Chapter 100 (1/2)
This chapter has been brought to you by me, and Adnana.
本宫 ben gong: lit. “this palace”; illeism for members of the Imperial Family and imperial consorts
妾 qie: a self-deprecatory appellation used by women
妃 fei: a higher-ranked imperial concubine
Chapter One Hundred: Second Empress
Three days later, Qilong Emperor welcomed Zhang Qing Yan into the palace as the empress with the rites for a second empress. The entire country celebrated.
The third day after the new empress entered the palace, all n.o.blewomen in Jing above third grade had to go into the palace. As a super-ranking qinw.a.n.g fei of the Imperial House, Hua Xi Wan was part of the first group to visit the Empress. There were other qinw.a.n.g fei who came into the hall with her, but she was the youngest of them all.
”Xian w.a.n.g Fei, please be careful of the stairs.” The taijian leading the way carefully guided them. While there was no fawning to be seen from how he treated Hua Xi Wan, still his actions and movements were filled with respect.
”Many thanks.” When Hua Xi Wan pa.s.sed through the door into the hall, she saw two old qinw.a.n.g fei sitting inside and went forward to give them the bow of a junior.
”Please, sit.” Xu w.a.n.g Fei smiled harmoniously as she motioned for Hua Xi Wan to sit beside her. She said as she raised a teacup, ”The Empress is most likely going to get up late today.”
Hua Xi Wan felt that something wasn't right with the words. Not fifteen minutes later, all of the qinw.a.n.g fei were in the hall, but Empress Zhang was still not here. The qinw.a.n.g fei present did not show any displeasure, and their expressions were normal.
Empress Zhang's actions were not appropriate for one who had just entered the palace. While the empress was said to be the mother of the country, those present were all super-ranking n.o.blewomen. Empress Zhang should not let them wait for this long. Did she think that this was a fight in a normal home, and making the other wait for a while was a show of strength?
What the women of the Imperial House did not lack for was acting skills and courage. This level of skill was only enough to displease the n.o.blewomen, and could not intimidate them.
After another fifteen minutes, Empress Zhang finally appeared dressed in the phoenix robe, with a group of servants and taijian. Hua Xi Wan and the other qinw.a.n.g fei stood up to give a curtsy.
Zhang Qing Yan sat on the phoenix throne and carefully examined the n.o.blewomen present at the bottom of the stairs. In the end, her gaze landed on a young woman with inky black hair and pale skin. Because the other's head was down, she could not see the other's face, but just that beautiful body and the hands that were exposed out of the robe were enough to enchant a person.
Was this the rumored devastatingly beautiful Xian w.a.n.g Fei?
After the super-rank n.o.blewomen finished giving their full curtsies, the palace attendants hurriedly helped these n.o.ble personages up. Zhang Qing Yan allowed them to sit, and took the chance to glance at Xian w.a.n.g Fei. Long narrow eyebrows, expressive eyes, a flower of a mouth—she did have some a.s.sets to tempt people. But even so, the other had to docilely kneel in front of her.
”Ben gong has troubled everyone; ben gong really feels very apologetic. Please use some tea and refreshments to rest.” Zhang Qing Yan curled her lips slightly and showed a perfect smile. After courteously exchanging a few words with the older qinw.a.n.g fei, she finally pulled the topic to Hua Xi Wan.
”People say that Xian w.a.n.g Fei is devastatingly beautiful. Ben gong has never had the luck to see, and having seen you today, it really is true that seeing once is better than hearing a hundred times. Xian w.a.n.g Fei's beauty can be said to be devastating.” Zhang Qing Yan jerked her lips. ”Even ben gong feels affection when looking at you.”
The eyebrows of the older qinw.a.n.g fei moved slightly. Empress Zhang was just sixteen, but these words were too… Saying that Xian w.a.n.g Fei was devastatingly beautiful in front of the people of the Imperial House—they really didn't know if this was praise or something spoken with other intentions. No one was stupid. When they thought of the rumors this recent while, about how Empress Zhang was more beautiful than Xian w.a.n.g Fei, they immediately understood. Empress Zhang was comparing herself to Xian w.a.n.g Fei.
In terms of appearance, Empress Zhang was outstanding, but not as lively as Xian w.a.n.g Fei. In terms of presence, Empress Zhang was from a cadet branch of the Zhang Family—how could she compare to Xian w.a.n.g Fei whose parents were both from prestigious families? So the only aspect in which Empress Zhang was better than Xian w.a.n.g Fei was that phoenix robe on her body.
Also, this advantage in the future…
Ning w.a.n.g Fei coughed and then said with a smile, ”Xian w.a.n.g Fei is naturally virtuous and beautiful.” In this phrase, what was emphasized was virtue and not appearance.
Zhang Qing Yan could hear that Ning w.a.n.g Fei was helping Hua Xi Wan. She couldn't help but frown. Didn't the rumors say that Ning w.a.n.g was not close to Xian w.a.n.g? Why was Ning w.a.n.g Fei helping Xian w.a.n.g Fei?
Noticing the change in Zhang Qing Yan's expression, Ning w.a.n.g Fei snorted inside. As expected of one from a minor family. She didn't even have brains for this. How could she survive the imperial palace in the future?
Xu w.a.n.g Fei was also shaking her head inwardly. This Second Empress Zhang was too rash. She didn't even know what the state of the court was now and yet dared to move. She didn't know whether to praise the Empress for being open of mind or for lacking brains.
Others did not know that Ning w.a.n.g had been trying to show goodwill to Xian w.a.n.g, but she did. The present situation seemed peaceful, but it would explode at any touch. The Crown Prince had died suddenly, and the imperial grandson was fated to not be able to ascend the throne given the rumors and the time of his birth. The Emperor clearly disliked Sheng Junw.a.n.g. While he was just so-so to Xian w.a.n.g, considering Xian w.a.n.g's support among the people, the likelihood that he could take the throne wasn't small.
When Ning w.a.n.g had been supporting the Crown Prince, he had formed terrible relations with the people of Sheng Junw.a.n.g. Now that the Crown Prince was gone, he could support anyone but Sheng Junw.a.n.g. It was normal for him to lean towards Xian w.a.n.g.
Empress Zhang couldn't even see this, yet she dared to show on her face what she really thought in front of the n.o.blewomen of the Imperial House. She really was too shallow.
Hua Xi Wan also detected that Zhang Qing Yan seemed to be targeting her. She did not show anything in her expression. She stood and made a shallow curtsy towards Zhang Qing Yan. She said with a faint smile, ”Empress is too complimentary. Qie is just a common person and cannot support such a beautiful reputation.”
”Xian w.a.n.g Fei does not need to be so humble,” Zhang Qing Yan said with an insincere smile. ”Everyone in Jing knows this.”
The smile on Hua Xi Wan's face did not change. ”There are not many in Jing who have seen qie. That is just people's talk. Also, beauty is something that does not last. A hundred years later, we all will be dust.”