Chapter 80 Inauguration Ceremony: Women, like dandelions in the wind, seek fertile land...
After the Regent stormed off, Jin Tong dared to lift the jade beaded curtain and enter. She put down the medicine bowl and a plate of candied fruit, her face filled with worry.
"Your Highness, this servant saw that when the Regent left, he took Imperial Physician Zhao, who was getting medicine, with him. Do you think the Regent might..."
She gestured with her hand across her neck as if she were about to strike with a knife.
Chu Yueyuan frowned as she drank the bitter medicine, then quickly put a piece of candied fruit under her tongue. She shook her head and said, "Although his temper is unpredictable, he won't take his anger out on others easily. Next time, have Imperial Physician Zhao prescribe a few more doses of medicine so that he doesn't attract attention every time he comes over."
Out of sight, out of mind. She made up her mind to avoid men when taking her medication in the future, and the unpleasantness between the two of them would soon pass.
In the afternoon, Chu Yueyuan took Xiao Yun to the Imperial Garden to fish. Remembering that the Regent had said he would come over in the evening, she coaxed Xiao Yun back to Zichen Palace to rest early and ordered the Imperial Kitchen to prepare several of his favorite dishes.
It was almost time for dinner, but she didn't see the man. Instead, Eunuch Wang came running over.
With a whisk draped over his arm and a broad smile on his face, Eunuch Wang reported to the Empress Dowager: "Prince Chun entered the palace at 3:45 PM to meet with the Regent to discuss important matters. The Prince instructed me to inform you that he will likely be a little late in paying his respects to you tonight."
Chu Yueyuan glanced at the table laden with dishes, her eyes crinkling slightly: "The Regent and Prince Chun have been discussing for so long, they must be hungry by now."
She turned to Jin Tong and said, "Go and fetch the brocade box, pack a few dishes and have Eunuch Wang take them back."
The eunuch Wang withdrew carrying the ivory food box, and most of the dishes on the table were gone.
However, the remaining dishes were all Chu Yueyuan's favorites.
She gestured for Jin Tong and the others to sit down: "Granny Xu is with the Emperor in the Zichen Palace, let's relax for a while. Yu Luo, go get a jar of cold wine, let's play a drinking game, the loser draws a cat face on it!"
Yu Luo smiled and said, "Alright, this servant will go to the ice cellar to fetch some chilled peach blossom wine."
———
The study in the Qin Zheng Hall on the other side.
When Xie Yu received the news that the Regent had summoned him to the palace, he thought that something had happened to the Canglang tribe again. He immediately ordered the steward in his mansion to mount his horse and rushed to the palace like a whirlwind.
"Want some wine?"
Xie Yu glared at the calm-looking man and said angrily, "Do you know what day it is today? It's the anniversary of the first time Zhu Niang and I met on Yunque Bridge. You summoned me to the palace just to have me drink with you!"
Pei Muwei held the wine pot, poured a cup of wine, and coldly uttered two words: "Sit down."
Xie Yu looked at the three dishes on the table with disdain and couldn't help but complain, "You invited me to the palace to drink with you, so at least provide some decent dishes. The snacks I had in Jingzhou were better than this."
As soon as he finished speaking, Eunuch Wang walked into the study with a smile, carrying an ivory food box.
"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager heard that Your Highness has not yet eaten, so she specially ordered me to bring back a few dishes. She also said that if Your Highness is too busy tonight, you do not need to go to Fengqi Palace to pay your respects."
The palace servants opened the food box and took out dishes that were delicious and visually appealing, including shrimp, fish, bamboo shoot and fern soup, pepper and vinegar lamb chops, spicy stir-fried eel, and several plates of pastries to relieve the spiciness.
Xie Yu's gaze swept over the table full of delicacies, and he bowed with his hands clasped in the direction of the inner palace: "Your subject thanks Your Majesty for bestowing this food upon you."
The eunuch and palace maids gradually left the study.
Pei Muwei held the grapefruit wine glass, calmly drinking the wine in one gulp. The spicy liquor went down her throat, but it couldn't dispel the pent-up emotions in her heart.
