Phoenix Reigns Over The Nine Heavens - Chapter 57

General Xiao and Prime Minister Feng, who were sitting at the banquet, occasionally looked up and saw the intimate scene between the Empress Dowager and Yun Zishu on the imperial platform. Their expressions were thoughtful, though each harbored different thoughts.

The other ministers also wore varied looks.

However, Yun Zishu was merely a princess, and the court officials did not pay much attention to her. Her presence had little impact on the noble families. Whether the emperor favored her or not, the ministers would slightly adjust their attitudes when meeting her.

But Prime Minister Feng and Xiao Yuanting knew clearly in their hearts that this was different.

The Emperor’s intention in marrying Yun Zishu to the Xiao family was clear to both Xiao Yuanting and Prime Minister Feng, and they each had their own calculations. Now, Yun Zishu had divorced Xiao Yunheng and instead leaned towards the Empress Dowager, with whom she had never been clearly intimate. This move made Minister Feng feel slightly relieved but filled Xiao Yuanting with foreboding.

Because Xiao Yuanting knew that once the Empress Dowager really took Yun Zishu under her protection, then with the military power of the Feng family and the identity of the Empress Dowager, Yun Zishu could completely disregard the Xiao family.

In this way, if she really made up her mind to divorce her husband, the final result would be beyond the Xiao family’s control.

Standing by the railing on the second floor, Yun Zirou looked at the imperial platform from afar. She almost tore the handkerchief in her hand to shreds. The jealousy and unwillingness transformed into pure loathing for Yun Zishu.

What right does she have to sit next to the Empress Dowager?

They were all grandchildren of the Empress Dowager, but for so many years, the Empress Dowager had always been cold and indifferent to the others, as if they were strangers. She had not been very close to Yun Zishu in the past, but today, a set of phoenix coronet and hairpins had won over the Empress Dowager?

Yun Zishu, you’re something else.

“Eighth Princess.” Princess Baozhu walked to the window and stood beside Yun Zirou. “Yun Zishu seems to have changed a lot recently.”

Yun Zirou frowned, thinking of Yun Zishu’s recent changes: “She has indeed changed a lot.”

“What does she mean by giving the phoenix crown to the Empress Dowager?” Princess Baozhu wondered. “We’ve all seen the design; it’s not suitable for someone of the Empress Dowager’s age.”

“What else could it mean? It’s just to curry favor with the Empress Dowager.” Yun Zirou’s tone was cold. “The Empress Dowager may be older, but a woman’s love for beauty is innate. It’s only natural to prefer youthful styles. Even if she doesn’t wear it, just looking at it every day will bring her joy.”

At this point, her voice grew even colder. “I just didn’t expect that Yun Zishu would be so cunning.”

If she had known this would happen, she would never have spoken so much in front of her mother, causing her to be happy for nothing.

Yun Zirou’s gaze shifted towards her mother, who was seated beside her father. Her mother was trying her best to maintain a noble and elegant smile on her face, but only those who were familiar with her could see the suppressed anger beneath it.

Yun Zirou grew even more indignant.

Yun Zishu, just you wait. You made my mother unhappy today, and someday you’ll pay for it.

On the opera stage, the performers sang their melodies in drawn-out tones. The people on the imperial platform had their own thoughts. The Empress Dowager seemed to be in good spirits, chatting leisurely with Yun Zishu. “I heard that you moved back to the princess’s residence.”

“Yes,” Yun Zishu nodded. “Granddaughter feels more comfortable living in the princess’s mansion. I don’t have to endure other people’s attitudes, and I don’t have to compromise and swallow my grievances.”

The Empress Dowager listened to her calm and light tone, and a wave of guilt and self-blame surged up in her heart. She couldn’t help but hold her hand and said with heartache, “No one will dare to bully you from now on.”

Yun Zishu looked up and studied this woman with delicate makeup.

