Chapter 1970 - 1908: Chinese New Year’s Eve Family Banquet
Chapter 1970: Chapter 1908: Chinese New Year’s Eve Family Banquet
The 21st Year of Yonghe in Beiyan, it was Wufu’s first time celebrating the New Year in Beiyan. Early on, she and Ah Jiu brought Jhin Mingdong to Cining Palace to pay their respects and accompany Empress Dowager Mo in conversation.
On the way, Jhin Mingdong was summoned by Emperor Yan. Wufu had already prepared for this, letting Mo Yu accompany him, and carefully instructing the young one on how to behave.
"Xiao Five seems to have a bond with you, in just a few days he’s already grown close to you!" Empress Dowager Mo said to Wufu with a smile.
Wufu replied, "Children have a lively nature, as long as you’re patient, it’s all good."
Empress Dowager Mo raised her eyebrows and said, "I didn’t expect you to have such patience. I thought you’d take him climbing walls and trees."
Wufu coughed and pretended to be hurt, saying, "So this is the image Mother has of her daughter-in-law in her heart."
"Don’t be cheeky!" Empress Dowager Mo scolded, "Since he’s willing to be close to you, that’s good. No matter who raises him in the future, he’ll remember this connection with you."
Ah Jiu then asked, "Mother, have people in the harem started moving?"
Empress Dowager Mo sneered, "How could the harem be lacking in clever people? Without hope, they’ll naturally cling to the only one left. If he ascends the throne in the future, he’d make the Empress Dowager the most honored in the world, who wouldn’t scheme for that? Just watch at the imperial banquet later, there’ll be plenty of eager faces."
Ah Jiu and Wufu exchanged a glance.
"Whether it’s sincerity or pretense, Mother and the Emperor will know in their hearts!" Wufu said with a smile, steering the conversation away.
Empress Dowager Mo’s brow showed some worry.
Wufu thought she might have said something wrong and looked at Ah Jiu.
Ah Jiu shook his head, squeezed her hand, and said, "Mother doesn’t need to worry, I’m here."
Empress Dowager Mo smiled faintly.
...
The Chinese New Year’s Eve of the 21st year was probably the quietest since Emperor Yan’s ascension, with no imperial banquet, no greetings from all officials. Due to the deaths of several princes, there was neither singing nor dancing. In the empty hall, there were only a few concubines and a few princesses, resembling an ordinary commoner’s home.
Empress Dowager Mo sat on the Empress Dowager’s throne next to the Dragon Throne, looking at the concubines who were modestly but exquisitely dressed, and she lowered her eyes.
The long-absent Consort Lan and Virtuous Consort were even more eager to outshine each other, their simple yet luxurious attire dazzling to the eyes.
Both of them were surrounding Wufu, speaking words of sorrow and admiration freely.
Indeed, with the Empress deposed, who wouldn’t eye that position?
This Princess Consort of Jin is the Empress Dowager Mo’s only legitimate daughter-in-law. Pleasing her is equivalent to pleasing Prince Jin and the Empress Dowager, and only a fool wouldn’t try to build that relationship!
"The Emperor has arrived." The Inner Servant announced loudly.
The concubines instantly became excited; they hadn’t seen the Emperor since the incident, and now they finally could!
"Long live the Emperor, long live, long live." Everyone knelt to pay homage.
"Rise," Emperor Yan’s voice was very weak.
Wufu discreetly lifted her head for a glance, silently taking a sharp breath. How had he become so thin?
His cheeks were hollow, his eyes large and spiritless. Even though his complexion wasn’t too terrible, Wufu could be sure that it had a layer of powder.
To have to use makeup to cover up, one could imagine how bad the true complexion of this face would be!
Looking again at the spacious Dragon Robe hanging loosely on him, it seemed as if a mere skeleton was supporting it.
What kind of Drunken Thousand Gu is this, to be so ruthless, even more so than the Heart Gu that Ah Jiu once had? It’s only been a few days, and it’s already worn him down to such a state!
Wufu didn’t know, once Drunken Thousand Gu starts to act up, all the Gu insects become active, and the vitality of the five organs is gradually lost. Although Emperor Yan’s pain was sealed by Golden Needle, it couldn’t stop the activity of the Gu insects!