The Prime Minister's White Moonlight - Chapter 15
Chapter 15: Double Ninth Festival
On the day of the Double Ninth Festival, the Emperor’s and Empress’s retinue headed towards Mount Yu. This journey was even more magnificent, with Imperial Guards protecting the periphery. The common people along the way had no chance to see the Imperial carriage.
In previous years, they would travel to the more distant Mount Qiong outside the city. However, the shadow of the hunting incident had not dissipated from Zhao Yan’s mind. For the sake of the Emperor’s authority, he still had to travel for the Double Ninth Festival, so upon Shen Zhuo’s suggestion, the closer Mount Yu was chosen.
Hanbi sat inside the carriage, enjoying the scenery along the way. It was already late autumn, and the roadside was lined with maple leaves dyed a wine-red color.
Hua Wu broke off a red leaf and placed it in the celadon vase with intertwining branches pattern on the small table inside the carriage, creating a pleasing contrast. Hanbi watched and did not speak, simply taking the box of pastries handed to her by Ningzhi. The box looked ordinary, but the pastries inside were shaped like lions, looking very delicate and appealing.
With the prepared clear tea, Hanbi ate two or three pieces of pastry in quick succession. She had risen too early today and hadn’t eaten breakfast. Fortunately, Ningzhi had thoughtfully brought the pastries she had personally made. After finishing the pastries, the teacup was empty, and Hua Wu came to refill it for her.
“Does this Lion Man pastry suit Zhaoyi’s taste?” Ningzhi asked. Hanbi smiled. “What is there not to be satisfied with your craftsmanship? However, I heard that it’s better to insert colored flags into the pastries for the Double Ninth Festival.” Hanbi, being from the Cui family, naturally remembered the customs of the Double Ninth Festival clearly.
Ningzhi explained, “Originally, they were supposed to have colored flags inserted for good luck, but there’s no need to be particular about that when making them for oneself. The banquet will probably bestow chrysanthemum cakes and Lion Man pastries later, and those will have colored flags inserted.”
After Ningzhi finished speaking, she realized she had talked too much and secretly glanced at Hanbi’s expression. Seeing her face was normal, she felt relieved. Hua Wu was lively and endearing, so she should be more reserved, otherwise she would appear too frivolous.
Hanbi said nothing more for the rest of the journey. When they arrived at Mount Yu, the banquet was already set up. There was even a babbling brook nearby and patches of dogwood growing, which was quite elegant.
Taking advantage of the time before the banquet started, Hanbi, Hua Wu, and Ningzhi went together to pick some dogwood. The fruits on the dogwood branches were bright red, which was quite pleasing to the eye.
As the three walked back, they saw Shen Zhuo. He was still wearing a light-colored round-neck robe today, with a jade pendant hanging from his waist, and no other decorations. Some people, just by standing there, were like handsome and noble gentlemen.
Hanbi offered a polite bow with a faint smile. “Lord Shen, I didn’t expect to run into you.” Shen Zhuo looked back at her. Hanbi had her hair styled in a cloud bun today, and she wore an embroidered sachet with autumn chrysanthemums on her waist. The sachet even had a tassel, which clearly showed her own skill.
Seeing his gaze on the sachet, Hanbi offered an explanation. “This was bestowed by the Empress Niangniang. Since today is the Double Ninth Festival, I thought wearing a sachet would be appropriate for the occasion.”
“Niangniang has refined taste,” Shen Zhuo retracted his gaze, his tone flat, revealing no emotion. After he left, Hua Wu lamented, “Lord Shen is truly distant. I remember last time Zhaoyi had to be on the same path as him for Commander Xi to believe it.”
Hanbi only smiled. “Lord Shen is now highly trusted by His Majesty. How can you speak ill of him like that?” Although she said this, she probably found him a bit boring and had a slight mischievous thought. Ningzhi then said, “How can one criticize a close minister of the Emperor?” Hua Wu dared not speak again.
The three placed the picked dogwood. The banquet was about to begin. Customarily, the Emperor and Empress offered blessings and libations. After they spoke, the feast began. Hanbi didn’t particularly like the other dishes, but when the palace staff served crab with orange stuffing, she tasted a few more bites.
Hanbi’s seating position was clever, allowing her to easily observe the expressions of everyone at the table. Crab was a cold food, and most people didn’t like to eat too much of it, but Consort Gu was frowning and looking very uncomfortable. However, Hanbi couldn’t be the one to remind her.
Fortunately, Consort Zhao Lin, who was beside her, noticed Consort Gu’s unusual expression and asked, “Consort Gu, what’s wrong?”
The Empress didn’t pay much attention to a small-ranked Consort, but she still had to manage the situation. She summoned the accompanying imperial physician. The imperial physician took her pulse, hesitated, and then took it again before asking, “Has the Consort been feeling weak and fatigued in recent days, and craving sour foods?”
Consort Gu, supported by Consort Zhao Lin, nodded with difficulty. The imperial physician smiled and respectfully said to Zhao Yan, “Congratulations, Your Majesty. Consort Gu’s pulse indicates pregnancy.”
Zhao Yan smiled more upon hearing this. “Reward him.” The imperial physician offered profuse thanks and withdrew. Everyone was naturally happy to hear this, but Hanbi observed the Empress’s face, which looked somewhat unwell, though she managed to maintain a smile.
The banquet ended, and everyone strolled around Mount Yu. The Empress sat on a soft cushion, with Ning Changxue beside her. She had also heard about Consort Gu’s pregnancy at the banquet.
