Chapter 247 The Empress’s Plot

It was a known fact that the Fifth Prince was one of the Crown Prince’s people.

But he was supposed to take discreet, if not undercover action at least, if he wanted to deal with Lin Mengya. He did it publicly. The Fifth Prince really did not care about the Lin family.

“The Fifth Prince, the Crown Prince? Hem! They dare hurt my sister, then, if I don’t pay them back for what they did, they would feel themselves disrespected.”

Lin Nansheng was still a young man, with lesser sophistication and patience than Lin Muzhi.

In his mind, any debtors, even one in a high position, should be made to pay. He would try his best to make him feel sorry!

“The Chen family is backing him. But the Chen family is a spent bullet. Isn’t he worried that they will not be able to protect him, if he carries on like this?”

Disdain flashed across Qin Mo’s eyes.

The Fifth Prince was the worst, in literary talent and kung fu skills, among all the adult princes.

However, he was also the most arrogant. When Concubine Chen was still alive, she was able to protect him. But now she was dead, and the Chen family was already declining. Nobody would care about the self-conceited prince.

“The Crown Prince? The Fifth Prince is his close brother. The Shangguan family and the Empress won’t let the flames of trouble burn long enough to hurt the Crown Prince.”

Lin Nansheng was still smiling, but his eyes revealed his hatred.

“The Crown Prince? I don’t think so. He is busy with his own affairs now. The Empress will not offend the relatives of the Fifth Prince.”

Both of them smiled at each other. After so many years, they were able to understand each other, without needing to speak.

Lin Mengya’s face was still red, even after Long Tianyu relaxed his grip. Until now, she realized how surprised she was at what she did.

With a flaming face, she was surprised that she became the subject of gossip, which was what she had never imagined she would be.

When she got back to her seat, she saw her maids smiling so broadly that their eyebrows and eyes were all curved.

“What are you laughing at? Stop, otherwise… otherwise…”

It was the first time that Lin Mengya, the good talker, was speechless. She was still blushing, and did not display the calmness she had, in the hall earlier.

“We’re not laughing. Hey, someone, in public, with Prince Yu…” Baishao was always lively enough to tease her.

She bent two of her thumbs together. It was clearly implying about Lin Mengya and Long Tianyu.

“Little girl! Stop your nonsense, or I’ll tear up your mouth!”

Lin Mengya knew her threats did not sound frightening in the least, yet she still made grand gestures. But she looked like a typical, beloved lady. Instantly, the four girls burst into laughter.

“Alright, enough. Prince Yu and I are a couple. If you really like, I can ask him to choose a good man for you guys, if you want!”

Lin Mengya pretended to pull a long face. They all knew that such an occasion was not a good time to make fun of her.

All of them looked at her, as if they were saying ‘Fine, we will spare you for once’. It made Lin Mengya even more speechless.

“Gosh, where can you ever find a master like me, who is so lenient?”

It was a family dinner, as well as a formal blessing banquet. But since the Emperor was still seriously ill, the atmosphere was rather subdued.

The Empress and the Crown Prince sat at the seats of honor. Their plot to frame Lin Mengya failed, but they kept their facial expressions normal. Both of them were ambitious schemers.

With their faces brimming with smiles, they looked at everyone, as if both of them were truly happy to be at the blessing banquet.

“My dear guests, you’re our officials and also the most important members of the royal family. Your great and cooperative contributions bring peace to our country. Now, thank you, all of you, and our honorable emperor, His Majesty, and we pray to God to bless Dajin with prosperity and peace.”

The Empress stood up and made a speech in a noble and graceful manner.

Everyone picked up their cups and respectfully made a toast.

Good words like generous and gorgeous, were not enough to describe the Empress. Lin Mengya truly failed to know why the Empress wanted to remove Long Tianyu and herself. She was already the honorable master of the Harem.

Even if she took no action, her son, the Crown Prince, was bound to inherit the throne.

“She wants to be the emperor?” Besides, it was not good for her to make an enemy of the Lin family.

The Empress’s parents’ home had many capable people in the troops. But they were still not as good as Lin Muzhi.

If the Empress told Shangguan Qing to treat Lin Mengya better, perhaps Lin Muzhi would join forces with the Crown Prince?

