Chapter 111 - 110: The Substitute Bride Young Miss 26

Chapter 111: Chapter 110: The Substitute Bride Young Miss 26

In the courtly etiquette of the Yu Xinchao dynasty, the Empress, as mistress of the inner palace, met with the wives of officials. These meetings were not mere social calls; they were crucial for maintaining the delicate balance between the imperial court and the harem.

Ji Xiaosong had meticulously planned an exquisite and elegant tea party, held in a side hall of the inner palace.

To create the impression of a floral paradise amidst the depths of winter, she had spared no effort.

Flanking the entrance to the side hall stood enormous blue-and-white porcelain vases, overflowing with long branches of wintersweet. Golden blossoms clustered so densely on the branches that their rich fragrance washed over guests like an invisible tide, instantly filling the air.

Further inside, flower stands as tall as several men stood in the four corners of the hall. They were laden with rare varieties of chrysanthemums: white ones, as pure and flawless as piled snow and frost;

black ones, as mysterious and deep as carved black jade;

and yellow ones, as dazzling as a path paved with crushed gold. The layered petals of each blossom unfurled wantonly, massive and full, a testament to their exceptional and noble quality.

Lining the walls of the hall were pots of blooming red camellias. Their luscious petals were as red as fire, with blossoms nearly the size of lotus pads. Against the backdrop of their emerald leaves, they appeared all the more vibrant and captivating.

A masterfully crafted floral centerpiece on the hall’s main table drew every eye. Atop a base of precious Agarwood, it brought together rare and exotic flowers from across the land: elegant orchids from the south, their long petals forming a graceful silhouette;

enormous, multicolored dahlias sent as tribute from the Western Regions;

and peonies unique to the Central Plains, which, despite it not being their season, had been painstakingly cultivated to bloom. Their massive, layered blossoms embodied the pinnacle of national beauty.

Beyond these main displays, small, exquisite vases were placed everywhere—between tables and chairs, on windowsills, beside draped curtains. Some held a few branches of delicate pink crabapple, others a few sprigs of fresh narcissus, and still others a lovely cluster of baby’s breath.

The flowers complemented one another, transforming the entire side hall into a sea of blossoms. The sense of luxury was palpable, a dazzling and overwhelming sight.

In the past, the Royal Family had only feigned extravagance, which was why they rarely held banquets.

But Ji Xiaosong was genuinely extravagant, and she left every one of the titled ladies in attendance utterly stunned.

Mother Ji hadn’t wanted to attend. But with two sons at home set to take the imperial examinations next year, she had no choice but to swallow her pride and enter the Imperial Palace.

’Even if we’ve severed ties, isn’t Ji Xiaosong still my daughter?’

’Besides, she’s my only daughter now.’

’Ji Yan is dead. Shouldn’t Ji Xiaosong have forgiven us by now?’

Her status was high enough that Mother Ji was seated near the front.

There were no braziers in the hall, yet it was as warm as a spring day.

The maidservant accompanying Mother Ji helped her remove her outer cloak, revealing the Ruqun she wore beneath.

Ji Xiaosong had noticed Mother Ji the moment she walked in, but she had no intention of speaking with her.

The other titled ladies came forward one by one to pay their respects to Ji Xiaosong, each presenting a carefully prepared gift.

When it was Mother Ji’s turn, she took an exquisite sandalwood box from her maid. Her hands trembled slightly as she opened it.

Inside lay a phoenix patterned brocade robe, embroidered with golden thread and five-color silk thread. The phoenix was so lifelike that every feather was rendered in meticulous detail. Its eyes, inlaid with rubies, glittered dazzlingly in the candlelight.

Mother Ji had spent months on this robe. She had personally selected the finest silk and commissioned the most famous embroideress in the Capital City to create it, meticulously following the official regulations for an Empress’s formal attire.

Mother Ji stepped forward and curtsied slightly. "Your Majesty," she said, "I had this specially prepared for you. I hope you like it."

Her voice carried a hint of anticipation, laced with trepidation.

"This is completely unacceptable!"

