Chapter 142: The Banquet at Prince Jing's Estate

The next morning...

Xu Bocheng originally intended to leave, but seeing the beautiful noble consort in his arms hugging him like a three-toed sloth, still fast asleep yet humming and murmuring protestingly, "Don't go," his heart softened.

Taking advantage of the morning vigor, he lingered a while longer on the Empress's phoenix couch...

Until the sun was high in the sky.

After exhausting his efforts and imparting all he had to give, he stretched lazily on the phoenix couch and chuckled softly, "Did our son not come to pay his respects today?"

Empress Zhang, her eyes still sleepy with sleep and her cheeks flushed with the lingering warmth of passion, sleepily murmured, "You told me last time, so I had him stop coming."

"Oh~"

Xu Bocheng nodded in sudden realization, then raised an eyebrow with a smile, "Her Ladyship is so thoughtful~"

"..."

Seeing the amusement dancing in his eyes and brows, Empress Zhang realized she had spoken out of turn. Shy and exasperated, she leaned over and bit his arm...

Too embarrassed to lift her head, her voice trembling slightly, she scolded, "You... you are not allowed to smile like that..."

"Hahahahaha~~"

Xu Bocheng stroked the smooth, jade-like back of the beauty. Seeing her looking so thoroughly mortified, he laughed even more brightly.

Glancing at the sky outside, a sudden thought struck him, and he bolted upright with a start.

"Oh no!"

"What is it?"

Seeing his reaction, Empress Zhang raised her flushed face and asked softly, "Is there something urgent to attend to today?"

"Today is the first birthday of Zhu Wenjing's son."

"..."

Without offering further explanation, Xu Bocheng got up and began dressing.

Realizing the situation as she looked at the daylight outside, Empress Zhang likewise rose, draped a robe over her shoulders, and helped him get dressed.

"Noble Consort Zhou went to Cining Palace yesterday, probably to remind me of this. I never expected to lose myself in Your Ladyship's tender embrace and almost completely forgot about it..."

"Stop flattering me~"

Empress Zhang smoothed the wrinkles on his lapel and said, "Zhou Wanshu is Zhu Wenjing's birth mother; she will most likely be there today. Don't be late and arouse suspicion."

"Got it, got it~"

Xu Bocheng pecked her on the cheek and then slipped out through the window.

Empress Zhang parted her lips, intending to ask why he was so practiced at vaulting through windows, but seeing his figure vanish instantly beyond the sill, she let the thought go.

Seeing that he had left...

She pondered for a moment. Remembering that she had not visited her good sister at Cining Palace in many days, she tidied herself up, dressed formally, and ordered her imperial carriage to Cining Palace...

Upon arrival, she found her good sister absent from her bedchamber. When she inquired of the palace matrons, she learned she was feeding the fish by the Flowing Creek Pavilion.

Walking over to the outside of the pavilion, she waved her hand to signal the matrons to withdraw, then stepped into the pavilion alone. Seeing her good sister standing by the railing, rolling fish feed between her fingers, she sat down nearby, her eyes full of envy as she said, "Sister is in such high spirits~"

"Hm?"

Empress Dowager Chen turned in surprise to find someone had joined her in the pavilion, and smiled, "When did you become just like that little scoundrel, walking without making a sound?"

Empress Zhang smiled faintly, then, as if struck by a thought, a trace of melancholy clouded her face. She sighed and said, "I am so envious of Sister being this carefree."

"Envious of what?"

"Being free from worries~"

"Hm?"

Empress Dowager Chen raised a delicate eyebrow. Seeing that the matrons outside the pavilion had withdrawn, she asked teasingly, "Did Xu Bocheng stay the night at your place yesterday?"

"..."

Empress Zhang was startled. She hurriedly touched her cheeks and looked down at herself to check for any giveaways.

"Stop looking, I guessed it..."

Empress Dowager Chen chuckled softly and explained, "When you're with that scoundrel, even if the sky falls, it feels like it doesn't matter. But afterwards, there's always this sense of loss and an urge to ponder the meaning of life."

Pausing for a moment, she teased playfully, "Right now, you look just like that..."

"..."

Her innermost thoughts exposed by her good sister, Empress Zhang's face burned as if scorched by fire. Shifting her gaze to avoid meeting Chen's eyes, she stammered, "No... nothing of the sort..."

Seeing her reaction, Empress Dowager Chen knew her guess was spot on. With a playful laugh, she said, "We've been friends for over ten years, and I've been with him for more than two. Do you think you can hide anything from me?"

"Oh dear~~"

Realizing her good sister saw right through her, Empress Zhang gave up the pretense. Wrinkling her face in torment, she mumbled, "I didn't mean to steal Sister's man. He broke into my bedchamber yesterday and even mentioned that Noble Consort Zhou was at Cining Palace..."

