Transmigration: From Farmer To Empress-Chapter 1335 - 1342: Choosing a Consort for the Crown Prince of Qing Luo Kingdom (4)

Cai Wei raised her eyebrows and said, "Did the Empress Dowager arrange this?"

Huan Qiu said, "You were asleep, and the Internal Affairs Department did not dare to disturb you, so they had no choice but to ask the Empress Dowager, who instructed them to arrange it this way."

"Oh, is that so!"

Cai Wei laughed and said, "Since that is the case, let us just wait for the bonfire banquet tonight!"

Chun Liu’s mind was simple; she pouted her lips and said, "Having those Misses perform singing and dancing in front of the Emperor, what does that mean?"

Cai Wei gave a cold smile and said, "The Empress Dowager not liking me is hardly news. She might use this opportunity to introduce other officials’ daughters to the Emperor. Perhaps the Emperor might take a liking to one or two of them and consider taking them as concubines."

Upon hearing this, Chun Liu, puzzled, said, "Your Highness, isn’t it said that the Emperor cannot be intimate with other women because of the Cloud-rain Gu? How could the Empress Dowager do something so foolish?"

Cai Wei laughed and said, "The Empress Dowager isn’t foolish; she naturally knows that the Emperor cannot be intimate with other women. However, if she can create a situation where one or two catch the Emperor’s eye, and thus vex me, she would be satisfied!"

Being detested by the Empress Dowager to this extent, Cai Wei was fed up. Although she deeply believed that Nangong Yi would not betray her, the thought of those women trying to seduce and woo her man still made her very depressed. She couldn’t help but wish it would rain tonight and disrupt the bonfire banquet.

However, it seemed that the heavens did not hear her plea. When the night came, the sky was clear without a trace of wind, and since it was also the fifteenth of the lunar month, stars adorned the sky, and the full moon hung high, as if the weather had been prepared especially for the bonfire banquet.

Cai Wei, unable to avoid it, had no choice but to go to the bonfire banquet with Nangong Yi.

"The Emperor has arrived—"

"The Empress Dowager has arrived—"

"The Empress has arrived—"

Yang Yong, heralding loudly, had a voice that was long and strong, full of authority. The ministers who had arrived early and the sons and daughters of various families all knelt down, paying their respects to Nangong Yi, Cai Wei, and Empress Dowager Mo.

"Your servants respectfully welcome the Emperor, the Empress Dowager, and the Empress. Long live the Emperor for ten-thousand years!"

"Long life to the Empress Dowager for a thousand years!"

"Long life to the Empress for a thousand years—"

"Rise, all of you!"

Nangong Yi raised his hand to signal everyone to rise and then took his seat with Cai Wei and Empress Dowager Mo at the prearranged places. Nangong Yi sat in the middle, Empress Dowager Mo on the left, and Cai Wei on the right.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, thank you, Empress Dowager, thank you, Empress!"

Following another lengthy expression of gratitude, everyone stood up and then returned to their original seats.

After everyone was seated, Nangong Yi spoke, "The affairs of the court are demanding; it is rare for us to share joy with all the ministers. Today, let everyone drink freely without concern for formalities. All the esteemed daughters are invited to perform for our entertainment. Regardless of how the performance goes, generous rewards will be given!"

The Emperor’s words very much aligned with the thoughts of Empress Dowager Mo. The usually stern and composed Empress Dowager, smilingly, said to the seated ladies, "Not only will the Emperor and the Empress provide rewards; I have also prepared some trinkets to bestow upon you all. Perform freely, those who perform up front will snatch the best fortune!"

No sooner had she finished speaking than some immediately responded.

The first to perform was the daughter of Imperial Historian Hong Dabao, Miss Hong Xiuju. Miss Hong, only thirteen years old, was born charming and enchanting and was also bold and forthright.

Typically, when young ladies perform to entertain in public, they spontaneously compose poems and verses to display their talents and showcase their family’s good upbringing. Singing songs is considered lowly, something courtesans and songstresses do, and rarely would a well-bred young lady sing in public. Yet, this Miss Hong sang boldly a song, "Spring River and Moonlit Night."

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