Chapter - 53
By Tea Time Translations
---
If there are any mistakes in translation, please feel free to comment! Please support us @TeaTime.
---
At this moment, Jiafu finally realized that in her past life, the orchestrator behind the misfortune of the Princess Liang might not have been the one who ultimately took her own life, but rather the elegant woman standing before her now, smiling gently.
The wine in her cup was golden-yellow, shimmering as if it contained flecks of floating gold, identical in appearance to the cup held by the Duchess of Qin sitting next to her.
I wonder what kind of drug Zhang Fengtong secretly put in the wine she left for herself. Regardless of what it is, she knew she absolutely couldn't drink it.
As the Duchess of Qin and others rose to toast, followed by the rest of the female guests at the table, Jia Fu also stood up slowly. Watching Zhang Feng Tong closely, she raised her wine cup, waiting for her to drink. As Zhang Feng Tong's gaze momentarily left her, Jia Fu brought the cup to her lips. With a slight bend of her wrist and the cover of her sleeve, she poured all the wine down her arm and into the sleeve.
Though it was summer, the clothing worn for such occasions typically consisted of at least three layers, inside and out. While the fabric wasn't as heavy as winter attire, it still provided some insulation. As the wine flowed into her sleeve, it was quickly absorbed by the inner layers of clothing. Beneath her azure outer garment, a slight dampness could be detected near the cuffs, but Jia Fu promptly covered it up, ensuring no one noticed.
After the toast, Zhang Fengtong glanced at the empty cup in front of Jiafu and smiled before taking her seat, marking the official start of the feast.
Unperturbed, Jiafu engaged in quiet conversation with the lady seated beside her. Occasionally, female guests approached to pay their respects to Zhang Fengtong individually, and Jiafu noticed that amidst her busy schedule, Zhang Fengtong would occasionally glance in her direction. She pretended not to notice.
Gradually, it seemed that Zhang Fengtong was becoming impatient. After dismissing a lady who came to flatter her, she signaled to the palace servant behind her. Understanding her intent, the servant came over again and lifted the wine pitcher, repeating the same process as before, pouring wine for the table. When it came to Jiafu's turn, the servant used the same technique as last time, but every detail was noted by Jiafu.
This woman was pushing too far, not content with just one cup. She seemed to think the dose wasn't enough and repeated the same process, intending for me to drink a second cup of wine.
Jiafu's anger surged within her, gradually rising. Seeing Zhang Fengtong raising her cup again to toast her mother, and everyone else joining in, Jiafu also lifted her cup but then pretended to feel dizzy, placing her hand on her forehead.
Beside her, Lady Qin noticed something unusual about Jiafu and asked with concern.
Jiafu slowly opened her eyes and apologized, "I suddenly felt a burning sensation in my stomach and a slight dizziness, as if I were about to faint..."
Lady Qin asked, concerned, "Do you usually drink alcohol?"
Jiafu, as if feeling very dizzy, covered her face with her hands and shook her head, "Very rarely..."
Lady Qin smiled and said, "That explains it. Perhaps you're feeling a bit tipsy. I'm used to drinking, and just now, I could tell that this wine is indeed exquisite, more potent than what I usually drink. It seems you're not used to alcohol."
Jiafu smiled apologetically and looked at Zhang fengtong, saying, "I'm afraid if I drink more, I'll make a scene and it wouldn't be good to embarrass everyone. How about I use tea instead of wine to toast your birthday, madam?"
There was a teapot on the table, and Jiafu picked it up herself, then turned to the maid standing behind her to ask for a new cup. As she poured tea into the cup, her hand suddenly felt weak, and she couldn't hold the teapot, causing it to slip out of her hand.
Lady Qin chuckled and said, "You're really drunk! Come on, let me pour for you. Quickly drink some tea to sober up."
Zhang fengtong glanced at Jiafu for a moment, then chuckled and said, "Madam Pei seems to really not be able to handle alcohol. Just one drink and she's like this. It wouldn't be good if you were to pass out from drinking. Using tea instead of wine is the same. Eat more food for now and wait for it to pass. It should be better later." As she spoke, she raised her wine glass, ready to drink, but just then, a little eunuch entered the hall and announced in a drawn-out voice, "His Majesty has ordered to send a birthday plaque, two longevity peaches, and he is coming to greet."
The entire hall, which was filled with laughter and joy, immediately quieted down upon hearing the announcement of the palace servant. Mrs. Zhang, like a butterfly, was busy mingling with the guests to ensure everyone was having a good time. But now, she was pleasantly surprised and quickly led the people to greet the arrival.
