight. I like this girl too. Why not give her something better?"
As soon as these words were spoken, Wei Shuyi could clearly sense the tense atmosphere.
The eyes of all the ministers and high-ranking concubines were focused on her, both for inquiry and consideration.
She quickly knelt down and pleaded before the imperial edict could be issued: "Empress Dowager! I dare to ask for a reward, please grant it!"
"Oh? What do you want? Tell me."
"I only want to serve the Empress Dowager, and ask for nothing else."
Not only were the people on the platform stunned, but even Xie Yanqing's smile gradually disappeared.
Instead of being a concubine, she requested to be a slave?!
The Queen Mother was silent for a while: "This... doesn't sound like a reward. Why are you doing this?"
"I ask for nothing but to establish a foundation," she pleaded again. "Using others as a mirror, we can understand our gains and losses. In my heart, Your Majesty is a role model for all women. If I could stay by your side day and night and learn the principles of life, I would be deeply grateful!"
"Is that so?"
The empress dowager nodded slightly, then glanced at the emperor, whose expression was complicated. The emperor, having regained his composure, immediately granted her wish: "In that case, you will go to Shoukang Palace and serve your mother well. This will be a reward for your efforts tonight."
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace!"
Wei Shuyi kowtowed, and his heart slowly settled down.
By using her beauty to win favor, she will soon become just another dancer among thousands and will be forgotten in a few days.
Only by taking it step by step and deepening the impression in his mind can we achieve what King Lian said, "climb as high as possible."
She still stood up according to the etiquette, and vaguely felt a torch-like gaze fall on her, which made her subconsciously go forward to meet it -
Behind a pearl curtain, the emperor, wearing a purple-gold crown, surveyed her. His bright yellow robe, embroidered with a golden sea dragon, evoked his unquestionable power and nobility.
She raised her eyebrows slightly, her eyes as clear as water, a hint of affection brimming with emotion. Then she decisively withdrew, her slender figure gradually walking away.
That's enough.
Just this one glance back was enough to capture the young emperor's heart.
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