Chapter 42 Lantern Festival: Would the Empress Dowager like to leave the palace and see the night market...?
As autumn turned to winter, the capital city was greeted by a heavy snowfall. The snowflakes fell gently, adorning the red walls with a pristine white hue, making them appear like jade and precious stones. The lake beneath the Imperial River Bridge froze over, its surface resembling a polished mirror, reflecting the towering pavilions and magnificent palaces with their carved beams and painted rafters.
That night, the Lantern Festival banquet was grand and solemn, with more than a hundred envoys from various countries coming to pay homage.
What surprised these foreign envoys even more than the mighty army that swept across thousands of troops and the magnificent palace was that the ruler of Qi was actually a beautiful young woman.
On the high platform, the woman sitting there wore a Shu brocade dress, with a thin silk brocade patterned with gold pine and crane over it. The tiger-eye crystals adorning the dress and the embroidery complemented each other. Her black hair was styled into a towering Lingyun bun, with jade phoenix hairpins with twin lotus and begonia blossoms hanging down to her cheeks, reflecting in her shimmering eyes.
Several envoys from isolated small states whispered among themselves:
"How come the ruler of the Great Qi is a woman?"
"I'm wondering the same thing. Shouldn't the ruler of the Great Qi be that Pei Yanluo who beat your country so badly that it was running away with its tail between its legs?"
"You were the one who got beaten to a pulp by Pei Yanluo! Even your Xuanwei General, who is so powerful, didn't turn tail and run away at the sight of Futu Jun, abandoning even his own troops!"
"I say, you two, take a breath and stop arguing. The Pei Yanluo you're talking about is right to the Empress Dowager of Daqi, and look, he's toasting the young Empress Dowager."
The two immediately stopped bickering and looked up together, seeing the young and beautiful Empress Dowager of Qi raising her wine cup, her amorous peach blossom eyes curving slightly.
The man at the lower end of the table had black hair and wore a jade crown. He was dressed in a noble crimson-purple long robe with cloud patterns. The interlocking belt around his waist outlined his tall and straight figure. He looked up at the woman at the upper end of the table. Her profile was like jade, and a clear smile was on her lips.
That's right, it was Pei Yanluo who had utterly thrashed them, leaving them routed and defeated.
The main hall was filled with the melodious sounds of string and wind instruments, and the atmosphere was peaceful and harmonious. The crowd below the stage was bustling with people, clinking glasses and exchanging toasts.
Pei Muwei raised his wine cup and clinked it with the Empress Dowager's, saying unhurriedly, "Your Majesty, I have heard that the Empress Dowager ordered the removal of the Ao Mountain outside the Phoenix Perch Palace. Was it the Inner Palace Department that made the Ao Mountain that Your Highness was not satisfied with?"
Chu Yueyuan lowered her head and smiled sweetly: "That's not it. The Aoshan made by the Inner Palace Service is very exquisite. It's just that I think it's a bit wasteful to light lamps every night. Such a beautiful and extravagant thing, once seen and remembered, is enough to be remembered for a lifetime."
Not long ago, in the study of the Hall of Diligent Governance, she casually mentioned to Jin Tong that this year was the first Lantern Festival since the new emperor ascended the throne, and wondered if the Aoshan Mountain on Zhuque Street would be higher than in previous years.
What was said unintentionally may have been taken to heart by the listener.
The following day, Eunuch Wang led a group of eunuchs to set up a towering lantern, over ten feet tall, outside the Phoenix Perch Palace. As night fell, the lantern-lit lantern tower was so tall and bright that it dimmed the moonlight and attracted all the palace staff to stop and watch.
Xiao Yun was so happy that he ran around the candlelit Aoshan Mountain again and again. As a result, he caught a cold that night and had a runny nose. He was sick for a while and was unable to attend the Lantern Festival banquet that day.
The woman's voice was like a spring, and the words, "A single glance, etched in the heart, is enough to last a lifetime," made Pei Muwei's brow twitch slightly.
