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The Empress Dowager read Yang Shaoyou's statement and couldn't help but laugh, saying, "It's not a scandal for a man to take multiple wives and concubines; it's only natural and can be forgiven. However, your excessive fondness for wine is truly concerning. This drinking problem needs to be addressed properly." Upon hearing this, the King of Yue agreed, saying, "In the Consort's household, it is inappropriate to keep concubines. Although Yang Shaoyou acts on behalf of the two princesses, such indulgence is indeed out of line and requires further investigation." The Chancellor, anxious and distressed, quickly knelt and said, "I deserve to die a thousand deaths, but as the ancients say, those who are guilty can offset their crimes with merit. I am unworthy, yet thanks to Your Majesty's grace, I have fought in battles for the court and achieved great merit by pacifying the Three Jin and waging war against Tubo. I ask the Empress Dowager to recognize these merits and forgive my sins!" After hearing this, the Empress Dowager laughed heartily again and said, "Yang Chancellor is truly a pillar of our dynasty! How could I treat him like an ordinary Consort?" She then ordered Yang Shaoyou to tidy his attire and come to the hall to speak.
Seeing this, the King of Yue added, "Although Yang Shaoyou has great merits, the laws of the land are strict and should not be easily overlooked. It would be better to punish him with three cups of wine!" The Empress Dowager smiled in agreement. The palace maids immediately brought out white jade wine cups filled with fine wine. The King of Yue remarked, "The Chancellor has a remarkable capacity for alcohol; one cup cannot possibly suffice! Moreover, he has committed a grave error; how can such a small cup bear his transgressions?" He personally selected an exquisitely crafted golden goblet capable of holding a full measure of wine and filled it with fragrant liquor before handing it to the Chancellor. Though the Chancellor had a strong tolerance for alcohol, after consuming several measures of strong wine, he began to feel tipsy and bowed down to say, "In ancient times, the Cowherd Star was punished by heaven for missing the Weaver Girl; now my son-in-law is being punished by my mother-in-law due to matters concerning concubines. It seems that being a royal son-in-law is indeed quite difficult! I cannot handle any more wine; I must take my leave!" With that, he attempted to rise but stumbled and fell back onto the table.
Seeing the Chancellor drunk, the Empress Dowager couldn't help but laugh and instructed the palace maids to help him outside to sober up. She then said to the two princesses, "The Consort is drowning his sorrows in drink; he must have some grievances in his heart. You two should go comfort him well so as not to lose your marital affection. However, this Daoist Priestess should also fulfill her duties without neglect." The two princesses complied and hurried after the Chancellor. Meanwhile, Old Madam had been waiting in the hall for some time. Seeing the Chancellor being helped back in a drunken state, she asked, "Not long ago, His Majesty summoned you into the palace for drinks; I did not see you in such a drunken state then. What happened today?"
The Chancellor squinted at the princesses through his drunken haze and after a while replied, "It's all that King of Yue! He slandered me before the Empress Dowager, insisting that I committed a grave error and nearly got me into trouble! Fortunately, my tongue was quick enough that I managed to plead for mercy from the Empress Dowager. The King of Yue harbors resentment over what happened at Leyuan and seeks revenge on me. Plus, Princess Lanyang has grown jealous because of my many concubines; she conspired with her brother against me! It seems that what they say about kindness and tolerance is unreliable! Mother dear, you must stand up for me; punish Princess Lanyang with a cup of wine so that I can alleviate my grievances!" Lady Liu laughed heartily upon hearing this: "What crime has Lanyang committed? Besides, she doesn't touch alcohol at all; how can you insist on punishing her with wine? In my opinion, it would be better to substitute tea for wine!"
The Chancellor stubbornly insisted, "No! I want her punished with wine!" Lady Liu helplessly replied with a smile: "Very well then; if you don't punish her with wine, I'm afraid your drunken anger will never subside." With that said, she instructed a maidservant to bring a cup of punishment wine for Princess Lanyang.
As Princess Lanyang took the cup ready to drink, the Chancellor suddenly grew suspicious and tried to snatch it away for himself. Seeing this, Princess Lanyang hurriedly knocked over the cup onto the table. The Chancellor dipped his finger into the remaining liquid at the bottom of the cup and tasted it; it turned out to be sugar water!
"If the Empress Dowager punishes me with sugar water while you punish Lanyang with sugar water too—yet I am drinking real alcohol—how does that make sense?" With that said, he commanded a maidservant: "Bring me the wine jar!" He poured himself another cup and handed it to Princess Lanyang. The princess had no choice but to drink it all.
The Chancellor then said to his mother Lady Liu: "Before the Empress Dowager, someone advised her to punish me; although I do not know who that person was, Yingyang Princess must have been involved in this matter. Therefore when I was punished by the Empress Dowager earlier today, she was secretly laughing at Lanyang—her intentions are truly hard to fathom! Please also punish Zheng with a cup!" Both Zheng and Lady Liu laughed heartily before pouring another cup of wine as punishment for Zheng; Zheng also left her seat to drink it all.
