Princess Dening’s smile froze as she turned her disbelieving gaze toward the scene.
As a royal princess, the golden branch and jade leaf of the imperial family, the emperor’s only daughter, this was her grand day—her coming- of-age ceremony.
Yet now, at this very moment, her own father was choosing an opera for that little noblewoman.
Though it might seem trivial, nothing in the imperial household was insignificant, especially in front of so many noblewomen.
She felt utterly humiliated.
Consort Kang’s eyes widened in shock and fury as she stared at Emperor Jingxi, though she dared not speak a word, her expression nearly on the verge of tears.
A wu was equally stunned-how had she suddenly been dragged into this?!
But before she could react, the eunuch had already approached her, presenting the opera selections.
Under the scrutiny of so many eyes, her face burned with embarrassment.
She hastily pointed to The Phoenix’s Cry, thinking the name sounded auspicious.
After making her choice, she suddenly noticed a mark beside another title-clearly, it had been selected before.
In an instant, she understood.
The marked opera was A Wisp of Smoke!
She knew this one-it told the story of Emperor Yinghui and his favored consort.
It was said that when the emperor’s daughter-in-law knelt before him, he looked down and remarked on her slender waist, saying, “Such a delicate waist-could it truly be held in one’s grasp?”
Later, the emperor took his son’s wife as his own consort, finally “grasping” that slender waist, and showered her with favor.
When the crown prince ascended the throne-this prince being the elder brother of the consort’s former husband the consort became the dowager consort.
Though the new emperor outwardly showed her respect and filial piety, he secretly seized her for himself, creating a tangled mess.
The most absurd part was that the dowager consort even bore the new emperor a son, who later inherited the throne.
Once in power, this son, eager to legitimize his mother’s position, whitewashed the scandal and even commissioned an opera-A Wisp of Smoke.
Clearly, performing this opera at such an occasion was no accident-it was a veiled mockery of Emperor Jingxi and herself!
No wonder the Empress Dowager had looked so displeased.
A wu felt a mix of schadenfreude and mischievous delight.
Whoever had chosen this must be a fool.
The Empress wouldn’t dare she was too careful, always playing the virtuous role.
If it was the Crown Princess’s doing, that would be perfect-Emperor Jingxi would surely see his daughter-in-law as a thorn in his side…
A wu could enjoy the spectacle.
Princess Dening?
But an unwed princess wouldn’t be so bold, would she?
As A wu pondered, her gaze swept over Consort Kang’s expression-full of resentment, shame, and awkwardness and suddenly, she understood.
What an idiot!
This was her own daughter’s coming-of-age ceremony!
Who was she trying to embarrass?
A wu couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy for Princess Dening…
Soon, the operas began.
First was Mulan Joins the Army, chosen by the Empress Dowager, followed by The Female Scholar’s Triumph, and then the dull The Drummer’s Three Beats in Yuyang.
The fourth was A wu’s The Phoenix’s Cry.
A Wisp of Smoke never made it to the stage-likely scrapped.
Even if the princess dared to pick it, they wouldn’t dare perform it—who would risk displeasing the emperor?
A wu stole a glance and noticed Princess Dening’s expression gradually softening, as if someone had comforted her.
After The Phoenix’s Cry concluded, Emperor Jingxi remarked, “The loyal ministers and righteous heroes in this opera are truly admirable. The phoenix soaring high…”
The singing heralded the arrival of prosperous times, with peace reigning over land and sea.
Today’s opera was well chosen and brilliantly performed.
Having said this, he ordered rewards for the performers, who were overjoyed and came forward to express their gratitude.
Emperor Jingxi then commanded that some pastries from his table be sent to A wu as her reward.
Though merely snacks, all present were astute enough to understand the emperor’s unspoken message—this was his subtle yet unmistakable way of warning both the inner court ladies and imperial relatives.
No mischief would be tolerated.
Though Noble Consort Ning held only the sixth-rank position, she enjoyed the emperor’s favor.
The head of household had allowed them to choose the opera first, publicly showing respect to the imperial women and relatives in the grand hall-yet this was merely the emperor’s magnanimity and grace.