A subtle tenderness touched his lips, and his voice was clear and melodious: "This time, when hundreds of countries came to pay tribute, the envoys from each country presented many novel treasures. Your humble servant had people select the interesting ones and send them to the Empress Dowager and the Emperor."
Chu Yueyuan nodded with a smile: "You're so kind, Pei Qing."
As the emperor and his minister were talking, they suddenly heard a commotion from below the stage.
Amidst the bustling banquet, an envoy from the Western Night Kingdom rose and clasped his hands in a salute. His booming voice drowned out the laughter of the crowd.
"The Great Khan is grateful to the Prince for helping us drive the Canglang tribe out of the Sam River. To express his gratitude, the Great Khan presents the most beautiful 'Moonlight Treasure' from the Western Night Kingdom to perform a dance for the Prince."
In the hearts of the people of Xiye, 'Yuezang' represents a beautiful woman, implying a beautiful woman who can make the moon hide.
The music and ceremonial department immediately replaced the instruments with the exotic erhu and alligator drum.
As the cheerful drumbeats began, the carved doors of the side hall slowly opened, and a veiled woman gracefully entered to the rhythmic beat of the drums. A string of small golden bells was tied to her slender wrists, and the clear, melodious sound of the bells rang out as she moved gracefully.
The sound of the bells was not abrupt; rather, it complemented her light dance steps and the drumbeats perfectly. The woman's steps were like lotus blossoms, her skirts like flying swallows, and her sleeves like swirling snow. Her graceful dance captivated the guests, who were eager to see her true face beneath the veil.
Just then, a gentle breeze swept by, lifting the veil from the woman's face and revealing an exceptionally alluring face.
Her dark eyes held a captivating, clear gaze, and her cheeks shimmered with a rosy glow; she was truly a beauty who could make the moon hide in the clouds.
The man with slightly weaker self-control at the banquet immediately showed a look of infatuation on his face.
As the dance ended, the envoy from the Western Night Kingdom cupped his hands and smiled, saying, "This 'Yuezang' is our Great Khan's most beloved Princess Ulan. From a young age, the princess has admired the culture of the Great Qi. She accompanied me to the Great Qi this time to stay in the capital and study the Six Arts and Classics. Having heard of the Regent's literary talent and refined manners, I humbly request that Your Highness keep the princess by your side and offer her guidance..."
The envoy from the Western Night Kingdom spoke tactfully, but those with common sense immediately understood that the beautiful and charming Princess Ulan longed for more than just the splendid culture of the Great Qi Kingdom; she also yearned for the Regent Prince himself.
Princess Ulan, her cheeks flushed from the dance, gazed lovingly at the handsome man on the high steps. With her lips slightly parted, she recited a poem with heartfelt emotion.
This poem was written by Pei Muwei many years ago in Beiting.
She bowed slightly, her clear, melodious voice echoing throughout the hall, melting hearts: "I implore Your Highness, to allow Ulan to remain."
Upon hearing this, the guests in Yaohua Palace immediately erupted in uproar. The Guanglu Shaoqing, who was in charge of coordinating tonight's palace banquet, turned ashen-faced and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. Clearly, the Xiye Kingdom princess's self-recommendation was not part of the established procedure.
The unmarried noble ladies slashed at the sweat-drenched Princess Ulan, secretly cursing her for shamelessly professing her love for the Regent in public. The men, on the other hand, were filled with envy, sighing that this was the way of a true man—power in hand, with beauties in his arms.
Inside the hall, the people whispered amongst themselves, each with their own thoughts.
Chu Yueyuan was equally surprised, but due to her status as the Empress Dowager, she did not show it too obviously on her face, but simply looked at the Princess Ulan with curiosity.
Women in the Western Night Kingdom are generally tall and slender, and Princess Ulan is even more voluptuous and graceful. Her face is covered by a beaded veil, and she is charming and alluring. Her waist, which is covered by thin satin, seems to be smaller than General Kan's head.
