PDLP Chapter 90 Noble Lady Fucha's New Year's Eve Banquet
Chapter 90 Noble Lady Fucha's New Year's Eve Banquet
Then there's the thought of successfully humiliating the Empress by hosting this New Year's Eve banquet...
Consort Hua's mood instantly brightened.
Since we have to do it anyway, we should do it well.
We must do everything we can to make this banquet a grand and spectacular affair, to infuriate that old hag, the Empress.
Thus, preparations for this annual New Year's Eve feast began in earnest and great enthusiasm.
From the dazzling array of delicacies to the spectacular song and dance performances,
She insisted on personally overseeing every single step of the process.
After all, this concerns the face of the royal family and the dignity of the court, and cannot be taken lightly.
When it comes to song and dance performances, Consort Hua can do it with ease.
During this period, her Yikun Palace often hosted well-rehearsed performances by palace maids.
Her Yikun Palace could be described as a place of constant revelry; she was now completely addicted to this lifestyle.
Although the Empress had anticipated this news, she still found it difficult to quell her resentment and anger.
But on the surface, she pretended to be nonchalant and didn't utter a single complaint.
The pent-up anger in her heart made her face darken.
Her trusted maid, Huichun, knew what her mistress was thinking and could only try her best to comfort and console her:
"Your Majesty, it is most important for you to focus on recuperating for now."
When the time is right, we will surely regain power.
Upon hearing this, the Empress could only try her best to remain calm.
Because now she has no choice but to accept her fate; the Empress Dowager is ill and there's no one to speak up for her.
Meanwhile, Fucha Peiyun was leisurely playing with the child in her arms.
She simply smiled and ignored the various rumors circulating about the New Year's Eve banquet.
For her now, taking good care of her children is the top priority.
As for other things, there's no need to rush.
Finally, the New Year's Eve banquet arrived.
The entire palace seemed to be submerged in a festive sea of red.
From the palace gates to the inner courtyard, colorful lanterns and ribbons were hung everywhere.
These lanterns emitted a warm and soft light, illuminating the entire palace.
The colorful ribbons fluttered gently in the wind, like the long sleeves of a fairy dancing, adding a touch of ethereal beauty to the entire palace.
In this joyful and peaceful atmosphere, the concubines, dressed in their auspicious robes and adorned with their most exquisite jewelry, gathered together.
They were all dressed to the nines.
Each concubine was meticulously dressed, displaying a variety of graceful manners, vying for beauty like blooming flowers in spring.
Of course, the most eye-catching was Consort Hua, Nian Shilan.
Consort Hua was the most beautiful woman among the Manchu and Mongol Eight Banners, possessing unparalleled beauty and grace.
It's worth mentioning that she specially wore that phoenix hairpin tonight, which made the Empress's eyes practically blaze with anger.
That phoenix hairpin was not something a noble concubine like Consort Hua should wear.
However, since the Emperor did not say that Consort Hua was acting improperly, the Empress could only endure it.
The Empress could only watch helplessly.
Consort Hua stood in a prominent position.
With a smile, he warmly greeted each member of the royal family who came to the banquet.
Fucha Peiyun and the others were beaming with joy tonight.
The new year brings new hope and expectations, and everyone is in a particularly good mood.
They either chatted softly, sharing their joy, or elegantly raised their glasses to toast those around them.
Amidst the laughter and merriment, the Empress seemed even more out of place.
Although she forced a smile, a deep hatred was hidden behind it.
Seeing Consort Hua receiving so much attention while she herself was ignored, the Empress was filled with jealousy and anger.
Those around her seemed to sense the Queen's displeasure.
No one approached her to talk, which made the queen feel increasingly lonely and embarrassed.
Amidst this bustling scene, the Queen remained like a forgotten corner, silently enduring her inner torment.
Of course, there were also two people who stood out among the concubines.
That's our Consort Wan, Zhen Huan, and Consort Hui, Shen Meizhuang.
The two sat there restlessly, occasionally whispering to each other.
He would occasionally look up and gaze around, appearing restless and uneasy.
Many people around noticed their unusual behavior and cast curious glances their way.
At this moment, Consort Jing turned to Fucha Peiyun beside her and whispered:
"Sister Shufei, look at what's going on between Consort Wan and Noble Lady Hui today!"
Why do you seem so absent-minded?
Before Fucha Peiyun could answer, she heard a disdainful snort from the side.
It turned out that Nian Shilan had overheard Consort Jing's words. She rolled her eyes contemptuously and said sarcastically:
"Hmph! Isn't it obvious? Some people have probably been itching to be lonely ever since they fell out of favor."
So, taking advantage of tonight's New Year's Eve banquet, she's hoping to regain the Emperor's favor.
