Phoenix Reigns Over The Nine Heavens - Chapter 53

After the lesson, Xiao Yunheng and Li Xue both became well-behaved, granting Yun Zishu a couple of days of peace and quiet.

The birthday of Consort Wu arrived in the blink of an eye.

To show his favor towards the imperial concubine, the emperor issued an imperial edict that, in addition to the imperial family and ministers above the third rank, the imperial princesses and the wives and daughters of officials above the third rank should enter the palace to attend the palace banquet.

On the imperial road leading to the palace, luxurious and elegant carriages passed by one after another early in the morning.

“There are so many people.” Leng Yue remarked, looking at the continuous stream of carriages on the street. “Today’s palace banquet will be very lively.”

“Consort Wu is currently in charge of the harem, and her power is equivalent to that of the Empress. She also has Yun Chen as the Crown Prince. The Noble Consort’s father is the Grand Tutor, who is highly respected by the Emperor. Who would dare not take her birthday banquet seriously?” Yun Zishu said calmly from inside the carriage. “All the civil and military officials must show up to support her.”

Leng Shuang, who was driving the carriage upfront, said coldly, “Even if she is like the Empress, she still hasn’t sat on the Empress’s seat. Your Highness doesn’t need to put her in your eyes.”

Yun Zishu didn’t say anything.

She truly didn’t take Consort Wu seriously. After all, she didn’t need to rely on the other party to bestow any favor, nor did she worry that Consort Wu would make things difficult for her.

Now Yun Zishu does everything with the premise of risking her life, so she is naturally not afraid of anyone.

The carriage drove all the way to the inner city and stopped outside the gate of the inner city.

Yun Zishu got off the carriage and was about to step into the palace gate when a young eunuch came over and said respectfully, “Only the noble ladies and esteemed ladies of each family can attend the birthday banquet of the noble consort, and the maids and servants are not allowed to follow.”

Yun Zishu looked at the eunuch and replied indifferently, “These two people by my side are not maids or servants. They are shadow guards from the Dark Shadow Pavilion and have the right to enter and leave the palace.”

The eunuch’s expression changed slightly when he heard this. “But…” The imperial concubine had specifically instructed that the ninth princess was not allowed to bring anyone into the palace.

“But what?” Leng Yue’s tone was impatient. “Are you trying to change the rules of the Dark Shadow Pavilion?”

As soon as he said this, the eunuch’s face immediately showed a look of fear.

Leng Yue said, “Leng Shuang and I are under orders to protect the princess. No one has the right to separate us from the princess.”

The eunuch’s face turned pale. He was about to speak when a woman’s voice suddenly rang out from the side: “Why is the Ninth Princess making things difficult for the eunuch? This is the rule of the palace, and the eunuch is also acting according to the rules.”

Yun Zishu turned her head and saw Wu Jingyi, the granddaughter of Grand Tutor Wu, who was also followed by two personal maids.

“My two maids understand the rules.” Wu Jingyi glanced at Leng Shuang and Leng Yue, her expression slightly disdainful, “Unlike the guards beside the Ninth Princess, who always flaunt their identity as shadow guards to intimidate others—making the Ninth Princess appear as a bully who relies on powerful backing.”

“Miss Wu is absolutely right,” Yun Zishu replied, unperturbed. “I am precisely that kind of princess who bullies others by relying on powerful backing. I am sorry to have disappointed you.”

Wu Jingyi’s face turned green with anger. “You—”

“These two guards of mine are also rule-abiding.” Yun Zishu looked at the eunuch in front of her, who was obviously ill-intentioned. “If you continue to block me, you may need to go to the Dark Shadow Pavilion and invite Commander Si over to speak.”

The eunuch’s expression shifted again, and he finally dared not say anything more. He obediently turned to lead Yun Zishu and Wu Jingyi into the palace.

Yun Zishu walked into the palace gate without any expression, only to see Wu Jingyi also walking over with two maids. She said, “Didn’t Miss Wu just say that she abides by the rules and her maids understand them too?”

Wu Jingyi’s steps faltered slightly. “You two stay outside,” she said coldly.

“Yes.”

Yun Zishu pulled at the corner of her mouth in a mocking smile.

Wu Jingyi suppressed her anger: “Today is my aunt Consort Wu’s birthday banquet, Yun Zishu. You’d better not cause any trouble.”

“As long as no one comes to provoke me, I have no interest in causing trouble at her birthday banquet.” Yun Zishu turned her head to look at her, her voice so devoid of emotion that it was almost detached. “However, Miss Wu may think that with the protection of the Noble Consort, I would not dare to do anything to you. That’s why you feel bold enough to dare to call me by my name disrespectfully.”

