The Empress Dowager nodded and said no more. She had thought of giving that set of jewelry to Zhao Shu, but it was not suitable. Now she was giving it to the Empress, hoping that she would be able to make the right decision.
The fact that the concubine was allowed to ride on her head was enough to make her extremely disappointed in the Empress. If there had been no suitable person to be the Empress, she would not have tolerated the Empress for so long, let alone given her jewelry.
Empress Dowager Zhang nodded and then loudly accepted the order to leave. The Crown Prince smiled gratefully at Zhao Shu and thanked the Empress on her behalf. As a son, he clenched his fist tightly in his sleeve.
For years he had been living in seclusion in the Eastern Palace, never speaking of revenge or politics. He ignored countless assassinations and poisoning attempts, focusing solely on his studies. Even so, many people had committed evil deeds by slandering the Empress and trying to demote him. Fortunately, he had a gold mine to rely on, so Emperor Mingde was not easily angered. However, his mother had never regained control of the Phoenix Seal.
He kept all of this in mind, waiting for the right opportunity to personally kill his enemies.
Zhao Shu and Granny Zhong helped the Empress Dowager leave slowly. When they reached Rong Weide's side, Zhao Shu said, "Lord Rong, you owe my teacher an apology. Please remember not to forget it. However, my teacher is not someone you can meet with just anyone, especially someone of such low character."
After saying this, she glanced at Yang Zhong and the others, and left Chang Le Palace with the Empress Dowager, ignoring the dissatisfaction, resentment, or contempt hidden beneath her dignified and proper demeanor.
Everyone respectfully saw her off, and Consort Hao also pretended to see her off, but inwardly she was filled with resentment. The concubines sitting below and the princesses behind them had different expressions. Before they could even present their gifts, the Empress Dowager returned to Cining Palace. The birthday banquet was ruined by Zhao Shu, and the Emperor was not angry at all. It was truly outrageous.
Consort De glanced at Consort Ning beside her. The two women looked at each other, then turned away with forced smiles and looked at Consort Hao. Consort Hao was filled with resentment, but when she met the gazes of Consort De and Consort Ning, she composed herself and charmingly raised a cup of wine to Emperor Mingde, saying, "Your Majesty, I toast Your Majesty and wish Your Majesty a long and prosperous life."
Emperor Mingde handed the box to Liang Yunsi to keep, his expression unchanged. He smiled and drank with Consort Hao. From then on, the concubines, princes and ministers began to present gifts.
Zhao Shu could not see it, but with her birthday gift, Emperor Mingde had lost interest in looking at those gold, jade, calligraphy, paintings, antiques and embroidery. Even if the dancers of the Jiaofangsi were graceful and their dance steps were exquisite, he would just look at them casually as usual, without being particularly pleased.
Upon arriving at Cining Palace, Zhao Shu went to pay her respects to the Empress as instructed. When she arrived at Fengqi Palace, Lu Fushou had already received the news and was waiting at the palace gate.
Upon seeing Zhao Shu, tears welled in his eyes, and he knelt down with a thud, performing a grand salute, "This servant greets the Princess." He was grateful to Zhao Shu for not abandoning the Crown Prince during his time of crisis, and for protecting him without ever leaving his side until he recovered.
Zhao Shu hurriedly went to help him up, saying, "Eunuch Lu, please don't stand on ceremony, get up quickly."
Lu Fushou got up, touching Zhao Shu's hand, and, holding a whisk, bowed low, said, "Princess, Her Majesty instructed me to wait for you here. Please come in quickly."
Zhao Shu nodded and followed behind him all the way to the main hall of Fengqi Palace. Liu Zhi, Bai Yue and others were guarding outside the hall. When they saw Zhao Shu coming, they hurriedly smiled and bowed. Zhao Shu waved his hand to tell them to get rid of the formalities and then entered the main hall.
The Empress wore a red brocade palace dress with gold thread and dark floral patterns. Her hair was simply styled in a single bun, adorned with a peony beaded flower. The overall look was extremely simple and refreshing. After many years, she had aged considerably, and there was no rouge on her face.
Upon seeing Zhao Shu, she waved warmly, "A-Jun, come here."
Zhao Shu walked over, while Chu Chun and the others, along with Lu Fushou, waited outside and did not follow.
