Chapter 25: Palace Banquet, in a Secluded Place, He Firmly… p2
After the rite was completed, Fu Tangli maintained her elegant posture and withdrew.
Zhao Yuanjia accompanied her, showing a rare consideration, and comforted her in a low voice, “Imperial Uncle is naturally cold and stern, not one for jokes. It’s not that he dislikes you. There is no need to worry.”
Fu Tangli felt guilty and didn’t dare to respond. She slowly returned to her seat. Only after she sat down did she realize that her back was soaked with sweat, cold and clammy.
Empress Shen and the Princess of An beside her were whispering to each other. They took a moment to look at Fu Tangli, a hint of a smile in their voices. “Were you frightened? The Prince of Huai has always been like this, unapproachable. It’s natural to be distant at the first meeting. In the future, you and the Crown Prince should serve him with sincerity and propriety. After a while, when you become familiar, he will be no different from any other elder.”
Fu Tangli’s mind was in a turmoil. She had no time to pay attention to what Empress Shen was saying and just gave a vague reply.
In the main hall stood four half-person-high purple-gold beast-shaped censers, burning with Emerald Cloud Dragon Soaring incense. The fragrance was rich, like a cloud dragon, gradually growing thicker. There was also the scent of cosmetics from the palace maids’ hair, rich and enchanting, weighing heavily on one’s chest.
The Jade Scallion Spring wine had entered her stomach, and its effects were beginning to set in, like a pool of spring water, trapping her limbs. Fu Tangli felt that everything around her was becoming hazy. She tried to clear her head, wanting to drink a cup of hot tea, but when she reached out her hand, whether from drunkenness or panic, she couldn’t find the teacup for a long time.
“What’s wrong, Lady Fu?” A female court official had come over at some point and asked with concern. “Are you drunk? Would you like to go to the side hall to rest for a while?”
Hearing this, Empress Shen turned her head and glanced over, only to see the Senior Palace Attendant Gao.
The Senior Palace Attendant Gao was an old palace maid from the late Emperor’s side. She was quite old and was in charge of discipline and prohibitions, so she was highly respected in the palace. Even Empress Shen was three parts polite to her. So she said casually, “How can the Second Lady have such a low tolerance? It’s laughable. In that case, Auntie Gao, take her down to rest for a while and sober up.”
The Senior Palace Attendant Gao acknowledged the order. Soon, two palace maids came forward and helped Fu Tangli up.
Fu Tangli was groggy and wanted to escape this chaotic place. She apologized, hurriedly got up, and followed the palace maids to the side hall.
It was called a side hall, but it was just a quiet room partitioned off on the west side of Penglai Hall with a sixteen-panel sandalwood and glazed chi-dragon patterned screen. A silk gauze fully embroidered with gold-thread peonies hung down from the screen in layers, creating a play of light and shadow, a space of its own.
Without the eyes of others on her, Fu Tangli breathed a sigh of relief. She no longer maintained her posture and sat down softly on the floor couch, leaning against the low table.
The Senior Palace Attendant Gao said gently, “Lady Fu, please sit for a moment. I will have someone bring you some sobering soup.”
Fu Tangli supported her forehead with her hand, her eyes half-closed, and let out a “Mm.”
Through the screen, the music and singing could still be heard. A little further away, the banquet was abuzz with chatter, laughter, whispers, and exhortations to drink.
Her head was throbbing, and her heart was pounding uncomfortably. She frowned.
Outside, someone said something amusing, and everyone laughed.
In the midst of this faint clamor, that man’s voice suddenly sounded by Fu Tangli’s ear, exceptionally low.
“Is Lady Fu drunk?”
Fu Tangli jumped in fright, letting out half a cry, and quickly covered her mouth with her hand.
The man let out a low laugh. He had come in at some point and was now leaning over from behind her. The sleeves of his Daoist robe were long and wide, and they fell down, covering the crystal lamp shade. The surrounding light grew even dimmer, making one feel as if they were in a cloud of mist, unable to see anything clearly.
