Chapter 372 - Disturbance at the Banquet

Noble Consort Li stroked the peony hairpin behind her ear, and a faint smile appeared on her delicate face. The smile was gentle and elegant, yet it sent a chill down the spine of Nurse Wei, who trembled involuntarily.

Noble Consort Li looked over lightly. “Nurse Wei, don’t worry. If the plan succeeds this time, I will let you out so that you can reunite with your children and live a happy life.”

Nurse Wei’s knees went soft, and she quickly knelt down to show her loyalty. “Being able to serve Your Grace is a blessing that I deserve to have only after cultivating for several lifetimes. Children and grandchildren have their own blessings. They are adults now, and I’m too old to mind their business. I only hope that I can serve Your Grace for a long time.”

After hearing this, Noble Consort Li grinned from ear to ear. “Good. Don’t worry, I will treat you fairly. Later, I will have someone send some silver to your children. You can rest assured.”

Nurse Wei’s face was filled with gratitude. She kowtowed a few times before getting up. “Thank you, Your Grace.”

“Alright, you’re dismissed.”

Nurse Wei left the door and went to the servant’s place. Only then did she carefully wipe the sweat on her forehead. Noble Consort Li said that she would send someone to give her children money. This was not a reward at all. Instead, it was to remind her that her family was under her control. Thinking of the scene she saw Shen Ninghua today, she gritted her teeth slightly. Anyway, she had done so many shameful things thus far. Unless she died, Noble Consort Li would not let her out. She would not mind doing it again.

Noble Consort Li was now in charge of the affairs in the harem. She was the number one person in the harem, and many people were eager to curry favor with her, so this birthday banquet was specially arranged. All the Masters began to prepare gifts early a few days ago. They knew in advance that the Emperor would participate in Noble Consort Li’s birthday banquet. If their gifts were extraordinary enough, it would be a good chance for them to show their faces in front of the Emperor.

Shen Ninghua personally looked at the gifts prepared by Bi Zhu. After confirming that there were no problems, she and Baili Junyi got on the carriage.

“Ninghua, you have prepared a lot of gifts this time,” Baili Junyi held her fair fingertips and said casually.

Shen Ninghua smiled. “Noble Consort Li has just been conferred the title of Noble Consort, so I can’t be too shabby in preparing her gifts.”

“I’m afraid that even if we send valuable gifts to her, we won’t be able to gain any benefits.”

Shen Ninghua glanced at him, and a smile flashed in her clear eyes. “I didn’t intend to gain any benefits, to begin with. I heard from Ye Yi that the gifts prepared by the Masters in the Palace were twenty percent more than in previous years. Then, rumors had it that Noble Consort Li was very favored by His Majesty, and His Majesty would personally go to her birthday banquet, so everyone added another page to the gift list.”

Baili Junyi smiled and shook his head. “I don’t know who spread the news either. Don’t blame it on me. If I had the time to do this, I might as well accompany my beautiful wife. After all, Noble Consort Li will have her birthday every year, but I only have one beautiful wife.”

Shen Ninghua glanced at him, and her slight eyes swayed with a coquettish tone, making Baili Junyi smile even more happily. “From your tone, you seem to be complaining that you have gotten the short end of the stick?”

“Your Highness, I wouldn’t dare to!” Baili Junyi hurriedly cupped his hands and bowed timidly.

Shen Ninghua could not hold back her laughter. Back then, Baili Junyi had yet to regain his identity, and she was a princess. After they got married, he was inferior to her in terms of status. She never expected that today, he would take out this matter to tease her.

The two came to the Palace. The imperial garden was already quite lively. Because today was the Hundred Flowers Festival, there were already many flowers in full bloom. Noble Consort Li simply had people place the birthday banquet in the imperial garden. There were gauze curtains everywhere, and the flowers were clustered together. It was very lively. Behind the arranged seats, there were light green-clothed palace maids. Each of them stood with their hands down and was particularly respectful.

Shen Ninghua muttered under her breath, “In the imperial garden, everyone can feel the spring breeze and enjoy the blooming of the flowers. It shows the Emperor’s favor and preference to her. Noble Consort Li really put in a lot of effort for this birthday banquet.”

The two of them were led into the seats by the palace maid. Just as Shen Ninghua sat down, she felt a gaze fall on her. She hurriedly looked up and met Baili Jinchuan’s cold eyes. She glanced at him indifferently and then turned her gaze away.

Baili Jinchuan gritted his teeth. His heart was filled with anger and hatred, but his face did not reveal anything. Yang Yingxue walked to Shen Ninghua’s side and gently greeted her, “Princess Zhaohua…”

Shen Ninghua got up and avoided her. She did not accept her salute. “Side Concubine Yang, what do you mean by this?” Her voice was not loud, but the people around her had been watching her for a long time, so as soon as she spoke, everyone turned to look at them.

There was a troubled look on Yang Yingxue’s face. “I wanted to visit Your Highness a few days ago, but I heard from Miss Hong Ling that you were not feeling well. Are you feeling better now?”

Miss Hong Ling? Yang Yingxue’s current identity was the Second Prince’s side concubine. Although the Second Prince had been demoted to a prefectural prince, his side concubine was much nobler than Shen Ninghua’s maids. Besides, even if Yang Yingxue was not the Second Prince’s side concubine, she was Shen Ninghua’s cousin. Addressing her cousin’s maid as a miss emphasized Princess Zhaohua’s arrogance.

