Chapter 57

"The Emperor has arrived!"

Following the announcement from Jiang Deshun outside the door, the hall instantly quieted down.

Everyone stood up to respectfully welcome Xiao Jingheng and the Empress.

Xiao Jingheng and the Empress entered side by side, holding hands affectionately.

Today the Empress also changed into her exclusive phoenix robe, making her look dignified and virtuous.

After Xiao Jingheng was seated at the head seat, the Empress slowly walked to stand below the hall, leading everyone to kneel down and pay respects,

The group of imperial consorts said in unison:

"We wish the Emperor a happy birthday full of auspiciousness and joy, and that everything goes smoothly. May your blessings be as vast as the Eastern Sea, and your longevity be as long as that of Heaven."

Xiao Jingheng waved his hand saying: "Rise. Today at the birthday banquet everyone here is family, let's be at ease and happy together, no need to stand on ceremony."

Everyone thanked and stood up, returning to their seats. Prince An was the first to say:

"Imperial brother is always hiding away and unwilling to drink wine with me. Today is imperial brother's birthday, we brothers ought to drink merrily, not leaving until drunk!"

As soon as he said this, the expressions of Prince Qi and Prince Rui soured.

Xiao Jingheng addressing them as brothers was just politeness. For them to address Xiao Jingheng as brother was presumptuous.

What's more, everyone in the palace was advising Xiao Jingheng to drink less, not wanting him to harm his health from overdrinking. Only Prince An dared to blatantly say the four words "not leaving until drunk" to Xiao Jingheng.

Prince Rui was seated closer to Prince An. He quietly advised:

"Sixth brother, the Emperor is busy with government affairs, we should be advising him to drink less."

Prince An patted Prince Rui on the shoulder and laughed: "Fifth brother is no fun, always so stifled. Today is imperial brother's birthday. It's rare to have leisure, if we don't revel merrily it would be restricting, and that would not be ideal."

"Hahahaha~" Hearing this, Xiao Jingheng guffawed loudly. Raising his wine cup towards Prince An he said: "What old six says is right. Just don't get drunk again and refuse to leave my palace, giving me a headache."

The three princes raised their cups together, celebrating Xiao Jingheng's birthday joy.

They chatted and laughed, not talking about government affairs, simply gathering like ordinary brothers.

After the feast began, everyone enjoyed singing and dancing performances while eating and drinking merrily.

The Empress said to Xiao Jingheng: "The consorts from all palaces have prepared performances for your birthday. Would you take a look?"

Naturally Xiao Jingheng nodded in assent.

Of course at this time the Empress could not take the spotlight, or it would make her seem petty. So she let the other consorts perform first.

They modestly deferred to each other until Consort Chen took the initiative. While the others were still discussing who would perform first, her palace had already brought out her jade zither.

She played the tune "Autumn Poem", the timbre deep and distant, the harmonics clear like splashing jade, trembling as if dragon's cry, demonstrating profound zither skills and fluent finger techniques. Even the most skilled court musicians could not compare.

This was the first time Song Zhao witnessed Consort Chen's talent.

She sighed to herself, originally thinking praise of Consort Chen as a master zither player was exaggerated. After listening today, she realized it was no exaggeration.

After Consort Chen finished her tune, there was thunderous applause in the hall. Xiao Jingheng also said:

"My beloved's zither skills have become even more refined."

Consort Chen revealed a proud and pampered smile, saying:

"Not having played for a while, I was bound to be rusty. It's just that in order to make the Emperor happy, I started practicing again recently. As long as the Emperor is pleased."

Xiao Jingheng was naturally pleased. He even had Consort Chen's seat moved next to him, wanting her to rival the Empress.

The Empress didn't say anything though, not even glancing at Consort Chen, disdaining to see her smug manner.

After that, Consort Yin performed a whirling dance from her Hu ethnicity background.

Dressed in the clothing of her own people, each dance movement brimmed with power, making everyone's eyes light up.

