Chapter 284 Could you... take a look at me?
In springtime, the Imperial Garden is ablaze with the beauty of a hundred flowers.
To celebrate the Flower Festival in the palace, a grand banquet was held. The air was filled with the sounds of silk and bamboo instruments, and various precious flowers were in full bloom. A warm breeze blew through the imperial garden, and the air was filled with the fragrance of flowers and cosmetics.
Women, relatives of the imperial family, and even some talented men and women specially granted permission to enter the palace gathered here. The air was filled with the fragrance of fine clothes and the laughter of guests, creating an extremely grand and bustling scene.
Not long after, Emperor Zhaoheng, accompanied by Shui Xian, appeared at the entrance of the Imperial Garden, both dressed in magnificent robes.
The arrival of the Emperor and Empress further heightened the atmosphere.
Emperor Zhaoheng possessed the bearing of a dragon and the grace of a phoenix, with an innate air of elegance.
Narcissus beside him did not wear bright yellow, but instead chose a lotus-colored palace dress, which was elegant yet dignified.
Although her complexion was slightly pale due to recovering from a cold a while ago, it only added to her pitiful charm.
Taking his seat in the main position, Emperor Zhaoheng paid no attention to the gazes cast upon him. He took the Nine Dragons Holding Pearl Hand Warmer prepared by Feng Shunxiang behind him and placed it into Shui Xian's slightly cool palm without saying a word.
He leaned down and whispered, his voice not loud, but loud enough for the people nearby to hear: "Take it, your hands are cold, be careful not to catch a chill."
This subtle action, seemingly ordinary, clearly signaled to those who were observant.
Emperor Zhaoheng truly doted on this empress who came from a humble background. The same thing was interpreted differently by different people.
Some who were interested, after realizing this, avoided the limelight and their enthusiasm for making a splash at today's Flower Festival was much weaker.
But some people, like the Su family before them, couldn't help but think of themselves when they saw how much Emperor Zhaoheng doted on Narcissus.
Emperor Zhaoheng dotes on even a lowly concubine so much, while his own status is far more noble than that of a concubine...
Such thoughts were not uncommon, all hidden in everyone's smiling eyes. Only when they occasionally glanced at the back of the narcissus did they vaguely reveal their true inner thoughts.
Shui Xiu also attended the banquet at the palace today. She is now not only the Empress's younger sister, but also holds a different status than before due to her role in managing the girls' school.
She was simply dressed in a light blue dress, looking as fresh and elegant as bamboo. She sat gracefully not far from the narcissus, chatting quietly with several talented women from poor families who had passed the girls' school selection.
As Shui Xiu was discussing some matters of assisting in the palace with them, she caught a glimpse of someone from the royal family standing up and toasting Shui Xian.
She immediately stopped talking and looked with concern in the direction of the daffodils.
Princess Anjun, whose gaze was fixed on Shuixiu, was smilingly raising her cup to Shuixian.
"Your Majesty the Empress has just recovered from her illness and is already presiding over this grand Flower Festival. It must be very tiring for you. Your Majesty looks quite well, but the issue of offspring in the harem is of utmost importance. Your Majesty still needs to take good care of yourself so that His Majesty can... well, bestow his favor evenly, and produce offspring for the royal family as soon as possible."
Before Emperor Zhaoheng had any children, his subordinates were thinking about him succeeding to the throne.
Now that Narcissus has given birth to three children, the people below are even more eager to get things going.
Emperor Zhaoheng refused to hold another selection of concubines, as they wished they could personally place their own family daughters into his harem.
Shui Xian's constitution has always been a secret, not to mention the fact that Emperor Zhaoheng had no heir. No one in the Imperial Medical Academy dared to say it unless they wanted to lose their heads.
Therefore, many outside the clan, as well as others who were unaware of the truth, always wondered why Narcissus could give birth, but they couldn't?!
Shui Xian sat upright on her phoenix throne. Upon hearing this, her smile remained unchanged as she calmly looked at Princess Anjun.
"Your Highness is too kind. As for my health, His Majesty and the imperial physicians of the Imperial Hospital are concerned about it. I dare not trouble Your Highness with such worries."
She paused, her voice becoming clearer, as if stating a perfectly natural fact.