Zhang fengtong also put down her wine glass and hurriedly headed towards the hall door. All the female guests in the hall, along with the maidservants, servants, and wives, followed suit and rushed out to greet the arrival.
In an instant, the table was deserted, leaving Jiafu alone behind.
Jiafu glanced at the glass of wine in front of her, then at the untouched one on Zhang fengtong's seat. Her heart pounded fiercely. She quickly picked up the glass, swapped it with another one on the table, composed herself, and hurriedly followed the others, kneeling down to greet the arrival.
Cui Yinshui, who was sent in, entered with a smile on his face. After announcing the decree, several young eunuchs carried in the longevity plaque and longevity peaches, placing them on the longevity table, adding brilliance to the whole hall. Only then did Zhang Fengtong and Mrs. Zhang lead everyone to stand up. Mrs. Zhang thanked Cui Yinshui for his efforts and invited him to have a drink, but Cui Yinshui waved his hand and exchanged a few congratulatory words with Mrs. Zhang before leaving with the young eunuchs.
After seeing off their guest, the guests returned to their seats, and the atmosphere became even livelier than before. Mrs. Zhang, with a triumphant air, didn't need to say anything; her satisfaction was evident. Zhang fengtong listened to the compliments from the ladies at the table, smiling contentedly, and raised her wine glass. The ladies followed suit.
Jiafu watched as Zhang fengtong drank the wine and then picked up her tea, taking a slow sip herself. The celebration continued, and at this moment, the sound of drums and gongs came from outside the hall, leading to the theater stage across the pond. The performance of the "Five Maidens Paying Respects for Longevity" began.
Throughout the festivities, Jiafu maintained an appearance of being unable to handle alcohol, but aside from that, there was nothing else inappropriate about her demeanor.
Zhang fengtong continued to converse and laugh with the ladies sitting nearby while occasionally glancing at Jiafu.
Jiafu knew that she must be deeply puzzled at the moment, so she pretended to be absorbed in the performance, engaging in quiet conversation with the Duchess beside her, ostensibly watching and listening to the play.
"Just announced: The Crown Prince has arrived!"
As the grand performance on the stage reached its climax, another eunuch entered the hall, loudly announcing the arrival of the Crown Prince.
The atmosphere in the banquet hall was pushed to its peak for the night.
Mrs. Zhang was overjoyed and quickly turned to look at her daughter. At first, Zhang Fengtong seemed somewhat incredulous, but after a moment of astonishment, her face lit up with joy, and she hurriedly got up to greet him.
Just like before, everyone in the hall rose to greet them. When the crown prince Xiao Yintang, dressed in a bright yellow prince's robe, appeared at the entrance of the hall, all the female guests paid their respects, and the actors on the stage stopped their performance, kneeling on the stage.
Crown prince Xiao Yintang had a smile on his face as his gaze swept across the people in the hall. He quickly spotted Jiafu standing behind Lady Qin, and his eyes lingered on her for a moment. Then he spoke, "No need for formalities. I'm just here to congratulate my mother-in-law on her birthday, no need to be so formal."
Back when they were still in Wuding, Mrs. Zhang knew that her daughter did not have crown prince Xiao Yintang's favor. Tonight, she never expected the prince to personally come to congratulate her on her birthday. She was afraid her daughter would feel embarrassed, so she didn't mention this idea in front of her. She never expected the prince to give her daughter such face. How could she not be delighted?
Before Xiao Yintang could finish his greeting, Mrs. Zhang hurried forward and warmly helped him up.
Zhang Fengtong's father and several older brothers also arrived upon hearing the news. However, since the gathering was mostly female guests, it was not appropriate for them to stay for long. After Xiao Yintang finished congratulating his mother-in-law on her birthday, he was invited to another hall to sit separately. Whether intentionally or unintentionally, his gaze swept over Jiafu again before he left.
First, the emperor bestowed a longevity plaque and peaches, then the prince personally came to congratulate the birthday. After the ladies were seated again, the compliments towards Zhang Fengtong continued.
Zhang Fengtong initially had a smile on her face, but gradually her complexion seemed off. Her face turned slightly red, as if feeling dizzy, and she leaned to the side, supporting her forehead with her hand.
The woman sitting next to her, the mother of Duke Zhu, noticed the situation and quickly reached out to support her.
The other ladies at the table finally noticed her discomfort and stopped talking. The palace maid also noticed the abnormality of the crown princess and hurriedly called Lady Zhang over.
