Reborn as the Crippled King's Beloved

Chapter 119: Chapter 119: The Bracelet My Great-Grandmother Gave Me

“Princess Consort Ling truly looks splendid. How many months into the pregnancy are you? Are you experiencing any discomfort?”

Murong Jiu stepped forward to perform a curtsy and was helped up by the Old Nanny beside the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager kindly sized her up and then gestured for her to come closer for a detailed inquiry.

She responded to each question, and the Empress Dowager patted her hand, took off a green bracelet from her wrist, and placed it on Murong Jiu’s, praising her:

“I am old, and such a colored bracelet should adorn your white, tender wrist like a spring onion.”

Murong Jiu repeatedly expressed her thanks, recalling in her previous life, it was also during the Mid-Autumn Palace banquet that the Empress Dowager gave her a bracelet just like this one, identical in every way.

Back then, her situation was dreadful. Besides being gloomy and joyless, rumors were spread that the child in her belly was illegitimate. When she entered the palace, as long as Jun Yuyan was by her side, no one dared say a word, but the moment Jun Yuyan left for other matters, those unpleasant voices would start buzzing in her ear.

...

She thought that everyone loathed her, yet she did not expect the Empress Dowager to call her over and personally put the bracelet on her wrist.

After that, no one at the palace banquet dared to slander her again.

Her heart was filled with immense gratitude towards the Empress Dowager.

Although the Empress Dowager was not the Emperor’s birth mother, she was held in great respect by him. In the royal harem, no one could overstep the Empress Dowager.

In the early years when the Former Emperor passed away, she heard that there were court officials who even suggested that the young Consort Dowager join the Former Emperor in death, but it was the newly enthroned Emperor who decisively quashed the suggestion.

The Emperor’s stance was the direction of both the court and the imperial families. With the Emperor honoring the Empress Dowager, she was the most noble person in Great Yan.

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Thus, with the Empress Dowager’s amiable attitude towards Murong Jiu, no one else dared to disrespect her.

It was the same now.

The smile on the Empress’s face next to her stiffened, but she said nothing.

“His Majesty has arrived!”

Just at this moment, a eunuch’s announcement came from outside the hall.

Before his voice faded, a figure clad in bright yellow robes strode in briskly—it was the Emperor.

Everyone hurriedly performed their courtesies, but only Murong Jiu, who had been paying close attention to the Empress Dowager, noticed a fleeting coldness in her eyes.

“Mother, I did not expect you to return to the palace today. I regret not being able to welcome you personally. Please forgive me,” said the Emperor with a hint of laughter in his voice, as if he was truly delighted that the Empress Dowager had come back to the palace.

The Empress Dowager replied indifferently, “Your Majesty is busy with the countless affairs of the state. You need not concern yourself with these trifles. I am only staying for a few days to see the younger generation and join in the festivities.”

The Emperor seemed oblivious to the Empress Dowager’s cool demeanor, “A few days only? Mother, you’ve been in ascetic contemplation at the temple all year round. You should stay a bit longer before you leave. Your birthday is approaching, and I would like to host a grand celebration for you.”

“Your Majesty is kind-hearted, but I have grown accustomed to a life of asceticism and do not enjoy extravagance and waste. Better to forgo it,” the Empress Dowager said.

“Then we shall respect Mother’s wishes.”

Listening to their exchange, it seemed as if the Emperor and the Empress Dowager had a deep filial bond, with the Emperor appearing very respectful towards the Empress Dowager.

Yet Murong Jiu felt that something was slightly amiss.

Behind the Emperor were Jun Yuyan, the Second Prince, the Fourth Prince, and Heir Su from the Marquis of Wuan’s Mansion. They had previously gone to the study for an audience with the Emperor, and perhaps because the Emperor heard of the Empress Dowager’s return, they had followed him to pay their respects.

Murong Jiu and Jun Yuyan exchanged glances, and the latter smiled at her. Even though the mask obscured much, she was more than familiar with the deep, smiling eyes behind it.

And there was also a reassurance in those eyes.

She wondered if Jun Yuyan knew something.