So Lin Mengya wondered why the Empress went round the sun to meet the moon.

“It is the Winter Solstice Festival. It should be celebrated with everyone. But father is still lying in bed. As a son, I’m too worried to sleep. I will present a piece of red coral as a blessing for father.”

The Crown Prince stood up as well. Worries and anxiety could be seen on his face.

On the surface, he looked like a filial son, worrying about his father.

But Lin Mengya did not believe him in the least. The Crown Prince was supposed to stay with his father, if he was really worried, rather than try his best to seduce his sister-in-law.

Besides, when he failed, he made a false countercharge. Such a shameless person!

“How touching Your Highness’s filial piety is. I heard that red coral is the embodiment of Buddha. I believe, His Majesty will recover soon.”

This flattering statement was made by one of the guest.

Lin Mengya was speechless, as she looked at the humble figure. He was a provincial governor, who earned his position with the help of the Shangguan family.

His deliberate flattery seemed to be accepted by the Crown Prince. Immediately, lots of people echoed him.

The Crown Prince looked humble, yet in fact, he almost got his tail off the ground. Lin Mengya really despised him.

“It’s just red coral. Anyone can buy it, as long as he has money.”

Flattery time ended soon. By convention, Long Tianyu arranged many shows including singing and dancing. With the melodious music, the blessing banquet truly began.

The sounds of traditional string and woodwind instruments rose and fell. Dozens of singers, at a brisk pace, put on a fascinating show in the hall.

Lin Mengya had already admired the show during rehearsal time, and she was profuse in her praises.

The royal dancers were totally different from the others. Their slim willow like bodies, were casually swaying to the music, creating a fairyland which was like a display in silk paintings.

Their dancing and music was not overwhelming, but quite satisfactory.

In the banquet, guests toasted each other. They finally stopped being tense and enjoyed themselves in dance and music.

But at the end of dancing, a sigh came from nowhere.

“Ah, His Majesty is still lying on the bed, but we his officials, are enjoying ourselves here. If His Majesty knows it, he would feel upset.”

Lin Mengya glanced at the direction of the voice. It sounded like it came from outside the Capital City. He must have come in from some other place.

Noticing the Crown Prince’s people’s facial expressions, she realized that that person must have been ordered by the Crown Prince, to create a disturbance.

When hearing the sigh, many officials, who always considered Dajin a priority, looked gloomy.

The Emperor was ill. That was a concern of the whole country, not just his own.

Lin Mengya, of course, knew what it meant.

Luckily, she was already prepared. Seeing their false worries, Long Tianyu calmly said.

“I’ve already prepared well for it. Father is in a healthy condition and Dajin is also in a peaceful state. Don’t worry too much, you guys. I’ve asked ten noble, beautiful ladies to put on a show of Flying for Blessing. Feitian was the goddess serving Buddha. The show is also a way to pray for His Majesty.”

All of those words, were what Lin Mengya had told Long Tianyu to say, on the way to the Imperial Palace.

Many years ago, Lin Mengya made an academic research on modern Dunhuang. Upon her arrival, she was obsessed with a vivid mural painting of Flying, which was both graceful and attractive.

Feitian was actually Gandharva, in charge of generating perfume and serving Buddha, and Kinnara, in charge of dancing and singing.

Lin Mengya and Baiji discussed about their dressing, overnight. They tried to show the women’s’ enchanting figures and poise.

Besides, Feitian’s dance was derived from the Huxuan folk dance. It was obvious that everyone would be surprised.

When Long Tianyu completed his explanation, those guests, who were in doubt earlier, immediately became confused.

“Flying for Blessing? It sounds like something new.” Lin Mengya nodded at Long Tianyu, and then, she went to the side hall, to make the last preparation, with her four maids.

Not unexpectedly, those dancers she brought were either delayed by something else, or had disappeared.

But the Crown Prince could never have imagined that they were only smoke screens.

The actual dancers were ten noble ladies headed by Shangguan Hui.

Lin Mengya made her choice after thinking over it carefully. All their families had a good relationship with Long Tianyu and the Lin family. Shangguan Hui rarely went out, so the other nine girls need not take any precautions against her.

When she entered the room, she found them all dressed and ready.