Wu Jingyi’s face changed, and she subconsciously looked at the two guards behind Yun Zishu. For some reason, her intuition told her that it was safer to maintain distance from Yun Zishu.

Besides, she knew the rules in the palace.

A minister’s daughter directly addressing the princess by her name—regardless of whether the princess was favored or not—was an act of great disrespect. If it were made public, even if the imperial concubine protected her, she would still be in the wrong.

Even though Wu Jingyi was the niece of Consort Wu, she did not dare to openly challenge the severity of the palace regulations. With this concern in mind, she finally quieted down.

The two of them arrived together at Changchun Palace, where Consort Wu resided. The palace had been completely refurbished inside and out, and the decorations were bright and vivid. Even the palace attendants were dressed in bright and festive colors.

The banquet was crowded and lively, and the etiquette was much more relaxed than usual. The noble ladies went to pay their respects to the imperial concubine in small groups. After greeting her, they headed directly to the side hall to chat. In the main hall, the imperial consort and the eldest princess sat on the seats of honor, left and right, while other concubines of the harem sat alongside them, chatting and laughing, each wearing an expression of respectful flattery.

As the daughter of Consort Wu, Yun Zirou naturally went to her mother to act like a spoiled child. Wu Jingyi was the niece of Consort Wu, and she also went forward to greet her aunt in an intimate manner.

Princess Baozhu seemed less haughty than usual today. She didn’t dare to speak when she saw Yun Zishu, as if unsettled by something.

There were many people today, so there was no need to go up and pay respects one by one. Yun Zishu went directly to the side hall where the young noble ladies were gathered.

The noble ladies were all dressed up in bright and beautiful clothes, full of youthful vitality.

However, as the most popular figure of discussion in the imperial city these past days—the first woman in the Great Yong Dynasty to divorce her husband, and a royal princess at that—Yun Zishu instantly attracted the attention of all the noble ladies present as soon as she appeared in the side hall.

“Your Highness, the legitimate Princess.” Some cautious and well-behaved daughters of officials proactively bowed.

Yun Zishu replied gently, “There is no need for formalities.”

A woman who was deliberately trying to curry favor with the imperial concubine sneered sarcastically. “Your Highness, the legitimate princess is so powerful now that she can not only divorce the young General Xiao, but also doesn’t need to salute when she sees the imperial consort?”

Yun Zishu sat to the side, her expression indifferent. “This princess has never heard of a legitimate princess needing to pay her respects to an imperial concubine.”

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone at the gathering gasped.

The noble ladies looked at the woman who had just spoken provocatively with fearful expressions on their faces. The noble lady had a good relationship with Xiao Yunwu, and her father was a prince of the clan who only had a title but no real power.

Hearing Yun Zishu’s retort, the woman’s face flushed red with a mix of shock and fear, not knowing how to resolve the situation.

If the words just now were heard by the Noble Consort, I’m afraid this matter would not end so easily.

The legitimate princess is indeed more noble than the imperial concubine.

But as everyone knows, Consort Wu is the most powerful figure in the harem right now. Not to mention the princesses, even the other consorts and concubines had to act according to Consort Wu’s moods.

How…how could Yun Zishu dare to say such a thing?

The fourth princess, Yun Zijiao, spoke up: “I heard that the ninth sister divorced General Xiao.”

Yun Zishu turned her head and asked, “What? Is the Fourth Sister going to follow suit?”

Yun Zijiao’s expression shifted, and then she forced a stiff smile. “What nonsense are you talking about, Ninth Sister? How could I have such heretical ideas?”

It was known to all that Yun Zijiao and the imperial son-in-law were not on good terms. Moreover, the fourth princess came from a humble background—her mother was only an offered beauty, so she had no say in her husband’s family.

The fourth princess’s husband was a man of violent temper. He would beat and scold Yun Zijiao at the slightest dissatisfaction.

Yun Zijiao would always try to curry favor with Yun Zirou, Xiao Yunwu, or even Wu Jingyi, but she rarely had the chance to leave her residence, and chances to win people over were even fewer.

When Yun Zishu said this, the fourth princess was immediately filled with fear. If this sentence was heard by the consort, she would probably be beaten again.

“Oh, right.” Wu Jingyi raised her eyes slightly and stared at Yun Zishu. “A few days ago, the princess bought a set of phoenix crown and hairpins in the Imperial Treasure Pavilion. It is said that it is worth ten thousand taels of gold. Why hasn’t the princess brought it out to present it to the noble concubine?”

Yun Zishu smiled with a hint of mockery. “Who told you that my set of head ornaments was for Consort Wu?”