Chapter 351 The Emperor's Birthday Banquet
The Emperor's fifty-ninth birthday, marking his sixtieth year by traditional count, was celebrated with grand ceremonies as had been customary since ancient times.
Qinghua Princess returned to the capital to offer birthday congratulations, arriving several days early. After settling in the palace, she came to the prince's residence to see her son.
Although they had corresponded throughout the year, not seeing him in person had left her constantly worried.
"Mother, I'm doing well," Meng Shen said with a smile. "Aunt hasn't mistreated me."
Qinghua Princess could see that her son was indeed thriving—he had grown taller and put on weight.
After speaking with her son for a while, she went to the rear courtyard to see Yun Chu.
Yun Chu had already been informed by servants of Qinghua Princess's arrival. She had prepared tea and greeted her with a beaming smile. "Second Sister."
"When you gave birth to Jue Ge'er, I was too far away to send anything. I'm making up for it now," Qinghua said, presenting a Peace Lock and a thick Red Envelope. "I hope Jue Ge'er will be more fortunate than his older brother and sister, growing up healthy and smooth-sailing."
"Thank you, Second Sister."
Yun Chu accepted the gifts.
Qinghua looked into Yun Chu's eyes and couldn't help saying, "You must be very pleased now, aren't you?"
Yun Chu nodded. "Jue Ge'er has received blessings. As his mother, I'm naturally happy."
"I'm not talking about that," Qinghua pursed her lips. "Ding Dong has become the consort's concubine. Are you satisfied now?"
"Second Sister, that's a strange thing to say," Yun Chu responded. "Back then, Second Sister praised Ding Dong so highly. Now that she's become part of your family, serving both of you, shouldn't this be something Second Sister would be happy to see? Why does it sound like you're blaming me?"
Qinghua's expression darkened. "You had anticipated this all along, hadn't you?"
Yun Chu raised her eyes. "What if I did? I just wanted to tell Second Sister: do not do unto others what you would not have them do unto you."
Qinghua felt a surge of anger stuck in her chest, but ultimately swallowed it back.
This was indeed her own doing.
However, she had the dignity of a principal wife—a mere concubine was beneath her notice.
She changed the subject. "Tomorrow is Father Emperor's birthday. I'll trouble you to take Shen Ge'er to the palace with you."
Yun Chu replied calmly, "The children won't be entering the palace tomorrow."
"Why not?" Qinghua Princess set down her teacup. "This is a grand birthday banquet that only happens once every ten years. All children should kneel and kowtow to offer blessings. How can they not enter the palace?"
"There will be incidents at tomorrow's palace banquet, so the children won't be attending," Yun Chu answered. "I've just sent someone to inform the palace that the children fell into the water while playing and have all caught chills. Jue Ge'er has also been infected."
Although Qinghua wasn't particularly clever, as a member of the imperial family, she couldn't miss the implied meaning.
She nodded, her face showing tension.
Early the next morning.
The Imperial College was closed for the day, so Changsheng also had a day off.
"You two stay home and play with Jue Ge'er. Don't leave the residence," Yun Chu instructed. "Your father and I might return late. Even if we're temporarily delayed, you two must not take it upon yourselves to enter the palace. Shen Ge'er, you're older—keep an eye on them and make sure they don't act recklessly."
Meng Shen was nearly ten years old now. Having studied at the Imperial College for a year, he had matured in many aspects. He nodded. "Don't worry, Aunt. I'll take care of my younger brother and sister."
Chu Changsheng looked up, her voice clear and bright. "Don't worry, Mother. I'll persuade Brother not to act recklessly."
Chu Hongyu snorted. "The way you keep saying it makes it sound like I'm particularly unreasonable."Yun Chu smiled. "Yes, our Yu Ge'er is the most sensible. Your father and I will head to the palace first."
She brought along her two maids, Qiutong and Luwei, into the palace.
As the carriage approached the imperial palace, it slowed down. Today, all civil and military officials were entering the palace to offer birthday congratulations, causing a congestion at the palace gates that took nearly two hours to clear.
