Chapter 157 - The Contest Between the Imperial Concubines and the Competition at the Banquet (1/2)

The Empress Dowager would naturally not turn up.

Those at the women’s table were mainly the Empress, Imperial n.o.ble consorts Su and Wen. Imperial n.o.ble consort Su was especially highly regarded because she was King Chu’s mother. Meanwhile, Imperial n.o.ble consort Wen gave birth to the Sixth Princess. Even though she was of the same rank as consort Su, she was not as highly regarded. Furthermore, she did not seem to be in good health. The sixth princess, who sat beside her would show her concern from time to time.

The Empress sat in the middle. Imperial n.o.ble consort Su was seated on her right, and to consort Su’s right, was the Fifth Princess, who had an arrogant expression on her face. On the Empress’ left was Imperial n.o.ble consort Wen, and on her left was the Sixth Princess.

The Empress seemed like an overly stern woman. She sat in the middle and did not smile. Her eyes swept down the table and landed on the faces of n.o.ble ladies present who all trembled in fear. Fortunately, she did not look at them for too long. A faint smile appeared on the Empress’ face and she appeared to be kinder. She smiled and turned to speak with Imperial n.o.ble consort Wen.

Imperial n.o.ble consort Wen’s health was poor. She laughed a little and then started coughing softly, covering her mouth with a handkerchief. The Sixth Princess handed her some tea and she only stopped coughing after taking a few sips.

On the other side, Imperial n.o.ble consort Su had no intentions of entertaining anyone. She looked at the Empress and the Fifth Princess seated next to her and felt bored. She leaned against the large rosewood chair and smiled slightly as she looked at the faces of the n.o.ble ladies, looking rather thoughtful. Her eyes shone, and no one knew what she was thinking, but she seemed rather kind.

Everyone stood up and curtsied to the Empress, who waved her hand and gestured for everyone to sit. No one dared to move if the Empress did not.

“Mother, get them to eat first. Today is Grandmother’s birthday and New Year is coming. It is really bustling and they are still going to the lantern festival later. This is my first time seeing the lantern festival in the palace.” The Fifth Princess said cutely to her mother. She felt excited when she thought of the sea of lantern Feng Yuran designed. There were tens of thousands of lanterns in various shapes. There were even shapes that the Fifth Princess had never seen before.

“It is not time yet. Your Father said that we can only go at a certain time. It is said that the lanterns will suddenly light up then and it would be beautiful. It is still early, and you are a royal princess. Look at all the n.o.ble ladies down there. They are all more mature than you.” The Empress stretched over Imperial n.o.ble consort Su and patted the Fifth Princess’ hand with a slight smile.

“Your Majesty, you mustn’t say that of the Fifth Princess. She is an honorable lady, can she be compared to the girls down there? She is unique in the palace. His Majesty dotes on Fifth Princess the most and even I can only hope to have a daughter like her.” Imperial n.o.ble consort Su smiled as she spoke. She reached out her long, slender and soft hands for a teacup on the table and sipped at it.

The n.o.blewomen and their daughters seated at the front all lowered their heads, pretending not to have heard what consort Su said. The ministers all knew that the Empress and consort Su pitted against each other. One of them was the Empress of the palace, the mother of the nation while the other had given birth to the gentle and elegant First Prince. No one dared to interrupt them. Even the usually arrogant Fifth Princess heard the underlying currents and only harrumphed coldly. She turned around and ignored them.

All the women in the palace wanted to give birth to sons. If they had a son, they would not have to worry for the rest of their lives. They would enjoy an unmatched status. So what if girls were obedient? They would still be married off. The fact that she had no sons was an eternal wound in her heart. If she had a son, would there be so much trouble in the palace?

If the Empress had a son, who could say anything?

The Empress looked at Imperial n.o.ble consort Su coldly. Consort Su was growing more and more audacious. She had dared to say something like this in front of so many daughters of court officials. This was practically revealing her thoughts.

“Whether she is honorable or not is up to His Majesty. Even though the Fifth Princess’ status is different, as a child of His Majesty, she has to listen to him. She has to behave like a princess and must not be like others and l.u.s.t after wealth and name. Whether she is good nor not, and capable or not, only what His Majesty says counts.” The Empress smiled as if she was only talking about the Fifth Princess.

l.u.s.t after wealth and name? And whether she was capable or not? Imperial n.o.ble consort Su understood, as did Imperial n.o.ble consort Wen, the Fifth Princess, and the Sixth Princess. Imperial n.o.ble consort Wen’s health was poor and she leaned against the Sixth Princess, who hurriedly wiped the consort’s forehead with a handkerchief. Imperial n.o.ble consort Wen only had a daughter and her health was poor. She was no match for the others.

She could only pretend to be ill to avoid the trouble.

Imperial n.o.ble consort Su looked up with a mocking smile on her lips. She said, “Your Majesty, you are right. Whether one is honorable is indeed decided by His Majesty. I was wrong and thought that since Fifth Princess is most doted on by His Majesty, then she is the most honorable. I have offended the Sixth Princess. Sixth Princess is really caring and His Majesty really approves of her.”

Imperial n.o.ble consort Wen and her daughter were targeted even when they laid low. The Sixth Princess looked up and smiled gently at Imperial n.o.ble consort Su but did not speak. Instead, she continued to look after Imperial n.o.ble consort Wen.

The Empress was unhappy when Imperial n.o.ble consort Su said that the Sixth Princess and Fifth Princess were equally honorable. Her Fifth Princess was the legal daughter of the palace, how could she be the same as the other princesses? Furthermore, Imperial n.o.ble consort Su’s words did not count. As long as His Majesty liked that person, that person would be honorable. The eldest royal son was the Emperor’s first son, so he was highly regarded. Then would that make him the most honorable person? What kind of person was the most honorable? A person who sat on the throne? This was a slap to the Empress’ face!

The Empress’ expression turned dark. Just as she was about to retort, Nanny Han, who was standing beside her tugged on the corner of her dress while no one was paying attention. She looked around to indicate to the Empress that there were many people present and they were all women from the families of important officials. There were a few in front who were n.o.bility.