Tsk tsk tsk, I originally thought these two were just putting on an act of being so aloof and arrogant...
I never imagined that he would ultimately be someone who couldn't stand being alone.
Let's see what tricks they'll pull tonight to win the emperor's favor!
After saying that, Nian Shilan smiled coldly and continued to observe Zhen Huan and Shen Meizhuang's every move with a cold eye.
Consort Jing looked at Fucha Peiyun, and Fucha Peiyun nodded.
Fucha Peiyun looked at Nian Shilan and said, "I think our Noble Consort should be aware of this."
Now that the Imperial Concubine is in charge of the inner palace, how could such a commotion escape your notice?
Hua Shilan remained silent, only offering a faint smile.
Fucha Peiyun looked at Consort Jing and said, "Sister, let's just sit and watch the show tonight."
Consort Jing nodded and did not go to see Zhen Huan and Shen Meizhuang again.
The chubby orange-haired man sat in the high seat. He first calmly surveyed everyone present.
Then, with a satisfied expression, he nodded slightly, indicating that he was very pleased with the scene before him.
Once everyone was seated, Nian Shilan had the song and dance performance that had been prepared beforehand begin.
As the music began, the dancers began to move gracefully.
The chubby orange cat watched with great interest, its eyes occasionally sweeping over the concubines.
Zhen Huan quietly clenched her handkerchief and said to Shen Meizhuang in a very low voice:
"Sister Mei, I wonder if today's plan will succeed." Shen Meizhuang nodded slightly and patted the back of her hand to comfort her.
Today, the program meticulously prepared by Consort Hua can be described as ingenious and unique.
The song and dance performances were all novel and unprecedented, a real eye-opener.
The chubby orange sat high on the stage, watching the wonderful performance intently with a satisfied expression on its face.
Looking down at the royal family members, they were also completely absorbed in enjoying this visual feast.
Their expressions were focused and absorbed. This scene shows that the banquet was very popular and captivated everyone.
Even the tenth prince, who usually antagonized the chubby orange cat and found fault with everything,
Tonight, he was unusually quiet, sitting peacefully in his seat without causing any trouble.
The whole scene was harmonious and beautiful, which made the chubby orange even more satisfied.
However, at that moment, the lively song and dance performance suddenly came to an abrupt end.
Immediately afterwards, a group of dancers dressed in colorful exotic costumes walked lightly into the center of the stage like swimming fish.
Their graceful postures and synchronized movements instantly attracted the attention of everyone present.
As they moved, the silver bells on the dancers' hands and feet jingled, creating a unique and charming effect.
Surrounded by the dancers, a woman carrying a pipa (a traditional Chinese stringed instrument) gracefully approaches.
The woman moved with graceful steps, like a blooming flower, exuding a captivating fragrance.
When she slowly raised her head, her stunningly beautiful face was revealed to everyone, like a beautiful painting.
Her beauty was breathtaking, and she possessed an indescribable air of mystery.
It was as if a fairy from a distant fairyland had descended to earth.
Upon seeing this, the chubby orange cat couldn't help but straighten up, wanting to get a better look at the woman.
A faint glimmer of expectation shone in the eyes of everyone present.
Everyone seemed to be waiting to see what surprises this mysterious woman would bring next.
The woman gracefully sat down on the prepared stool, her delicate hands gently plucking the strings of the pipa in her arms.
In an instant, the clear and melodious sound of the piano rippled outwards like waves on water; the sound was pure and gentle, like celestial music.
After all the calls came out, he still hugged the pipa and covered his face.
With a few turns of the pegs, the emotion is already present before the melody is formed.
The strings, each note muffled, seem to whisper a life unspoken.
With lowered brows and nimble fingers, she continued to play the zither, expressing the boundless emotions within her heart.
With light touches and slow twists, the movements begin with a rainbow-colored garment and then a six-note dance.
The big strings are like a rain, and the small strings are cut like a whisper.
Cut the wrong bullets, and the big beads are falling into the jade plate.
The pipa music became increasingly beautiful, and everyone was completely immersed in it.
The big, chubby orange cat didn't even blink, as if this was the only sound in the world.
Fucha Peiyun watched very attentively, when Nian Shilan asked, "How is it?"
Although her question was somewhat vague, Fucha Peiyun immediately understood what she meant.
Fucha Peiyun is "very good".
Nian Shilan recognized the genuine praise and returned Fucha Peiyun a look that said, "You have good taste."
This pipa happened to be one of her favorite instruments, and the woman was extremely skilled at it.
She had studied it, but she didn't want to perform for the fat orange cat.
The main problem is that it looks too much like the performances they put on for that nouveau riche guy in bars.
If this big, fat orange cat were younger and more handsome, she might be interested.
Of course, it's also because of her high status in this life and the opportune timing of her transmigration that she can speak so shamelessly.
