"There's a banquet at the palace today, so unimportant matters can be put aside for now," Dongfang Heng said softly. He lifted the covers, took off Shen Lixue's nightgown, picked up a light purple Xiang dress and put it on her, then carried her to sit in front of the dressing mirror.
The woman in the mirror was exquisitely beautiful, with long, flowing black hair cascading down her back. Her eyes were bright and clear, and her cheeks were fair with a rosy glow. "Why is the palace suddenly holding a banquet?" she asked.
"Qingyan was overjoyed to receive two cannons, and the Emperor was delighted, so he held a banquet to celebrate." Shen Lixue's black hair flew up and down in Dongfang Heng's hands. After a moment, it was tied into an exquisite bun, with a pair of purple jade hairpins and a few pearl flowers as the finishing touch. The purple jade earrings swayed gently, complementing the hairpins and pearl flowers. The beauty was properly dressed.
Shen Lixue also really liked this outfit; it was elegant, noble, and refreshing. "When is the banquet held?"
The cannons were rare and extremely valuable; no other country possessed even one. Qingyan acquired two, which significantly enhanced its national strength. The emperor was overjoyed and would indeed hold a banquet to celebrate.
"Daytime, noon!" Dongfang Heng embraced Shen Lixue, resting his chin lightly on her shoulder. The man in the mirror was incredibly handsome, and the woman was stunningly beautiful. Standing together, they were a perfect match. He felt a surge of excitement, and his sensual lips gently pressed against her alluring lips.
Shen Lixue was taken aback: "Why didn't you wake me up sooner?" Dongfang Heng had been waiting for her to wake up naturally so that they could go to the palace together. It was already noon, and the banquet was about to begin. What kind of behavior would it be for them, as officials, to be late for the banquet?
"You're pregnant, you absolutely must get enough sleep. How can you force yourself to wake up?" Dongfang Heng had just consulted the Ghost Doctor of Southern Xinjiang. Pregnancy is very hard for women, so they must eat well, drink well, and sleep well. Otherwise, it will be bad for both the mother and the baby.
"It would be bad if we were late for the Emperor's banquet." For a courtier to be late to a banquet hosted by the Emperor is disrespectful, and who knows what the Emperor will think of them.
"Don't worry, the Emperor is in a good mood after receiving the cannon and won't blame us." Dongfang Heng gave Shen Lixue a light kiss on the forehead, then carried her out, saying, "The banquet doesn't start until half an hour later. If we ride fast, we shouldn't be late."
On the bluestone path, maids carrying cups and plates strolled along. When they saw Dongfang Heng carrying Shen Lixue and striding forward, they all curtsied and looked at Shen Lixue with envy.
Shen Lixue felt very uncomfortable under their gazes, her face flushed with a rosy hue. She gently punched Dongfang Heng's strong face with her small fist: "I can walk by myself, please put me down."
"You're pregnant, so you need to take good care of yourself." Dongfang Heng ignored him, carrying the beauty and walking straight ahead.
Shen Lixue looked up at the sky speechlessly: "The baby is only two months old, and the pregnancy isn't even showing yet. I can walk around, it'll be fine." Even if you're being careful, you don't have to be so careful that you can't even walk.
"Let's walk after we enter the palace. You've just woken up and aren't quite fully awake yet. It'll be safer if I carry you."
Shen Lixue: "..."
She had washed her face, changed her clothes, and styled her hair. Her eyes were crystal clear. How could she be delirious?
While she was inwardly complaining, Dongfang Heng carried her out of the Holy King's Mansion and boarded a carriage heading to the palace.
Zi Mo drove smoothly, and soon they arrived at the palace after only two cups of tea. The banquet had just begun, and the Emperor had already arrived. Seeing Dongfang Heng and Shen Lixue enter the banquet hall hand in hand, he frowned slightly: "Prince An, why is the Princess Consort so late?"
When the emperor hosts a banquet for his ministers, if a minister arrives late, it is considered disrespectful to the emperor, and the emperor will naturally be displeased.
Dongfang Heng grasped Shen Lixue's soft hand tightly: "Your Majesty, Lixue is two months pregnant and is not feeling well. I am sorry for arriving late; I am willing to punish myself with three cups of wine. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."
Is Shen Lixue pregnant? The emperor gazed at Shen Lixue, whose figure was slender, beautiful, and shapely. Her two-month pregnancy would not be noticeable for the time being.
"Li Xue, come here quickly so I can take a look at you." The Empress Dowager was slightly taken aback, then smiled broadly and beckoned Shen Li Xue over.
Shen Lixue glanced at Dongfang Heng, gently pulled her hand away from his, and slowly walked to the Empress Dowager, curtsying and saying, "Empress Dowager."
"Please sit down." The Empress Dowager pulled Shen Lixue to sit beside her, gazing at her flat stomach, her kind eyes filled with a warm smile: "Our royal family hasn't had a baby born for a long time, Lixue's pregnancy has come at just the right time." Her kind voice carried a hint of sadness.
"Li Xue's child is the first child of the younger generation, which is very precious." The Empress smiled and echoed the Empress Dowager's words, looking at Shen Li Xue. She was pregnant not long after getting married, and such a woman was a blessed person.
"Your Majesty flatters me. His Highness the Crown Prince and Prince Zhan are both of marriageable age. After they take concubines, the Empress Dowager will soon be able to hold her great-grandchildren." Shen Lixue could tell that the Empress Dowager loved children, but since the Emperor's sons were not married and had no descendants, she could only comfort her in this way.
