Rebirth of the Phoenix Princess novel Chapter 98

After Yun Shang returned from Lady Ming's Palace, Qian Yin whispered to her. "Your Highness, we just received rewards from His Majesty. There's clothes, jewelry, and accessories for the New Year. I heard that every Palace received the same." Qian Yin looked around before lowering her voice. "Rewards for Qiwu Palace were double..."

"Really?" Yun Shang squinted. "I knew this would happen when His Majesty concealed the Empress's fake pregnancy and punished Lady Shu for causing her Majesty's supposed miscarriage. The Empress miscarried and needed rest. That was all. Of course, she will come back on stage now that she has recovered. Since it was New Year's Eve, all the officials of a rank higher than three would be present, along with their families. On such a day, father will have to show Grand Councilor Li some respect. After all, the Li Clan still enjoys supreme political power and status. But it won't last too long."

Qian Yin knew that many of those whom Her Highness trained would become government officials one day. Maybe Her Highness had foreseen this situation?

"Your Highness, the Zhuangyuan's* name is Liu Qiyan. His name sounds familiar." Qian Yin smiled shrewdly.

(TN*: title conferred on the person who scores the highest in the Imperial examination)

Yun Shang smiled as well. "I heard that you two got along well during the training. Do you fancy him? If so, I can betroth you to him. But he is renowned now. We don't know if his feelings for you still remain the same...

Qian Yin blushed. She had meant to tease Yun Shang but accidentally drew fire on herself. She hurried to explain. "Don't make fun of me, Your Highness... I'm only 14 years old."

Yun Shang laughed. "It's New Year's Eve. Pick that rouge red dress for me and match it with a decent hairstyle and some exquisite jewelry."

Qian Yin agreed. She fetched the outfit from the wardrobe and helped Yun Shang get dressed. Yun Shang hardly wore bright colors so Qin Yi was stunned when she walked in. Yun Shang's skin looked as white as snow in contrast to the rouge red. The wide train of the dress lent a majestic aura to the dress. All in all, the outfit highlighted the Princess's elegance and grace.

"Your Highness is looking so gorgeous today. Princess Hua Jing is said to be the most beautiful in Ning, but I think Your Highness is even beyond compare. Your Highness is getting more and more beautiful as time passes. Let me make a Cloud Bun* and do some makeup for you. You are going to be the belle tonight, Your Highness." Qin Yi came toward them and helped Yun Shang sit down before the dresser.

(*TN: a kind of hairstyle in which a bun is shaped like a cloud.)

Yun Shang smiled peacefully. In her previous life, she had been so innocent that she believed in the Empress and Hua Jing, who had taught her to wear gaudy clothes and put on as much valuable jewelry as she could. Hence, the ladies from respectable families all laughed at her. She couldn't help sighing in retrospect. Yun Shang looked in the mirror and almost didn't recognize herself. She looked so different in this life.

After dressing up, Yun Shang ate some pastries that Qin Yi had prepared. Since it was a long ceremony, she might not get the chance to eat.

"Your Highness, it's time. It's still snowing outside, so let me accompany Your Highness to Jinluan Hall." Qin Yi put a white cloak on Yun Shang's shoulders, picked up an umbrella, and helped Yun Shang walk to Jinluan Hall with Qian Yin's assistance.

Once at Jinluan Hall, Yun Shang was led to the platform meant for the royals. She was asked to sit on the third seat on the left. Her seating attracted a lot of attention.

Yun Shang didn't grow up in the Imperial City, and she had rarely appeared at public occasions after her return, so not many people knew about her. But it was not hard to figure out her identity based on her seat. Only imperial concubines of a certain grade were allowed to attend such feasts. At the moment, only the Empress and Lady Jin had this honor. If the Empress came, she would undoubtedly sit with the Emperor. The first seat would be for Lady Jin, and the second for Princess Hua Jing, the eldest princess. So the person being seated on the third seat must be Yun Shang.

Yun Shang ignored all their whispering and sat quietly.

Soon afterwards, Lady Jin entered and took her place on the first seat. Yun Shang's expressions became tender after seeing Lady Jin's swelling belly.

"It's Princess Hua Jing..." "I heard that Princess Hua Jing went to the border for her husband. Such a faithful and brave wife." "Princess Hua Jing seems to have pined away. It must be because she worried so much about the Emperor's Son-in-Law." The discussions could be heard clearly. At Hua Jing's mention, Yun Shang looked up and saw the Princess walk toward her. She was dressed in dark green, and her hairband was the only accessory that she wore. She did look pitiful and humble this way... Yun Shang lowered her head to hide her emotions. When Hua Jing was seated, Yun Shang said to her, "Sister, you don't look too well. Are you alright?"

Hua Jing sneered. 'Are you laughing at me? Prince Qingsu will come in early spring and I'll be the one laughing then.'

"I'm good. It's just that I'm a bit exhausted from all the things that have been happening recently." Hua Jing lowered her head and sounded feeble as if she were about to cry, which made others feel protective.

Yun Shang raised an eyebrow. Hua Jing was getting better at her acting.

Yun Shang turned and happened to make eye contact with Prince Jing. Noticing her gaze, Prince Jing looked down and played with the cup in his hand.

"Here come His Majesty and Her Majesty..." The eunuch announced in a sing-song voice.

People stopped talking right away and knelt. "Long live our Emperor. Long live our Empress."

Even though Yun Shang had foretold the Empress's appearance, it was still quite unpleasant to see Her Majesty walk into Jinluan Hall with father as if nothing had happened.

"All rise, please." Emperor Ning's voice sounded distant. His words echoed in the Hall for a while.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Yun Shang took her seat and fixed her eyes on the Empress. The Empress looked thinner but she had this unflappable expression as if she didn't do anything wrong.

"It's New Year's Eve, a joyful night shared by the whole nation. We are here to celebrate this special evening, so forget about the formalities and enjoy the wine..." Emperor Ning said in delight and proposed a toast. "May Ning be blessed with permanent prosperity and peace."

All guests raised their cups at once. "Permanent prosperity and peace."

After the toast, a group of dancers entered and danced to the music.

After the show, the Empress smiled. "Today, we have this rare chance to gather all the high-born gentlemen and ladies from respectable families in the Imperial City. Why not give them an opportunity to show their talents?"

Emperor Ning smiled as well. "Good suggestion. Let them draw lots in turns and pick what they will perform. It's a lottery and nobody should refuse to perform what he or she draws. They might just have to drink some wine, of course. As I said, by lottery."

Yun Shang looked around the Hall and understood the Empress's intention when she noticed that all the ladies were exquisitely dressed. The Imperial Palace hardly held feasts and those who received invitations enjoyed high status. Since it was a rare opportunity, young ladies would want to impress noble masters with an attractive appearance. If they were lucky enough to be chosen by His Majesty, they would attain the highest honor in one step.

Yun Shang's lips twisted mockingly. After all the incidents recently, this Palace was in need of new women.

A eunuch brought a lot pot and Yun Shang randomly picked one. It read, "Play Guqin".

(TN*: a seven-stringed plucked instrument in some ways similar to the zither)

Yun Shang raised an eyebrow and glanced at Hua Jing. Her lot said, "Drink three cups of wine."

Wine... Yun Shang put on a faint smile. She stared at Hua Jing's abdomen before looking away.

"Where should we start? How about Princess Hua Jing?" Lady Jin asked. As Emperor Ning's concubine, she was exempted from this game. Hua Jing smiled. "I was lucky enough to have picked the one about drinking wine. I'll drink three cups of wine then."