Chapter 180: A Mockery of a Palace Banquet

Chapter 180

The carriage rumbled along, all the way from the Duke's Residence to the Imperial Palace Avenue.

Today's Imperial Palace was exceptionally lively.

The grand annual palace banquet was being held today. During the day, the ladies could roam freely in the Imperial Garden to appreciate the snow, and at night there would be a magnificent fireworks display.

I heard the Imperial Harem was even raising a pair of red-crowned cranes. When they had nothing to do, they would elegantly strut about the snow-covered Imperial Garden.

The young girls had never seen such rare and exotic creatures before, so they came in groups of three or five to watch.

After enjoying themselves for a while, a palace maid came to pass along the message that Her Majesty The Empress had summoned them.

Laughing and chatting, everyone headed to Yuhua Palace to pay their respects and offer Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress their New Year's greetings.

After Gu Ying entered, the first person she saw was The Empress sitting erect on the phoenix chair. She had a face as round as a silver tray, and when she smiled, two faint dimples appeared on her cheeks. Her eyes were kind and amiable, making her seem very approachable.

The Emperor sat on the dragon chair, possessing the majestic air of the Son of Heaven, making it difficult for anyone to look at him directly.

Seated below to the right was the esteemed Concubine Wan. Concubine Wan was from Jiangnan, and had the refined charm unique to Jiangnan women.

As for the other few unfavored consorts and concubines, Gu Ying did not know their names.

However, since today was a grand occasion at court, practically every minister ranked five-pin or higher was in attendance, including Prince Duan Li Hao and Prince Shu Li Yang seated in the front row.

An atmosphere of peace and harmony filled Yuhua Palace as the emperor and his officials celebrated together.

Gu Ying sat together with the Heir Apparent. As soon as she sat down, she felt countless gazes weigh upon her, some obvious and some subtle.

She knew her reputation outside the palace was poor—she had been called a shrew, jealous, abusive toward her mother-in-law, incompatible with her sister-in-law, unwilling to allow the Heir Apparent to take concubines, and more gossip along those lines.

Therefore, all the men and women present were very curious about her.

No matter who was looking at her, she was able to remain composed with steady poise.

However, when Li Yang's venomous, icy gaze turned to look at her, she still couldn't help but frown slightly in discomfort.

"What's wrong? Feeling unwell?"

Zhao Changdu reached out and grasped her little hand in his own.

Gu Ying shook her head. "It's nothing."

Princess Yueyan fixed her gaze on the woman standing in the center of the palace hall. Tall and straight as a proud bamboo, a classical beauty with willowy grace. Even her face seemed to have won heavenly favor, flawlessly exquisite and pretty. Today she wore a pink court outfit with her jet black hair coiled into a new bride's hairstyle. Interspersed in her upswept tresses were several wisps of white rabbit fur, adding both a playful cuteness and mature charm. An aura unique to her— of absolute purity and allure simultaneously—made anyone who saw her have the impulse to possess her.

In this hall, many young men gazed at her fixedly, their eyes blazing. Her husband the Heir Apparent's eyes in particular never left her side for even an instant.

Jealously burned in Princess Yueyan's heart as she twirled the handkerchief in her grasp. Her mind raced with thoughts. Tonight she would definitely make the Heir Apparent drink that cup of liquid...

"That's right, we heard early on that Miss Gu can't write characters. These graceful, flowing scriptures we see here definitely could not have been written by an ordinary person!"

"When copying scriptures, sincerity is the most important thing. Having someone else act as a ghostwriter would be deceiving His Majesty."

Discussion rose from all over the great hall.

The corners of Cheng's lips curved smugly, delighted her scheme was going smoothly.

She had expected early on that Gu Ying would not dare defy The Empress and would certainly have someone else act as a ghostwriter. But because The Empress had done this for the sake of her son's wellbeing, Gu Ying's actions didn't completely constitute deceiving the ruler, instead just nicely incurring The Empress' displeasure while also letting the esteemed young ladies of prominent households mock her. In the future she likely wouldn't have a chance to enter the palace again.

Scattered laughter rang out in the hall. Most looked down on her—she had only married a good husband, but was otherwise a worthless vase beautiful on the outside with nothing on the inside.

Zhao Changdu's gaze turned icy cold as he languidly spun the wine cup in his hand, exuding a bone-chilling air.

Before he lost his temper, Gu Ying's red lips parted slightly. "Your Majesty, Esteemed Empress, please observe carefully. This subject-wife did indeed copy these scriptures with my own hand. If I have told a lie, may heavenly lightning strike me dead five times over, for an unnatural death."

Her words stunned everyone into silence.

Zhao Changdu knitted his brow in displeasure. This girl, cursing herself over nothing.

The Empress spoke plainly, "You claim you copied these scriptures personally, so what proof do you offer?"

The corners of Gu Ying's mouth lifted. "I ask that Esteemed Mother bestow brushes and ink to me."

The Empress raised her brow. "Servants, bring brushes, ink, paper and an inkstone."

A little eunuch presented writing supplies while others prepared a desk.

Gu Ying pushed back her sleeve and on the spot copied a section from a Scripture of the Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha.

The flesh on Cheng's face twitched violently as panic overtook her and she looked at the written characters on the paper before abruptly turning pale.

She had miscalculated! So the woman actually knew how to write!

The Tianqi Emperor commanded his servants to compare the newly written sample to the previously presented scriptures. Sure enough, both the calligraphy and characters were exactly the same, proving these scriptures were indeed personally hand-copied by Gu Ying, who also possessed impressive rote memory.