Chapter 63: The Phoenix with a Hundred Birds’ Severed Heads

Lady Yi turned and led Lin Bai Xue and Xia Yue Er into the sleeping chambers, while on the other side, the palace banquet was already underway. Inside the Jade Hibiscus Hall, brilliance and magnificence reigned: the nine-dragon golden carved white jade pillars soared majestically, the floor paved with golden bricks exuded extravagant luxury.

Upon the throne, intricately carved with golden dragons, Emperor Zongkang sat upright, his bearing even more imposing. Behind him, a grand peacock-feather fan spread wide; to his left and right sat the seats of the phoenixes. On one side was the Western Empress Dowager, adorned in a robe of deep crimson satin embroidered with a profusion of peonies and myriad flowers, noble and splendid. Her earlobes bore a pair of dangling glass-and-white-jade beads that set off her fair complexion. Though her hair was streaked with white and black, she maintained it well, her demeanor serene and affluent.

On the other side sat the Eastern Empress Dowager, serene and kind-faced, holding a sandalwood rosary and dressed in plain elegance. With closed eyes, she seemed detached from all worldly affairs, turning her beads and murmuring Buddhist scripture.

Beside the Western Empress Dowager sat the Empress, robed in bright yellow embroidered with a hundred birds flocking to a phoenix, her hair styled in a phoenix bun, adorned with a hairpin of five phoenixes and sunrise pearls. A gentle, harmonious smile graced her face.

In contrast to the Empress's dignified grace, the Noble Consort Chen was flamboyant. Wrapped in a light red palace gown that accentuated her exquisite figure, her floor-length skirt was embroidered with a riot of blooming flowers. Her beautiful eyes sparkled, and a jade dragon-and-phoenix hairpin was slanted in her hair—an ornament only the Empress herself was entitled to wear.

Consort Chen possessed an innate sense of superiority, not to be underestimated. Looking further behind her, one could see Consort Mei, whose striking features radiated exotic allure—gentle and enchanting. Though she wore neither bright red nor purple, her seductive beauty was impossible to conceal.

At the very center of the Jade Hibiscus Hall, a platform was erected atop a lotus-patterned floor. On either side stood rows of low, carved redwood seats. Xia Jiujiang sat beside Jun Buhen, surveying the splendid hall and observing the varied expressions and thoughts of those present.

On the lotus platform, music and dance flourished. The sound of chimes blended with the soaring notes of the zither, powerful and grand. Yet beneath this harmonious scene, a dark tide quietly surged, hiding unknown intrigues and schemes.

At the Western Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet, many sought to curry favor with her by presenting lavish gifts, hoping to win her approval.

The Crown Prince gifted a landscape painting in ink, grand and enduring in its subtlety. His calligraphy, slender and elegant, revealed a refined touch. The Crown Prince only attended the banquet for the time it takes an incense stick to burn before returning to his chambers to rest.

The Crown Prince, Jun Qinghan, was frail and sickly, his complexion pale, giving him the air of a delicate scholar. His features were deep and handsome, though his lips were pale. Had he been healthy, he would surely have been a charming and charismatic figure; yet his appearance was dismissed by the Fifth and Seventh Princes.

The Fifth Prince, Jun Yixuan, son of Consort Mei, was someone Xia Jiujiang was seeing for the first time. Jun Yixuan carried a cold aura—his eyes sharp as shooting stars. His indigo robe featured silver-threaded cloud motifs at the collar and cuffs, his visage handsome and posture proud, with an unmistakable arrogance. He was indeed worthy of contending with Jun Qianye.

Jun Yixuan’s birthday gift was a collection of coral and jade ornaments, with black pearls from the sea reflecting the light and a rare red ebony writing stand. Behind these opulent gifts lay unknown stories of hardship and tears.

The Seventh Prince, Jun Qianye, clenched his fists, his expression dark and displeased. This Princess Anya was truly a liability; he had arranged to deal with Xia Jiujiang today, but she was confined by the Emperor, thwarting his plans.

Xia Jiujiang leaned in close to Jun Buhen and whispered, “What did you give the Western Empress Dowager for her birthday?”

The Western Empress Dowager was technically Jun Buhen’s grandmother; Emperor Zongkang and the old Prince Jin were both her sons. However, she disliked Jun Buhen because the old Prince Jin had insisted on marrying a mysterious woman as his principal wife, causing a rift between him and the Empress Dowager. Thus, her dislike for the Princess Jin extended to Jun Buhen, and she rarely showed him any kindness.