Seeing the man's dejected expression, Xie Yu immediately became interested. He deliberately shook the belt around his waist in front of him before lifting his robe and sitting down. Before his buttocks even touched the chair, he couldn't wait to ask, "Did you have a fight with...that person?"
If you gather some gossip and tell it to Zhu Niang, she might be so happy that she'll redeem the other treasures from the pawnshop!
Pei Muwei remained silent and poured a cup of wine for Prince Chun.
Xie Yu picked up his wine cup and drank it down, then shook his head and smacked his lips, saying, "That's not right... When Zhu Niang and I are in a bad mood, she won't send anyone to bring me dinner; she'd rather throw the bedding out of the house."
Pei Muwei drank another cup of wine with a cold face.
The young empress dowager was naturally different from Prince Chun's first wife.
Zhu Niang regarded Xie Yu as her husband, but what did the young empress dowager regard him as?
Lover? Or lover?
Pei Muwei's eyes darkened as the image of the woman's solemn face appeared in his mind. Her clear eyes stared directly at him as she said that their child would be an illegitimate offspring.
She engaged in intimate acts with him, yet refused to accept the title he offered, nor did she wish to have children with him.
Is it that their relationship is something they can't be made public, or that the young empress dowager simply doesn't want to stand in the light with him?
Seeing the man drinking by himself, Xie Yu helplessly spread his hands: "You called me here, but you didn't explain what happened. How am I supposed to advise you?"
Pei Muwei poured him more wine and said calmly, "You don't need to persuade me, just drink with me."
"Very well, tonight I'll risk my life to keep you company, and we'll drink until we drop!"
Xie Yu was not a good drinker. He was usually very talkative, but when drunk he became even more talkative. After half a pot of wine, he was flushed and slurring his words:
“Weijin, let me tell you… The Empress Dowager is no ordinary woman. She has no connection with the Lin family, yet she offended the Tao family and Prince Anxian to seek justice for the Lin family's daughter. This shows that she has a clear sense of right and wrong and a resolute character. In this respect, you two are very similar. If you have a disagreement, neither of you will give in, unlike me… hey… I listen to Zhu Niang…”
Pei Muwei pressed his long fingers to his brow, a faint blush showing through his fair skin, spreading from his cheekbones to his ears. His handsome features were illuminated by the candlelight, his pupils glowing with an amber light.
"Sigh... Your new purse looks exquisite. What kind of flowers are embroidered on it?"
Xie Yu reached out to touch it, but the man slapped his hand away, his posture resembling that of a fierce beast guarding its food, not allowing anyone else to touch its possessions.
Xie Yu laughed heartily: "You're just like that, always wanting more after getting what you want. You tried to eat a hot bun in one bite, but you ended up getting burned!"
Pei Muwei did not deny it, poured himself a glass of wine, and drank it all in one gulp.
"I knew it!" Xie Yu chuckled twice and slapped the man's broad shoulder hard. "You're not bad, kid. Back in the day, it took me three whole years to get my first purse from Zhu Niang. Why are you in such a hurry?"
"I'm afraid that once she gets what she wants, she won't need me anymore..."
Pei Muwei's expression remained calm as he gripped the empty wine glass tightly with his long fingers. He was a powerful figure in the court, wielding immense authority, yet he always felt a deep sense of powerlessness when facing that carefree young woman.
He was aware of her schemes and willingly cooperated with them, but once all her schemes were accomplished, would she still be willing to stay by his side?
———
At the beginning of midnight, the candle wax inside the lotus-shaped gilded palace lantern had accumulated to a thick layer. Jin Tong was fast asleep, lying on the desk, with ink stains still remaining on her face.
Chu Yueyuan put down the book in her hand, looked up at the water level in the water clock, got up and woke Jin Tong, telling her to go back to her room and rest, and that she didn't need to guard outside the bedroom tonight.
She extinguished the lights and candles in the dormitory one by one, climbed onto the large phoenix couch, hugged the soft pillows, and closed her eyes.
Perhaps it was because she had drunk too much cold wine at dinner, or perhaps it was because the night dew was getting heavier after autumn, but she felt that her bed was particularly cold tonight. She thought that she must have the palace servants turn on the floor heating before going to bed tomorrow.