"Then did you give it to him?"

"He insisted..."

***

"He insisted, so you gave it to him?"

"I..."

Seeing her sheepish expression and the way her face was scrunched up in distress, Empress Dowager Chen let out a snort of laughter and said, "I'm not blaming you two, why are you so nervous?"

"I'm not nervous..."

Empress Zhang glanced around. Seeing no one nearby, she sighed and said, "His Majesty is still alive. If this were discovered, never mind my nine clans...

Even ten clans wouldn't be enough to pay with our lives, which is why I envy Sister."

"Nobody knows whether tomorrow or an accident will come first. What's the use of worrying so much?"

Empress Dowager Chen shook her head and countered, "Just like our lives right now—didn't we reach today only after making countless choices?"

Pausing briefly, her tone softened into gentle consolation, "Don't let your mind wander. Just handle what's right in front of you. For the rest, do your human best and leave the rest to fate."

"I hope so..."

Empress Zhang nodded thoughtfully.

Then, as if recalling something else, her delicate brows furrowed slightly as she said, "A few days ago, I made a trip to the Hall of Mental Cultivation and found that His Majesty seemed different from before..."

"The Emperor is different from before?"

Empress Dowager Chen was slightly taken aback. "How is he different?"

"I can't quite describe how..."

Empress Zhang furrowed her brows in deep thought before continuing, "Perhaps it's because my conscience is guilty, or perhaps because we haven't seen each other in a long time...

When I saw His Majesty that day, I had an overriding sense of dread, as if... as if I had encountered a fierce beast waiting to devour people. It was terrifying."

"Stop letting your imagination run wild, my good sister."

Empress Dowager Chen merely smiled, pulled her up to the railing, and handed her some fish feed, saying, "Feed the fish, your mood will improve greatly."

"All right..."

***********

The Prince of Jing's Residence was festooned with colorful lanterns and silk ribbons...

Not only the residence itself, but the entire street surrounding it was draped in bright red silk and hung with red lanterns.

More than a hundred tables of free banquet food were set up along the street for the citizens of the capital to drink in celebration...

For the first-year birthday of the Prince of Jing's little prince, chefs from all the major restaurants in the capital had been heavily compensated and drafted to cook the street banquet.

Firstly, to showcase his wealth...

Secondly, to build connections...

Thirdly, to demonstrate benevolence and earn a good reputation...

Inside the Prince of Jing's residence, several tables of banquets were also set up, featuring dishes described as "running beasts of the mountains, wild geese of the clouds, cattle and sheep of the land, and delicacies of the sea."

Unlike the street banquets outside, every single person seated at these tables was a powerful and influential figure in the imperial court.

Zhu Wenjing himself stood at the gates of the Prince of Jing's residence to personally greet guests. For allies of his faction, he demonstrated benevolence and righteousness; for targets he was still trying to win over, he showed even greater sincerity...

As the doorman loudly announced the lists of congratulatory gifts, the officials of the "Third Prince's Faction" arriving at the banquet bowed to one another with cupped hands, creating an atmosphere of utter harmony.

Just then...

A carriage halted by the gates of the Prince of Jing's residence, and the Prince of Gong, Zhu Wenjue, stepped down holding a congratulatory gift.

Spotting Zhu Wenjing at the entrance, he smiled with an inscrutable expression and said, "Third Brother, today is my nephew's first birthday, yet your elder brother has arrived late. I hope Third Brother will not take offense."

"Your Imperial Highness jests..."

Zhu Wenjing raised an eyebrow, cupped his hands, and replied, "For Your Highness to spare time from your busy schedule to attend the banquet is already an honor that moves this younger brother. How could I take offense?"

"That's good then~"

Zhu Wenjue looked at the younger brother who was junior to him by a few months. A thought flashing through his mind, he asked, "On such a joyous occasion, did Brother Hong come?"

"No..."

Zhu Wenjue shook his head, having no desire to converse further with him, and gestured with an extended hand, "The banquet inside is about to begin. Please go in and take your seat, Imperial Brother."

He invited him because he had to put on a show of brotherly harmony; he wished to ignore him because the two of them were rivals competing for the succession.

Clearly aware of this, Zhu Wenjue nodded, murmured a regretful "Pity," and stepped into the Prince of Jing's residence.

Watching Zhu Wenjue's retreating figure, Zhu Wenjing's eyes flickered with a cold sneer...

As time passed...

Most of those supposed to arrive had already come ahead of time, and the flow of people outside the gates gradually dwindled.

The doorman's announcements became increasingly sparse.

By noon...

As firecrackers were ignited, it signaled that the auspicious hour had arrived and the banquet could commence.