These words were like a wake-up call. The Empress Dowager looked at the Empress and said, "Hong'er is not young anymore. Have you found a suitable candidate for Crown Princess?" Of the three unfilial acts, the greatest is to have no offspring. Dongfang Hong is well past the age of marriage, but he has never taken a concubine. He is not in a hurry, but his elders are.
The Empress sighed helplessly, "Your Majesty, as the Crown Prince, Hong'er assists the Emperor in handling state affairs every day and has no time to consider selecting consorts at the moment."
The Empress Dowager frowned in displeasure: "Hong'er is already twenty years old. The Crown Prince's residence needs a mistress to manage it. I will speak with the Emperor tomorrow and arrange for a consort to be chosen for the Crown Prince as soon as possible."
"Thank you, Empress Dowager." The Empress smiled. The Crown Prince was choosing a consort, and even more so, a powerful in-law. Although her family was strong, they could not control everything. In particular, Dongfang Zhan was exceptionally capable and increasingly dazzling, gradually overshadowing her son.
The emperor is paying more attention to Dongfang Zhan than to the crown prince. The crown prince must win more support from noble families to ensure a smoother path to the throne.
She had long wanted to suggest to the Emperor that a consort be chosen for the Crown Prince, but had not found a suitable opportunity. Shen Lixue's pregnancy was a good opportunity, and the Empress Dowager was already thinking about choosing a consort for Hong'er without her having to ask.
"Zhan'er has reached marriageable age. Your Majesty, please take good care of him and select a few concubines for him." Dongfang Zhan and Dongfang Hong are both grandsons of the Empress Dowager and are of similar age. She treats them equally and will select concubines for them together when they reach marriageable age.
"Yes." The Empress smiled amiably. She would definitely help Dongfang Zhan choose a concubine "well."
Ye Qianmei sat at the lower end of the table, her face terribly gloomy. She was the emperor's bestowed principal wife to Dongfang Zhan, and they were not yet married. Yet, those old women were talking about choosing a concubine for Dongfang Zhan right in front of her, clearly showing that they didn't take her seriously.
Hmph, look at how the entire Mu family of Xiliang was executed, and her mother and brother were branded as traitors. Does that mean she has no standing in Qingyan anymore? A bunch of petty opportunists.
"Your Majesty, the marriage between Prince Zhan and Princess Qianmei has long been arranged, and only the wedding ceremony is pending. Wouldn't it be inappropriate to bring in so many concubines on the same day?" It was Consort Li who spoke. She was sitting at the lower end of the table, not far away. She had heard everything the Empress Dowager and the Empress said and was subtly expressing her indignation on behalf of Ye Qianmei.
A warm feeling rose in Ye Qianmei's heart. Finally, someone wasn't opportunistic and spoke up for her. She wholeheartedly agreed with Consort Li's opinion, but said tactfully, "Thank you for your kind words, Your Highness. Prince Zhan is Prince Qingyan, and he will take a concubine sooner or later. It's alright for Qianmei to suffer some grievances."
"The principal wife and concubines entered the household on the same day, but there is a difference in their rank. Prince Zhan's heart is still mostly with Princess Qianmei. The concubines are merely married into the household; their specific arrangements are still up to Qianmei."
The Empress Dowager glanced at Ye Qianmei, then looked away. Ye Qianmei was too alluring, her eyes were captivating, as if she was born to seduce men. Even she, as the grandmother, would sometimes be mesmerized by those eyes. What young man could escape her allure?
Prince Zhan is a member of the royal family of Qingyan, and is of noble status. When choosing a wife, he pays the most attention to a woman's character. Ye Qianmei's entire clan was wiped out, and her status plummeted. Being alone and helpless is not a problem, but the Empress Dowager does not want her grandson to be obsessed with women, especially an outstanding descendant like Dongfang Zhan. He should be making achievements and not spending his days surrounded by women.
Ye Qianmei has been in the capital for quite some time, and the Empress Dowager has met her more than once. The impression Ye Qianmei left on the Empress Dowager was that she loved to play and show off, and had no other merits. She was clearly not a virtuous wife for Dongfang Zhan, so the Empress Dowager disliked Ye Qianmei.
Ye Qianmei's face, which had just begun to recover, darkened again. She had only been making polite remarks, hoping to persuade the Empress Dowager to withdraw her order. Who would have thought that the Empress Dowager would not only fail to repent but also take advantage of the situation to want to legitimately select a concubine for Dongfang Zhan? How despicable!
A hint of embarrassment appeared on Consort Li's beautiful face, and she gave an unnatural smile: "The Empress Dowager is very thoughtful; it was my oversight."
Ye Qianmei frowned. Consort Li was just a concubine, and under the oppressive power of the Empress Dowager, she couldn't offer her much help...
"The Empress Dowager is absolutely right. The principal wife and the concubines entered the household on the same day, so the principal wife is still the one in charge. Qianmei was once a princess of Xiliang, so she will definitely be able to properly settle the concubines." A noblewoman glanced at Ye Qianmei and echoed the Empress Dowager's words.
Ye Qianmei's small face was so black it looked like ink was about to drip out. She used to be a princess of Xiliang! That person was indirectly mocking her, saying that she was now the descendant of a disgraced official and no longer a princess of Xiliang.
"The concubines of Prince Zhan are all daughters of ministers. Qianmei is a princess of Xiliang, which puts her above them in terms of status. I doubt they would dare to bully Qianmei because her family is far away..." another noblewoman said with a smile.
"Yes, yes, Princess Qianmei will definitely manage the Zhanwang Mansion perfectly..." More noblewomen echoed the Empress Dowager's words.