The Virtuous Wife

Chapter 48 Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet

After Yuan Xi left, Jingyi read the information of the Duke of Yingguo and felt relieved. This Duke of Yingguo is also an old fox. Now the battle for the succession among the princes has gradually revealed its clues, but he actually claimed to be sick. Not only did he not attend the court, but he also closed the door to visitors.

It seems that the Duke of Yingguo also likes this marriage because he sees that General Weiyuan has not leaned towards any faction. Yuan Xi's intelligence said that the eldest prince and the second prince both intend to marry the cousin as a concubine. It seems that they just want to win over their uncle and father. Fortunately, the cousin and the prince of the Duke of Yingguo are engaged, otherwise, I am afraid that there will be disputes again!

Jingyi looked up at the moon outside. Although it was the fourteenth, the moon was round and bright, as if the Queen Mother's jade plate was suspended in the air, overlooking this mundane world!

Suddenly, a very bold idea jumped into Jingyi's mind, and then she lowered her head to think for a moment. When she raised her head again, a faint smile was already on her little face.

The next evening, Gu and Jingyi got on the carriage together, and went to the palace for the banquet with Su Wei, Su Qing and Su Ming. The imperial edict did not mention the entry of the old master and the old lady into the palace. The old lady watched Jingyi and her daughter get on the carriage from a distance, her eyes were dark, but there seemed to be a hint of smile in the corner of her eyes, which was vague and unclear.

After Jingyi got on the carriage, she thought of the old lady's expression just now, and couldn't help but curl her lips and smile. Old lady, your granddaughter has prepared a big gift for you!

The address of this palace banquet is still Chongwen Hall. After Jingyi followed Gu into the palace, she was led to the designated seat by the palace's Sizan Madam and sat down. As soon as Jingyi sat down, she heard someone calling her.

Jingyi looked around and saw her cousin Gu Yu. She was sick and couldn't attend the last palace banquet, but she met her this time. "Yiyi, I've been waiting for you for a while." Gu Yu held Jingyi's hand and whispered.

Jingyi looked around and leaned close to Gu Yu's ear: "Cousin, is my future brother-in-law here?" Gu Yu blushed and pretended to hit Jingyi lightly, "Don't talk nonsense, if someone hears it, it will make people laugh!" Jingyi smiled and said, "How could anyone hear it? Cousin, do you know which one is him?" Gu Yu's face was as red as red satin, "I only saw him once across the screen a few months ago, how can I recognize his appearance now?" Jingyi rolled her eyes and waved to her second brother Su Ming. Su Ming saw her standing with Gu Yu and thought something was wrong, so he hurried over and said, "Yiyi, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" Jingyi smiled and whispered, "Second brother, do you recognize Yang Haipeng, the son of the Duke of England?" Su Ming was stunned and nodded. "Second brother, just stand next to him and let me see who it is, okay?"

Su Ming glanced at Gu Yu, who was looking down and silent, and then realized that Yi Yi wanted to see Gu Yu's fiancé. "How difficult is that? Wait. I'll be there soon."

After that, he walked towards the men's seat. Jing Yi gently pulled Gu Yu, "Cousin, don't be shy, look up. Anyway, there are so many people here, how can he notice us?"

Gu Yu raised her head slightly, her cheeks red like flames. At this time, Su Ming was standing next to a young man wearing a blue brocade robe, a jade crown on his head, and a face like Pan An.

Gu Yu only took a sneak peek and then lowered his head. No matter how Jing Yi coaxed him, he refused to look up again.

But Jing Yi was a child after all, and looked at Yang Haipeng without any care. The hall was brightly lit, and the man's appearance could be seen without any effort. He was tall, with thick eyebrows, big eyes and a high nose bridge. He was talking to Su Ming and would chuckle from time to time.

Jingyi stood on tiptoe and said to Gu Yu: "Cousin, he is so handsome!"

It would have been better if she hadn't said it. When she said that, Gu Yu blushed and even her neck turned red. Seeing her like this, Jingyi laughed in her heart. Seeing that there were many people in the hall, she stopped teasing her.

Yang Haipeng noticed Gu Yu as soon as he entered the hall. Seeing that Su Ming, who usually didn't talk much, came to talk to him, there was nothing he didn't understand.

"The emperor has arrived! The queen has arrived!" With the loud singing of the eunuchs, everyone knelt down and said: "Long live the emperor! Long live the queen!"

After Emperor Kangzheng sat down, he raised his right hand and said: "All the nobles, stand up! Sit!"

Everyone thanked him and then returned to their seats.

The emperor raised his wine glass and said, "Today is the day of the full moon on the Mid-Autumn Festival. I have specially arranged a banquet to comfort all the ministers! You don't have to be restrained, drink happily!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Everyone raised their wine glasses and bowed their heads in the direction of the emperor to thank him. The banquet officially began.

As the sound of various musical instruments sounded, more than 20 young beauties wearing light pink dance costumes slowly came into the palace.