Consort Shu's health had not yet recovered, but she had also made preparations ahead of time for Xiao Jingheng's birthday.

She specially composed a poem to recite for everyone, likewise earning enthusiastic applause.

In summary, the performances opened Song Zhao's eyes.

These women were accomplished like the Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea, each possessing extraordinary talents, not to be underestimated.

However there were exceptions,

such as Consort Hui. She truly had no talents.

Though the Empress intended to let her show her face in front of Xiao Jinghen, she was absorbed in enjoying the Buddha Jumps Over the Wall dish in front of her. Replying with her mouth still full of food:

"You older sisters are all so amazing. Unlike me, I'm good at nothing..."

Consort Chen glanced at the mess on her table and laughed behind her hand:

"Why not perform for the Emperor how you can sweep the table clean in less than half an hour?"

"Hahahahaha~"

Consort Chen's joke drew loud laughter from everyone.

Even Consort Hui herself laughed: "Hehe, although I didn't prepare a performance for the Emperor, a few days ago father wrote in his letter that our family seems to have opened a few more money houses recently, profits very good. For the Emperor's birthday, father said he will contribute 100,000 taels of gold to the state treasury, just a token of heartfelt wishes."

Hearing this, the smiles froze on everyone's faces, shifting instead to Xiao Jingheng's face.

After all, 100,000 taels of gold was no trifling sum. Even if the other consorts' families had this much, they wouldn't dare take it out openly. Because their maternal families were court officials. This money was clearly obtained through corruption and bribery.

Consort Hui was different. Her family had always been merchants, tycoons in the Jiangsu and Zhejiang region.

However much money her family took out to offer the court was reasonable.

The other consorts were now green with envy. But Consort Hui had a childlike temperament, completely oblivious to the impropriety.

Only feeling that the Buddha Jumps Over the Wall dish in front of her was finished, she said to Xiao Jingheng: "Your Majesty, this Buddha Jumps Over the Wall tastes like my family's flavor, so delicious!"

She smacked her lips longingly.

Xiao Jingheng smiled: "Since you like the taste, have more. Serve another portion of Buddha Jumps Over the Wall for Consort Hui."

"Heehee, thanks Your Majesty!"

With this matter settled, everyone continued drinking merrily, each showing off their own talents to delight Xiao Jingheng.

Liu Changzai raised her teacup saying softly to Song Zhao:

"After Imperial Concubine Rao's performance, it will be your turn. I cannot hold my liquor well, so I toast you tea instead of wine. Hope your pipa tune later will astonish the audience."

Song Zhao had just returned from toasting Xiao Jingheng. She drank a cup of tea to dispel the wine taste. Her teacup was now empty.

She hurried to refill it with hot tea, smiling as she said: "Thank you elder sister."

As they clinked cups, somehow the sound was loud, as if someone deliberately wanted to make things difficult.

Song Zhao had just filled the teacup. Tea splashed out, scalding the back of her hand.

She cried out in pain, reflexively letting go. The teacup rapidly smashed towards the floor.

Today was Xiao Jingheng's birthday. Smashing something during the celebration would be a serious sign of disrespect.

So Song Zhao instinctively reached out to catch the teacup mid-fall.

Although the teacup didn't break, the scalding tea still reddened her fingers.

Everyone began expressing concern for Song Zhao.

Xiao Jingheng even stood up from his seat anxiously asking:

"What happened? Are you hurt?"

Enduring the pain, Song Zhao hid her hands behind her back, shaking her head with knitted brows.

Yun Shan grabbed her wrist, seeing her fingers scalded red. Heart-achingly he said:

"My lady says it's nothing when her fingers are all scalded red!"

Hearing this, Xiao Jingheng immediately strode towards Song Zhao. The other consorts followed along.

Only Liu Changzai standing beside Song Zhao was both nervous and puzzled:

When they toasted earlier, she clearly only tapped lightly.

How could Song Zhao be so delicate that she couldn't even hold the teacup, injuring herself from the scalding?