After tossing and turning for a long time, Chu Yueyuan, who didn't know how much time had passed, finally felt a little sleepy as she huddled under the covers. Just as she was about to drift off to sleep, she suddenly felt the covers being pulled off, and then a burning hot body pressed against her back.
The man's long arms were tightly wrapped around her waist. Although he had showered, his body still carried a strong smell of alcohol and a faint scent of soap. His nose brushed against the tender flesh of her neck, and his breath, carrying the scent of mellow alcohol, was unusually hot, making her back tense up instantly.
Chu Yueyuan gently bit her lower lip, thinking that even when the man was sober, she couldn't handle him; after drinking so much tonight, he would probably be even more unrestrained...
Fortunately, before leaving, Imperial Physician Zhao left behind enough contraceptive medicine.
With the mindset that starting sooner would mean ending sooner, Chu Yueyuan turned over, stretched out her arms and hooked them around the man's neck. In the past, when she did this, the man's passionate kisses would have already rained down on her, and she only needed to lift her hips slightly to cooperate.
But after waiting for a long time, the man in the darkness remained as proper as a hot water bottle that only emits heat.
The moonlight filtered through the curtains, casting a faint glow that made the man's profile resemble a mountain range shrouded in mist, its sharp angles as if carved by a knife, yet its curves as gentle as ink wash painting.
As if sensing her lingering gaze, he suddenly opened his eyes. His usually cool and aloof eyes were now filled with intoxication, like fine wine that had been sealed for many years suddenly seeing the light of day, intoxicating at first glance.
Chu Yueyuan recalled what Granny Xu had once said: Consort Pei had an extremely beautiful pair of eyes. Emperor Wu used to love drawing her eyebrows, praising them as "delicate and beautiful, with a thousand kinds of emotions hidden in her eyes."
Pei Qing's eyes must have been inherited from his mother.
Whether out of guilt over the argument that morning or because she was captivated by the man's charming and alluring phoenix eyes, Chu Yueyuan took the initiative to kiss him.
The moment their lips touched, the hot water bottle came to life. Its warm, large hands supported her lower back, and the cool scent of alcohol rushed into her mouth along her tongue, sucking deeply and kissing her passionately.
He pinned her down, his palms cupping the back of her head, their bodies pressed tightly together, like unfinished clay merging and intertwining into a chaotic mess that could no longer be distinguished from each other.
The kiss was filled with intense possessiveness. Chu Yueyuan was dizzy from his kiss. Just when she was mentally and physically prepared to receive a more intense beating, the man suddenly released his hand from her waist.
The sudden storm abruptly stopped, and the quiet sound of two people breathing heavily echoed from within the curtained room.
He lowered his head and rubbed his high, straight nose against her forehead, which was damp with fragrant sweat, and said in a hoarse voice, "There is an early court session tomorrow, Your Highness, you should go to sleep early."
The man tucked her in and lay down beside her.
Chu Yueyuan's cheeks were still flushed, her chest heaving. Her eyes were filled with lingering confusion and doubt, wondering why he had suddenly ordered a retreat. In the past, this would have been the time when the war drums were urging them to advance.
Could it be that they've already had their drinks and then hastily called it a day?
But just now she clearly felt that suppressed heat, which made her legs feel numb.
Since it concerned a man's virility, Chu Yueyuan was too embarrassed to ask, so she simply hummed in agreement, turned over, and closed her eyes.
Finally, a night of truce arrived, and the hot water bottle beside her was especially warm, so Chu Yueyuan quickly drifted off to sleep.
The moonlight filtering through the curtains was as fine as dust. Pei Muwei watched the woman's slender back rise and fall gently before carefully pulling her into his arms.
I could hear Xie Yu's drunken ramblings echoing in my ears.
"When you first arrived in Beiting, you had nothing. Nine years have passed, and you have gradually gained warhorses, elite troops, and popular support. You were able to endure for nine years in Beiting until you had sufficient military strength and could also remain patient in the court until you had enough power. Now, you are just a helpless little woman in the harem. What are you so impatient for?"
"A woman is like a dandelion in the wind, seeking fertile soil to settle. Having landed in your territory, she refuses to take root. It's not that the dandelion is heartless, but rather that your land is unsuitable. Be careful! Consider what you can offer her, and she will willingly take root..."
