Chapter 63: Bai Yueguang Returns, Royal Palace Feast
The main hall of Prince Duan's mansion was adorned with dazzling brilliance. Red silks snaked around the columns, lanterns hung from the entrance all the way to the backyard, candlelight illuminated the entire hall, and even the air was filled with the sweet fragrance of osmanthus wine. The officials and concubines attending the banquet, dressed in finery, gathered in groups of three or four to chat and laugh, their eyes filled with anticipation for the welcoming banquet. After all, this was the first banquet held by Shen Qingyue, the "white moonlight," after her three-year absence. Everyone wanted to see what this woman, who had captured Prince Duan's imagination, was like.
Yun Zhi, dressed in a dusty servant's uniform, stood in the shadows of a corner of the main hall, holding a tray with a freshly warmed wine jug on it. Her head was bowed low, her hair covering her eyes, making it difficult to discern her expression. Only her hands, hanging by her sides, were visible, their nails digging deep into her palms, leaving several crescent-shaped red marks. Compared to the hatred she felt, this little pain was nothing.
"The prince is here! Miss Shen is here!" With the butler's loud singing, the talking and laughing in the hall stopped instantly, and everyone turned to look at the door.
Xiao Jin wore a dark brocade robe, with a white jade pendant given by Shen Qingyue tied around his waist, and stood tall and straight. Beside him, Shen Qingyue wore a moon-white dress embroidered with delicate orchid patterns. Her long hair was tied up with a white jade hairpin. Her face was lightly powdered, and her eyes and eyebrows held a delicate tenderness, like an orchid just wet by the rain, which was heartbreaking.
"Greetings, Your Majesty. Greetings, Miss Shen." Everyone bowed and saluted in a respectful tone.
Xiao Jin nodded slightly, but his eyes were always on Shen Qingyue, and his tone was so gentle that water could drip out of it: "Walk slowly, the ground is slippery." He reached out to hold Shen Qingyue's waist, and carefully led her to sit in the main seat. His eyes never left her, as if everyone else in the hall was just air.
After Shen Qingyue sat down, she smiled softly at everyone and said in a gentle voice, "Thank you all for coming. Qingyue hasn't returned for three years, and I'm sorry that you all worried about me." As she spoke, her eyes reddened slightly, with a hint of grievance, "Qingyue unfortunately fell off a cliff that year, and was fortunately saved by a master. But... just thinking about what happened back then, and thinking about those who were implicated because of me, I feel even more uneasy."
This statement seemed like self-blame, but it actually had a deeper meaning—everyone knew that after she'd fallen off a cliff, Prince Duan had determined that the culprit, Yun Xiao, was responsible, and that's why he had murdered the Yun family. Now, when she mentioned "those implicated," it was an overt expression of guilt, but a subtle reminder to everyone: the Yun family deserved it, and she was the victim.
Sure enough, as soon as she finished speaking, an official followed up on her words and said, "Miss Shen, there's no need to blame yourself. What happened back then had nothing to do with you. It was Yun Xiao's wolfish ambition and treason that led to his downfall!"
"Yes! It is a great blessing that Miss Shen can return safely, and the prince can finally fulfill his wish!"
Xiao Jin held Shen Qingyue's hand, his eyes full of heartache: "Qingyue, don't think about those unhappy things. Today is a welcome party for you, just talk about happy things." He raised his hand to signal the butler, "Let's start the banquet."
The music began, and dancers, clad in vibrant costumes, entered the hall with graceful steps and began their performance. The officials toasted each other, chatting and laughing, creating a lively atmosphere. Shen Qingyue occasionally spoke to the concubines around her, her tone gentle and her manners elegant, exuding the demeanor of a lady from a noble family, drawing praise from the crowd.
Yun Zhi stood in the corner, watching all this with a cold eye, like a spectator who stood apart from the action. She watched Shen Qingyue win over people with her hypocritical face, watched Xiao Jin blinded by love, watched everyone in the room know nothing about the Shen family's conspiracy, and the hatred in her heart grew like a vine, entwining her heart and making it almost impossible to breathe.
"Hey, what are you daydreaming about? Hurry up and give Lord Wang some more wine!" The steward next to her saw Yun Zhi standing still, scolded her in a low voice, and reached out to push her.
Yun Zhi stumbled and nearly fell. The wine jug on the tray swayed, spilling a few drops onto the back of her hand, scalding it and causing her to wince slightly. She quickly steadied herself, lowered her head, and walked over to Lord Wang with the tray, carefully refilling his glass.
"Are you the daughter of that treacherous minister, Yun Xiao?" Lord Wang glanced at her with disdain. "I heard you disappeared before. Why are you back? Are you reluctant to leave because the food at the palace is so delicious?"
When the surrounding officials heard this, they all looked over, their eyes filled with mockery. Yun Zhi's grip on the wine jug tightened, her fingertips turning white, but she still lowered her head and spoke calmly, "Your Excellency, I am only following orders."
"Following orders?" Lord Wang sneered and reached out to pinch her chin, "I think you want to use this face to seduce the prince? Unfortunately, Miss Shen is back, and this imitation of you is not even worthy of carrying shoes!"
Yun Zhi took a sudden step back, avoiding his hand, and the wine jug on the tray shook again. Her movement was small, but it still caught Xiao Jin's attention.
