"Granny Wu, tell Princess Jiayue what happened at Xuanhua Palace tonight?"
The Empress looked at Jing Jiayue with indifferent eyes, devoid of any warmth, as if she were looking at a dead person.
"Yes, the Third Prince is not dead, he is alive and well, and he is currently in Xuanhua Palace." Wu Mama had received the Empress's instructions to wait for Jing Jiayue and the Third Prince. In the end, pushing the Third Prince into the lake was entirely her own idea, and she did not tell the Empress.
Unexpectedly, the Third Prince, who was destined to die, climbed up from the bottom of the lake. When Wu Mama saw the Third Prince in Xuanhua Palace, her heart sank. She thought she had seen the ghost of the Third Prince coming to claim her life. She was so frightened that she was speechless for a moment. Fortunately, the palace maids and nannies covered for her, and no one noticed.
It was only later that the Empress learned the Third Prince was still alive. She was furious. She had failed to bring down the Consort, and the Third Prince, who was supposed to die, had miraculously come back to life. Her entire plan had failed, and she was not about to let them off the hook.
Therefore, Jing Jiayue is the perfect scapegoat.
"What? Impossible! I saw the Third Prince poisoned and vomiting blood as he collapsed on the ground with my own eyes," Jing Jiayue said in disbelief.
Granny Wu thought to herself: I even threw the Third Prince into the lake with my own hands, and he still climbed out.
"Hmph, are you questioning my eyes?" The Empress waved her sleeve impatiently. "Granny Wu, don't hurt your face. She has to attend His Majesty's birthday banquet tomorrow."
He gave a brief explanation and left the darkroom. As he stepped out, he turned back to Jing Jiayue and said, "By the way, Jiayue, you'd better make the most of tomorrow. If you fail again, then you..."
They understood what was left unsaid: a useless pawn by the Empress's side did not deserve to live.
"Mother, spare me, Mother, ah..."
The hidden door blocked out the screams from inside. The screams continued for a long time, only ceasing when the sky began to lighten with the first hint of dawn...
...
The next day.
The Emperor's Birthday Festival.
At the end of the Si hour (9-11 AM), at the Imperial Palace.
Officials of high rank have already arrived at the palace with their families to offer their birthday greetings to the current emperor.
There was still some time before the lunch break, so men and women were separated.
Groups of two or three ladies sat together chatting, and all the young ladies agreed to do so.
"Today is His Majesty's birthday. Do you think the little princess will compose a birthday poem for His Majesty on the spot?"
"The little princess is a child prodigy. She could compose poems when she was only two years old last year. She must be even more amazing this year. I envy His Majesty and the Consort's genes. How come our teenagers are not as good as the little princess?"
"Who can argue with that? We're envious too."
Several noblewomen showered the little princess and the noblewomen with praise, while the young ladies from various families also discussed the current princess.
Only one young lady from an official family, standing against the wall, scoffed: "Pshaw, so what if she's a child prodigy? It's all thanks to Her Majesty the Empress. The Imperial Concubine has never raised a little princess."
Upon hearing this, everyone present fell silent. Although they disagreed with what the other party said, they dared not refute it, because this woman was none other than the Empress's niece, Mu Yueyue.
"Miss, please stop talking. Madam instructed me... Ah."
"Shut up, when did it become your turn to speak?"
The maidservant who was with her stepped forward to dissuade her, but before she could finish speaking, Mu Yueyue slapped her across the face.
His unruly and willful nature was completely exposed.
Jing Le, who was not far away, watched with great interest, while the Third Prince, who was following behind him, looked quite helpless.
It wouldn't be good if someone saw him, a grown prince, squatting outside the women's quarters eating melons, but what could he do if his sister refused to leave?
[Oh my, there's so much gossip in the palace! Who was that person who just spoke up for the Empress? She's so arrogant; all the other young ladies are afraid of her. Anyone who didn't know better would think she was the princess.]
The system didn't issue any tasks, so Jing Le was happy to relax and begged the Third Prince to take her out to play. But then she saw this scene.
Third Prince: There is indeed a lot of gossip in the palace. That woman seems to be the Empress's niece. He had seen her once from afar.
"That is the Empress's niece, Mu Yueyue."
"She is Mu Yueyue." Jing Le felt a pang of emotion and sympathy upon hearing the name.
[She was a pitiful person, betrayed by her own aunt, a legitimate daughter reduced to a concubine, and ultimately tortured to death.]
[Just because she coveted the Second Prince, she offended the Empress. Alas, how pitiful.]
She remembered that it was today that the design was created.
The Third Prince: It's so much fun watching the drama unfold with my sister. He can't sympathize with Mu Yueyue's plight at all. Didn't you see her just now praising the Empress and belittling her mother?
"The banquet is about to begin; we need to go to Mother's place."
"Let's go then." We've finished eating the melon; let's go keep our beautiful mother company first.
...
At noon, the imperial kitchen had already prepared the dishes for the birthday banquet, waiting for the officials to present their birthday gifts before hosting the banquet for them.
It started at 1-3 PM and ended at 3-5 PM, lasting a total of two hours.
"His Majesty has arrived."
"Her Majesty the Empress has arrived."
The eunuch announcing the news chanted loudly. The Emperor, dressed in bright yellow, walked in the middle at the very front, with the Empress a few steps behind and the Imperial Concubine leading Jing Le behind.
"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Empress! Long live the Empress!"
The entire magnificent hall was filled with kneeling figures. Only after the Emperor took the seat of honor and the Empress and others were seated did they slowly begin to speak.
"My beloved subjects, rise."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Everyone took their seats. Jing Le was seeing such a scene for the first time and was very curious, her eyes darting around.
These court officials are good at putting on a show, all very respectful, but behind the scenes they've smeared countless times for the Great Yong Dynasty and for the Emperor. No wonder the people see the Emperor as a complete tyrant, the kind who kills at the drop of a hat.
However, there were a few who were extremely loyal, like my maternal grandfather's family.
After complaining for a while, Jing Le's eyes were drawn to the snacks on the table. She reached out her little hand, grabbed a piece of pastry, and stuffed it into her mouth, her cheeks bulging like a little hamster.
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