Chapter 254 Heartbreaking

"Will you come to the Dragon Boat Festival banquet next month?"

She hadn't originally planned to go, partly because she didn't want to feel awkward seeing the Crown Prince, and partly because she had already agreed to Xie Tingzhou's invitation, saying that the Xie family had some issues with Prince Duan back then.

Seeing her delicate eyebrows slightly furrowed, as if she were pondering something, Qi Jun paused, then said:

"It's alright if you don't come. I just have some things about the Lin family of Lancheng that I want to show you. Unfortunately, I didn't bring them with me today. If you're not available, another day is fine too."

So that's how it is; Qi Yuxuan's strange feeling subsided.

She had previously told the Crown Prince that if there was any news from Lancheng, he should inform her if it was convenient. It seems that the search over the past few months has finally made new progress.

It's a pity that she still has no clue about the Xiangqi Fang matter, otherwise she should have told the Crown Prince about it as well.

His Majesty is currently suffering from a series of illnesses, both major and minor. He fell ill before the Lunar New Year and only recovered in the spring. He fell ill again a couple of days ago, which is why he is thinking of making the Dragon Boat Festival banquet more lively in order to dispel his illness.

“I do have something to do, but it’s alright. We can go after the banquet. Thank you for your help, cousin.”

Qi Jun gazed into her eyes and said calmly, "What are you busy with? I'm afraid it won't be over soon and will delay your important business."

"It's nothing, I just made plans to meet up with some friends."

"Is it Zheng Yanling?"

"No, my cousin doesn't know him."

Qi Yuxuan instinctively lied, her gaze avoiding the other person's eyes somewhat unnaturally.

"Okay, see you at Dragon Boat Festival."

Qi Jun stood still, watching the girl walk out of his sight step by step, before turning his gaze away and walking out of the Princess's residence.

The Dragon Boat Festival arrived even faster than Qi Yuxuan had imagined; it seemed like only a blink of an eye before the day was over.

Xie Tingzhou had only been in the Hanlin Academy for a few months and was so busy that he was constantly on the go. Even on his days off, he would voluntarily go to the government office to handle official business. Only on the Dragon Boat Festival could he truly rest for a while.

She and he arranged to meet at the palace gate at 5 PM after the palace banquet.

Given the poisoning incident at last year's Dragon Boat Festival banquet, much more caution was exercised this year. Also, because His Majesty had been bedridden for a long time and was not easily moved, the palace banquet was held in a very simple manner.

Qi Yuxuan helped the princess down from the carriage, and then heard the young eunuch leading the way say to them with a smile:

"Your Highness, Princess, this year is different from previous years. The dragon boat races cannot be carried out on the Imperial River in the palace. After the banquet, there will only be two activities: archery and polo, which will be set up separately for men and women, so that all the noble ladies and masters can enjoy themselves to the fullest."

This year's Dragon Boat Festival banquet was unremarkable. What is worth mentioning is that the Empress finally "recovered from her illness" and appeared before everyone, thus debunking the rumors circulating in the public that the Empress would be deposed and a Consort would be made in her place.

The Empress sat at the head of the table, and from her angle, she could clearly see all the nobles and relatives below.

Then she immediately spotted Qi Yuxuan, who was sitting next to Princess Ningyang and whose beauty stood out from the crowd.

The girl quietly chewed her food with her ivory tusks, occasionally glancing at the princess. Perhaps finding the food delicious, her beautiful eyes curved into two bright crescent moons.

Even though she was used to seeing beauties in the capital or the palace, the Empress had to admit that Qi Yuxuan was indeed the most beautiful girl she had ever seen.

But beauty fades and people's hearts change. How can a girl with only the eldest princess as her backer be qualified to take on the important task of the crown princess?

Not to mention, she had been raised as a noblewoman for less than a year and a half, so her perspective was naturally different from those noblewomen who had learned music, chess, calligraphy, painting, etiquette and manners from a young age.

As for the glory that Qi Yuxuan received at Yuxiu Academy... the Empress was unimpressed, believing it was just a gimmick created by the Eldest Princess to elevate her, and that she herself would have done the same.

The Crown Prince must be used to seeing girls of noble birth who are reserved and polite, which is why he is so fond of Qi Yuxuan.

The more the Empress thought about it, the more agitated she became. These past few months of so-called "recuperation" had not only failed to calm her mind and make her accept Qi Yuxuan in the slightest, but had instead made her even more resistant.

She even wondered if Qi Yuxuan, having been granted the title of princess, had become ambitious and was deliberately trying to climb to a higher branch. To return to the Xiao family from a commoner's orphan and then befriend the princess who granted her the title of princess... such a girl could hardly be someone with a simple mind.

If it weren't for the report from the Crown Prince's spies that the Eldest Princess had once gone to see the Crown Prince in a huff, and didn't seem happy about Qi Yuxuan marrying into the Crown Prince's palace, she would have risked her position as Empress to take action again and completely eliminate any possibility of Qi Yuxuan becoming the Crown Princess.

The more she thought about it, the more upset she became. The Empress closed her eyes and casually glanced at the end of the seating area.

Today's palace banquet is an imperial decree that all civil and military officials of the fifth rank and above, as well as the top three Jinshi graduates who stayed in the capital this year, are welcome to attend. Therefore, the banquet is very well-attended.

Her gaze swept over the three outstanding young men in the first round.

There's not much to say about the top scholar Pei Yan. Not long ago, she had someone persuade him to go to the Princess's residence to propose marriage. Unexpectedly, after being rejected once, he refused to go again, saying that he was now the top scholar and could marry a princess without any trouble. Why waste his energy on a mere county princess? This made her so angry that she had a headache for several days.

The second-place scholar is honest and upright, but he married young and is now thirty-three with five or six children. The eldest princess certainly wouldn't agree to it...

There's also Xie Tingzhou.

Her gaze fell on the young scholar who had passed the imperial examination. When the scouts reported that Qi Yuxuan was personally escorting a candidate to the examination, she had already noticed this handsome but seemingly frail candidate.

After several days of investigation, it was discovered that the woman had no family background, no parents or brothers, and only an aunt and half-sister to rely on. The Empress, even less apprehensive, abducted her to Zhuangshan after the imperial examinations.

Unfortunately, he was all show and no substance, a useless piece of trash. He wasted so much honey fragrance and even got caught by Jun'er, causing the Bai family and Mingluan to also fall out of favor with Jun'er.

The empress wearily withdrew her gaze, placed her hand on her forehead, and seemed lost in thought.

The Empress Dowager glanced at the Empress, who was still suffering from a headache, while drinking wine, and a hint of impatience flashed in her eyes.

The Empress is becoming increasingly preoccupied with her own affairs. There isn't a single capable woman in the Bai family, and she's still obsessed with having the next Empress emerge from the Bai family.

That Bai Mingluan seems innocent and obedient, but she is actually shrewd and opportunistic. Just two days ago, a palace servant came to report that when she met Youge'er, she not only failed to greet him but also tricked him into calling her sister-in-law! She is truly shameless!

"What's wrong with the Empress?"

The Empress Dowager put down her wine cup, and the Empress was startled, completely unprepared for the Empress Dowager to call her at this moment.

"Thank you for your concern, Mother. Your daughter-in-law may have drunk too much and is feeling unwell."

"If you're not feeling well, don't attend the banquet. You sent someone to report this early on. Do you think we would force you?"