The Vicious Woman and the White Moonlight are both me - Chapter 23

The eighth day of the eighth lunar month was the day of Song Zhaoyan’s coming-of-age ceremony.

Although she was only the Emperor’s adopted daughter, the occasion would still be celebrated with great extravagance. If the Empress had not been confined beforehand, the ceremony would certainly have been arranged by her. But now, the responsibility had fallen to the Noble Consort and Consort Shu.

As for what happened at the Qixi Festival, the two princes and the princess at least had a clearly defined period of confinement. The Empress, however, had been ordered by His Majesty to shut herself away and reflect on her conduct, with no specified end date. That made things far more complicated.

After the Empress was confined, the Crown Prince went to Longju Palace several times to plead on her behalf, only to be rejected by the Emperor every time. Naturally, he redirected this resentment onto Song Zhaoyan.

Song Zhaoyan was unaware of all this.

There were still two or three days to go but the clothes and jewelry she wants to wear had already been delivered to Chaoyang Palace.

Song Zhaoyan happily examined the gold and silver ornaments sent by the Noble Consort and Consort Shu. After all, they were simply too beautiful. She picked and chose among them, repeatedly changing pieces and holding them up to her head to see how they looked.

Watching this, Pei Shen could only feel that Song Zhaoyan was unbearably vulgar. Though such worldly possessions were indeed important, her behavior now showed none of the elegance befitting a princess. She looked entirely like a rustic village woman who had never seen the world.

In his view, Zhan Xinyue was completely different. These days, the two of them were often at Chaoyang Palace, so they naturally saw each other more often and had more chances to talk.

Zhan Xinyue was not some exceptionally learned young lady steeped in poetry and books, but her temperament was straightforward and her manner easygoing. Pei Shen envied her sense of freedom even more than her character and envied the liberty she had enjoyed since childhood. He truly wished that once he could establish his own residence and move out of the palace, he too might live with such unrestrained freedom.

After trying them on for a long time, Song Zhaoyan finally grew tired and waved her hand, signaling Xuezhi to take everything away.

“That’s enough. I’ve neglected my studies these past few days, and I can’t go on like this. Today, I’ll properly devote myself to reading.”

Hearing this, Zhan Xinyue found it rather unexpected. But she was here as a companion reader in the first place, and since the princess had taken the initiative to study, there was no reason for her to refuse.

“Then shall we go to the Wenxue Hall?”

Song Zhaoyan shot Zhan Xinyue a sideways glance. “Why go there? Fifth Brother isn’t there anyway. Just summon the Junior Tutor instead—and you—”

Song Zhaoyan pointed at Pei Shen. “You’ve been reading the books I gave you for quite some time now. Have you gained any insight at all? When the Junior Tutor arrives later, you will be the one to explain things to me. If you get even a single point wrong, you should know what kind of consequences await you. I want Fifth Brother to look at me in a whole new light once his confinement is lifted!”

Zhan Xinyue looked at Pei Shen in surprise, not understanding what this was about. However, hearing Song Zhaoyan deliberately making things difficult for the Ninth Prince, her brows knitted together.

If they were going to summon the Junior Tutor to explain the lessons, yet still make the Ninth Prince speak first, wasn’t that clearly an intentional attempt to put him on the spot?

“Princess, time is precious. Why waste it? Since the Junior Tutor is being summoned, perhaps we should just—”

“Did I give you permission to speak?” Song Zhaoyan’s icy gaze fell on Zhan Xinyue as she cut her off expressionlessly.

“You are here only as a companion reader, not to tell me how to conduct myself. Know your place!”

Seeing Zhan Xinyue humiliated by Song Zhaoyan, Pei Shen finally could not hold back and spoke up. “There’s no need for the princess to be angry. Pei Shen will explain it for you.”

Hearing Pei Shen’s words, Song Zhaoyan shot him another disdainful glance and let out a cold snort. “I never noticed before—so Ninth Brother has a chivalrous streak, does he? Protecting flowers now?”

The remark startled both Pei Shen and Zhan Xinyue.

“Why does the princess say that?” Pei Shen asked.

“Princess, you’ve misunderstood. Pei Shen is merely carrying out the princess’s orders,” Zhan Xinyue hurriedly explained.

“Is that so?” Song Zhaoyan said indifferently. “It’s rare to see you so obedient. Then you’d better explain things properly later.”

With that, she rose and walked toward the desk. Zhan Xinyue felt a surge of awkwardness; after offering a respectful salute, she followed after Song Zhaoyan.

