Hearing the Emperor's words, the eunuchs waiting at the door immediately set out to prepare.
Soon a group of guards entered with boxes full of dazzling items in succession, put them down, and walked out in an orderly manner.
The Emperor’s personal attendant came to the center of the hall and suggested, "Your Majesty, why not allow me to open the boxes? So that I can entertain the hope of getting one of the treasures I have seen here in my lifetime."
Being delighted, Dantai Xihe opened his folding fan and snapped it shut in an instant. "OK."
Eunuch Fu bowed in gratitude, then picked up the paper placed on the nearest box, and read aloud in a shrill voice: "A luminous pearl from the Grandee Secretary."
Looking at the bright pearl and thinking that something interesting would happen when Chu Qiao’s gift came up, Chu Jiao could hardly hold back her excitement.
And her smile turned broader and broader.
Chu Qiao was keeping an eye on Chu Jiao and now she couldn't help sneering at the sight of her complacent face. She said to herself, “It’s not that easy to set me up.”
Chu Jiao came up to Dantai Yunhan and said with coquetry. "Your Highness, I have never seen such a luminous pearl before. You may not consider it rare or valuable since you have seen numerous treasures. So why not give it to me?"
Meanwhile, she held Dantai Yunhan's arm and swung it gently, pouting her lips and pleading.
Dantai Yunhan glanced at her and joked: "You really want this pearl?"
"Of course I do."
"Well, go ahead. Take it." Dantai Yunhan waved and immediately a servant girl brought the luminous pearl to Chu Jiao.
Chu Jiao picked up the pearl and gave Chu Qiao a defiant look. The reason she asked Dantai Yunhan for the pearl was to show off his indulging love for her, so as to warn Chu Qiao not to make things difficult for her.
"Thank you very much, Your Highness." Chu Jiao made an elegant bow and then returned to her seat.
Chu Qiao didn't care much about Chu Jiao's boastful expression. Now that Chu Jiao wanted to make a fool out of her, she would surely return an eye for an eye.
Just let Chu Jiao indulge in rejoicing for a while, as horrible things are coming for her.
Chu Qiao looked at Zhong Jinchun who was sitting at the opposite side, and saw Zhong gave her a nod, implying that everything was in order.
Chu Qiao picked up the teacup and took a sip. The rich fragrance lifted her spirit. Now everything was ready and they only needed to wait for just the right time.
Chu Qiao looked back at Eunuch Fu, who was shuttling between the boxes and reading gift lists. Then he picked up a piece of paper and read out, "Princess Regent Chu Qiao—"
This is it! This is it! Chu Jiao was so excited and eager to hear Eunuch Fu read the following words. This time, she would defeat Chu Qiao completely.
With everyone quietly waiting, Eunuch Fu slowly read out the following words, "Five pots of Tianshan Floral Herbal Tea."
Hearing this, the crowd began whispering. Tianshan Floral Herbal Tea was extremely rare and hard to get no matter how much you were willing to spend. The Princess was indeed generous.
Actually, at first Chu Qiao was planning to present natural green silk, but Zhong Jinchun persuaded her to change the silk to tea. For as valuable as it was, her silk was not as rare as Tianshan Floral Herbal Tea. What’s more, the Emperor was fond of tea, so presenting the Tianshan Floral Herbal Tea as a better gift would definitely win his favor.
Chu Qiao was very satisfied, which upset Chu Jiao.
Chu Jiao thought that things would go along as she expected, only to find that Chu Qiao was still taking the upper hand. So the blame she had planned to lay on Chu Qiao became useless and she had to come up with something else.
She swore secretly, “Chu Qiao, just wait and see! I will definitely make you suffer.”
Eunuch Fu continued reading, "The Attendant Consort Zhong Jinchun presents 5 rolls of wild green silk."
Although the wild green silk is rare, it had been outshone by Chu Qiao’s Tianshan Floral Herbal Tea, so it didn’t stir up much excitement.
But Chu Qiao was shocked upon hearing this. Zhong Jinchun talked her out of sending the silk, and offered what was supposed to be presented by Zhong to her. Instead, she presented Chu Qiao’s mediocre silk.
It seems that she had to think seriously about teaming up with Zhong Jinchun, who had proved herself to be a helpful hand.
Zhong Jinchun had figured out what Chu Qiao was thinking. Looking at Chu Qiao's changing expression, she knew for sure that the Princess was willing to team up with her.
Eunuch Fu's voice echoed in the hall, and finally, he came up to the last box.
Chu Jiao thought that this last one should be hers. Tianshan Floral Herbal Tea was nothing compared with her precious present.
However, Chu Jiao was somewhat nervous that she might suffer a lot if Chu Qiao found out about her little shenanigan.
Just as Chu Jiao had feared, when Eunuch Fu opened the wooden box, the gift she had prepared had been replaced by two stones engraved with "change" and "substitute" respectively.
Seeing this, everyone was shocked by its obvious provocation towards the Emperor.
Chu Jiao suddenly turned pale. How come what should have been in Chu Qiao's box appeared in hers? It must be Chu Qiao's trick!
Chu Qiao wanted her to die!
If Chu Qiao could read Chu Jiao's mind, she would say "bah" with contempt. How dare Chu Jiao, the mean and malicious, shift the blame to her!
At this time, the hall was enveloped in silence, even whispers had disappeared.
It was known to all that the Prince Regent had fought with the Emperor for the throne. Now the two stones from Yunhan Mountain engraved with “change” and “substitute” obviously suggested that Dantai Yunhan intended to usurp the throne, and his intentions were blessed by God and welcomed by people.
As expected, Dantai Xihe snapped his folding fan shut and asked angrily: "Who sent this gift?"
Realizing how serious the situation was, Eunuch Fu's voice trembled. "It’s the Attendant Consort, Chu Jiao.”
Hearing this, Dantai Yunhan looked at Chu Jiao with rage, "Is this yours?"
Chu Jiao was so frightened that she immediately got up and knelt down in front of Dantai Yunhan. She said pitifully with tears rolling down. "It’s not my gift! Someone must have set me up. Your Highness, please look in to the bottom of this! I am innocent......"
Dantai Yunhan wouldn’t listen to Chu Jiao's excuse and struck her down to the dust. He stood up, turned to Dantai Xihe, "Bother, please forgive me. It’s all my fault that my concubine made such a huge mistake.", and was about to kneel down as he spoke.
Dantai Xihe stopped Tantai Yunhan with his folding fan before he was about to kneel down on the ground, "Today is your birthday, so there’s no need for curtsies. I know it’s not your fault, brother. I will send someone to look into it and prove your innocence."
Then he left angrily.
Seeing this, all the guests also left one after another.
Only people of the Prince Regent Palace were left in the hall. Still kneeling on the ground, Chu Qiao secretly looked up at Dantai Yunhan's face and knew that he would not spare her today, so she lamented for herself quietly.
Chu Qiao then went to Dantai Yunhan and saluted, "Your Highness, we are leaving now."
Dantai Yunhan responded with a barely-heard "hum", which showed his terrible mood.