Faced with a stunningly beautiful woman throwing herself into his arms, it's hard to imagine any man in the world being able to resist...
Her thoughts wandered aimlessly until a clear, cold voice interrupted her reverie:
"What does the Empress Dowager think?"
"Um?"
Chu Yueyuan lowered her head in a daze, meeting the man's dark and deep eyes. He looked at her with unusual focus, his voice so calm that it revealed no emotion:
"Does Your Majesty think I should keep Princess Ulan?"
Chu Yueyuan: ....
What does this have to do with her?
The murmurs in the hall gradually subsided, and everyone turned their attention to the young empress dowager on the phoenix throne, following the regent's question.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Chu Yueyuan felt immense pressure. She couldn't understand why Pei Muwei had dragged her into this mess, so she coughed lightly and tentatively said, "Since Princess Wulan is so eager to learn, then perhaps Minister Pei could let her stay..."
For a man, a beautiful woman is like a fine wine. There is no reason to only smell the aroma without tasting the flavor. Chu Yueyuan guessed that the Regent wanted to taste this exotic wine from afar, but with civil and military officials present, he had to maintain a certain level of reserve and pretend to ask for her opinion.
A gentleman helps others achieve their goals, and Chu Yueyuan readily assisted in helping others achieve their goals.
After she finished speaking, the man continued to stare at her silently, his handsome face growing increasingly cold and hard, his dark eyes like a still pool, calm yet concealing subtle ripples.
Having spent a long time together, Chu Yueyuan clearly sensed the surging energy beneath the surface of the pool, and she tilted her head in confusion.
Their eyes met, each trying to see through the other's true thoughts.
Could it be that she guessed wrong?
Chu Yueyuan's mind raced. The Regent was a suspicious man. Did he suspect that Princess Wulan was a spy sent by the Western Night Kingdom and didn't want her to stay in the mansion?
Pei is truly cunning, entrusting her with such a dirty job of destroying flowers.
Chu Yueyuan met Princess Ulan's expectant gaze and smiled slightly: "The Imperial Academy has a special institution for receiving students from foreign countries. The academy is full of talented people, and there are several virtuous and learned teachers who impart their knowledge to you. Since Princess Ulan wishes to study the classics, history, and culture of the Great Qi, I will have the officials of the Court of State Ceremonial arrange a student status for you. From now on, you will remain at the Imperial Academy..."
Princess Ulan hurriedly interrupted the Empress Dowager, knelt down and bowed, her tone resolute: "Ulan only wishes to stay by the Prince's side, I implore the Empress Dowager to grant my request!"
The words were addressed to the young empress dowager, but the woman's gentle, watery eyes remained fixed on the elegant and noble man on the high steps.
Seeing Princess Ulan's resolute attitude, Chu Yueyuan had no choice but to lower her head and look at the instigator, lowering her voice to say:
"Why isn't Minister Pei showing himself yet? Does he want me to play the villain to the very end?"
Pei Muwei looked at the young empress dowager who was blinking at him incessantly, and the corners of his lips couldn't help but curve slightly. He shifted his gaze and cast a faint glance at His Highness:
"The Empress Dowager has already explained to Princess Wulan that all foreign students who come to Daqi to study must study at the Imperial Academy for three years, and only those who pass the examination can stay. The country has laws, and Daqi will never break the rules for the princess. If the princess is not sincere in her pursuit of knowledge, she should return to Xiye Kingdom and continue to be the 'Hidden Moon' of your people."
His gaze was cold and detached, as if he were appraising a beautiful flower or an exquisite vase; in his eyes, everything was a beautiful but lifeless object.
The man's businesslike tone made Princess Ulan's flushed cheeks turn ashen, her eyes dimming. She lowered her head and choked out:
"Ulan wishes to stay at the Imperial College to study."
