Chapter 16 It's not easy for princes and royal families to raise their children, especially for us...
Meng Lingyao felt a chill run down her spine. She had little personal relationship with Princess Suxin and often saw her playing with Zhao Ruxuan, Lin Yunshu and others. No matter what, she couldn't believe that Princess Suxin had any goodwill towards her.
The unusual activity today must be suspicious.
Her expression remained unchanged, and she responded humbly, "Your Highness is too kind. Your daughter is of humble birth and not worthy of such a distinguished person."
Princess Suxin remained silent, only offering a cryptic smile before turning and taking her seat.
As Meng Lingyao watched her retreating figure, she recalled her father's parting words.
This year's palace banquet is different from usual; the royal family may be considering choosing a daughter-in-law. Since the death of the eldest prince born to the Empress, the Emperor has been quite concerned about the remaining two princes. The second prince is already married, but the third prince is still unmarried. Various families in the court are secretly making moves, and countless young ladies have come with ulterior motives.
The Meng family had no intention of currying favor with the royal family, and Meng Lingyao certainly didn't think the royal family was a good place to settle down. To outsiders, it might seem glamorous, but if she were to marry into it, she'd probably be plagued by nightmares every night.
What sounded like praise from Princess Suxin was, in Meng Lingyao's ears, even more vicious than Zhao Ruxuan's sarcastic remarks.
She frowned almost imperceptibly, her vigilance rising even higher.
As soon as they took their seats, Xie Chengyu came over and asked, "When did you become acquainted with Princess Suxin? You've been chatting for so long."
"How could I have ever had any relationship with her?" Meng Lingyao retorted.
He added, "She came over suddenly and said some random things."
"That's good." Xie Chengyu smiled sweetly, but her words were sharp. "Unsolicited kindness is either a sign of ulterior motives or theft."
Meng Lingyao nodded in agreement.
The two exchanged a glance, both understanding that the other knew the other's other intention behind today's palace banquet.
Xie Chengyu suddenly sighed, "What a pity. Before I came, I still had a sliver of hope that you might be wearing red."
Ever since she saw her friend wearing a brightly colored outfit at the hot spring villa that day, she couldn't stop thinking about it.
Like a red plum blossom blooming in the snow, its skin is whiter than snow, its beauty is beyond compare, how can one not be captivated?
Meng Lingyao said calmly, "It's not appropriate."
Xie Chengyu tugged at her sleeve, which was only embroidered with cloud patterns, and nodded, "I feel the same way."
Xie Chengyu's cousin entered the palace several years ago and has since gained the emperor's favor, being promoted to the rank of concubine. Therefore, the Xie family must no longer have any connection with the two princes, and the emperor would not allow it.
Not long after they were seated, a eunuch announced loudly, "His Majesty has arrived!"
Everyone in the hall immediately rose and knelt to pay their respects. After completing all the formalities, Meng Lingyao rose with the others.
Using the crowd as cover, she quickly glanced up.
The Emperor was still dressed in his bright yellow dragon robe, exuding an imposing aura. Beside him, the Empress was dignified and graceful, though her makeup appeared slightly heavy, perhaps due to the bright lighting. Slightly below her sat the Eldest Princess, her clothes luxurious, her face solemn, a far cry from her relaxed demeanor that day.
At the emperor's command, the sounds of string and wind instruments filled the air, and ministers presented congratulatory messages to wish people a happy new year. For a time, wine cups were clinked and voices were heard everywhere.
"I heard that the Empress has been bedridden since the Crown Prince's passing, so I assumed I wouldn't be attending today."
"Today is unusual. Even if he is not her biological son, the Empress is still her legal mother, and she should keep an eye on him."
"Although the Third Prince's maternal family is of modest means, he is exceptionally talented and has won the Emperor's favor. Perhaps..."
The whispers of several noblewomen nearby reached her ears. Meng Lingyao remained calm and shifted her gaze to the princes.
The two princes sat on either side of the Emperor and Empress. The robust-looking prince on the right was the second prince, Qi Ying, whose mother was Consort De, who came from the Duke of Dingguo's family. He wore an ochre python robe and had married the daughter of the Minister of Revenue two years ago.
