Chapter 53: Princess's Birthday

The whole harem circle is about to explode, and Wan Tang still has the mood to compose poetry and paint here?

Are you trying to drive the audience crazy?

Does she even know that Lady of Grace Qi is already pregnant?

The brush in Wan Tang's hand trembled slightly—Is Lady of Grace Qi already pregnant?

Now that's a fresh and useful piece of information.

She wore an inscrutable smile, and her hand kept moving, continuing to paint.

Qiu Ju entered carrying a celadon porcelain bowl; the silver ear soup inside was crystal clear, steaming with thin wisps of heat.

She tilted her head, her gaze landing on the freshly finished "Winter Plum Painting" on the table, eyes full of envy: "Master, the characters you wrote are beautiful, and the paintings you painted are beautiful as well."

Her tone was naive, and she added, "Master, you seem like a true descendant of a noble family."

Li Ping'er, hearing that, glared at her fiercely and whispered, "If you can't speak properly, don't speak!"

She took the silver ear soup and respectfully handed it to Wan Tang: "Master, take a rest for a while."

Wan Tang did not take it, merely lifted her gaze, a smile at the corner of her lips, and lightly tapped the invitation on the table with her fingertip.

"Tomorrow is Princess Mingzhu's fourth birthday."

"The Empress specially invites everyone to gather at Millennium Palace."

Her tone was gentle, as if pondering, "What should we give?"

Seeing this, Qiu Ju replied without hesitation, "Master, now that you are favored by the Emperor, any gift is fine."

Wan Tang gave a slight smile and looked at her with deep meaning.

She finally took the silver ear soup; as she stirred with the small spoon, the silver ears turned like snow, making her fingertips even more translucent: "Princess, any gift is fine, but it must please Concubine Shun to count."

Qiu Ju pursed her lips, indifferent: "Concubine Shun's liking doesn't matter at all; since she gave birth, the Emperor hasn't even looked at her."

She lowered her voice, with a hint of contempt: "Someone so unloved—if it weren't for the Empress, they'd probably never even get a chance to appear before the Emperor."

"How audacious!"

Wan Tang's voice suddenly turned cold, and the porcelain spoon was slammed onto the rim of the bowl, producing a crisp clack.

Qiu Ju shivered in fear, hurriedly knelt: "Master, forgive me! I, I have erred!"

Wan Tang's eyes darkened, her voice like ice: "Disaster comes from the mouth; being beside this Concubine, you must learn to control your tongue."

After a moment, Wan Tang's expression softened slightly, and she sighed lightly, "Get up."

She signaled Li Ping'er to help Qiu Ju up, her tone a bit gentler: "This Concubine speaks for your own good; in this palace, a single wrong word can lead to endless calamity."

Qiu Ju's eyes reddened, nodding repeatedly: "I understand, thank you, Master, for your teaching!"

After Qiu Ju withdrew, Li Ping'er frowned and said, "That girl is becoming more and more ignorant of protocol."

Wan Tang lowered her gaze, a hint of a profound smile at the corner of her lips.

Inside Millennium Palace, the carved windows of golden nanmu wood were half open, letting a beam of warm sunlight spill onto the tablecloth of scarlet brocade.

The four‑year‑old Princess Mingzhu, with two tiny pearl blossoms pinned in her hair, shyly hid behind Concubine Shun, her round eyes curiously scanning the hall's guests.

Concubine Shun smiled with her brows, knowing the blessings of the assembled Imperial Concubines might not be sincere, yet it was her daughter's birthday—how could a mother not be delighted?

She gently gathered Princess Mingzhu's small hand and softly said, "Mingzhu, quickly thank all the ladies."

Xiao Mingshu sat regally on the phoenix throne, wearing a dark‑red gold‑woven Phoenix Robe; nine phoenix ornaments with pearls swayed on her hair, Step Shake gently trembling, exuding dignified grandeur that brooked no intrusion.

She smiled, her gaze affectionate toward Mingzhu, her voice gentle: "Mingzhu, today is your birthday, a time for happiness, isn't it?"

Wan Tang stepped forward slowly, taking a red‑wood brocade box from Li Ping'er; inside was a golden longevity lock engraved with "good fortune, long life, peace and health," and three tiny gold bells hung beneath, exquisitely crafted, their chime crisp.

"I, your servant, wish the Princess to be as sturdy as gold and jade, with peace year after year," Wan Tang bowed, her tone sincere.