Yun Chu and Chu Yi followed the crowd toward the main hall, where many had already gathered.
As the third prince, Chu Yi was seated in a prominent position, with Yun Chu beside him.
She saw the Empress seated next to the Emperor, wearing a phoenix crown and exquisitely made-up, yet unable to conceal her aged expression.
In just a month or two, the Empress seemed to have aged rapidly.
Her gaze then shifted to Li Jingshu nearby—Consort Jin, who had been stabbed and rumored to be near death, now sat there radiantly, looking years younger.
The guests below couldn't help but whisper among themselves.
"Consort Jin has been staying in the Hall of Mental Cultivation all this time. Why hasn't the Emperor given any explanation?"
"I suspect that during this birthday banquet, the Emperor will take the opportunity to confer upon her the title of Brocade Imperial Concubine."
"At her age, entering the rear palace... it's ridiculous, utterly ridiculous. The Emperor has lost his senses."
These remarks reached Li Jingshu's ears, causing her expression to darken momentarily.
She had risked her life to carve a path forward, believing it would prevent the Empress from recovering. Yet, within days, the Empress had returned to the Palace of Earthly Tranquility.
She had thought the Emperor would compensate her with a formal title.
But despite her prolonged stay in the palace, aside from daily lavish gifts, she had received no substantial promises.
Even though her relationship with the Emperor was now public, he... seemed unwilling to take responsibility, leaving her vulnerable to gossip.
Just then, a group of beauties began to dance.
Li Jingshu noticed the Emperor staring intently at them, unable to look away.
Her fingers clenched involuntarily.
After all, she had aged... Like a dull pearl, she could no longer command attention.
She turned her gaze to the Emperor.
Sensing it, he looked back at her.
Their eyes met.
Beside them, the Empress felt a surge of turmoil in her heart.
Even though she had long ceased to care, witnessing this scene unfold before her eyes was still painfully glaring.
"Your Majesty, the Second Prince requests an audience!"
A young eunuch at the hall entrance came forward to report.
The Gong Xi Prince had previously erred and been stripped of his princely title, so he was now referred to as the Second Prince.
The Emperor frowned deeply. "He is under house arrest. How did he enter the palace?"
The eunuch replied, "Your Majesty, the Second Prince entered the palace by kneeling and kowtowing with every step."
The Great Jin Dynasty had an unwritten rule: if commoners had grievances, they could kowtow step by step at the palace gates, beating a drum to seek an audience with the Emperor.
The Second Prince had adopted this method, leaving no room for criticism.
The Emperor was moved. After all, this was his own son, who had knelt his way into the palace to offer birthday wishes.
"Summon him!"
At the Emperor's command, Chu Mo entered through the doorway.
The Empress's pupils contracted sharply. Despite Chu Mo's grave mistakes, the Emperor was still willing to give him a second chance.
And her? She had committed no faults, dedicating her life to managing the vast rear palace for the Emperor, yet he sought to replace her with another.
How pitiable she was.“Your son has come to offer birthday felicitations to Father Emperor!” Chu Mo knelt on the ground. “Confined within the princely residence, I could not purchase precious calligraphy or paintings. Thus I learned embroidery from the seamstresses in my household and personally embroidered an undergarment for Father Emperor. May this garment ward off wind and cold, protecting Your Majesty from all ailments.”
Gao Gonggong delivered the presented garment to the Emperor.
The Emperor carefully traced his fingers over the seemingly unrefined undergarment, momentarily lost in thought.
Having witnessed countless exquisite birthday tributes and priceless treasures, this was the first time he had received such a simple and unadorned gift at a longevity banquet. It was also the first time a son had ever made clothing for him.
A man’s hands were meant for writing and studying, yet his son had used them for embroidery.
The Emperor’s voice was filled with emotion: “Mo’er has shown great thoughtfulness. Since you are here, take a seat and join the banquet.”
Gao Gonggong promptly ordered attendants to place a small table slightly ahead of Chu Yi’s position.
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