Chapter 145: An Intricate Die Spots Red Beans (Part III)

The ancestors of the Yun family had long left a strict precept forbidding their descendants from holding official government posts, yet this by no means implied that the family remained entirely aloof from matters of state. In fact, throughout the generations, the head of the Yun family always wielded influence behind the scenes under the nominal title of the "Marquis of Lixin," leveraging the clan's vast wealth and formidable prestige to silently sway the rise and fall of the dynasty—precisely as Chuxiu was doing now.

Walking slowly into the banquet hall behind Prince Cheng, Nie Peixiao, Chuxiu found the seats on both sides already filled. Upon the raised dais, a slightly aged man sat side by side with two gorgeously attired women. There was no need for guesswork; they were naturally Emperor Niesheng, Nie Jingze, along with Empress Ming Zhen and Noble Consort Ye Yingfei.

The Empress and the Consort flanked the Emperor's left and right. According to the Southern Xi custom where the left side held precedence, Chuxiu was instantly able to discern who the reigning Empress was. Besides, Noble Consort Ye, seated on the Emperor's right, appeared visibly younger, and her garments lacked the supreme magnificence of the Empress's attire.

Apart from these two royal consorts, the only other occupants of the hall were four imperial princes, all clad in the ceremonial robes appropriate to princes of the first and second ranks. Among them, Prince Mu and Prince Cheng stood out the most. Aside from them, there was not a single soul else present.

To think that she actually had the privilege of attending the Emperor's New Year's Eve family banquet! Chuxiu smiled wryly in the depths of her heart, while maintaining a perfectly poised expression as she gracefully lowered herself in a bow and curtsied. "This humble concubine, Yun Chuxiu, pays her respects to Your Majesty."

She deliberately refrained from offering greetings to Ming Zhen and Ye Yingfei. Quite apart from the fact that the standing of those two great noble houses fell far short of the Yun family's, the Emperor had not formally introduced them. By the same token, she did not recognize all four princes on the dais, nor did she deem it necessary to greet every single one.

In Chuxiu’s eyes, the Emperor of Southern Xi was of little consequence; the figure she truly valued was Prince Mu, Nie Peihan. The latter was destined to become the iron-fisted monarch who would ultimately unify the north and the south, a monumental achievement that would deservedly be etched into the annals of history. Particularly after the grave illness of Emperor Shengrui of Northern Xuan, Chen Xuan, she had grown all the more steadfast in this conviction.

Chuxiu maintained her impeccably graceful smile, hearing at the appropriate moment the soft murmurs of astonishment drifting from the hall. She had carefully dressed and adorned herself for this day, and judging from the expression of Eunuch Wang when he arrived to transmit the imperial decree, she had anticipated that her trip to the Xianyuan Palace would inevitably draw a round of admiring praise.

That being said, Prince Mu and Prince Cheng were indeed men capable of achieving great things—at least neither of them had revealed an excessive gaze of wonder at her appearance upon first beholding her. However, Chuxiu still remembered that when Nie Peixiao first laid eyes on her, he had worn the formal court attire of an imperial prince, which had seemed… rather overly solemn.

At this thought, Chuxiu could not help but smile more deeply. Lifting her gaze, she caught a fleeting flash of admiration in the eyes of Empress Ming Zhen, alongside a trace of… profound significance? A sudden chill struck Chuxiu’s heart. Could it be? Did Ming Zhen discover her former identity?

Indeed, since Helian Qi knew, Ming Ying would naturally know, and as Ming Ying's paternal aunt, it was only a matter of time before Empress Ming Zhen learned the inner truth. Chuxiu harbored a faint premonition that tonight's New Year's Eve banquet would give rise to unforeseen complications.

Yet with Prince Mu present, her heart steadied somewhat. She remembered Prince Mu saying that the good days of the Ming family were coming to an end, and moreover, in the eyes of outsiders, the Yun family was his ally; he would not stand idly by and let her perish.

Having made up her mind, Chuxiu, guided by an attendant, smiled as she took her seat. Directly opposite her sat Prince Mu, Nie Peihan, and Prince Cheng, Nie Peixiao. Giving the two of them a slight nod of greeting, Chuxiu heard the Emperor speak from upon the dais, "We have long heard tales of the Lady's elegance, and seeing you today, it is truly as legendary as rumored."

***

Chuxiu lowered her gaze and offered a faint smile. "Your Majesty flatters me too greatly."

Taking the cue, the Emperor introduced the various individuals present one by one. Only then did Chuxiu offer her greetings in turn. Particularly when facing Empress Ming Zhen, she could palpably sense the other woman's hostility and… provocation. Chuxiu could not resist secretly exchanging a glance with Prince Mu, who lightly twirled his wine glass and gave a slight shake of his head, conveying that it was "nothing to be feared."

