Chapter 223 Notice

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, how could Sun Youcai dare to behave abnormally? He could only cope by eating more vegetables and less rice.

When Jiang Mengyuan heard Wen Chengfeng's decision, her face darkened. She also suspected that Wen Chengfeng was using this opportunity to give Concubine Sun a higher rank.

Above the rank of Jieyushi is Pin, and above Pin is Fei. Every step and promotion has its own considerations, but now it has become a question of how much to eat.

"Your Majesty, your face is red. Would you like to eat some food to calm it down?"

Jiang Mengyuan tried to soften her expression. She gently pressed the rim of Jiang Dehai's cup as he was about to refill it, and there was a hint of helplessness in her tone.

"What's wrong? Is the Queen jealous? I remember that you have some friendship with Concubine Sun, and I wasn't just talking drunkenly. The emperor's words are as good as gold!"

A narrow smile flickered in Wen Chengfeng's eyes. He did intend to promote Concubine Sun, but his purpose had nothing to do with affection. It was simply bait laid out to paralyze the enemy.

However, Wen Chengfeng was still satisfied to see that the usually gentle and generous Qingmei was a little jealous. Since Jiang Mengyuan took the position of the master of the central palace, she rarely showed her former lively and playful energy.

She is introverted but generous and steady in her dealings. Although she is a virtuous queen, she always feels a little distant to Wen Chengfeng.

"Jiang Dehai, fill up the Emperor's glass!"

Jiang Mengyuan's face flushed slightly, and she simply stopped trying to stop him. After a shout, she began to eat her food in small bites. No matter how generous she was, she was still a woman. She was already a little dissatisfied with so many women sharing a husband, and this man had to bring up all sorts of issues.

Wen Chengfeng didn't explain. His eyes wandered around the hall. Seeing the old man drinking silently in the corner without moving his chopsticks, Wen Chengfeng's gaze paused.

When Jiang Mengyuan saw that the emperor's eyes were actually lingering on her father, she couldn't care less about her temper. She quickly pulled his hand gently and explained in a low voice, "Your Majesty, my father is old and frail. He doesn't like such a lively scene. Why don't you let me persuade him to go back early?"

Wen Chengfeng looked at the old man's flushed cheeks and nodded slowly. It should be unlikely.

Jiang Mengyuan breathed a sigh of relief and quickly sent her personal maid, Suxin, to pass on a message to her father. They quietly left the lively banquet. As they walked toward the palace gate, the father and daughter exchanged sweet little words, while the maids followed not far behind, carrying lanterns.

Even if Jiang Mengyuan was reluctant to leave, she could only watch her father's figure slowly disappear at the palace gate.

"Your Majesty, shall we return to the main hall? By now, the banquet in the palace is probably almost over."

The palace maid Suxin carefully supported Jiang Mengyuan and walked towards the path in the palace.

"Go back, otherwise the emperor might go to Concubine Sun's palace." The gentleness in Jiang Mengyuan's eyes disappeared, and her tone seemed a little sarcastic.

However, it was this decision that directly brought her effective information.

After the banquet, most of the ministers left in an orderly manner, but Wen Chengfeng rubbed his brows, left the side hall alone, and stood in the corridor looking at the full moon in the sky.

They say the full moon symbolizes family reunion, and he somewhat missed the days when Wen Chengyun and the Imperial Noble Consort were around. The palace staff were busy preparing for today's banquet, and the eagle had been neglected. The hungry eagle naturally began to forage for food on its own, and did not return to its cage.

Seeing Wen Chengfeng alone, Feiying landed lightly on his shoulder.

For Wen Chengfeng, Feiying was a symbol of concern for the people in the far-off Prince Qingping's Mansion. He reached out and gently touched Feiying's head.

"I don't know how Cheng Yun and the others are doing over there. Considering Cheng Ming's age, he must have grown quite a bit taller by the time he came back..."

At this moment, Wen Chengfeng was no longer the ruler of the world, the emperor himself. He was just an ordinary man who missed his children. However, the speaker had no intention, but the listener took it to heart. Jiang Mengyuan, who had been planning to step forward to comfort him, stopped in her tracks and pressed her back against the cold wall.

Wen Chengyun, Wen Chengming... As expected, this man had never truly let go of these two people. And how could a concubine's daughter, the Imperial Noble Consort, climb to the position of Imperial Noble Consort?

Although the palace had people entering every year, the emperor would visit the Imperial Noble Consort's palace from time to time. Although the Imperial Noble Consort's favor had never appeared as exclusive as that of Concubine Sun, it had never ceased.

The difference can actually be seen from the fact that she was able to give birth to Wen Chengyun, Wen Liyu and Wen Chengming safely.

Judging from the emperor's tone, these thorns in his side were definitely coming back. This tone didn't sound like a quarrel or a breakup between father and son. Perhaps, from the very beginning, this family exile was a play put on by the emperor?

The more Jiang Mengyuan thought about it, the more frightened she became. She didn't dare to stay for long, for fear that the emperor would discover her presence.

Just as this thought came to her mind, she heard light footsteps. But to her relief, they were walking towards Wen Chengfeng from the other side of the corridor.

Before leaving, she heard Jiang Dehai's voice: "Your Majesty, it's a cold night with heavy dew. Please return to the palace first. I have prepared some sobering medicine for you..."

Wen Chengfeng returned to the palace to rest, but Jiang Mengyuan tossed and turned in bed all night. The next day, with dark circles under her eyes, the first thing she did was to send Su Xin to inform Concubine Sun.

Sun Jieyushi was just getting dressed when she heard the Queen send someone to come. She accidentally dropped the hairpin she had chosen in front of the bronze mirror.

She was a little afraid that the Empress would come to settle accounts with her later, after all, she had relied on Jiang Mengyuan's introduction to her current position. Although the Emperor did not come last night, the imperial edict had already been issued, promoting her to a concubine.

"Princess Sun, the Empress Dowager has invited you. Don't forget to pay your respects to her today."

As Su Xin entered the palace, she glanced at the interior. It looked like the interior hadn't changed much, remaining very simple and elegant. Could it be that the Emperor only favored people, not gifts? Every year, whenever tributes were offered, any good items were always given to our Empress...

"Miss Suxin has worked hard."

Concubine Sun was quite a good person. She immediately grabbed a pair of earrings from her dressing box and stuffed them into Suxin's hand. She wanted to know the real purpose of the Queen's summons.

After all, she had always been a recluse, avoiding the harem and the Empress's greetings whenever possible. Ever since she gained favor, she had continued to maintain these habits, unaware that in the eyes of others, this wasn't being modest, but rather being arrogant.