Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 211 Jade Bones and Graceful Figure
Inside the Zichen Hall.

On the ebony table were gilded covered bowls and wolf-skin wine sachets. The camel milk wine brought by the Siz envoy had a unique sweet and slightly fishy taste, mixed with ambergris.

Various offerings were piled up on the side of the table. The rough style was incongruous with the carved beams and painted rafters, yet it exuded a subtle harmony.

Emperor Chongzhao leaned back on the dragon throne, Empress Xie sat upright on the phoenix throne, the Crown Prince and Prince Duan stood to the left and right respectively, and several important officials of the court also sat in order of rank, holding their breath and concentrating.

Erzi, wearing a silver crown with peacock feathers, placed his hand on his chest and performed the siz salute.

"Princess Tuya, the pearl of Mount Ulan, is willing to dance for the eternal friendship between Daliang and Xiz."

Twelve barefoot maidens filed in, silver bells jingling softly around their ankles. Emperor Chongzhao lowered his eyes, toying with a thumb ring. His previously casual gaze suddenly froze as the gauze curtain was lifted—

A woman emerged from behind the veil, her figure graceful and elegant.

Half of her face was covered by a silver veil, and a cinnabar mole between her brows shone brightly like a red lotus.

"Greetings, Your Majesty the Emperor of Great Liang—"

The woman gracefully bowed.

"The dance I present is called 'Ulan Snow,' and I pray that Your Majesty will enjoy good health and longevity, and that the Great Liang Dynasty will have a long reign."

"Rise," Emperor Chongzhao gestured.

Tuya spun around, her skirt billowing wildly like a surging sea of ​​clouds. The wolf fangs adorned with silver chains grazed her slender waist, ringing out with a sharp, metallic sound.

Although her face was not clearly visible, she possessed a unique, refreshing aura from another realm, as if carrying the eternal frost and snow of the sacred mountain, which instantly permeated the nine palaces.

Emperor Chongzhao suddenly remembered what Consort Wan had said on the night she first received Emperor Chongzhao's favor: "The daughters born from the snow of Mount Wulan are all blessed by the mountain god."

He tapped the throne lightly with his fingertips, his gaze intense.

"This dance is quite unique."

As soon as the emperor spoke, Erqi immediately stepped forward and knelt to answer.

"Your Majesty, this is a dance blessed by the Wolf God. The princess fasted on the sacred mountain for fifteen years before receiving the divine instruction."

Emperor Chongzhao simply smiled and remained silent.

Until the music ended and the dance ceased, the courtiers' praises were deafening.

Emperor Chongzhao stroked his beard and nodded, his gaze falling on the wolf-tooth silver chain around Princess Tuya's waist.

"The blessing from the Wolf God is truly unique and has made me so eager to see the Holy Maiden's true face."

Everyone would be curious: beneath that veil, is there a face that could launch a thousand ships?

But the smile in Emperor Chongzhao's eyes made it hard not to have any wild thoughts.

Tuya lowered her eyes shyly, her silver veil fluttering slightly, her amber-brown eyes like melting snow, captivating all who looked at her.

“Your Majesty, the Holy Maiden has been cultivating on Mount Ulan since childhood, and her veil should not be lifted lightly.” Erqi kowtowed to the ground, his expression solemn and dignified.

"Only those who are blessed by Heaven can see its true face."

An uproar erupted in the hall.

All the officials in the court knew that the chosen one was none other than His Majesty.

The emperor intended to bring the beauty into his harem, and Erqi subtly implied in his words that she wasn't there to dance, but rather to beauties. Amenlah hoped to use a princess to gain the support of the Great Liang in order to counter Ashina…

After the incident of Consort Xiao's "suicide," she became much more restrained than before, and her whole demeanor became meek and cautious.

But watching the emperor caress the armrest of the dragon throne, her nails, painted with henna, almost dug into her flesh. A strange tension gripped her heart like spider silk, making her feel suffocated...

She keenly sensed that the emperor had designs on her, and though she was furious, she dared not utter a word...

Empress Xie smiled and took off the bracelet from her wrist.

