Chapter 117: Invitation

Chapter 117: Invitation

A sudden afternoon downpour clears the stifling heat of the imperial city. Jiang Hui sits in Feng Lai Pavilion by Suo Yue Pond, counting lotus flowers with Nian'er and Hua Yang.

Suo Yue Pond, smaller than Tai Ye Pond, is dotted with pink and white lotuses. The children's innocent chatter fills the air around these gracefully standing flowers.

"One, two, three..." Hua Yang counts to three but doesn't know the next number. She turns to tug at Nian'er's hand, "Brother!"

Nian'er, only slightly older, already exhibits a brother's composure. He calmly says, "Four."

Delighted, Hua Yang repeats, "Four!" She turns back to start counting the lotuses again, "One, two... three..."

Shi Liu, who was protectively surrounding the children, suddenly notices something. She whispers to Hong Ying and approaches Jiang Hui, saying softly, "Madam, I think Huai Qing Princess and Wang Mei Ren are over there."

Huai Qing Princess? Wang Mei Ren?

Jiang Hui shifts her gaze from her children to the palace path outside Suo Yue Pond. She indeed sees a small figure in a red dress on a wooden walkway, seemingly unsure whether to approach. Beside her, holding her hand, is Wang Mei Ren in a fragrant autumn-colored dress.

Jiang Hui instructs Qiu Qiu, "Go and see what's happening with Huai Qing Princess. Be careful and make sure no one falls into the lake."

"Yes." Qiu Qiu bows and, accompanied by Hong Yu, leaves Feng Lai Pavilion. They carefully walk along the shallow submerged walkway towards Huai Qing Princess.

Shan Zha, standing beside Jiang Hui, asks in confusion, "Why has Huai Qing Princess come to Yao Hua Palace?"

Feng Yi Palace and Wang You Palace are both quite far from Yao Hua Palace. Besides, Huai Qing Princess usually prefers playing at Tai Ye Pond or with De Fei at Guang Yang Palace, rarely visiting Suo Yue Pond.

Jiang Hui sighs softly, her gaze returning to Nian'er and Hua Yang, and says lightly, "Huai Qing Princess... she's grown up too."

Noticing the activity, Nian'er, holding his sister's hand, returns to his mother and suddenly declares, "Nian'er wants to grow up too."

Jiang Hui smiles and gently pats his head, tenderly saying, "Nian'er is still young."

Meanwhile, Huai Qing Princess and Wang Mei Ren, after speaking with Qiu Qiu, head towards Feng Lai Pavilion.

"Huai Qing greets Consort Zhao."

"This concubine pays her respects to Consort Zhao, may Consort Zhao be forever blessed with peace and happiness."

The two greetings, one following the other, fill the air. Nian'er, though young, appropriately returns the greeting to Huai Qing, saying, "May the royal brother be well."

Hua Yang, unable to mimic the gesture, has her nursemaid bow on her behalf.

Wang Mei Ren, being of lower rank, doesn't require a formal greeting from Nian'er and Hua Yang, a simple acknowledgment suffices.

Jiang Hui raises an eyebrow, asking Qiu Qiu, "What's going on?"

Before Qiu Qiu can respond, Huai Qing Princess speaks up, "Consort Zhao, Huai Qing has recently moved to a new palace. Mother said to send invitations to all the consorts, so I came myself."

Jiang Hui smiles at Huai Qing Princess, crouching slightly to meet her eye level, and says kindly, "You could have just sent a servant, there was no need for you to come personally."

Huai Qing shakes her head, her bright apricot eyes shining, "Huai Qing also wanted to play with brother and sister."

Jiang Hui laughs softly, instructing Qiu Qiu, "Take them to the garden to swing. There's too much water here, it's not safe if they accidentally fall in."

"Yes," Qiu Qiu responds, leading the esteemed royal children away from Feng Lai Pavilion.

Jiang Hui then turns to Wang Mei Ren, softly asking, "Did Wang Mei Ren accompany Huai Qing Princess here?"

Wang Mei Ren, a woman of few words, takes a moment before responding to Jiang Hui's query, "Yes, I was at Feng Yi Palace speaking with the Empress. When Huai Qing Princess said she wanted to deliver the invitations herself, I accompanied her."

Then, he closed his mouth, sitting quietly aside, seeming content to stay silent and wait for Princess Huaiqing unless Jiang Hui asked something.

Jiang Hui, always aloof towards the Emperor's other consorts, gave a slight nod upon hearing this, standing up as if she was preparing to return to Yao Hua Palace.

She asked Wang Meiren, “Are you going to wait for Princess Huaiqing here at Fenglai Pavilion, or in Yao Hua Palace?”

Wang Meiren hastily shook her head, her face flushing red, and whispered softly, “I, I shall wait here in the pavilion.”

Jiang Hui nodded and, without further attention to her, led a procession of palace attendants back to Yao Hua Palace.

Approaching the entrance, she instructed Qingfeng, "Go to Fengyi Palace and inform the Empress that Princess Huaiqing is playing in Yao Hua Palace."

"Understood," Qingfeng replied, accepting the task and leaving.

Jiang Hui didn't go to the garden to watch the children play. Instead, she turned towards the warm pavilion and reclined on the imperial concubine's couch by the window, beckoning Wan Song, "Bring me the invitation Princess Huaiqing gave earlier."

A folded rouge-red invitation was placed in Jiang Hui's hand.

Opening it, Jiang Hui saw childlike handwriting on fine embossed red paper, likely written by Princess Huaiqing herself.

June 16th... the day before the Wanshou Festival.

It was already mid-May, so that day wasn't far off.

Contemplating with eyes closed, she asked Wan Song, "Has Lady Lu been summoned to serve the Emperor in bed?"

"Not yet," Wan Song detailed, "It’s said that Lady Lu’s face is healing slowly and she hasn't been favored by His Majesty yet."

In the court, with the Zheng and Li families fallen and the Wang family's glory faded, only the Lu and Cui families still held some power. Though not high-ranking, many mid and low-level officials came from these two families. Besides, many important figures were once their students, bound by ties of mentorship.

Unlike the previous dynasty, under the imperial examination system, these families, despite their grudges, are temporarily united. If the Emperor intends to depose the Empress, there will be considerable opposition.

Although His Majesty moved Princess Huaiqing out of Fengyi Palace, he's always been patient with court affairs. However, the Empress…

Jiang Hui softly said, "I will take a short nap. Remember to have Qiukui personally escort Princess Huaiqing back later."

"Yes."

Wan Song lowered the bamboo curtain by the window and then the dark silk screen to block the scattered sunlight. As she quietly fanned Jiang Hui, she heard her master, still with eyes closed, suddenly add, "After Qingfeng returns, have him go to the Imperial Kitchen and tell Wu Chenggong to bring the menus for the Grand Princess's moving feast and the Emperor's Wanshou Festival banquet to Yao Hua Palace for my review."