Chapter 26: The Obsessive, Lustful Hostage Prince and the Doted, Haughty Princess (26)
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The following morning, Wantao pushed open the palace doors and found a medicine chest on the ground.
It was made of rosewood, but the pattern on it bore no resemblance to the emblem of the Imperial Medical Bureau.
Her first thought was to throw it away, lest someone had planted a mechanism inside to harm the princess.
But if it contained something important and it interfered with the princess’s plans, that would be troublesome.
Wantao carefully opened the chest and discovered herbs for dispelling fever—ephedra, bupleurum, and the like.
The princess was nearly recovered. Who would send her medicine, and do so in secret?
Wantao carried the chest inside, leaving even Shu Yao puzzled.
Who had sent the medicine?
The First Prince? The Third Prince?
But when had either of them ever been so kind as to do a good deed without leaving their names?
Given their temperaments, if they sent medicine, they would certainly sign their names so they could later claim a favor and demand repayment.
With no clue to go on, Shu Yao simply let the matter be. There was no point in making trouble for herself.
She instructed Wantao to put the chest away, then learned that Anle was waiting outside the palace.
That day, Empress Xiaode had arranged a banquet at Fengyang Palace, inviting Princess Anle and the sons of noble families from the court.
In plain terms, she was arranging a marriage for Anle.
The Fifth Prince, Chu Mingjue, had yet to awaken. Empress Xiaode could no longer sit still and was eager to trade her daughter’s marriage for political power.
Shu Yao stopped Wantao’s hand.
“No rouge. This is fine.”
“The princess is dressed too plainly,” Wantao said. “And after such a serious illness, there is no color in your face. You should put on a little rouge.”
Shu Yao shook her head. “Today’s banquet is being held for Anle. It is better to look plain. If I dress too conspicuously and attract trouble, that would be worse.”
On second thought, Wantao agreed. She closed the rouge box, removed a fur cloak, and draped it over Shu Yao’s shoulders.
“Then at least wear this. The weather has turned cold these past few days, and it would be easy to catch a chill.”
Shu Yao had no desire to experience a fever again and obediently wrapped herself tightly in the layers of cloth.
When she stepped outside, she immediately saw someone standing beneath a tree.
Princess Anle had dressed in all her finery that day. She must have been looking forward to the banquet.
Seeing that Shu Yao’s complexion had improved, Princess Anle came over and exclaimed, “Jianing, are you recovered?”
“It seems those old fools at the Imperial Medical Bureau are of some use after all.”
Shu Yao fell silent.
She could hardly tell Anle that she had recovered because Shen Jingmu had washed her feet until she broke into a sweat.
“Come on, let’s go. Mother is waiting.”
“I wonder who has come to the banquet today.”
Just as Shu Yao had expected, Anle was indeed looking forward to it.
She had already thought things through. One must fulfill the duties of one’s position. As the empress’s daughter, she had enjoyed more than a decade of glory and luxury.
If her marriage was destined to become a stepping stone for her Third Brother’s ascent to the throne, then she would have to choose a good husband.
Only the finest man would be worthy of marrying her.
The fragrance of winter pear blossoms drifted from Fengyang Palace, accompanied by the music of strings and bamboo that reached every ear.
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Princess Anle sat upright to Empress Xiaode’s right. Her scarlet silk skirt trailed across the floor, her features shifting like a painting, her vermilion lips stained a brilliant red.
“Your Majesty, the twenty young gentlemen submitted by the Ministry of Rites are waiting outside the hall.”
The court lady knelt upon a vermilion cushion. As soon as she finished speaking, the pearl curtain swayed lightly, and handsome young men entered one after another.
“Greetings to Her Majesty the Empress. May Your Majesty enjoy peace and good health.”
Empress Xiaode nodded in satisfaction, her gaze sweeping briefly over Li Lian’s face.
“Rise. There is no need to be so formal.”
The young men took their seats one after another, not daring to look sideways for fear of offending the two princesses.
Of course, there was one exception—Li Lian, son of Grand Commandant Li.
His family background was the most distinguished among the twenty young men. Before he left home, Li Si had specifically warned him to settle the matter this time.
Li Lian was no fool. His father had evidently already reached an understanding with Empress Xiaode and intended to bind the interests of the two families with a marriage contract.
The one who truly needed this marriage was not him.
He lifted his tea and took a sip, studying Princess Anle from the corner of his eye.
Her jeweled hairpins were dazzling, and her fragrance was overpowering.
Vulgar—far too vulgar. She was not even as beautiful as the famous courtesans he had slept with in the pleasure houses.
Li Lian instantly lost interest, but then he noticed another woman seated beside Empress Xiaode.
She wore a moon-white silk jacket and skirt, the hem embroidered with not a single elaborate flower. Only a few silver threads along the collar outlined the distant silhouettes of mountains.
Dressed so plainly, she looked as though she were attending a funeral.
