Concubine Zhao's eyes lit up, and she instantly perked up. Princess Mingzhao beside her was even more excited, clapping her chubby little hands and shouting, "Father, Father!"
The palace door swung open wide. A dozen or so maids and eunuchs, some carrying wooden boxes, some holding brocade boxes, and some cradling trays, filed in one by one, bowing as they entered the hall.
The leading eunuch was dressed in a dark green palace uniform, with his hair neatly coiled up high. His fair complexion made it hard to tell his age.
He was exactly the same eunuch who had taken Qingshao away from Bai Zheng after the case of Zheng Yan was settled last time.
Bai Zheng narrowed her eyes slightly.
The eunuch held a white whisk in one hand and a small brocade box in the other.
As he walked in, his steps were light. Only his clothes fluttered slightly, but not a single sound was made.
He bent his body slightly, his eyes half - lowered meekly, with a smile on his lips. He walked straight up to Concubine Zhao and then bowed to everyone in the hall in turn.
"Greetings to Your Highness Concubine Zhao. Greetings to His Highness the Crown Prince and all the other Highnesses."
"Rise," Concubine Zhao said, casting her eyes towards the outside of the palace door as she spoke.
Seeing this, the eunuch quickly smiled and said, "Your Highness Concubine Zhao, His Majesty has been thinking about this for a long time. He said that today is Princess Mingzhao's birthday and originally wanted to come in person to celebrate with the princess.
But recently, the affairs of state have been so complicated that His Majesty has been really too busy to spare the time. So he sent me here and asked me to present the birthday gifts first.
Later, when His Majesty manages to find some free time, he will surely come to celebrate the princess's birthday in person."
When Concubine Zhao heard that Feng Linche wasn't coming, although she said on the surface, "The affairs of state are of utmost importance. Your Majesty should also take care of his health," there was undisguised disappointment in her eyes.
Princess Mingzhao was still young and couldn't hide her emotions. Immediately, she said in a clear voice,
"When is 'later'? Mother said that today, at most by the Hour of the Boar, I have to go to bed. If Father comes too late, he won't be able to see me!"
"Silence!"
Concubine Zhao quickly scolded sharply. Seeing that Princess Mingzhao was so frightened by her that she tightly shut her little mouth, she then turned to everyone with a smile and said, "His Majesty has so many state affairs to attend to every day, yet he still remembers Mingzhao's birthday. I am very grateful in my heart. Mingzhao is still young and speaks without thinking. I hope His Majesty will forgive her."
"Your Highness Concubine Zhao, you're being too polite," the eunuch waved his whisk. "The princess said this because she misses His Majesty. Her filial piety should be rewarded. How could we blame her?"
After saying that, he straightened his body, tilted his head slightly upwards, half - closed his eyes, and said in a loud voice, "His Majesty specially bestows—one thousand taels of gold, a jade ruyi scepter, a pair of jade bowls, six bolts of Shu silk, six bolts of brocade and fur..."
As the eunuch spoke, the eunuchs following him opened the boxes and brocade boxes in their hands one by one, revealing the treasures inside.
Bai Zheng watched the pile of birthday gifts and sneered inwardly.
Feng Jingyang's hysteria after Zheng Yan's death had been getting worse and worse. No matter how hard Concubine Zhao sought medical treatment everywhere, prayed to gods and burned incense, there was no sign of improvement.
No matter whose hand was behind this, this son was as good as useless.
Concubine Zhao had only given birth to two children, the Fourth Prince and Princess Mingzhao. Now her only son was useless. A concubine without the support of a prince, even with her natal family as a backing, how long could she remain in glory?
Moreover, this son had also formed a deadly feud with the Marquis of Gaochang's Mansion.
Currently, the Marquis of Gaochang and Princess Pingyang were still immersed in the pain of losing their daughter and hadn't reacted yet. Once they got out of their grief and started to avenge their daughter, Concubine Zhao's days would surely be even more difficult.
At such a sensitive time, almost everyone didn't dare to take the next step and was waiting for Feng Linche's attitude.
It could be said that the reason Concubine Zhao was still willing to spare the time to hold this so - called birthday banquet for her daughter was not because Princess Mingzhao was really willful, but because Concubine Zhao wanted to take this opportunity to probe Feng Linche's attitude and see if he still wanted to protect her Zhao family.
Now, although Feng Linche didn't attend in person, he still sent generous birthday gifts to Princess Mingzhao.
Everyone in the hall immediately showed different expressions.
Bai Zheng's lips curled slightly.
Regardless of other things, as long as Feng Linche and the Marquis of Gaochang's Mansion got into a stiffer confrontation, it would be more beneficial for Feng Linyuan.
As more and more things were presented, the smile that had originally just floated on Concubine Zhao's face gradually reached the bottom of her eyes.
Princess Mingzhao was even more openly happy. Her round eyes were squeezed into slits as she giggled.
It wasn't until all the things in the maids' hands had been displayed that the eunuch presented a delicate box that he had been holding for a long time.
"Your Highness Concubine Zhao, the thing in this box was personally made by His Majesty and is specially for Princess Mingzhao."
"Personally made by His Majesty?" Concubine Zhao opened her eyes wide in surprise.
The eunuch nodded with a smile.
"His Majesty is so busy. Why... why did he have to make it himself..."
As Concubine Zhao spoke, her hands trembled slightly as she took the box and carefully opened it.
Bai Zheng lifted her eyelids and clearly saw what was in the box.
Lying in the box was a delicate white jade hairpin. The pattern was not as complicated as the hair accessories usually worn by royal women, looking simple and clean.
This white jade hairpin was crystal - clear all over. A faint hint of green was vaguely visible in the white and moist body of the hairpin. At the top was a vivid five - petal plum blossom, with a gold - made pistil in the center of the stamen, looking dainty and cute.
"His Majesty said that that day, Princess Mingzhao almost lost her life in the fire while trying to pick plum blossoms to give to her parents. His Majesty was so pleased with the princess's filial piety that he specially made this red - gold plum blossom hairpin for the princess."
Hearing this, Feng Jingyi's face turned pale, and he buried his head.
Bai Zheng couldn't help but cover her lips and smile.
Concubine Zhao's eyes flickered slightly. Looking at her daughter, who was as delicate as a carved jade doll, she opened her lips for a while and finally hugged her daughter excitedly and said, "Mingzhao, my good daughter..."
Princess Mingzhao let her hug her without fully understanding. She patted Concubine Zhao's back with her little hand and said, "Mother, the hairpin Father made is so beautiful."
"Yes, it's so beautiful. Do you like it, Mingzhao?"
"I like it!" Princess Mingzhao's big black eyes were squeezed into slits with joy.
Concubine Zhao took out the hairpin and inserted it into Princess Mingzhao's small hair bun.
Princess Mingzhao couldn't see how she looked with the hairpin on. She tilted her head back and tried to look at the top of her head twice but couldn't see anything. But she still happily showed her little tiger teeth.
Her silly and cute appearance made everyone present burst into laughter.
The eunuch smiled and said, "I'm glad the princess likes it."
"I like it. Mingzhao likes it very much. Thank you, Your Majesty," Concubine Zhao's voice was full of excitement.
The eunuch bowed respectfully, said "I'll take my leave," and then led the other eunuchs who had come to present the gifts out of the hall.
After this generous reward, everyone in the hall, especially the princes and princesses, became even more attentive towards Concubine Zhao.
The wine had already been ordered to be removed by Concubine Zhao. So they simply picked up the teacups in their hands and vied to offer tea to Concubine Zhao.