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"Chancellor, please get up. This is a small matter that I do not want others to know about. Today is the Empress Dowager's birthday, and I do not want her to be unhappy. Do not make a fuss."
The Emperor waved his hand at the Chancellor on the ground, his gaze falling on the Old Madam. The Old Madam's expression was calm as water, with faint wrinkles on her cheeks that testified to the passage of time.
On that tranquil face, a pair of eyes were particularly striking. Although they had already begun to wrinkle, her nose was no longer as firm as in her youth, and her attire was not as splendid as before.
However... even though the whites of her eyes had started to yellow and the black pupils had begun to fade to a light brown, they still emitted a piercing gaze that was hard to ignore.
As the Emperor pondered this, he suddenly noticed a bloodstain on the handkerchief that did not belong to him; it had originally been there.
He had been too surprised earlier to notice this detail, but now he realized that the bloodstain on the handkerchief had merged with his own blood.
Raising his head and surveying the Old Madam again, he saw that her complexion remained ordinary, but her hand hidden in her sleeve was wrapped in white gauze—something that would not be noticed unless one looked closely.
He took a step back in shock, suddenly feeling as if he had been plotted against. A surge of anger welled up within him as he shouted, "You have some nerve!"
"This is truly an unavoidable last resort!" The Old Madam suddenly knelt on the ground, her voice tinged with tears, sounding somewhat helpless and even earnest.
This action instantly startled many people around them; numerous curious glances were cast their way as they wondered what was happening.
Li Ye quickly realized that if this matter got out, it could lead to chaos across the land. With this thought in mind, he steadied himself, forced down the tremor in his heart, and deliberately lowered his voice to calmly say, "Get up; we will discuss this later."
The Old Madam seemed to sense the atmosphere around them as well. Regardless of whether her son blamed or hated her, she felt no regret.
At this moment, she simply did not want her child to be harmed; the instinctual protective nature of a mother is something every mother possesses.
She was a daughter raised in a prominent family and had some understanding of power struggles. If word accidentally leaked out, it would likely lead to dire consequences.
Thinking this, she stood up as well, revealing a calm expression and saying, "The gifts I prepared today are not sufficient; I ask for the Emperor's forgiveness."
The Emperor slightly raised an eyebrow and replied coolly, "Let it be this way. You shall wait for my decree after the banquet." With that, the Emperor coldly waved his sleeve and returned to his seat on the high dragon throne.
That was a position of power transition, a symbol of the highest authority in the Heavenly Universe Kingdom, a position coveted by everyone, and a common goal for all to vie for.
Old Madam deeply understood this principle; she silently lowered her head and slowly retreated to her own position.
The banquet soon began. After the Empress Dowager took her seat, singing and dancing intertwined in the air. The opening performance was a longevity dance accompanied by the guzheng, mixed with the strings of the erhu, creating an exceptionally cheerful and lively atmosphere.
The Empress Dowager seemed to be in good spirits; after several days of continuous rain, today was suddenly a sunny day, coinciding perfectly with her birthday celebration. Such exquisite timing was indeed wonderful!
"The Empress Dowager is truly favored; Heaven knows it is the Empress Dowager's birthday and has specially provided this sunny day. I calculated that for the past seven days, it has been bright and sunny everywhere! However, there will be heavy rain after seven days."
Mo Xier looked up as a venerable figure dressed in ethereal attire spoke.
The venerable one appeared quite old; traces of time could be seen in his eyes, yet his face was completely smooth and radiant, showing he had been well taken care of.
It was unclear what his status was, but he seemed to be quite esteemed.
Hearing this, the Empress Dowager became even more delighted; an uncontrollable smile spread across her face as she deliberately steadied her voice and said, "Ning Ai-qing, you are the only one who knows how to speak."
As she spoke, she waved her hand, and Rong Mama immediately brought a pair of jade ruyi to present to the venerable one. The venerable one immediately displayed an expression of being flattered and surprised, saying, "Thank you for your generous gift, Empress Dowager."
Ning Ai-qing. Mo Xier furrowed her brows; that surname sounded so familiar. It seemed to linger in her mind like a wisp of thought that she could not grasp.
Then the Emperor laughed aloud, "On this special day of the Empress Dowager's birthday, guess what gift Chancellor sent."
"What?" The Empress Dowager asked curiously, looking at him with a mysterious expression.
The Emperor smiled and nodded towards Jiang Huai, saying, "Lord Jiang, quickly bring out the treasure you have prepared to show the Empress Dowager." After that, he added, "Be careful not to hurt anyone."
This statement from the Emperor was quite strange; the ministers did not find anything wrong with it and instead grew more curious about what it was.
Night Star, however, keenly sensed this and frowned slightly as he stared at Jiang Huai. He saw Jiang Huai stand up and nod slightly, and immediately a young attendant stepped forward, carrying the object that Mo Xier had seen earlier in the Imperial Garden, covered with thick black cloth.
Almost in the next moment, a piercing cry erupted from beneath the black cloth, a sound so mournful and sharp that it sent chills down everyone's spine.
