The flower-viewing banquet

Commandery Lady Yongfu had never imagined that after a mere six months of confinement, the world outside would have turned upside down.

Han Wanqing's daughter had actually become the Holy Maiden!

That little brat knew nothing. How could she possibly have been named the Holy Maiden?

She strongly suspected that the emperor had been hoodwinked.

After all, the Holy Maiden was no empty title in Chu. She ranked even above the Imperial Preceptor and could influence the fortunes of the nation!

Even more unbelievable was that the emperor intended to decree a marriage for her!

Inside the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility.

Empress Dowager Pei said, "Yongfu, the flower-viewing banquet is tomorrow. Since it is being held to choose a husband for you, you should attend as well."

Commandery Lady Yongfu dug her nails into her palm and said, her heart heavy, "Empress Dowager, I do not wish to marry yet..."

Empress Dowager Pei lifted her eyes and said coolly, "You refuse to marry because you still have Hongle in your heart, do you not?"

She had once retained some affection for this child, but after learning that Yongfu had plotted against Princess Yu, that affection had faded.

Commandery Lady Yongfu's gaze flickered as she denied it. "Empress Dowager, I have not..."

Empress Dowager Pei looked displeased. "You grew up at my side. Do you think I do not know your temperament?"

Commandery Lady Yongfu could no longer contain herself. "Empress Dowager, why did you not bring the prince and me together back then?" she demanded resentfully.

Her eyes reddened as she spoke, and she gritted her teeth. "I was the one you watched grow up!"

Empress Dowager Pei sighed. "Yongfu, Hongle has never had feelings for you. Stop clinging blindly to this obsession."

Commandery Lady Yongfu tried to argue further. "If not for that Han Wanqing, I refuse to believe..."

Empress Dowager Pei's expression had already turned cold. She interrupted, "Princess Yu was the one Hongle himself asked to marry. You should never have borne her such resentment."

Unwilling to say more, she stated bluntly, "Whether you attend tomorrow's flower-viewing banquet or not, the emperor will decree a marriage for you based on the list submitted to him."

Hatred flashed through Commandery Lady Yongfu's eyes. Forcing it down, she said, "Empress Dowager, I will attend."

The next day, the ladies who had received invitations from the Empress Dowager entered the palace for the banquet.

Their husbands were either dukes, marquises, or court ministers, and every household had an unmarried son of marriageable age.

This alone showed how much thought the Empress Dowager had put into it.

Although it was called a flower-viewing banquet, many of the well-informed ladies knew perfectly well that the Empress Dowager intended to choose a husband for Commandery Lady Yongfu.

At the appointed hour, the tables in the imperial garden's pavilion had already been laid with a lavish array of fruits and dishes.

Musicians played the zither behind a curtain, lending the gathering a delightful atmosphere.

At the banquet in the imperial garden, Empress Dowager Pei occupied the seat of honor, with Commandery Lady Yongfu below her to the left. Each of the other ladies had her own small table and seat.

Empress Dowager Pei exchanged a few pleasantries with the ladies before turning to the matter at hand.

With a smile, Empress Dowager Pei said, "Yongfu grew up at my side. It is time I gave some thought to her marriage."

Commandery Lady Yongfu, dressed in splendid finery that day, hurriedly lowered her head as though feeling shy.

The ladies began to appraise Commandery Lady Yongfu.

By rights, as the Late Prince Fu's only daughter, raised at the Empress Dowager's side, Commandery Lady Yongfu should have been a bride every lady wished to secure for her family.

However, after the banquet celebrating the first month of Prince Yu's daughter's life at Prince Yu's Residence, many of the ladies had learned that Commandery Lady Yongfu had plotted against Princess Yu.

For the sake of the imperial family's dignity, the matter had not been publicized.

But Princess Yongfu had subsequently been demoted to Commandery Lady, making it clear that the emperor was displeased.

Moreover, when choosing a wife for their sons in earnest, these ladies valued the woman's character even more than her family background.

Even setting aside Commandery Lady Yongfu's longstanding love for Prince Yu, bringing home a daughter-in-law whose heart belonged to another man would plainly be making life miserable for their sons.