After an interlude, the most dazzling "Hidden Moon" from the Western Night Kingdom finally slunk away into the dark clouds.
Seeing Princess Ulan's fate, the foreign envoys who had tried to win over the Regent by offering her beautiful concubines had no choice but to abandon their plans. The women they had prepared were beautiful, but compared to the young Empress Dowager of Qi on the throne, they were like stars vying with the sun and moon—a futile endeavor.
With candlelight flickering and music playing again, the dancers on stage began to sway gracefully, and the atmosphere quickly returned to its previous merriment.
Chu Yueyuan smiled, and while raising her cup to cover her face with her sleeve, she leaned down slightly and said in a low voice, "Pei Qing, it would be better to tell me directly what you want to do next time, instead of making me guess what you're thinking."
Pei Muwei raised his cup in return, his eyes slightly upturned, a faint smile playing in his eyes: "This humble subject believes that Your Highness is of one mind with me."
The gilded cups with dragon and phoenix designs collided, causing ripples to spread across the surface of the wine.
Chu Yueyuan's heart seemed to flutter at the sight of the man's beautiful eyes, a faint blush creeping up her ears. She murmured softly:
"I'm not a tapeworm in your stomach."
The palace banquet came to a close amidst a dazzling display of fireworks. After enjoying the fireworks, the civil and military officials and envoys from various countries left the imperial city one after another. Once the bustling and lively atmosphere subsided, what remained was a desolate atmosphere, as if the palace were in the heavens.
On the long, bluestone-paved path, two palace maids led the way, holding glass lanterns painted on the walls. The warm yellow candlelight cast their overlapping shadows onto the vermilion palace walls.
The distance from Yaohua Palace to Fengqi Palace was not far; the imperial carriage only needed to travel for a quarter of an hour. After the palace banquet, Pei Muwei offered to escort Chu Yueyuan on the pretext of going to Qinzheng Palace along the way.
Faced with the powerful regent seeing her off, Chu Yueyuan glanced longingly at the comfortable and warm imperial carriage, forcing a smile as she accepted his kind offer.
Under the bright moonlight, the emperor and his minister walked side by side. Although they did not speak, the atmosphere was not awkward. They often sat facing each other for several hours in one room to handle government affairs, and they were already familiar with each other's presence.
"Just now, during the banquet for the envoys from various countries, I saw a female envoy. I suppose she is the Xixia envoy that Prime Minister Shen and the others mentioned?"
The phoenix crown on Chu Yueyuan's head was so heavy that her neck started to ache after walking for a while. To distract herself, she took the initiative to start a conversation.
There are specific rules for seating at palace banquets. The emperor faces south, while his ministers face north. This year, nearly a hundred envoys from various countries came to the Great Qi to pay homage. In order to demonstrate the grandeur of a great power, the Ministry of Rites arranged for these envoys to sit facing north, with civil and military officials in the next position, and the women sitting on the outermost edge.
Therefore, the young female envoy seated on the north side stood out among the men.
Pei Muwei nodded: "In the Kingdom of Xixia, women are respected. The position of the king is passed down to women, not men. Most of the important positions in the court are also held by women. The female envoy that Your Highness saw tonight is the vanguard general of the Kingdom of Xixia."
Chu Yueyuan opened her dark eyes slightly and sighed, "I once saw a description of the Xixia Kingdom in the 'Biographies of the Kingdoms'. The book describes the Xixia Kingdom as having existed for more than three hundred years, with female rulers in every generation. This country is located in a key area in the northwest, and the entire country is surrounded by miasma on all sides, so it almost never interacts with other countries."
Although the Kingdom of Xixia borders the northwestern territory of the Great Qi, it is extremely mysterious because it rarely interacts with the Great Qi.
