Chapter 63: An Imperial Marriage Decree?

Murong Si, however, paid no mind to this extravagance.

"Just come by my estate later to collect the silver notes; I have immediate need of it."

Tang Zhaozhao grinned broadly and quietly slipped a pill into Murong Si's hand.

Ever since the banquet for viewing snow, Tang Zhaozhao had remained cautious and kept a stash of pills on her person.

She hid them inside the herbal sachet at her waist.

To an ordinary observer, it looked like nothing more than a standard sachet filled with everyday herbs.

Having received the item, Murong Si did not linger and promptly returned to his seat.

Tang Zhaozhao was overjoyed to have made another profit.

Little did she know, however, that her covert exchange with Murong Si, while hidden from the rest of the crowd, did not escape the notice of Prince Lin.

Prince Lin's eyes narrowed slightly, growing all the more profoundly chilling when he caught sight of Tang Zhaozhao parting her lips in a wide, cheerful smile.

As Anan poured wine for his master, he suddenly heard the Prince utter a remark.

"It is time for the Third Imperial Nephew to come out and move about."

While others merely regarded Murong Si as a frivolous and dissolute imperial prince, Prince Lin knew this was merely a facade.

As an imperial prince—especially one who had survived to adulthood—not a single one was simple.

Let alone this particular prince, who had managed to grow up safely right beside the very person who had murdered his mother.

Anan could not fathom why the Third Imperial Prince had offended his master.

In the past, the Prince had never meddled in the affairs of the other imperial princes.

He could not help raising his gaze toward Tang Zhaozhao, who sat sipping her wine with a faint smile.

A moment later, he shook his head.

Perhaps he was simply overthinking it.

On the other side, Zhao Mengyue had already finished her drawing.

She laid down her charcoal pencil.

The charcoal was specially treated, keeping her hands completely clean.

Zhao Mengyue bowed respectfully to Empress Duanmu and said, "Empress, I have finished."

Empress Duanmu had been sitting for so long that she felt somewhat fatigued.

Supported by her maid, she slowly stood up.

After easing her slightly stiff neck, she walked over to the wooden frame.

To be honest, Empress Duanmu had not felt particularly pleased in her heart.

Before seeing the drawing, she had assumed Zhao Mengyue was merely putting her through deliberate trouble.

Yet when Empress Duanmu laid eyes on the startlingly lifelike portrait, she was struck dumb with astonishment.

It was even more vivid and realistic than the court painters' work.

It was an exact, flawless replica.

The maid beside Empress Duanmu was so startled she cried out in disbelief, "Your Majesty, it is an exact likeness!"

That single exclamation instantly drew the attention of everyone back to the hall.

One by one, the guests turned their gazes toward the drawing.

Although the artwork consisted of only black and white tones, the figure depicted upon it appeared entirely lifelike, almost as if she stood in the flesh.

This was something none of them had anticipated.

Those standing closer saw it with absolute clarity and gasped in astonishment.

Those who could not see clearly stretched their necks, yearning for a better view.

Zhao Mengyue felt a surge of immense pride.

See? It had turned out precisely as she had envisioned.

Emperor Kangjian, seated at the head of the hall, heard the commotion and grew curious as well.

"Bring the painting forward so We may see it as well."

The young eunuch acknowledged the order, promptly removed the painting from the wooden frame, and bowed as he presented it before Emperor Kangjian.

Emperor Kangjian had never witnessed a painting of this kind before.

It was indeed astonishingly lifelike.

Zhao Mengyue curtsied and said, "Your Majesty, this is merely a clumsy effort by your humble subject, making a fool of myself before Your Majesty."

Emperor Kangjian waved his hand and said, "You have painted very well."

Consort Jing, seated nearby, chimed in, "Your Majesty, this young Miss Zhao is truly ingenious. This concubine finds her immensely charming—how about bestowing her upon Si'er?"

Hearing this, Emperor Kangjian looked at Consort Jing in surprise.

No matter how talented Zhao Mengyue might be, her family background was far too humble for her to be a match for his third son; it would be a grievance to the prince.

Noticing Emperor Kangjian's hesitation, Consort Jing pressed further.

"Although Miss Zhao's birth is somewhat modest, given her profound talent, she is fully qualified to serve as a secondary consort."

