C31 Part2

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※※ (N.B.) Concubine Qiao's rank in the harem was that of 'Consort/ Concubine (妃 Fēi)'.

UPDATE&REVIEW of the ranks and characters until now:

1・Empress (皇后 Huánghòu) (only 1) << Empress Mother, Murong Ci's mother(dead);

2・Queen Noble Consort/ Concubine (皇贵妃 Huáng Guìfēi) (only 1) << no mentions for now;

3・Imperial Noble Consort/ Concubine (贵妃 Guìfēi) (only 2) << Imperial Noble Consort, Concubine Xiao;

4・Consort/ Concubine (妃 Fēi) (max. 4) << Consorts, Concubine Qiao (Murong Chang - Princess Zhaohua's mother), Concubine Rong;

5・Virtuous Lady/ Concubine (嫔 Pín) (max. 6) << Virtuous Lady, Concubine Zhao(dead);

6・Noble Lady/ Concubine (贵人 Guìrén) (unlimited number) << Noble Ladies, Concubine An(past) Concubine Bai(dead), Liangdi Ye, Liangdi Wei;

7・Lady of Beauty/ Concubine (美人 Měirén) (unlimited number; lower concubine ranks for court lady beauties) << no mentions for now.

8・Lady of Talent/ Concubine (才人Cáirén) (unlimited number; lower concubine rank for talented court ladies) << Lady of Talent, Concubine Mo(dead);

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....

The Palace Banquet was scheduled for the day after tomorrow, so Concubine Xiao began to organize it in full swing.

Princess Zhaohua's given name was Murong Chang.

She was born by ※Consort, Concubine Qiao.

Murong Chang was one year younger than Murong Ci.

She was doted by Her Father and thus cultivated an arrogant and overconfident temperament.

Since she was a child, she liked to sneak out of the Palace to play.

She didn't like studying boring Palace etiquette, so she didn't learn much and wasn't fluent or had great instruction.

Six months ago, she took Yuan Xiu, a close court lady, with her and ran out of the Palace to play, and even left her South Palace, the Wenhua Hall.

Concubine Qiao and His Majesty Murong Cheng sent people to find her many times, but they did not find her for the time being...

Before Murong Cheng was seriously ill, how many people did Concubine Qiao send to look for her, but she couldn't find half of her shadow, which made her anxious and angry.

After six months, she returned to the Palace, and Concubine Qiao gave her a severe scolding and ordered her to plead with Her Father, and then asked her to face the wall and think about it for five days straight before she could leave the Imperial Palace again.

....

Soon the day of the Palace Banquet arrived.

Courtiers from the third rank and above brought their female family members into the Palace and waited for the feast to start with the Concubines in the Wenhua Hall.

On this day, the hall was full of prosperous and luxuriant flowers, brocade dresses and the shadows of the people reflected on the floor were full of joy and laughter.

There were several huge icebergs carved into the shape of the fairy mountain of Penglai.

Eight servants held huge feather fans and waved them.

The iceberg melted, and the wind from the fans contained a hint of coolness.

The whole hall was full of heat so they sent cool breeze so that it would not be sultry.

Concubine Qiao and many female court ladies and relatives were gossiping about family affairs, and they laughed and laughed.

Everyone praised Princess Zhaohua, saying that Princess Zhaohua was the first beauty of the Emperor.

Princess Zhaohua was indeed beautiful, and she inherited the beauty of her biological mother.

Today, the Dynasty Princess was wearing a gorgeous and complex Palace dress, in a soft and delicate red color, with bright streamers, a slender waist, and her skin was shining better than snow, like the clouds in the sky, the flower of the prosperous world, which attracted everyone's attention.

Even if the Palace was full of splendor, even if all the famous court ladies of the Emperor gathered there, it still couldn't match her splendor.

Princess Duanrou, Murong Shi saw so many people surrounding Princess Zhaohua, admiring, flattering, and envying her.

Seeing Princess Zhaohua at the peak of the splendid beauty of the world, the scenery was infinite, and she couldn't help but feel jealous too.

The jealousy grew wildly, crawling all over her body like vines, trapping her in it.

Murong Shi also knew well enough what was so enviable about her...

Princess Zhaohua, Murong Chang, was a real Dynasty Princess...

A golden branch and jade leaf loved by thousands of people, and it was more than enough to attract everyone's attention and admiration.

'And what about me?'

Princess Duanrou, who was born in the Imperial Palace, could scare many people to death with her authority of a Princess, but everyone in Luoyang City knew perfectly well that the Royal King, the Prince Regent, was no more than a King born of a different surname.

No matter how powerful or beautiful he were, no matter how beautiful she were.

They were not a true Royal Family members at all.

However, Murong Shi was not depressed or taken aback by that.

She thought that today was a chance...a day in which she could shine and prove herself as a Princess.

However, she didn't expect Princess Zhaohua to be so beautiful, and Princess Zhaohua's natural dignity and pride was something she couldn't have.

Then, there was only one shortcut for her to compare to Princess Zhaohua:

'Marrying the Crown Prince and becoming the Crown Princess.

And one day, in the future, becoming the noble and respected Lady who will be the "Mother of the Great Yan Empire".

That will be her, Murong Shi!'

Thinking of this, Murong Shi felt a little better.

As the Banquet time was approaching, the Palace people were busy putting precious delicacies and wines on the banquet tables, with colored glaze cups, golden bottles, and silver chopsticks and spoons, a dazzling array of precious lights circulating.

The Palace maidens filed out, and at this moment, the voice of the servant informing outside the hall announced:

"Here comes His Majesty!

Here is the Imperial Consort, Concubine Xiao!

Here comes His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince! Here comes The Royal King, the Prince Regent!"

Everyone got up and greeted them one after another, with a rustling light.

....

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END of CHAPTER 31 PART 2

.....................to be continued