FBC – Chapter 237 Stunning Everyone

The first day of the third lunar month, under a bright and sunny sky.

This year, thanks to the success of the southern frontier campaign, the Emperor was in high spirits and specially commanded the Ministry of Rites to hold a grand ceremony on the first day of the third month.

A month in advance, all departments had begun decorating Jinming Pool and Qionglin Garden.

This year, the naval dragon boat race was led by five princes, each over thirteen years old. The five dragon boats were trained with full effort for more than a month.

The imperial entourage and honor guard also trained daily to ensure the ceremony went off without a hitch.

According to regulations, on this day, both commoners and nobles could enter Jinming Pool and Qionglin Garden to enjoy themselves freely, and no officials were allowed to file complaints.

However, this was more theoretical than practical.

In reality, the areas open to commoners were distinctly separate from those reserved for nobles.

Jinming Pool lay to the northwest of Shuntian Gate Street, covering a radius of nine li and thirty steps. After entering the garden gate and walking over a hundred steps to the west bank of the pool, one would reach the Linshui Hall and the five main halls.

At the front and rear corridors at the ends of the roads leading to the five halls, many entertainment stalls were set up.

There were street performers, gambling stalls, and vendors selling food, jewelry, clothing, and other goods. Colorful umbrellas formed a continuous canopy. People in varied attire played and wandered about. From a distance, it looked vibrant, bustling, and spectacular.

A few hundred steps west of Linshui Hall was a celestial bridge, about a hundred steps long north to south, consisting of three arches, stretching like a rainbow across the five halls. The five halls were aligned along the pool’s central axis, directly facing Linshui Hall.

Pavilions, towers, artificial hills, and bamboo groves were constructed all around, creating a scene of exquisite beauty.

This was the area reserved for the leisure of nobles, generally inaccessible to ordinary people.

The Emperor would hold a banquet in Linshui Hall, which, along with the five halls, provided an excellent vantage point for watching the naval dragon boat championship.

To the south of the celestial bridge stood the Lingxing Gate, flanked by two decorative towers.

When the naval demonstration took place, singing and dancing courtesans from the Ministry of Music performed atop these towers.

Further south was the Baojin Tower, the tallest structure at Jinming Pool, offering the best view. After the banquet, the Emperor would bring his consorts here to watch the dragon boat races and various performances.

On the eastern bank of Jinming Pool, many weeping willows were planted along the water’s edge, with tents and canopies set up for rent to view the races. Wealthy merchants vied fiercely for these spots—not only for the view but also to get closer to the nobles.

Noblewomen were all dressed in elaborate attire, while men wore elegant robes, exuding refined charm.

Since Liang was open and free, interactions between men and women were perfectly normal. Such grand ceremonies were opportunities for mutual admiration and for powerful families to network through family members, with few restrictions.

Gu Hua wore a skirt and top made of crescent-white cloud brocade, with her collar and sleeves embroidered with silver-threaded blue daffodils. The fabric swayed gently with her steps, shimmering like sunlight on a lake.

Paired with pearl jewelry and earrings, her outfit was simple yet luxurious, dignified yet lively.

A pearl floral ornament adorned her brow.

She radiated a soft, refined beauty, her jade-like features giving off an otherworldly aura.

As she stepped into the hall, a sudden hush fell over the crowd.

All eyes turned toward her, stunned by her presence.

Standing amidst the noblewomen adorned in elaborate jewelry and colorful garments, she resembled a pure white peony, towering over the rest.

The male guests, having noticed the movement, also craned their necks to look.

Among the top circles of nobility, few truly knew Gu Hua.

She had only recently become the secondary consort of Mu Junyan and had quietly traveled to Juzhou. After returning, Mu Junyan passed away.

As a widow, her status had risen dramatically, yet she had remained in mourning, rarely seen in public.

With the Mu family’s military power still unsettled, various factions had sought to approach her through her female relatives, hoping to gauge the situation.

She had rejected all invitations and only recently begun hinting that she would start appearing in society.

Some had glimpsed her at the wedding and only vaguely remembered her looks; now seeing her again, her aura seemed entirely transformed.

Within moments, people regained their composure, and those who had long wished to befriend her immediately stepped forward.

“Madam Mu, you’ve arrived!”

“Your gown—cloud-brocade, isn’t it? Truly priceless.”

