Chapter 9: Preparing the Birthday Gift-A princesa volta com o filho, e o frio e poderoso ministro se arrepende amargamente(A batata-doce roxa está muito quente.)

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Cheng Xueyang called out, “Shadow Chief.” After a long while, the Shadow Chief finally appeared; he had not been here earlier. Cheng Xueyang knew where he had been and asked, “Any results?” The Shadow Chief replied, “After consolidating information from various sources, one conclusion emerged: since Princess Yunxiang broke into the storage room and took some valuable items, the storeroom was subsequently burgled. At first, only small items were taken, but the thefts grew increasingly greedy. Manager Zhao once sent people to secretly ambush the thief and captured a family traitor, who was expelled from the mansion. After that, no further theft occurred in the storeroom, but the stolen goods were never recovered.” The Shadow Chief looked at them and asked, “Who is this family traitor? Should I report it, or will you confess yourselves?”

At this moment, Nurse Li had stopped crying, her eyes filled with terror. She had managed affairs within the mansion and even paid hush money, but in the end, the money was wasted. Manager Zhao sighed deeply and knelt on the ground, head bowed for a long time before he raised it and said, “It was A-Gui.” A-Gui was Nurse Li’s illegitimate son, his father unknown. After Cheng Xueyang moved into the Princess’s mansion, Nurse Li brought A-Gui in as a coachman. Cheng Xueyang rarely used him; with his shifty eyes and untrustworthy demeanor, he was not well-liked. Only Nurse Li, an elder close to her, did not want to be separated from her own flesh and blood, so A-Gui was kept around.

After Manager Zhao caught A-Gui, he intended to hand him over to the authorities, but Nurse Li pleaded on his behalf. Manager Zhao, who had long admired the still graceful Nurse Li, seized the opportunity to coerce her into submission and expelled A-Gui from the mansion, ending the matter. After all, with the Princess absent, he was in charge. When the Princess returned, the blame could be conveniently shifted entirely onto Princess Yunxiang, which was also true. Yet, they still underestimated their mistress.

Being perceptive and resourceful, Cheng Xueyang knew their natures well and understood that Princess Yunxiang had a large appetite; she would not be interested in petty trinkets, so there must be another reason. Indeed, darkness lurks beneath the light.

Cheng Xueyang said, “We are master and servant; I do not wish to make this irreparable. Today, I need a birthday gift to attend the Birthday Banquet of the Princess Dowager of Shou. There is half an hour to prepare. Go.” Nurse Li’s face turned pale; where could they possibly find a birthday gift for the Princess Dowager? “Thank you, Your Highness, for your mercy.” Manager Zhao shakily stood up, pulling Nurse Li away from the storeroom. Cheng Xueyang beckoned the Shadow Chief, whispered something in his ear, and the Shadow Chief bowed and followed her out of the storeroom.

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The two maidservants knelt nearby, anxious and fearful; they had also accepted hush money from Nurse Li. The matter of Manager Zhao’s capture of the thief had caused quite a stir; they had all gone to watch the commotion and then accepted hush money together. They assumed that the Princess had no hope of returning to the capital, and offending Nurse Li would only bring them suffering. Even after the Princess returned, they still dared not reveal the truth, thinking she would soon leave for the steppes and perhaps never discover the truth. In the end, they were all mistaken.

Cheng Xueyang did not glance at them, speaking coldly, “You may leave. Follow me later to the Shou Wangfu.” The maidservants’ eyes brightened—was this a pardon? “Yes, Your Highness.” They kowtowed repeatedly, gratefully leaving the storeroom. Cheng Xueyang rose and walked to the weapons rack, her expression unreadable. Her right hand traced over the dim, slightly dilapidated swords and blades. Her fingers paused on a red-tasselled spear, as if she could still see bloodstains on its tassels and hear the frenzy of battle in her ears. Her fingers trembled slightly as she grasped the spear and murmured, “Elder Sister, are you cold over there?”

