Phoenix Reigns Over The Nine Heavens - Chapter 55

Emperor Chongming’s expression tightened slightly, and he shook his head almost imperceptibly.

The Empress Dowager has been a vegetarian and chanted Buddhist scriptures for many years, and she rarely appeared on such occasions. She has not participated in the royal family’s activities for many years. No one thought that she would appear for the Noble Consort’s birthday banquet today.

However, the daze only lasted for a moment. Seeing the Empress Dowager slowly approaching, surrounded by palace maids, the royal princes and ministers quickly knelt down, respectfully kowtowing and performing the grand ceremony, “Greetings to the Empress Dowager; may the Empress Dowager live for thousands of years!”

Emperor Chongming, accompanied by the imperial concubine and others descended the imperial platform to welcome the Empress Dowager.

“Why didn’t you send someone to inform me, Mother?” Emperor Chongming spoke with a respectful smile. “Had your son known that you were coming, we would have personally escorted you here together.”

The Empress Dowager was wearing a heavy black robe embroidered with phoenix patterns, and a string of precious Buddhist beads hung around her neck. Her demeanor was steady, and her presence carried a profound calmness. Despite years of seclusion, the authoritative aura of one who had long held a high position remained undiminished in her eyes.

“I just suddenly remembered that today is the birthday banquet of the Noble Consort and realized that it has been a long time since I last joined in the festivities,” the Empress Dowager said lightly, casting a glance at Noble Consort Wu. “It was a last-minute decision, so I didn’t inform you. Noble Consort, you don’t mind, do you?”

Consort Wu quickly replied with a smile, “What are you saying, Your Majesty? Your presence brings us honor and joy. This subject is overjoyed—how could I possibly mind?”

Whether she was sincere or not, the Empress Dowager accepted the flattery with equanimity.

After all, she didn’t come for the sake of the Noble Consort today.

With the Emperor’s personal assistance, the Empress Dowager stepped onto the imperial platform on a wooden ladder and sat down on the phoenix chair at a leisurely pace. After she sat down, the emperor and the concubines took their seats.

The royal family members and ministers below also began to sit down one by one.

“Why has the Empress Dowager come to attend the Noble Consort’s birthday banquet?” In the pavilion, the noble ladies whispered amongst themselves and sat down after bowing. Someone expressed their doubts: “I heard that the Empress Dowager has not involved herself in the external affairs for many years and is unwilling to participate in any palace events.”

“The Empress Dowager was devoted to Buddhism in those years and did not care about things, so the power of the harem was fully controlled by Consort Wu.”

“But the Empress Dowager always favored the Empress in the past. It seems that it was only after the Empress passed away that…”

“Shh, do you want to die? What nonsense are you talking about?”

Yun Zishu listened to the whispers of the noble ladies, her expression calm and composed, paying no attention to the gazes that fell on her face.

“The Emperor has always wanted to appoint the Noble Consort the Empress, but he has been unable to do so because of the Empress Dowager’s obstruction.” Princess Baozhu looked at Yun Zirou and couldn’t help but guess, “This time, the Empress Dowager attended the Noble Consort’s birthday celebration for the first time. Has she changed her mind and agreed to let the Noble Consort become the Empress?”

Whether it was true or false, this sentence obviously touched Yun Zirou’s heart, and a little smile appeared on her face. “I appreciate your kind words; it would be great if it were really like this.”

“Your Highness, the Ninth Princess.” A noble lady next to her leaned over and looked at Yun Zishu. “I heard from Princess Baozhu that you bought a set of phoenix crown and hairpins worth 10,000 taels of gold in the Imperial Treasure Pavilion and are preparing to present it to the Noble Consort as a gift. Is that true?”

“False.” Yun Zishu’s tone was indifferent.

The noble lady was taken aback. “Huh?”

She had not been to Changchun Palace earlier, so she was unaware of the controversy this set of phoenix coronet and hairpins had already stirred.

The others at the table all looked at her with strange expressions. “False? But many people saw it that day, and they heard the conversation between the Ninth Princess and the shopkeeper of the Imperial Treasure Pavilion…”

“The things are real, and the conversation is real.” Yun Zishu raised her eyes. “But I never said that the phoenix crown was for the noble consort.”

“Why are you being so stubborn, Ninth Sister?” Yun Zirou’s expression darkened, her earlier good mood instantly vanishing. “If you’re going to present it, just present it. It’s just a set of jewelry—why keep denying it? I already said earlier in the side hall of Changchun Palace that no one would blame you for stealing the limelight. Why must you be so obstinate?”

She had already told her mother about this matter, and so many princesses and noble ladies knew about it. If Yun Zishu dared to go back on her word at this juncture and embarrass them, she would make her pay.

Yun Zishu’s gaze was cold. “Then who told you that the phoenix crown I bought was for Consort Wu?”

“You—” Yun Zirou choked, then said coldly, “That day in the Imperial Treasure Pavilion, so many people saw you buy the phoenix crown and hairpin.”

“So what?” Yun Zishu’s tone grew increasingly stern. “When did I say that the set of hairpins was to be given to the noble concubine? Your eyes are fine, but your ears seem to be ringing?”

Yun Zirou’s expression froze little by little as she heard this. She still thought that Yun Zishu was lying: “Although the set of phoenix coronet and hairpins is not a formal phoenix crown, not everyone is qualified to wear it. Now that the imperial concubine is in charge of the harem, who else can you give it to beside her? Could it be that you want to keep it for yourself?”

Yun Zishu said coldly, “I’ll give it to whomever I please. Do I need you to decide what to do with my belongings?”

Silence fell after these words.

Yun Zirou’s face turned ashen, and the others nervously held their tongues. Clearly, none of them had expected the Ninth Princess to be so unyielding, showing no courtesy to the Eighth Princess despite Noble Consort Wu’s birthday.

The atmosphere in the pavilion was tense and had dropped to freezing point.

No matter how others were trying their best to please Yun Zirou, no one dared to get involved when they saw the two princesses arguing fiercely.

In contrast to the stagnation in the pavilion, the atmosphere was lively and harmonious.

“I heard that the Ninth Princess has prepared a very valuable gift for the Noble Consort, so I came to see it for myself.” The Empress Dowager smiled, without showing any emotion on her face. “The Noble Consort doesn’t mind me satisfying my curiosity, right?”

Consort Wu smiled respectfully and said, “I naturally wouldn’t mind, but Little Nine hasn’t presented his congratulatory gift yet, so I haven’t had the chance to see it either.”

“Really?” The Empress Dowager frowned, as if she was a little surprised. “I thought it had already been presented earlier in Changchun Palace.”

The Emperor was also suspicious and said nonchalantly. “Why don’t we call Zishu over and ask her?”

“Would that be appropriate?” Consort Wu maintained the dignity expected of a consort and smiled reservedly. “The matter of congratulatory gifts is voluntary; how can we ask them ourselves?”

That little bitch Yun Zishu, what was she up to? Why was she delaying the presentation of the gift? Was she deliberately trying to upset her?

“How can this be called asking for something? I’m just curious and also want to ask about Yunheng’s recent condition.” The emperor turned his head and ordered the eunuch, “Summon the Ninth Princess.”

“Yes.”

The eunuch went to pass on the message, and the imperial summons quickly reached the pavilion.

Yun Zirou’s anger subsided slightly, and the noble ladies looked at Yun Zishu in silence. Under the watchful eyes of many, Yun Zishu calmly got up and followed the eunuch out of the pavilion. Avoiding the crowd, she stepped onto the secluded path leading to the imperial platform.

Leng Yue and Leng Shuang followed behind her, the entire journey passing in utter silence.