Pei Shen remained where he was, stunned for a moment as he mulled over Song Zhaoyan’s words and attitude. He recalled how she had once used his mother, Lady Zhang the Cai Nü, as leverage to threaten him. If Song Zhaoyan were to realize that he wished to defend Zhan Xinyue, Zhan Xinyue’s situation would likely not end well either.

With that thought, Pei Shen decided it would be best to reduce his contact with Zhan Xinyue.

Before long, the Junior Tutor arrived. Pei Shen took on the role of instructor and began explaining the lessons to Song Zhaoyan. Although Song Zhaoyan only half understood what she heard, the undisguised look of appreciation in the Junior Tutor’s eyes, along with his repeated nods toward Pei Shen, made it clear to her that Pei Shen had done quite well.

When the explanation ended, however, Song Zhaoyan remarked coolly, “It’s no different from those old men at the Wenxue Hall—dry and tedious. A complete waste of my time.”

With that, she stood up and left.

Pei Shen had been growing more and more satisfied with himself as he spoke, but after receiving such an evaluation, he deflated like a punctured balloon, a shadow settling over his expression.

Seeing that Song Zhaoyan had left, the Junior Tutor’s stepped closer to Pei Shen and quietly spoke a sincere word. “Ninth Prince, there’s no need to belittle yourself. Your understanding of the principles in this text is very solid.”

Hearing the praise, joy surged back into Pei Shen’s heart, his eyes practically sparkling. “Truly?”

“Truly,” Zhan Xinyue added. “Even I found it completely fascinating.”

This earnest affirmation gave Pei Shen tremendous encouragement, quickly washing away the negative blow dealt by Song Zhaoyan’s words just moments earlier.

There was no need to take what Song Zhaoyan had said to heart—after all, she was simply that kind of detestable person.

At last, the eighth day of the eighth lunar month arrived: the day of Song Zhaoyan’s coming-of-age ceremony.

Xuezhi had long since made preparations and was about to go dress and groom Song Zhaoyan when she was stopped by Aunt Tao, the head maid. “Is the gold hairpin for the princess’s coiffure ready?”

Xuezhi quickly replied, “Please rest assured, Aunt Tao. I’ve already put it away properly and ordered someone to deliver it over there.”

“Foolish!” Aunt Tao snapped. “Something this important was entrusted to someone else to deliver—what if something goes wrong? I’ll dress the princess myself. You quickly and go check everything again.”

Faced with Aunt Tao’s rare cold expression, Xuezhi was clearly taken aback, but she still obeyed.

“Yes, I’ll go right away!”

With the brief exchange concluded, Aunt Tao took over and went in to dress and groom Song Zhaoyan.

________________

Although the matter of the Qixi Festival earlier had seemed to have nothing to do with Song Zhaoyan, the Noble Consort and Consort Shu did not believe it for a moment. In their eyes, it was yet another case of His Majesty showing favoritism and shielding her—going so far as to confine the Empress.

Because of this, when the two of them were ordered to oversee Song Zhaoyan’s coming-of-age ceremony, they dared not show the slightest negligence and handled everything with utmost care.

Song Zhaoyan was not a true princess by bl00d, so naturally the Empress Dowager did not attend. Aside from those who were confined and therefore absent, all the other consorts, princes, and princesses were present. The crowd could not help but marvel at just how favored Princess Zhaohua was by the Emperor.

A female official of the Inner Court arranged Song Zhaoyan’s hair and placed the gold hairpin upon it. Amid the clear, ringing calls of the ritual officer, Song Zhaoyan finally completed each step of the ceremony.

Ordinarily, the Emperor would not attend a princess’s coming-of-age ceremony. Of course, if the princess were exceptionally favored, that would be a different matter altogether.

Thus, even though Song Zhaoyan was merely an adopted daughter, everyone present knew in their hearts that although His Majesty had not yet arrived, he would certainly appear.

Sure enough, the very next moment, Jiang Rutai’s voice rang out: “His Majesty has arrived!”

Everyone present immediately bowed in unison to pay their respects. The Emperor had not yet changed out of his court robes, making it clear that he had come in great haste.

“Rise!”

“Thank you, Your Majesty!”

Xuezhi supported Song Zhaoyan as she rose to her feet. Just then, the Emperor stepped forward, his face full of benevolence as he looked at her, as though he were truly a doting father cherishing his beloved daughter. Yet in the mere few steps it took him to draw closer; the look in his eyes changed unmistakably.

His pupils contracted sharply, as if he had been struck by lightning. The hand he had intended to reach out and pat Song Zhaoyan’s head tightened unconsciously, and he froze in place.

The young woman’s skin was like freshly fallen snow, her brows and eyes carrying a faint smile, her gaze rippling like autumn water—enough to ensnare the eye and the heart.