Jealous of Princess Yu, Commandery Lady Yongfu had been ruthless enough to strike while she was giving birth, nearly taking both mother and child to their graves.

Such a vicious heart sent chills through every lady who knew the truth.

Bringing such a woman home would surely leave the entire household without a moment's peace.

Yet however little regard the ladies had for Commandery Lady Yongfu, they still had to show the Empress Dowager due respect.

One lady promptly praised her. "Commandery Lady Yongfu truly possesses beauty that could topple a kingdom. Any family that welcomed her as a bride would be blessed indeed."

Looking bashful, Commandery Lady Yongfu merely said, "I am unworthy of such praise, my lady."

In secret, however, she clenched her handkerchief, seething with resentment.

Hmph! Commandery Lady! I hate it most when people call me Commandery Lady to my face!

I was a princess! This is all that damned Han Wanqing's fault!

Empress Dowager Pei glanced over. The speaker had been Duke Cheng'en's wife.

After a moment's thought, she said, "If I recall correctly, your second son is named Qingjia?"

Ning Qingjia seemed to have something of a reputation, though she did not know what his character was like.

The smile on Duke Cheng'en's wife's face stiffened. She hurriedly said, "Yes, Empress Dowager. If Jia'er were not already betrothed, I would dearly love for him to bring the Commandery Lady home as his bride."

Heaven have mercy, I only praised Commandery Lady Yongfu to flatter the Empress Dowager.

I never meant to bring Commandery Lady Yongfu into our family!

My son cannot afford a woman so vicious!

Empress Dowager Pei's brow twitched, but she did not respond.

Commandery Lady Yongfu immediately felt as though a thorn had pierced her heart. She understood exactly what those words meant.

Who does this Ning Qingjia think he is?! How dare Duke Cheng'en's wife look down on me?

Everyone at the banquet understood what was happening.

Duke Cheng'en's wife's words alone made it clear that her family wanted nothing to do with Commandery Lady Yongfu!

Just then, Duke Zhenguo's wife undercut her. "When did your second son become betrothed? I had no idea."

She paused, covered her mouth, and laughed. "Surely you must be joking, Lady Cheng'en?"

Duke Zhenguo's wife had long harbored resentment.

Her daughter was the Second Prince's consort, yet Ning Qingyan, the young lady of Duke Cheng'en's Residence, had an ambiguous relationship with the Second Prince. It was truly infuriating.

Duke Cheng'en's wife gritted her teeth and said nervously, "I am not joking. Jia'er is indeed betrothed to his cousin."

Duke Zhenguo's wife's tone was laden with meaning. "His cousin? How convenient."

Since Duke Cheng'en's wife clearly had no interest in Yongfu, Empress Dowager Pei did not wish to press her. Instead, she asked, "Lady Wang, is your fourth son betrothed?"

Duke Zhenguo's wife had anticipated this. "Xuan'er is not betrothed, but he still has an elder brother above him. Surely a younger brother cannot marry before his elder brother?"

She smiled. "My third son, A-Qi, is also an excellent young man. If he could marry Commandery Lady Yongfu, it would truly be a blessing earned in his previous life!"

The corners of Empress Dowager Pei's mouth turned down, displeasure rising within her.

The Wang family's third son was born of a concubine, and his birth mother was a maidservant. How could he possibly be worthy of Yongfu?

An even fiercer surge of anger flooded Commandery Lady Yongfu's heart.

I am Prince Fu's daughter, personally granted the title Yongfu by the late emperor. How dare these people humiliate me like this?!

For a time, not another lady spoke. The gathering fell into an awkward, chilling silence.

With Duke Cheng'en's wife and Duke Zhenguo's wife setting the example, all the other ladies feared that the Empress Dowager would make their sons marry Commandery Lady Yongfu!

Commandery Lady Yongfu was so furious that she nearly lost control of her expression.

Even if she had eyes only for Prince Yu, she could not bear to see everyone shunning her as though she were a venomous snake or scorpion!