Chapter 31 All the birds in the capital came to support her.
Auspicious Beast Taming!
These four words spread like wildfire throughout the streets and alleys of the capital within a single day.
The storyteller in the teahouse, spittle flying, recounted how the four-and-a-half-year-old princess subdued the Tiger King with a single finger.
The young ladies in their boudoirs were filled with curiosity about the pink doll that could turn a fierce tiger into a big cat.
Even the children in the market, while playing, would shout: "I am Princess Anguo, you are the big tiger, get down right now!"
Emperor Chu Yuan, however, preferred Mu Yu.
Whenever the emperor had a spare moment, he would travel incognito to the princess's residence to play childish games on the seesaw with Mu Yu, or listen to her recite "Prime Minister Turtle Sayings" that even she herself couldn't understand.
In Chu Yuan's own words, "Being with my little Yu'er makes me feel twenty years younger."
This made all the concubines in the harem, who were scrambling to curry favor with the emperor, green with envy.
Especially Consort De.
"Auspicious omen? I think it's more like a demonic omen!" Consort De gritted her teeth.
The Third Prince, Chu Huaijin, stood to the side, his expression equally unpleasant.
"Mother, please calm down," Chu Huaijin advised. "Right now, Mu Yu is enjoying the Emperor's favor, so it's not wise for us to confront her head-on."
"Then what do you suggest we do? Are we just going to stand by and watch her and that bastard Ninth Prince steal all of Father's favor?" Consort De said unwillingly.
"Of course not." A glint of light flashed in Chu Huaijin's eyes. "I have a plan."
He leaned close to Consort De's ear and whispered a few words in her ear.
Consort De's eyes slowly brightened.
"Praise to death?" She chewed on those two words, a cold smile curling at the corner of her lips. "A brilliant plan!"
...
A few days later, news came from the palace.
To celebrate the great victory on the southwestern frontier, Consort De will hold a grand "Hundred Birds Appreciation" in the Imperial Garden.
She has somehow found an extremely rare "seven-colored phoenix," which she will display publicly to pray for the country's well-being.
All the imperial concubines, princes and princesses with official ranks, as well as the families of officials of the third rank or above in the capital, were invited.
Princess Mu Yu of Anguo County naturally received the highest-level invitation.
"A feast for a hundred birds? Is there roasted bird meat to eat?" Mu Yu looked at the gold-embossed invitation and asked the probing question.
Chief Steward Li, who came to deliver the imperial decree, stumbled and almost fell.
"My little darling, those are rare birds for ornamental purposes, you can't eat them!" he explained, both amused and exasperated.
"I can't eat this..." Mu Yu instantly lost interest and casually tossed the invitation to Yan Ziche next to her.
Yan Ziche picked up the invitation, smelled it, and looked at the ink on it. He then commented in a serious tone, "The Consort De was confined for three months. Her sudden appearance upon release is suspicious and could be a crime."
Xiao Beichen wiped his sword to the side and snorted coldly, "A weasel offering New Year's greetings to a chicken, it's all ill intentions."
Xie Zhiwei silently took out a bottle of pills from the medicine box and handed it to Mu Yu: "This is Qingxin Pill, made with honeysuckle and lotus seed hearts. It tastes slightly bitter with a sweet aftertaste. There are many people at the banquet, so if you feel upset, you can take one."
"It's bitter again?" Mu Yu's little face scrunched up like a bun.
“Well… I still have some honey candy here.” Xie Zhiwei immediately switched to another bottle.
Chu Chongjin looked at this group of little adults with conspiracy theories written all over their faces and shook his head helplessly.
He walked to Mu Yu's side and patted her head: "It's fine to go and take a look. If you don't like it, we can come back early."
"Alright." Out of respect for her brother Jinlong, Mu Yu reluctantly agreed.
On the day of the bird gazing event, the Imperial Garden was bustling with people and incredibly lively.
Consort De, dressed in a magnificent palace gown, accepted the compliments of everyone with a beaming smile, as if the previous confinement incident had never happened.
The Third Prince, Chu Huaijin, treated all the guests with the utmost courtesy, just like a host.
When Mu Yu and her group arrived, they immediately attracted everyone's attention.
"Look, it's Princess Anguo!"
