Chapter 73: The Start of the Lottery

Chapter 73: The Start of the Lottery

Eagerly Awaited

Given the large number of women in the palace, even someone like Shen Huai, who frequently visits the inner palace, cannot possibly favor everyone equally.

Especially this year, as half of the young women from respectable families selected for the inner palace already occupy it, and nearly half still reside in the Yeting Courtyard after almost a year.

Although the Yeting Courtyard is large, accommodating so many young and beautiful selected ladies is somewhat cramped. Were it not for the Empress's thoughtful care, waiting for Shen Huai to remember them, they might spend their entire lives in the Yeting Courtyard.

The twelve palaces of the inner palace are spacious and beautiful, each with its unique charm, more than enough to accommodate these selected ladies. Shen Huai tapped the table in a leisurely manner, already making plans in his mind.

Looking at the twelve selected ladies below, he said unhurriedly, "If you perform well, I will reward each of you."

The selected ladies' eyes sparkled with joy, and they thanked the Emperor in unison.

The melodious palace bells rang out, and the palace musicians began slowly and gradually increased the tempo, performing the Qinglong Performance.

The Qinglong Performance is a staple at the start of every New Year's Eve, traditionally organized by the Imperial Music Bureau, choosing the finest dancers to perform in the palace. This year, the Empress changed it to the selected ladies from the Yeting Courtyard, offering a fresh twist.

The Liangyi Hall was warmed by an underfloor heating system, making it cozy inside. A single layer of clothing sufficed, and the concubines at the banquet had shed their cloaks, seated in their palace gowns.

The selected ladies' dance costumes were uniformly made of thin vermilion silk, glistening under the bright lights of the hall, accentuating their slender waists and snow-white skin.

This Qinglong Performance was clearly the result of long and hard practice, with every smile and movement perfectly synchronized with the drum beats, making the dance pleasing to the eye.

At a glance, a few of them stood out as particularly skilled.

Cai Shan carefully placed a soft pillow at Shen Huai's waist. Shen Huai, with a relaxed posture, watched the dancing selected ladies with a pleased expression.

After the dance, the Empress smiled contentedly and turned to the Emperor beside her, saying, "Your Majesty, how was the dance of the selected ladies?"

Shen Huai nodded and smiled faintly, "Their dance was graceful and excellent."

"After the New Year's banquet, we will discuss rewards based on their performance."

The Empress was somewhat surprised by the Emperor's implication but did not show it, only smiling gently and saying, "Yes."

After the Qinglong Performance, the musicians from the Imperial Music Bureau performed two more pieces.

Seeing that the time was almost right, the Empress glanced at Yu He, who then clapped her hands, signaling the palace servants to serve the dishes.

The New Year's Eve banquet dishes were more exquisite and abundant than those at the Mid-Autumn Festival and Dragon Boat Festival, ranging from cold dishes to hot dishes, soups, desserts, and even warm enamel pots. The concubines, according to their ranks, could enjoy different dishes.

In addition, the number of serving palace servants, daily necessities, ice supply in summer, and charcoal in winter were all regulated, which is why so many people strive to climb the ranks.

Not many in the palace truly love the Emperor and compete for his favor, as they rarely see him throughout the year. What they fight for is wealth and power.

Su Jiaojiao still remembered the time when they had just returned from the summer resort, and she saw Consort Shu riding a palanquin out of the Kaize Gate.

In fact, she rarely envied anyone and seldom felt dissatisfied with her current life. Although Su Jiaojiao had long known her ambitions and goals, at that moment, she genuinely desired to have her own palanquin.

People like Su Jiaojiao, who had a tough childhood, are common in the palace. Even if it's just to improve their lives, who would be content with not standing out in the palace?

Everyone wants to compete.

That's why the Empress's tactics today are undeniably clever.

As the empress, she had the final say in all matters of the inner palace. Though Noble Consort Mi had the authority to assist in managing the six palaces, she still needed the empress's approval for any actions she wished to take.

The majority of the palace concubines were not favored, and she acted strategically in her arrangements, thereby gaining the affection and gratitude of everyone.

Especially these newly selected rank concubines, who had been waiting in the side court for summons for over half a year, had already despaired. Yet, the empress gave them a chance, and even if it was just an opportunity, it was enough to make these young women deeply grateful.

Once someone gained favor, their first visit would undoubtedly be to the empress's Phoenix Palace.

No matter how much Su Jiaojiao was favored, she couldn't keep the emperor's attention solely on herself. Given the emperor's capricious temperament, even if he favored Su Jiaojiao, he would still be captivated by the novelty of new faces.

Similarly, this applied to the other concubines in the palace who received modest favor.

From tomorrow onward, the empress's prestige and virtuous reputation would only continue to grow.

Over time, even if the empress made minor mistakes in the future, the emperor would consider her past merits and virtuous reputation and show her leniency.

After the palace attendants finished serving Su Jiaojiao's dishes and retreated to the back of the hall, Consort Shu beside her quietly leaned over and said, "It's only the beginning, and the empress has already introduced the musicians from the Imperial Music Bureau and the unfavored selected rank concubines from the palace. Who knows what other schemes she has planned."

Su Jiaojiao lowered her lashes and smiled faintly, "Indeed, the empress is the mistress of the inner palace, and the palace banquet's program is her arrangement. As long as it pleases the emperor, her arrangements are appropriate. Moreover, the palace banquet is meant to showcase performances; she is utilizing the situation to her advantage, thinking cleverly."

She glanced across the hall just in time to see the empress smiling at the emperor, seemingly speaking.

At that moment, a eunuch holding a brocade box approached from one side of the Two Principles Hall and stopped in front of the emperor.

Su Jiaojiao recognized what this was.

During the Spring Banquet, the empress had also presented something similar, asking the emperor to draw lots. However, Su Jiaojiao had deliberately caused a scene, leading to the Spring Banquet's interruption due to Lady Ji's poisoning.

Such a good idea to please the emperor, it was unlikely that the empress would abandon it so easily.

But Su Jiaojiao was speculating on how the empress had arranged this so-called drawing of lots.

She remembered that when the empress first proposed this idea, she had said that if any concubines wished to perform at the New Year's banquet, they could send a message to the Phoenix Palace.

The message would include their name and the performance they intended to present, making it convenient for the emperor to see who was drawn when he opened the slip.

If the empress were to draw the lots herself, she might be able to control the order in which people were chosen. But if the emperor drew, how could the empress ensure that he would draw the person she wanted to promote?

Or perhaps the empress didn't care at all who would perform on stage, and no matter whom the emperor drew, they would owe her a favor?

The Two Principles Hall was decorated lavishly, with bright candlelight illuminating the hall as if it were daytime.

Unconsciously, the noise and bustle around seemed to quiet down a bit.

Su Jiaojiao thoughtfully looked towards the emperor and empress's position, seeing the emperor reach into the opening of the brocade box with interest.

Everyone in the hall held their breath, waiting to hear who would be the first person drawn by the emperor.