"What a fine jade carving artist! I admire it."

Tuya curtsied gracefully, her silver bells jingling softly, "Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty."

Empress Xie looked at Emperor Chongzhao and smiled meaningfully.

"The princess's figure is as graceful as a lotus, and her movements are as light as a swallow... If she were to wear the Moonlit Dress of my Great Liang, she would surely be a completely different kind of beauty."

She turned to look at the emperor, the tassels of her phoenix hairpin remaining perfectly still. "What does Your Majesty say?"

Emperor Chongzhao was very pleased with the Empress's understanding and nodded in agreement.

"Since the Empress is so fond of her, then the Princess may stay in the palace for a few more days."

After saying this, he raised his hand to stroke his beard and glanced at the assembled officials.

"By imperial decree, Princess Tuya is to be granted a Moonlit Silk Skirt, as a gesture of hospitality and to demonstrate the good relations between our two nations. The Imperial Clothing Bureau is to present it to her before the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet within three days, without fail..."

Consort Xiao's expression changed drastically—

This is clearly an attempt to keep Tuya in the palace and share the emperor's favor with her!
Xie Suxin, you're a master of deception, a smile hiding a knife!

The ministers looked at each other, nodded in unspoken agreement, and presented a scene of harmony and joy between the emperor and his subjects.
-
The candles in the Zichen Palace burned until the third watch of the night.

Fine wines and delicacies were served one after another, accompanied by the continuous sounds of string and wind instruments.

Consort Xiao stood beneath the steps, gazing at the shimmering light and shadows filtering through the window. Her brocade cloak was soaked with night dew, and tears welled in her eyes.

Wang Chengxi came out holding an empty medicine bowl and sighed.

"His Majesty is accompanied by a beautiful lady and it is inconvenient to summon her. Your Highness, please come again tomorrow."

Consort Xiao's face turned cold, and a metallic taste rose in her throat.

Thinking of that beautiful woman, how she danced for His Majesty, and how her lips parted slightly to bewitch his heart, she trembled all over and almost couldn't stand up.

"Your Majesty..." Wang Chengxi wanted to help her up, but dared not. Consort Xiao clenched her handkerchief tightly and sneered, "Your Majesty, with such excessive drinking, don't you care about your health?"

Wang Chengxi bowed his head, looking slightly embarrassed.

"The autumn moon will be full again."

With a soft sigh, Empress Xie stepped out from under the corridor. The gold-threaded peonies embroidered on her indigo pheasant-patterned everyday dress shimmered with a soft silver glow under the moonlight. Her wide sleeves hung down, exuding elegance and grace.

Wang Chengxi quickly stepped forward and bowed in greeting.

"This old servant greets Your Majesty..."

Empress Xie waved her hand at Wang Chengxi.

After he withdrew, she slowly approached Consort Xiao, her voice gentle.

"At the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet that year, when Sister Lingrong danced gracefully under the moonlight, her beauty was breathtaking. His Majesty even bestowed upon you all the pearls that the late Empress Dowager had given you..."

That night, the moon was as bright as a plate in the sky, and its silvery light poured down like a ribbon. It was in this way, stepping to the beat of the drums and swaying her waist, that Xiao Lingrong became the favorite concubine of Emperor Chongzhao's former residence.

His favor with the emperor lasted for more than twenty years, making him the most favored concubine in the harem.

Tonight, the shadow cast by the glass palace lanterns is crushing her youth, inch by inch, onto the gold bricks.

"Is Your Majesty here to attack my heart?" Consort Xiao sneered.

"I'm just reminding my sister—" Empress Xie looked at the glazed palace lanterns on the eaves, a smile playing on her lips, "The winds of the inner palace always turn with His Majesty."

Consort Xiao turned her back to the moonlight, her tone chilling, "Then Your Majesty, why don't you guess whether this Holy Maiden of Xiz will contribute to the alliance between the two countries or cause chaos in the harem? Is it a blessing or a curse?"

Empress Xie smiled gently, tilting her head back to look at the distant moon in the sky.