Zhu Wenjing walked over to the doorman, frowned slightly, and asked, "Check the roster. How many people have yet to arrive?"
The doorman hurriedly retrieved the pre-prepared guest list, flipped through it for comparison, and said cautiously, "Your Highness, only two people on the list have yet to arrive."

***

"Two people?"

Zhu Wenjing frowned. With so many people coming and going today, he knew one of the two missing names was his good elder brother Zhu Hong, but as for the other, he hadn't paid attention to who it might be...

"Aside from the First Imperial Prince, who else?"

"The Director of the Western Depot, Xu Bocheng."

"Xu Bocheng..."

Zhu Wenjing murmured, his gaze narrowing slightly...

He recalled the figure he had accidentally crossed paths with on his way out of the palace that day, and remembered specifically having his birth mother deliver the invitation on his behalf.

According to his mother, this person had readily agreed to attend the banquet. Yet now, as the banquet commenced, there was still no sign of him. Why would that be?

Thinking that he might have been stood up, Zhu Wenjing let out a cold snort, his expression turning somewhat gloomy...

At that moment...

The estate's head steward trotted all the way over, hurried to his side, and whispered, "Your Highness, shall we prepare to start the banquet?"

"Prepare to start the banquet!"

Zhu Wenjing flicked his sleeve and entered the residence, smiling amiably as he cupped his hands to greet the guests, who all rose in response.

With a hearty laugh, he said, "My lords and gentlemen are all pillars of Great Liang. There is no need for such empty courtesies—let the banquet begin!"

An elderly senior official stood up and joked, "As the host, is Your Highness not going to join us old fellows to sit and drink a few cups together?"

"Minister Li jests."

Zhu Wenjing smiled. "This Prince will make a trip to the inner courtyard to check on the little one, and I shall return to drink with you all until we are thoroughly drunk!"

"Hahaha, Your Highness, please go ahead~"

Zhu Wenjing smiled and cupped his hands in farewell. Entering the inner courtyard, the smile gradually faded from his face. By the time he reached the bedchamber of his legal wife, Liu Heng'e, his expression carried a mixture of tension and fervor...

After knocking on the door, he said, "Heng'e, it's me..."

A languid voice drifted from within: "Come in."

Zhu Wenjing pushed the door open...

Only to see Liu Heng'e, blessed with striking features, sitting lazily by a table, slowly stroking a sleek, oil-slick black cat held in her arms...

The black cat possessed heterochromia: one eye was golden-green like amber, and the other was bright blue like a gemstone, looking utterly eerie.

Seeing Zhu Wenjing enter, Liu Heng'e and the black cat in her arms stared straight at him, their movements synchronized as if acting as one—a deeply unsettling sight.

"Immortal!"

Zhu Wenjing's Adam's apple bobbed up and down as he bowed to the black cat and said, "The banquet has begun, and my brother, who is vying with me for the crown prince's seat, has also arrived. I beg the Immortal to help me eliminate him!"

"Tsk tsk tsk... You certainly have a ruthless heart~"

A strange glint flashed in Liu Heng'e's eyes. Clicked her tongue a few times, she looked at him with playful mockery and said, "You handed over your lawful wife's physical body to me, and this karmic tie only allows me to help you strike down an enemy once. Are you certain you want to target your brother?"

"Certain!"

Zhu Wenjing gnashed his teeth and said, "As long as Zhu Wenjue dies, I will be the Crown Prince. Never mind an adulterous slut—when the time comes, if the Immortal wants ten... a hundred... a thousand! This Prince can find them for you!"

"Your wife did not commit adultery..."

Liu Heng'e shook her head and said sternly, "According to her memories, the intruder morphed into your appearance. Mistaking him for you, she simply wished to grow closer to you.

As for the scoundrel who came... hmm...
I cannot judge who was right or wrong, but it is a fact that the scoundrel did not commit adultery with your wife."

"Even so, she is no longer pure!"

At this moment, Zhu Wenjing resembled a gambler who had staked everything on the gaming table. With reddened eyes, he snarled, "She's just a woman, I can have as many as I want!"

Pausing for a breath, he drew a deep inhalation, suppressed his emotions, and said firmly, "As long as the Immortal helps me ascend to that position, from then on the Immortal shall be the Imperial Preceptor of Great Liang!"

"I hope so..."

Liu Heng'e nodded slightly and straightened up.

Meanwhile, the black cat in her arms curled up languidly, dozing as if half-asleep.

"I will help you resolve your brother, but the karma entangling the Emperor is too deep. I will not help you with that, and I hope you know your limits."

"The Emperor..."

Hearing this title, Zhu Wenjing momentarily lost focus, then nodded and said, "The Immortal need only help me secure the position of Crown Prince!"

Pausing once more, he spoke each word with deliberate weight: "All remaining karma shall rest upon me alone!"