"Have you heard? That Concubine Lan has been banished to the cold palace." A shrill voice came.

"I heard about it a long time ago. I thought that Concubine Lan would be favored by the emperor for two or three years. Unexpectedly, she was banished to the cold palace in less than half a year." A noble lady mentioned Concubine Lan with disdain on her face.

"I heard that she had a miscarriage because she didn't pay attention to her diet and daily life, and she ended up having an affair with the queen. The emperor was wise, and it turned out that there was something wrong with the spices she used. The emperor was furious, so he demoted her to the cold palace."

"Really? I've heard that this person is not from a high family. I think she thought she was favored and had a dragon heir, so she didn't care about others, so she invited someone to harm her."

Although the voice was not loud, Jingyi and Gu could still hear these words clearly. Gu watched the singing and dancing calmly, but there was a little displeasure in her eyes.

Jingyi drank the fruit juice on her table, but she sighed in her heart. She knew that Concubine Lan's child would not be born safely, but she didn't expect it to be gone so soon, and she completely lost favor!

Jingyi looked at the center of the hall. These young beauties were carefully selected by the Shangyi Palace and trained many times before they had the opportunity to perform in front of the emperor. Jingyi saw that they were beautiful in both appearance and figure, and their dancing was extraordinary. The smiles on the faces of these beauties were just right. A little more would be too artificial, and a little less would be too cold, without the charm of the dancers. It was obvious that they had put a lot of effort into it.

After the dance, everyone applauded!

Many ministers began to toast the emperor, and Gu, together with several other noble ladies, toasted the queen.

After drinking, the queen asked with a smile: "Madam Su, I have heard that you have taught your son well. Your son went to the battlefield to kill the enemy at the age of twelve. He is really brave and courageous, and a hero unparalleled in the world!"

Gu hurriedly bowed and said: "Your Majesty, you are too kind. He is not brave, but just lucky. He is still too young and a little frivolous!"

The queen smiled and put down the wine glass, "Madam Pingnan is too modest. I think the people who are proposing marriage to your son are about to break the door of the mansion, right?"

Gu's heart trembled, and she hurriedly said: "My son is young, and I don't plan to get engaged yet."

Jingyi narrowed her eyes slightly. This is the idea of ​​​​his elder brother! After failing to win over his father directly, he thought of forming a marriage. This is the most secure alliance!

Jingyi looked in the direction of the queen. I saw that the queen was noble and dignified, with a beautiful appearance. The nine-tailed phoenix hairpin on her head was shining against the candlelight. The gorgeous golden phoenix robe made her look elegant and noble! The phoenix embroidered with red thread on the phoenix robe seemed to be singing loudly, and seemed to be leading everyone to worship the queen!

Jingyi quickly withdrew her gaze this time because of what happened last time, but the queen still noticed Jingyi.

"It's just that I haven't seen you for more than a month, and your daughter seems to have grown taller." The queen smiled and said, "Come, come closer, let me take a closer look."

Jingyi glanced at Gu, and when she saw Gu nod, she lowered her head and approached carefully.

The queen grabbed Jingyi's hand, gently lifted Jingyi's chin with her right hand, looked at her carefully and said: "Tsk tsk, what a pretty girl, she is only seven years old, but she is so beautiful. I am afraid she will be even more beautiful when she grows up!"

Jingyi lowered her eyes and said softly: "Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty. Your Majesty is worth a lot of money, and she is as beautiful as a peony. When I stand next to you, I am like the stars and the moon, and I am naturally dim." Humph! What is beautiful? You are just short of saying that I am a demon who brings disaster to the country! Seeing that there is no hope for my brother, you want to take advantage of me?

Although Jingyi's voice was not loud, it was heard clearly by the emperor sitting next to the queen. A smile flashed in the emperor's eyes, and he turned to Jingyi and said: "Not bad! Well said! The queen is the mother of the world, and the peony is known as the king of flowers! You, a girl, are good at talking!"

The queen was originally angry at Jingyi's words. What is beautiful? Who would praise the queen like this? She was obviously not favored in the harem. If it weren't for the influence of her family, the position of queen would have changed hands long ago!

The queen was angry, but the emperor praised her for her ability to speak. No matter how angry she was, she couldn't blame her on the spot, otherwise, wouldn't it be a loss of face for the emperor!

The queen's smile remained, she just held Jingyi's hand tightly, "Good child, you are worthy of being the daughter of Pingnan Marquis's Mansion! You know, your mother was a famous talented woman in the capital before she got married, but I don't know how you compare with your mother back then?"

Jingyi endured the pain in her right arm and replied respectfully, "Your Majesty, I am stupid and far inferior to my mother."

The queen smiled and said, "Your Majesty, Madam Su's talent was known throughout the capital back then! Today is Mid-Autumn Festival, why don't you let Miss Su write a poem to liven up the atmosphere? What do you think?"

Jingyi lowered her head, feeling annoyed in her heart. This queen is really hateful! Why does she have to compete with a little girl like her!