Chapter 0058: A Fortunate Marriage

Chapter 0058: A Fortunate Marriage

Lady Wu, ignoring the slight, continued to converse cheerfully with the other ladies.

In her heart, Lady Wu resolved to persuade the master of the house upon her return. He shouldn’t be solely fixated on the Noble Consort.

The Noble Consort is her niece, but so is Qi Xiaoyi.

If the Noble Consort were truly capable, there would have been no need to send another into the palace.

Seeing Qi Xiaoyi now, it’s hard to predict her future prospects. It's always best not to offend.

The Noble Consort holds a position of high status and power, but without the Emperor’s favor or children, what will her end be?

Can the Qi family protect her for a lifetime?

What can she do for the Qi family?

Can the Qi family rely on her for their next generation? Without children, she has no relation to the future Crown Prince, the next Emperor. She will just be a Dowager Consort.

Aren’t there Dowager Consorts in the current harem? What use are they? Who even recognizes them?

It might be wiser to consider Qi Xiaoyi, young and beautiful as she is now, who might still have a chance to bear a prince.

Even if he is not the future Crown Prince, he would still be a prince – a real source of support.

After all, for their family patriarch, it’s all the same, the only difference being that they are not from the same mother as the fourth brother.

But it’s good as long as interests are aligned.

"In the future, serving the Dowager Empress, I’ll just be more attentive," she thought.

"Not like the eldest sister-in-law, who, being the favorite niece of the former Dowager Empress, disregards those who came after her."

Yun Li was unaware of what her second aunt was thinking and didn’t care; she preferred to stay out of it.

In the Empress's presence, people were grouped in several areas, as accommodating so many in one main hall would be too cramped.

They sat until the hour of Si, when the Empress finally said, "It’s about time, ladies. Please, let's move to the banquet."

Gradually, everyone rose, heading towards Zhengyang Palace.

Meanwhile, the Dowager Empress and several Dowager Consorts, along with the noble ladies from the imperial family and senior officials, also stood up to proceed to Zhengyang Palace.

Several dignified elderly ladies managed to secure a ride.

Those from the Empress's side had to walk.

As everyone hurried to Zhengyang Palace before noon, they promptly found their assigned seats.

Eunuchs and palace maids led the way, ensuring no one took the wrong seat.

After everyone was seated, the male guests, who had been waiting at Guang'an Palace, began to arrive. Only a few high-ranking officials had the privilege of resting in the inner hall with the Emperor.

As the Dowager Empress and the Empress arrived, everyone bowed in respect.

The Empress and the Noble Consort first assisted the Dowager Empress in taking her seat before finding their own.

The ladies of the harem sat behind the Noble Consort, with Consort Jin De being one of the few at the same level as her.

The Princess followed the Dowager Empress, sitting beside her.

The Crown Prince was accompanying the Emperor and had not yet arrived.

After a short while, everyone was seated, and finally, He Jingli arrived, followed by several princes and high-ranking ministers, including the fathers of the Noble Consort and the Empress.

Following another round of greetings, everyone settled down. He Jingli smiled, "Today’s state banquet celebrates two occasions: firstly, to honor Great Jin’s victory over the rebels, with Duke An Guo and our generals contributing greatly, deserving a feast in their honor. Secondly, in the four years since my ascension, I haven’t yet hosted a grand banquet for all ministers. This is an opportunity, though next year will be for outsiders; this year is for our own people. Let's enjoy ourselves."

Everyone stood up again, expressing their gratitude for the Emperor's grace.

"Good, everyone be seated. Let the banquet begin!" With a wave of He Jingli’s hand, the waiting palace maids filed in.

Dishes flowed into Zhengyang Palace like a river.

Such banquets were more about formality than cuisine; anyone expecting a feast would be disappointed.

The dishes were all about presentation, lacking substance.

Either cold or steamed, they were more for show.

Only the Emperor, the Dowager Empress, and the Empress had some freshly prepared dishes at their disposal.

Yun Li had braced herself for hunger at the banquet.

However, she found that there were still some snacks to fill her stomach.

Though the snacks weren’t hot, they were at least normal, not the overly ornate, inedible creations often made for looks.

As expected at a grand banquet, music and dance were indispensable.

The dancers from Yue Mansion truly possessed skill and talent; their first dance was an inspiring drum dance.

Using a large drum, a dancer in a bright red dress with fluttering ribbons danced barefoot on the drum, creating rhythmic beats.

The other dancers accompanied with smaller drums, blending grace with a robust, masculine energy.

The dance exuded the grandeur of a thousand troops and horses charging into battle.

Yun Li watched in admiration. The girls from Yue Mansion, although bound as penal slaves without the Emperor's consent for their freedom, had truly been trained in these arts from a young age. Such skillful dancing was not achieved overnight.

Opening the banquet with such a magnificent dance immediately set a distinguished tone for the evening.

He Jingli was clearly very pleased.

He promptly ordered a reward of a hundred taels of gold for the lead dancer.

The dancer expressed her gratitude and was visibly excited.

Though she was not free, a hundred taels of gold meant she could live comfortably within the palace.

The subsequent performances were also excellent, and while He Jingli didn't drink every toast offered by his ministers, he acknowledged each one.

He Jingli took the initiative to raise his glass in honor of Duke An Guo.

Duke An Guo, startled, quickly stood up and humbly returned the toast.

The generals who had also contributed to the military campaign were each toasted in turn and responded likewise.

"The Empress has been my consort for many years, respectful and devoted to the elders, kind and loving to those below her. She has also given birth to Princess Yi Yang. I am very fortunate to have her as the Empress," He Jingli suddenly said.

The Empress quickly stood up, "I am overjoyed to receive Your Majesty's praise. These are duties I should fulfill, and I dare not take credit for them. I will continue to be more diligent, respectful, and filial."

He Jingli smiled and gestured for her to sit, "The Xie family has raised a good Empress. It seems their family values are commendable. My fifteenth brother should also marry soon. I have heard that the Empress has a younger sister by birth? How old is she this year? Could she be a suitable match for my fifteenth brother?"

The Empress was taken aback, "My sister is fourteen this year, she is... indeed suitable."

The fifteenth prince would turn sixteen next year.

"Good, since it is suitable, I will issue a decree to betroth Duke An Guo's daughter to the fifteenth prince. We will choose a date for the wedding," He Jingli announced with a smile.

The fifteenth prince was startled and quickly stood up, "Your younger brother thanks Your Majesty for this gracious decree. Long live the Emperor, long live, long live forever."

Duke An Guo also hurriedly expressed his gratitude: "I thank Your Majesty for this immense grace. My family will forever remain loyal to Your Majesty. Long live the Emperor, long live, long live forever!"

"Hahaha, alright, rise, all of you. There's no need for such formality today."

He Jingli said with a laugh.

This marriage not only elevated the Empress's family, who originally lacked a strong background and were not considered true nobility,

But also solidified their noble status, which was not very secure despite having titles. Now, things are different.

The Emperor is indeed elevating the Empress's family.

Having the Empress was already extraordinary, and now they also have a princess. The fifteenth prince will be a royal prince upon his marriage.

This was a pleasant surprise for the fifteenth prince.

He had thought he would have to wait until next year to marry a royal lady from Yuan Zheng for diplomatic harmony, as others in the imperial family had married women from Yuan Zheng.

But unexpectedly, it turned out to be the Empress's sister.