Lady Zhang quickly rushed over and saw her daughter's flushed face, her eyes fixed forward, sitting still as if she were drunk. Surprised, she hurriedly came to support her and whispered, "Feng Tong, what's wrong with you?"
Zhang Fengtong seemed to be completely unaware of her surroundings, suddenly turning her head and staring in the direction of the stage.
The play on the stage depicted the touching confession of Zou Yinglong, a top scholar from a humble background, to his devoted wife San Chun. Zhang Fengtong stared intently for a moment, her eyes widening and becoming increasingly confused. Suddenly, she let out a cold laugh.
Lady Zhang finally noticed that her daughter was not well and hurriedly called for assistance to help her return to her room. However, Zhang Fengtong unexpectedly pushed her mother away. Lady Zhang, caught off guard, staggered back a few steps and nearly fell.
"Stop! Stop all of you!" Zhang Fengtong shouted angrily. "What are you actors singing about? Where in this world are there devoted husbands? It's all deception!"
Zhang Fengtong pushed Lady Zhang aside and turned to the actors on the stage, loudly accusing them. The actors, startled by the sudden outburst from the crown princess, stopped singing and hastily knelt down.
The entire hall fell silent, with everyone turning to look at Zhang Fengtong, who appeared suddenly intoxicated and deranged, sparking confusion and concern among the guests.
Lady Zhang was shocked and horrified, unsure of what had caused her daughter to suddenly lose control. She hurried forward again and whispered urgently, "Fengtong! What's wrong with you? Wake up!"
Zhang Fengtong's eyes were red, and she turned to look at Lady Zhang, staring at her for a long moment before tears started streaming down her face. She choked out, "Mother, my heart is in pain. Don't you know?"
Lady Zhang realized that her daughter must be intoxicated and unaware of her actions. She turned and saw countless pairs of eyes staring at them. Suppressing her embarrassment and anger, she forced a smile and said, "The Crown Princess seems to have had too much to drink and lost her composure. I'll take her to rest first..." She signaled to the people beside her to help support Zhang Fengtong and quickly lead her away.
Zhang Fengtong struggled desperately, screaming and refusing to let anyone touch her. With a loud crash, she knocked over several bowls and plates on the table, along with the wine jug, all of which shattered on the ground. She gritted her teeth and stared at the terrified mother of the Duke of Zhu, suddenly reaching out and grabbing her by the neck. She shook her violently, laughing maniacally, "Cao, you should have died long ago! Do you think you're favored by the Crown Prince just because you've crawled into his bed a few times? How dare you be disrespectful in front of me! You fool, let me tell you, the Crown Prince longs for the woman from the Pei family! That woman surnamed Zhen, the fox spirit! You miserable creature, it serves you right to be strangled by the Crown Prince!"
The entire hall was stunned into silence, gaping in shock, before turning their gazes towards Jiafu.
Jiafu's heart was racing rapidly.
Jiafu, in her anger, had indeed swapped the wine for Zhang Fengtong, intending to retaliate in kind. However, she never anticipated the potency of the drugged wine. Zhang Fengtong's complete loss of sanity, and her revelation of the secret behind the recent tragedy in the Eastern Palace, took Jiafu by surprise. She had not foreseen being implicated herself.
In the vast hall, silence reigned, broken only by Zhang Fengtong's deranged laughter and the desperate struggles of the elderly Lady Zhu, whom she had grabbed by the neck.
Lady Zhang was horrified, and with the help of others, managed to pry Zhang Fengtong's hand from Lady Zhu's throat. But Zhang Fengtong's grip was incredibly strong, and it took tremendous effort to finally release the elderly lady, who slumped to the ground, unconscious. Nearby, other ladies rushed to her aid, pounding her chest and rubbing her back.
Meanwhile, Zhang Fengtong was restrained by servants, struggling fiercely as they dragged her out of the hall. Lady Zhang, fearing she might say something incriminating, tried to silence her by covering her mouth. But Zhang Fengtong, in her frenzy, bit down hard on Lady Zhang's hand, causing her to cry out in pain and recoil.
"Mother, my heart is in pain, why are you treating me like this—"
Zhang Fengtong's eyes were bloodshot, crying and laughing hysterically. She grabbed onto a table leg tightly, refusing to let go. The whole table was dragged forward along with her, causing dishes and bowls to crash to the ground with splattering soup. The ladies screamed in shock. In the midst of her struggles, one of her palace shoes flew off, and there was no trace of her former grace and elegance.