There were many peonies growing on a high table by the window in the main hall, including a pot of green peonies. The Empress was carefully watering the blooming peony. Zhao Shu was stunned. She didn't realize that the Empress was in such a state now.
Her expression was indifferent, as if she were not a woman from the palace, but a leisurely lady in a peach garden. She picked a peony and tied it behind Zhao Shu's ear, saying, "It's beautiful."
"Does Your Majesty like peonies?" The peony is the king of flowers, often compared to luxurious wealth and splendor. The Tang Dynasty poet Liu Yuxi wrote: "The peony in the courtyard is charming but lacks elegance, the lotus on the pond is pure but lacks passion. Only the peony is truly a national beauty; when it blooms, it stirs the capital."
Zhao Shu didn't believe it. Could an empress who planted peonies all over the palace really be as indifferent as a crane in the mountains, and really be willing to spend her whole life planting flowers and tending to plants here?
Naturally, the Empress wouldn't tell her what she was thinking; she was just angry at her daughter's lack of ambition.
The Empress smiled and nodded. "I used to think they were just pretty, no different from other flowers. But now I have a special fondness for this national beauty, the peony. Do you think it's pretty, Ah Jun? Your aunt will give you this pot of Spring Water Green Waves."
Zhao Shu forced a smile. "Thank you, Your Majesty. Among peonies, yellow and green are the rarest and most precious. I imagine Your Majesty must have put a lot of effort into cultivating this green peony. And now it's in my hands. I'm taking advantage of Your Majesty."
The Empress didn't care at all. She pointed to a cluster of multicolored peonies outside the window and said, "If you like them, just come to Phoenix Palace to get them. Your aunt won't give them to anyone else, only to you."
Zhao Shu was at a loss for words. She stared blankly at the Empress's back and inexplicably thought of Empress Yide, the little beauty who had a difficult childbirth, her confinement, and even the palace intrigue dramas and novels she had watched in modern times. Her heart became complicated.
As I left Fengqi Palace, I met Uncle Fu at the entrance. "Princess, the Prince is playing chess with the Emperor in Taihe Hall. He asks you to leave the palace first, or wait for him in Cining Palace."
Zhao Shu glanced back at the three large, elegant characters of Phoenix Palace and said, "Tell my father that I have returned to the palace. Tell him to go back home as soon as possible and not to stay in the palace for too long."
Uncle Fu noticed that Zhao Shu's expression was a little off, but before he could ask, Zhao Shu walked past him. Along the long palace road, with the high red walls on both sides, her figure appeared particularly thin. "The princess is still too thin. I'll talk to Xing'er about it later," Uncle Fu muttered to himself, but he knew in his heart that the princess was not thin because Xing'er's cooking was not good.
As Zhao Shu walked along the palace path, she looked up at the sky. It was about the beginning of the 5-7 PM. Time really flies in the palace. She had just entered the palace at the beginning of the 7-9 AM and hadn't done anything yet, and it was already the 5-7 PM.
Fortunately, there was never a banquet for Emperor Mingde's birthday, otherwise it would have been an even greater waste of time.
"Princess." Someone called her from behind.
Zhao Shu turned around and saw Wei Tingsi walking behind her. This time, he didn't call her Shushu, but rather Princess. Zhao Shu smiled at him.
"Your Excellency is leaving the palace?" Zhao Shu slightly curtsied in a gesture of respect befitting a peer.
Wei Tingsi walked up to him in a few steps, but did not get close. Instead, he kept a distance, not too far and not too close, just enough to speak softly without being criticized.
Zhao Shu felt a warmth in her heart at his consideration for his reputation.
"His Majesty ordered me to set up a workshop to manufacture birthday gifts for His Majesty from the Princess. There are many things I don't understand, and I need to ask the Princess for advice," he said, his words cold, but one could see the intense excitement and joy in his eyes.
Zhao Shu was stunned. Was this what they meant by "man proposes, God disposes"? She had clearly calculated the interests of all parties involved. It was obviously inappropriate for Emperor Mingde to entrust this matter to Wei Tingsi. He should have found another trusted confidant to do it.
Seeing Zhao Shu's blank expression, Wei Tingsi couldn't help but chuckle. "I volunteered myself. Princess, you are still incredibly resourceful. There's no need to doubt yourself."
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