A mere secondary consort—Emperor Kangjian stroked his beard and was just about to nod when Empress Duanmu spoke up.

"Is Consort Jing being somewhat too hasty? This is Miss Zhao's first time entering the palace, yet you are already in such a rush to claim her for your own son. Have you no fear of frightening the young lady?"

Zhao Mengyue was indeed somewhat startled.

She had not expected a direct marriage edict to be proposed so casually.

It was not that she was unwilling to marry the Third Imperial Prince, but a secondary consort was not what she desired.

She aimed to be nothing less than the primary wife and official consort.

Empress Duanmu happened to be standing right beside Zhao Mengyue; she reached out and took Zhao Mengyue's hand, continuing, "This empress is also exceedingly fond of this young lady. What does Consort Jing propose we do now?"

Zhao Mengyue's sinking heart abruptly floated back up.

Marrying the Crown Prince would not be a bad choice either. When the Crown Prince eventually ascended the throne, then...

Consort Jing offered a cold laugh.

"Is the Empress attempting to contend with this concubine for a person?"

Empress Duanmu gazed at her with a gentle smile, though her eyes yielded not an inch.

Zhao Mengyue experienced a mix of joy and apprehension.

To be frank, if neither option offered the position of primary consort, she had no interest whatsoever.

For women in this era, failing to become the mistress of the household meant a life of perpetual oppression.

Yet at this moment, she had no voice in the matter.

Zhao Mengyue cast a look of silent appeal toward Old Madam Tang.

Old Madam Tang had initially been in high spirits.

Now, however, she found herself in a terrible dilemma.

On one side stood the supreme Empress; on the other, the Emperor's most favored consort.

She could afford to offend neither.

Tang Zhaozhao watched the unfolding scene with an amused smile.

Just as Zhao Mengyue, seeing the old madam's troubled expression, began to fear her marriage prospects were ruined, Consort Jing relented.

After all, she had not come today with the intention of finding a secondary consort for Murong Si.

Suggesting Zhao Mengyue as a secondary consort had merely been a sudden whim.

"Since the Empress is so fond of her, this concubine will yield."

She turned her gaze back to Emperor Kangjian and said, "Your Majesty, Si'er is no longer a child; it is indeed time to arrange a match for him."

Emperor Kangjian was on the verge of declaring that the Crown Prince had yet to marry and there was no rush for the younger princes, when a sudden cry of alarm cut him off.

"Third Highness! What has happened to you?"

Everyone turned their heads in unison.

There sat the Third Imperial Prince, Murong Si, previously in perfect health, now slumped over his seat with a deathly pale complexion.

Upon seeing this, Emperor Kangjian commanded without hesitation, "Quickly summon the imperial physician!"

The physician arrived in haste.

After checking the pulse, he knelt before Emperor Kangjian and reported, "The Third Highness has suffered a sudden, violent fever. It would be best to escort him back to his quarters for proper rest immediately."

The man had been perfectly fine just moments before.

How could he have suddenly taken to a burning fever?

Consort Jing harbored suspicions, but she nonetheless ordered attendants to help Murong Si retire.

Her plan to secure a consort for the Third Prince today had thus been completely disrupted and brought to naught.

Emperor Kangjian asked the physician whether the Third Prince's condition was severe.

The physician replied, "It appears to be brought on by a common chill. Once this official prescribes a fever-reducing draught and the Third Highness drinks it and rests for a few days, there should be no cause for concern."

Emperor Kangjian let out a breath of relief.

He instructed the physician to attend closely to the Third Prince before dismissing the matter.

As his birth mother, Consort Jing still needed to keep up appearances.

She stood, offered a few words to Emperor Kangjian, and departed in the wake of the physician.

Tang Zhaozhao chuckled softly to herself—so this fellow was running away from marriage!

After this commotion, the fervor sparked by Zhao Mengyue's drawing instantly cooled down.

Emperor Kangjian had lost all appetite for viewing artwork.

He merely offered a few polite words of praise and let the matter drop.

Zhao Mengyue breathed a sigh of relief at having escaped a forced marriage edict.

She resolved not to thrust herself into the spotlight again today; otherwise, another sudden marriage proposal might slip through, and the losses would outweigh the gains.

The man she would marry required careful observation and deliberation before any decision was made.