No one had the mind to drink or eat anymore. The people in the hall gathered around, trying to calm her down and discussing the situation. In the chaos, urgent footsteps were heard at the entrance of the hall. Everyone turned to see the Crown Prince and Zhang Fengtong's two brothers rushing in. Their faces turned pale at the sight. They pushed through the crowd and quickly restrained Zhang Fengtong, covering her mouth and forcibly separating her arms. They swiftly carried her out.
Crown Prince's face was grim as he glanced at Jiafu standing behind the crowd. He forced a smile to the others and said, "She's drunk and speaking nonsense. I apologize for the disturbance." With that, he hurriedly left.
Zhang Fengtong was taken away, leaving chaos behind. The old lady who had been strangled finally regained consciousness, her family rushed to her side. Seeing the situation, she looked furious but reluctantly accepted Lady Zhang's apology and explanation before leaving with her family.
The feast couldn't continue. Lady Zhang was sweating profusely, her face alternating between red and pale. She struggled to smooth over her daughter's recent outburst.
The ladies gradually regained their composure from the shock of earlier events, knowing that tonight's incident had made things ugly and scandalous. However, they maintained a facade of normalcy, comforting Lady Zhang in accordance with her explanation, saying that the Crown Princess must have been overexerted from recent stress and had a few too many drinks tonight, leading to a momentary lapse in control.
One by one, guests began to take their leave, and the servants of the Zhang family saw them off. However, their spirits had dampened significantly, each looking suspicious and lost, their demeanor akin to mourning the dead, making mistakes one after another.
Jiafu felt some regret and fear. If she hadn't been prepared in advance, she would have undoubtedly drunk that glass of wine tonight. If she had drunk it, she couldn't imagine what kind of embarrassment she would have faced.
A shiver ran down her spine.
Someone tugged at her sleeve, and she turned to see Lady Meng giving her a discreet signal. Leaning in, Lady Meng whispered, "You'an sent word that he's waiting outside to escort us. Let's go."
Jiafu turned around and caught a cold glare from Lady Xin.
While Zhang Fengtong had brought shame upon herself, Jiafu couldn't help but feel a sense of embarrassment as she walked out silently from the hall under the scrutiny of those behind her. They reached the floral gate separating the front and back halls, where Pei You'an stood motionless. Her heart pounded harder.
The incident in the hall had caused quite a stir, and Pei You'an likely knew about it too. Zhang Fengtong's madness, openly accusing the Crown Prince of coveting her, was undoubtedly a humiliation for her husband, Pei You'an.
Jiafu passed by him, feeling hesitant to meet his gaze, and slightly lowered her head.
She overheard him speaking to Lady Xin and Lady Meng, saying that he had just returned from the palace and had come to pick them up since they were attending the banquet at the Zhang residence. His tone sounded as usual.
Jiafu discreetly lifted her eyes and met his gaze, but quickly looked away, not daring to examine it closely. They left without exchanging any words. At the door, she boarded the carriage while Pei You'an mounted his horse. Just as they were about to leave, Zhang Fengtong's father rushed out from the main gate and called out, "Master Pei, please wait!"
Pei You'an turned to look and dismounted his horse.
Zhang's father led Pei You'an to a secluded spot near the gatehouse where there were no onlookers.
"Is there something else, Mr. Zhang?" Pei You'an inquired.
Mr. Zhang, being a respected figure with advanced age and the father of Zhang Fengtong, enjoyed great prestige in the court, and everyone referred to him with respect as "Mr. Zhang."
Mr. Zhang, no longer bearing his usual demeanor, looked visibly embarrassed. Before saying a word, he first bowed deeply to Pei You'an, expressing his remorse, "I am here on behalf of the Crown Princess to apologize to you, Master Pei. Tonight, she became intoxicated and lost her sanity, uttering nonsense and slandering the Crown Prince. Not only that, but she also offended you and your wife. It is entirely my fault for not disciplining her properly in the past. Tonight, I will go to the palace to apologize to His Majesty, even if it means facing death! However, I hope you can forgive her and not hold it against her. My family and I are deeply grateful!" With that, he bowed deeply once again.
Pei You'an responded politely but quite coldly, saying, "It is natural for the Crown Princess to speak nonsense while intoxicated. Mr. Zhang, you should go and apologize to His Majesty as soon as possible. If you delay, the palace gates might already be closed." He nodded slightly to Mr. Zhang before turning and leaving.