A man’s partiality knows no reason.
When the ruler of a nation dotes on his woman without overstepping bounds, there’s nothing left to criticize.
A wu discreetly observed the rewards among them was a portion of cheese.
Made from cow’s milk, cheese came in dry and moist varieties; this was the dry kind.
She now understood that given her status, she couldn’t regularly enjoy cheese except when bestowed as a reward.
For Emperor Jingxi to grant her cheese before the empress dowager, the empress, and all the court ladies the implications were unmistakable.
A wu’s heart blossomed with joy, surging with emotion while her face burned with excitement.
Truthfully, she knew nothing of opera, having never seen one before.
She had randomly chosen “The Phoenix’s Cry,” imagining it to be about some boudoir maiden-never expecting it to depict loyal warriors battling treacherous officials.
Yet this fortunate coincidence pleased her greatly, and she cast a glance toward the crown princess.
The crown princess sat slightly bowed, gazing vacantly ahead.
…Clearly in poor spirits.
A wu lowered her head as well, gracefully tasting the cheese.
Smooth as congealed fat with a pale yellow hue, it carried subtle fermented rice aromas-like steamed fragrant rice or mild rice wine.
Not overly sweet, the palace flavors were always restrained, using minimal sugar to highlight ingredients’ natural essence.
As expected, only the finest ingredients were used here-delicious even without seasoning.
As she ate, her thoughts wandered: Had the crown princess not schemed against her, had Emperor Jingxi not initially disliked her…
Where would she be now?
Perhaps still meekly waiting in the crown prince’s rear courtyard as his concubine, desperately hoping for recognition.
Had she gained status, she would have been overwhelmed with gratitude-kowtowing to the crown princess, diligently serving her mistress.
Her entire life would have worshipped the crown princess as her heaven.
In such gatherings, she would have remained timid-head bowed, kowtowing, flattering, smiling nervously, constantly fearful of ridicule, visibly walking on thin ice.
Yet now, she had become the crown princess’s thorn.
She mused: Though Emperor Jingxi was old enough to be her father, he was only seventeen years senior to the crown prince.
The well- preserved older man’s daily exercises and robust health brought her pleasures far surpassing her previous two lovers.
Not that the former two were lacking, but compared to this, it felt like plunging into the ocean after knowing only ponds and puddles.
Some things truly depended on natural endowment-ample, vigorous, satisfying with minimal effort.
As for the future some live to eighty-eight, others to sixty-six.
Between father and son with merely seventeen years’ difference, who could predict?
A wu was thoroughly delighted, savoring the subtle details of the night-how his eyelids drooped as he gazed at her, yet there was a slow, deliberate friction within.
A few teasing strokes, circling languidly before withdrawing—
It left her so aroused that she wished she could cling to him endlessly, even paying him for it if she had to!
One coin at a time, or a thousand coins flung right at his face!
Man, give it to me hard!
Suddenly, she felt a faint gaze upon her.
Her heart skipped a beat.
Lifting her eyes, she met the lofty man’s downward glance their gazes colliding in an instant.
In a flash, A wu’s cheeks burned, and all her wanton thoughts scattered like smoke.
***
After the banquet, most of the coming-of-age ceremonies concluded, and the atmosphere grew lively with various games and amusements.
Young maidens and gentlemen eagerly participated, while married noblewomen gathered in small groups, sipping tea and chatting.
A wu, who had never experienced such things before, followed Consort Hui around, watching the excitement with great enthusiasm.
She even exchanged a few words with Lady Meng.
Though Lady Meng had a somewhat aloof temperament, Consort Hui seemed familiar with her, so they watched the acrobatics together- acts like “charging through narrow gaps” and “tightrope walking,” which left A wu utterly amazed.
Such performances could be seen in the streets, but those were rough and chaotic, nothing compared to the palace’s carefully selected, top- tier performers.
The spectacle had everyone clapping and cheering!
Later, they all went to play “Dropping the City,” where a square “city” was drawn before the emperor, divided into sections by a cross.
