Chapter 62 The Palace Banquet: Let the storms rage, I remain steadfast, like a fisherman on a fishing platform. ...
The Azure Palace, a magnificent palace of jade and jewels, was a place of peace and prosperity.
On the eve of the birthday banquet, a battle report from the northern desert suddenly arrived. Although the Emperor was concerned about the Empress Dowager's birthday, the Empress Dowager advised him to go to the Imperial Study because of the importance of state affairs.
Therefore, at the birthday banquet, only the Empress Dowager sat in the main seat, with the concubines, princes of the imperial family, and first and second-rank officials sitting on either side, all of whom were the most respected in the land.
Seated on a high seat, the clothing and utensils were all the finest in the world. Laughter and conversation filled the room, yet every word was carefully chosen and subtly pointed.
The concubines from each palace stepped forward in turn to present gifts, perform dances, or play music; each of them possessed a beauty that could topple kingdoms.
Su Jinxiu stood in the corner, feeling overwhelmed by the sights.
Then Shi Yunyu stepped forward, unfolded the gift list, and read it aloud: "A pair of enamel-painted vases, a jadeite figurine of the Three Star Gods of Fortune, Prosperity, and Longevity, a red gold filigree and gemstone-inlaid 'May your fortune be as vast as the Eastern Sea' flat ornament, a crystal dragon-carved peach-shaped washer..."
The gift list was filled with rare and precious treasures. Upon reaching the last item, Shi Yunyu paused slightly, saying, "Your Majesty, this last gift is quite special; please take a look."
As soon as he finished speaking, several eunuchs came up carrying an object that looked like a screen frame. It was covered with a thick black cloth, so you couldn't see what it was.
Upon hearing this, everyone craned their necks and looked on with great curiosity. The Empress couldn't help but whisper, "Judging from its shape, it looks like a screen frame."
The Empress Dowager, seated high on her throne, with her hair piled high in a cloud-like bun and adorned with a phoenix hairpin dangling with pearls, exuded an air of authority without anger, possessing the dignified bearing of someone who had long held a high position. Upon hearing this, she merely raised an eyebrow slightly and said with a languid smile, "Oh? What mystery is Yu'er playing now? Stop keeping me in suspense and reveal it to me."
Shi Yunyu responded with a "Yes," stepped forward, and personally lifted the black cloth.
In an instant, the entire hall was filled with dazzling light.
It was a huge screen depicting a hundred birds paying homage to the phoenix. The phoenix perched atop a parasol tree, its wings full and its tail feathers vibrant. It raised its head and cried out, its expression majestic and noble. Hundreds of birds surrounded it, some soaring high, some perched on branches singing joyfully, and some stretching their necks to join in the chorus, each with a different posture and lifelike appearance.
What's even more remarkable is the Suzhou embroidery technique, with needlework as fine as a hair, harmonious color matching, and natural transitions. The phoenix feathers are distinctly layered, with a flowing luster. The birds are depicted with lively and vivid expressions, as if they might burst out of the screen at any moment. The entire screen is magnificent, showcasing not only the unparalleled elegance of the imperial family but also subtly implying the harmonious relationship within the harem, where a hundred flowers bloom and all support the emperor.
For a moment, the hall was completely silent, then low murmurs of amazement and praise rippled through the room.
The Empress Dowager was overjoyed upon seeing it: "What a magnificent sight, a phoenix so majestic that all birds come to pay homage! Yu'er, was this made by an embroiderer from the Embroidery Bureau? It's truly a masterpiece. Quickly bring her up, and I will reward her handsomely!"
Shi Yunyu stepped forward and said slowly, "Your Majesty, heroes of the world are as numerous as carp crossing a river, and the best are not necessarily all in the palace."
A hint of surprise flashed in the Empress Dowager's eyes: "Oh? There are such skillful embroiderers outside the palace?"
Shi Yunyu bowed and replied, "Indeed, this is the work of the head of Huayun Pavilion in the city."
Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager immediately asked, "Where is this woman?"
Subsequently, Su Jinxiu performed a kneeling ceremony in the main hall, her posture respectful.
However, it was not the Empress Dowager who spoke first to praise it, but the Empress. She turned to the Empress Dowager and said with a smile, "This phoenix perches high on the parasol tree, looking down on all the birds. It truly does not perch on anything but the parasol tree, nor drink anything but the sweet spring. It is a natural and proper sight."
Hearing this, Consort Zhang remained silent, her lips pursed. She was beautiful and stunning, truly the most beautiful woman in the harem. No wonder she was able to rise from a mere dancer to the position of Consort.
The Empress Dowager smiled but remained silent, as if watching a tiger fight from the sidelines.
Seeing the Empress's smile, which held a hint of approval, and then noticing Consort Zhang's face as dark as an icy pool, Shi Yunyu sensed something was amiss. She looked up at the screen and was shocked to realize that Su Jinxiu had not embroidered daylilies, and the phoenix with its head held high and the peony with its head bowed, the implication of the phoenix suppressing the peony, was utterly obvious.
Compared to Shi Yunyu's sudden change in expression, Zhang Mingxu, who happened to be not far away and could catch a glimpse of Su Jinxiu's profile, rested his chin on his hand and watched the changing situation in the hall with a smile.
He had only been away on official business for a little over a year, and upon his return, she had transformed into the head of Huayun Pavilion, even gaining access to the inner chambers and appearing at the palace's birthday banquet. Zhang Mingxu's interest grew stronger, his gaze sharp as he scrutinized Su Jinxiu from head to toe, his eyes carrying a hint of aggressive determination, as if he wanted to devour her whole.
