CH 20

“Son-Official didn’t say anything,” said Prince Ying in a very soft voice, afraid people would overhear them.　　

“Even if you don’t say anything, I would still know what you are thinking.” Consort Xian breathed in deeply. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, even if she were scolding her son, she must maintain a perfect smile.　　

Prince Ying fell into a daze. As he gazed at Consort Xian’s face, he could not find a single fault in her smile. After a period of silence, he stood up straight. “Son-Official understands and will take leave.”　　

“Elder Sister, Minghao is truly filial to you. The first thing he does after arriving is to pay respects to you,” said Consort Rong, looking at the Prince Ning who sat opposite of her, his head lowered as he ate. A sigh left her lips.　　　　

The one to blame was herself. Back then, she competed with Consort Xian in birthing the eldest prince. The time of delivery had yet to arrive, so she drank medicine that would induce labor. The child she gave birth to wasn’t as skilled in martial arts as Prince Ying, Ji Minghao. Nor was he as skilled in the literary arts as Fifth Prince, Ji Yanqiu. Moreover, he could not compare to the crown prince, a master of both pen and sword.　　

When Consort Xian had heard Consort Rong’s words, a dry laugh escaped her lips. But she thought, Filial my ass.　　　　

She turned her to look at Hua Liuli, whom the crown prince was bringing to the empress dowager’s side. Delicate, beautiful, and a lovableness born from her family pampering her. If she were her own daughter, Consort Xian would also be very partial toward her.　　

But she wasn’t her daughter. Even if that girl threw away her troublesome family background, she still wouldn’t be suitable as a princess consort.　　

“Imperial Grandmother, Grandson has brought the little girl you really like.” The crown prince slipped Hua Liuli to the empress dowager’s side. He chatted a while with the empress dowager, until he caught sight of the emperor arriving. Then the crown prince got up to give Emperor Changlong a present.　　　　

In situations like this, in order to show filial piety, the imperial princes would prepare a gift for the empress dowager and the emperor. Fortunately, the palace lacked an empress, otherwise, they would have to prepare an additional gift.　　

Because of this, the imperial princes were very grateful to their emperor-papa.　　

Of course, if their emperor-papa wanted to make their own birth mother the empress, they would be even more grateful.

The eldest, Prince Ying, prepared a golden Guanyin and a jade Buddha, like he did in the past. These past few years, he seemed to have a like bordering on obsession for gifts made from gold and jade.　　　　

Prince Ning gave a coral tree or whatever. In any case, it was expensive.　　

Fourth Prince had something that was supposed to bless for an abundant harvest and give good luck. Hua Liuli had quite the suspicion that this prince wanted to save money, since she had heard that the fourth prince’s maternal family wasn’t well-off.　　

Fifth Prince prepared a painting he had personally drawn. Hua Liuli glanced at the faces of the crowd of officials. Their expressions proved calm, so calm that it appeared they had long since grown accustomed to the princes’ styles of gift-giving.　　

“Commandery Princess,” said Yuanwei in a low voice, borrowing the movement of crouching beside Hua Liuli as she handed her a peeled fruit. “This slave has heard that Fifth Prince has a hobby.”　　　　

Hua Liuli arched a brow, indicating for Yuanwei to continue.　　

“Fifth Prince is extremely fond of painting. In addition, he has the utmost confidence in his skill. It’s rumored that last year, someone said Fifth Prince’s paintings were nothing special. And Fifth Prince held a grudge against him for one year. In the end, that person cried and yelled and praised that Fifth Prince was a painting genius found once every millenium. Then Fifth Pince finally forgave him.”　　

Hua Liuli gazed at the elegant and graceful Fifth Prince who was among the crowd. She truly had not expected he was this eccentric. All of a sudden, curiosity blossomed in her chest about the paintings he personally created.　　　　

The empress dowager noticed Hua Liuli staring at the pile of gifts before her. And she thought Hua Liuli was curious about those things. The empress dowager beckoned toward her.　　

Once Hua Liuli had leaned over, the empress dowager said softly, “They’re nothing interesting. Every year, it’s a different name but basically the same thing.” But she had no choice. The ones giving her the presents were her own grandchildren. Even if the empress dowager did not like those gifts, she feared hurting them. Not only did she have to praise them, she also had to find places to show off the gifts in her palace.　　

