Only then, listening to the chatter, did she learn that today’s banquet would be roasted meat.
It was cold, so everyone would eat roast lamb and seafood in the warm side hall, watching the snow fall through the crystal curtains—just imagining it was delightful.
But Emperor Jingxi seemed busy and couldn’t come for a while, sending a eunuch to say he’d be late and that everyone should start without him.
The Empress Dowager laughed and told the women, “If he comes, he’ll just make everyone uncomfortable. It’s better if he doesn’t—let’s enjoy ourselves.”
Everyone covered their mouths and laughed.
Soon, in groups, they divided up the meats, and the palace maids and eunuchs helped with the roasting.
A wu looked at the ingredients and she was delighted.
She’d always loved the “Three Delicacies” from the markets: seafood, Meat, and poultry—and today all three were present.
Among the seafood were sea cucumber, shark tendon, and abalone—all her favorites!
She volunteered, “I can roast, let me do it.”
Her voice was a bit loud, drawing everyone’s attention.
A wu blushed and nodded to the group.
The Empress, who was attending the Empress Dowager, withdrew her gaze with a faint look of disdain and amusement.
A wu was indeed beautiful—she could understand why Lu Yunjian and the Imperial Son were infatuated.
But that even Emperor Jingxi had fallen for her was beyond comprehension.
She couldn’t help but suspect there was more to this, some hidden scheme.
After all, she knew Emperor Jingxi very well—he wasn’t a man so shallow or lustful.
The Empress Dowager, watching A wu from afar, was quite fond of her: “This young lady is a joy.”
She felt that the late Emperor had passed early, and Emperor Jingxi had taken on the world of Great Hui at a young age, maturing quickly and never acting willfully.
Now at thirty-three, he had made no major mistakes, but his life had been too lonely.
Now, with such a lively and lovely girl to warm his heart, perhaps her son would finally have some warmth in his expression, not just the cold face of an emperor, but that of an ordinary son.
Besides, she’d already had someone secretly check A wu’s face and birth characters.
She believed A wu would bring her son prosperity and descendants—she secretly hoped so.
The Crown Princess stood nearby, eyes lowered, saying little.
Her dislike for A wu was extreme, even to the point of hatred.
She knew A wu hated her too, but what of it?
She was pregnant—this would be the Emperor’s eldest legitimate grandson or granddaughter, a status above all others.
With this belly, no one dared show her any disrespect.
She shot a mocking glance at A wu, who was absorbed in the seafood, thinking that such a favor would only last for a while—A wu would have her day of tears.
Princess Dening looked up as well, signaling to the Crown Princess:Â “Let’s go look at the Aoshan Lanterns.”
The Crown Princess smiled gently: “Alright.”
The New Year was near, and the palace was filled with Glazed Lanterns and Aoshan Lanterns.
With the snow as a backdrop, they looked even more beautiful.
The two of them wandered off to admire the Aoshan Lanterns, whispering together.
A wu, watching from afar, sensed their hostility but couldn’t be bothered.
After all, she clung tightly to Emperor Jingxi—what could they do to her?
Just then, an inner attendant announced the Emperor’s arrival.
Everyone quickly stood up to welcome him, and all the ladies straightened their attire, the sound of jewels and silk rustling as they prepared themselves.
Emperor Jingxi soon entered the warm chamber.
After everyone bowed and rose, A wu glanced over and saw that he was wearing a Yanjv Imperial Garment, adorned with a Gourd Brocade Badge, looking casual and approachable, with less of the Emperor’s usual majesty.
As she watched, A wu’s gaze trembled.
She actually saw the Imperial Son and Lu Yunjian—they’d come together!
A wu nearly choked, almost suffocating herself.
Lu Yunjian was truly something—he clearly looked down on the Imperial Son, yet here they were, walking side by side, chatting amicably.
Poor Imperial Son, he had no idea the man beside him was scheming.
Awu thought about this and felt a bit worried because she knew Lu Yunjian’s mind but the Imperial Son and Emperor Jingxi did not and she had never mentioned it to the Emperor.