So alike—far too alike! Especially the gold hairpin atop Song Zhaoyan’s head, identical in style to the one that woman had once worn!

It was as though the Emperor had fallen entirely into his own world.

Song Zhaoyan naturally noticed the sudden change, though she did not understand why. She could only speak up cautiously, testing the waters. “Father Emperor? What’s wrong?”

That single address struck the Emperor’s heart like the heavy beat of a war drum. The name he had gone years without uttering, the one that had nearly slipped from his lips, was instantly forced back down.

This is not her! She is already dead—killed by my own hand! This may be her daughter, but the bl00d of another man flows in her veins as well!

With that thought, the Emperor regained his composure in an instant. His gaze flicked once more to the gold hairpin in Song Zhaoyan’s hair, yet the suspicion in his heart had already spread, casting doubt over everyone present.

Although he had kept the clothing belonging to Song Zhaoyan’s birth mother, every single item had been sealed away. Still, there were indeed a few concubines who had accompanied him for many years who knew of her existence and had even seen those belongings.

The gold hairpin Song Zhaoyan was wearing now could not possibly be one of the items he had put away himself. And surely no one would dare be so bold as to commit such a grave act of deceiving the Emperor.

That meant someone with ulterior motives had deliberately had an identical gold hairpin made. But for what purpose?

The Emperor’s gaze as he looked at Song Zhaoyan was still filled with affection, yet Song Zhaoyan distinctly sensed that beyond that affection, there seemed to be an added layer of cool detachment—so fleeting that she almost wondered if her eyes had deceived her.

But she knew very well that it wasn’t her imagination. Especially since the Emperor had deliberately glanced at her hair. Was there something special there? Aside from the gold hairpin she had just been adorned with, Song Zhaoyan could think of nothing else.

Yet why would that gold hairpin draw so much of the Emperor’s attention?

And that coldness and distance hidden in his eyes…

This was not a look that would suddenly appear in the eyes of an elder who had long overindulged a younger relative.

A faint sense of doubt rose in Song Zhaoyan’s heart. Though she could not yet figure out the reason, it was enough to put her subtly on guard.

Her current role might be that of a vicious supporting character, but that did not mean she was a fool.

Of course, for the moment she did not reveal her doubts too openly, continuing instead to play the role of a deeply affectionate father and daughter with the Emperor.

The Emperor replaced his expression with one of renewed tenderness. He raised his hand and patted Song Zhaoyan’s head, and the strange look from before was gone, his eyes now glistening with emotion. He said to her, “My good child—before I know it, you’ve reached the age to be married. Just thinking that you’ll one day become someone’s wife makes Father Emperor reluctant to part with you.”

Seeing this, the Noble Consort immediately stepped forward and spoke. “Your Majesty, you’re too concerned. Everyone knows how dearly you cherish the princess. If you’re unwilling to part with her, you could always keep her by your side for a few more years and take your time selecting a suitable consort.”

Listening to their back-and-forth, Song Zhaoyan could only lower her head and put on a shy expression.

But just after the Noble Consort finished speaking, a man of around twenty years of age behind the Emperor spoke up. His voice was not soft or effeminate, yet it could hardly be called forceful either.

“Actually, Father Emperor needn’t worry so excessively about Sister Zhaohua. If you truly can’t bear to part with her, why not simply choose one of the princes to become her husband? Wouldn’t that put Father Emperor more at ease?”

Hearing this, Song Zhaoyan appeared even more delighted. After all, many people knew that she “liked” Fifth Prince Pei Chengyun. As long as the Emperor followed this man’s line of thought, she could naturally and smoothly express her own wishes!

In truth, it wasn’t that the Emperor hadn’t noticed that Song Zhaoyan had someone she favored. He had simply never asked—and the reason was simple enough. His so-called image as a loving father was merely for others to see. Even if he knew, he would not inquire.

Yet for some reason, the Emperor—who normally showed little reaction—darkened in expression once more upon hearing these words.

“Your words today are rather too many, Crown Prince.”

So, this man was the Crown Prince, Pei Chenghao. Song Zhaoyan looked over again and saw that Pei Chenghao was also looking at her. At first glance, his face wore an approachable smile, yet the smile never reached his eyes.

Clearly, when faced with the person who had caused his mother, the Empress, to be confined, how could Pei Chenghao possibly have any goodwill to spare?

“Father Emperor, please forgive me. Your son misspoke.”

The Emperor did not respond. He turned his gaze back to Song Zhaoyan. “Enough. Today is Man’er’s coming-of-age ceremony. It may as well be treated as a family banquet. Let the feast begin.”