Shen Ninghua’s eyes were cold, and her cold gaze made Yang Yingxue’s heart tremble. “Side Concubine Yang, the day you went to see me was the death anniversary of my mother. Because I had to go to the temple to pray for her, I pretended to be unwell and did not see any guests. I’m sorry for making you worry.”

When these words came out, everyone suddenly understood. The way they looked at Yang Yingxue was a little different. Just now, they thought that she cared a lot about Princess Zhaohua. Unexpectedly, as a cousin, she did not know about her aunt’s death anniversary. It made people wonder if her concern was sincere or not.

Yang Yingxue’s face alternated between red and pale. She could sense Baili Jinchuan’s gaze locking on her, and she couldn’t help but tremble in fear. “I…”

Shen Ninghua interrupted her. “The banquet is about to start. Side Concubine Yang, you should take your seat.”

Yang Yingxue still wanted to say something, but then she heard a voice outside. “Noble Consort Li has arrived!” She quickly withdrew her expression and retreated to the side swiftly. The surrounding spectators also withdrew their expressions and respectfully bowed to Noble Consort Li who had walked in.

Noble Consort Li wore a set of Noble Consort’s clothes with dark red gold threads. She wore a pearl bracelet around her neck and a bright red hairpin on her head. The peony behind her ears gave off a fragrance. Lin Feiran, who was wearing a pink dress beside her, supported her arm. The Third Prince and the Fourth Prince followed behind her. Behind them was a group of palace maids and nurses who held their breaths in concentration. They walked in with an imposing manner, causing everyone present to sigh in their hearts. Her aura was extraordinary!

“Greetings, Noble Consort. Long live Your Grace!”

Noble Consort Li released Lin Feiran’s hand, and the latter obediently stood to the side.

“Everyone, please rise. Today is my birthday. Originally, I just wanted to prepare one table of dishes and have a casual meal. I didn’t expect His Majesty to be so kind and specially allow me to hold the banquet in the imperial garden. I’m sorry to trouble you to come here.” Noble Consort Li sounded like she was being modest, but the pride in her tone revealed her true intentions.

“Your Grace is so honored to be favored by His Majesty. We are so envious. We are happy to come and get some of Your Grace’s happiness.”

The one who spoke was the new Consort Lan, who was also a legendary figure. Originally, she was a lady-in-waiting, but for some reason, the Emperor took a fancy to her after the death of Zhao Huiying and promoted her to the title of a courtesan and then to concubine within three months. After that, when the matter with Xia Jingxin had occurred, Imperial Concubine Lan had been given the cold shoulder. She had not expected that this time, she would actually be able to catch up and elevated to the position of consort. Her qualifications were the shortest yet she had climbed the ladder the fastest.

Looking at her current appearance, could it be that she wanted to form a team with Noble Consort Li?

Hearing her words, Noble Consort Li smiled wider and wider. She clearly enjoyed this kind of flattery very much.

“His Majesty has arrived!”

Hearing this announcement, Noble Consort Li hurriedly stood up to greet the Emperor. She had a big smile on her face, and even the Third Prince and the Fourth Prince were particularly proud. In the harem, the children and their mothers depended on each other. The higher the status of their mother and the more she was favored by the Emperor, the more successful they would be in the Palace. When their status was firm and solid, their mother’s position became more and more secure.

Baili Qingcang’s expression eased up. After seeing everyone salute, he smiled and called out, “Rise. There is no need to be so formal. It is Noble Consort’s birthday today. I saw that the imperial garden was particularly lively, so I specially came to ask for a glass of wine.”

Noble Consort Li quickly ordered someone to take the wine pot and personally poured a glass for Baili Qingcang. “Your Majesty, it’s my great honor to have you here. I’m very grateful. I’m delightful even if you finish all the wine here.”

“Haha, if I finish all the wine, the guests in the garden will be dissatisfied with me.” Baili Qingcang laughed.

Noble Consort Li got a glass of wine and raised her hands. “Your Majesty, I propose a toast to Your Majesty. May Your Majesty be happy.”

“Today, you are the birthday star. You have let me take advantage of you.”

Baili Qingcang gently raised his glass to give her a toast. Then, he drank it all in one gulp. The Emperor gave her such a big honor. Noble Consort Li blushed redder and redder, and she felt that the imperial garden’s flowers were especially beautiful.

Everyone praised her one after another. For a time, Noble Consort Li was in the limelight.

Lin Feiran stood at the table and poured wine for Baili Qingcang and Noble Consort Li. There were some scars on her fair wrist, and they were particularly eye-catching.

“You are… Lin Feiran?”

Hearing this, Lin Feiran quickly knelt down and pulled her sleeves to cover the scars on her wrist. “Yes, I, Lin Feiran, have offended Your Majesty. Please punish me, Your Majesty.”

There was a hint of sympathy and pity in Noble Consort Li’s eyes. “Your Majesty, Feiran has been copying scriptures at home recently. I saw that her arm was injured and asked her to take a good rest at home, but she would not listen to me. I was touched by her sincerity and felt pity in my heart, so I let her go into the Palace to talk with me.”

“Injured? I remember now. She was scratched by animals at the New Year’s banquet, right? The scars are really ugly. I remember that Ninghua has a Skin-Revitalizing Ointment, right?” As he spoke, Baili Qingcang looked at Shen Ninghua.