The room was shaded by gauze curtains, with four maids fanning in unison. A platter of sliced fruits and warmed water sat on the table.
Yet, Wang Qingyao still felt hot. Even just sitting there, doing nothing, she would break into a sweat.
The sun baked the earth like a furnace. The flowers and trees outside drooped under the heat, and no one wanted to venture out in such weather.
Even the pleasure houses, which operated rain or shine, saw much fewer customers.
Ironically, the Empress Dowager’s birthday fell on such a day.
As it was not a major milestone birthday, and the Empress Dowager favored frugality, the Emperor did not host a grand celebration. A family banquet was held in the Cishou Palace, and only the Ding'an King's family and Princess Nange Feng Jiangduo were invited from outside the palace.
This was an immense honor.
Many envied the Ding'an King's mansion for its enduring favor over the years.
Wang Qingyao had not intended to go. However, remembering the Empress Dowager’s considerable care for Xiao Yun and herself, she prepared a separate gift to wish the Empress Dowager a happy birthday, offer a few auspicious words, and then leave shortly after.
Besides, Feng Jiangduo would also be attending. Given her temperament, she would surely be restless. Having Wang Qingyao accompany her would undoubtedly make things much easier, and she could even use Wang Qingyao as an excuse to leave the palace together.
Though it was said to be a modest affair, it was still the Empress Dowager’s birthday.
All the palace consorts, regardless of their rank, sent birthday gifts.
Looking at the mountain of gifts, Wang Qingyao discreetly scanned them from top to bottom with her clairvoyant eyes. Tsk, there was truly everything imaginable. There were even Buddhist scriptures copied in blood! The sight alone felt bloodcurdling and nauseating.
Wang Qingyao furrowed her brow, and Zhizi, with her keen observation, offered her preserved sour plums.
Wang Qingyao was due next month and no longer suffered from morning sickness. However, she enjoyed the sweet and sour taste of preserved sour plums and always had her attendants keep them on hand for her to have one whenever she fancied.
“Are you alright?” the Old Imperial Concubine asked with concern.
Wang Qingyao shook her head.
The Cishou Palace was bustling with people coming and going, but the main hall was less crowded. After all, not everyone had the privilege to remain there to celebrate the Empress Dowager’s birthday.
Although it was called a family banquet, and the palace consorts were considered the Empress Dowager’s daughters-in-law, these daughters-in-law were still distinguished by closeness, seniority, and status.
At this moment, speaking before the Empress Dowager were Consort Wei and Consort Chen.
Wang Qingyao was surprised to see Consort Chen. Where was the promised aloof, cold, and unsociable demeanor?
The younger generation present were the usual faces: besides Wang Qingyao’s party, there were the Rong King and his wife, the Crown Prince and Wei Yu, the Seventh Prince, and an unfamiliar young lady.
Initially, Wang Qingyao thought the young lady was the Seventh Prince’s girlfriend. Later, she learned from the Empress Dowager that it was the Emperor’s Fifth Princess.
The Emperor had only five princesses, all born to consorts of low status and not favored by the Emperor. Therefore, the first four had been married off to distant kingdoms. The remaining Fifth Princess rarely left her palace, so Wang Qingyao had never met her before.
She, with her pregnant belly, curtsied to everyone. Just as she began to rise, the Empress Dowager stopped her and ordered a Grand Tutor’s chair with a soft cushion to be brought for her to sit on.
Everyone knew she was carrying twins, and they were filled with envy.
Consort Wei incessantly asked her for the secret to conceiving twins.
Wang Qingyao smiled, “Your Highness has already had three children, and you still wish for more?”
This remark reminded everyone of Consort Wei’s second son, Prince Qi, who was currently imprisoned on Jianfeng Peak. The atmosphere in the hall became heavy.
Wang Qingyao’s mouth moved faster than her brain. She only remembered the incident after speaking and felt incredibly awkward.
Those who didn’t know might think she deliberately provoked Consort Wei!
Unexpectedly, Consort Wei was very open-minded and said calmly, “I haven’t taught the three of them successfully. I want to have two more and teach them again, preferably a daughter.”
Two of the three Consort Wei mentioned were present. Hearing this, the Rong King coughed and said, “I think I’m quite good.”
Wei Qing, following her husband’s lead, said, “Your Highness, I also think the Prince is quite good.”
The couple exchanged a smile, their affection evident, which made the Empress Dowager chuckle.
“Look at these two.”
The Crown Prince feigned sadness and sighed, “Alas, Imperial Brother, we have both fallen out of favor.”
“Get lost,” Consort Wei glared at him. “You’re already the Crown Prince, yet you’re still like a child every day.”
The Crown Prince then nuzzled up to her and pouted, “Even if I became the Jade Emperor, I would still be Mother Consort’s child.”
Everyone laughed. Consort Wei told Wei Yu to pull the Crown Prince away. Wei Yu looked up and smiled brightly, but instead of pulling him, she also clung to Consort Wei.
“I think the Crown Prince is right. Not only is he always your child, but I am also always your child.”
These two, with their baby faces, were deeply calculating.
Those who didn’t know were amused by them, but Wang Qingyao felt a chill, a sense of artificial innocence that made her uncomfortable.
“Alright, stop clinging to me. Aren’t you afraid of getting too hot!”
Only then did the Crown Prince and Wei Yu release Consort Wei.
The Empress Dowager looked at the Rong King and Wei Qing and said, “I actually think you two having a child is more reliable than your mother having one.”
Wei Qing froze for a moment, glanced at the Rong King uneasily, and lowered her head.
Her expression was not one of shyness, but of guilt and worry.
Speaking of which, she and the Rong King had been married for over half a year, yet there was no news.