Chapter 23 New Year's Eve Palace Banquet

The sun sets in the west, the moon rises, and the year-end family dinner in the palace begins as scheduled.

"The Emperor has arrived, and the Empress has arrived!"

With the arrival of the emperor and the empress, the night banquet officially began. The concubines in the harem and several princes all stood up and saluted to welcome them.

For a time, there was singing and dancing, and the entire palace banquet was a scene of peace and prosperity.

"Oh, Old Seventeen, you're here today. Every time I ask you to attend these banquets, you always try to put them off. I can never find you. Today, you're not late."

The emperor saw Prince Guo sitting below and couldn't help but tease him with a smile on his face.

"Your Majesty, what are you saying? I have never failed to attend any family banquet. Your Majesty, please do not accuse me like this. I will definitely blame you."

Prince Guo raised the wine glass in his hand and raised it to the emperor above.

"Haha, you're the only one who can say that."

Prince Guo's words made the emperor's already happy mood even more intense.

"Chang Wan is here today too. Are you feeling better?"

The emperor glanced around casually, and lingered for a few seconds at a certain spot.

That somewhat familiar face always caught the emperor's attention at the first moment. He was also attracted by her unique appearance on the day of the selection.

However, the emperor's special attention to Zhen Huan made Yixiu, who was sitting next to him, pause slightly.

She clutched the clothes tightly with her hands, hanging on her legs, using all her strength to avoid revealing any abnormality.

"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I am feeling much better now. Thinking that today is a day for family reunion, I wanted to join in the fun."

Zhen Huan was somewhat nervous in her heart due to such close contact with the emperor. Fortunately, Concubine Hua had already told her some of the emperor's preferences, allowing her to handle the situation with ease at this moment.

The emperor's concern for Zhen Huan was not only felt by Yixiu, but everyone's eyes were focused on Zhen Huan, including An Lingrong.

Why? Why was it that as soon as she appeared, no one could ignore her existence? I had waited for so long but hadn't even seen the emperor, while she could easily get what I had always dreamed of.

At this moment, An Lingrong's inner resentment reached its peak. She knew that Zhen Huan and Hua Fei were getting closer and closer during this period. Just when she thought she could also get on Hua Fei's big ship, she found that the other party only thought about her own enjoyment and never considered her.

What they are talking about is the deep love between sisters. It is really ridiculous.

Yixiu, who was sitting at the top seat, could clearly see the expressions on the faces of the people below, especially An Lingrong's expression that changed instantly, which caught her attention.

Yixiu relaxed her tense body and kept a dignified smile on her face.

Interesting, she seems to know what to do next.

The emperor did not pay much attention to what everyone was thinking. His eyes were always fixed on Zhen Huan.

"emperor."

"emperor."

Looking at the emperor's absent-minded expression, Yixiu had to remind him.

"Prince Guo is toasting you."

"Oh, oh, come on, it's a rare occasion for us to get together today, so we must have a good time."

The singing and dancing started again, and everyone seemed to be a little drunk as the cups clinked.

At this time, Songzhi, who had just left for a while, quietly stood beside Nian Shilan and gave her a look.

Nian Shilan understood that everything should be arranged in Yimeyuan. She looked in the direction of Zhen Huan and happened to meet her eyes.

After nodding slightly at her, Nian Shilan casually picked up the wine glass and stood up and walked over: "Your Majesty, I offer you another toast."

I don’t know if it was because she was drunk, but she accidentally touched the vase on the shelf in the corner while walking.

Fortunately, Songzhi reacted in time and prevented her from getting hurt.

"Your Majesty, please forgive me. I didn't mean it."

Nian Shilan hurriedly bowed and apologized, but accidentally exposed the vase behind her that she had just touched to the emperor's sight.

The emperor glanced at the plum blossoms in the vase, which were in full bloom.

"It's okay, get up."

The emperor did not say much. I don't know what he was thinking about, but his face seemed to no longer have the interest in chatting and laughing.

For the next moment, he just looked ahead indifferently, but his gaze didn't seem to be focused on anyone in front of him.

After a while, he put down the wine glass in his hand, stood up and left alone. Even Su Peisheng who wanted to follow him was stopped.

Watching the emperor leave, the queen knew that today's banquet was coming to an end, and she no longer had the interest to stay here.

"It's getting late. Let's disperse for today. Everyone, please return to the palace early."

"Farewell, Her Majesty."

After Yixiu left, everyone also walked out.

Zhen Huan quietly walked to the end of the crowd and headed to the planned location without anyone noticing.

Nian Shilan knew that the emperor would definitely meet Zhen Huan on this trip. Fortunately, she had arranged everything, and Yu Ying'er had been sent to a corner of the palace. Now no one would disturb her there.

Zhen Huan quickly walked to the place where Nian Shilan told her to go, and guessed that the emperor would be arriving soon, so she squatted down.

After a while, footsteps were heard from not far away, and it seemed that they were getting closer and closer to where he was.

Zhen Huan knelt down in the snow, clasped her hands together and bowed her head in prayer.

"Since arriving at the palace, everyone has been seeking favor. I only wish for the safety of my parents and sister, and for myself to have a peaceful life in the palace."

In fact, this cannot be considered as Zhen Huan's pretense. In her heart, she really just hopes that she can live her life in peace and that her family outside the palace can be healthy. This is enough.

"It is not easy to stay safe in this deep palace. I hope the adverse wind will understand my intention and not destroy me."

It was freezing cold at this time, and the Yimei Garden was even quieter.

The emperor was quietly looking at the scenery in front of him, but he heard a sound coming from not far away.

"Who's there?"

"Who are you? Why don't you come out? Do I need to turn the entire Yimei Garden upside down to find you?"

The emperor walked forward curiously and walked among the flowers full of plum blossoms.

The flowers are the same every year, but the people are different every year. He just happened to see the plum blossoms at a palace banquet and wanted to come here to reminisce about the past, but he never thought that there were other people here.

Zhen Huan pretended not to know who the visitor was, and quickly bowed her head as she stepped out to greet him. "I am Zhen Shi of Sui Yuxuan. I was strolling after the palace banquet and happened to come here. I was captivated by the scenery and did not mean to disturb you. Please forgive me."

"Zhen? Suiyuxuan? Are you Concubine Wan? Lift your head and let me see you."

Zhen Huan raised her head in fear and trepidation and looked at the person who came.

"Ah, Your Majesty!"

"Your Majesty, please forgive me. I meant no offense. It was simply because the scenery before me was so breathtaking. Seeing the cold weather and thinking that no one else was in the garden, I stayed a little longer."

The Emperor reached out and helped Zhen Huan up: "Do you also like the poem 'Plum Blossom'?"

"Yes, I like the proud character and noble spirit of plum blossoms."

Zhen Huan stood up, slowly raised her head, looked at the emperor, and then quickly lowered her head, her face full of girlish shyness.