A hundred years ago, according to historical records, an emperor of the Great Qi Dynasty attempted to annex the Western Xia Kingdom. However, the Great Qi army he sent was stopped outside the miasma. The Great Qi soldiers who were infected by the miasma began to suffer from symptoms such as high fever and diarrhea. Before they could even reach the capital of the Western Xia Kingdom, most of them were killed or wounded.
After suffering several setbacks, the emperor of the Great Qi finally gave up the idea of annexing the Western Xia Kingdom. In recent years, the Great Qi and the Western Xia Kingdom have maintained a clear separation, with neither taking the initiative to provoke the other.
The unprecedented act of the King of Xixia sending a female envoy to the Great Qi Kingdom to pay homage surprised many neighboring countries.
"Does the Empress Dowager know the reason why the Western Xia Kingdom has taken the initiative to show goodwill to the Great Qi?"
Chu Yueyuan turned her head to look at the Regent beside her, gently shook her head, and said truthfully, "I don't know the reason."
The jade hairpin in the woman's hair shimmered in the moonlight, casting a rippling light on her fair profile, like jade in water, adding a touch of delicate beauty to her already radiant face.
Pei Muwei stared at her, momentarily lost in thought, before calmly saying:
"Previously, when Prince Chen forced the emperor to abdicate, the Empress Dowager faced the rebel army without fear and refused to surrender even at the cost of her life. This story spread widely among the people, and even the ruler of Xixia Kingdom heard about it, so he sent an envoy to establish diplomatic relations with Daqi."
Chu Yueyuan was a little embarrassed by his praise. Back then, the plan to lure Prince Chen into the trap was proposed by the Regent, and the execution of the rebel army under Prince Runan at the riverbank was done by the Buddha King. She, the puppet Empress Dowager, had only played a nominal role. Unexpectedly, the common people praised her as a female demon with divine military prowess, and the news even reached the ears of the King of Xixia Kingdom, thousands of miles away.
It seems that the Queen of Xixia heard these absurd words and thought that the Great Qi had produced a female ruler with both literary and military talents. As a female ruler of the same country, the Queen of Xixia felt a sense of kinship and sent an envoy to the Great Qi to find out the truth.
Chu Yueyuan chuckled self-deprecatingly, "In that case, this female envoy from Xixia Kingdom will likely return disappointed..."
As the two were talking, suddenly several golden lights rose into the air from outside the palace walls. With a snap, sparks of golden light shot out in all directions, instantly illuminating the dark night.
Although the fireworks outside the palace were not as grand as those inside, their colorful and dazzling lights made them look exceptionally festive and lively. Judging from their location, they should be heading towards the Zhuque Street night market.
Chu Yueyuan couldn't help but stop and look up at the fireworks outside the palace walls.
Pei Muwei's gaze remained fixed on the young Empress Dowager, unaffected by the fireworks.
The woman was dressed in her finest attire, her beautiful face radiant and elegant, like a dazzling firework bursting in the sky. Her beauty was so captivating that one could not look away. The flickering light and shadows flowed across her slender figure, as if she would disappear in the blink of an eye, like a few scattered sparks falling from the sky.
"Would the Empress Dowager like to leave the palace and see the Aoshan Mountain at the night market?"
Chu Yueyuan turned her head and met the man's deep, dark eyes, which reflected the fireworks. She couldn't help but feel a moment of attraction, but then she thought that if she went out of the palace, she would not only have to notify the Imperial Stud to prepare a carriage, but also dispatch a team of imperial guards to escort her. Even if she went to the night market, she could only watch from afar from the empty restaurants.
Why go to such lengths, only to disturb the people's enjoyment instead of satisfying her?
Her gaze darkened slightly, and she smiled gently: "No need, I have already enjoyed the Aoshan Mountain in the palace this year."
