Chapter 21: Meeting the Empress Dowager

"Greetings, Empress Dowager, greetings, Empress..."
"I pay my respects to the Imperial Grandmother."

The Empress Dowager, dressed in deep purple, appeared exceptionally graceful and dignified. Her hands were tucked into a warm fur muff. Though advanced in years, she was well-preserved, her face glowing with health and a pleasant fullness. Surrounded by the Empress and others, she took her seat, and the palace banquet commenced.

"Everyone rise and be seated! The Yunling Palace has not been this lively in a long time."

The Empress Dowager scanned the room. The Empress, catching her meaning, looked around as well, her gaze finally resting on Feng Yu'er.

"Princess Nianzhao, why hasn't the Grand Princess arrived with you?"

Feng Yu'er was dressed in a red gown paired with a red fur cloak, appearing like a vibrant, flaming blossom. Her makeup for the day was exquisitely refined. Hearing the Empress's inquiry, she stood to respond: "In reply to the Empress, Mother has gone to see the Emperor and will join us shortly."

"That is well. The Grand Princess has not entered the palace for some time; she must have much to discuss with the Emperor. Your Majesty, shall we begin?"

The Empress Dowager nodded, though her brows furrowed slightly as her gaze swept past Feng Yu'er.

"Your Majesty, do look at these young ladies." The Empress gestured toward the noble daughters seated at the banquet. The Empress Dowager followed her gaze and nodded kindly. "Each one is truly radiant."

The Empress smiled and added, "Our imperial children are not lacking either..."

"That is true..." The Empress Dowager looked at the gathered princes and princesses, her expression filled with pride. Naturally, the children of the imperial house were all exceptional.

As the music and dance began, the atmosphere of the banquet rose. The Empress accompanied the Empress Dowager while casting occasional, seemingly casual glances toward the entrance, growing secretly anxious. *Why haven't they arrived yet, even though it has already begun?*

Feng Yu'er was also searching the crowd. Confirming that Zhao Jiao was absent, she felt a sense of triumph, as if everything were unfolding exactly as she had anticipated. She steadied her focus and looked toward Yin Changli, her eyes unable to hold anyone else. Today, her wish would be granted; he would finally belong to her. Everything that had belonged to Feng Zhaozhao would finally be hers! She would no longer have to live in envy and jealousy.

Yin Changli seemed to sense Feng Yu'er's burning gaze; he turned his head and responded with a gentle smile. Feng Yu'er blushed instantly and lowered her head. The Empress observed this interaction, finding it exceptionally grating.

*She thought to herself:* If this Fourth Prince truly marries into the Grand Princess's manor, it will be like adding wings to a tiger. Her own son would truly have no hope left. When that happens, the Imperial Noble Consort will surely become even more arrogant before her; would that not make her, the Empress, a mere figurehead? No, absolutely not. That unreliable Prince Su—why hasn't he brought the person here yet?

"Your Majesty, my Changli is no longer young. Why not take advantage of today to use your golden word and finalize his marriage?"

The Empress was displeased, but the Imperial Noble Consort was the opposite, radiant with triumph. The Empress Dowager saw through them clearly; how could she not understand their calculations? This marriage was, after all, originally meant for Zhaozhao...

"Sister, do not be impatient. Of the brothers, apart from the second, first, and fifth who have already been betrothed, haven't the others of marriageable age yet to be settled? If the Empress Dowager were to betroth only the fourth, would that not be showing favoritism? Why put her in such a difficult position? Rest assured, sister, the Empress Dowager is currently observing—once she has made her choice, how lively it will be to betroth them all together. Is that not right, Your Majesty?"

The Empress feigned a lighthearted interruption. The Empress Dowager followed suit, smiling, "The Empress speaks sense. There is no rush. Their marriages cannot be handled carelessly; I shall observe a while longer before deciding."

"Your Majesty, is there any need to observe for Changli? Princess Nianzhao..."

"Prince Su has arrived!"

The Imperial Noble Consort's words were cut off by the announcement of the palace attendant.

"Oh my, I was wondering why I hadn't seen him. He was at my place early this morning... This child, why is he so late?" The Empress breathed a sigh of relief; he had finally arrived.

Looking up, she saw Yin Sumu walking toward them, accompanied by Jiao. Upon seeing this, the noble ladies began to whisper, not daring to speak too loudly, but craning their necks to watch.