Chapter - 53
By Tea Time Translations
---
If there are any mistakes in translation, please feel free to comment! Please support us @TeaTime.
---
At this moment, Jiafu finally realized that in her past life, the orchestrator behind the misfortune of the Princess Liang might not have been the one who ultimately took her own life, but rather the elegant woman standing before her now, smiling gently.
The wine in her cup was golden-yellow, shimmering as if it contained flecks of floating gold, identical in appearance to the cup held by the Duchess of Qin sitting next to her.
I wonder what kind of drug Zhang Fengtong secretly put in the wine she left for herself. Regardless of what it is, she knew she absolutely couldn't drink it.
As the Duchess of Qin and others rose to toast, followed by the rest of the female guests at the table, Jia Fu also stood up slowly. Watching Zhang Feng Tong closely, she raised her wine cup, waiting for her to drink. As Zhang Feng Tong's gaze momentarily left her, Jia Fu brought the cup to her lips. With a slight bend of her wrist and the cover of her sleeve, she poured all the wine down her arm and into the sleeve.
Though it was summer, the clothing worn for such occasions typically consisted of at least three layers, inside and out. While the fabric wasn't as heavy as winter attire, it still provided some insulation. As the wine flowed into her sleeve, it was quickly absorbed by the inner layers of clothing. Beneath her azure outer garment, a slight dampness could be detected near the cuffs, but Jia Fu promptly covered it up, ensuring no one noticed.
After the toast, Zhang Fengtong glanced at the empty cup in front of Jiafu and smiled before taking her seat, marking the official start of the feast.
Unperturbed, Jiafu engaged in quiet conversation with the lady seated beside her. Occasionally, female guests approached to pay their respects to Zhang Fengtong individually, and Jiafu noticed that amidst her busy schedule, Zhang Fengtong would occasionally glance in her direction. She pretended not to notice.
Gradually, it seemed that Zhang Fengtong was becoming impatient. After dismissing a lady who came to flatter her, she signaled to the palace servant behind her. Understanding her intent, the servant came over again and lifted the wine pitcher, repeating the same process as before, pouring wine for the table. When it came to Jiafu's turn, the servant used the same technique as last time, but every detail was noted by Jiafu.
This woman was pushing too far, not content with just one cup. She seemed to think the dose wasn't enough and repeated the same process, intending for me to drink a second cup of wine.
Jiafu's anger surged within her, gradually rising. Seeing Zhang Fengtong raising her cup again to toast her mother, and everyone else joining in, Jiafu also lifted her cup but then pretended to feel dizzy, placing her hand on her forehead.
Beside her, Lady Qin noticed something unusual about Jiafu and asked with concern.
Jiafu slowly opened her eyes and apologized, "I suddenly felt a burning sensation in my stomach and a slight dizziness, as if I were about to faint..."
Lady Qin asked, concerned, "Do you usually drink alcohol?"
Jiafu, as if feeling very dizzy, covered her face with her hands and shook her head, "Very rarely..."
Lady Qin smiled and said, "That explains it. Perhaps you're feeling a bit tipsy. I'm used to drinking, and just now, I could tell that this wine is indeed exquisite, more potent than what I usually drink. It seems you're not used to alcohol."
Jiafu smiled apologetically and looked at Zhang fengtong, saying, "I'm afraid if I drink more, I'll make a scene and it wouldn't be good to embarrass everyone. How about I use tea instead of wine to toast your birthday, madam?"
There was a teapot on the table, and Jiafu picked it up herself, then turned to the maid standing behind her to ask for a new cup. As she poured tea into the cup, her hand suddenly felt weak, and she couldn't hold the teapot, causing it to slip out of her hand.
Lady Qin chuckled and said, "You're really drunk! Come on, let me pour for you. Quickly drink some tea to sober up."
Zhang fengtong glanced at Jiafu for a moment, then chuckled and said, "Madam Pei seems to really not be able to handle alcohol. Just one drink and she's like this. It wouldn't be good if you were to pass out from drinking. Using tea instead of wine is the same. Eat more food for now and wait for it to pass. It should be better later." As she spoke, she raised her wine glass, ready to drink, but just then, a little eunuch entered the hall and announced in a drawn-out voice, "His Majesty has ordered to send a birthday plaque, two longevity peaches, and he is coming to greet."
The entire hall, which was filled with laughter and joy, immediately quieted down upon hearing the announcement of the palace servant. Mrs. Zhang, like a butterfly, was busy mingling with the guests to ensure everyone was having a good time. But now, she was pleasantly surprised and quickly led the people to greet the arrival.
