Chapter 1024 - 8: I Can See All the Cheats

The concubines stood up and all curtsied with elegance. The soft, sweet voices resounded in the garden as the flower-like concubines shyly gazed at the Emperor. At a glance, the scene of blooming flowers was not an exaggeration. Being gazed at affectionately by so many beautiful young women should, in theory, be an experience to make any man’s heart flutter.

Now, for the Emperor, it was not. His heart was indeed fluttering, but more out of sheer panic.

What were these strange little round balls?

One, two, three, four, five...

Five?!

Looking again at the text displayed by these little round balls made the Emperor feel somewhat uneasy.

Things like seizing the opportunity, soon composing poetry, painting, singing, dancing, leaving a deep impression on the Emperor, capturing the Emperor’s heart, and so on. The Emperor contemplated these demons gathering together, seemingly not communicating with each other, and it seemed each acted independently. He didn’t know what their true motives were.

At this moment, Tianmiao lightly patted the Emperor’s hand.

The Emperor’s initially panicked mind calmed down at this moment. He cleared his throat and signaled the concubines to be seated and dispense with further formalities.

The Palace Attendants soon served crabs and poured yellow wine for the concubines.

The Emperor originally intended to speak to the Empress Dowager but was distracted when he noticed a concubine gazing at him. To his astonishment, he saw words appearing above her head: Today’s crabs are very plump. But can these concubines peel them? Even if they do, they’d be mindful of their image, wouldn’t they? If their peeling actions were rough and ungraceful, wouldn’t they make a bad impression on the Emperor? Ancient people had it tough, such heavy image burdens.

The Emperor glanced at Tianmiao with curiosity, eager to share what he had just observed. Now, not only could he see what the little round balls had said, but he could also see what the concubines were thinking. Wait, who was this low-ranking concubine again? Seemed to be Lin Daying. What did she mean by ancient people and image burdens? The Emperor was desperate to ask and discuss it with his mother, but it wasn’t convenient now, driving him mad.

Tianmiao, however, smiled slightly, raised a hand, and then the Palace Attendants standing behind the concubines moved forward to help the concubines peel the crabs, quietly advising them on which parts were inedible and which parts were the most succulent.

Lin Daying’s eyes had shown disdain and schadenfreude moments before, but now her entire face had stiffened. She suddenly remembered where she was: in the Imperial Palace, the Empress Dowager’s quarters. Hmph, damn bourgeoisie. As Lin Daying ate the crab roe, she thought sarcastically. At this moment, Lin Daying certainly wouldn’t realize or understand a truth; in the deep palace, one must adapt to survive. Constant contempt and resentment toward the palace’s system would lead nowhere.

Tianmiao noticed that the concubines were quite image-conscious, eating very little in fear of leaving a poor impression on the Emperor. Yet there was one noble lady, secretly eating. Why secretly? Because her Chief Palace Maid reminded her quietly several times not to continue eating like that. She agreed outwardly, but her eyes were still glued to the food on the table before her. The things here at the Empress Dowager’s were so delicious, it would be a shame not to eat more now, as she wouldn’t be able to have them again after returning. Then, taking advantage of others not paying attention, she used her sleeve to cover her mouth and secretly stuffed food in.

This child, adorable. Tianmiao smiled, turning to glance at the Emperor beside her, who was focused on eating without being distracted by the concubines batting their eyes. Tianmiao felt that it would be no surprise if that noble lady were to be favored by the Emperor’s son in the future.

After eating crab, the main event began.

Because the Empress Dowager had announced that after the meal would be a talent competition, whether painting or poetry composition, or anything else, as long as it pertained to today’s chrysanthemums, it was acceptable. The Empress Dowager and the Emperor would reward the top three.