Chapter 39

Ning Zhaorou sat quietly, watching An Yunwei being scrutinized by several pairs of eyes. An Yunwei remained calm and composed as she took her seat, as if completely unaware of all the gazes focused on her.

Above them, Consort Shu let out a light snort and said, “It seems the palace ladies still aren’t arrogant enough. They can’t even compare to a daughter of the Minister’s household. The pride and ambition hidden in her eyes is truly frightening.”

The personalities of the palace ladies varied—some were willful and arrogant, others timid—but none had the kind of balanced pride that An Yunwei possessed.

Consort Shu’s words made Consort Li and Consort Liang frown; they did not respond.

Ning Zhaorou sipped her tea patiently, waiting until the Empress Dowager entered the hall.

Today was the Empress Dowager’s sacred birthday banquet. She was dressed magnificently. Though time had left its marks on her face, her temperament was surprisingly gentle. Upon entering, she smiled and told everyone to rise.

By this time it was nearing the end of the hour of Si (around 11 AM), and the guests had been separated into male and female seating. Most of the guests had arrived.

The emperor had not yet come.

Ning Zhaorou quietly toyed with the jade bracelet on her wrist.

Some comment or joke was made that caused the Empress Dowager to laugh heartily.

She patted the Princess Royal’s head lightly and said with a smile, “You, always enjoying yourself.”

The Princess Royal also smiled and sat beside the Empress Dowager, saying, “Mother, on the day you weren’t here, I held a flower appreciation banquet. All the girls were as beautiful as blossoms—I was almost dazzled. If you had come, you would have surely enjoyed it too.”

The Empress Dowager responded, “You say that, does that mean those girls did not come to today’s sacred birthday banquet?”

“Not at all.” The Princess Royal looked down, then scanned the room, her gaze landing on Ning Zhaorou.

That look made Ning Zhaorou’s heart leap. The gaze came and went, and she waited anxiously, her mind completely blank and clearer than ever before.

She had not expected it to come so quickly or so suddenly.

The Princess Royal curled the corners of her lips and pointed at Ning Zhaorou’s seat, saying, “Mother, look quickly—that is the girl who on the day of my flower banquet was more beautiful than the flowers themselves.”

“Ning Zhaorou, come forward.” She continued.

The consorts were about to join in with a few words to please the Empress Dowager, but when the Princess Royal suddenly pointed to Ning Zhaorou and called her forward, everyone was surprised. They wondered just how fortunate the Ning family’s young lady was to be so favored by the Princess Royal and to be brought before the Empress Dowager herself.

Under all the gazes, Ning Zhaorou obediently stood up, walked to the steps, softly greeted the Empress Dowager, and performed the proper kowtow.

“The Princess Royal says you are more beautiful than the flowers in her garden. I must see for myself.” The Empress Dowager smiled and told Ning Zhaorou to raise her head.

The surrounding consorts also chimed in, praising Ning Zhaorou’s beauty.

When Ning Zhaorou lifted her head, her soft, jade-like face appeared, and those lively, watery eyes revealed a pure heart, harboring no schemes.

The Empress Dowager could somewhat guess why the emperor wanted this girl brought into the palace.

She was indeed beautiful, but more importantly, her thoughts were simple and easy to control.

“Come, good girl, stand closer.” The Empress Dowager nodded, inviting her to step forward.

As she examined Ning Zhaorou, she nodded repeatedly—an expression of satisfaction, though somewhat peculiar.

The oddity was that her satisfaction seemed a bit too complete, which made everyone around feel something was unusual.

“You are the legitimate daughter of the Hou Mansion, and have you come of age?”

Ning Zhaorou breathed softly, respectfully and obediently replying in a low voice, “Replying to Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, this servant has already come of age, and in a few months it will be my seventeenth birthday.”

The Empress Dowager hummed in acknowledgment, then asked, “Since you have come of age, have you been promised to anyone?”

The moment the question was spoken, several people around changed expressions. Wu Shi and Ning Wanqing widened their eyes, thinking to themselves that perhaps Ning Zhaorou’s fortunes had turned—she had caught the Empress Dowager’s favor. Could this mean she would be granted a marriage match?

Before Ning Zhaorou could answer, the Princess Royal spoke softly, “Mother, how could I bring a promised young lady before you for your inspection?”

“This Second Miss Ning is indeed not yet betrothed.”

Upon hearing this, Ning Zhaorou nodded obediently, folding a shy smile and said, “This servant is indeed not yet married.”

Though some consorts did not fully understand, they still chimed in carefully, following the Empress Dowager’s tone: “Your Majesty, do you think Second Miss Ning is beautiful and intend to arrange a match for her?”

“I wonder if that sounds like the Princess Royal’s meaning?”

The Empress Dowager smiled but said nothing.

The Princess Royal had been waiting for this sentence.

She looked at the consort who spoke, and with a leisurely voice said, “Mother has always said that our imperial brother lacks a confidante. When Second Miss Ning was seen at the Flower Banquet, the Princess Royal thought very highly of her. Just today, during Your Majesty’s sacred birthday banquet, I took the chance to ask Your Majesty to take a look. It was not the Princess Royal’s intention, but since Your Majesty thinks well of her, it is indeed good.”

Having said this, she turned to the Empress Dowager with a caring tone and asked, “Mother, do you think this girl is suitable?”

One by one, the consorts almost forgot how to react properly. Consort Liang gripped her teacup so tightly she nearly crushed it; Consort Shu’s mouth hung open in obvious shock; Consort Li’s face went pale, and the astonishment in her eyes was unmistakable.

No one else in the hall spoke. Though the voices of the Empress Dowager and the Princess Royal were low, they carried clearly to everyone below—making it impossible not to hear.

Wu Shi knocked over her teacup; water spilled down the table. Before she could even panic, she heard the Empress Dowager laugh twice and say “Good.”

So it is like this…

So it was the Princess Royal’s favor toward Ning Zhaorou that led the Empress Dowager to choose her as a bride for the Emperor.

To become a consort to the Emperor.

Consort Liang felt her blood surge fiercely; the veins on her temples throbbed intensely. Watching this scene, she whispered hoarsely, “But does Miss Ning consent to entering the palace…”

That question was futile to ask.

Putting aside whether Ning Zhaorou herself wished to enter the palace or not, once the Empress Dowager decreed it, consent was not optional. Moreover, entering the palace as a consort was a great honor for someone of Ning Zhaorou’s status.

Despite the initial shock and fear caused by the Empress Dowager’s and the Princess Royal’s words, Ning Zhaorou’s expression gradually settled. She knelt down, performed a bow, then stood and said, “This servant thanks Your Majesty the Empress Dowager for her grace. I am willing to enter the palace to serve His Majesty.”

“Good girl, you may rise.”

The Empress Dowager took off a purple jade bracelet from her wrist and told Ning Zhaorou to hold out her hand.

Ning Zhaorou did not expect this and, flustered, extended her other hand—the one not already wearing a bracelet.

The purple jade bracelet matched perfectly with her clothing that day.

“This bracelet is a gift from me to you as a token of our first meeting. Once you enter the palace, I will present you with more.”

Ning Zhaorou looked at the purple jade on her wrist, feeling a mix of nervousness and lingering joy. Her brows curved in a gentle smile as she cherished the bracelet and bowed again to thank the Empress Dowager.