"Before Lady Chuxiu arrived just now, Prince Mu was actually speaking of you, saying that his recent merit in rescuing the sovereign relied entirely upon the financial and logistical backing of the Yun family. Looked at in that light, the Lady is also a meritorious heroine who protected the throne!" Empress Ming Zhen spoke first, delivering her words with a dagger concealed behind her smile.

Chuxiu met her gaze with poised grace and smiled, saying, "Your Empress Majesty praises me too generously. Prince Fu was unloyal and unfilial, acting against the natural order; his failure was merely a matter of time. Prince Mu leads a righteous army with a legitimate cause, and even without the assistance of the Yun family, it would still have been the mandate of heaven."

At these words, the Empress covered her mouth and chuckled, praising with a click of her tongue, "As expected of Lady Chuxiu..." Without finishing her words of admiration, she pivoted instead, "It is merely a pity. Though the Lady is so young and blessed with peerless grace, you are destined to live out your days in widowhood... The premature demise of the Marquis of Lixin is, one must say, a most lamentable regret."

Hearing this, Chuxiu realized that Empress Ming Zhen was deliberately picking a quarrel. Far from growing angry, she replied in a gentle yet resonant voice, "My late husband passed away years ago, yet he has always watched over the Yun family, feeling to this humble concubine as though he has never truly left. On the contrary, there are certain women in this world whose outward锋芒 (sharpness) is far too heavy, lacking all sense of proportion, driving their husbands' hearts away until they live as though widowed while their spouses still breathe. In this humble concubine's view, such women are far more pitiable, regrettable, and sigh-worthy. Would Your Majesty not agree?"

As her voice trailed off, a delicate ripple of laughter echoed from the hall, originating from Noble Consort Ye, seated to the Emperor's right. She lightly clapped her hands in agreement, chiming in, "As expected of Lady Chuxiu! Her insights resonate deeply with this Consort's own heart. The Marquis of Lixin and the Lady shared a deep and devoted bond; even though he passed away prematurely, he remains present in spirit. By comparison, living as a widow while one's husband draws breath is infinitely more agonizing."

Chuxiu's preceding remarks had already caused Empress Ming Zhen's expression to sour, and Noble Consort Ye's deliberate stoking of the flames caused the Empress to tighten her face into a rigid mask. Chuxiu shot a look of gratitude toward Noble Consort Ye, echoing smoothly, "Noble Consort Niangniang is favored above all others, and furthermore enjoys the filial devotion of two princes, Prince Mu and Prince Cheng, right at your knees. It truly fills this humble concubine with boundless envy."

"This Consort likewise envies the Lady! For my own part, I dare not claim to understand all the proper rules even at this age, relying entirely on His Majesty's gracious indulgence and generous forbearance... Otherwise, this Consort would have been living as a widow in name long ago." Noble Consort Ye cast a fleeting sidelong glance at the Emperor, then laughed lightly, "Still, having sons at one's knees is indeed a comforting solace."

Chuxiu and Noble Consort Ye sang in perfect harmony, leaving Empress Ming Zhen so choked with fury she could find no words to retort. Everyone present knew that the Empress's only beloved son, the First Prince, had died young, and later the Prince Fu—whom she had secretly backed—had also failed in his rebellion. Now she was left entirely without heirs, a grief infinitely more agonizing than losing a husband's favor! Chuxiu concluded that since the Empress insisted on locking horns with her, it was not merely directed at the four characters "Lady Chuxiu," but rather at the powerful Yun family standing behind her.

Yet strangely enough, although this public display of jealousy and rivalry between the Empress and the Consort had been laid completely bare, the Emperor merely sat smiling on the sidelines, showing not the slightest trace of displeasure or intent to intervene. Looking toward the imperial princes in the hall, they appeared equally serene and undisturbed, as though they had witnessed this exact scene a thousand times before.

Only then did Chuxiu realize the truth: in reality, regardless of whether she herself attended tonight's banquet or not, Noble Consort Ye and the Empress were unlikely to ever let the matter rest. Yet now that the Ming faction's grand momentum had utterly collapsed, why was the Empress still mounting a dying struggle? She would have been wiser to bow to the shifting tides; at the very least, she could have preserved her empty title as Empress.

So be it, then. In any case, Yun Xian had already beaten the Second Young Master Ming to death, and she herself had forged a bitter enmity with Ming Ying. The relationship between the Yun and Ming families was beyond all possibility of mending. Since matters had reached this pass, she no longer needed to preserve any shred of face for Empress Ming Zhen. She might as well tear away the veil completely; it would make things much easier for everyone. At the very least, it would be far less exhausting.

