The Number One Scholar's Wife in a Monarch-Minister Story 06
"Wangshu, over here!"
A noble lady who already knew Yuan Wangshu spotted them from a pavilion draped in gauze curtains and waved with obvious delight.
"That's Qu Zhujun, the granddaughter of General Qu. She's been my closest friend since we were children. Let's go over."
Yuan Wangshu took Chen Yao's hand, gave a small wave back, and led her over slowly.
As soon as they stepped into the pavilion, Qu Zhujun hurried up, her gaze immediately locking onto Chen Yao.
"Oh? And who might this pretty little sister be? What a striking beauty." Her voice was clear and spirited, and she looked lively and animated.
Chen Yao's long lashes fluttered slightly, as if she couldn't bear such direct scrutiny. Her fair cheeks flushed crimson in an instant.
Yuan Wangshu chuckled softly at the sight and introduced her warmly, "This is the wife of the Number One Scholar, Xie Chenyao."
"What a perfect match—they must look wonderful together as a couple."
Without any show of shyness, Qu Zhujun took Chen Yao's hand and pulled her down to sit on a stone bench, then said with a smile, "Oh, right—I haven't introduced myself. I'm—"
"Already introduced you," Yuan Wangshu cut her off with a shake of her head. "But I'm surprised you actually came today. I thought you'd be most impatient with these sorts of banquets."
"Tell me about it. I had no choice—my grandmother forced me to come."
Qu Zhujun pouted in displeasure, looking utterly exasperated. "There's a rumor going around privately that today's banquet, though it's nominally for flower viewing, might essentially be a form of selection for the emperor's harem."
"Even though I'm not interested in the least, since I received the invitation, I didn't dare skip it. Otherwise, my grandmother threatened that she'd never let me go to the military camp again. That would be so dull."
She poured flower tea for all three of them, then picked up her cup and took a slow sip.
"So that's what all the households think." Yuan Wangshu shook her head, instinctively lowering her voice. "But I suspect it's still up in the air."
"Exactly." Qu Zhujun set down her cup, leaned in closer, and whispered conspiratorially, "I don't think His Majesty has any intention of taking a wife or establishing an empress. I believe it's the Empress Dowager's wishful thinking. That's why she came up with the flower-viewing pretext—inviting both married and unmarried noble ladies and wives, so she can cover all bases."
Chen Yao didn't join in the conversation. She sat quietly to the side, listening with a serious expression.
Qu Zhujun noticed her tilting her head, looking so attentive, and couldn't resist taking Chen Yao's hand again and giving it a playful little squeeze.
"Sister Chen Yao, you look so obedient and adorable when you're this earnest."
Chen Yao's cheeks flushed, and she didn't dare refuse. She could only call out shyly in a small voice, "Sister Zhujun."
"You'd better behave yourself. Clearly, you've spent too much time with those brutes at the military camp—you've picked up their rascally ways, even your hands won't stay put."
Yuan Wangshu laughed as she rescued Chen Yao's hand and gave Qu Zhujun a light scolding.
"I'll tell Deputy General Zou what you said." Qu Zhujun deliberately hummed in a teasing tone.
"You wouldn't dare!" Yuan Wangshu immediately stood up and chased her around the pavilion in playful scuffle.
The gauze curtains fluttered gently in the wind. Watching their cheerful antics, Chen Yao couldn't help but curve her eyes in a soft smile.
Then a eunuch's loud announcement rang out: "The Empress Dowager has arrived—"
Surrounded by a throng of palace maids and eunuchs, the Empress Dowager, dressed in magnificent crimson court robes, stepped slowly into the Imperial Garden.
The garden, which had been lively with chatter and laughter, fell silent instantly.
Chen Yao quickly composed herself, lowered her head, knelt in a curtsey along with everyone else, and said respectfully, "We pay our respects to the Empress Dowager."
"Rise, all of you. I noticed the weather has been fine lately, and the peonies in the Imperial Garden are in full bloom, so I invited you all to come enjoy the flowers and add a bit of bustle to the palace. Feel at ease—no need for formalities." The Empress Dowager said with a smile.
She appeared kind and benevolent, and though she was advanced in years, thanks to meticulous care, she looked much younger than her age except for the fine lines at the corners of her eyes.
"Yes." Everyone rose and acknowledged in unison.
Even so, their conversations grew noticeably more subdued, and the relaxed atmosphere tightened with a trace of tension.
It wasn't until the strains of silk and bamboo music began and graceful dancers in flowing sleeves made their way in that the garden regained a measure of liveliness.
The Empress Dowager sat in a pavilion at the center, slightly elevated above its surroundings, with light gauze curtains hanging on all sides as well.
Grandma Cui stood by her side, and she raised a hand to point toward a pavilion a bit further away, lowering her voice to report, "That's where the Number One Scholar's wife is."
The Empress Dowager followed her gaze. Due to the gauze curtains lightly veiling the pavilion, she couldn't see the woman inside clearly.
But just from the sight of Xie Chenyao's graceful figure and slender waist, it was evident she was a stunning beauty.
"Later, summon her here. Say that I have heard of the Number One Scholar's talent and wish to meet his wife." The Empress Dowager casually instructed.
"Yes." Grandma Cui acknowledged respectfully.
And so, after a while, Chen Yao took a steady breath and was led by a palace attendant to the Empress Dowager's pavilion.
As she walked over, she could clearly feel the gazes of the entire garden lingering on her—though they quickly shifted away.
Chen Yao guessed that since everyone could tell she was already married, and thus posed no competition, they soon lost interest in her.
Still, she couldn't help but feel quite puzzled. "System, this wasn't in the plotline, was it?"
So why did she have to make an unexpected appearance out of nowhere?
System 04 replied, "It wasn't. But as long as the main plot remains unaffected, minor differences in details are quite normal."
"Alright." Even though she knew that, Chen Yao felt a surge of displeasure at being forced to work overtime when she'd rather laze around.
When she reached the Empress Dowager, Chen Yao lowered her eyes, bowed slightly, and saluted, "Your subject's wife, Xie Chenyao, pays her respects to the Empress Dowager."
"So you're the Number One Scholar's wife? You truly have a face of flower-like beauty."
The Empress Dowager looked at the young woman before her—exquisite and stunning, delicate and moving—and felt a flicker of admiration.
She thought to herself: No wonder the Emperor has taken an interest. Though, it's curious that he's drawn to this fragile, pitiable appearance and demeanor.