"Imperial Eldest Princess, must you insist on making things difficult for Me? I stayed up until dawn last night reviewing memorials, then went straight to court. Just as I was about to rest after court concluded, your handmaiden woke Me up. How can you have so little consideration for Me?"
Facing her brother’s rapid-fire outburst, Gu Zhaoyan did not get angry; instead, she smiled. "As the Emperor, is reviewing memorials not part of your duty?"
"That used to be something you helped Me with..."
The Emperor checked himself in time. Meeting his sister’s amused gaze, he felt a tightness in his chest. It was he who had stripped her of her power; it was only natural that the tasks she once handled for him should now fall to him.
"You are the Emperor. If you rest occasionally, no one will dare speak ill of you. However, today is the annual Peach Blossom Banquet. You cannot leave the Empress to hold court alone."
In her previous life, faced with a brother who failed to live up to her expectations, Gu Zhaoyan would have berated him mercilessly, regardless of the occasion or the provocation. That was exactly why he had hated her the most. He felt she gave him no face and humiliated him before his officials, while she believed that without her harshness, he would never amount to anything.
Now, whether he amounted to anything or not had nothing to do with her. If he proved incompetent, she could simply support someone else from the royal clan, or let him produce an heir with one of his concubines.
"There are endless banquets in the palace all year round. Must I attend every single one? I could be getting some sleep instead of wasting my time here," the Emperor grumbled as he sat down next to Gu Zhaoyan. He looked up at the Empress, who was standing, and his face darkened instantly. "Why are you still standing there? Don't you know to bring Me something to eat? I’ve been busy all day and haven't even had a drop of water."
"It is good to be busy. Only when you are busy will the officials hold you in high regard."
Gu Zhaoyan discovered that since she was no longer obsessed with the idea of molding her brother into a capable ruler, she didn't feel angry at all; in fact, she almost wanted to laugh.
"Imperial Eldest Princess, you are today..." The Emperor frowned, hesitating, but eventually asked, "Why aren't you scolding Me?"
"You are the Emperor, the Son of Heaven. Whatever you do is right."
Gu Zhaoyan delivered this ambiguous response, her peripheral vision catching three figures stepping into the hall. She turned her head immediately—it was the three candidates for the position of Imperial Son-in-law. They had arrived.
Their entrance caused a stir in the hall. The young women of the noble families all knew that these three would soon become the Eldest Princess's consorts. While they felt a twinge of regret, they took the opportunity of the Peach Blossom Banquet to steal a glance and feast their eyes.
"Commoner Shen Yuan, official Song Hesheng, and General Wei Jiuzhao pay respects to the Emperor and the Empress..."
The three of them paused in unison before reluctantly adding, "...and the Imperial Eldest Princess."
"Rise, rise."
Seeing her brother glance at her, Gu Zhaoyan found it amusing. "Why are you looking at me? They are your subjects now; it is perfectly normal for them to attend the Peach Blossom Banquet."
"That is not what I meant."
Previously, the three had been dissatisfied with the postings assigned by the Ministry of Personnel and had made a scene before the Emperor. Having no good solution at the time, the Emperor had angrily shifted all responsibility onto his Imperial Eldest Princess and threatened to have them arrested if they caused further trouble. The result was an unhappy parting. He had expected them to come and make trouble again, but whether they had turned over a new leaf or were simply intimidated by his imperial majesty, they had since accepted their posts, arriving earliest and leaving latest every day, acting the part of diligent servants of the state.
"Imperial Eldest Princess, you previously promised that you would give us an explanation."
Song Hesheng remained the same as ever—straight to the point wherever he went.
"Indeed. The Emperor is here; whatever explanation or compensation you want, just ask him. He can even grant you a marriage decree. It would be killing several birds with one stone." Gu Zhaoyan rested her hands on the table, eyeing the three of them with a smile. But the admiration she had felt in her previous life had turned into mockery; they looked like nothing more than three performing monkeys.
"Imperial Eldest Princess, how can you be like this?" The Emperor slammed his hand on the table, trying to assert his imperial authority, but when he met Gu Zhaoyan’s eyes, he shrank back. "Who doesn't know that they are to become your consorts? If you break off the engagement at this juncture, how will they hold their heads high within their families?"
"Emperor, you have hit the nail on the head. When I told you I intended to take these three as my consorts, it was to help you consolidate your power. You agreed immediately. Yet, the next day at court, the officials were in an uproar, and you remained silent, letting me be besieged by the court. Why didn't you consider whether I could hold my head high back then?"
Faced with an interrogation, do not rush to prove yourself or offer justifications. Simply throw the question back at the interrogator.
"I..."
"Master Shen, Master Song, General Wei, this is the truth you wanted. The Emperor is here as well; you may ask whatever you wish."
With just a few short sentences, Gu Zhaoyan completely disrupted their rhythm. They had come to settle scores, intending to put the Eldest Princess on the spot and leave her with no face. But now, looking at the speechless Emperor, they realized that not only was he aware of the original engagement, he was the one who had benefited the most. It amounted to the Eldest Princess bearing all the infamy alone, while the Emperor remained perfectly hidden.
"Why is everyone silent?"
Watching the three men who had suddenly lost their momentum, the smile on Gu Zhaoyan’s face widened. "Is there something else I haven't explained clearly enough?"
"Even so, our three families have already begun preparations for the wedding. Who will bear the loss for this?"
It was Shen Yuan who spoke. Others might not have understood his meaning, but Gu Zhaoyan did.
"Lianxin!"
Gu Zhaoyan beckoned to Lianxin, who was standing outside. "Come here and greet your former master."
Lianxin hurried in and, under the bewildered gaze of Shen Yuan, knelt and kowtowed. "This servant, Lianxin, pays respects to Master Shen."
"Lianxin? Is it really you?"
Shen Yuan immediately pulled Lianxin up from the floor, looking her over. "Are you hurt? Where have you been? I looked everywhere for you and couldn't find you."
"Thank you for your concern, Master Shen. I am with the Eldest Princess now; I have plenty to eat and a good place to live. I lack for nothing." Lianxin pulled her hand away from Shen Yuan and retreated behind Gu Zhaoyan.
"You... how did you end up with her?" Shen Yuan was utterly confused, but in the next second, he understood. "Imperial Eldest Princess, you are too despicable. Do you not know that I and Lianxin..."
"Master Shen, if the Eldest Princess hadn't rescued me from the brothel, I would have died there long ago."
Lianxin's words were not loud, but they were clear enough for everyone gathered in the hall to hear.
"A brothel?"
Shen Yuan’s handsome face was full of disbelief. "My mother told me your family member was ill, and that you needed to go back to take care of them, so she agreed to let you go."
"Shen Yuan, hearing is not as good as seeing. Can you not send a trusted subordinate to verify the facts?"