Pei Muwei's eyes flickered slightly. He took the woman's soft hand in his and kissed her fingers tenderly, from her fingertips all the way to her rounded shoulders. When he kissed her, a surge of heat rose in his chest, but he managed to suppress it.
He gazed serenely at the woman's sweet sleeping face, his voice low and husky:
“Since you do not like it, I will destroy it before your eyes.”
———
Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, the grand ceremony for the completion of the pagoda has arrived.
Officials dressed in court robes arrived at the Imperial Ancestral Temple before dawn to witness the ceremony.
At the beginning of Chen Shi (7-9 AM), the sky suddenly changed color, and a strong wind howled from the northwest, stirring up a sky full of yellow sand.
Caught off guard, the officials standing solemnly in front of the Imperial Ancestral Temple covered their faces with their sleeves, but the raging sand and stones still squinted their eyes. For a moment, they forgot about their demeanor and hurriedly grabbed their official hats that were about to be blown away by the wind.
"Pah, pah, what a terrible day the Astronomical Bureau chose! Last time we were soaked in rain during the sacrificial ceremony, and this time we ate a mouthful of sand while attending the ceremony."
"What a load of crap, the supervisor! He holds the position but does nothing. I'll definitely impeach him another day."
"Yes, refer to one of his books."
The Director of the Astronomical Bureau was hearing the rebukes from his colleagues, his mouth full of yellow sand, and he had no words to express his bitterness. He observed the celestial phenomena every night, selected several auspicious days with clear skies from the imperial calendar, and even marked those days as prone to change in the weather and to be avoided as much as possible.
However, the regent, with a stroke of his pen, deliberately chose the worst day. Despite his repeated advice, he was jokingly dragged out of the imperial study by the eunuch.
The gale continued, blowing the officials' robes high into the air. Several thin civil officials lost their footing and had to cling tightly to the nearest military officer to avoid being swept away by the wind.
The tall and imposing General Kan had the flushed-faced Chief Lin tucked under his arm, with seven or eight civil officials tied behind him, resembling a mother hen spreading her wings to protect her chicks.
Amidst the fierce winds, the newly built pagoda stood tall, the golden bells hanging from its eaves ringing loudly, drowning out the faint sounds emanating from the wooden beams of the pagoda.
An official looked up at the sky and sighed, "Dark clouds obscure the sun, and the golden wheel of fortune is hidden; this is not a good omen!"
"Lord Zhou, be careful what you say!" An official beside him hurriedly tugged at his sleeve and lowered his voice, saying, "You should consider in your heart, whose family is in charge of today's grand ceremony?"
Today, the officials who are attending the ceremony stand solemnly in front of the Imperial Ancestral Temple according to their rank, waiting for the Emperor and Empress Dowager to preside over the ceremony.
Chu Hongtu, a fourth-rank official in the Ministry of Works and the younger brother of the Empress Dowager, stood conspicuously among the ranks of third-rank officials, his smug expression undiminished even by a strong wind.
It seems that this Vice Minister of Works will be promoted again after the ceremony.
Lord Zhou withdrew his gaze and snorted coldly: "No matter how powerful the Chu family is, can they possibly be above the imperial family?"
"With the Empress Dowager holding the young emperor in one arm and the regent ministers in the other, the Chu family has gained the upper hand on both fronts!"
"Alas, interference by the empress's relatives in politics will inevitably lead to disaster sooner or later!"
The officials in front of the main hall were blown about by the strong wind, and the imperial relatives waiting under the eaves were not much better off.
Princess Anxian's meticulously styled Lingyun bun, which took two hours to complete, was blown into a mess in an instant, and the pearl earrings she wore turned into hidden weapons in the hurricane, relentlessly lashing her cheeks.
However, upon hearing the officials' resentment towards the Chu family, she smiled with satisfaction.
Now, even her husband dislikes the Chu family for being too ostentatious.
She'll see how long the young empress dowager can remain in power!
The thought that the woman would later walk up the high altar in the raging wind, her clothes disheveled in front of everyone, made Princess Anxian even more excited than on her wedding day.
