Chapter 130 Beauty
The grand palace banquet was, in essence, a New Year's Eve family feast. Although everyone was initially intimidated by the emperor's power, no one dared to speak until a while into the evening. One or two people silently focused on the exquisite dishes laid out by the palace servants, or stared blankly at the dull and monotonous dance and music. But this silence was soon broken when someone mentioned Lan Wu.
Despite sitting in such a prominent position, Lan Wu acted very modestly. She didn't know many people, so she was taken aback when the older-looking lady in the opposite seat mentioned her.
The woman sitting behind Princess Rui was the Crown Princess of Rui. Lan Wu had already met her and exchanged a few words with her earlier, and now, seeing the lady in front of her, she instantly guessed her identity.
Princess Rui looked at Lan Wu with a gentle expression and spoke very politely, praising Lan Wu's beauty.
"I had long heard that His Majesty had a beautiful new concubine, and now that I see her, I know it was no exaggeration. I wonder how beautiful His Majesty and the Empress's child will be." At this point, Princess Rui's eyes brightened considerably. Looking at Lan Wu, she continued, "His Majesty has few heirs. If the Empress could soon give the royal family an heir, it would surely be the greatest joy of the year—"
Lan Wu was stunned. She subconsciously looked up at the emperor. She remembered that Chu Mingheng had said he didn't like children. Now that Princess Rui had said this in front of so many people, would it displease him?
But to everyone's surprise, Chu Mingheng just slightly curled his lips and said slowly, "Auntie says this every year, how come she never gets tired of it?"
He didn't seem angry at all; in fact, his tone was gentle as he smiled slightly at Lan Wu and said softly, "It's just that A-Wu is still a bit young, so there's no rush."
After saying that, he picked up his wine cup and pointed it at Princess Rui: "I heard that the Imperial Uncle's family has just had a newborn son. I haven't had a chance to congratulate him yet. I imagine that the child will be a wise and intelligent one in the future. I have already prepared a congratulatory gift. Please take it with you when you leave the palace."
After saying this, Prince Rui and Princess Rui stood up together, and even the Crown Prince and his wife behind them bowed and expressed their gratitude.
After they expressed their gratitude and sat down, each of them had a hidden joy on their face, especially the Crown Princess. Her child had only been born a short time before receiving the Emperor's praise and rewards, and was sure to have a bright future when he grew up.
Lan Wu didn't say a word, but she found it strange that Chu Mingheng's attitude towards Prince Rui's family was quite gentle.
Seemingly noticing her confusion, Danshan took the opportunity of pouring her tea to whisper to her, "Princess Rui is the younger sister of Empress Dowager Jingwen, and they have a very good relationship."
No wonder Princess Rui could say things that sound like something an elder would say.
With this brief respite, the hall quickly became lively again, with one piece of music ending and another beginning.
On Lan Wu's seat were two cups, one filled with wine and the other with warm tea. Knowing her own alcohol tolerance, she didn't touch the wine at all. Just as she was about to take a sip of tea, she heard the music change again.
Although Lan Wu grew up in the music hall and had heard many kinds of music, this piece of music was different and too familiar.
She slowly turned her head to look at the palace entrance and saw familiar dance steps.
So that's how it is. She wondered why Consort Shu hadn't made a move for so long and had been so patient in letting her sit in this position. It turned out she had already prepared how to humiliate her.
Lan Wu watched with great interest the lead dancer, who was dancing in the same position she used to dance. She was as young and beautiful as Lan Wu, and her face was covered with a veil, seemingly to maintain her mystery.
She watched closely and felt that the dancing woman looked somewhat familiar.
The concubines were deathly silent, while those in the opposite seats remained oblivious. They had not entered the palace for the Emperor's birthday celebration and had therefore not seen Lan Wu's dance. Now, they watched the beautiful dance with a touch of appreciation, just as before.
Some astute individuals sensed the awkward atmosphere and immediately stopped smiling, falling silent and cautiously observing the superior's reaction.
Consort Shu accidentally knocked over a wine cup on the table.
"Your Highness, are you alright?" Yun Qing quickly steadied the wine cup, preventing the wine from spilling onto Consort Shu's dress.
Consort Shu gritted her teeth and clenched her fists.
She's alright? She's in big trouble.
This dance wasn't part of her original plan at all. She wasn't that stupid to provoke His Majesty in front of him, if that even counted as provocation...
She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, then opened them and quickly scanned the people around her—who orchestrated this whole charade?
She looked at Consort Li sitting to her right, but saw that she was expressionless and did not even glance in her direction.
Not Consort Li?
Who could it be?
Before she could figure it out, she suddenly felt a sharp gaze fixed on her, as if she were already dead.
Consort Shu felt a chill run through her body and dared not look up at the source of that gaze.
Lan Wu glanced at Chu Mingheng and noticed his lowered gaze, which was shifting from Consort Shu to her.
His dark, inky eyes clearly conveyed a range of emotions: displeasure, ingratiation, reassurance, and even teasing.
As the music ended, the dance in the center of the hall also came to a close.
Everyone else stepped back, but the veiled woman in the very center stepped forward and knelt down.
Her kneeling body curved into a line, but it was clear that her kneeling posture was very standard. She did not deliberately flatter or make herself look ugly. She greeted the emperor respectfully.
Chu Mingheng casually cast a glance at him, not intending to say anything.
Seeing this, the Prince Wei below hesitated for a moment, his forced smile showing a hint of doubt. He seemed to want to ease the atmosphere like Princess Rui had done earlier, so he smiled and said, "Brother, the dancers and musicians are quite good. You should reward them. You have the whole country, and even beauties are flocking to you."
After saying that, he laughed loudly twice.
But after he finished laughing, he realized there was no sound around him.
King Wei quickly wiped the smile off his face, hesitated for a moment, and cautiously looked up at Chu Mingheng.
"Oh?" Chu Mingheng spoke slowly and deliberately, his cold gaze falling on him. "You think she's good at dancing and music, and a beauty."
King Wei had somehow said something wrong, and goosebumps rose all over his body. His face was gloomy, but he forced a response. He stood up from his seat and knelt down before Chu Mingheng: "Your Majesty, I have said something wrong. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me."
Chu Mingheng remained expressionless, shifting his gaze back to the woman in the center of the hall. Without saying a word, he casually leaned back in his chair, propping his chin on one hand and glancing slightly at Chen Kang'an.
Upon seeing this, Chen Kang'an immediately understood. He stepped forward and said, "Since you are here to meet the Emperor, how can you hide yourself? Take off your veil!"
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