“Uncle, do you feel better?” Sima Bao walked to the bed and looked at the haggard Sima Hong, his eyes filled with worry and concern. Because his parents had died early, he had grown up in the first branch. To him, Sima Hong was like a father. Now, seeing Sima Hong dying on the bed, his eyes could not help but turn red.
“Uncle, do not worry; this nephew is fine.” Sima Bao tucked in Sima Hong’s blanket and then talked about interesting things with his uncle. He was too embarrassed to say to his uncle that, because of the Sima Family losing power, his job in the Ministry of Works had become one of idleness without any real power. If he said this, it would just worsen the condition of his uncle who was already ill.
“It is already nine,” Sima Bao answered.
After saying this, he saw that Sima Hong did not react at all, his pale face lifeless. He could not help but put a finger under the other’s nose. After confirming that the other was still breathing, he sighed in relief, and softly walked out.
“What else can they say—just that he is weak and needs quiet rest.” When Sima Zhi mentioned the palace physicians, he was full of anger.  Seeing the Sima Family lose power, they do less for us.” Even if the Sima Family was in momentary decline right now, they were still a first-rank aristocratic family. Were these people allowed to slight them?
If his elder cousin’s daughter was not married to the grandson of the grand princess, his words would be worse.
The Sima Family appeared to have lost power. But Prince Rui was making moves in the shadows, and the present emperor was young and promising. He rejoiced inside. Right now, retreating and not being a part of what was happening was a good thing for the Sima Family.
“I know—you go.” Sima Zhi nodded. He was quite sad.
Sima Bao saw him like this, and reached to pat his shoulders. He could not say more, and left the courtyard with a sigh.
Leaving the compound, Sima Bao found that there were many homes on the street that had hung up red lanterns with the character for longevity. Many vendors were using the emperor’s birthday and created many handcrafts. They could gain favor with the emperor, and also make silver. It was killing two birds with one stone.
The present emperor was much more open-minded than the previous one, and more popular. Otherwise, the capital would not have such prosperity right now. Even if the people had tried to deal with it, they would not have done it so willingly.
The Ministry of Works did not have high status among the six ministries. He did not have very good relationships with his colleagues. Ever since his uncle retired, while his colleagues looked normal, they had distanced themselves greatly from him, and did not like to call him for private gatherings.
When he thought of this, he could not help but smile bitterly. Who in the court did not know the emperor’s birth mother was his sister? Who in court did not know that His Majesty had a hard life in Prince Cheng’s establishment in his childhood, and he, this maternal uncle, did not help?
He had not heard how badly people spoke of him behind his back, but he could guess.
One could not buy future knowledge. He regretted it, but he could only swallow it.
“Official Sima.” His colleagues greeted him, but they left after the greeting, as though staying to talk would give them the plague.
He felt frustrated inside. He lasted until it was time to get off work. Sima Bao was not willing to stay a moment longer. He hurried back to the Sima Residence. When he entered the courtyard, he received news. Their family had received an invitation from the palace.
He took the invitation with trembling hands. Sima Bao looked a bit excited.
He had a spot at His Majesty’s birthday ceremony. This was a joyful surprise.
“Wife is right.” Sima Bao nodded. Then he walked next to the table, and started to write what they had to pay attention to as he discussed some points with his wife such as what to wear to the palace.
He was as excited as a child who got his beloved toy.
Sun shi saw her husband like this, and was both heart-sore and sad. She could only keep him company.
This was just the emperor’s birthday, but there was a lot involved. There were so many nobles in the capital, but the number that could attend the banquet was limited. There was much going on in terms of who could and could not go.
There was also whose family’s wine to use, whose family’s utensils to use, and which troupe would be so lucky as to enter the palace. All these made for a lot of gossip.
The palace had their own music department, but for such a big occasion, just having the people from the music department was too dull. The birthday banquet should be lively. So it was a normal thing to get some reliable troupes from among the people.
It was not possible for things like an assassin to disguise themselves and get in. First, the artists that could enter the palace all had some fame. Most of them were in the same circle, so if an unfamiliar face appeared, if the people around were not blind, they would discover it.
Also, people who could enter the palace would have their lives investigated up and down. It was not possible to take someone else’s spot unless the people who came in with them wanted to be executed as well.
Bai Xian said with a smile, “Your Majesty is right.” Without a surname, and carrying an air of brothel. Wasn’t it a good name?
Bai Xian silently took the list that the emperor had thrown to the side and left the room. When he went into the courtyard, he saw that the sun made his shadow long. He could not help but feel that he seemed a bit lonely.
If something actually happened, it was no use even if they pulled him in.
Yueyang Palace was the place where the female candidates lived temporarily when they entered the palace. The biggest trait of the palace was that it had many rooms and was remote, far from the three main palaces. Even if the people inside were rehearsing their songs and dancing, they would not disturb the important people of the palace. And if someone had evil intentions, with the strict guard of the palace, these people would be shot full of arrows before they even took a step out.
When Bai Xian arrived, he heard the sounds of different instruments mixed together. Even the most wonderful sound could become demonic like this.
The steward from the Department of Household Affairs saw Bai Xian frown and had the young eunuch who was guarding the door go in and have those people stop.