When the auspicious hour arrived, the monks in the Imperial Ancestral Temple struck the Taihe Bell. As the solemn and melodious bell rang, the raging wind suddenly stopped, as if it had been taken back by the Wind God in the sky.
After the forty-nine chimes were struck, thousands of golden rays burst forth from the clouds, illuminating the white marble steps in front of the Imperial Ancestral Temple with dazzling brilliance.
The golden bells that had been vibrating under the eaves of the pagoda just moments before now only have a few clear, lingering notes.
The gates of the Imperial Ancestral Temple opened, and the spirited young emperor walked in front, followed by the young empress dowager and the regent.
The officials hurriedly dusted themselves off, straightened their official hats, and bowed respectfully.
Under the clear sunlight, the young empress dowager wore a dark blue robe embroidered with twelve imperial symbols, a crown with nine dragons and four phoenixes, a gold and jade belt around her slender waist, and a gold-sprinkled phoenix-tail skirt with a hem over three feet long. As she walked gracefully, a layer of flowing light floated around her, as if the morning glow of the sky had been woven into a carpet.
The regent was dressed in a crimson brocade robe with gold cloud patterns, a nine-tassel crown on his head, and a short sword with a gold sheath and dragon patterns at his waist. The man was already broad-shouldered and long-legged, but he deliberately walked slowly to match the pace of the young empress dowager beside him. Because of his relaxed and noble demeanor, he walked with a touch of the elegant posture of someone taking a leisurely stroll.
Seeing the emperor and his ministers successfully ascend the altar, especially the young empress dowager whose charming face, enhanced by her dignified attire, exuded a solemn beauty that drew admiring glances from many members of the royal family, Princess Anxian angrily tore off the carnelian Buddhist bead necklace around her neck.
On the altar, Xiao Yun took three incense sticks from the Imperial Preceptor and stood on tiptoe to insert them into the incense burner.
He raised his head slightly, his youthful face appearing and disappearing beneath the twelve-tasseled crown. His gaze swept over the officials standing solemnly below the altar, and though his voice was still immature, each word was firm and resounding: "The auspicious hour has arrived. I hereby announce the commencement of the consecration ceremony of the pagoda!"
As the last word was uttered, the chime bells of the Imperial Ancestral Temple rang out in response.
Beneath the pagoda, nine hundred and ninety-nine monks sat cross-legged on lotus cushions, holding wooden mallets, chanting sutras with their eyes closed. The ethereal and resonant sounds of the mallets and the chanting echoed throughout the temple, causing the golden bells hanging from the eaves of the pagoda to tremble slightly.
The Imperial Preceptor handed the brocade box containing the relics to Chu Yueyuan, and put his hands together, saying, "Amitabha, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, please enshrine the relics at the top of the pagoda."
This relic is related to the rise and fall of the Great Qi Kingdom.
A hundred years ago, there was a devout Buddhist emperor named Shenzong of the Great Qi Dynasty. In order to follow the Buddha's teachings, he neglected state affairs, which led to the usurpation of power by his relatives. Later, this emperor shaved his head and entered a Buddhist monastery. After his death, his body was cremated and turned into relics.
Fortunately, the emperor who succeeded to the throne was a wise ruler. He changed Emperor Shenzong's habit of neglecting his duties, executed all the treacherous officials who had harmed the country, restored order to the court, and enshrined Emperor Shenzong's relics, both to help the deceased souls pass on and to warn future generations that even if one has a heart for Buddhism, one should not neglect the country and its people.
The newly built pagoda has thirteen levels, with thirty-three wooden steps on each level. This heavy task was still a bit of a strain for Xiao Yundan, who was not good with his hands.
To prevent the relics from rolling down from the top of the pagoda, the Ministry of Rites revised the regulations, changing the procedure to have the Empress Dowager personally ascend the pagoda holding the treasure box.
As Chu Yueyuan was about to step down from the altar with the brocade box in her hands, she brushed past the Regent, when the man's well-defined hand brazenly grasped her wrist.
"Your Highness, please wait."
Chu Yueyuan's heart skipped a beat, but with the officials present below the altar, she calmly withdrew her hand from the man's palm and said softly:
"What is it, Minister Pei?"