Still, the Empress Dowager could not understand why Emperor Zongkang favored Jun Buhen so much—more than the Fifth or Seventh Princes.

Jun Buhen replied casually, “A stack of longevity noodles.”

Xia Jiujiang was taken aback. “This is the Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet, and you just gave her longevity noodles? Are they made of jade?”

Jun Buhen burst out laughing, “Jade noodles? I wonder what you’re thinking. Can jade noodles even be eaten?”

Xia Jiujiang was puzzled. “Really? You gave her ordinary longevity noodles! Look at the priceless gifts from the Seventh and Fifth Princes—even the Crown Prince’s painting was grand and impressive. You just gave noodles—isn’t that a bit embarrassing?”

Jun Buhen scoffed, “It’s a birthday banquet—what else should I give besides longevity noodles?”

Xia Jiujiang spoke earnestly, “But surely this is the time to show off the grandeur of the Jin Palace. If the Jin Palace is really poor, don’t hide it from me—let me be prepared.”

Jun Buhen picked up a piece of golden pastry and stuffed it in Xia Jiujiang’s mouth. “With so much delicious food, how is your mouth still running?”

Someone dared to imply, right in front of Jun Buhen, that the Jin Palace was impoverished? Clearly, this person had no idea how many treasures she possessed as the Princess Jin.

With her mouth full, Xia Jiujiang could only make muffled sounds—her strategy was all about knowing herself and her enemy!

The Western Empress Dowager frowned at Jun Buhen’s gesture. Xia Jiujiang was nothing but a useless fool, and yet Jun Buhen personally fed her. Was Jun Buhen deliberately flaunting their intimacy in the Jade Hibiscus Hall to provoke others?

The Empress Dowager withdrew her gaze and snorted coldly.

Afterward, gifts from many noble families were presented one by one before the Empress Dowager. At first, she was interested, but her patience soon waned; the gifts piled up and were glanced over quickly. Yet one particular ornament caught the Empress Dowager’s eye.

She spoke up, “Who presented this golden hairpin in the Fortune and Longevity Sandalwood Box?”

The box contained a golden hairpin depicting a hundred birds flocking to a phoenix. The phoenix was crafted with peacock feathers, vivid and lifelike; its head inlaid with bright, translucent shell powder, and its tail entwined with gold threads, swaying gracefully. When lifted, the tail seemed to flutter like the wings of a flying phoenix. It immediately drew the Empress Dowager’s attention.

Xia Jiujiang glanced at the hairpin and smiled coldly.

Its presentation was indeed eye-catching, placed conspicuously among the scholarly gifts, right in the center. The maid carrying it deliberately slowed her pace, clearly showing the gift’s owner had put much thought into making an impression.

As the Empress Dowager’s words fell, Xia Jiujiang saw Lord Wei step out from the officials’ seats, kneeling and announcing, “Reporting to the Empress Dowager, this gift—the golden hairpin of a hundred birds flocking to the phoenix—is my humble offering for your birthday, wishing Your Majesty to soar like the phoenix, leading all birds and bringing prosperity to the Li Kingdom.”

When Lord Wei appeared, Xia Jiujiang was surprised—it was Wei Qi, the father of Lady Wei, the concubine from Xia Wentao’s household who had been expelled and punished by Jun Buhen for plotting against Xia Jiujiang.

At Lord Wei’s appearance, Xia Jiujiang’s internal alarm went off. Surely no one was planning any mischief?

The Empress Dowager greatly liked the hairpin. She said with satisfaction, “Come, place it on my hair.”

Her attendant, Madam Fu, took the hairpin and placed it in the Empress Dowager’s hair. The phoenix shimmered brightly, and the Empress Dowager’s delight was evident.

But scarcely had it rested there for a few moments when the phoenix’s head slowly lost its balance, tilting to one side, then with a crisp sound, dropped to the floor.

The Empress Dowager’s smile instantly darkened. The hall fell silent at the sight of the broken phoenix head. Lord Wei’s face turned pale as he knelt in terror.

The Empress Dowager glanced at the fallen phoenix head, furiously pulled the hairpin from her hair, and shouted, “Lord Wei, is this your gift to me—a decapitated phoenix among a hundred birds?”