Xiao Jin frowned and looked over, his eyes full of displeasure: "Sir Wang, please be careful at this banquet."
Lord Wang was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "Your Highness, please forgive me. I was just joking with this slave."
Xiao Jin didn't say anything else, but his gaze lingered on Yun Zhi for a few seconds. She still had her head lowered, her expression invisible. Her gray servant's uniform stood out against the other finery in the hall, like a dusty stone, an eyesore. He felt a strange irritation well up in his heart, and waved his hand, "Go down. You won't be serving here anymore."
Yun Zhi bowed and replied, "Yes." She picked up the tray, turned around and walked out of the hall. Her steps were steady and without any hesitation, as if the humiliation and ridicule just now had nothing to do with her.
But only she knew that the moment she turned around, tears nearly fell from her eyes—not out of grievance, but out of anger. Angry at Shen Qingyue's hypocrisy, angry at Xiao Jin's indifference, angry at these officials' fawning, and even more angry at herself for not having the ability to bring these people down one by one.
Walking out onto the corridor outside the hall, Yun Zhi paused, leaning against a pillar, breathing heavily. The cool evening breeze blew over, brushing away the heat from her face, but it couldn't dispel the hatred in her heart. She looked up toward the main hall. Candlelight streamed through the window, reflecting on her face, half bright, half dark, much like her current state of mind.
"Shen Qingyue, Xiao Jin," she whispered softly, her fingertips gently stroking the red marks on the back of her hands from the wine burns, "Just enjoy this feast. Soon, I will let you know what it means to fall from the clouds, what it means to be doomed."
She turned and walked towards the west wing. On the way, she met several servants who were carrying fresh fruits and snacks to the main hall. They kept saying, "Miss Shen is so lucky. The prince even brought out grapes from the Western Regions for her."
"That's right! I heard that the prince even had the best silk shipped from Jiangnan to make new clothes for Miss Shen!"
Yun Zhi listened to these words without stopping. She knew that now was not the time for revenge. She needed patience and wait for the right time, a time that would bring about the complete downfall of Shen Qingyue and Xiao Jin.
Back in the west wing, the courtyard remained deserted, lit only by a small lamp. Yun Zhi entered the room and pulled a wooden box from under the bed. Opening it, she found a secret letter secretly delivered by Liu Zhong and a map of the palace. She picked up the map and, using the light from the lamp, carefully examined the locations marked on it for the study and secret room, her fingers repeatedly rubbing over the words "Study and Secret Room."
She remembered Liu Zhong saying there was a secret room in Xiao Jin's study, where his most important things were kept, perhaps even evidence from the Yun family case. To enter the secret room, she needed the key Xiao Jin always carried with him.
"The key..." Yun Zhi's eyes became firm, "One day, I will get it."
She put the map and the secret letter back into the wooden box and hid it again, then walked to the window, looked at the still bright candlelight in the main hall, and a cold smile appeared on the corner of her mouth.
This welcoming banquet was merely the beginning of Shen Qingyue and Xiao Jin's love story. And she would be the one to bring this drama to an end, using their blood to bring a perfect end to the Yun family's injustice.
At this moment, there was a slight sound of footsteps outside the courtyard gate. Yun Zhi immediately became alert, walked behind the door, and looked out through the crack - it was a maid in a green dress, holding a food box in her hand, standing at the courtyard gate, hesitating whether to come in.
"Who are you?" Yun Zhi asked softly.
The maid was startled and turned around. Seeing Yun Zhi, she quickly bowed and said, "I am a maid from Lanxin Courtyard. I am here on the orders of the Concubine to bring some snacks to Miss Yun."
Su Yurou, the concubine of Lanxinyuan? Why would she suddenly bring her snacks? Yun Zhi was full of doubts, but she still opened the door and let her in.
The maid placed the food box on the table and opened it. Inside, she found several exquisite snacks, still steaming. "The Concubine said she knew you were attending a banquet tonight and had probably skipped dinner, so she had the kitchen prepare some snacks for you to fill your stomach."
Yun Zhi looked at the dim sum, her eyes filled with vigilance. Su Yurou had always been close to Lin Wanru, and both had considered her a thorn in their side, so why would she suddenly be so nice to her? There was definitely something fishy going on.
"Thank the Concubine for me." Yun Zhi said calmly, "You can go back first. I will eat the snacks."
The maid responded and turned to leave. Yun Zhi looked at the snacks on the table without moving. She simply walked to the window and opened it a crack, letting the wind in. She knew that Su Yurou's sudden show of goodwill was either to use her against Shen Qingyue or to set a trap for her. No matter which one, she would not be fooled.
She picked up a piece of dessert, walked to the stone table in the yard, and placed it on the stone platform. Not long after, a mouse ran over, grabbed the dessert, and ran away. After a few steps, it fell to the ground, twitched a few times, and then stopped moving.
Yun Zhi looked at the dead rat, her eyes as cold as ice. Su Yurou had no good intentions and had poisoned the snack!
"Since you want me to die so badly," Yun Zhi murmured softly, "I'm determined to live, and live better than any of you."
She turned back to her room, dumped all the snacks on the table, and put away the food box. She knew that starting tonight, the palace's attacks would intensify. She had to be even more careful to survive this war without gunpowder and achieve her revenge.
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