Lady of Grace Qi stood nearby, a contemptuous curl of her lip, disapproving of Wan Tang yet, being on the same boat now, she kept silent.

On the other hand, a beauty beside Xu Luoyan covered her lips with a light laugh, her voice deliberately high‑pitched: "Sure enough, being a palace maid, you only know how to give these mundane gold and silver trinkets."

Concubine Shun hurried forward, took the longevity lock, forcing a smile: "Sister Concubine Wan has been thoughtful; this lock's meaning is excellent, Mingzhu will surely like it."

She hurriedly placed it on her daughter.

Xu Luoyan's red lips curled, and suddenly she let out a "Pfft" laugh: "Those of low birth all like the same things!"

She glanced at Concubine Shun with a pointed look, and the assembled Imperial Concubines instantly understood.

Concubine Shun had also been a palace maid in her youth; at that moment, low chuckles rose all around.

Concubine Shun bowed her head embarrassedly, her fingers unconsciously twisting her handkerchief.

Xiao Mingshu slightly furrowed her brows, her tone neither light nor heavy: "We are sisters; why must the words be so sharp? You've frightened the child."

The crowd fell silent instantly.

But Xu Luoyan would not stop there.

She lifted her ruby‑phoenix eyes slightly and continued, "Indeed, I wonder if the Emperor even remembers this child? After all, since birth he's only glanced once, and even the name was given by you, Empress."

Her red lips curled into a malicious smile: "It seems the palace maids by your side are even less cunning than some… shameless ones."

Concubine Shun's face turned deathly pale, barely able to stand.

Xiao Mingshu's eyes cooled, yet she maintained a magnanimous posture, saying lightly, "Enough, today is Mingzhu's auspicious day; stop saying these dampening words."

Inside Millennium Palace, pearl curtains swayed lightly, and tea fragrance drifted.

The harem's Imperial Concubines gathered in small groups, outwardly laughing and chatting, yet beneath their eyes hid sharp edges.

Each such gathering concealed knives beneath smiles, and polite words were laced with poison.

Although Xu Luoyan had been demoted to Answering, she still held her chin high, her arrogance unchanged from before.

No one dared to offend her lightly.

After all, the Xu Family had just earned great battle merits, and even the Emperor gave them a sliver of favor.

Wan Tang sat upright at the table, her fingertips lightly playing with the tea cup, a faint, ambiguous smile at the corner of her lips.

Xu Luoyan whispered mockingly with the beauty beside her: "Some people, once they have a princess, become complacent, not realizing the Emperor is too lazy to even glance at her."

Her voice was neither high nor low, just right for Imperial Concubine Shun to hear.

Imperial Concubine Shun's complexion turned pale, the hand clutching the handkerchief trembled slightly, yet she dared not refute.

Wan Tang suddenly let out a light laugh, speaking with precise diction: "Xu Answering, that remark is truly sour."

The hall fell silent in an instant.

Xu Luoyan snapped her head around, a cold glint flashing in her vermilion phoenix eyes: "What did you say?"

Wan Tang, unhurried, sipped her tea, her voice clear and crisp: "I said, what of the Princess? At least she's a child to be kept."

She lifted her gaze, her eyes deliberately sweeping over Xu Luoyan's smooth belly, and chuckled: "It's still better than some people who can't even bear a child."

"Wan Tang!"

Xu Luoyan sprang to her feet, her gold‑inlaid jade Step Shake shaking violently, emitting a harsh clatter.

Childlessness is the deepest pain in her heart.

Wan Tang remained indifferent, even adding fuel to the fire: "Ah, now Xu Answering still has to rely on the so‑called 'sister‑in‑law' to gain the Emperor's favor."

She feigned surprise, covering her mouth: "How pitiful, can the Emperor tell the two of you sisters apart?"

A low snicker rose from all around.

Xiao Mingshu sat at the head, her previously tense expression easing slightly, a flash of delight crossing her eyes.

Lady of Grace Qi covered her mouth with a handkerchief, whispering to the beauty beside her: "Wan Pin is a brainless one, but the things she says are rather pleasing."

"Nonsense." Xiao Mingshu gave her a cool stare, signalling her to restrain herself, yet the corner of her mouth lifted almost imperceptibly.

Xu Luoyan trembled with anger, her beautiful face contorting: "You're courting death!"

She lunged forward, her cinnabar‑stained fingertips reaching for Wan Tang's face.

