Queen Mother Cui did not respond and turned to look at the other people in the hall.

"You all, get up."

As soon as the words fell, everyone stood up one after another.

But because of the arrival of Queen Mother Cui, the atmosphere was no longer as lively as before.

With the help of palace maids, Queen Mother Cui slowly sat down in the main seat.

He Yunshu had no choice but to follow, but the moment she sat down, she glared at Shen Ningyuan resentfully.

After taking her seat, Empress Dowager Cui swept her eyes around the hall.

Finally, he set his gaze on Shen Ningyuan.

He asked softly, "Where is your mother? Why is she not here today?"

"Your Majesty, my cousin is ill and I am taking care of her at home."

"Cousin?" Empress Dowager Cui was stunned for a moment, but didn't ask any further questions. "So that's how it is. I thought I'd be able to see your mother when I returned to the capital this time."

"When I return, I will have my mother come to the palace to pay her respects to the Empress Dowager."

"No need. Your mother knows her limits. If the situation wasn't serious, she wouldn't stay home."

Queen Mother Cui didn't want to continue this topic and changed the conversation to other people.

In this case, Shen Ningyuan didn't need to speak, and stayed quietly beside Song Yan'er, casually finding a topic, "Sister-in-law, where is your eldest sister Yingfei?"

When Song Yaner heard the name Ying Fei, she couldn't help but laugh and said, "She is now Ying Guifei!"

"Oh? In just one month, you've been promoted to Imperial Concubine?"

Song Yan'er raised an eyebrow. "That's right. The imperial physician diagnosed her a few days ago and found out she's pregnant. She's mad and doesn't want to attend the palace banquet. Your Majesty can't do anything about it, so he just lets her go."

Hearing this, Shen Ningyuan couldn't help but be surprised, "Doesn't Imperial Concubine Ying want to have children?"

"She has been afraid of pain since she was a child, so she has been secretly taking contraceptive soup since entering the palace. This time it was an accident. Your Majesty really treasures this pregnancy of hers and will do whatever she wants."

Song Yan'er lowered her voice and said, "To tell you the truth, even the Queen, who is so arrogant and domineering, has been avoiding my eldest sister for a while."

"Why?"

"Because everyone in the palace knows that my eldest sister doesn't want children, the Queen is afraid to stay with my eldest sister. If something unexpected happens, His Majesty will vent his anger on her. She even skipped the daily morning greetings."

"Is this possible?" Shen Ningyuan opened her mouth slightly, with a gossipy look on her face.

"There's nothing I can do. His Majesty dotes on my eldest sister, but he can't do anything about her." Song Yan'er said, "This man is just cheap. What he can't get is the best."

Shen Ningyuan immediately asked: "What about my eldest brother? Is my eldest brother also a bitch?"

Song Yan'er rolled her eyes at her. "Your elder brother is honest and upright. I chose him because of this."

Shen Ningyuan glanced at Song Yaner playfully, but said nothing more.

The two ended their conversation, and Shen Ningyuan turned her head and noticed that Chen's eyes were always on her.

From her eyes, Shen Ningyuan detected a hint of resentment and calculation.

Shen Ningyuan withdrew her gaze unnoticed, pretending not to notice Chen.

Then, out of the corner of her eye, Shen Ningyuan saw Chen give a subtle wink to the palace maid beside her.

Shen Ningyuan took a look at the palace maid and saw that her eyebrows and eyes were somewhat similar to Chen Moer.

It is not difficult to see that Chen and Chen Moer had already discussed and planned to plot against her at the palace banquet.

Shen Ningyuan frowned and whispered to Song Yan'er beside her, "Sister-in-law, what's the best way to plot against someone at Empress Dowager Cui's banquet?"

Without hesitation, Song Yan'er spoke directly, "Empress Dowager Cui detests unfaithful women. If she were to commit adultery at a palace banquet held in her honor, it would be an unforgivable crime. Given Empress Dowager Cui's hypocritical nature, she would definitely take this woman away from the capital under the pretext of accompanying her in worshipping Buddha. Then, she would find a random excuse to quietly kill her."

Shen Ningyuan's face darkened, "It's like this..."

"Why are you asking this suddenly?"

"Nothing, just asking out of curiosity." Shen Ningyuan answered perfunctorily.

At this time, Chen Moer, who was dressed as a palace maid, moved over quietly and poured a glass of wine into the glass in front of Shen Ningyuan.

After pouring the wine, Chen Moer took two steps back, staring at Shen Ningyuan.

At the same time, Chen was also staring at Shen Ningyuan.

It was obvious that he was hoping she would drink the glass of wine quickly.

Shen Ningyuan curled her lips, picked up the wine glass but did not drink it directly, instead she put it to the tip of her nose and sniffed it.

It's an aphrodisiac scent.

Sure enough, it was just as Song Yaner said.

The Chen aunt and nephew racked their brains, but they could only resort to such despicable tricks to plot against her.

A smile appeared on the corner of Shen Ningyuan's lips, and as Chen and Chen Moer expected, she brought the wine glass to her lips.

Seeing this scene, Chen's eyes widened.

But the next second, Shen Ningyuan suddenly loosened her grip, and the wine glass in her hand slipped into her arms, spilling the wine on her clothes.

"ah!"

Shen Ningyuan cried out involuntarily.

Afterwards, everyone's eyes fell on Shen Ningyuan.

Queen Mother Cui also looked at Shen Ningyuan and asked indifferently, "What's wrong?"

Shen Ningyuan pretended to be flustered and said, "Your Majesty, I was drunk and accidentally spilled the wine."

"It's okay. I'll have the maid take you to the back and change into some dry clothes."

As she spoke, Queen Mother Cui winked at the palace maid behind her, and the palace maid walked towards Shen Ningyuan.

He said respectfully, "Please follow me."

Song Yaner looked at Shen Ningyuan and asked, "Do you need your sister-in-law to accompany you?"

Shen Ningyuan patted Song Yaner soothingly, "Sister-in-law is not feeling well, so you don't have to accompany me."

Having said that, Shen Ningyuan immediately stood up, followed the palace maid, and walked out of the hall from the opening of the corridor.

From the moment Shen Ningyuan stood up until she walked out of the hall, Chen had been staring at Shen Ningyuan, her eyes full of unwillingness.

It was just a little bit short, so why did Shen Ningyuan suddenly knock over the drink?

This bitch, how could she even spill the wine while drinking it.

After Shen Ningyuan left the hall, Chen glanced at Chen Moer.

Unlike Chen, there was no emotion in Chen Moer's eyes.

It seemed that he was not surprised by Shen Ningyuan's sudden action of knocking over the wine.

If Shen Ningyuan drank the wine obediently, she would find it strange.

Thinking of this, Chen Moer quietly retreated and walked behind Chen.

"What should we do if the drugging fails?" Chen asked nervously.

Chen Moer gently comforted him, “Forget about the failure, aunt, don’t worry, wait until Shen Ningyuan comes back.”

Seeing Chen Moer's calm eyes, Chen's uneasiness immediately eased a little.

It doesn't matter if the drugging fails. I can just try again after Shen Ningyuan changes her clothes and comes back.

Thinking of this, Chen forced herself to suppress her panic and put her mind back on the palace banquet.

Little did they know that Shen Ningyuan, who had walked out of the hall, had already begun her calculations for the Marquis' Mansion...