"As for offspring, His Majesty often tells me that Yongning is intelligent and quick-witted, and Qingyan and Qinghe are healthy and lively, which makes him very satisfied. His Majesty also often says that the most important thing for parents is to carefully educate their children, focusing on quality rather than quantity. As a mother, Princess Consort, I'm sure... you feel the same way?"
She cleverly brought up Emperor Zhaoheng, using his own words to defuse the situation and directly block the Princess Consort of Anjun's implication of "equal distribution of favors."
Princess Anjun was speechless at her watertight yet witty words. Her smile froze, and she could only awkwardly agree.
"Yes, yes, Your Majesty and the Emperor are a loving couple. I was just being nosy."
She drank the wine in her cup, sat back down in her seat, and Shui Xiucai slowly relaxed the cup that he had been gripping tightly.
Shui Xiu slowly looked at the people present, knowing that the Princess Consort was definitely not the last one.
Although she has been assisting in running a girls' school recently, she has vaguely heard that the previous dynasty wants Emperor Zhaoheng to start a new round of imperial harem selection.
Currently, several high-ranking imperial concubine positions are vacant, and prominent families have all seen this as an excellent opportunity.
Shui Xiu looked at Shui Xian on the high seat with concern, her heart aching only for her sister.
Emperor Zhaoheng can hold out for a while, but how long can he hold out?
She knew that Narcissus had chosen the arduous path of the imperial harem not only for herself, but also for her family.
Emperor Zhaoheng is still young, and it's only a matter of time before his harem is full.
Shui Xiu finished the fruit wine in her glass, and a determination to help her sister share the burden welled up in her heart.
Just as Shui Xiu was deep in thought, another woman from a prominent family got up from her seat.
Zheng Yu'e, daughter of Minister Zheng, was renowned for her talent, especially in painting.
Today, she presented a meticulously painted "Peony in Full Bloom," in which the peonies are vibrant and magnificent. She also inscribed a poem on the side of the painting, among which the line "Only the peony is truly a national beauty, its blooming season stirs the capital" is worth savoring.
She gracefully knelt down, her voice soft and sweet: "This humble woman, having heard of Your Majesty's extensive appointment of female officials, composed this humble work in response to your feedback, Your Majesty."
Upon hearing this, many people at the table held their breath and looked at Narcissus.
Narcissus looked at the poem and raised an eyebrow slightly.
This poem can be interpreted in any way.
This could be interpreted as Zheng Yu'e presenting the painting to the Empress to praise her virtues.
Or... compare yourself to a peony, for only she is the true beauty of the nation, and all other flowers wither after my bloom!
Before Shui Xian could speak, Shui Xiu, who was sitting at the lower end of the table, slowly stood up.
Watching her sister's retreating figure, a smile flickered in Shui Xian's eyes. She exchanged a glance with Emperor Zhao Heng beside her and chose to remain silent.
Shui Xiu first expressed her appreciation for Zheng Yu'e's painting: "Miss Zheng's painting skills are superb. The peonies are lifelike and the colors are gorgeous. It is indeed a masterpiece."
Then, her clear eyes swept over everyone present.
"The peony is the king of flowers, but the orchid in the secluded valley is elegant and fragrant; the chrysanthemum in the eastern fence stands proudly against the frost; and even the wild flowers in the mountains have their own vigorous vitality."
"Her Majesty the Empress promoted the system of female officials, but her intention was not to imitate the ancients and confine women to the courtyard, making them compete for beauty, like the peonies in this painting, which are only for people to admire."
She slightly raised her chin, exuding a composure beyond her years.
"Her Majesty's ambition lies in enlightening the people, wishing that all women in the world, regardless of their social status, can be as fragrant as orchids and as proud as chrysanthemums, displaying their talents without being bound by convention! How could such a vision and aspiration be easily encompassed by a painting of 'Competing Beauties'?"
These words elevated the competition of personal talents to an ideal level!
Zheng Yu'e's sarcastic remarks seemed so narrow-minded in the face of Shui Xiu's grand vision!
"Well said!"
Emperor Zhaoheng immediately clapped his hands, his eyes filled with undisguised admiration. He looked intently at Shui Xiu and said loudly, "The Empress's mind and ambition are far beyond what ordinary people can compare to. Shui Xiu's insights have deeply impressed me! I hereby award her... a set of 'The Records of Mountains and Rivers'!"