"Why is she here with Prince Su?"
"Indeed, how could she... she is truly shameless!"
"She and Prince Su... Heavens, what happened to her face?"

"Your grandson Sumu pays respects to the Imperial Grandmother!"
"Your subject, Xu Jiaojiao, pays respects to the Empress Dowager!"

"Rise, Little Six! And who is this child?"

"I apologize for my tardiness, Imperial Grandmother, I beg your forgiveness. Imperial Grandmother, this is Xu Jiaojiao, daughter of the Censor-in-Chief, Xu Guodong." Yin Sumu used the apology as an opportunity to briefly introduce Zhao Jiao.

At the tables, Feng Yu'er's face changed drastically, her eyes filled with murderous intent. If looks could kill, Zhao Jiao would have been shredded to pieces.

"...So she is the child of Official Xu's house. Come closer, let me see!"

The Empress Dowager's gaze moved between the two before she spoke slowly. Xu Guodong? She truly had no impression of him. How did a child of a fifth-rank official come to be here?

"Empress Dowager, your subject is terrified. I beg the Empress Dowager to seek justice for me!"

Zhao Jiao did not approach, but instead performed a full kowtow before the Empress Dowager, her forehead turning red as it struck the floor. Beside her, Yin Sumu frowned; *a kowtow was a kowtow, did she have to be so earnest?* He forced himself not to reach out and help her up.

The entire hall fell silent. Those unaware of the cause widened their eyes to watch the spectacle, while those who knew the situation were struck with shock.

"What... what is the meaning of this?"

The Empress Dowager was also slightly bewildered. She looked at Zhao Jiao and then at Yin Sumu, assuming her grandson had done something to the girl.

"Your Majesty... this... *sigh*..." The Empress trailed off. The Empress Dowager's brows locked together. *The Empress knows the reason?*

Her expression shifted. Having lived in the palace for most of her life, she was a seasoned veteran; a moment's thought told her the matter was not simple.

"Raise your head!"

This time, Zhao Jiao complied, kneeling straight and lifting her head. When the Empress Dowager saw the bruises on Zhao Jiao's face, her brows deepened. Seeing Zhao Jiao's face covered in tears, trembling in terror, her tone changed.

"You say you want me to seek justice for you—what justice do you seek?"

The Empress Dowager did not allow Zhao Jiao to rise, maintaining a solemn and imposing air that made it hard to look directly at her. The noble ladies at the tables involuntarily lowered their heads. Feng Yu'er wanted nothing more than to rush up and kill Zhao Jiao; she could never have dreamed that this Xu Jiaojiao would not only dare to come but also dare to lodge a complaint before the Empress Dowager!

Zhao Jiao wept silently, her body trembling slightly as she spoke and rolled up her sleeves.

"In reply to the Empress Dowager, Princess Nianzhao wishes to kill me. I am terrified, and I beg the Empress Dowager to seek justice for me. Yesterday, I followed the others to the Fengxiang Palace to pay respects to the Empress... simply because my childhood name contains the character 'Zhao,' Princess Nianzhao felt it was an affront to her. After I left the Fengxiang Palace... she tortured me. There are hundreds of needle punctures on my body... The Princess threatened me, saying that if I did not leave the palace of my own accord, she would take my life..."

"Shut up, you are spouting nonsense! Imperial Grandmother, do not believe her! Imperial Grandmother, I do not know when I offended her, yet she slanders me so! Imperial Grandmother, you must seek justice for Nianzhao!" Feng Yu'er argued excitedly, her face flushed red.

Zhao Jiao did not rush to confront her, but instead raised her bared arm so the Empress Dowager could see clearly. Whether it was true or not—the incident happened in the Imperial Palace—could the Empress Dowager not find out if she wished to? The key to this game today lay in the Empress Dowager's attitude.

Feng Yu'er's desperate behavior had already placed her at a disadvantage.

Looking at the dense cluster of red dots on Zhao Jiao's arm and the bruised skin surrounding the needle punctures, the Empress Dowager's expression grew increasingly grim. The Prince of Li and the Imperial Noble Consort also looked troubled, casting suspicious glances toward Feng Yu'er.

"You said... your childhood name contains which character?"

The Empress Dowager remained silent for a moment before finally speaking.