He was too close. Fu Tangli could feel the heat of his body, so scorching it made her heart palpitate. But his scent was that of snow covering a mountain wilderness, the ebony incense burned by a believer, mixed with the fragrance of white plum blossoms, bitter and cool.
The palace maids had long since disappeared. Here, there was only him and her, separated from the grand banquet of song and dance by only a semi-transparent screen.
“Hm?” His tone rose, carrying the intense pressure of a superior. “Are you afraid of me?”
The wine she had just drunk had all turned into a cold sweat, beading on her forehead. Fu Tangli was instantly sobered by fear. She didn’t dare to turn around, didn’t even dare to move. She said in a weak voice, “The Prince of Huai is mighty. This child is timid. My heart is still trembling.”
Zhao Shangjun seemed to smile. “Oh, is it because I am mighty, or… because you have a guilty conscience?”
Fu Tangli’s scalp tingled. She desperately took a breath, forcing herself to calm down. “Why does Your Highness say such things? It is perplexing.”
Zhao Shangjun made a sound from his nose, like a laugh, but its coldness was like the edge of a blade. He suddenly reached out and turned Fu Tangli by the shoulder.
His strength was too great. With just one hand, Fu Tangli could not bear it. She was pressed down, her waist bending backward, almost falling back onto the low table.
A gold hairpin slipped from her hair and fell with a faint tinkle. Her hair was like black silk satin, spilling over his arm. Her eyes were wide, the hazy drunkenness not yet completely gone. In the dim light, they were like the shimmering waves of a spring day, an unconscious, innocent charm.
Zhao Shangjun’s mood seemed to have improved a little, and also to have grown a little angrier. He looked down at her. “Come, look at me. Tell me, who are you? And who am I?”
This question was fatal.
Things having come to this, she was riding a tiger and could not get off. Fu Tangli braced herself and said, “This child is the Second Lady of the Fu family, the Crown Princess designated by His Majesty. You are His Highness, the Prince of Huai, the Crown Prince’s Imperial Uncle, and also this child’s elder.”
“Oh?” Zhao Shangjun’s tone was cool, sounding quite calm. “That is strange. When I see Lady Fu, I find you quite familiar. May I ask Lady Fu, what is the reason for this?”
Fu Tangli’s head was buzzing, her heart pounding. She wished she could just close her eyes and faint, but she couldn’t. She had to force a smile and try to coax him with the softest voice. “Your Highness is probably mistaken, or you have misremembered. This child has long heard of Your Highness’s reputation and is most fortunate to meet you today.”
“I’m mistaken? I’ve misremembered?” Zhao Shangjun let out a long, sigh-like sound. “So that’s how it is. You just love to lie when you’re drunk.”
What had she said to him the last time she was drunk?
Fu Tangli recalled, shivered, and decisively remained silent. Sweat, uncontrollably, slid from her forehead to her temples, itching a little. She endured it uncomfortably and unconsciously bit her lip.
She had just drunk wine, and her lips were wet. Biting them like that, it was as if juice were about to drip out. The light was too dim, and the tender pink color almost seemed to melt.
The color of Zhao Shangjun’s eyes deepened, and the hand gripping her shoulder suddenly tightened.
“Hiss,” Fu Tangli cried out in pain, her heart in a panic. “Your Highness’s current behavior is truly improper. If this child has been inadequate in any way, I will apologize later. I ask Your Highness to let go quickly.”
It was truly a case of fearing what was to come. Fu Tangli had not even finished her sentence when she heard footsteps approaching.
Then she heard the Senior Palace Attendant Gao’s voice, respectfully asking, “Why has His Highness the Crown Prince come?”
“We must offer our congratulations and respects to Imperial Grandmother. My Imperial Mother has ordered me to fetch Lady Fu.” Zhao Yuanjia’s voice carried its usual reserve.
Fu Tangli’s eyes widened in terror, her mind going blank for a moment.
Zhao Shangjun let out an inscrutable “Hmph.” Even at this moment, he could still ask unhurriedly, “Apologize later? Tell me, how will you apologize?”
