She had this particular trait, and Bai Lu, who had once served her, was aware of it.
Knowing this, sending her hair ornaments was clearly intentional.
Catching the brocade box from the shopkeeper's hand, she opened it. Inside was a phoenix hairpin, an eight-tailed one, with red and white gems for eyes, and a string of Dongzhu pearls in its beak.
Putting aside the value of the hairpin itself, the string of Dongzhu pearls alone was remarkable. Each pearl was uniformly sized, round and lustrous. Although the Dongzhu were small, it was rare to find so many.
"Your Highness, this hairpin has a mechanism. I will demonstrate for you."
Seeing the surprise on the Princess's face, but noticing she hadn't grasped the cleverness of it, the shopkeeper eagerly offered to show her.
At the tip of the hairpin was a small switch. With a gentle press, the hairpin would extend, revealing a sharp silver needle.
"Your Highness, this silver needle is poisoned. As soon as it pricks the skin, it will cause bleeding from all seven orifices, leading to a swift death."
The shopkeeper pressed the switch again, retracting the sharp needle. He handed it to the Princess, admonishing, "During the Flower Appreciation Banquet, there will be many people and eyes everywhere. This item is for Your Highness's self-defense. Even if someone were killed, no one would suspect a hairpin as the murder weapon. Please take it for emergencies."
Zhao Jiaqi was deeply touched. She took the hairpin and tested it a couple of times. Without activating the switch, the poisoned needle would not extend on its own.
Moreover, the switch was designed ingeniously, hidden within the phoenix's eye.
"Thank you."
The shopkeeper dared not accept such gratitude. He took a step back and quickly replied, "Your Highness is too kind. This is what I should do."
There was nothing that "should be done." To do so was a favor; not to do so was merely their duty. It was entirely dependent on their goodwill. She could only say that the people under her were all loyal.
In the evening, she showed the item to Fan Zehao. Even he praised it repeatedly, suggesting they manufacture more of them.
"After this Flower Appreciation Banquet, show this to the Princess of Xian and the Princess of Xiaoyao. Try to create more variations and make some for our daughter."
This reminded her, "Yes, if these can be made into concealed weapons, they would be excellent for you weak women."
For self-defense, they were indeed the first choice.
Zhao Jiaqi swayed the treasure she had just acquired, her almond-shaped eyes curving. "I will leave this matter to the two sisters. Since they are idle these days, it would be quite fun to try making some."
Fan Zehao pinched her cheeks a few times, smiling without a word. His hands, however, moved, and in a short while, a pile of clothes lay scattered on the floor.
The bright moon outside shyly hid behind the clouds, revealing only half its face. Its gentle glow cascaded down, illuminating the quiet courtyard.
The next day.
After washing up and having breakfast, and once dressed and made up, she, along with her husband, met up with the others at the mansion's gate and boarded separate carriages for the palace.
Along the way, Fan Zehao held Zhao Jiaqi's hand and repeatedly cautioned, "Once inside the palace, when I'm not by your side, be careful and vigilant. No matter what, protect yourself first, do you understand?"
Zhao Jiaqi tilted her head and chuckled, "It's just a flower appreciation banquet. Why be so nervous? Is the imperial palace that terrifying?"
The more he spoke, the more the banquet felt like a battle.
She wasn't the Empress, nor a consort of the Emperor, nor the Emperor himself. How could she be a target of attack?
Oh, of course, unless someone took a liking to her husband, then that might create enemies. Besides that, there was truly no other possibility.
Seeing his wife's casual demeanor, Fan Zehao sighed repeatedly. Finally, when he could bear it no longer, she relented.
At the palace gate, the guards were several times more numerous than usual. Everyone entering the palace had to be checked and searched thoroughly, ensuring they carried no weapons before being allowed in.
Not only people, but not even a fly was allowed to enter without the slightest flutter of its wings or sound.
Indeed, many people were entering the palace today, and everyone patiently queued.
When people saw the Regent King, clad in a four-clawed python robe, they would all make way, none daring to rush ahead of him.
Therefore, while they were queuing for the body search, he had already led his wife into the palace.
Wang Quan, hiding to the side, saw the Regent King's Consort arrive and quickly bowed and curtsied, his expression fawning.
"Greetings to His Highness and Her Highness." He smiled at Fan Zehao and said, "Reporting to the Regent King, His Majesty is currently in the front hall conversing with the Crown Prince of Xuanyuan and the Crown Prince of Dingbei Liao. If His Majesty sees His Highness, please escort His Highness to the front hall."
"As for Her Highness, Your Highness can rest assured that the Empress will take good care of her!"
Fan Zehao glanced at him, then turned his head and nodded at Zhao Jiaqi, "You take Yu Meng and go ahead first. Don't let her run around. I'll come find you after I'm done!"
Zhao Jiaqi nodded gently, "Mm, you go handle your business, don't worry about us."
In the end, he still didn't trust her and their child, as if he'd forgotten she was a strong woman.
After Fan Zehao left, Zhao Jiaqi, leading Yu Meng, followed Wang Quan to Kunning Palace. Upon seeing the Empress again, she acted as if they were old acquaintances, pulling her in for a friendly chat, as if the events of the past few days had never happened.
Such adaptability was something she couldn't do. She truly admired the Empress.
Leng Shuang saw that she had brought a young girl with her. The girl was dressed simply, with her hair in a bun, clearly a young lady, not yet of age.
With a little guessing, she knew this must be the County Princess, the treasured daughter of the Regent King's family, Fan Yu Meng, backed by tens of thousands of soldiers.
Leng Shuang's eyes sparkled like electricity. Seeing Yu Meng, she smiled so widely her mouth couldn't close. "Is this the County Princess? Very cute. It's hard to imagine that this young lass is the one who defeated the Axi tribe. Impressive."
Yu Meng smiled politely, bowed slightly, and said, "Greetings to the Empress."
"The Empress praises me too highly. Your humble subject was merely lucky. I am still a little behind General Leng!"
She knew how to exchange pleasantries.
In front of the other ladies, she had to give the Empress some face. Besides, winning one battle was nothing to boast about.
Hearing her words, Leng Shuang's eyes crinkled with joy, showing a genuine smile from the heart.
She smoothly removed a jade bracelet from her wrist and placed it on Yu Meng, praising her, "Your little mouth is so sweet. This bracelet is made of warm jade. Wearing it will be beneficial for you. I bestow it upon you."
Yu Meng bowed, "Thank you, Your Majesty the Empress, for the bestowed gift. Your humble subject will surely wear it day and night."
"Good, good, what a good child. The Princess Consort has certainly put much effort into teaching her."
The Empress shifted the topic, turning her words towards Yu Meng's mother. The moment Yu Meng turned, the bracelet slipped from her wrist.
Warm jade? She had plenty. Who, who practiced martial arts, would bother wearing a jade bracelet? She casually placed the bracelet into her coin purse.