Volume 1 Chapter 32

  Inside the Fengqi Palace of the Imperial Palace, in the spacious great hall, the palace maids were occasionally adding a few new charcoal to the brazier, so as to make the palace warmer and more cozy.

  Long rectangular tables were neatly arranged in two rows, and the upper-class ladies of Kyoto were all seated on their seats at this time. Although the cushions were very soft, they still looked like sitting on pins and needles.

  In the warm and cozy Fengqi Palace, they only felt a chill rising from the bottom of their hearts. Today, the Empress Dowager personally issued an invitation, almost all the noble ladies in Kyoto were invited into the palace.

  It is openly said to be a banquet for appreciating flowers, but secretly everyone knows that this is actually a feast at the Hongmen Banquet.

  Just now, all the noble ladies were absent-mindedly accompanying the empress to admire the blooming plum blossoms of various colors, and they were about to leave the palace when they were all invited by the smiling empress into the Fengqi Palace.

  For a moment, the noblewomen present felt even more uneasy. After a long and anxious wait, the empress, dressed in another palace attire, walked over with the help of her maid, looking elegant and refined.

  Everyone hastily stopped what they were doing and stood up to pay their respects, saying "Greetings Your Majesty the Empress, may you live for a thousand years."

  The queen sat down at the upper end and then said, "Ladies, you don't have to bow, all of you can get up."

  Everyone bowed in unison and said "Thank you, Your Highness."

  After seeing all the ladies take their seats, the empress smiled and said, "Today's weather is really cold. There are braziers burning in the palace. You've just accompanied me to admire the plum blossoms, so let's warm up a bit before leaving, and also chat with me about some family matters."

  As soon as this was said, the noble ladies present couldn't help but secretly lament, isn't this clearly not letting people leave? Idle chatter? Which of the people present doesn't know what the Empress wants to chat with them about.

  It's likely that as we chat, our own daughter will be dragged into this mess.

  On the table were exquisite and tempting pastries and various melons, but no one had the mood to taste and enjoy them.

  Everyone in the room was silent, not daring to speak up. The queen didn't get angry, picked up the teacup on the table, elegantly took a sip of hot tea, and then continued: "Today, I got a few new things, coincidentally everyone is here, so I thought about taking them out and letting you all take a look together, also to let you evaluate these things for me."

  After finishing speaking, she glanced at Wei Ya Niang. Wei Ya Niang naturally understood and nodded her head, then with a wave of her hand, more than ten palace maids holding boxes filed out in an orderly manner.

  The noble ladies looked at each other in confusion as the palace maids stood in a row, each holding a delicate sandalwood box of varying sizes.

  This made them feel even more puzzled: what was Her Majesty the Empress going to do?

  The queen's face had a hint of a smile as she calmly ordered "Open it."

  The palace maidens immediately came forward to open each box, and suddenly the entire hall was illuminated by a dazzling light. Each box refracted out a dizzying array of colors that almost blinded all the noblewomen present.

  All that was seen inside the box was a 'string of pearls' made entirely of shiny round pearls.

  Small as a peach kernel, but with seven holes on its surface, the light is refracted back and forth at the same time, and the 'Ruyi Jade' shines endlessly.

  The size of an egg, shining like moonlight, is the 'Ru Yi Treasure Pearl'.

  Red agate cup, crystal clear basin, white jade nine phoenix hairpin, gold eight treasure double phoenix patterned basin, gilt inlaid treasure cup, turquoise carving, carnelian peony flower holder bowl, emerald bead bracelet and so on.

  Looking at the various treasures and curiosities inside the box, even the refined and worldly noblewomen couldn't help but hold their breath, gazing blankly.

  There isn't a woman who doesn't love jewelry, especially such exquisite treasures.

  The Empress Dowager, who was sitting in the lower position, was the first to come back to her senses from the shock. She looked at the various treasures in the box and said with a sour tone: "The things of Her Majesty the Empress are indeed extremely good. Who else can possess such treasures besides you?"

  Her husband is the emperor's younger brother, although not born of the same mother, he was not involved in the struggle for the throne. Also because of this, after the current emperor ascended to the throne, he was granted the title of Prince and she became the noble Princess Consort of An.

  But no matter how noble her status was, she still couldn't compare to the empress. Look at these precious treasures, which of them had she ever possessed? After all, the other woman was the empress, and there were some things that this Princess An wasn't worthy of. Thinking about this, her tone couldn't help but be somewhat sour.

  The queen calmly put down her teacup, ignoring the slightly jealous words of Empress Dowager Cixi, and only said, "I don't know what all the ladies think about these things?"

  Upon hearing the queen's words, everyone snapped out of their trance and exclaimed in praise, "Of course it is excellent! Such a treasure is probably hard to find in this world."

  "It's indeed true that such a good thing is only suitable for Her Majesty the Queen."

  "We've opened our eyes wide today and are lucky enough to have a visual feast."

  All kinds of praises and admiration filled the air, the noblewomen present couldn't help but gaze longingly at what was inside the box, as if they couldn't get enough of it.

  The queen sat at the top, taking in all the reactions of the noblewomen. A smile floated up in her eyes, but for now, she had to let them see the great benefits before having a chance to persuade these people to marry their legitimate daughters to Jin'er.

  The queen smiled slightly and said quietly, "These things are all prepared by the palace for Ji'er's future daughter-in-law, as a betrothal gift."

  As soon as these words came out, the people present looked at each other in surprise. Now they finally understood what the empress meant. Wasn't this saying that whoever was willing to marry their daughter to the Jing Wang Fu would get so many rare treasures?

  I didn't expect the queen to spend such a huge sum for her own nephew.

  Looking at the colorful treasures in the box. The noble ladies only felt their hearts bleeding, so many precious things, just opening their mouths could be put into their arms, but the price was to use their own daughters as exchange.

  Reason told them they couldn't afford it, but looking at the dazzling treasures, their hearts were itching to move, how could they choose between them?

  If the quiet king's son were in good health, without the queen's temptation, these people would have competed for their own daughters. After all, the quiet king's son not only has a good family background but also has the emperor's trust. At a young age, he has astonishing power in his hands. If they can find such a son-in-law, it would be worth burning incense for several generations.

  It is a fact that the Crown Prince of Jing is frail and weak, and has been taking medicine since he was young. Since ancient times, there has never been anyone who is frail and weak by nature and can live past twenty years old.

  And in the past six months, I've heard that the illness of the quiet king's son has become more and more serious, and he has fainted several times. The queen only thought of a way to make the other party marry for good luck, if she marries her daughter off like this, isn't it obvious that she is letting her go to guard her widowhood?

  The high-society ladies present did not want to marry off their own daughters, yet they could not bear to part with so many rare and precious treasures, and their faces were filled with struggling and embarrassed expressions.

  The queen saw their reactions and opened her mouth in time, saying "These things are just a small part of the betrothal gifts. After all, it's Jin'er who is getting married, and these 248 trays of betrothal gifts were prepared by the palace."

  For Jin'er's marriage, these things are nothing. The countless rare treasures from all over the world every year are just 248 sedan chairs, at most it's just a few corners of the empty national treasury.

  She can afford these things as a aunt, she doesn't believe that so many good things will be given away without anyone being moved.

  All the noble ladies were stunned when they heard the empress's words. Two hundred and forty-eight sedan chairs of betrothal gifts, that means how many good things there are! It was still the empress who prepared them, with such a big handwriting, wouldn't it mean moving out all the good things in the national treasury?

  Everyone present couldn't help but hold their breath at the thought.

  Digression

  Everyone, be more civilized!