Li Lian found her unfamiliar. When had another princess appeared in the inner palace, and one who seemed close to Princess Anle at that? Could it be—
The only person he could think of was the one from the rumors.
Was she Princess Jianing?
The rumors claimed that whenever Princess Jianing traveled, dozens of guards escorted her; that the hairpins on her head were worth enough to purchase an entire city; and that wherever the princess set foot, her fragrance lingered for half a month before fading.
They were indeed only rumors. Now that he saw her, he had to admit she was beautiful, but only her face was passable. Her clothing was simply impossible to describe.
Moreover, her temper was said to be atrocious. Marrying her would surely bring unrest to the household.
Li Lian shook his head regretfully.
At the same time, Shu Yao was also studying Li Lian.
Each person’s name was written on the peachwood chairs. With one glance, she spotted the man seated in the very center. Empress Xiaode had deliberately placed him in the most conspicuous position.
Li Lian was reasonably handsome and could certainly be called a refined young gentleman, but there was something distinctly awkward about him.
The dark circles beneath his eyes were unmistakable. His entire appearance suggested that sensual indulgence had drained him dry, as though he had just risen from a woman’s bed.
Empress Xiaode could not possibly be considering such a man as a husband for Princess Anle. Was she truly pushing her daughter into a fire pit?
Sensing Shu Yao’s gaze, Li Lian was slightly surprised. He boldly met her eyes.
Then he curled his lips and gave her an exaggerated wink.
Shu Yao: “...”
She turned her gaze away, suppressing the urge to vomit.
Empress Xiaode noticed Li Lian’s actions and frowned imperceptibly. She was extremely displeased that Anle had brought Jianing along without permission.
Jianing was beautiful. If Li Lian became captivated by her, the marriage would become troublesome.
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Empress Xiaode raised a hand, and her personal senior maid immediately sent someone to refill the young gentlemen’s tea. When it was Li Lian’s turn, the maid slowed her movements, making the warning unmistakable.
Li Lian curled his lip unhappily, but at last he stopped staring at Shu Yao.
Marrying Princess Anle was still acceptable.
As long as she did not interfere with his visits to pleasure houses or his drinking and carousing with courtesans, everything could be negotiated.
After a few simple pleasantries, the young gentlemen took turns displaying their talents.
Some performed sword dances, while others composed poetry. Every one of them tried exceptionally hard.
They did not realize that they were merely there as embellishments, hoping to win Princess Anle’s favor and provide their families with an additional source of support.
When it was Li Lian’s turn, even Empress Xiaode feared that the young man might cause some kind of mischief.
Fortunately, he could still distinguish between serious matters and frivolity. He picked up a brush and wrote a calligraphic couplet.
His movements were graceful, and his characters were vigorous and powerful.
When the court lady unrolled the work for all to see, Empress Xiaode’s face turned livid.
“Thickly painted, the rouge makes her haughty and proud;
In silken robes and finery, she sways with every stride.
She seeks only beauty to display before the crowd,
Unaware that empty splendor leaves the heart withered inside.”
It was clearly mocking Anle for dressing far too extravagantly. How outrageous!
Empress Xiaode nearly lost control of her composure. The hand hanging beside the pearwood chair clenched tightly, and even her breathing grew heavier.
The other young gentlemen also understood the poem’s hidden meaning, and their expressions changed at once.
They looked at one another, each of them afraid to raise his head and meet the empress’s eyes.
Li Lian was far too bold. Was he tired of seeing his father occupy the position of Grand Commandant?
Anle, however, showed little reaction. It was not that she was too foolish to understand the poem’s meaning; her thoughts simply had nothing to do with Li Lian.
In the most secluded seat sat a man dressed in a cloud-white robe, leisurely savoring his tea.
His features were exceptionally handsome, and his every gesture was cultivated and refined. He matched her requirements for a future husband perfectly.
Anle found herself staring before suddenly hearing her mother’s icy voice.
“What a fine poem. What a fine poem.”
She turned toward Li Lian. Before she could clearly see what had been written on the silk, he had already rolled it up cheerfully.
“Since it is such a fine poem, I shall present it to Your Majesty.”
Empress Xiaode had to bite down hard before she could suppress the urge to order someone to beat Li Lian and throw him out of the palace.
The court lady accepted the silk and withdrew resentfully.
After the young gentlemen had finished displaying their talents, Empress Xiaode ordered Anle to step forward and perform a piece on the qin.
Amid the gentle music, the senior maid who had withdrawn earlier now returned carrying a tray of freshly brewed tea. She distributed a cup to each of the young gentlemen in turn.
At last, two cups remained on the wooden tray. After exchanging a glance with Empress Xiaode, she sent the cup on the left to Anle.
“Fine tribute Dragon Well tea. Everyone, do try it.”
Empress Xiaode raised her hand, her smile perfectly composed.
No one suspected a thing. They lifted their cups and drained the tea in a single swallow.
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