Xiao Yun rattled off the names as if counting his treasures. The old imperial concubine chuckled, "You certainly know your way around."
"Naturally," Xiao Yun replied, quite pleased with himself.
The Empress Dowager, seeing the family enjoying themselves, nodded with a smile. The Emperor, however, looked around and felt something was missing.
The banquet proceeded smoothly, with dancing girls performing and the Fifth Prince showcasing his swordplay. None of the worries Wang Qingyao had harbored materialized.
The Moon Gazing Pavilion was an excellent spot for admiring the moon. The bright silver disc was fully visible, and its moonlight streamed in. The Emperor cleared his throat and said, "In the blink of an eye, another Mid-Autumn Festival has arrived. Time spares no one. My princes have all grown up, and it is time for them to establish their own households."
Wang Qingyao and Xiao Yun exchanged a glance. She recalled Xiao Yun mentioning that the Emperor would be bestowing residences upon the princes during the Mid-Autumn Festival.
It seemed the time had come.
"By imperial decree, the Fourth Prince, Yuan Zhao, shall be enfeoffed as the Prince of Qi, and granted a princely residence. He shall also wed Kang Xiuwei, the daughter of the Minister of Rites and the Grand Secretary."
"The Fifth Prince, Yuan Ran, shall be enfeoffed as the Prince of Wu, and granted a princely residence. He shall wed Princess Mujin."
A few seconds of silence followed. Then, the Fourth and Fifth Princes stepped forward and knelt before the Emperor to express their gratitude.
Wang Qingyao and Xiao Yun exchanged another glance.
The Emperor's intentions were clear. Among the three princes of Consort Wei, all except the Second Prince had been granted titles and residences, and would soon be able to move out of the palace. Only the Second Prince was neither granted a title nor a residence, and would remain in the palace.
It seemed the Emperor had already decided to name the Second Prince as the Crown Prince.
Furthermore, the intended consorts of the Fourth and Fifth Princes were not from prominent families. One was the daughter of the Minister of Rites, not a particularly distinguished household. The other was Princess Mujin, whose father was merely a former commander of the Imperial Guard. He had died protecting the Emperor, and was posthumously honored as General Huaiyuan. His only daughter was then made Princess Mujin.
These were families without significant power.
The Emperor had gone to great lengths.
The Fourth Prince clearly was not entirely satisfied with his future wife. His handsome face bore a smile that lacked genuine warmth, as he forced himself to accept congratulations from everyone.
The Fifth Prince, on the other hand, was far more sincere. He was the cheerful, outgoing type. Even without a smile, he exuded vitality and sunshine. When he did smile, it was even more radiant, and he could even joke with the Emperor.
"Father, when will you arrange a young wife for Little Seven?"
The Seventh Prince's face turned crimson. "I don't want one! I'm still too young."
"You're only two years younger than me," the Fifth Prince said with a chuckle.
The Emperor and the Empress Dowager also laughed heartily.
Wang Qingyao looked at the Second Prince. His expression was complex, it was hard to tell if he was happy or unhappy. Seeing Wang Qingyao looking at him, he offered a wry smile.
Wang Qingyao whispered to Xiao Yun, "The Second Prince must be envious of his two brothers for finding partners."
"Finding partners?"
"It means no longer being single, having someone."
Xiao Yun glanced at the Second Prince. "Does his face look envious to you?"
Wang Qingyao pursed her lips and smiled. After a brief exchange of whispers between them, the Emperor's voice rang out again, "...I have recently acquired a batch of beauties, skilled in singing and dancing, proficient in the guqin, chess, calligraphy, and painting. I shall bestow four of them upon the Prince of Ding'an..."
The hall suddenly fell silent.
Xiao Yun really hadn't expected this to affect him. He had just been discussing the Second Prince with Wang Qingyao.
He instinctively looked at Wang Qingyao, shaking his head to indicate he had no prior knowledge of this.
The old imperial concubine also discreetly patted Wang Qingyao's hand under the table, signaling her to relax. They were just playthings, after all. She should just keep them well-fed and housed in the back courtyard.
Everyone looked at Wang Qingyao with sympathy.
Wang Qingyao, however, was thinking that four beauties were a bit too many. With her, that would make five, which was inconvenient for a game of mahjong. But at least someone would be there to share her duties, which was a good thing.
"Does the Prince of Ding'an not yet offer his thanks?" the Emperor's majestic voice boomed.
While he treated Xiao Yun like a son, his imperial authority was another matter.
Besides, even for his own sons, the Emperor's orders were not to be disobeyed.
Wang Qingyao gave Xiao Yun a look, signaling him to quickly express his gratitude. Xiao Yun reluctantly stood up and gave his thanks. Only then did the Emperor show a satisfied smile.
The Empress Dowager gave Wang Qingyao a reassuring look and then added, "The Princess of Ding'an should endeavor to bear the Prince of Ding'an an heir as soon as possible."
Wang Qingyao: "Heh heh..."
Being urged to have children in front of so many people was a truly exhilarating feeling.
The beauties the Emperor spoke of were the same dancing girls who had performed earlier. They were now called back, twelve in total. The Emperor instructed Xiao Yun to choose four he favored.
Xiao Yun dared not choose. Wang Qingyao, however, volunteered, "Your Majesty, I will choose. I know what the Prince likes."
The Emperor raised an eyebrow, testing her. "Very well, you choose."
While watching the performance earlier, Wang Qingyao had observed all the beautiful women clearly.
She favored the lead dancer the most. She wasn't the most beautiful, but her figure was the most graceful and supple. When she danced, she seemed boneless, which was incredibly captivating.
Next, she chose the one who appeared the most innocent. The Emperor seemed to favor that type, and looked somewhat disappointed when Wang Qingyao picked her. Consort Wei curled her lips and gave Wang Qingyao a slight nod.
For the remaining two, Wang Qingyao chose based on the criterion of having wide hips, which were considered good for bearing children.
In truth, all twelve were beauties, each with her own unique charm. Any selection would have been a pleasure to behold.