“Your jewelry must be custom-made by Linlang Tower, surely crafted by Shopkeeper Qiu—so delicate, unique, and new. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“Madam Mu, now that you’re stepping out, I must invite you properly next time. You simply must grace us with your presence.”

Gu Hua responded to each greeting with a smile, her manners graceful and composed, leaving those who had once looked down on her utterly astonished.

Nearby, a group of noblewomen chatted, and someone laughed loudly:

“Sister Jiang, you’re about to enter the palace. I hear you’ll become a noble consort—how enviable!”

Those around her nodded eagerly.

“Sister Jiang is different. The imperial noble consort is your aunt, and the Empress Dowager is your grandaunt. Your backing is solid.”

“Once Sister Jiang bears a dragon heir, she’ll rise to consort in one leap.”

Jiang Ruoxi smiled faintly: “I wouldn’t dare speak recklessly. The Emperor already has four consorts; there’s no place for me yet.”

“You are young and beautiful; your opportunity will come.”

Jiang Ruoxi couldn’t help but blush, her eyes darting toward Gu Hua.

Hearing this, Gu Hua turned and met Jiang Ruoxi’s gaze, full of malice.

She’s planning to enter the palace as a consort?

It made sense. Jiang Ruoxi’s desperate pursuit of Mu Junyan, which he had refused, was already well-known.

Which respectable family wouldn’t feel uneasy about that?

Her spoiled, headstrong nature was clear to all after that incident—everyone knew marrying her meant a turbulent household.

The Empress Dowager adored her, and with no suitable matches found among the court officials, the Emperor was considered the best option.

Whether Consort Jiang would be pleased was another matter entirely.

Her own niece sharing the same husband was bound to be uncomfortable.

Considering her ambition, one could only wonder what the other three consorts thought.

Gu Hua smiled faintly.

Moreover, whether she could even enter the palace tonight was yet another question.

She withdrew her gaze calmly and continued conversing politely with the surrounding noblewomen.

Seeing Gu Hua’s indifferent attitude, Jiang Ruoxi’s anger flared.

She scoffed sarcastically: “Sister-in-law, look at you. Others climbing into bed have already been granted third-rank titles. You’re a widow and yet haven’t gained a thing?”

The one called “Sister-in-law” was Qian Peiqin, the wife of Jiang Ruoxi’s second brother, Jiang Duo.

She, too, wore white today for her mourning.

Qian Peiqin clenched her teeth silently, her gaze burning with fury at Gu Hua—the woman who had caused her husband’s death!

She had been reluctant to attend, fearing disdain, but her mother-in-law and Jiang Ruoxi insisted, saying that as a widow, she must mingle with noblewomen to maintain relations.

A noblewoman nearby sneered: “Some people are shameless. Climbing into bed for rank is one thing, but dressing up so soon after a husband’s death to continue seducing…”

Another noblewoman added with glee: “Miss Qian, though you are a widow, that woman already has a third-rank decree. You are just the wife of a disgraced minister.”

At these words, Qian Peiqin could no longer contain herself and sneered: “Her decree was stolen!”

Jiang Ruoxi’s eyes widened. “Oh? How so?”

The curious and gossipy gathered around, chattering and questioning.

Qian Peiqin bit her lip, refusing to answer.

Jiang Ruoxi fumed inwardly, wishing she could kick her—what a useless coward.

She had been brought here to confront Gu Hua, to avenge her husband’s death, yet she couldn’t muster a single word!

Finally, Jiang Ruoxi put on a knowing expression: “I see.”

She raised her voice, silencing the surrounding crowd, all ears attentive.

Her sharp eyes shot at Gu Hua: “Not only did she have an affair with my brother-in-law, but she also got along extremely well with Madam Pei’s maternal family. I hear that the Pei family even prepared a house for her to keep her in luxury. But she’s clever—quickly climbing higher, she dumped him.”

“But she’s greedy, still wanting more. She seduced the Pei family, using their donations of grain, gold, and silver to elevate herself to a third-rank decree. Tell me, where is there a woman so shameless?”

The noblewomen around Jiang Ruoxi immediately began whispering and discussing.

Standing beside Qian Peiqin, Madam Peiyi’s wife looked very displeased, having just heard the princess drag her husband into the conversation.