Zhang fengtong also put down her wine glass and hurriedly headed towards the hall door. All the female guests in the hall, along with the maidservants, servants, and wives, followed suit and rushed out to greet the arrival.
In an instant, the table was deserted, leaving Jiafu alone behind.
Jiafu glanced at the glass of wine in front of her, then at the untouched one on Zhang fengtong's seat. Her heart pounded fiercely. She quickly picked up the glass, swapped it with another one on the table, composed herself, and hurriedly followed the others, kneeling down to greet the arrival.
Cui Yinshui, who was sent in, entered with a smile on his face. After announcing the decree, several young eunuchs carried in the longevity plaque and longevity peaches, placing them on the longevity table, adding brilliance to the whole hall. Only then did Zhang Fengtong and Mrs. Zhang lead everyone to stand up. Mrs. Zhang thanked Cui Yinshui for his efforts and invited him to have a drink, but Cui Yinshui waved his hand and exchanged a few congratulatory words with Mrs. Zhang before leaving with the young eunuchs.
After seeing off their guest, the guests returned to their seats, and the atmosphere became even livelier than before. Mrs. Zhang, with a triumphant air, didn't need to say anything; her satisfaction was evident. Zhang fengtong listened to the compliments from the ladies at the table, smiling contentedly, and raised her wine glass. The ladies followed suit.
Jiafu watched as Zhang fengtong drank the wine and then picked up her tea, taking a slow sip herself. The celebration continued, and at this moment, the sound of drums and gongs came from outside the hall, leading to the theater stage across the pond. The performance of the "Five Maidens Paying Respects for Longevity" began.
Throughout the festivities, Jiafu maintained an appearance of being unable to handle alcohol, but aside from that, there was nothing else inappropriate about her demeanor.
Zhang fengtong continued to converse and laugh with the ladies sitting nearby while occasionally glancing at Jiafu.
Jiafu knew that she must be deeply puzzled at the moment, so she pretended to be absorbed in the performance, engaging in quiet conversation with the Duchess beside her, ostensibly watching and listening to the play.
"Just announced: The Crown Prince has arrived!"
As the grand performance on the stage reached its climax, another eunuch entered the hall, loudly announcing the arrival of the Crown Prince.
The atmosphere in the banquet hall was pushed to its peak for the night.
Mrs. Zhang was overjoyed and quickly turned to look at her daughter. At first, Zhang Fengtong seemed somewhat incredulous, but after a moment of astonishment, her face lit up with joy, and she hurriedly got up to greet him.
Just like before, everyone in the hall rose to greet them. When the crown prince Xiao Yintang, dressed in a bright yellow prince's robe, appeared at the entrance of the hall, all the female guests paid their respects, and the actors on the stage stopped their performance, kneeling on the stage.
Crown prince Xiao Yintang had a smile on his face as his gaze swept across the people in the hall. He quickly spotted Jiafu standing behind Lady Qin, and his eyes lingered on her for a moment. Then he spoke, "No need for formalities. I'm just here to congratulate my mother-in-law on her birthday, no need to be so formal."
Back when they were still in Wuding, Mrs. Zhang knew that her daughter did not have crown prince Xiao Yintang's favor. Tonight, she never expected the prince to personally come to congratulate her on her birthday. She was afraid her daughter would feel embarrassed, so she didn't mention this idea in front of her. She never expected the prince to give her daughter such face. How could she not be delighted?
Before Xiao Yintang could finish his greeting, Mrs. Zhang hurried forward and warmly helped him up.
Zhang Fengtong's father and several older brothers also arrived upon hearing the news. However, since the gathering was mostly female guests, it was not appropriate for them to stay for long. After Xiao Yintang finished congratulating his mother-in-law on her birthday, he was invited to another hall to sit separately. Whether intentionally or unintentionally, his gaze swept over Jiafu again before he left.
First, the emperor bestowed a longevity plaque and peaches, then the prince personally came to congratulate the birthday. After the ladies were seated again, the compliments towards Zhang Fengtong continued.
Zhang Fengtong initially had a smile on her face, but gradually her complexion seemed off. Her face turned slightly red, as if feeling dizzy, and she leaned to the side, supporting her forehead with her hand.
The woman sitting next to her, the mother of Duke Zhu, noticed the situation and quickly reached out to support her.
The other ladies at the table finally noticed her discomfort and stopped talking. The palace maid also noticed the abnormality of the crown princess and hurriedly called Lady Zhang over.