“Your Highness.” The Shadow Chief returned, carrying a large bundle. “As Your Highness suspected, Manager Zhao and Nurse Li attempted to flee but were intercepted by my men. They are now confined in the detention chamber. These remaining treasures all come from the storeroom. Here is the ledger.” Cheng Xueyang composed herself, set aside the red-tasselled spear, took the ledger, and after flipping through it, closed it. “Send them to the authorities for legal processing. I have given them three chances; I have been more than merciful. They did not cherish it.” A-Gui alone could not have stolen so many items.

Cheng Xueyang examined the remaining treasures but could not select a suitable birthday gift. The Shadow Chief said, “Your Highness, the Princess Dowager of Shou clearly intends to make things difficult. There is no need to prepare an elaborate gift.” Cheng Xueyang smiled lightly. “The poisonous flowers have already been sent to the mansion; it would be unreasonable not to bring something in return.” Cheng Xueyang’s features were inherently exquisite, and her faintly cold smile resembled a snow lotus blooming on the Tianshan Mountains or the otherworldly flower blooming endlessly in the underworld.

The Shadow Chief understood and withdrew into the shadows.

The Birthday Banquet of the Princess Dowager of Shou was about to begin.

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Carriages filled the entrance of the Shou Wangfu. A bright red carpet stretched from the street to the main gate. The steward of the mansion was welcoming guests and recording the gifts. Every year, the birthday feast included forty tables at the Yuelai Tavern, ten guests per table. Commoners could join once a table was filled, under the guise of celebrating with the people, which earned the Shou Wangfu great renown.

Today’s banquet was attended by many guests, including nobles from the palace. Before the feast began, the men gathered in the outer courtyard, engaged in lively conversation, while the Princess Dowager entertained the ladies in the pavilion beside the flower fields, sipping tea and admiring the blossoms.

The flower fields were divided into several sections, each planted with a single type of flower: golden-edged daphne, butterfly orchids, fragrant snow lilies, narcissus, camellias, wintersweet, and hibiscus, each variety charming in its own right.

At the edge of the fields, beneath the hibiscus trees, a few lively young women were picking up fallen petals, laughing and playing. The girl surrounded in the center was Princess Yunxiang, Cheng Liuyi. Her face was lightly adorned with makeup, her cheeks flushed with a gentle rosy hue, as vibrant and tender as peach blossoms in early spring, casting the other women into shadow.

This was an unspoken rule among noble ladies: whenever Princess Yunxiang was present at a gathering, the makeup and attire must not outshine her. If she wore light makeup, others must go barefaced, ensuring she remained unchallenged, cradled like the moon among stars, her extraordinary presence magnified.

Otherwise, there would be consequences.

After all, she had a good father and was especially favored.

Most of the prominent officials and their families sat in the pavilion, sipping tea. Those who preferred quiet or were more reclusive sat apart. Most discussions revolved around the guest of honor, with the latest gossip focusing on Princess Xuanyun, who had recently returned to the capital.

Unmarried but with a child, keeping a favored lover openly.

Each point was scandalous, and the royal family’s reputation was paramount. How dare Princess Xuanyun act so boldly?

“There’s nothing she’s afraid of. She even went to the battlefield, and the army camp is full of men,” someone whispered.

Princess Yunxiang, Cheng Liuyi, walked over from the flower fields holding a woven floral crown, her face radiant with a bright smile as she presented it to the Princess Dowager of Shou. “Beautiful flowers must be for the fairest woman today to truly bloom. Ah, when a person outshines the flowers, even the blossoms must pale in comparison.”

“Your sweet little mouth is like a honey jar,” the Princess Dowager said, her heart blooming with delight. Cheng Liuyi was currently the most favored princess and had been given full honor today. It was said she even prepared a grand gift for her, to be revealed only when Cheng Xueyang arrived.

The Princess Dowager suddenly remembered she had never invited Cheng Xueyang and hurriedly sent another invitation.