Perhaps because she had not been out in the sun for many years, the Empress Dowager’s skin was exceptionally pale. Decades of vegetarianism and chanting Buddhist scriptures had lent her a kind and benevolent demeanor, but the authority and dignity of her long-held high position for many years had still not faded from her eyes.

Yun Zishu really wanted to ask her if she had ever regretted exchanging her own daughter for this son to enter the palace and become the emperor, only for this emperor to eventually kill her daughter?

But she held back; now was not the time to ask.

After three rounds of drinks, the stiff atmosphere eased slightly. Some officials stood up to congratulate the imperial concubine on her birthday and raised their glasses to toast the emperor, instantly enlivening the mood.

Yun Zishu’s gaze swept over the expressions of those present. The Crown Prince Yun Chen had the most unsightly expression. He had been intentionally or unintentionally watching in Yun Zishu’s direction. When Yun Zishu finally met his gaze, Yun Chen’s eyes instantly became fierce, filled with warning.

But before his warning could intensify, Yun Zishu had already averted her eyes.

Prince Qi Yunhui sat alone, sipping his wine. The other princes also seemed to be in good spirits.

The concubines and noble ladies of the harem who were supposed to prepare gifts for the Noble Consort had already presented them when they were at Changchun Palace. At this moment, the Emperor was drinking and having fun with the ministers. During the banquet, the ministers were drinking with their colleagues, and the atmosphere was happy and lively.

It was indeed a prosperous and flourishing age in which the monarch and his subjects were happy together.

The Empress Dowager’s voice sounded beside her. “I heard that Si Cang has been with you a lot recently?”

Yun Zishu came back to her senses, turned her head to look at the Empress Dowager’s probing eyes, and nodded slowly. “Commander Si has been to the Princess’s Mansion, but it was all for official business.”

“What do you think of Si Cang as a person?”

“He’s quite good.” Yun Zishu’s expression was calm, not revealing her true emotions. “Commander Si is loyal, capable, dedicated, and fair in his actions. He doesn’t arbitrarily favor anyone.”

The Empress Dowager nodded and said. “Indeed.”

“Zishu.” After drinking with the ministers, the emperor sat back on the dragon throne and reminded her casually, “After all, Si Cang is a man with a special status. You should maintain a distance from him in the future.”

Maintain some distance?

No.

Yun Zishu thought to herself that once Si Cang became her personal shadow guard, their distance would only get closer—the kind of closeness where he would be by her side every day.

The Empress Dowager ignored the Emperor’s words and continued to ask, “Is it truly over between you and Xiao Yunheng?”

“Mother, Zishu and Yunheng just had a minor disagreement; it’s nothing serious.” The Emperor tried to make light of the situation, “Which couple doesn’t quarrel?”

The Empress Dowager was a little displeased. “I’m having a private conversation with Zishu about personal matters; why does the Emperor keep interrupting?”

The emperor’s expression froze, then he smiled respectfully: “I’m just worried that the Empress Dowager will match up Zishu with the wrong people.”

The Empress Dowager said coldly, “Zishu is a princess. She is worthy of any young master from a noble family in the capital. As long as she likes him, I can arrange a marriage for her. She doesn’t need to hang on to that crooked-neck tree, Xiao Yunheng.”

The emperor’s expression changed. “Mother is joking…”

“Does it look like I’m joking?” The Empress Dowager’s expression was stern, with no hint of jest. “Zishu’s marriage will be decided by me from now on, and no one is allowed to interfere in her affairs.”

Yun Zishu watched coldly as her father’s face flushed with barely suppressed anger. However, in front of so many ministers, he would never dare to openly clash with the Empress Dowager. After all, very few knew his true origins. In the eyes of the court, he was a wise and filial emperor, deeply devoted to his mother. He would never defy the Empress Dowager in public.

A faint, mocking smile tugged at the corner of Yun Zishu’s lips as she lowered her head and said, “Don’t worry, Empress Dowager. I will not cling to Xiao Yunheng, that crooked-neck tree. On the contrary, Xiao Yunheng is now living in this princess’s mansion, and his fate is in your granddaughter’s hands.”