Suddenly, the wife of the Second-Rank Minister of the Ministry of Rites stood up. Her elegant brows furrowed, her eyes filled with stern disapproval. "The phoenix robe is for the exclusive use of the Empress. Its creation is governed by strict laws. How can one be commissioned and embroidered so casually?"

The wife of the Secondary First-Rank Military Commander General also frowned. Being a blunt woman, she raised her voice. "You may be the Empress’s birth mother, but rules are rules! If word of this gets out, people will think the Royal Family’s regulations are nothing but a sham!"

The wife of the Standard Third-Rank Minister of Personnel chimed in, "Indeed. The phoenix robe symbolizes the Empress’s majesty and the legitimacy of the Royal Family. Its creation requires a special imperial permit. To have one privately made is a grave impropriety."

Faced with their accusations, the color drained from Mother Ji’s face. Her hands clenched, and beads of sweat formed on her forehead. Still, she forced a calm facade and explained frantically, "My ladies, I had no intention of overstepping my authority. I was only thinking that now that my Xiaosong is the Empress, my heart is filled with such love for her. I just wanted to prepare a one-of-a-kind gift. That’s all this is. It’s truly just a token of a mother’s sincere love for her child."

The wife of the Standard Third-Rank Minister of the Ministry of Justice snorted. "A mother’s love is no excuse for breaking the law. If this matter of the phoenix robe were to be pursued, it would be a major offense."

Ji Xiaosong, seated in the place of honor, watched everything unfold in silence. She made no move to intervene.

Her expression was placid, but her eyes held an inscrutable gleam.

The assembled ladies saw this and understood her intentions.

The wife of the Standard Fifth-Rank Minister of the Court of Judicial Review cleared her throat. She stepped forward, and though her voice was not loud, it cut through the tense atmosphere with perfect clarity. "One moment, my ladies. Let us not forget that the Empress formally severed ties with the Ji family. For them to present this phoenix robe now... the implications are truly baffling."

At these words, the tense atmosphere instantly solidified. All eyes snapped back to Mother Ji.

Mother Ji’s expression grew even more strained, her lips trembling. She hastily retorted, "What of it? She is still the daughter I carried for ten months! How can ties of blood be so easily severed?"

Her eyes were filled with anxiety, yet tinged with a stubborn defiance. "I had this phoenix robe made purely out of a mother’s love for her daughter. I have no other intentions."

The wife of the Standard Fourth-Rank Minister of the Ministry of Communication shook her head gently, her tone tinged with a measure of pity. "That may be so, but severing ties was the Ji family’s decision. This gesture now... it feels rather ill-timed, wouldn’t you say?"

Mother Ji’s eyes reddened, her voice choked with emotion. "We were fools then, but I have regretted it every moment of every day for years. My Xiaosong is the Empress, and I, her mother, just want to do something for her. Is that so wrong?"

She looked to Ji Xiaosong, her eyes pleading, hoping her daughter would finally speak up for her.

But Ji Xiaosong remained seated, her expression perfectly serene. She did not utter a single word.

The wife of the Secondary First-Rank Military Commander General could no longer contain herself. She stepped forward, squared her shoulders, and asked in a booming voice, "Your Majesty, this matter concerns the law and dignity of the Royal Family. What is your judgment? This phoenix robe... will you accept it, or not?"

Her voice reverberated through the hall. Every gaze instantly fixed upon Ji Xiaosong. The side hall fell so silent you could hear a pin drop as everyone awaited the Empress’s verdict.

The wife of the Second-Rank Minister of the Ministry of Rites also bowed. "Your Majesty," she added, "the Ministry of Rites oversees all matters of ceremony and regulation. This affair of the phoenix robe is a breach of both. We humbly ask for your clear instruction, so that we may know how to properly adhere to the rules."

Her gaze was deferential yet cautious. With hands clasped before her and her head slightly bowed, she awaited Ji Xiaosong’s response.

Mother Ji’s breathing grew ragged. Her gaze was locked on Ji Xiaosong, her heart a whirlwind of terror and hope.

Her hands unconsciously clenched the hem of her robes. Beads of sweat trickled from her temples, smearing her meticulously applied makeup.

At that moment, she was like a lamb to the slaughter, her fate hanging on a single word from Ji Xiaosong.