So she wondered if he would be angry if he learned she had kept it from him.
She had come too far and hadn’t confessed before so there was no chance now and she and the Empress could only continue to threaten each other to keep their secrets or everyone would be ruined together.
Just then, the three men were in the warm hall next to the Empress Dowager’s chamber, separated by only a crystal screen and a layer of curtains from the women.
Sounds from that side could be heard here, and one could vaguely make out their movements.
Though Great Hui valued the separation of men and women, since everyone here was family and it was the New Year, and they were with their elders, things were more relaxed.
A wu watched carefully.
Emperor Jingxi sat at the head, the other two below.
While not exactly chatting happily, the atmosphere was amicable enough.
The sight of these three men conversing gave her a strange feeling—hard to describe…
At a festive time like this, three men gathered together, talking and laughing, with noblewomen coming and going—a scene of warmth and harmony.
Yet no one else would ever know she could line these three up from tallest to shortest and from broadest to slimmest and compare their skills and means in detail.
Emperor Jingxi was, of course, the best—he was the Emperor, and in every way he was unmatched!
A wu thought of their nights together—he was so sensitive, even in the heat of passion he could sense her slightest emotions, giving her the most delightful experience.
Emperor Jingxi had never lied to her.
He didn’t visit other women—he simply didn’t.
He’d had a son and a daughter before, but from the start, he’d told her everything—he was an upright, admirable man.
A wu was completely immersed in her admiration and respect for him.
She even thought that if one day he visited other women she might not mind since for an Emperor and a man to treat her so well she was already content.
Well, maybe not—if he did, she’d still be angry and ignore him.
As she thought this, she suddenly felt a gaze upon her.
Looking up, it was the Crown Princess.
The Crown Princess was staring at her.
Princess Dening noticed too, raising her brows mockingly at A wu, full of disdain.
Since Princess Dening had gone to the Imperial Academy, she rarely appeared in the harem.
Now, seeing her was truly an enemy meeting an enemy—Princess Dening probably wished she could slap A wu right now.
But A wu didn’t care.
She even smiled provocatively at Princess Dening—come on, hit me if you dare.
She was indeed growing a bit spoiled by favor.
Though she could never truly clash with Princess Dening, neither could Princess Dening bully her—if she was at fault, she’d accept the consequences.
Princess Dening’s face flushed with anger.
She shook her fist at A wu, threateningly.
A wu innocently blinked back at her.
Princess Dening was so furious she ignored the palace lady’s hints and strode over, full of momentum.
She came right up to A wu: “You—”
But before she could finish, Futai arrived, smiling.
Princess Dening immediately fell silent.
Now that her father had ordered her to study under a Grand Scholar at the Imperial Academy for two years, five hours a day, she knew it was punishment and had to behave.
If her father caught her again, it might become six hours, seven hours… or he might not let her come back at all.
She had to be careful.
With Futai’s arrival, many consorts and imperial relatives paid attention—after all, Futai was Emperor Jingxi’s most trusted attendant.
A wu gave Futai a slight bow and a gentle smile.
Futai bowed to her as well, then said, “Honored Lady, the Empress Dowager just asked about a passage in the classics and said she couldn’t remember it. Since you have studied the Dao with devotion, perhaps you could help explain it?”
‘Ah?’
A wu frowned slightly, looking at Futai in disbelief.
Lately, besides attending lessons in the palace, she’d been learning music and sometimes reading the classics with Emperor Jingxi, listening to his profound teachings.
Now she deeply understood that the Emperor was learned and versed in the true meaning of Daoism.
Her father had once been a scholar, familiar with the classics, but after turning to business, he’d abandoned his studies.
So to A wu, the Emperor was the most talented man in the world.
And now, she was being asked to explain the Dao?
The key point…
A wu glanced over—weren’t the Imperial Son and Lu Yunjian with the Empress Dowager?
So she’d have to lecture on the classics in front of the Imperial Son and Lu Yunjian?
A wu’s legs went weak—she thought that it might be better to just die right now.