When the noise stopped, Bai Xian finally stepped into the palace. Behind the gates, there was a wide courtyard. The artists that had entered the palace were all standing there, and bowed their heads when they saw him enter.
These folk artists knew before that Bai Gonggong had status, because the steward who they usually looked up to was like a grandson in front of Bai Gonggong. Hearing the steward say that this person was the imperial steward eunuch, they were shocked, lowered their heads, and bowed.
“Yes, yes, yes, you are right.” The steward nodded and remembered this.
At this time, there was the sound of running coming from behind him. A girl of sixteen dressed in pink clothes ran over. Because she was running so fast, some of her hair pins even dropped to the ground as she got close.
Bai Xian saw this girl’s skin was very good, and her appearance stunning. Even the miss from the third Sima branch could not compare. He guessed that this girl was the Miss Fu Yao from the rumors.
Fu Yao knew the eunuch was speaking of her. She peeked up at this eunuch—he had a dignified presence—and then she lowered her head.
She touched the twisted gold bracelet on her wrist. She blushed, and then pulled her sleeve down to hide the bracelet.
The steward repeatedly agreed, sent Bai Xian out of Yueyang Palace, and then wiped his sweat as he returned. The first thing he did was make Fu Yao change her attire.
The other dancers saw this and gloated. So what if Fu Yao was adulated by the noble young masters outside? In the palace, she could not do as she wished again.
The other people laughed as well. They were all dancers who could enter the palace. If they were not outstanding in appearance, they were skilled in dance. While they had once dreamed that some noble would fall in love with them and marry them, they knew that they, who were of low birth, were just playthings in the eyes of the aristocratic families. They wouldn’t be taken as concubines, much less married as wives.
Now, Fu Yao, because of her youth, beauty, and her being pursued by some of the capital wastrels, had gotten to the point where she did not know who she was. They felt amused and sad for her. Who among them had not had such thoughts?
The dancers were not in the mood to laugh at Fu Yao after thinking about it. They looked at each other, found this dull, and returned to their rooms.
Fu Yao did not care how the other dancers thought of her. In her view, it was normal for the other dancers to not like her.
“Aren’t they just jealous that I am beautiful?” She returned to her room and looked at herself in the mirror. She took out lip rouge to apply to her lips, so her lips looked more wet and attractive.
Beauty was her ultimate weapon.
The other dancer was speechless. A moment later, she said, “You have not even met His Majesty yet. Do not think of these things.” Then she wrapped herself in her blanket and went to sleep.
The two of them had opposing viewpoints, so they could not continue to talk.
Fu Yao turned to look at the hump on the bed, and snorted in disdain. How could these women understand her thoughts. Would a sparrow know the resolve of a swan?
In the fifth year, sixth month, and twenty-eighth day of Delong, the Delong Emperor’s first birthday after his marriage finally arrived within the anticipation of many people.
The sky had not yet turned light, but the officials and nobility who could attend the banquet had risen, and then gone into their carriages, dressed grandly.
The sounds of carriages on the streets did not stop. Some of the more curious people looked out their windows and saw the passing carriages. There were vermillion roofs, blue roofs, and black ones. Regardless of the color, these carriages were all very fine.
Some of the children who liked to watch hid behind the windows and looked in envy at these carriages. Then they innocently asked their parents who these carriages belonged to.
Prince Rui’s and Prince Zhong’s carriages left their residences almost at the same time, and stopped at the corner together. The two were both hereditary princes. In terms of status, Prince Zhong had more weight. But speaking in terms of blood relation, Prince Rui was the uncle of the present emperor, and closer to the emperor.
So it was a mystery whose carriage should pass first and whose second.
Just as Prince Rui was going to speak and have his carriage driver let Prince Zhong’s family go first, the carriage driver of Prince Zhong squeezed past them, and went ahead of them.
The two sons of Prince Rui saw Prince Zhong so arrogant, and went white in anger. Back when the empress dowager had been picking her adoptive son, they had also come to the capital. But in the end, the empress dowager had chosen Jin Yang whom no one had raised, and put them, the heirs and young masters that had been educated, to the side.
If one of them had been the emperor, Prince Zhong would not be as arrogant as right now.
He paused. He did not dare to say the next words. Because Father-Prince was born crippled, he was disliked by the imperial grandfather. He lost the throne, and even his lands were not as rich as Prince Cheng’s. He was a son. If he said such a thing in his anger, wouldn’t he be unfilial?
“Thank you.” Prince Rui smiled warmly, and slowly put down the carriage curtain. In the eyes of others, his action won him a lot of good feeling. They praised Prince Rui for being reasonable and elegant.
In Purple Imperial Hall, Gu Ru Jiu was arranging Jin Yang’s clothing for him with her own hands. Because this was not a court session, Jin Yang was wearing a brocade robe embroidered with dragon patterns, and not the real dragon robe.
Neatening his clothing, Gu Ru Jiu touched the warm jade she had given him. She smiled, and kept on organizing his clothing.
Gu Ru Jiu glanced at the novel incense pouches on the tray, and then at the ugly pouch that she had made. She could not help but think, because it was so ugly it was creative, and the other beautiful pouches appeared tacky instead?
Girl you going down!