His voice was very soft, very low, and in the darkness, it had a hoarse quality. He looked down at Fu Tangli, like a fierce beast sizing up its prey.
Fu Tangli’s fingers trembled. She didn’t know if she was more afraid of Zhao Yuanjia outside or Zhao Shangjun before her.
Outside, the Senior Palace Attendant Gao was speaking with a pleasant smile, blocking Zhao Yuanjia. “Your Highness, please wait a moment. The lady’s appearance is not proper after drinking. Please allow her a moment to tidy up.”
Zhao Yuanjia seemed displeased. “It was just a small drink. Why is she so delicate? Gu has come to fetch her personally, and I still have to wait?”
Fu Tangli was sweating with anxiety, her only thought to quickly send this fearsome figure away. She lowered her eyes and swallowed her anger. “Whatever Your Highness wants of me, I will do. For now, I only ask Your Highness to be considerate and leave quickly, so that others do not see and misunderstand.”
The Senior Palace Attendant Gao could not stop Zhao Yuanjia and had to raise her voice slightly. “Lady Fu, His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived.”
Zhao Yuanjia’s footsteps moved closer.
“Tomorrow, at the Si hour, at the Changfeng Pavilion on Shaoling Plain outside the city. I will wait for you to apologize to me.” Zhao Shangjun’s tone was always authoritative. Although he spoke softly, it did not allow for defiance.
“Alright.” Fu Tangli’s heart was about to leap out of her throat. Without thinking, she immediately agreed.
Zhao Shangjun gave Fu Tangli a deep look and finally withdrew.
“Alright what?” Zhao Yuanjia came around the screen, happened to hear, and asked.
The candlelight in the crystal lamp shade brightened again. Fu Tangli caught a glimpse of the corner of Zhao Shangjun’s robe disappearing behind a golden pillar and let out a long breath. She closed her eyes, then quickly opened them. Her heart was still pounding wildly, but at least her composure had returned. To Zhao Yuanjia, she replied in a soft voice, “Nothing is alright. Your Highness probably misheard.”
She had been in a disheveled state just now. Now, she quickly stood up, brushed her sleeves, smoothed her hair, and was elegant once more.
Zhao Yuanjia seemed to have grown familiar with Fu Tangli and was no longer as polite as when they first met. When he spoke, there was a hint of impatience in his casual tone. “Have you rested enough? Don’t delay, so as not to be impolite to Imperial Grandmother.”
:=
Fu Tangli just smiled and said no more. She picked up the gold hairpin that had fallen on the table, gathered her long hair with one hand, coiled it into a simple chignon, and inserted the hairpin. These few simple movements, when done by her, had an effortless grace, like a floating cloud or flowing water.
She was not as gentle and delicate as Lin Wanqing. She usually maintained a posture of warmth, kindness, respect, and moderation, which made it difficult for people to get close. But at this moment, she was still about three parts drunk, her gaze hazy, the corners of her eyes slightly red. When she put up her hair, her sleeve slipped down, revealing a section of her snow-white arm.
Zhao Yuanjia took a second look and felt a little thirsty. Perhaps he had drunk too much at the banquet, and a strange feeling arose in his heart. He condescended to extend his hand to her. “Come with gu quickly.”
Just then, Fu Tangli felt a sharp gaze from a corner behind her, like a cold blade, almost cutting through her skin, a stinging pain.
The candlelight flickered.
A chill ran through Fu Tangli’s body.
“I dare not trouble Your Highness.” The young lady was docile. She lowered her eyes, bowed with her hands clasped, bent her waist slightly, took half a step back, then looked up again and smiled. “Mm, alright, let’s go.”
She said “we.” The word, coming from her mouth, seemed to have a soft and warm quality.
Zhao Yuanjia was actually not very satisfied, but he was bewildered by a strange emotion. He let out a “Hmph” and turned to leave awkwardly.
Fu Tangli lowered her head and followed. As she stepped out of the side hall, she glanced back.
Beside the tall, magnificent golden pillar, there was a long shadow, standing silently and dangerously.
***