Lady Zhang quickly rushed over and saw her daughter's flushed face, her eyes fixed forward, sitting still as if she were drunk. Surprised, she hurriedly came to support her and whispered, "Feng Tong, what's wrong with you?"
Zhang Fengtong seemed to be completely unaware of her surroundings, suddenly turning her head and staring in the direction of the stage.
The play on the stage depicted the touching confession of Zou Yinglong, a top scholar from a humble background, to his devoted wife San Chun. Zhang Fengtong stared intently for a moment, her eyes widening and becoming increasingly confused. Suddenly, she let out a cold laugh.
Lady Zhang finally noticed that her daughter was not well and hurriedly called for assistance to help her return to her room. However, Zhang Fengtong unexpectedly pushed her mother away. Lady Zhang, caught off guard, staggered back a few steps and nearly fell.
"Stop! Stop all of you!" Zhang Fengtong shouted angrily. "What are you actors singing about? Where in this world are there devoted husbands? It's all deception!"
Zhang Fengtong pushed Lady Zhang aside and turned to the actors on the stage, loudly accusing them. The actors, startled by the sudden outburst from the crown princess, stopped singing and hastily knelt down.
The entire hall fell silent, with everyone turning to look at Zhang Fengtong, who appeared suddenly intoxicated and deranged, sparking confusion and concern among the guests.
Lady Zhang was shocked and horrified, unsure of what had caused her daughter to suddenly lose control. She hurried forward again and whispered urgently, "Fengtong! What's wrong with you? Wake up!"
Zhang Fengtong's eyes were red, and she turned to look at Lady Zhang, staring at her for a long moment before tears started streaming down her face. She choked out, "Mother, my heart is in pain. Don't you know?"
Lady Zhang realized that her daughter must be intoxicated and unaware of her actions. She turned and saw countless pairs of eyes staring at them. Suppressing her embarrassment and anger, she forced a smile and said, "The Crown Princess seems to have had too much to drink and lost her composure. I'll take her to rest first..." She signaled to the people beside her to help support Zhang Fengtong and quickly lead her away.
Zhang Fengtong struggled desperately, screaming and refusing to let anyone touch her. With a loud crash, she knocked over several bowls and plates on the table, along with the wine jug, all of which shattered on the ground. She gritted her teeth and stared at the terrified mother of the Duke of Zhu, suddenly reaching out and grabbing her by the neck. She shook her violently, laughing maniacally, "Cao, you should have died long ago! Do you think you're favored by the Crown Prince just because you've crawled into his bed a few times? How dare you be disrespectful in front of me! You fool, let me tell you, the Crown Prince longs for the woman from the Pei family! That woman surnamed Zhen, the fox spirit! You miserable creature, it serves you right to be strangled by the Crown Prince!"
The entire hall was stunned into silence, gaping in shock, before turning their gazes towards Jiafu.
Jiafu's heart was racing rapidly.
Jiafu, in her anger, had indeed swapped the wine for Zhang Fengtong, intending to retaliate in kind. However, she never anticipated the potency of the drugged wine. Zhang Fengtong's complete loss of sanity, and her revelation of the secret behind the recent tragedy in the Eastern Palace, took Jiafu by surprise. She had not foreseen being implicated herself.
In the vast hall, silence reigned, broken only by Zhang Fengtong's deranged laughter and the desperate struggles of the elderly Lady Zhu, whom she had grabbed by the neck.
Lady Zhang was horrified, and with the help of others, managed to pry Zhang Fengtong's hand from Lady Zhu's throat. But Zhang Fengtong's grip was incredibly strong, and it took tremendous effort to finally release the elderly lady, who slumped to the ground, unconscious. Nearby, other ladies rushed to her aid, pounding her chest and rubbing her back.
Meanwhile, Zhang Fengtong was restrained by servants, struggling fiercely as they dragged her out of the hall. Lady Zhang, fearing she might say something incriminating, tried to silence her by covering her mouth. But Zhang Fengtong, in her frenzy, bit down hard on Lady Zhang's hand, causing her to cry out in pain and recoil.
"Mother, my heart is in pain, why are you treating me like this—"
Zhang Fengtong's eyes were bloodshot, crying and laughing hysterically. She grabbed onto a table leg tightly, refusing to let go. The whole table was dragged forward along with her, causing dishes and bowls to crash to the ground with splattering soup. The ladies screamed in shock. In the midst of her struggles, one of her palace shoes flew off, and there was no trace of her former grace and elegance.
