Rebirth of the Phoenix Princess novel Chapter 161

But at Qiwu Palace, the Empress felt puzzled at Yun Shang's behavior. She rubbed her forehead and let out a sigh. Yun Shang seemed to have grown more calm and she seemed to have a more elusive mind. Sometimes, it was difficult for her to guess Yun Shang's true intentions.

"Your Majesty, please take the medicine." An old maid entered with a bowl of medicine in her hand. The Empress stared at the bowl for a while. A bitter smile emerged on her lips. "Take it away. I don't want to drink it. What is the use of taking it..."

The old maid frowned and said hesitantly, "Your Majesty, this is the medicine prescribed by the physician sent by the Grand Councilor. It is said that it is very effective. Your Majesty, please listen to me. His Majesty's love is all but vanity. New ladies come into the Imperial Palace each year. His Majesty's love is the last thing in the world that you can rely on. It is your own child that will be your firm support..."

"Child..." the Empress murmured to herself. After a while, she burst into a fit of laughter. But tears ran down her face. "What's the use of having a child? Jing'er is my daughter. But I cannot protect her."

The old maid intended to interrupt the Empress when she heard the Empress speak so. But the Empress seemed so grieved that the old maid checked herself and only sighed, "Your Majesty, you are so young. You have a long way to go..."

The Empress smiled and took the bowl. She downed it in one gulp. Then she said, "Yes. I'm still young. The one who laughs last, laughs best. Let's wait and see who is the winner in the end."

The Empress seemed to have no intention of running the imperial household again, though she had begun to meet with the ladies in the imperial household. Yun Shang looked at the beautiful flowers in the garden, and said with a smile, "The Empress was forced to hand over her seal in a humiliating way. If His Majesty doesn't plead with her in person to take the responsibility, how will it be possible for her to regain her dignity as the Empress?"

Two days later, Yun Shang heard that Grand Councilor Li had come to the Palace and had spent a long time with Emperor Ning in Qinzheng Hall. It was said that they had discussed issues about the Flower Show Banquet. Emperor Ning went to Qiwu Palace after Grand Councilor Li had left.

In the evening of that day, Emperor Ning issued an Imperial Edict to the Empress as Yun Shang had expected. The Imperial Edict said that the Empress, who is morally perfect and virtuous, will take the responsibility of running the imperial household again. The Emperor even handed over the seal to the Empress in person.

But the Empress kept a low profile even after regaining her power in the imperial household. She only summoned everyone on the first day after she had retrieved her seal. She told everybody that life would not change in the imperial household, and all the people could lead their life as before. After that, she didn't summon anybody.

However, as more and more ladies kept paying the Empress a daily visit, Qiwu Palace gradually bustled. Among all the ladies in the imperial household, the Empress loved Lady Ya the most as she visited the Empress every day. But Lady Fu, the Empress's younger sister, never appeared at Qiwu Palace. This indeed captured the imagination of many people. Flowers were in full blossom in April. Soon the annual Flower Show Festival would be held.

In the State of Ning, the Flower Show Festival was not only a festival, but also a grand contest during which the most precious and most beautiful flowers selected from across the country would be shown by the prettiest girls. After preliminary selections and reselections, the most magnificent flower display would be decided during the Flower Show Banquet. The whole Flower Show Festival, from the preliminary selection to the final Flower Show Banquet, would last nearly half a month.

The Imperial City was bustling with noise and excitement because of the upcoming Flower Show Festival.