CHAPTER 366: CHAPTER 366: PROVIDED THAT THE REAL PRINCESS DOESN’T APPEAR

In the Capital City, the topic among noble ladies was Young Lady Heir Pei, while in the palace, the concubines were discussing the County Princess.

Most of these concubines had daughters: sons were vulnerable to plots, but daughters could mostly survive. Even though they were all daughters, the treatment of the emperor’s beloved daughter’s daughter was worlds apart from how their daughters were treated—an obvious cause for jealousy.

The privileges their daughters couldn’t enjoy were instead given to a counterfeit princess, who was not only spared execution but was also made a County Princess.

How could these palace ladies be at ease? Upon hearing of her scandal, they felt uncomfortable not joining in the scolding.

"To commit the heinous crime of impersonating a princess, what sort of person could she be? If not for the emperor’s regard for the Li Family, she would have been quartered long ago."

"But doesn’t it show the emperor’s partiality toward the child of that woman? If she had been a real one, what then?"

"There’s nothing real. It’s long dead." A concubine spoke with malice.

"We shouldn’t speak so defiantly; after all, there’s no definite news."

"If she were still alive, could they not have found her all these years? The entire land is under the emperor, after all."

"Dead is best; otherwise, as daughters, why should she be pampered more than others? What would the other princesses think?"

Amid the heated discussions below, Noble Princess Consort Xu merely listened without joining in.

There are two Noble Consorts this dynasty. One, Consort Zhang, is gone, leaving only Noble Princess Consort Xu.

Noble Princess Consort Xu had no sons, only a daughter, which resulted in her being overshadowed by Consort Zhang for years because of this.

Fortunately, her daughter was accomplished and could charm the emperor, outshining the sightless daughter of Consort Zhang, giving her hope in life.

Before Princess Zhuyu appeared, her daughter was the most favored.

But once Princess Zhuyu appeared, the emperor saw no one else but that daughter, and even her own daughter was overlooked, leading to a round of ridicule from Consort Zhang.

Now it’s different; the princess is fake, and both Consort Zhang and the Seventh Prince are gone. Consort Zhang’s daughter is now like a stray dog, with no position to compete with her daughter.

The other princesses in the palace are either too young, married, or not pleasing enough. Among those the emperor favored the most, no one compared to her daughter.

Of course, provided that the real princess doesn’t appear.

Noble Princess Consort Xu also secretly wished that the princess would never appear again, hoping she had died somewhere outside.

Noble Princess Consort Xu’s daughter is Princess Qiuxi, named so because she was born in autumn, granted such a title by the emperor.

Princess Qiuxi has a proud and strategic nature; otherwise, she couldn’t have surpassed the much-favored daughter of Consort Zhang.

"Perform well in front of your father-emperor in coming days, and perhaps the emperor might reward you with Yihua Palace as your residence." Noble Princess Consort Xu said to her daughter.

Yihua Palace, what kind of place is that? It’s the best mansion in the Capital City, warm in winter and cool in summer. It’s not only coveted by princesses but also princes; however, it’s known to be the reserved place for that daughter by the emperor.

Most princes have lofty ambitions, and while they care about a position, their attachment to a mansion is not as profound.

Things are different with the prince’s wives. They cannot participate in the struggle for the throne, so they can only assert their status by competing for material things.

Yet, over the years, no princess has been granted it.

Upon hearing her mother-consort’s words, Princess Qiuxi felt moved, "But how can I get father-emperor to give me that mansion?"

"Your father-emperor will soon hold a banquet for foreign envoys. Perform well at the banquet; after that, take the opportunity to ask to play at Yihua Palace. Once you stay there, won’t it be yours?"

Princess Qiuxi was also determined to seize that mansion, to show the other princesses that she was the emperor’s most beloved daughter.

As for the emperor’s daughter rumored to be wandering, she considered her merely a wild child. Even if she couldn’t be found now, if recovered, she would outshine her just the same.

Princess Zhuyu before was very much disregarded by Princess Qiuxi, who never chose to engage with her. Although she heard often how the emperor favored her, she thought it might just be a temporary novelty. Over time, the emperor would realize that something nurtured in the wild could never match the dignity of one raised in the imperial palace.

...

The list for the palace banquet came out, and without a certain status, being invited was impossible.

The women eligible to attend the palace banquet saw the attendance list, and some were displeased, stating Young Lady Pei lacked the virtue to attend such a high level function.

Mrs. Xiao was the most vocal, and her closely associated women stood by her side.

"Let someone like that attend the palace banquet, isn’t that disgraceful to our country?"

"Indeed, it’s as if we have no one dignified left, letting such an individual make a spectacle."

"We ought to find a way to exclude her; otherwise, we court women will unite, refusing to attend, see how that fares?"

Though not every court lady shared close ties, they universally scorn women out of propriety. None responded otherwise when informed.

The issue reached the empress, who had no recourse. She couldn’t sacrifice the attendance of other ladies just for a single Young Lady Pei. Hence, someone was sent to subtly hint to Young Lady Pei to excuse herself from the palace banquet.

Upon receiving the news, Qu Fulan had no time to respond as Pei Ji’an frowned, "The empress says there’s an unsavory rumor about you spreading in the Capital City? And because of it, you are advised to stay home and avoid going out?"

The banquet is the day after tomorrow, implying she should stay home then?

Qu Fulan was also puzzled, and asked the palace attendant, who seemed hesitant and eventually said nothing clear.

Pei Ji’an sent someone to inquire and soon found the reason.

Qu Fulan was stunned. Merely bumping into Xiao Shiqing at the bun shop led to her being labeled as promiscuous?

And what of that sachet, it wasn’t even related to her! How did those outside manage to fabricate this story with so much detail?

She recounted the incident to Pei Ji’an, who also found it absurd.

"What about the banquet the day after tomorrow?" Qu Fulan wasn’t adamant about attending, but given the current rumors, not attending would only confirm them.

"What else can we do? Attend as planned. If you’re not allowed, I won’t go either." Pei Ji’an was also infuriated.

Each time a foreign delegation attended, competitions and exchanges with local dignitaries ensued. In previous years, Pei Ji’an and Xiao Shiqing always achieved great feats; if he were absent now, the emperor would be the first to disagree.

The next morning, after the court session, Pei Ji’an deliberately lingered at the Imperial Kitchen and discreetly mentioned that noble wives were banding together over unfounded rumors to obstruct his wife from attending the banquet, implying that he too wouldn’t attend, lest it reflects poorly.

This alarmed the emperor. Missing such a key figure would bring shame before the envoys—what face would the emperor have left?

"Since it’s unfounded rumors, what need has Pei to dwell on it? Moreover, your wife’s contributions to the foundation are considerable, and I’ve long wished to commend her personally. Here’s the opportunity; why not seize it? Bring her so I may have a look."

"And the empress?" Pei Ji’an hesitated intentionally.

"I’ll handle it."