Chapter 3

Chapter 3: The Hostage Lan Ze

Eunuch Lu, knowing he couldn't persuade her, changed the subject: "Consort Li is now carrying the Emperor's first child. His Majesty has promoted her to Consort Li today. There's a grand banquet in the Imperial Garden tonight. Would Your Highness like to attend?"

"What does their banquet have to do with me?"

"Consort Li sent someone to invite you, so I thought I'd ask. Since Your Highness is not inclined to go, I shall convey your refusal."

Eunuch Lu was about to leave when Leng Jiu opened her eyes, her beautiful glass-like eyes shimmering, her red lips curving slightly, "Wait! Since I've been invited, how can I not attend? Besides, it's been a long time since I've gone out. It's time to step out."

In just a few days, Consort Li had become Consort Li. This woman was no ordinary schemer. Leng Jiu was bored lately, so playing along with them might be entertaining. Moreover, she was curious to see Dragon Yi's expression of hatred towards her after that slap.

The palace was inherently a dark place. Women here could only survive through cunning and maintain their status. If she were a bystander, she might have admired Consort Li's skills, but now she was using her to gain her own status. How could Leng Jiu remain indifferent? She was treated as a pawn, but she was eager to see who would truly control the game in the end.

Leng Jinghua's clothes were mostly dark blue-black or jujube red, which Leng Jiu found distasteful. A woman under twenty dressed like she was fifty – no wonder Dragon Yi lost interest in her. It was off-putting to anyone!

She chose a plain white palace dress embroidered with subtle peonies, cutting off the long hem. Wearing the two-piece dress and tightly fastening the broad waistband, she transformed into a stunning beauty; though the waistband was a bit wide and tight, loosening it would make her waist look like a barrel, so she preferred to keep it tightened.

The maids did her hair in the simplest style, inserting a white jade butterfly hairpin. Small matching earrings adorned her plump earlobes. A light makeup was applied to her face. The moment she turned around, all the maids in the room were dazzled. Her hair partially up, lightly brushed brows, enticing phoenix eyes, soft glowing skin like warm jade, lips as rosy as roses, and a few strands of hair brushing her cheeks added to her allure. Her waist was so slender, and her skirt fluttered with her movements, creating ripples like water. Truly, a beauty unparalleled!

The youngest maid, Xiang Ming, with her apple cheeks flushed, gazed at Leng Jiu with starry eyes, "Your Highness is so beautiful!"

"Indeed! Your Highness will outshine everyone when you go out!"

"Your Highness is the most beautiful of all!"

Eunuch Lu smiled, squinting his eyes in delight. He was sure that the Empress Dowager would astonish everyone tonight. He flicked his dust whisk to the left, bending his right arm, "Her Highness, the Empress Dowager, is ready to depart!"

The Imperial Garden was brightly lit at night, the vibrant flowers of the day taking on deeper, more subdued hues under the lights, creating a different but equally enchanting ambiance.

The wind stirred the red roses twining around a pavilion, scattering a cascade of crimson petals, like sprites dancing in the night.

In the midst of the Imperial Garden, Dragon Yi, clad in his dragon robe, sat behind a bright yellow imperial desk. Flanked by gorgeously dressed consorts and rows of ministers and nobles, the atmosphere was lively, with many faces flushed with drink and eyes glazed with inebriation. Dragon Yi, in a good mood today, paid no mind to the ministers' lack of decorum.

The melody of strings and flutes filled the air, cups and goblets clinked in merry toasting, a picture of harmonious revelry among the monarch and his court. This serene scene was abruptly disrupted by a eunuch's loud announcement.

"The Empress Dowager has arrived!"

The music ceased instantly, and the central area was promptly cleared. The ministers hurried to compose themselves for the formal greeting, while Dragon Yi's face clouded over, the left side of his face still stinging from the slap he received that day.

"Greetings to Her Highness, the Empress Dowager!"

As Leng Jiu entered, a sea of kneeling figures greeted her. Scanning the prostrated ministers and servants, a slight smile played on her lips. She walked toward the high platform, then turned her gaze to the glaring Emperor, but remained silent, settling into her seat, "Rise."

"Thank you, Your Highness!"

Upon her command, everyone rose from the ground, stealing glances at Leng Jiu. The sound of countless cups dropping followed, many eyes filled with disbelief and awe looking toward the high platform. Her casual, languid posture, devoid of the Empress Dowager's usual dignity, exuded an effortless authority, her glance and half-smiling lips emanating an intimidating presence.

What shocked them most was her appearance – the youthful, radiant beauty, delicate features, and alluring phoenix eyes. Was this truly the Empress Dowager of a nation?

Leng Jiu picked up a cup of wine, and just as she was about to drink, she seemed to notice everyone's stares, smiling, "I merely came to join the fun. Please, carry on as you were."

The guests, each with their own thoughts, resumed their seats, and the music and dance restarted, with a group of dancers swirling in long sleeves.

After taking a sip of wine, Leng Jiu turned to Dragon Yi. Since her arrival, his gaze had been fixed on her, filled with hatred, yet also something complex. Lifting her red lips slightly, her eyes teasing, she asked, "Why does Your Majesty look at me so? Is there something amiss with me?"

"Hmph!" Dragon Yi averted his gaze and took a drink, refusing to admit that her smile had caught him off guard. Annoyance surged within him. For whom had she dressed so beautifully?

Leng Jiu withdrew her gaze, sneering inwardly: If her charm couldn't subdue even a man like him, she wouldn't be Leng Jiu!

Consort Li, sitting nearby, sensed Dragon Yi's unrest. Noticing Leng Jiu's attire, a sense of danger rose within her. Clutching her embroidered handkerchief, she stood up with a glass of clear wine, her eyes sincerely fixed on Leng Jiu, "I toast to Your Highness!"

Before Consort Li could drink, Dragon Yi's voice intervened, "You are with child, you must not drink!"

Consort Li, slightly embarrassed, looked towards Leng Jiu, her face radiating sweetness, "His Majesty forbids me to drink, so please excuse me, Your Highness. I will toast you with tea instead of wine."

Leng Jiu, observing her sweet and shy demeanor, immediately understood her intent – to provoke jealousy and anger in her, in front of everyone, making Dragon Yi dislike her even more. Alas, she had miscalculated, for she was no longer Leng Jinghua, but Leng Jiu. To her, Dragon Yi was insignificant.

Raising her cup with a smile as gentle as her demeanor, she said, "This drink shall be as if from the young prince himself, and so I must drink it!"

Having said this, she drained the cup in one gulp, clearly noticing Consort Li's body stiffen. A cold sneer formed in Leng Jiu's heart: Trying to compete with me?