Chapter 166: Chapter 166 - The Qianqiu Festival

It was a custom to pay a New Year’s call to seniors in the first lunar month. Regardless of the resentment for this distant uncle, a visit to him was unavoidable. However, before going to the Qiu Family’s mansion, Jian Xubai and Song Yixiao had to deal with the Qianqiu Festival first.

Empress Su was from an influential family, but she practiced frugality. Besides, her birthday happened to be the most leisure and yet busiest time in a year. Therefore, she never agreed to celebrate for it in a high-profile manner. Instead, she only set up a small feast of several tables in the Palace of Weiyang.

Although not many guests were invited, it was not peaceful anyway. Soon after the feast started, Daiguo Grand Princess kept mentioning that Prince of Zhao would work in court after the Spring Festival. “Your Majesty, why don’t you ask Prince of Wei to help share your burden? His pedigree is not as noble as that of Prince of Zhao, but he is older anyway. Besides, he is always sensible and filial. If you are worried about his capability, you may as well assign a few officials to teach him. I can assure you that he will never let you down!”

She added, “If Prince of Zhao can get to work in court and on the contrary, Prince of Wei, his elder brother idles away, how can Prince of Wei face the people? And I, as his mother-in-law, will be disgraced too!”

“It is the Empress’s birthday today. Why did you bring that up?” Although Daiguo Grand Princess kept talking about Prince of Zhao, Empress Su only chatted with Virtuous Consort Jiang with an elegant smile, as if she hadn’t heard that. After all, Prince of Wei’s working in court would pose a direct threat to the Crown Prince, who was not the birth son of the Empress!

It was Jinguo Grand Princess who was reproaching her. “Today is a family feast. If you want to talk business, you should ask your husband to submit an official memorial after the Spring Festival!”

The Grand Princess stepped up not for the sake of the Crown Prince but her brother, Emperor Xianjia. She didn’t want to see him unhappy during the rare vacation of a year.

Despite that, the Crown Prince and his wife cast a grateful glance at her.

On the contrary, Daiguo Grand Princess was irritated. “My sister, when Wuying ran out of home and I helped you search for her all over the capital, did I insult you? You care about your daughter; then why can I show concern for my daughter and son-in-law? Besides, Wuying is only a foster daughter while Nanzhang is my birth daughter!”

Instantly, Nie Wuying, who was not suitable to attend the family feast, became rigid in situ!

“Since she is at the family feast, of course she is one of the families!” Jinguo Grand Princess saw clearly what happened. Wearing an angry look, she snapped, “What’s the difference between a foster daughter and a birth daughter? In my eyes, those who call me mother are all my children, whether a foster daughter or daughter-in-law!”

Daiguo Grand Princess didn’t achieve her goal, so she was not in a mood to argue against her. She only said, “I’ve misspoken. Please forgive me. Since you regard your daughters-in-law as your own blood, isn’t it reasonable for me to care about my son-in-law’s prospect? Is it that your children are treasure while my children are rubbish?”

Then she turned to Emperor Xianjia who was touching the cup quietly, saying, “Your Majesty, am I right? My husband and I have only a son and a daughter. Zifu hasn’t got a job by far. However, Prince of Wei is not only my son-in-law but also your son. You shouldn’t treat him unfairly!”

Emperor Xianjia frowned in anguish but he still talked in a soft voice to his sister, “Indeed, Zifu should get a job. Which department do you think he should work at?”

Daiguo Grand Princess pondered and said, “I do hope that he can work in court to steel himself, but my husband says that he is too impetuous now, who cannot shoulder a big responsibility!”

Emperor Xianjia only mentioned Ji Zifu and yet ignored Prince of Wei, which indicated that he wouldn’t allow Prince of Wei to work in court. If he broke a rule to engage Ji Zifu in court, Daiguo Grand Princess shouldn’t keep badgering. It was not that she didn’t want her son to be paramount and powerful. Yet, if the future emperor was not Prince of Wei, all the fortune and glory that the Ji Family had now would be lost one day!