Having resolved herself, Chuxiu largely ignored the Empress from then on. To whatever the other woman uttered, she offered at most a perfunctory acknowledgment, making it transparently clear that she refused to afford her any face. Surprisingly, this approach brought a great deal of tranquility. The Emperor appropriately ordered musicians and dancers to perform, while chatting idly with the various princes. Left idle and bored at the side, Chuxiu still failed to fathom precisely why the Emperor had summoned her to attend this banquet.

***

Could it be solely to let her watch a play? A petty domestic drama of jealousy between the Empress and the Consort? Chuxiu could not resist glancing once more toward Prince Mu across the table. This time, she caught no answering look from him; instead, to her surprise, she found Prince Cheng staring intently at her. Chuxiu questioned Nie Peixiao with a puzzled look, only to find him suddenly lowering his head to take a sip from his cup with a guilty air, offering no response whatsoever.

Tonight's imperial banquet was truly bizarre to the extreme, leaving Chuxiu with no choice but to respond to ever-changing circumstances with steadfast calm. Not until the banquet was drawing to a close did Empress Ming Zhen suddenly regain her vigor, once again fixing her target squarely upon Chuxiu: "We had only heard of the Lady's renowned name before; seeing your peerless beauty today, we finally realize the rumors were true. With talents and looks such as yours, could it be that you truly intend to guard the Yun family name in solitude for the rest of your life?"

Why was she bringing up this matter of "widowhood" yet again? Growing somewhat impatient, Chuxiu remained silent, refusing to offer a reply.

Yet the Empress pressed on aggressively, heaving another exaggerated sigh. "The Yun family estate and the Prince Mu's Manor occupy the very same district, and the Lady is merely a delicate woman. Prince Mu ought to render more assistance and care." With that, she turned to the Emperor with a look of feigned solicitude. "No wonder Lady Chuxiu is so steadfast in her support of Prince Mu... In this concubine's eyes, with the Yun family's backing in days to come, Prince Mu will surely experience smooth sailing in unifying the north and south, and Your Majesty can finally rest easy."

Hearing this, Chuxiu finally grasped the true intent behind the Empress's words. The enigmatic smiles directed at her, the unprovoked insults—they were not aimed at the Yun family, nor stemmed from any knowledge of her true identity as Hanchu... The Empress was targeting Prince Mu!

After beating around the bush with so many insinuating remarks, the Empress was merely attempting to smear her with the stain of an illicit affair with Prince Mu. First by claiming her support for Prince Mu in "rescuing the sovereign" had brought her merit, then repeatedly harping on her youth and widowhood, and finally invoking the proximity of the Yun estate and Prince Mu's Manor... So her true aim was to splash filthy water upon both herself and Prince Mu!

Other matters could be tolerated, but when it came to her "chastity," Chuxiu would never allow anyone to utter a single word of idle gossip! She admitted that she had been thoroughly provoked, and glancing toward Prince Mu, she saw his countenance was equally dark and grim as he looked back at her. The unmasked ruthlessness in his gaze made his phoenix eyes gleam with a cold, inking darkness that was truly terrifying.

Seeing this, Chuxiu felt her courage swell considerably. Though she knew she ought to remain silent and leave the refutation and defense entirely to Prince Mu, she could not bring herself to do so, nor could she swallow her anger. The Empress had touched upon her absolute bottom line.

Chuxiu's hands, hidden within her sleeves, tightened into fists, and she instantly moved to rise and rebut the claims. To her surprise, someone else beat her to the punch.

At that exact moment, Prince Cheng, Nie Peixiao, abruptly rose from his seat. With a half-smile playing on his lips, he looked toward the Empress and remarked, "Her Majesty's words are profoundly astute. Looked at in that light, this son finally understands why the eldest Miss Ming was married off to the Helian clan."

"Oh? How so?" Hearing him bring up her own niece, Ming Ying, the Empress pricked up her ears to listen closely.

"If this son's memory serves me correctly, back in the day the Ming estate and the Helian estate were separated by merely half a street. No doubt before Her Majesty was wed, Lord Helian spared no effort in assisting you as well. Thus, remembering that debt of gratitude, you stubbornly insisted on betrothal between the eldest Miss Ming and Lord Helian's only beloved son, forging a union of Qin and Jin between the two houses. I wonder if this son has guessed correctly?" A faint, mocking smile hung on the corners of Nie Peixiao's mouth, making his ridicule glaringly plain.

Empress Ming Zhen's expression shifted drastically in an instant. "What utter nonsense are you spouting?!"