"Is she the little fairy who can turn tigers into cats?"
"She's so cute, just like someone from a painting."
Amidst the curious, awe-inspiring, and envious gazes of the crowd, Mu Yu was picked up by Emperor Chu Yuan and placed directly in the seat closest to him in the main seat.
This honor was something even the Crown Prince had never received.
Liu Qingqing, the daughter of the Minister of Personnel, watched this scene from afar, so jealous that she almost tore the silk handkerchief in her hand to shreds.
She was put in confinement by her father for offending Mu Yu last time, and was only recently released.
She was indignant. Why should a wild girl who knew nothing receive the double favor of the Ninth Prince and His Majesty?
The banquet began, and the singing and dancing filled the air.
Soon, the most exciting part arrived.
Consort De clapped her hands, and several eunuchs worked together to lift a huge birdcage covered with a red cloth embroidered with gold thread.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the fact that we were able to bring this 'Seven-Colored Phoenix' here today is thanks to His Majesty's great fortune and is also a symbol of the prosperity of our Great Chu Kingdom!" Consort De's voice was clear and loud.
"Today, let it sing a song for my Great Chu, praying for my dynasty to prosper for ten thousand generations!"
After saying that, she personally lifted the red cloth.
A magnificent bird with iridescent feathers appeared before everyone's eyes.
Its feathers refract seven different colors in the sunlight, and its long tail feathers are particularly dazzling.
"Wow! So beautiful!" Everyone present exclaimed in amazement.
Consort De and Chu Huaijin exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with smugness.
They purchased this bird from a Western Region sorcerer at great expense and trained it for several months with drugs and secret methods, enabling it to produce a beautiful chime similar to a set of chimes.
They intend to use this bird to completely overshadow Mu Yu's "auspicious" appearance.
Then, they secretly spread the saying "Two tigers cannot share one mountain, and two auspicious omens cannot share one country," pushing Mu Yu into the eye of the storm.
However, after waiting for a long time, the bird just stood proudly in the cage, not even making a sound, let alone singing.
The scene became somewhat awkward at one point.
"This... perhaps it's because Luanfeng is seeing the Emperor for the first time and is a little nervous," Consort De explained with difficulty.
Chu Huaijin also hurriedly stepped forward and blew a specially made whistle, trying to entice the phoenix to sing.
But the bird remained unmoved.
Just then, Mu Yu, who had been sitting quietly in Chu Yuan's lap, intently munching on a piece of osmanthus cake, suddenly let out a small burp.
A sweet, koi-scented aroma, which only she could "smell," drifted out unnoticed with her burp.
The next second, something incredible happened.
The proud "Seven-Colored Phoenix" seemed to have suddenly smelled some exquisite delicacy, and abruptly turned its head to stare in Mu Yu's direction.
Its emerald eyes were filled with longing and... flattery?
"Chirp—!"
It let out an urgent and loud cry, all traces of its former aloofness gone, and desperately pounded its body against the birdcage, as if trying to break free.
This isn't over yet.
"Chirp chirp!"
"Chirp chirp!"
"Coo coo coo!"
A sparrow flew in from somewhere and landed on the corner of Mu Yu's table.
Then came the second one, the third one...
Orioles, thrushes, magpies, white doves...
Hundreds and thousands of birds of all kinds, as if they had received some kind of rallying order, surged toward the Imperial Garden from all directions in a dark mass.
They hovered above Mu Yu's head, but none of them dared to land. They just chirped merrily, creating a magnificent, natural symphony.
The entire Imperial Garden instantly transformed into a sea of birds.
Everyone was stunned.
They looked up at this once-in-a-century spectacle, speechless with awe.
A hundred birds pay homage to the phoenix!
No... this is a hundred birds paying homage to the fisherman!
Consort De and Chu Huaijin were both deathly pale.
Their meticulously planned "Hundred Birds Appreciation" has become Mu Yu's exclusive backdrop!
Liu Qingqing was so angry that she trembled all over.
Emperor Chu Yuan was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter even louder than the last time at the hunting grounds.
He held the still dazed little girl tightly in his arms, feeling his heart filled with immense joy.
He looked at Mu Yu with eyes full of affection.
If... if this child were his own daughter, how wonderful that would be?
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