August 15th, the Mid-Autumn Festival.
It seemed to be a great day for family reunions, but in fact, the closer one got to the center of imperial power, the more one could feel the approaching storm.
After the incident in Liangzhou spread, the officials and noble families in Chang'an could better detect the undercurrents hidden beneath the calm surface.
And as the imperial envoy from Jiangzhou returned to Chang'an on the eve of the Mid-Autumn Festival, bringing back evidence, the entire Chang'an fell into a strange calm.
In the palace, the Mid-Autumn feast was not entrusted to the beloved Consort Zhao as everyone had thought, but instead to Consort Shu.
This surprised everyone in the palace, and they couldn't help but wonder if Consort Zhao's days of being the sole favorite were coming to an end.
Just as the palace servants were secretly speculating, unexpectedly, Consort Zhao made a move.
Relying on the emperor's favor, she became jealous and envious of Consort Shu's preparations for the Mid-Autumn feast, and would often go looking for trouble.
This made Consort Shu extremely anxious. She was already exhausted from the palace affairs, and with Consort Zhao's deliberate difficulties, it was like adding insult to injury.
However, for Consort Zhao's deliberate difficulties and provocations, there was no sign of reprimand from Jun Wuyuan.
This also extinguished Consort Shu's opportunity to complain to Jun Wuyuan.
More importantly, Queen Mother Wang had sent a letter from home, stating that this Mid-Autumn feast was of the utmost importance, and there could be no mistakes.
Even though Consort Shu was filled with anger, she wished she could immediately tear Consort Zhao into pieces and gouge out her seemingly speaking eyes.
After sending away Consort Zhao, who had come in a haughty manner to nitpick, Consort Shu's eyes gradually turned cold.
A fool with only beauty but no brains, what could she be proud of now?
After the Mid-Autumn Festival, she wanted to see how this beauty could still be so proud and arrogant.
She was not in a hurry.
"Your Majesty, this servant saw that Consort Shu's face immediately became gloomy and ugly. Perhaps she is secretly cursing Your Majesty right now."
A smile hung on Consort Zhao's bright face, and her lips curled up in a meaningful arc.
"The uglier the better. If it's not ugly, wouldn't that mean that your master's efforts over the past few days have been in vain?"
Half Spring seemed to understand but not understand, her tone smiling:
"Your Majesty is right. Everyone in the palace knows that His Majesty loves and values Your Majesty. Does Consort Shu think that just because she has the power of the palace, she is truly the number one person in the harem? She doesn't know that the higher the one rises, the harder they fall."
The smile on Consort Zhao's lips grew stronger, and she reached out to tap Half Spring.
"You little girl have a sweet mouth and can talk. This concubine is looking forward to Consort Shu being able to properly organize this Mid-Autumn feast. Otherwise, it would truly be a waste of His Majesty and this concubine's expectations."
"Your Majesty is right. Consort Shu is so intelligent and capable. I'm sure she will complete it properly. Your Majesty need not worry."
"That's right. The sweet-scented osmanthus in the entire palace is fragrant, and happiness is approaching."
—
Time quickly arrived at August 15th, the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival, for family reunions while enjoying the moon.
The Lin De Hall in the palace was opened wide. The front hall, middle hall, and back hall were closely connected, and on both sides were the Yue Yi Tower, the Ri Yao Tower, as well as the East Pavilion and West Pavilion. In addition, there was the Taiye Pond, forming a magnificent and spectacular picture.
In Chang'an City, officials, noble families, royal relatives, and their families of the fourth rank and above could enter the palace to celebrate the Mid-Autumn feast.
The middle hall of the Lin De Hall was a place that only the most noble people in the Great Yan Dynasty could enter.
Apart from noble families, royal relatives, and some important court officials, the rest of the officials and their families could only go to the back hall.
As for the front hall, it was generally a place for the emperor to communicate before the feast, to connect 'emotions', and for the crown prince to seize the week.
At this moment, the front hall was filled with a harmonious atmosphere between the monarch and his subjects, and it seemed as if one could not see any hidden undercurrents or struggles.
The imperial envoy who had returned from Jiangzhou happened to arrive on the Mid-Autumn Festival.
After the false smiles and hypocritical conversations in the front hall, Jun Wuyuan brought a group of ministers into the middle hall.
Consort Shu was indeed a noble lady carefully cultivated by a prominent family. Even though Consort Zhao constantly caused trouble and had given instructions to the supervisor, she still did not make things too difficult for her.
The entire middle hall exuded imperial majesty, from the seats, to the food, to the ingenious programs...
Everything revealed the imperial bearing, and it was evident that Consort Shu was indeed a noble lady from a prominent family, and was able to handle the affairs of the harem with ease.
She was originally the leader of the concubines in the harem, was from a prominent family, and was respectful, gentle, and kind. Wasn't she the best candidate for the position of the main consort of the harem and the Golden Phoenix Throne?
Although most people in Chang'an knew that Consort Shu was now being promoted by Queen Mother Wang and was not liked by His Majesty.
The tense situation between Queen Mother Wang's faction and His Majesty, as well as Consort Zhao, who was deeply favored by His Majesty, all added up.
The noble ladies of the prominent families were naturally more willing to see Consort Shu ascend to the throne. Otherwise, wouldn't they, these noble ladies and noblewomen, have to kneel in front of a lowly maid?
During the harmonious atmosphere between the monarch and his subjects, the imperial envoy from Jiangzhou arrived in a hurry, opening the chapter of the Mid-Autumn feast!
No one had expected that the imperial envoy would appear at the Mid-Autumn feast so coincidentally.
Although Queen Mother Wang and Grand Tutor Wang had already received the news that the imperial envoy from Jiangzhou had brought back evidence to Chang'an, they did not expect that the person would appear at this time.
Could it be that Jun Wuyuan planned to capture them all tonight?
Queen Mother Wang and Grand Tutor Wang secretly exchanged glances, their hearts filled with intense fear and hatred.
Thankfully, they had been prepared for tonight. Otherwise, wouldn't they have been captured without the ability to fight back?
Now they could only see who was more skilled, and who would ultimately be the winner!
Queen Mother Wang secretly looked at Consort Shu below, silently transmitting a message.
On the other side, Jun Wuyuan was extremely courteous to the officials. In front of all the ministers, he did not hide his praise at all.
Even more, he sent the most trusted eunuch by his side, Liang Jiusi, with a young eunuch to wash and groom the imperial envoys, showing supreme grace.
In the hall, the court officials naturally raised their glasses to praise. The chaos in Jiangzhou had been quelled, and the emperor was extremely capable...
As the singing and dancing reached a climax, and the music reached its peak, after the ministers had blown their rainbow farts back and forth, Jun Wuyuan's face was red.
Perhaps because he was in a good mood, he did not refuse any toasts. As his movements seemed to be half a beat slower, Consort Shu got up with a smile on her face.
"Your Majesty, today is the Mid-Autumn Festival, and the bright moon is in the sky. This concubine is not talented, but I dare to offer my congratulations. I wish for the Great Yan to rise step by step like the bright moon, shining on the nine continents. I also wish for Your Majesty to be blessed like the bright moon for a long time!"
Consort Shu raised her glass: "This concubine offers a toast to you, and I wish for a happy and harmonious Mid-Autumn Festival!"
On Jun Wuyuan's slightly red face, his peach blossom eyes that were dyed with charm slightly squinted.
It seemed as if he was trying to distinguish who she was.
After a moment, he raised his glass boldly, "Granted!"
He seemed to be showing a bit of pride that the matter had been settled, but the next moment, he froze.
There was no wine in the glass!