The "Records of Mountains and Rivers" is a precious classic that records the geography, landscape, and economy of the world. The emperor's bestowal of this book reflects his affirmation and expectations.
Zheng Yu'e felt embarrassed on the spot, but she still stepped forward to thank the Emperor, Empress, and Shui Xiu before stiffly retreating.
Afterwards, Shui Xiu used all her talents to protect her sister and to uphold her sister's efforts in matters such as girls' schools and female officials.
The daughter of Imperial Censor Wang, confident in her poetic talent, was not convinced by Shui Xiu's recent success. She challenged Shui Xiu to compose a poem on the themes of "flowers" and "ambition," with a limited rhyme scheme, intending to surpass Shui Xiu in poetry.
Shui Xiu calmly rose, pondered for a moment, and then recited in a clear voice:
"Not lingering for the spring's splendor, but striving with unyielding spirit towards the clouds. Why imitate the warbling of orioles and swallows in the spring? I wish to ride the wind and thunder to the highest heavens!"
The moment the poem was recited, everyone present was astonished! In particular, the line "How could I imitate the warbling of orioles and swallows in the spring? I wish to ride the wind and thunder to the ninth heaven" was magnificent and lofty, expressing the woman's ambition to not be confined to the boudoir and to soar through the sky!
In a corner of the room, Yuan Chiyu, dressed in military uniform and ordered to guard the palace, heard the poem and his gaze instantly locked onto the girl standing in the center of the room, who looked calm and confident. His eyes flashed with undisguised amazement and a sense of pride.
His hand unconsciously went to the hilt of his sword at his waist, and his sharp eyes swept over several young noblemen who had been eager to nitpick Shui Xiu's poems. His silent intimidation immediately silenced them.
However, at that moment, the daughter of a Vice Minister of War walked towards Yuan Chiyu with a shy expression.
The Flower Festival is not only a time for those who dream of entering the imperial harem, but also a golden opportunity for young women to find their ideal husbands.
Previously, Yuan Chiyu, a notorious playboy in the capital, was not the choice of a noble lady. However, after he went to the Northwest and made military achievements, he was no longer as unruly as before, and the unmarried noble ladies in the capital began to take notice of him.
Out of politeness, Yuan Chiyu gave a perfunctory reply.
He wanted to leave, but for some reason, the daughter of the Vice Minister of War lingered and did not leave.
Yuan Chiyu subconsciously looked towards where Shui Xiu was sitting, but did not find Shui Xiu there.
His brows furrowed immediately, and his eyes searched anxiously for Shui Xiu's figure in the crowd.
Shui Xiu had just received permission from Shui Xian to go out for some fresh air.
Seeing that she had quietly retreated to a pavilion, Yuan Chiyu quickly followed her.
Inside the pavilion, Shui Xiu was playing with a jade pen holder that Emperor Zhaoheng had just bestowed upon her.
"Water Beauty".
Yuan Chiyu walked up to her, unconsciously wanting to explain, "Just now..."
Shui Xiu didn't even look up, continuing to stroke the jade pen.
She was in a bad mood. For some reason, after seeing the woman chatting happily with Yuan Chiyu, Shui Xiu felt as if there was something between them, and she couldn't shake off her unease.
Shui Xiu was not in a good mood, and her attitude turned cold as soon as she opened her mouth.
"General Yuan's private matters need not be reported to me."
Seeing her distant attitude, Yuan Chiyu felt a surge of anger mixed with an inexplicable sense of panic.
He suddenly reached out and snatched the jade pen from her hand.
He then took a step closer, making his excessively beautiful eyes appear even more striking.
At this moment, Shui Xiu's reflection was like a bronze mirror, allowing her to clearly see her awkward expression.
When Shui Xiu was taken aback, Yuan Chiyu spoke in a low voice.
"Your poem is quite good! 'I wish to ride the wind and thunder to the ninth heaven'... What a grand ambition!"
His voice was low and hoarse as he blurted out what he had been pondering for who knows how long.
"You can go to the heavens, I won't stop you! But Shui Xiu... could you... occasionally... look at me?"
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