"What talk of fortune or misfortune among women in the harem? To be favored by His Majesty is a blessing. As the Empress, I only hope that His Majesty is content and in good health."

He smiled gently, a smile that held a deeper meaning.

"Doesn't the Imperial Concubine think the same way?"

Consort Xiao's face was ashen, she stood there for a moment, then turned and left.
-
It was late at night.

In the Buddhist hall of Princess Ping Le's residence, the candlelight flickered.

Ping Le held the Buddhist prayer beads, looking at the gilded Buddha statue on the table.

The Buddha's eyes were slightly lowered, as if looking down upon the suffering of all beings, yet he could not see through the sorrow in her heart, nor did he point out the way forward for her.

Granny Zhou knelt at the lower end, her voice extremely low.

“Princess, the second daughter of Grand Tutor Lu’s family has been frequently visiting the Jiaofang Palace lately.” She wiped the sweat from her forehead with a handkerchief. “I heard that Her Majesty the Empress likes her very much and often invites her to dine.”

Ping Le sneered and twirled the prayer beads around her fingertips.

"Lu Xi?"

She raised an eyebrow. "Back in the Women's Society, she looked down on the Crown Prince the most. Now she knows how to curry favor?"

“Indeed,” Zhou Mama chimed in. “I heard her mother sends things to the palace every day, probably hoping for a marriage with the Crown Prince. Princess, should we…”

Ping Le raised her hand to interrupt her, her gaze falling on the oil lamp in front of the Buddha.

The lamp oil was running out, and the flame flickered, much like her state of mind at that moment.

That day at the Lu residence, the child's cries still echoed in her ears. The words "bad woman" struck her like heavy blows, making her vision go black and causing a tearing pain in her heart.

“Go tell Lu Xi,” Ping Le suddenly spoke, her voice carrying a hint of malice, “that I have an important matter to ask her for help with, and invite her to my residence for a discussion.”

Granny Zhou was taken aback. "Princess, this..."

"What?" Ping Le turned to look at her, a half-smile in her eyes.

"Do you think I'm joking?"

Granny Zhou hurriedly kowtowed, "This old servant dares not. But... Miss Lu is now so eager to curry favor with the Crown Prince, I'm afraid she might not listen to us."

Ping Le sneered and had Hong Xing bring over a brocade box, which she opened to reveal a bracelet made of agarwood.

The bracelet is wrapped in gold wire, carved with a pattern of a hundred birds paying homage to the phoenix, and inlaid with obsidian, making it look very luxurious.

Ping Le gently stroked it for a moment, then handed it to Granny Zhou with her eyes half-closed. "Give this to her and tell her that I remembered her sandalwood bracelet was old and I specially replaced it with a new one."

Granny Zhou's eyes widened as she crawled on her knees to pick up the wooden bracelet.

"Your Highness, this sandalwood bracelet inlaid with jewels was a gift from His Majesty when you came of age..."

Ping Le's eyes turned sinister. "If the living are going to be tortured to death, what's the point of keeping the inanimate objects around?"

Granny Zhou seemed to understand, "The princess wants to..."

"Hush—" Ping Le reached out and fiddled with the wick, causing the flame to leap up and cast her shadow on the wall, making it look particularly menacing. "Some things don't need to be said too clearly. Lu Xi is so smart, he naturally knows what to do."

The lamp wick emitted sparks, casting flickering light on the gilded Buddha statue's face.

Looking at the cold smile reflected on Ping Le's lips, Granny Zhou unconsciously took a half step back and shivered.

It's unclear when exactly, but the princess's temperament changed somewhat.

She no longer smashed cups and bowls or publicly reprimanded servants, nor did she openly display her anger and ruthlessness, relying on the emperor's favor. Instead, she learned to be cunning and manipulative, using others to do her dirty work and scheming in secret...

Readers don't leave many comments. Is the book not good?
Li Zhao: It's someone who's not good-looking.

Xue Sui: I'm talking about the person upstairs...

Li Zhao: Someone, convey my imperial decree: it's the end of the month, send tickets to Minister Wen!
Xue Sui: Good boy!