Otherwise, she might really have to find a way to win the emperor's favor; in the harem, it's difficult to have a voice without climbing the ranks.
She has no say in anything, her life and death are not under her own control, and she cannot use special powers on the protagonist.
It can only be ground down little by little.
The worst thing about traveling to ancient times is how boring it is, especially life in the palace.
If performances like this are too repetitive, they'll become incredibly boring.
Just like how the Empress, after much deliberation, would gravitate towards her sister when choosing who to send gifts to.
The shows were always bland and uninteresting; the only truly memorable one was An Lingrong's ice skating performance.
However, An Lingrong died before she could even perform in this life.
In fact, Fucha Peiyun also knew that the Empress was doing this because she was afraid that the chubby orange would forget Chun Yuan.
The Empress harbored deep resentment towards her beloved elder sister, yet she also knew that her sister was her protector.
So she kept sending Chun Yuan merchandise to Big Fat Orange.
This will ensure that the chubby orange doesn't truly forget Chun Yuan, even though she hates her to death.
Such a good performance is appreciated by some, but viewed unpleasantly by others.
The one with the worst expression was the Empress. She had only been confined for a few months, yet Consort Hua's methods had become much more sophisticated.
After losing her memory, Consort Hua really didn't care about the Emperor at all.
She really wouldn't be jealous if such a beauty were presented to the emperor.
Is this Consort Hua a fake?
Shen Meizhuang looked at Zhen Huan with great concern, while Zhen Huan's hands trembled slightly.
She prides herself on being multi-talented and skilled in the "Dance of the Flying Swan," but from the last full moon celebration to this New Year's Eve banquet...
All of this was a huge blow to her.
She has the urge to back out, but reality is forcing her to.
She could only hope that the Emperor would still remember their past relationship and not humiliate her.
How tragic, even Zhen Huan has come to this day.
Just then, the woman in the middle stopped playing the pipa.
She rose gracefully, her movements as light and graceful as a butterfly in flight.
Then, with small, delicate steps, she stepped onto...
That large drum, which had been placed in the center of the venue at some unknown time.
Her hair was piled high in a magnificent bun.
A few strands of hair fell like silk on both sides of her fair cheeks, adding to her charming and alluring appearance.
The dance costume she wore clung perfectly to her skin, like a second skin.
It perfectly showcased her graceful figure.
Over her dance costume, she was draped with a layer of shimmering, iridescent jewels that sparkled with captivating light as she danced.
A string of exquisite ornaments hung around her neck, adding to her noble and elegant air.
She paired it with long, slender trousers, the cuffs fluttering in the wind, making her look like a fairy descending to earth.
She held the pipa in her hand with her back to the ground, placed her feet on the drum, and began to dance gracefully to the rhythmic drumbeats.
Her every movement was so graceful and natural, like a fish swimming in water or a bird flying in the air.
It has both beautiful lines and a strong sense of power.
The other dancers had already left, leaving only this one woman dancing in the center of the stage.
The big, fat orange cat's attention was completely drawn to the food on the table, and many people completely forgot about it.
My mind was completely captivated by this woman.
Zhen Huan bit her lower lip, her heart filled with bitterness.
She knew that if she backed down now, she would likely find it difficult to maintain her position in the palace in the future.
Shen Meizhuang held Zhen Huan's hand tightly, offering her some comfort.
After the woman finished dancing, the chubby orange stood up.
The chubby orange cat stood up, a satisfied smile on its face, and said:
"Your pipa playing and dancing are both excellent. What's your name?"
The woman gracefully knelt down to express her gratitude.
The woman parted her lips slightly: "I am Lian Yao."
The chubby emperor was overjoyed. "Lianyao, a fine name. I find you very clever, so I will keep you in the palace and bestow upon you the title of Consort Lian."
Lian Yao kowtowed again to express her gratitude, but a hint of cunning flashed in her eyes.
Lianyao is a beautiful woman with exotic charm; though she appears delicate, she seems to harbor many thoughts.
Fucha Peiyun looked at Nian Shilan, wondering where Nian Shilan had found this woman.
Such a special woman is bound to rise to prominence in the harem. Zhen Huan gripped her handkerchief tightly.
Although the Empress wore a smile, she secretly plotted to find an opportunity to suppress this newcomer.
We must not allow Consort Hua's power to expand any further.
Everyone had their own thoughts.
But then the fat orange-haired prince announced loudly, "Since Consort Shu gave birth to the Sixth Prince safely, my harem has been filled with joyous occasions!"
Consort Hua managed the harem effectively during the Empress's illness and recuperation period.
On this auspicious occasion of New Year's Eve, I have decided to bestow titles and honors upon my harem.
Su Peisheng, read the imperial edict!