Pei Muwei seemed to see through her thoughts, twirling the sandalwood prayer beads on his wrist with his long fingers, and said unhurriedly:
"This year's Lantern Festival is the first lantern festival held by the people since the new emperor ascended the throne. His Majesty should inspect the lantern festival organized by the Jingzhao Prefecture. However, since His Majesty is ill, the Empress Dowager can only perform the duties on his behalf. The accompanying ministers will go out of the palace in disguise to secretly inspect whether the officials of the Jingzhao Prefecture have neglected their duties."
There's actually such a saying!
Chu Yueyuan's eyes sparkled as she nodded in agreement: "What Minister Pei said makes a lot of sense. In that case, I might as well investigate further and take the opportunity to conduct a spot check on the various shops in the night market to see if any vendors are taking the opportunity to raise prices."
Pei Muwei smiled and praised, "The Empress Dowager is indeed very thoughtful."
Since she was going out of the palace incognito, Chu Yueyuan would definitely change into some inconspicuous clothes, so she arranged to meet the Regent at Huaxi Gate in a quarter of an hour.
Back at Phoenix Palace, she asked Jin Tong to find the clothes she wore before entering the palace. However, these clothes were childish in style, and they looked out of place when paired with the noble and imposing Lingyun hairstyle. In order not to attract attention, Chu Yueyuan simply removed her hairpins, did some light makeup, and only adorned her hair with a light pink snow plum blossom.
After quickly dressing up, Jin Tong looked at the beautiful young woman in the bronze mirror and exclaimed that it felt like she had returned to the time when her mistress was still unmarried.
When Chu Yueyuan arrived at the agreed place, she found that the Regent was even more low-key than she was.
They were so low-key that they didn't even prepare a horse-drawn carriage.
A man stood in the moonlight, leading a black horse. He wore a dark green, narrow-sleeved brocade robe with water patterns, his hair tied with a jade ribbon, and a carved silk crane cloak. His face was as handsome as jade, and his bright phoenix eyes were as black as lacquer, reflecting the woman walking quickly towards him.
Beauty in the world is beautiful in its own way, just like colorful flowers, some elegant and some intense. But in Pei Muwei's eyes, only the snow plum tree in front of him is the one he most wants to choose.
Chu Yueyuan's small face was half-hidden in the fur of her snow fox brocade cloak, revealing a pair of puzzled eyes: "Pei Qing, is the carriage parked outside the palace gate?"
Pei Muwei stared at her for a while, then said in a low voice, "This humble subject has not informed the Imperial Stud. I humbly request that Your Majesty condescend to ride with me on the same horse."
Chu Yueyuan: ....
Pei Muwei did not give her a chance to hesitate. He mounted his horse and then reached out his hand to her with a warm smile: "Tonight is the Lantern Festival. The streets are bustling with people. To prevent accidents, the Prefect of the Capital has strictly prohibited carriages from going on the streets. Your Highness and I will ride to the West Market and then dismount and walk."
So that's how it is; she almost misunderstood the Regent's intentions again.
Not long ago, the Regent Prince, with his upright character, refused the charming and beautiful Princess Ulan's offer of a bed. How could he possibly use the excuse of inconvenient travel to take advantage of a young widow like her?
Putting aside her worries, Chu Yueyuan placed her small hand in the other man's large and warm palm. The man smiled gently and steadily helped her onto the horse.
"Your Majesty, hold on tight to the handles on the saddle. If you feel any bumps, please let me know and I will slow down."
Chu Yueyuan obediently gripped the handrail. She felt a warm sensation on her back, and the man's steady breathing hovered over her head. When he leaned down to whisper, his warm breath would seep into her collar, making her cheeks flush slightly and her mind race.
The sound of horses' hooves echoed through the empty and silent imperial city. The magnificent vermilion palace gates opened, and the black horse silently rode away from the imperial city like a shadow.
The cold wind blowing in her face gradually cooled the heat on Chu Yueyuan's cheeks, and her mind became clearer.
Oh... no... she can also ride a horse, and the Regent knows this.
How could the regent, who commands thousands of troops, not even be able to produce two horses?
Was she... tricked by Pei again?
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