Lady Liu remarked: "The Empress Dowager punished Shao You because he has too many concubines. Now that both main ladies have drunk their punishment wine, how can those concubines remain unscathed?" The Chancellor replied: "Thinking back on our victory at Leisurely Garden—the King of Yue originally aimed to showcase national peace—but I led Hong, Yue, Yan, and Bo against overwhelming odds and achieved victory in our first battle. Yet this caused resentment from King of Yue who punished me again; these four should also be punished!"
Lady Liu responded: "You want to punish those who won? That's utter nonsense!" She called for them one by one and each received a cup as punishment. After they finished drinking their cups, Hong and Yue knelt before Lady Liu saying: "The Empress Dowager punished the Chancellor because he has too many concubines—not because we won at Leisurely Garden! Yan and Bo have yet to serve him but are being punished alongside us—isn't that unfair? Jia Ruren has served him for many years and is favored by him yet escaped punishment simply because she did not participate in Leisurely Garden—this is truly unjust!"
Lady Liu listened and laughed: "You make valid points; then let’s punish Chun Yun with a large cup!" Chun Yun smiled upon hearing this and drank it down.
Everyone continued drinking as punishment amidst loud chatter. Princess Lanyang could hardly handle her drink and felt quite uncomfortable. Only Qin sat quietly aside without speaking or laughing. The Chancellor said: "Qin remains sober while secretly mocking us drunken fools; you should also be punished with a cup." With that he filled another cup with wine and handed it over; Qin accepted it with a smile and drank it all.
Lady Liu asked Princess Lanyang: "You usually don't drink; how do you feel now after drinking?" Princess Lanyang replied: "I have a terrible headache." Lady Liu instructed Qin to help escort her back to rest before commanding Chun Yun again to fill another cup of wine saying: "My two daughters-in-law are both remarkable women. However, I often worry they may suffer misfortune due to their strength. Shao You—you indulge excessively in drink causing distress for Princess Lanyang. If the Empress Dowager finds out she will surely worry about us all. As a mother who raised such an unruly son I cannot escape blame either—this cup shall serve as my punishment." With that she drank down her glass.
Seeing this scene unfold before him made the Chancellor panic as he knelt down saying: "Mother punishes herself due to my unruliness; how can my punishment merely be receiving lashes?" He then instructed Jinghong to fill an enormous bowl with wine which he held out saying: "Shao You disregarded his mother's teachings causing her worry—this bowl shall serve as my self-punishment." After finishing his bowl of punishment wine he was thoroughly intoxicated unable even sit straight while mumbling incoherently about 'Fragrant Pavilion' while pointing in its direction.
Lady Liu instructed Chun Yun: "Help him over there," but Chun Yun hesitated saying: "I dare not accompany him there; Di and Gui will surely become jealous over my special treatment." Thus Lady Liu ordered Jinghong and Moonlight instead assist him towards Fragrant Pavilion. Moonlight remarked: "Chun Yun refuses because of something I said—I truly feel bad about this." Jinghong chuckled as she helped lead the Chancellor away.
Seeing this unfold everyone else began dispersing as well.
Meanwhile within their residence—the Chancellor had created an acre-sized clear pond within their garden due to Yan and Bo's fondness for landscapes—it was crystal clear like rivers or lakes below which stood an intricately painted pavilion named Ying'e Tower serving as Lady Lingbo's residence. To its south lay an artificial mountain piled high resembling beautifully carved jade peaks while rocky cliffs towered like iron ore formations—with ancient pines shading sunlight above while emerald bamboos swayed gently in winds creating serene scenery deep within.
Within this mountain stood a pavilion inscribed Ice and Snow Pavilion which served as Mistress of Wisp's abode. Whenever all ladies gathered together during outings—the mountain became domain belonging solely unto these two mistresses.
One day while strolling through these mountains—the ladies admired its beauty asking Lady Lingbo: “We’ve heard you possess magical abilities—may we witness them today?” Lady Lingbo smiled replying: “Those were matters from my past life—I was originally part of water folk transformed by heaven’s grace shedding old form becoming human—those scales shed piled high like mountains! Now birds have turned into swimming fish—how could they ever soar high again?” All ladies nodded agreeing: “That makes sense.”
As for Mistress of Wisp—though she often danced before Old Madam—the Chancellor—and both princesses bringing joy—she seldom revealed her skills easily since she once stated: “Though I met the Chancellor through illusionary arts—this world filled with blades flashing isn’t meant for peaceful times!”
From then on—the two mistresses along with six other ladies respected each other deeply living harmoniously like fish swimming through rivers or birds soaring across skies—intimately connected akin melodies played together on flutes creating harmonious sounds.
The Chancellor treated them equally well without favoritism—a testament surely attributed towards each lady’s noble character fostering unity throughout Prime Minister’s Residence—but more importantly—it stemmed from vows made long ago among nine individuals during Mage Nanyue’s time!
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