Chapter 1872 - 1810: The Scent of Conspiracy
Chapter 1872: Chapter 1810: The Scent of Conspiracy
The sound of silk and bamboo music fills the air, singing and dancing flourish, and the wine cups exchange in abundance.
For the emperor’s birthday, apart from the specialized dancer girls performing, even the imperial consorts are using all their skills to entertain the emperor, wishing him longevity.
Wufu sipped the fruit wine, watching an imperial consort’s graceful dance, glanced at the emperor, and wondered who would receive his favor tonight.
She slightly lowered her eyes, took a sip of wine, and looked at the liquid.
The Empress was indeed right, tonight’s wine is indeed excellent; the liquid is clear, the fruity aroma rich, with a unique fragrance and flavor of the fruit, mellow and refreshing on the palate.
It’s no wonder it’s served at the Imperial Family’s banquet table; this is the best fruit wine she has had since arriving here.
Empress Song looked down, raised her cup toward her with a smile at the corner of her mouth.
Wufu returned the smile, took a light sip.
Various people toasted Wufu in turn, including the imperial consorts beside her, and Empress Song came again to toast Empress Dowager Mo with her.
Wufu did not expect Lady Wan, the wife of Minister Wan, to come and toast her.
"My daughter lacks manners and offended the Princess Consort earlier, I hope the Princess Consort can forgive and not blame, I drink first in respect." Lady Wan smiled and said to Wufu, tilted her head back to drink the wine in the cup and then turned the cup upside down to show it was empty.
She took the wine from a nearby palace maid and filled Wufu’s cup: "Please, Princess Consort."
Wufu glanced at the cup before her seat but instructed the palace maid to fetch another, to which Lady Wan’s expression slightly changed.
"Please don’t mind, Lady, I have a habit of not drinking from the old cup or using the glass after leaving my seat." Who knows if someone has tampered with it.
Lady Wan’s mouth twitched, a trace of anger flashed in her eyes, was this implying she might have tampered with it?
But she only forced a smile and said: "The Princess Consort has a habit that is truly unheard of."
With a smile on the corner of her mouth, Wufu poured her wine, sniffed it first, then took a light sip.
Lady Wan couldn’t force her to drink it all, turned away in slight annoyance, but somehow slipped and leaned towards Wufu, only to be quickly stabilized by a palace maid beside her.
"I deserve death." Though Lady Wan didn’t collide with Wufu, she did spill some wine from her cup onto Wufu’s gown.
Wufu looked down at the hem of her skirt, a small wet patch; under normal circumstances, she wouldn’t mind, but at such a banquet, it was quite a breach of etiquette.
But she thought a bit too much; this seemed a little...
Like the scent of conspiracy!
"What happened?" Empress Song looked over, her eyes landing on Wufu’s skirt hem.
Wufu smiled and said: "Just spilled a little wine by accident." Then looked towards Lady Wan.
Lady Wan appeared particularly apprehensive, even a bit aggrieved, unable to control a glance at Empress Dowager Mo.
Wufu noted her reaction and said: "Lady Wan didn’t do it deliberately, just be more careful next time, I’ll just change."
She stepped forward and curtsied before Empress Dowager Mo, and Empress Song assigned a palace maid to lead her way.
Exiting the main hall, some guards looked over, she glanced around and casually picked a little eunuch standing by the door to call for her maid, then, behind the leading maid’s back, mouthed words to the little eunuch before heading to the dressing hall.
As night fell, shadows of trees loomed; she passed through layer upon layer of palace halls to reach the dressing hall where a Little Palace Maid nearly ran into Wufu at the door, she reached out to steady her, with a slight movement in her eyes.
Entering the hall and taking a seat, dismissed the maids, Wufu waited for Purple Jade and others to bring clothes, while she stretched out her hand, revealing a small note.