The handsome man on the left, dressed in a dark blue brocade robe, is the unmarried Third Prince, Qi Jing. Unlike the Second Prince, whose mother's family was prominent, his birth mother was only the daughter of a seventh-rank county magistrate. She was only granted the title of concubine after giving birth to the prince.
Meng Lingyao had no contact with either of the princes, only occasionally hearing her father mention them. The second prince had been assigned to the Ministry of Justice for training after his marriage, and while he had neither made any significant contributions nor caused any trouble for the officials there, it was already a great favor that he hadn't caused any extra problems. The third prince had not yet entered officialdom, but he had been appointed by the emperor to write sacrificial texts for the Court of Imperial Sacrifices on several occasions.
Indeed, it was a masterpiece of elegant writing, with the style of a phoenix and a luan bird. No matter how he looked at it, he felt that the writing revealed the hand of the Grand Tutor.
Thus, Meng Shaoqing sighed, "Educating children in the royal family is no easy task. Our Yaoyao is the best."
Thinking of this, Meng Lingyao couldn't help but smile.
Inside the hall, on the east side, the Emperor and Empress sat high, able to see the scene below the platform clearly. The Emperor was in high spirits today and drank several cups in succession, while the Empress maintained a straight back throughout, only occasionally revealing a hint of fatigue when her eyes drooped.
"It's quite lively today." The emperor picked up his wine cup and glanced at the beautiful young ladies in the hall. "The daughters of each family have all grown into graceful and elegant young women."
The Empress raised her eyes and saw a multitude of beautiful women in the hall, each with their own unique charm. A slight smile played on her lips, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Your Majesty is right. Especially those daughters of important officials, they are truly rare, possessing both beauty and talent."
The emperor nodded slightly, but his gaze fell on the third prince. "Jing'er is all grown up now."
The Empress, understanding the implied meaning from the music, immediately called out to the Third Prince.
Her voice was neither too loud nor too soft, just loud enough for the surrounding concubines to hear, "Now that all the young ladies are here, is there anyone you fancy?"
Upon hearing this, the Third Prince immediately rose and bowed respectfully, saying, "Your Majesty, I dare not speak presumptuously; I leave it all to Your Majesty's decision."
A hint of displeasure flashed in the Empress's eyes. She disliked the Third Prince's demeanor the most—always appearing submissive and lacking any sharp edge, just like his vixen mother, though she knew nothing of what he was truly thinking.
“Why is Third Brother so reserved?” the Second Prince suddenly interjected. He was tall and strong, and his voice was loud. “Marriage is a major event that should be taken seriously. Although Mother’s intentions are good, it is ultimately your own life’s most important matter.”
The Empress's face darkened slightly, and she remained silent for a moment. Consort De was habitually domineering, and her son was just as ill-mannered, daring to boss her around in front of her. She coldly glanced at Consort De, who was sitting below her, sipping her wine with a reserved smile, clearly not finding her son's behavior inappropriate.
“Ying’er is right.” The Emperor spoke, breaking the brief silence. “Jing’er is not young anymore, and she should indeed think carefully about her marriage.” He paused, then turned to the eldest princess sitting to the side. “Elder sister, don’t just watch the show. Yanxing’s marriage should also be put on the agenda.”
The princess knew from his tone that her good brother was having trouble with his own legal issues and couldn't stand seeing her so relaxed.
She put down her wine glass and chuckled, "Your Majesty is putting me in a difficult position. Yanxing is a cold-hearted boy. Nowadays, young ladies prefer someone who is warm and caring. They wouldn't be interested in him. I'm not going to play the villain."
The Emperor laughed heartily, "Your Majesty, that's just an excuse. Yanxing is a handsome and talented man, and also my own nephew. Why would he worry about not finding a good match?"
The eldest princess smiled but remained silent, her gaze seemingly casually sweeping across a certain spot in the hall. The empress followed her gaze and saw Pei Xu sitting upright in the hall, his dark-patterned robes making him appear even more upright and tall, like a pine or bamboo, standing out among the group of elegantly dressed young men.
A sharp pain shot through her heart. If her son had grown up safely, he would surely have been just as handsome! She had finally raised him to the age of ten, and he was intelligent, clever, and well-behaved. But fate was cruel, and a sudden illness took away her eldest son, a pain that would forever remain in her heart.
