Volume 1 Chapter 3
The night in the Imperial Garden was illuminated by bright lights. The vibrant flowers that bloomed during the day took on deeper hues in the light, losing their vividness but gaining a sense of depth, creating a different kind of beauty.
Red roses, entwined around a pavilion, swayed in the wind, shedding a cascade of crimson petals, as if night elves dancing in the darkness.
In the center of the Imperial Garden, Emperor Long Yi sat behind a golden dragon table in his dragon robe. On both sides were elegantly dressed concubines, and below them were rows of ministers and nobles. After three rounds of wine, most of the ministers had flushed faces, and their eyes were hazy from the effects of alcohol. Emperor Long Yi was in a good mood today and didn’t bother to scrutinize the nobles’ behavior too closely.
The sounds of silk and bamboo music drifted gently in the air, and with glasses clinking, both emperor and ministers enjoyed themselves. However, this harmonious scene was abruptly interrupted by a loud shout from a eunuch.
“The Empress Dowager has arrived!”
The sound of musical instruments immediately dissipated, and the central position was quickly vacated. The ministers hurriedly adjusted their demeanor to prepare for a bow. Only on the high platform, Emperor Long Yee had a gloomy expression, and the left side of his face, which had been hit that day, still stung.
“Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager!”
Empress Dowager Leng Jiu had just entered from outside the door. The entire hall had already knelt down as she scanned the kneeling ministers and palace servants with a faint smile on her lips. She walked step by step toward the high platform. Her gaze then turned to the Emperor, who was glaring at her, but she didn’t speak. She merely took her seat: “No need for formalities!”
“Thank you, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager!”
With these words, everyone rose from the ground. Subsequently, a wave of sound echoed through the hall as countless cups and dishes fell to the ground. Many people gazed at the woman on the high platform with expressions of disbelief and astonishment. She sat there leisurely and nonchalantly, showing no sign of the dignified Empress Dowager. However, her seemingly casual posture exuded an imposing presence, as if she were looking down on all living beings. A casual glance from her, the ambiguous curve of her lips, gave an inexplicable sense of oppression.
What shocked people the most was probably her appearance—the youthful and enchanting face, delicate features, captivating phoenix eyes. Was this… truly a queen dowager of the nation?
Leng JiU raised her wine cup but, just as she was about to take a sip, she seemed to notice the gazes of the people around her. She looked up and smiled, “This widow is just here to join in the fun. Feel free, everyone!”
The various guests returned to their seats with different thoughts, and the music of the zither began to play as a group of dancers gracefully entered, their long sleeves fluttering.
Leng Jiu took a sip of her wine and then turned her gaze to Long Yee, who had been staring at her with intense hostility since earlier. However, there was a complex emotion hidden in the depths of his eyes. Leng JiU’s red lips curled slightly as she gazed at him seductively, “Why does Your Majesty look at this widow with such eyes? Could it be that there’s something improper about this widow?”
“Hmph!” Long Ye glanced away after her words and raised his wine cup, drinking. He would never admit that he had just been momentarily distracted by her smile. Then, a surge of annoyance filled him. Who was she dressing up so beautifully for?
Leng Jiu withdrew her gaze, inwardly smirking. She thought to herself, “This guy, Long Yee, can’t even resist my charm. She won’t let him off easily!”
On the side, Consort Li noticed Long Yee’s odd behavior. She looked at Leng Ji’s attire and felt a dangerous premonition rising in her heart. Clutching the silk handkerchief in her hand, she stood up and, with utmost sincerity, raised her wine cup towards Leng Ji, “Your Majesty, please accept this toast from your humble subject!”
Leng Jiu had just scanned Long Yee with her gaze when a voice from the side spoke up, “You’re with child, you shouldn’t be drinking!”
Consort Li, upon hearing this, looked a bit embarrassed as she turned towards Leng Ji. There was an unmistakable sweetness on her face as she replied, “If His Majesty allows, I shall use tea in place of wine to toast Your Majesty.”
Leng Ji, observing the sweet and shy expression on Consort Li’s face, instantly understood her intentions. She wanted to incite jealousy in her, make a scene in front of everyone, and make Long Yee dislike her even more. However, Leng Jiu knew that no matter how much Consort Li schemed, she was no longer Cold Qinghua; she was Cold Ji. Long Yee’s feelings toward her didn’t matter at all.
With a smile, she raised her cup and spoke gently, “Consider this cup a toast from the little prince to your humble self. Naturally, this widow shall drink it!”
After saying that, she emptied the cup in one go, clearly noticing Consort Li’s body stiffening. Leng Jiu couldn’t help but inwardly smirk. Did Consort Li think she could compete with her?
As the heiress of the top underworld gang, she was used to dealing with countless politicians, officials, and leaders of various major factions. She knew how to play her cards right and employ her cunning tactics. She came from a lineage with a rich history in power struggles, so trying to use petty tricks of female rivalry against her was futile!
With a calm demeanor, Leng Jiu accepted the cup of wine, and Long Yee didn’t dwell on it. Instead, he watched the performance below while casually helping himself to some melon seeds. However, it was precisely this unceremonious and casual attitude that made Long Yee’s heart tighten. He silently cursed, feeling that something was amiss tonight.
The performance was lackluster, with dancers twirling around and waving their sleeves. Some were even barely visible, hidden behind a flurry of sleeves. What was the point of all this?
Just as Leng Jiu was about to doze off, the dancers finally retreated, and a man in a light blue plain robe approached, carrying a seven-stringed zither. His waist-length hair was tied with a single hairband, and he kept his head bowed, appearing somewhat frail.
He slowly walked to the center of the stage, knelt on both knees, and spoke softly like a gentle breeze, “Lanzhe pays his respects to His Majesty! Pays his respects to the Empress Dowager and Consort Li!”
After the bow, he didn’t wait for Long Yee to invite him to rise. Instead, someone brought a table over, and he placed the zither on it. He then knelt, sitting on his legs, and extended his slender and delicate hands to gently pluck the zither strings!
Submissive, humble – why did he appear so subservient, especially after the dancers only needed to bow slightly?
Seeing Leng Jiu’s confusion, Lu Chang leaned in and whispered, “Perhaps the Empress Dowager has forgotten. He is a prince from the Snow Kingdom, a small nation in the far north. Two years ago, the Snow Kingdom became a vassal state of our empire, and he was sent here as a hostage. I heard he plays the zither exceptionally well, so he is often asked to perform at palace banquets.”
“But why does he keep his head down?”
“It’s because of that face of his. During a palace banquet last year, a lady chosen to be a concubine saw him and fell in love at first sight. She insisted on marrying him, to the point of attempting suicide. Many palace maids also coveted his looks, which angered the Emperor. He ordered that he must never raise his head again. To humiliate him further, he’s made to perform while kneeling every time.”
A glimmer of interest lit up in Leng Ji’s eyes. “Are you saying he’s incredibly handsome?”
Lu Chang looked at Leng Jiu curiously and nodded. “Yes, your highness. I have seen his face before, though he was quite disheveled at the time. Nonetheless, his appearance is remarkable, far beyond ordinary men.”
Leng Jiu didn’t inquire further because Lanzhe had already finished playing his piece and left. However, as she watched his still bowed figure, she sensed a defiant pride beneath it all. She couldn’t help but smile with an intriguing thought in her mind: Interesting!