No one had the mind to drink or eat anymore. The people in the hall gathered around, trying to calm her down and discussing the situation. In the chaos, urgent footsteps were heard at the entrance of the hall. Everyone turned to see the Crown Prince and Zhang Fengtong's two brothers rushing in. Their faces turned pale at the sight. They pushed through the crowd and quickly restrained Zhang Fengtong, covering her mouth and forcibly separating her arms. They swiftly carried her out.
Crown Prince's face was grim as he glanced at Jiafu standing behind the crowd. He forced a smile to the others and said, "She's drunk and speaking nonsense. I apologize for the disturbance." With that, he hurriedly left.
Zhang Fengtong was taken away, leaving chaos behind. The old lady who had been strangled finally regained consciousness, her family rushed to her side. Seeing the situation, she looked furious but reluctantly accepted Lady Zhang's apology and explanation before leaving with her family.
The feast couldn't continue. Lady Zhang was sweating profusely, her face alternating between red and pale. She struggled to smooth over her daughter's recent outburst.
The ladies gradually regained their composure from the shock of earlier events, knowing that tonight's incident had made things ugly and scandalous. However, they maintained a facade of normalcy, comforting Lady Zhang in accordance with her explanation, saying that the Crown Princess must have been overexerted from recent stress and had a few too many drinks tonight, leading to a momentary lapse in control.
One by one, guests began to take their leave, and the servants of the Zhang family saw them off. However, their spirits had dampened significantly, each looking suspicious and lost, their demeanor akin to mourning the dead, making mistakes one after another.
Jiafu felt some regret and fear. If she hadn't been prepared in advance, she would have undoubtedly drunk that glass of wine tonight. If she had drunk it, she couldn't imagine what kind of embarrassment she would have faced.
A shiver ran down her spine.
Someone tugged at her sleeve, and she turned to see Lady Meng giving her a discreet signal. Leaning in, Lady Meng whispered, "You'an sent word that he's waiting outside to escort us. Let's go."
Jiafu turned around and caught a cold glare from Lady Xin.
While Zhang Fengtong had brought shame upon herself, Jiafu couldn't help but feel a sense of embarrassment as she walked out silently from the hall under the scrutiny of those behind her. They reached the floral gate separating the front and back halls, where Pei You'an stood motionless. Her heart pounded harder.
The incident in the hall had caused quite a stir, and Pei You'an likely knew about it too. Zhang Fengtong's madness, openly accusing the Crown Prince of coveting her, was undoubtedly a humiliation for her husband, Pei You'an.
Jiafu passed by him, feeling hesitant to meet his gaze, and slightly lowered her head.
She overheard him speaking to Lady Xin and Lady Meng, saying that he had just returned from the palace and had come to pick them up since they were attending the banquet at the Zhang residence. His tone sounded as usual.
Jiafu discreetly lifted her eyes and met his gaze, but quickly looked away, not daring to examine it closely. They left without exchanging any words. At the door, she boarded the carriage while Pei You'an mounted his horse. Just as they were about to leave, Zhang Fengtong's father rushed out from the main gate and called out, "Master Pei, please wait!"
Pei You'an turned to look and dismounted his horse.
Zhang's father led Pei You'an to a secluded spot near the gatehouse where there were no onlookers.
"Is there something else, Mr. Zhang?" Pei You'an inquired.
Mr. Zhang, being a respected figure with advanced age and the father of Zhang Fengtong, enjoyed great prestige in the court, and everyone referred to him with respect as "Mr. Zhang."
Mr. Zhang, no longer bearing his usual demeanor, looked visibly embarrassed. Before saying a word, he first bowed deeply to Pei You'an, expressing his remorse, "I am here on behalf of the Crown Princess to apologize to you, Master Pei. Tonight, she became intoxicated and lost her sanity, uttering nonsense and slandering the Crown Prince. Not only that, but she also offended you and your wife. It is entirely my fault for not disciplining her properly in the past. Tonight, I will go to the palace to apologize to His Majesty, even if it means facing death! However, I hope you can forgive her and not hold it against her. My family and I are deeply grateful!" With that, he bowed deeply once again.
Pei You'an responded politely but quite coldly, saying, "It is natural for the Crown Princess to speak nonsense while intoxicated. Mr. Zhang, you should go and apologize to His Majesty as soon as possible. If you delay, the palace gates might already be closed." He nodded slightly to Mr. Zhang before turning and leaving.