“Consort Gu’s favor is only mediocre, yet she is now pregnant,” the Empress said with a hint of resentment. Ning Changxue advised her, “Sister, calm down. This is a time of trouble. If it’s a prince, we can always adopt the child later.”
Even though she said this, the Empress did not calm down. She sighed, “It’s ultimately not one’s own flesh and bl00d. They might become distant in the future.” The Empress then stroked her lower abdomen, which remained flat.
Ning Changxue offered more comfort, gently cautioning the Empress not to take action against Consort Gu. However, seeing her sitting there in a daze, Ning Changxue could do nothing. She shook her head and started talking about other things.
Hanbi took a sip of chrysanthemum wine, finding it very mellow. She then picked up the sachet at her waist and played with it. The sachet had a faint scent of chrysanthemum mixed with other fragrances.
“Is everything arranged?” She did not turn around. This was addressed to Linglong. The red tassel was wrapped around Hanbi’s fingertips, making her hands appear even more radiant and jade-like.
“Everything is arranged.” Linglong’s voice was still laced with coldness. Hanbi didn’t seem to mind. Noticing the wound on Linglong’s hand, she personally took the white jade ointment from the carriage and applied it to her. The white jade ointment was slightly cool, and Hanbi’s hand was also somewhat cool, which helped Linglong sober up a bit.
“Be careful next time. Don’t hurt yourself again,” Hanbi instructed with a gentle voice and a frown. However, Linglong recalled how she was always like this with her pawns, and then thought of her subsequent malicious schemes. Her expression quickly reverted to cold indifference.
After applying the ointment, Linglong quickly left. The trip to Mount Yu also concluded. Nothing new happened on the way back. However, the porcelain vase in Zhaoyue Palace was adorned with the dogwood she, Hua Wu, and Ningzhi had picked.
As for Consort Gu, because she was diagnosed as pregnant, Zhao Yan was worried about any complications. He had already ordered her to be sent back to the palace at Mount Yu. She had been well cared for by the imperial physicians and female medical staff these past few days. Hanbi thought that Zhao Yan probably hoped the baby would be a prince, as he was truly in dire need of an heir.
Hanbi stayed in Zhaoyue Palace, only leaving for the routine morning greetings. Otherwise, she stayed indoors. Princess Xuancheng occasionally came to talk to her, and their relationship grew closer day by day.
The mishap occurred while Hanbi was discussing Buddhism with Princess Xuancheng. Hua Wu returned to report that something had happened at Cuihua Pavilion. Princess Xuancheng was slightly startled. Originally, Consort Gu was not qualified to occupy Cuihua Pavilion alone, but to nurse her pregnancy, concubines of the same rank had moved out. This inconvenience had caused some grumbling, but since it was Zhao Yan’s decree, no one dared to say anything.
Hanbi said, “Go and find out what happened first, then report back.” However, given that Cuihua Pavilion only housed Consort Gu, it was easy to guess that something had happened to Consort Gu, and it likely involved the fetus.
“Then I won’t disturb Zhaoyi,” Princess Xuancheng politely took her leave, wisely choosing to avoid involvement in harem affairs. Seeing her about to leave, Hanbi said, “Then I will send some Buddhist scriptures to the Princess another day.” Princess Xuancheng naturally expressed her gratitude, exchanged a few more pleasantries, and then left with Zhu Zi.
Hua Wu returned quickly. After catching her breath, she said, “Consort Gu’s fetus couldn’t be saved. They say it was due to a fall.” Hanbi was not surprised. Consort Gu was of low status after all. It was only normal that someone would target her.
“There must be some other reason for this,” Hanbi clearly did not believe the explanation of a fall. She instructed Hua Wu, “Report any movements from Cuihua Pavilion to me, and the same goes for the Empress and Consort Shu.”
At Cuihua Pavilion, Consort Gu awoke, feeling an unbearable pain in her abdomen. She looked at the maidservant beside her. “Where is my child?” The maidservant lowered her head. “Consort, the child is gone.”
Consort Gu was quite beautiful, otherwise her family would not have sent her into the palace. But at this moment, her face was haggard, yet she still laughed. “You’re lying to me, aren’t you?”
The maidservant dared not speak, afraid of agitating her. The imperial physician could only explain to her, “The Consort fell outside, and combined with the musk contained in the sachet, this led to the miscarriage. She now needs careful recuperation.”
Consort Gu frowned. “What sachet?” The imperial physician brought over the sachet embroidered with autumn chrysanthemums. It even had gold thread to look more realistic. “The sachet the Consort wore contained musk. The quantity was small and mixed with other fragrances, making it difficult to distinguish, so the inspecting palace staff did not notice anything amiss. However, a careful examination revealed traces of musk inside.”
Consort Gu looked at the sachet on the small table. It was one of the sachets the Empress had given to all the palaces on the Double Ninth Festival, and she had worn it ever since. Only at this moment did she realize that she had indeed lost her child. Two lines of clear tears fell from her beautiful eyes, and she murmured, “Empress, Empress.”
The maidservant finally managed to calm Consort Gu. She and the imperial physician left Cuihua Pavilion, shaking their heads. They ran into Zhao Yan, who had rushed to Cuihua Pavilion immediately after court. The two quickly bowed. “Greetings, Your Majesty.”
Zhao Yan said, “Dispense with the formalities. How is Consort Gu?” The imperial physician had no choice but to say, “The Consort suffered a fall, and the musk in the sachet she wore on the Double Ninth Festival caused the miscarriage.” Zhao Yan remembered that he had instructed Ning Changyi to bestow those on the concubines, but now it had become the death warrant for his own child.