Each section represented a “city” with a prize amount written inside.
The ladies could toss silver beans onto the grid-landing on a section meant winning its prize.
A wu rolled up her sleeves and took her turn, only managing to win three taels.
Heartbroken yet consoled that it was better than nothing, she sighed.
By the end of the day, A wu returned to Langhua Palace in high spirits, exhausted but content.
Fresh from her bath, she lounged on the couch, swinging her bare feet idly.
Who said the deep palace was lonely?
With fine food, drinks, and entertainment-aside from the restriction on leaving-it was far better than the outside world!
When Emperor Jingxi stepped into Langhua Palace, this was the scene that greeted him.
Layers of ornate curtains were drawn back, revealing the delicate figure on the ivory bed.
A soft, wine-patterned pleated skirt draped over her slender jade legs, swaying carelessly with her movements.
Her ankles were pale and delicate, her feet flawless, each toe like a translucent pink seashell.
Fresh from her bath, she wore a loosely tied robe embroidered with vibrant red petals, its folds cascading over her graceful frame.
The loose collar barely concealed the snowy curves beneath, hinting at their natural, soft fullness.
Large, supple, and pure white.
At the sight, Emperor Jingxi’s expression froze.
Then, his eyelids lowered slightly as he glanced sideways-today, the court diarist wasn’t present, and the eunuchs from the Imperial Household Department and the palace chroniclers waited outside.
Even his attendants, like Futai, had tactfully remained at a distance.
No one would witness this.
Behind him, a palace maid lowered the brocade curtains and shut the doors, plunging the room into a dim, hazy glow.
Only then did Emperor Jingxi approach the couch.
Leaning slightly, he reached out and grasped.
The sensation was unimaginably soft, clinging to his palm like flowing silk.
A wu let out a playful “aowu” sound, rolling away like a kitten to the far side of the bed where he couldn’t reach her.
Her eyes widened in protest.
“What are you doing?”
It was so sudden that she completely forgot all about the proper etiquette for receiving the emperor.
She’d already been pinched-what was the point of formalities now?
No more formalities!
Emperor Jingxi straightened up, his light-colored eyes calm and unreadable.
“Look at you-do you have even a shred of noble bearing? Anyone who didn’t know better would think you were some wild little minx from the streets.”
A wu: “So what?”
Emperor Jingxi: “…”
Well, there wasn’t much he could do about it, really.
A wu rolled over lazily, sprawling near the edge of the bed like a languid cat, gazing up at Emperor Jingxi above her.
“I played too much today I’m exhausted. I just bathed and had no energy left, so I lay down.”
Then she stretched out her arms, her large, alluring eyes blinking sweetly as she cooed, “Your Majesty, carry me!”
That spoiled, coquettish little act- Emperor Jingxi sucked in a sharp breath.
His heart melted instantly.
He bent down, his strong arms scooping up the delicate girl from the bed.
She nestled into his embrace as if boneless, her soft, trembling curves pressing against his firm chest, the fresh scent of peach blossoms wafting around them.
“Mmm!”
Emperor Jingxi’s eyes half-lidded, his throat bobbing with difficulty.
Sometimes, he really wanted to devour her whole.
A wu paid no mind to his torment.
She wrapped her arms around his neck affectionately.
“If only someone had a coming-of-age ceremony every day! I’d love to see more!”
Emperor Jingxi glanced down at her.
“You enjoyed it that much?”
A wu nodded vigorously.
Emperor Jingxi: “I think what you loved most was that farce performance.”
A wu: “The illusionist act was amazing too!”
Emperor Jingxi: “You won three taels of silver in the city games?”
A wu pouted regretfully.
“Only three taels!”
Emperor Jingxi chuckled.
“Three taels is quite a lot.”
A wu, ambitious and eager, rubbed her hands together.
“Next time, I’ll bet even more!”
Emperor Jingxi laughed even harder.
His large hands encircled her slender ankles, guiding her legs to wrap around him, their bodies fitting together seamlessly.
He carried her a few steps around the room, and A wu, startled, clung tightly to his neck in fear.