The Prince Consort, Ji Weiguan sat next to her quietly, who obviously agreed with her tacitly.

Emperor Xianjia was about to speak when Ji Zifu suddenly rose and said, “Uncle, I am not capable enough to shoulder a big responsibility, but in terms of trivial matters, I believe that I can make it. Please give me an opportunity!”

His request took all the people present by surprise. Song Yixiao thought that it was arranged by Daiguo Grand Princess so she subconsciously had a look at the latter only to find that this aunt also seemed surprised. Emperor Xianjia, looking down from a height with a clear vision, asked with interest, “Zifu, what do you want to do?”

“I heard that Xubai has been very busy these days, so I want to give him a hand in the Ministry of War.” Ji Zifu’s words astonished the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince just made He Wenqiong the Director of the Minister of War before the Spring Festival and had no time to expel Prince of Zhao’s people from the court yet. Now Prince of Wei intended to place his men into the court openly?

He looked at the seat of honor subconsciously.

Emperor Xianjia, sitting on the seat of honor, touched the golden cup and smiled. “Since you are thinking for your cousin, how can I not offer you the opportunity?”

Then he asked the Crown Prince, “What vacancies are there in the Ministry of War?”

“Father, He Wenqiong is the former Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of War, and now has been promoted as the Director, making the post of Left Vice Minister vacant.” The Crown Prince was calmed. Emperor Xianjia had allowed Ji Zifu to work in the Ministry of War, but he still asked the Crown Prince’s opinion on the actual assignment. Obviously, he was reminding others of the importance of the Crown Prince.

He stood up and said prudently, “As to other vacancies, they are not suitable for Zifu.”

“I’m afraid that Zifu is too young to be the Left Vice Minister.” Before Daiguo Grand Princess and her husband refused on behalf of her son, Emperor Xianjia said, “How about this? Check whether one of the directors of the Bureau of Operations, Bureau of Communications and Bureau of Provisions is qualified to be promoted to the vice minister of the bureau. If yes, let him promoted so that the vacancy can be filled by Zifu.”

Jinguo Grand Princess took the lead in saying with a nod, “They are about the same age, who should be of the same official ranking!”

Then she slightly frowned, “That should be enough for business. Today we are here to celebrate the Empress’s birthday. Why do we keep talking about the kids’ prospect?”

It kind of soothed things over for Emperor Xianjia but it also put Empress Su into a dilemma. If she consented to Jinguo Grand Princess’s words, she would be rendered dissatisfied with Daiguo Grand Princess’s defiance. In that case, Daiguo Grand Princess, always rude and arrogant, would not let the matter drop with her! If she said that she was okay with it, she would be considered as an unappreciative person for Jinguo Grand Princess’s kindness!

Fortunately, the Empress was always smart. After ruminating for a while, she already had an idea. However, before she spoke, a eunuch suddenly rushed inside and reported in a hurry, “Your Majesties, Lady Nuan feels an excruciating pain in the belly suddenly. Her maid says that Lady Nuan seems to have a miscarriage!”

“What?” Empress Su was startled and Emperor Xianjia was also surprised, but he was quickly calmed. He took up the cup and had a sip of the wine. All the guests at the hall were caught off guard by the sudden mishap and stayed silent. Empress Su snapped, “Have you sent for a doctor?”

The eunuch said, “Yes, we have. Yet, there is no consort in the Palace of Lanqiu so no one can take charge of the Pavilion of Pinglan. We don’t dare to make any decision randomly!”

“You don’t dare to make any decision?” Empress Su sensed the gravity of the situation. If Lady Nuan was not in an urgent situation, it would be enough to send for a doctor only. Why was someone to make a decision needed? She got flurried and turned around to say to Emperor Xianjia, “Your Majesty, I…”

“Nianzhen, today is your birthday. How can you be bothered by it?” Emperor Xianjia understood what she meant and shook his head, saying, “If you are really worried, send a palace maid to check on her. We shouldn’t let a lady only cast a chill over the Festival!”