Thank goodness she only had five grandsons and three granddaughters. If she had some more, she’d fear there would be no space in Shoukang Palace.

“Crown Prince presents the congratulatory gift.”　　　　

Along with the court eunuch’s announcement, the empress dowager shifted her gaze to her grandson who stood in front of the emperor.　　

The crown prince gave the emperor many kinds of seeds that were genetically enhanced to provide a greater yield. The emperor was so happy that he drank a full cup of wine. When he tried to get a second cup, the crown prince persuaded him not to.　　　　

The empress dowager received all kinds of cloth. Despite the fact that there was only a gift list present, she was already beaming with pleasure at the descriptions of each material.　　

Looking at the items on the list, Hua Liuli seemed to understand why the empress dowager was closer to the crown prince than to the other princes. For the empress dowager, gold, silver, and jade artifacts were easy to get. But sincerity was a different story.　　　

The crown prince didn’t care how others saw him for giving cloth. It was because he knew what the empress dowager liked. As for the other imperial princes, they wanted other people to see how filial they were, how sincere they were.　　

If she became a grandmother, Hua Liuli would probably want grandchildren who sincerely cared about her hobbies.　　

After the other imperial concubines discovered what the crown prince’s present was, they felt that during these past few years, the crown prince had been held up, pleased to the point where he had lost his sense of measure. It was obvious he had been careless in his gift preparation, only grabbing a pile of cloth halfheartedly right before the banquet.　　　　

How could Her Majesty the empress dowager lack cloth?　　

However, the seeds the crown prince had bred and prepared were useful. He had numerous capable people in his palace; other princes did not have the privilege of having a mass of personal ministers giving him advice out in the open. As such, the crown prince monopolized all the benefits.　　

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After the new year’s gifts were all given out, the court ministers praised the princes on the surface, when in reality, they were praising the emperor’s procedure. All the officials were professionals in this respect, to the point where some with incomparable artistic skills came up with poems on the spot. The main idea of those poems was so: Your Majesty, you are the Supreme Purple Star that has descended to the mortal realm. Your radiance illuminates all the subjects. The imperial princes are more brilliant because of you, are more outstanding because of you. The world exists because of you.　　　

Hua Liuli, who had never witnessed such a sight before, was stunned by them. From start to finish, she listened with keen interest, to the point where she hated to blink.　　

Once the stream of flattery ended came the song and dance performances. And after that, the banquet. Hua Liuli watched as the empress dowager instructed the female officials to clear the boxes of gifts from the table. She rushed to say, “Empress Dowager, this official’s daughter has heard that Fifth Prince’s best talent is painting, his paintings vivid and lifelike. May this official’s daughter examine them?”　　　　

As soon as those words spilled from her lips, Hua Liuli found the empress dowager’s expression stiffening a bit. She could not help but think, Did I say something wrong?

“Yanqiu, this child, has indeed been fond of painting since young.” The empress dowager’s expression grew somewhat complicated. “But this is merely a hobby of his. Outside rumors shouldn’t be trusted.”　　　　

Hua Liuli thought, When mentioning her own family members, the empress dowager is still modest.　　

“Nevermind, if you want to see it, then see it.” The empress dowager placed the gift box with the picture scroll into Hua Liuli’s hand, expression extremely… indifferent.　　　　

With much care, Hua Liuli unfurled the scroll. On it was the phrase “The Purple Cloud Comes From the East.” The phrase was very beautiful, matching Fifth Prince’s temperament.　　

With such beautiful words, the painting must be even more breathtaking.　　

But once she had unfurled the entirety of the scroll, Hua Liuli fell silent for a long time. Then, with trembling hands, she rolled it up again.　　　　

They said it wasn’t easy being an elder. So it turned out this was the same for elders in the imperial clan. No wonder the empress dowager had said such words. Hua Liuli had been under the impression that she was modest. It turned out she was just being honest. 　　　　

“This painting… The calligraphy style is confident and at ease, and really carries the graceful aura of Fifth Highness.” Hua Liuli returned the gift box to the female official belonging to the empress dowager. “The message of the painting is very auspicious. It’s clear that Fifth Highness is very filial to your honored self.”　　

Quiet, the empress dowager glanced at Hua Liuli. As if she had nothing to say to that.　　

“Fifth Highness is very filial. He often paints for Empress Dowager and His Majesty, and hasn’t stopped for years,” praised the female official with a smile after receiving the gift box.　　

