Consort Shu looked Jiang Shuyue up and down, feeling that she looked rather dim-witted.
"You must be the Marquis of Zhennan's new bride? Seeing you once is worth hearing about you a hundred times."
"You're too kind, Your Highness. I'm not quite that wonderful."
Consort Shu: No, I wasn't complimenting you. Can't you tell?
Jiang Shuyue couldn't care less what Consort Shu was thinking. She was too busy sniffing around her.
Jiang Shuyue: [She ate so many pungent things this morning, yet I can't smell a trace of them. The incense in the Imperial Palace really is impressive.]
The system: [Of course. But the incense is also so strong that some of the damage has seeped into her bone marrow, leaving her unable to conceive. Even bathing in poplar-blossom water won't reverse it.]
Jiang Shuyue: [She's already infertile. How could a few flowers possibly cure that? Anyway, when are we sitting down to eat? I'm starving.]
Zhou Luming said, "Greetings, Your Highness. It's almost time. May we begin the feast?"
"Oh, this memory of mine! It's already so late. Everyone, please take your seats."
Jiang Shuyue followed them inside. Before she could sit down, Zhou Luming's expression turned ugly.
"Oh dear, this memory of mine! Since this is the Marchioness of Zhennan's first visit to the palace, the servants overlooked arranging a seat for you. Why don't you sit over there?"
Consort Shu raised a hand and pointed to a seat at the very end.
The seats were arranged by rank, from highest to lowest. Those by the entrance were all reserved for families at the bottom of the ladder.
Consort Shu watched Jiang Shuyue with a graceful smile.
Jiang Liuli secretly gloated as well. That's what you get for being so arrogant! Serves you right!
Jiang Shuyue said, "Your Highness is considerate down to the smallest detail. Thank you, Your Highness."
"Wait, Your High-"
Jiang Shuyue: [Knowing how strong her body odor is, she's put me somewhere well ventilated. I won't have to smell her, and I can enjoy the gossip in peace. What a lovely person!]
[Exactly, exactly. You're getting smarter and smarter. Let's find a quiet spot and savor the gossip.]
There was more gossip?
The two girls seated at the end scooted over to give her more room, even offering Jiang Shuyue the fruit from their own tables.
Jiang Shuyue: [This little girl is actually pretty nice!]
The system: [She's the daughter of a minor fifth-rank official. Her name is Meng Tian. Before she left home this morning, her stepmother dressed her in new clothes. But the clothes had been soaked in a drug. In less than an hour, she'll break out in a red rash.]
Jiang Shuyue: [I remember this little subplot. The rash looked a bit like smallpox, so she was seized on the spot and thrown into prison, where she died without a sound. Right?]
[Right. But it's actually just an allergic reaction to the drug. All she needs is a little lard rubbed on her skin. Poor child, losing her life at only fourteen.]
Meng Tian was too stunned to speak.
She had wondered why her stepmother was suddenly treating her so well. So this was what she had been plotting!
Everyone else was likewise shocked by Madam Meng's viciousness.
She usually seemed so gentle, the very model of a virtuous wife and loving mother. Who would have thought she was so cruel and underhanded behind closed doors?
The system: [In a moment, Consort Shu will have people display their talents. In plain terms, she's giving Jiang Liuli a chance to shine. One poem and one piece of music will dazzle everyone, successfully drawing Consort Shu's attention.]
[But she bought the music from the star courtesan at the Happy Red Chamber, and the poem from an impoverished scholar. That poor scholar is another of her lapdogs.]
[Actually, all of Jiang Liuli's poetry came from that scholar. Sadly, he helped her become the foremost talented lady, only to end up with nothing on either front himself. He was even executed by being cut in half at the waist.]
Jiang Shuyue: [I've said it before: a lapdog licks and licks, only to lick himself clean of everything in the end. That little scholar had better pray for his own luck.]
Fu Mingcheng was standing among the musicians. Those words sent a shock through his heart.
The poems Jiang Liuli had coaxed him into writing were actually... No, that was impossible.
Jiang Liuli rose. "Your Highness, I have composed a birthday verse for you. I hope it pleases you."
"Last night the southern star shone bright at dawn; in painted halls, silk-clad guests gathered for the feast. Fine grandsons danced in motley robes; well-wishers raised their cups with noble bearing. Father's tree and mother's lily flourished, joyful voices carrying far; orchids and jade cast deep shade, their blessings flowing long."
Consort Shu applauded. "A fine verse! In my humble opinion, Liuli deserves to be called the foremost talented lady of our Great Zhou."
Fu Mingcheng lowered his head, desperately hiding his anger.
He had only come to the palace to work as a musician and earn enough to live on. He had never expected to uncover Jiang Liuli's true face.
What should he do? Should he expose her?
Jiang Shuyue: [I could compose one for her too. Ah, a head full of water, three sloshes with every move, churned into a heap of shit.]
Pfft!
Hold it in. Hold it in! Don't laugh out loud!
Jiang Liuli had prepared herself for a shower of praise, yet none came. She was baffled.
What was going on?
This was nothing like what she had expected.
"I also have a piece of music to present to Your Highness. May you enjoy this day every year, and this happy moment with every passing year."
Jiang Liuli had a zither brought over, and its notes drifted gently into their ears.
Jiang Shuyue: [That's a guqin, isn't it? That bastard Jiang An, spending my mother's money to pamper his illegitimate daughter. His backside will rot sooner or later!]
Exactly, exactly! You're absolutely right!
[The music is quite good, though. But whenever I remember she bought it from a girl at the Happy Red Chamber, it takes on quite a flavor. I wonder which lover that girl was thinking about when she wrote it.]
The system popped up: [I know! A night-soil collector!]
Pfft!
Chu Xin'er really did spit out her drink. She hurriedly wiped her mouth with a handkerchief, coughing half to death.
Somehow, today's feast was proving far too rich for her stomach...
[You know how it is with a star courtesan. Glamorous on the surface, lowly in status, dealing with stinking men every day. But that lame night-soil collector was different. He cared about her without demanding anything in return. In her heart, he was a true man.]
[Sadly, the night-soil collector couldn't afford to buy her freedom. The two could only sneak brief meetings during the day. The courtesan wrote this piece to express the pain of longing for him.]
To be fair, it was rather touching.
Jiang Shuyue: [Labor is glorious! We must respect every worker! We must firmly oppose Jiang Liuli's plagiarism!]
Everyone: ...As long as you're happy...
When the piece ended, Jiang Liuli bowed. "Your Highness, was this piece to your satisfaction?"
"Yes. This piece is very..."
"Like a confession of love to a sweetheart!"
Jiang Shuyue smiled. "Your music actually made me think of my husband, little sister. Such tender affection between lovers! Come to think of it, you're old enough now. Perhaps your heart has stirred? I wonder which family's young master is lucky enough to win your favor."
Jiang Liuli was mortified.
Everyone knew full well that Consort Shu was using her birthday celebration to select a consort for the Fourth Prince.
But saying it aloud changed the flavor of the whole affair.
It made her seem as though she were throwing herself at him.
"Elder sister grew up on a country estate, so your understanding of music is still rather shallow. You must have misheard."
"That's not right. I grew up in the mountains, not on an estate. Besides, music knows no borders. Even cats and dogs can understand it. I'm a person, you know. How could I possibly fail to understand?"
"Or are you saying your music is so profound and unfathomable that anyone without education and noble blood can't understand it?"
"But little sister, you aren't a biological daughter of the Jiang Family either. Your blood isn't noble!"
Before you continue