Nevertheless, seeing him, Murong Jiu couldn’t help but be distracted. She felt at ease and joyful just by seeing him, and yet it had been less than half an hour since they had separated after entering the palace.

There were many people in the hall. The Empress Dowager exchanged a few words with the Emperor and then fell silent, her fingers rapidly turning a strand of white jade Buddha beads, as if her mood was not very good, but her face did not show it. Only Murong Jiu noticed this.

Fortunately, the palace banquet was about to begin. The Emperor glanced at the Empress Dowager several times before announcing that everyone should move to the hall next to the Imperial Garden.

Murong Jiu lagged behind, walking at the back of the group. Jun Yuyan came up beside her, and without speaking, there was a connection between them that outsiders couldn’t seem to penetrate.

The Second Prince glanced back several times, his expression slightly darkened.

Those who could attend the Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet were all important court officials and their families. Murong Jiu and Jun Yuyan had just settled in their seats when they saw Murong Man and several young ladies from the Murong Family sitting together, but they were not brought by the Marquis and Marchioness but by the Marquis Mansion’s second master.

Murong Man was also dressed up today, but her pallor was of a haggardness that even makeup could not conceal, and many Noble Girls were surreptitiously discussing her.

They were all talking about the recent scandal at Marquis Ensu’s Mansion, and no one expected Murong Man to attend today, after all, if someone else had experienced such a thing, they wouldn’t have the mood to attend a palace banquet.

“I heard that Marquis Murong and the Marchioness have contracted a nasty disease, with tumors growing on their faces, it’s terrifying.”

“It seems to be contagious, too. We should stay away from the young ladies of the Murong Family, so we don’t catch it.”

Murong Jiu heard these words and let out a low chuckle.

Her master was still impressive, the pus-filled sores had turned into tumors on the face after they were gone, greatly hindering their appearance. Those two wouldn’t dare to show up for fear of frightening the Your Majestys in the palace, they might be charged with a crime if they did.

If Murong Jiu could hear it, Murong Man and the others could naturally hear it too, so her face became even uglier.

Murong Jiu shifted her gaze to General Fu and others who had just taken their seats.

Unexpectedly, General Fu and his three brothers all looked over in her direction, nodding to her and Jun Yuyan, then calmly turned their eyes away.

She pursed her lips and then heard Jun Yuyan whisper in her ear, “The Second Prince is watching.”

While speaking, he helped to smooth a lock of hair by her temple.

Meeting Jun Yuyan’s tender eyes, her heartbeat sped up. Was it to avoid arousing the Second Prince’s suspicion that they were acting so nonchalantly?

She quietly curled her lips and began to whisper to Jun Yuyan.

“This is the bracelet given to me by Empress Dowager, do you like it?”

“It’s beautiful, Ah Jiu looks good in anything.”

“You don’t seem surprised?”

Jun Yuyan smiled at her.

Murong Jiu suddenly realized something, the Empress Dowager would not be kindly disposed to her without reason. Could it be because of him?

Was it because of him in her previous life…

At this thought, her heart sharply fluttered, both sour and astringent, as if something was about to burst forth.

“What are the Imperial Brother and Sister-in-Law whispering about?”

At that moment, the Fifth Princess beside the Second Prince suddenly spoke out.

Everyone looked their way.

Many had already been stealthily watching Murong Jiu, and now their gazes were even more openly fixated.

Jun Yuyan reverted to his indifferent demeanor, “We are just having a little chat between husband and wife. Fifth Sister seems quite curious? Speaking of which, Fifth Sister is not so young anymore and could start looking for a Prince Consort soon. Do you have someone in mind?”

The Fifth Princess’s face turned instantly as red as a monkey’s bottom and she hurriedly sat back down.

“Your Majesty, the concubines pay their respects to the Empress Dowager.”

Over there by the Empress Dowager, an unremarkable concubine stepped forward to salute. Since the palace banquet had not officially started yet, many people were still being seated, and not many noticed this concubine.

Murong Jiu had not seen her before, but Jun Yuyan’s faint voice reached her ears, “That is Consort Jing Pin.”

Consort Jing Pin!

That was Consort Jing Pin!

But wasn’t Consort Jing Pin someone who never attended palace banquets?