哈哈漫画

"It's because my body is healthy," Li Xia's words reminded Old Madam Xu of how Li Xia ate at last year's palace banquet.

She nodded in agreement. Nowadays in the capital, thinness was considered beautiful. Young ladies and young wives were all desperately dieting to make themselves thin. They became as thin as bean poles, ready to fall over in the wind. With such poor health, how could they nurture and bear children?

Mrs. Zhou, listening to their conversation, looked at Zhou Mier and Zhou Luoer. The two Zhou sisters were prime examples, both extremely thin.

Zhou Mier had been married into the Xu family for five years without conceiving. If Zhou Luoer followed her sister's example, it would be the same. What was the point of marrying her if she couldn't produce heirs for the Lu family?

Thinking this, Mrs. Zhou carefully examined Zhou Luoer. Compared to Li Xia's healthy, rosy complexion, Zhou Luoer's face, despite the rouge, still looked pale.

Noticing Mrs. Zhou's scrutinizing gaze, Zhou Luoer's expression worsened. She had already been worried that Mrs. Zhou might change her mind, and now with her sister's years of infertility as a precedent, she, as the younger sister, was even more affected. In her heart, she hated Li Xia to death, blaming her for putting her in this situation.

Li Xia helped Old Madam Xu to her seat. The Chang'an Princess also sat down nearby to join the conversation. The cheerful laughter of the three attracted attention, but their status prevented anyone from commenting.

The Empress arrived last with her consorts. Once the mistress of the palace was seated, the banquet began. Today's event featured performances by the daughters of court officials.

One by one, beautiful young ladies came forward to demonstrate their skills in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Zhou Luoer's qin playing was quite good; she played "A Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix" beautifully.

Li Xia had no interest in this, focusing more on eating. When she tasted something delicious, a slight smile appeared on her face.

"The Lady of the Marquis of Pingnan seems to enjoy the second Miss Zhou's qin playing. Would you care to share your thoughts?" Consort Xian's voice came from above.

Li Xia put down her chopsticks and unhurriedly wiped her mouth. "I don't have any particular insights. I just thought it sounded nice." Li Xia's response drew a snicker from someone in the crowd.

"The Lady of the Marquis of Pingnan's response is too brief," Consort Xian persisted.

"This old woman thinks that the Lady of Marquis of Pingnan's 'nice' encompasses everything," Old Madam Xu calmly interjected.

"Old Madam's insight is keen," someone said. Old Madam Xu's seniority was such that even the Empress had to show her respect. While Consort Xian smiled outwardly at her words, inwardly she was displeased. These old aristocratic families were so detestable. When her son ascended to the throne, the first thing to do would be to eliminate all these old ministers.

After Zhou Luoer left the stage, a daughter from a military family took her place. Unusually, this young lady performed sword dancing. The flexible sword in her hands moved like a swimming dragon. Suddenly, as the girl leaped, the sword slipped from her hand and flew towards the Empress's position.

Before anyone could react, the sword reached the Empress, hesitated, then fell. The Empress, now pale, looked at the sword on the ground. Seeing that she had failed to assassinate the Empress, the girl on the floor untied her belt, revealing another flexible sword. She grabbed it and leaped towards the Empress again.

"Mother!" the Chang'an Princess cried out in panic, about to rush forward.

"Assassin! Quick, save the Empress!" palace maids and eunuchs shouted in confusion.

The assassin aimed directly at the Empress, almost reaching her when something struck her waist. The pain made her fall to the ground. She rolled and injured one of the consorts.

Eunuch Wu, who was by the Empress's side, engaged in combat with the assassin. The hall was in chaos, with the ladies and young women present panicking and trying to find places to hide.

Mrs. Lu stood up, looking for a place to hide, when someone pushed her. Fortunately, Qiu Chan steadied her. "Madam, hide behind me," she said, pushing Mrs. Lu and Liu Xiao behind her and grabbing a chair to use as a shield.

"Qiu Chan, what's going on?" Liu Xiao couldn't help but ask.

"I don't know. The young lady instructed me to take care of the madam," Qiu Chan replied. Before entering the palace, Li Xia had instructed Qiu Chan to stay by Mrs. Lu's side and protect her, not to worry about or ask about anything else.

Seeing the Chang'an Princess kicked to the ground, Li Xia reached out to help her up. "Sister Xia, my mother..." the princess clutched at her in panic.

"There are people taking care of the Empress. She'll be fine," Li Xia said, pulling the Chang'an Princess towards Old Madam Xu and Old Madam Lu.

"I'm getting old, my aim isn't what it used to be," Old Madam Xu sighed to Old Madam Lu.

"Hmph, you're just showing off in front of me," Old Madam Lu snorted lightly. The two old ladies were remarkably calm, seemingly unaffected by the chaos around them.

The assassin was quickly subdued by Eunuch Wu, though at the cost of severe injuries. The girl, in a final act of defiance, bit down on a poison pill and took her own life. With the threat neutralized, the people in the hall were still in a state of panic.

The Empress, having regained her composure, looked at the dead assassin and then addressed the frightened crowd, "The assassin has been dealt with. Ladies, there's no need to panic."

Inwardly, however, the Empress was looking towards the hall's entrance. With such a major incident, why hadn't any guards come? Had something happened outside?

The Chang'an Princess ran to the Empress, her voice trembling, "Mother, are you alright?"

"I'm fine, don't worry," the Empress reassured her daughter.

"Why haven't any palace guards come?" someone asked, suddenly realizing the oddity of the situation. Others also began to notice that something was amiss. Some stood up to leave the hall and investigate.

Suddenly, armored soldiers entered the hall, their swords stopping those trying to leave.

"What are you doing?" shouted one of the ladies who had been pushed back.

"Lady Wang, it would be best if you remained calm," Consort Xian suddenly spoke up.

"It was you," the Empress looked at Consort Xian, her eyes cold.

"Yes, it was me. It's a pity we couldn't kill you," Consort Xian replied, looking triumphantly at the woman who had oppressed her for so long. Soon, she would become the most honored woman in the dynasty.

"Consort Xian, you're staging a rebellion?" the Chang'an Princess's voice was filled with anger. How could Consort Xian and the second prince be so ambitious and ungrateful after all the kindness her mother had shown them?

"I'm only taking back what should have been mine. Years ago, His Majesty promised to make me his wife. Instead, I became just a concubine, and my son could only look at the throne from afar," Consort Xian's eyes were full of hatred as she looked at the Empress. It was all this woman's fault that her life had been ruined.

"You're talking nonsense!" the Chang'an Princess refused to believe Consort Xian's words.

"Consort Xian, if you stop now, I will plead with His Majesty to spare your life," the Empress's words made Consort Xian laugh out loud.

"His Majesty? He won't be for much longer. My Shang'er will soon become the Crown Prince, and then the new Emperor."

"You petty usurper, your arrogance won't last long," Old Madam Xu snorted, unable to stand Consort Xian's bragging.

"You old hag, don't think I wouldn't dare to do anything to you. Say one more word, and I'll kill you," Consort Xian threatened. She had long resented these aristocratic women. It was because of them that she couldn't become Empress.