Wan Tang neither dodged nor flinched, even tilting her face slightly upward, a smile at the corner of her lips, as if waiting for her to act.

If Xu Luoyan dared to touch her even once, it would be treason, the crime elevated by another degree.

"Xu Answering!"

Xiao Mingshu barked coldly: "Mind your status!"

Xu Luoyan's hand froze mid‑air, her chest heaving violently.

From outside the hall came a eunuch's sharp chant: "Emperor has arrived!"

All the Imperial Concubines' expressions hardened, they hurried to rise and kneel, and amid the tinkling of jade hairpins, everyone shouted in unison: "Welcome the Emperor, Emperor, ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand ten thousand years!"

Chu Yunzheng, clad in a dark robe embroidered with golden dragons, stepped into the hall; beside him, Xu Qinghuan affectionately looped her arm around his, her cheeks flushed, cooing:

"Emperor, you see, Subject says it's very lively!"

The Emperor's gaze drifted lightly over the crowd, and he raised his hand: "Since this is a family feast, relax a bit."

Before the words finished, Xu Qinghuan released the dragon‑arm, dashing in short steps toward Princess Mingzhu, who was hiding behind Imperial Concubine Shun.

The four‑year‑old girl, frightened, curled into her mother's arms, but Xu Qinghuan seized her wrist.

"Princess, you're so cute!" she said, pulling a sachet from her sleeve and thrusting it into the child's palm, "This is a peace talisman I specially obtained for you."

The sachet's strong fragrance made Princess Mingzhu sneeze, and she burst into a wailing sob.

Imperial Concubine Shun's complexion turned deathly pale; she hurriedly took the sachet, handed it to a palace maid, and gently patted her daughter's back to soothe her.

Chu Yunzheng's sword‑shaped eyebrows furrowed slightly, his gaze sweeping over the wailing child, he said coldly: "All you know is crying."

When he turned to Xu Qinghuan, his tone softened a touch: "Your good intentions are just wasted."

Hearing this, Imperial Concubine Shun knelt with a thud, her forehead pressed against a cold golden brick: "Subject taught the daughter poorly, please Emperor punish…."

Her voice was already choked with sobs.

Xu Qinghuan twirled the sash with her fingertips, tilting her head in a puzzled expression, though a hue lingered in her eyes.

Xu Luoyan toyed with her gilt armor, the corner of her mouth curling into a mocking arc.

Xiao Mingshu lowered her eyes, rolling prayer beads, as if she hadn't seen Imperial Concubine Shun's trembling shoulders.

【Speaking of it, Imperial Concubine Shun is rather pitiful; she never gains the Emperor's favor, and even after bearing a child she is constantly despised by the Emperor.】

【It's no blame on the Emperor! In principle, Chu Yunzheng has no son under his knee, so having a daughter would be fine.】

【This time I'll speak for the scummy dragon; the scummy dragon never liked her, the Emperor praised her once, but their methods are truly disgusting. They even got the Emperor drunk and forced Imperial Concubine Shun to sleep with the Emperor.】

【Imagine, after atonement, discovering you were slept with by someone—what a feeling?】

【If it weren't for the Empress Dowager and the Empress fiercely protecting Imperial Concubine Shun, and two people promoting her rank, the Emperor would have killed her hundreds of times long ago.】

Wan Tang heard the Barrage and felt a hidden alarm.

Back then, Imperial Concubine Shun was suddenly favored, immediately elevated to Lady of Grace, and after bearing a daughter she was again titled Imperial Concubine Shun.

At that time, Xu Luoyan certainly flared up many times.

It was only later, when Chu Yunzheng never visited Imperial Concubine Shun, that Xu Luoyan's emotions finally calmed.

Wan Tang once thought the Emperor was male‑biased and disliked daughters, never realizing what the truth was.

Princess Mingzhu's cries echoed through the hall; the more Imperial Concubine Shun frantically patted her back, the more the child wailed, her little face flushing bright red, tears and snot smearing her face.

Chu Yunzheng's brows knit tighter, his voice deep: "Enough."

Imperial Concubine Shun trembled in fear, clumsily covering the child's mouth, only causing Princess Mingzhu to cry even louder.

The people on Xu Luoyan's side were smug, waiting to see Imperial Concubine Shun utterly despised by the Emperor. Their gazes seemed to say: "What does having a child matter? It's just a waste."