She was no longer the simple woman I first met; now, she possessed a captivating charm that surpassed her former beauty. Perhaps for her upcoming visit to the palace, she was dressed solemnly, the golden hairpin at her temples trembling slightly with her breath, adding to her air of nobility.
That's right, that's right, this is more like his Yan'er.
I suppose it's time to check on the progress of the phoenix coronet and embroidered robe I had her embroider before I left.
Since the Empress had already offered such praise, Consort Zhang, despite her resentment, had no choice but to maintain appearances and offer a perfunctory reply.
The Empress Dowager glanced at Su Jinxiu indifferently, thinking that if a palace embroiderer made a mistake, it might be seen as an attempt to curry favor. But this was just a commoner from the city, and it was probably an unintentional mistake. So, she nodded and praised, "With your skill, you're not even in the Imperial Embroidery Bureau, you can be considered the best among commoners."
After speaking, he ordered someone to reward her with a pair of exquisite gold jewelry inlaid with rubies.
Su Jinxiu quickly kowtowed to express her gratitude and replied humbly, "Your Majesty is too kind. My humble skills are nothing more than petty tricks from the marketplace, hardly worthy of being presented in a refined manner. As the saying goes, there are always mountains beyond mountains and people beyond people. The true masters of embroidery are all in the palace. I am of meager talent, and it is my great fortune to have the opportunity to witness the Empress's natural grace and to have been favored by the Empress Dowager and Your Majesty."
These words flattered the court while demonstrating the speaker's humility, and were spoken flawlessly. The Empress Dowager was very satisfied and waved her hand, dismissing her.
But Shi Yunyu was startled when she heard this.
Qiaoqiao usually seems intelligent and quick-witted, and is by no means a stupid person. Why is she so inconsiderate today?
How dare she deliberately bring up the phrase "a woman of natural talent" in front of Consort Zhang? Is she trying to curry favor and seek a powerful backer?
As Su Jinxiu thanked the emperor and stood up, she caught a glimpse of Consort Zhang and Zhang Mingxu exchanging glances out of the corner of her eye. The resentment and hostility in her eyes were self-evident.
She had handled the banquet with grace and a clear voice, but in fact, when she left the banquet at the end and went to the corridor to get some fresh air, she felt that the cold sweat on her back had not yet dissipated.
Su Jinxiu patted her chest lightly, took a few deep breaths, and, remembering Ying Bumei's words, calmed herself down.
Once she had calmed down a bit, she wanted to find Shi Yunyu to go back together. Just as she turned the corner of the corridor, she bumped into a maid. She tried to step aside, but the maid followed her like a shadow, deliberately blocking her way.
After some back and forth, Su Jinxiu raised her eyebrows and said, "Young lady, may I pass by?"
The maid sneered and suddenly shoved her backward. Caught off guard, Su Jinxiu staggered backward and crashed heavily into someone, causing gasps of surprise to rise behind her.
She felt a sharp pain in her wrist when she fell, but she didn't bother to rub it. She assumed she had offended a noble person and hurriedly knelt down to beg for forgiveness: "This humble woman was reckless and offended a noble person. Please forgive me."
But a familiar cold snort came from above.
Su Jinxiu caught a glimpse of the embroidered shoes; they were indeed made by her. She immediately understood what was going on. Looking up, she saw Princess Qingping, with the old woman beside her glaring at her with resentment.
Cen Wanting took two steps forward, bent down and pinched her chin, her tone icy: "You did offend me."
She pinched Su Jinxiu's chin, using her knuckles to forcefully turn Su Jinxiu's face from side to side, as if she wanted to dissect this skin inch by inch.
What is it about this face that makes it so captivating?
How could it have made Wen Shiqin so infatuated, so willing to abandon himself and disregard wealth and honor, to go to the battlefield and die without regret?
Cen Wanting's past affection for Su Jinxiu was nothing more than the condescending pity and charity of a superior; she had never truly valued Su Jinxiu. From as far back as she could remember, she had lived a life of luxury, pampered and adored, never experiencing the slightest disappointment. Yet, she had been utterly defeated by Su Jinxiu, this embroiderer—a humiliating disgrace that left her with a bitter taste in her throat, keeping her awake at night.
"But this time, I don't intend to forgive you."
Su Jinxiu had already guessed the reason in her heart, and was about to speak when Cen Wanying asked first, "Granny, what are the palace rules for dealing with offending a noble person?"
Granny Song bowed and nodded: "Your Highness, he should be slapped."
"Slapping her in the face, isn't that a bad idea? Miss Su is very sensitive."
Granny Song immediately understood, her tone harsh: "For such a lowly commoner to offend someone as distinguished as you, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to drag him out and beat him to death!" After saying that, she sternly called out: "Nongzhu!"
Nongzhu's gaze darted between Su Jinxiu and Cen Wanying, her face showing timidity as she hesitated. Seeing this, Granny Song secretly pinched her hard and scolded in a low voice, "Hurry up! Can't you even tell the difference between master and servant?"
Even so, Nongzhu still hesitated to move.
Su Jinxiu glanced back down the corridor and, sure enough, the familiar figure appeared. She then deliberately looked up to provoke Song Mama: "Mama, you are just a servant in the Prince's mansion. What right do you have to punish me with palace rules?"
Granny Song was already fiercely protective of her mistress, and upon hearing this, she became even more enraged and slapped her across the face.
The slap was quite forceful; Su Jinxiu, who was kneeling, was knocked to the ground. She braced herself with one hand and covered her burning cheek with the other. Hearing the footsteps behind her getting closer, she began to sob, looking pitiful.
Granny Song was about to step forward to punish him again when a majestic and furious voice suddenly came from behind her, freezing her in place.
"Whose servant are you, daring to act so presumptuously in the palace?"
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