Nianzhen was Empress Su’s maiden name.

Emperor Xianjia’s calling that in front of a group of juniors indicated the intimacy but it was still improper.

Song Yixiao and other juniors who didn’t know the Emperor well didn’t find it inappropriate, who only thought that Emperor Xianjia miscalled the Empress carelessly out of love for her.

However, for the others, including the Empress Dowager who didn’t talk much and the two grand princesses, all realized that Emperor Xianjia made such a mistake for being distracted and couldn’t help feeling astonished!

“Fangyu, go to see what on earth happens.” Empress Su hesitated and then ordered a chief palace maid behind her. “Keep this in mind—give priority to the safety of Lady Nuan’s safety and her baby!”

The imperial harem system of the Great Rui followed that of the previous Yong. The lowest-rank one was the 8th-rank Concubine and the highest-rank one was the Empress. Apart from that, the harem system consisted of the following titles from low to high in terms of ranking: Imperial Wife, Niangzi, Cainyu, Xiaoyi, Lady, Baolin, Talented Lady, Beautiful Lady, Concubine, Jieyu, Nine Concubines, Consort, Madame, Noble Consort, Decent Consort, Virtuous Consort and Moral Consort. There were 16 ranks in total.

There were many ranks, but only Jieyu and the above could be regarded as a decent mistress, who was allowed to live in the principal room and pay respects to the empress dowager in the Palace of Qingxi with the empress. Besides, they could join the family’s feast of the Qianqiu Festival too!

Yet, the lady who miscarried was only a fifth-rank concubine, a relatively low-class imperial concubine. Yet, she was pregnant with the baby of the emperor anyway. Although Emperor Xianjia claimed not to let it disturb the Qianqiu Festival, the following atmosphere was somewhat affected.

Even Daiguo Grand Princess didn’t mention letting Prince of Wei enter the court anymore.

As the music went on again, Song Yixiao turned sideward, intending to ask her husband whether they should send something to comfort Lady Nuan. Yet, she found that Jian Xubai, resting his head against one hand, was playing with a pink-gold cup with beast-shape ears. He was frowning as if encountering some trouble.

“Since Aunt Daiguo was targeting at the Ministry of War, without Cousin Zifu, there would be someone else!” Song Yixiao thought that he was upset about the matter that Ji Zifu volunteered to work in the Ministry of War, so she left the thing of Lady Nuan behind and comforted Jian Xubai in a soft voice, “You’ve told me before that Cousin Zifu is not scheming. Honorable as he is, he is not as difficult as the old officials to deal with, is he?”

Jian Xubai was surprised and then said unnaturally, “Yes.”

“Then don’t worry about it. After all, it has been granted by His Majesty. Even the Crown Prince didn’t say anything about it. If you keep frowning, others will make a big fuss about it!” Song Yixiao said and raised her chin to the diagonal opposite. Qiu Shuxia was sitting there, the one who they would pay a New Year’s call to.

Jian Xubai didn’t look at his uncle. Instead, he rubbed the cup edge and waved at the maid to refill it. After drinking the wine up, as if he made up his mind, he whispered to his wife, “Lady Nuan… Since we’ve known her mishap, you had better send some gifts to her later!”

Song Yixiao said, “Okay.” Then she added, “I will ask your sister about the habits of Lady Nuan then!”

“No need!” Unexpectedly, Jian Xubai said without hesitation. “Just pick some of the things I brought from Wuhuan in our treasury.”

“Wuhuan?” Song Yixiao was confused and suddenly thought of something. Then she went closer to her husband’s ear and said in a low voice, “Is Lady Nuan… The princess of Wuhuan who was enrolled into the imperial palace at the beginning of last year?”

With a complex look, Jian Xubai said after a while, “She is the daughter of the king of Wuhuan, Princess Feinuan!”