Pei Muwei lowered his eyes, his gaze carefully tracing the little empress dowager's face as she tried to remain calm.
The woman's black hair was tied up high, and the pearl-adorned tassels swayed gently, reflecting the shimmering light in her eyes. The solemn dark blue robe could not conceal her beauty; instead, it made her porcelain-white skin appear even more translucent and radiant.
He said calmly, “The wooden stairs inside the pagoda are steep, and Your Highness’s attire makes movement difficult. Perhaps it would be better to have another member of the royal family serve you.”
Chu Yueyuan raised her eyebrows slightly. At this point, where does the Regent intend to conscript men?
The officials waited for a long time, but the young empress dowager never came down from the altar.
The two men on the altar were too far apart for the people to hear what they were saying. They could only see the Regent's tall figure shielding the young Empress Dowager in his shadow. A moment later, the man took the brocade box containing the relics from her hand.
"Could it be that the Regent intends to climb the tower himself? That's... improper. That's a Buddhist tower dedicated to the ancestors of the Xiao family."
"What right does he have to climb the tower? Last time, he was allowed to enter the ancestral temple to worship his ancestors as a relative of the imperial family, which was already an overreach of authority and an act of grace. He's really pushing his luck!"
The royal family members were furious, each filled with righteous indignation, as if Pei Muwei were going to dig up their ancestral graves.
At this moment, the plump eunuch Wang pushed through the crowd and came before Prince Anxian, forcing a smile as he said:
"Your Majesty, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager's old foot injury has not yet healed, making it inconvenient for her to climb the tower. The Regent would like to request that you preside over the ceremony on her behalf and ascend the tower to seal the relics."
Prince Anxian was clearly surprised by the news. A hint of joy flashed in his eyes, but he suppressed the smile that was about to appear on his lips and repeatedly cupped his hands in greeting:
"Please convey to the Emperor that such grand ceremonies as the sacrifice to Heaven and ancestors can only be presided over by the true Son of Heaven. Although the current Emperor is young, he is assisted by the Empress Dowager and the Regent. I dare not overstep my bounds."
As if he had already guessed what Prince Anxian would say, Eunuch Wang presented the brocade box with a smile: "The Regent has said that the Prince is the Emperor's uncle and the most senior member of the imperial clan. Now that the Emperor is young and the Empress Dowager is unwell, in order to ensure the success of the Buddhist pagoda ceremony, we request that the Prince temporarily set aside the formalities."
The exquisite brocade box with pearl-shaped knobs and string patterns shone brightly in the sunlight, its shape and size resembling the jade seal on the imperial desk.
"Since the Emperor and the Empress Dowager have both agreed, Uncle, you may go."
"Yes, we would feel more at ease if the Imperial Uncle presided over this ceremony."
Amidst the urging of the surrounding royal relatives, Prince Anxian beamed as he accepted the brocade box containing the relics.
After the monks finished chanting the scriptures, Prince Anxian, carrying a brocade box, walked through the crowd. The hem of his crimson python robe swept across the white marble steps, and amidst the rising wisps of smoke, he strode into the pagoda.
The majestic pagoda stands against the blue sky, its body adorned with scriptures carved in gold lacquer. When the sunlight shines upon it, the scriptures shimmer and glow, resembling sacred objects described in Buddhist scriptures.
All the civil and military officials looked up at the towering pagoda, and were all awestruck by its magnificent grandeur.
Chu Hongtu couldn't help but raise the corners of his lips, feeling that his future career would be as bright and glorious as this pagoda.
Suddenly, the golden bells hanging from the eaves swayed and made a clear, tinkling sound.
"Hmm, is the wind about to pick up again?"
The ministers present quickly gripped their official hats, but after waiting for a while, they did not feel any wind blowing.
The golden bell shook violently, its clear ringing gradually turning into a piercing shriek, accompanied by the cracking sound of the wooden planks being squeezed together.
Several ministers who were closer to the stupa finally noticed something was wrong. Their expressions changed drastically, and they exclaimed, "It's...it's the stupa shaking!"
No sooner had he finished speaking than Prince Anxian rushed out of the pagoda in a panic, the brocade box nowhere to be seen, and he was shouting incoherently:
"It's collapsing, it's collapsing..."
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