It was as if they could hear the roar of the king of the forest; that kind of momentum made one feel an instinctive urge to crouch down. Mo Xier shivered almost instantly and looked around; nearly everyone present had changed their expressions.
Some looked worriedly at the Chancellor, while others displayed expressions of glee. Li Qingfeng sat among them, his expression complex. He seemed to be deep in thought; it appeared that Jiang Huai was about to take a bold step.
As he pondered this, he continued to observe. The Empress Dowager also frowned, while the Emperor remained calm. Beneath his high nose, his full red lips were slightly pursed as if he were smiling.
Next, the Chancellor stepped forward while the attendant retreated.
He personally lifted the thick black cloth covering the object, revealing a large golden cage inside. The cage was enormous, about as tall as Mo Xier's legs. Its footprint wasn't very large; if she were to describe it in modern terms, it would be similar to the area occupied by a manhole cover on a modern street.
Inside the cage was a bird with white and gray feathers. The bird had sharp edges and narrow eyes, its red pupils shining like dazzling gems, emitting a cold light.
She did not recognize what kind of bird this was; she had never even heard of it in modern times.
"Azure Wind Antelope?" Li Qingfeng exclaimed from below, unable to contain his surprise.
Soon after, the crowd began to murmur quietly among themselves in astonishment.
The Emperor showed delight on his face as he looked at the Empress Dowager. "Empress Dowager, I have sent people several times to search for this kind of bird but found nothing in the end. Especially the red Azure Wind Antelope is extremely precious; it seems that the Chancellor has truly put in great effort."
"Ah, I have already formed a bond with Buddhism and cannot bear to see you capture living beings. If the Emperor likes it, then take it and care for it well."
The Empress Dowager said kindly, waving her hand to one side, signaling, "Take this down for me." Immediately, someone pulled down the large golden cage.
The Prime Minister Jiang Huai's expression changed slightly, while Li Qingfeng's lips curled into a smile. The expressions of those seated were complex and varied. Who would have thought that after a brief moment, the Empress Dowager suddenly spoke up, "The Azure Wind Antelope is a divine bird, possessed only by emperors. You are quite fortunate, Emperor."
"Indeed, what the Empress Dowager says is true," Li Ye replied with a smile. Just then, one of the concubines from the left side interjected, "How fortunate the Empress Dowager is! I have never heard of this red-eyed Azure Wind Antelope; I have only seen it mentioned in ancient texts."
As she spoke, the woman giggled and continued, "It is said that whoever possesses this bird will gain the world."
Mo Xier looked up and suddenly saw a familiar figure. She remembered who that ethereal figure was; it turned out to be Noble Ning's maternal family.
No wonder Noble Ning held such power in the palace. As she thought about it, a burning sensation surged to her face, and the humiliation she suffered that day returned to her mind.
She couldn't help but think to herself, do you really think I'm afraid of you? One day, you will pay for this.
"Noble Ning, I have heard that you are recently with child; you must take care of yourself," the Empress Dowager said as she glanced at the delicate-looking woman beside her. Her tone was indifferent; she had no feelings for these concubines, viewing them merely as tools for producing heirs for the royal family.
Noble Ning chuckled in response, her face radiating delight as she softly said, "Thank you for your concern, Empress Dowager."
Her actions angered the other concubines present, who shot her envious glances.
However, she looked around proudly, reveling in her own beauty, making others wish they could slap her. Suddenly, her gaze landed on another woman.
That woman sat in the royal family section just like her and held an equally noble status—perhaps even more esteemed than hers.
In that moment of eye contact, Mo Xier flashed a triumphant smile at her and glanced at the high-and-mighty emperor before touching her soft cheek mockingly.
In an instant, everything seemed to spin around Noble Ning; she felt darkness clouding her vision as a surge of furious rage erupted within her.
Suddenly, her blood began to boil, and she tightly clutched the handkerchief in her hand, coldly staring at the woman across from her, having already made up her mind.
"If there are no other matters, let the song and dance begin, My Lord."
The Empress Dowager sat high above with an imposing demeanor, displaying a dignified expression.
Soon, the hall was filled with the sounds of elegant and melodious silk and bamboo instruments. Mo Xier quietly watched the dancers, unable to help but scoff in her heart; this was far inferior to their modern entertainment. It was even somewhat boring.
In modern times, their performances included ethnic styles, cool vibes, and explosive dances. There were also magic shows and juggling acts. Especially entertaining were the fast-paced storytelling and skits.
Compared to these ancient silk and bamboo performances, it truly felt monotonous and uninteresting. Mo Xier rested her head on her hand, frowning, nearly dozing off.
"Empress Dowager, today is your birthday. Why not let that princess over there perform for you to celebrate?" Noble Ning suddenly suggested with a smile on her face. A dark cloud loomed over Mo Xier's heart as an ominous premonition struck her.
"That's a good idea," the Empress Dowager replied with a smile, her gaze sweeping down with an expression of anticipation.
"Who among you would like to go first?" Noble Ning asked the crowd with a smile. Suddenly, another concubine spoke up: "Noble Ning has such a creative idea; why not perform for us yourself?" The concubine said mockingly, though her voice was gentle as water.
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