At that moment, Hua Liuli sympathized with the empress dowager and the emperor. While busy or not busy, they would receive paintings of this level, and even had to rack their brains coming up with praise to encourage him. What kind of touching grandparent-grandson and father-son affection was this?　　　　

“This year’s circus acts are interesting. Look.” The empress dowager did not want to continue talking about Fifth Prince’s painting.　　

“They truly are interesting,” said Hua Liuli, nodding. She turned to look at the performances.　　

She had stayed in the border station since young. Although everyone would come together bustling with noise and excitement at the end of the year, the circus performances there weren’t very good. Compared to the performances in the palace, the difference between them was too great. 　　　　

Once the banquet came to the last step, some of the nobility started dancing lightly and gracefully along with the music. It was extremely lively. Regardless of whether they were nobility or poor scholars who had relied on the imperial examinations to enter the court, they had to learn the classical six arts: propriety, music, archery, riding, writing, and arithmetic. It was normal to dance a bit when happy.　　

The empress dowager was getting on in years. Seeing everyone playing with so much joy, she made to leave earlier than planned. Before she had, she did not forget to have her personal attendant stay behind and take care of Hua Liuli.　　

She worried that Hua Liuli did not know how to dance the dances popular among the nobility in the capital, that the other well-bred ladies would ostracize her for it.　　

The second princess noticed Hua Liuli sitting without a hint of wanting to get up. As such, she stepped forward and asked, “Commandery Princess Fushou, are you not dancing? Why don’t you follow me?”　　　　

“Many thanks to Princess for the kindness. However, this official’s daughter is in poor health. If this official’s daughter accidentally falls, it would dampen everyone’s moods.” Hua Liuli  shook her head. “Sitting here is enough.”　　

Second Princess was aware that her body was not in good condition, so did not insist on her joining. She turned around and danced with some imperial princesses and commandery princesses.　　

These well-bred ladies had received the best upbringing since young. Their dance posture and movement were graceful to the max, akin to celestial beings on a stroll. Hua Liuli propped her chin up with a hand, watching those beautiful and graceful women. And she could not help but smile.　　　　

The gentle-as-the-moon Fifth Prince noticed Hua Liuli sitting alone at the side of a table. He walked by and said, “Commandery Princess, the tea has grown cold. How about we have a servant change it for you?”

“No need. This official’s daughter is not fond of tea.” Hua Liuli did not expect the fifth prince to come talk to her. She dropped the hand that propped her chin up, rose to her feet, and saluted him.　　

Fifth Prince returned a greeting with clasped hands raised. “Just a while ago, this prince saw Commandery Princess looking at this prince’s painting. Does Commandery Princess have any suggestions for it?”　　

Hua Liuli was speechless.　　

Mm?!　　

She had just been curious, that’s all. Now that Fifth Prince had suddenly asked her this, she felt very awkward.　　

When he saw Hua Liuli stay silent, Fifth Prince’s smile dimmed. “Was this prince’s painting not good enough…?” 

“Your Highness is too modest,” said Hua Liuli with much difficulty. “Your Highness’ painting is pure and innocent like the heart of a newborn. Many painters do not have this.”　　

If he didn’t have the pure and innocent heart of a newborn, he wouldn’t have been able to press on and take pleasure in painting for so many years.　　

“In today’s painting, ‘The Purple Cloud Comes From the East,’ the auspicious clouds are true to life, magical aura curling about. Although the celestial beings have yet to appear in the painting, their traces leak out in all aspects. At the mountains and rivers below, within the boundless imposing manner lies a graceful and subdued nature.” Hua Liuli saw the smile on Fifth Prince’s lips grow ever more gentle. “This official’s daughter isn’t talented in painting. If this official’s daughter has said anything wrong, may Your Highness please forgive me.”　　

“No.” Fifth Prince shook his head a hint. He was handsome, and even while nodding held much elegance, different from others. “This prince feels that Commandery Princess is also a person who is fond of and understands paintings.”　　　　

“Understand what?” The crown prince approached, shooting a glance at the smiling Fifth Prince.　　　　

Fifth Prince repeated the praises Hua Liuli had given his painting.　　

Arching a brow, the crown prince looked at Hua Liuli.　　　　

It seems the feng shui in the capital is not too good. How could such a good young lady learn how to lie with her eyes open?