In a daze, a striking red caught my eye—Princess Suxin, dressed in a long, bright red brocade gown, her gold hairpin swaying in her hair, was chatting and laughing with several young ladies. This eldest daughter of the Emperor's elder brother, Prince Qing, looked just like her father had once, utterly unreserved.
The Empress and the Emperor were childhood sweethearts, so she naturally knew that Prince Qing had been deeply favored by the late Emperor and had almost threatened the Emperor's throne. Over the years, the Emperor had only shown superficial affection for Prince Qing, while remaining wary of him in private. He also did not particularly love this niece, and the Empress felt the same way.
"Su Xin is a young lady now, and she is dressed so festively today, which is pleasing to the eye." The Empress said calmly, "I noticed that the one sitting with her... seems to be Miss Lin from the family of the Minister of Personnel. She is beautiful and intelligent, quite extraordinary."
The emperor looked over upon hearing this, his expression slightly somber. Although he wouldn't hold a grudge against the younger generation for past grievances, seeing someone he disliked acting so arrogantly was never pleasant. Now that he had ascended the throne, his elder brother's lineage should be cautious and discreet. He even thought the Miss Lin mentioned by the empress was nothing special.
Seeing this, Consort De's eyes flickered, and she immediately said, "I have also heard of Miss Lin's beautiful reputation. She is gentle and kind. She and the Third Prince will surely be a harmonious couple."
She understood the emperor's temperament; the more she said this, the more displeased he would become.
The Third Prince wants the Minister of Personnel to be his wife's husband? What wishful thinking!
The emperor did not respond, but said only, "Minister Lin's daughter is certainly good, but we should be more cautious about Jing'er."
The Third Prince's smile froze slightly, and he lowered his head. "Father is absolutely right, Your Majesty."
The atmosphere in the hall became tense for a moment. The eldest princess seized the opportunity to change the subject, "Your Majesty, today is the Spring Festival, why not have the music troupe play another piece?"
The emperor's expression softened slightly, and he waved his hand in acknowledgment. Music began to play, and the tense atmosphere seemed to dissipate. However, everyone with discerning eyes knew that the undercurrents had never ceased to flow.
After another song ended, Princess Suxin suddenly stood up from her seat. "Your Majesty," she said, "there is a fun lantern riddle game during the Spring Festival. I would like to present a lantern to help you pass the time. Is that alright?"
The emperor nodded dismissively, "Granted."
Princess Suxin bowed in gratitude and then ordered her maid to bring a delicate lotus lantern. The lantern was beautifully painted, and ribbons hung from the lampshade, each ribbon tied with a piece of paper that appeared to be a riddle.
"This lantern is called the 'Marriage Lantern,'" a folk legend says. It is believed that solving the riddle on the lantern will bring a blessed marriage. "On this auspicious Spring Festival, why don't you all give it a try? It will bring good fortune." Princess Liu curtsied and said, "Today is the Spring Festival; why don't you all give it a try?"
The emperor's interest was piqued. "Interesting. Let the young people give it a try, and I'll watch the fun."
No sooner had she finished speaking than Princess Suxin arrived at the table with a lantern. “Why don’t you invite Miss Meng to go first? I have long heard that the daughter of Lord Meng is well-read and would surely be able to solve the riddles with ease.”
Meng Lingyao's heart was filled with alarm bells. Princess Suxin must have had a reason for calling her out in public. However, she could not disobey the emperor's will at this moment, so she had no choice but to get up and go to the hall.
"Miss Meng, please choose one riddle." Princess Suxin smiled and raised her lamp.
Meng Lingyao stared intently at the ribbons, and at first glance, each ribbon did indeed bear a different riddle. Just as she was about to choose the top one, Princess Suxin's finger twitched slightly, the lamp flickered, and a pale purple ribbon landed right beside her.
"It seems Miss Meng has already made her choice."
Meng Lingyao paused for a moment, then calmly accepted the ribbon.
The inscription above reads in small characters adorned with flowers: "The rising sun shines upon the capital, its shadow falling upon the three mountains, a scene worthy of a painting."
A note from the author:
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Ugh, the author is practically illiterate! The couplets, riddles, and limericks in this article are all thanks to technological advancements, and I made some minor revisions (to make them rhyme better). Please forgive me! [pity][pity][pity]
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