There are also decorations such as bowls and chopsticks, flowers and fruits, charcoal fire, tea, snacks, etc.

Concubine Min was having lunch nearby and also joined in to check for any deficiencies and fill in the gaps.

The two of them were busy until the end of the afternoon before they finished their work. Just when they were planning to go back to change their clothes and wait until almost everyone else had arrived, the first person to attend the palace banquet had already arrived.

The first to arrive were naturally the royal family members.

The old prince came in with the old princess and others.

This was someone that even the emperor had to respectfully address as Imperial Uncle. Qin Wan and Concubine Min hurried forward to greet him, supporting them before they saluted.

"We are all family, no need to be polite."

The old prince waved his hand and said, "Etiquette cannot be abolished."

The old prince and princess insisted that Qin Wan return to her seat. The old couple and their children paid their respects before returning to their seats.

Qin Wan looked at the couple's deep affection and envied them: "How are you two?"

"Very strong!" the old prince laughed.

Qin Wan smiled again and said, "You've taken really good care of your body. You look healthier than us young people.

The old prince was extremely proud and wanted to talk about his own maintenance methods immediately. The old princess tugged at him, stopping him from speaking. Then she said to Qin Wan, "The Crown Princess and Concubine Min have just finished their work, right? Go change your clothes and take a rest."

Qin Wan and Concubine Min stood up together and said with a smile, "Then you two elders, please take a seat first. Excuse me."

The old prince didn't understand that. After Qin Wan and Concubine Min left, he said somewhat unhappily, "Why are you stopping me? I see that the Crown Princess is very happy to talk to me."

The old princess glared at him angrily, "Don't you see? The Crown Princess and Concubine Min are wearing casual clothes, not court robes. They've obviously just finished their work and haven't changed yet. In previous years, the Empress would never wait for us here. She always waited for the people to arrive before joining His Majesty. Logically, we should go to the harem to pay our respects before attending the banquet."

The old prince muttered, "I don't know how the Queen's illness is. Now His Majesty is sick, the Queen is sick, and Concubine Li is also sick."

"Shh!" The old princess patted him, helped him tidy up his clothes, and reminded him: "Eat less snacks at the palace banquet later."

"I know, I know." The old prince nodded with a smile.

Members of the royal family and nobles arrived one after another.

As soon as Prince Jing and Princess Jing arrived, they looked around the hall and frowned.

Prince Jing walked up to the old prince and asked, "Where is His Royal Highness the Crown Prince?"

"Of course it's in the East Palace." The old prince was carefree and didn't notice the dissatisfaction in Prince Jing's eyes. He just pointed to the seat next to him and said, "Here, that's your seat. Go and sit there. The prince will be here soon."

The old princess tugged at him and said to Prince Jing with a smile, "Hurry up and sit down, everyone is here."

The old prince watched Prince Jing and his family pass by, and looked at the old princess with dissatisfaction: "You won't let me speak again."

The old princess sighed and whispered to the old prince, "Can't you see? Prince Jing has a prejudice against the crown prince. Stop talking."

"Well then." The old prince muttered, still unhappy: "This palace banquet is not pleasant."

The old princess patted his hand soothingly and glanced at Princess Jing.

Princess Jing was talking to a few princesses and ladies-in-waiting who were on good terms with her. After a while, she walked towards the old princess.

The old princess immediately withdrew her gaze and only looked up at her when she came closer.

Princess Jing bowed and asked with a smile, "Aunt, would you like to come with us to pay our respects to the Imperial Concubine? In previous years, we would pay our respects to the Empress before attending the banquet, but this year the rules have changed."

The old princess waved her hands and said, "My arms and legs are old and I can't move. You should go." She then reminded him, "Remember to visit the Crown Princess."

"I understand. Thank you, aunt." Princess Jing knelt down and bowed, then led a group of princesses and ladies to the harem.

Soon, the news reached Qin Wan.

Yijia quickened the pace of dressing Qin Wan: "If Princess Jing comes over soon, it would be rude if the Crown Princess hasn't finished dressing yet."

Zigui laid out the clothes he was going to wear and the various accessories. Hearing this, he said, "The Crown Princess is late. She's just waiting. What do you mean by disrespectful?"

Yi Jia rolled her eyes at her and said, "This year, the situation in the palace is complicated. The Crown Princess is newlywed, so it's inevitable that they will look down on her. We can go out later to suppress their temper, but we should clean up early so that we don't have to rush around."

Qin Wan handed the hairpin to Yi Jia and said with a smile, "You are right. Yi Jia has made a lot of progress since entering the palace."

Yijia's cheeks flushed: "In the palace, we need to be cautious at every step. I also need to learn more and see more."

"However, I don't think Princess Jing will come." Qin Wan lowered her eyes. In the previous life, Prince Jing stood next to the Fourth Prince. These were all in the open. Who stood next to the Fourth Prince secretly?

Now the situation has changed because of her and Xie Qing's rebirth, so have the people standing next to the Fourth Prince changed?

Qin Wan thought: "Send someone to keep an eye on Princess Jing and see who she's closest to today."

Zigui received the order and went down to tell people to do the work.

Xie Qing changed his clothes and came over. He couldn't take his eyes off Qin Wan. Seeing that she looked good, he couldn't help but feel jealous: "We went to bed at about the same time. You woke up earlier than me and are busier. How come you look so good?"

"Let me give you some rouge, you'll look better too." Qin Wan smiled and shook the rouge in her hand to tease him.

Unexpectedly, Xie Qing's eyes lit up, and he took the rouge and said, "Give me some too."

Qin Wan was surprised: "Are you really going to put on rouge?"

Xie Qing nodded, pointing to his dark circles and said, "Look at my complexion. I've been busy for so long, and even if I don't get enough rest, my complexion won't be good."

"You said you were busy all the time." Qin Wan gestured to Jixiang to help Xie Qing put on makeup. "You said you were resting, but you didn't really rest well. Tonight is New Year's Eve, and you can rest well starting tomorrow."

It was Chinese New Year and the imperial court had sealed the affairs, so there were no palace affairs to attend to. He had to go out in the morning to meet with royal family members and officials who came to pay New Year's greetings, and the afternoon was completely free.

Xie Qing was looking forward to it: "Then I want to sleep for a whole day and night."

"I want to sleep too." Qin Wan closed her eyes. She was also sleepy, and her eyes were sore at the moment.

While he was speaking, Zi Guilai replied, "Prince Jing's Concubine came out of Concubine Li's palace and went directly to the Hall of Supreme Harmony. She was accompanied by the Fourth Prince's Concubine and Lu Baishi."

Bai Wanyi?

Qin Wan raised her eyebrows and looked at Xie Qing.

Xie Qinghui dismissed everyone in the room, leaving only Zi Guigen and Yijia to serve. He thought for a moment and said, "Bai must have something in her hand that can make the Fourth Prince's wife hold her nose and get along with her in harmony."

Qin Wan suddenly became curious: "You said that the Fourth Prince's wife cares about the Fourth Prince very much. What about Bai's hands..."