On the eleventh day of the seventh lunar month, the Furong Pavilion was decorated with lanterns and streamers the day before, looking extremely festive.
It welcomed the birthday banquet of the Imperial Concubine Shu, one of the most prestigious concubines in the harem.
The Grand Empress Dowager had suffered repeated setbacks and lost face. So, she was determined to regain her glory through this birthday banquet of the Imperial Concubine Shu.
No one knew what was on her mind, but this birthday banquet was extremely grand.
Not only had the most famous opera troupe in Chang'an been invited, including acrobats, jugglers and various other performers, but also the guests of the banquet were not only concubines in the harem, noble ladies of the royal clan, but also noble ladies from outside the palace.
After hearing about it, Jun Wuyuan was too lazy to interfere and left everything to the Grand Empress Dowager to handle.
Apart from the concubines' due allowances and regulations, the Grand Empress Dowager had to bear all the extra expenses.
After Jun Wuyuan's order, the Palace Department, having been punished several times, did not dare to violate the rules at this sensitive moment.
When the Grand Empress Dowager heard this news, her face turned livid with anger. She smashed another set of porcelain!
Thinking of her secret plans, the Grand Empress Dowager had to swallow her anger. She not only added her own money but also raised the standard of the birthday banquet another notch.
When the Imperial Concubine Shu heard about this, she was so touched that she almost regarded the Grand Empress Dowager as her own mother.
Before the hour of Si, guests were already coming and going in the Furong Pavilion, and almost all of them had arrived.
Even the birthday girl, the Imperial Concubine Shu, personally accompanied the Grand Empress Dowager onto the stage. However, the other most prestigious and proud Imperial Concubine Zhao had not yet appeared.
The Grand Empress Dowager's face froze for a moment. One of the most regrettable things in her life might be choosing such an ungrateful person.
No matter how hard she thought, she couldn't understand how Ling Shan, who was still suffering from a strange poison, had the courage to betray her.
"Your Majesty the Grand Empress Dowager, I heard a few days ago that you were ill. I've been longing to visit you. Now seeing that you're in good health, I'm relieved."
A princess of a prefecture in the royal clan flattered. The others in the hall also expressed their concern one after another.
The Grand Empress Dowager's anger gradually subsided. She replied to them from time to time.
Those who were named by the Grand Empress Dowager to speak were all wealthy, powerful and prestigious people.
The Wang family of Langya had been weakened again and again. Losing the support of the Xue family this time was like adding insult to injury.
In the dark, the invisible confrontation had reached a tense moment.
Before the final showdown, the Wang family needed to lie low patiently, accumulate strength and wait for the opportunity to strike a fatal blow.
"Here comes the Imperial Concubine Zhao—"
Just as everyone was having a happy conversation, a more imposing announcement rang out.
At the door of the hall, Ling Shan was wearing a crimson palace dress embroidered with golden cloud patterns. Pearls and tassels were sewn on the collar. Her waist was tied with a jade-encrusted brocade belt. The layers of her skirt fluttered like clouds as she walked. She was extremely beautiful.
Her thick black hair was coiled into a high cloud bun. A delicate begonia pearl hairpin with sixteen gemstones was slanting in it. It sparkled in the bright sunlight, just like a budding golden begonia dancing in the wind.
She walked gracefully into the hall, successfully attracting a wave of envious and jealous looks.
Among them, the most intense were undoubtedly the Grand Empress Dowager and the Imperial Concubine Shu sitting on the high seats.
One was the Grand Empress Dowager, who had long wished to eat Ling Shan's flesh and drink her blood. Her increasingly mean and venomous eyes were fixed on Ling Shan's face.
The other was the Imperial Concubine Shu, who had finally ascended to the position of one of the four concubines. At the height of her pride, she was overshadowed by Ling Shan. A trace of displeasure and anger welled up in her heart.
"Oh, did I come late?"
Ling Shan seemed not to see them at all. A faint smile hung on her beautiful face. Her voice was soft and full of arrogance.
"I pay my respects to the Grand Empress Dowager. I didn't expect that your Majesty would be in such good health. I was still thinking of going to the Yaotai Golden Phoenix to pick you up to congratulate the Imperial Concubine Shu. It seems that the Imperial Concubine Shu was quicker. I'm just lazy and came a bit late. I hope the Grand Empress Dowager and the Imperial Concubine Shu won't blame me?"
Hiss—
The other noble ladies in the hall gasped silently. The atmosphere froze for a moment.
Was it already so tense before the banquet even started?
The Grand Empress Dowager's eyes turned cold. A glint of killing intent flashed by, but then she suddenly showed a kind smile.
"The Imperial Concubine Zhao is in poor health. How could I and the Imperial Concubine Shu blame you? Hurry up and come and sit down. Your sister, the Imperial Concubine Shu, said that the banquet would only start after you came."
"Yes, sister Imperial Concubine Zhao, please don't be polite to your sister. Although we haven't known each other for long, the Grand Empress Dowager often praises you in front of your sister. Your sister has long wanted to get closer to you."
Ling Shan stepped forward with a smile and asked casually:
"Oh? Really? I wonder how the Grand Empress Dowager praised me in front of sister Imperial Concubine Shu. I'm really curious."
The smile on the Imperial Concubine Shu's face froze.
Some concubines at the table in the hall couldn't help laughing silently.
Why was the Imperial Concubine Zhao so persistent?
Didn't everyone present know that this was just a form of greeting to get closer? Why was she still asking so seriously?
"You little imp. The Imperial Concubine Shu is shy. She can't praise you in front of so many people. If the Imperial Concubine Zhao wants to hear it, after the birthday banquet is over, let's go back to the Yaotai Golden Phoenix and have a good chat."
Ling Shan responded with a smile to the Grand Empress Dowager's sarcastic intimacy without any burden.
"The Grand Empress Dowager is right. I'll listen to your praise later."
The Grand Empress Dowager: "..."
I'll see how you end up miserably!
After the confrontation between the high-ranking people, the grand birthday banquet of the Imperial Concubine Shu finally began. It was a typical palace banquet with some unique designs.
The Furong Pavilion was located in the middle of the lake. There were winding corridors and bridges around it, extending to a high platform in the center of the lake. The opera troupe performed one by one, starting the grand show.
The Grand Empress Dowager sat on the main seat, the Imperial Concubine Shu on the left, and Ling Shan on the right.
Ling Shan had no interest in the opera. After provoking the Grand Empress Dowager and the Imperial Concubine Shu a few times, she quietly observed the Furong Pavilion.
Also located on the lake, the Furong Pavilion was bigger and more imposing than the Qingyun Terrace.
The pavilion had four floors. The main hall was in a position where one could overlook the entire Mingyue Lake.
There were many wing rooms, which were neatly and completely arranged. Even if someone behaved improperly, there was a place to freshen up.
Ling Shan's eyes wandered and somehow landed on the side of the concubines. She met the faint smile in Yu Shiwei's cold eyes and stopped her thoughts.
Seeing that Yu Shiwei's face was flushed, Ling Shan quietly returned a look.
Just as she was about to withdraw her gaze, she paused for a moment when she saw the thin figure beside Yu Shiwei.
Was the Imperial Concubine Xue here too?
"Sister Imperial Concubine Zhao, what are you looking at so intently?"
The gentle smile on the Imperial Concubine Shu's serene face. Her eyes seemed to be looking at Ling Shan very sincerely and kindly.
Ling Shan smiled and said, "Sister Imperial Concubine Shu, your hairpin today is very beautiful."
The Imperial Concubine Shu's mouth twitched.