Princess An escorted Princess Huai'an back to Prince An's residence. After watching them leave, Shen Wan turned and walked towards the pavilion where Empress Song and the others were.

Upon seeing her return, Consort Wang asked, "Is Princess Huai'an alright?"

Shen Wan replied, "She should be fine, but she has severe morning sickness and can't stand the smell of flowers. After vomiting, she was too weak to attend the Emperor's birthday banquet, so Princess An sent her back."

Empress Song put down her teacup and said, "Since you are pregnant, you should stay in the mansion. We don't need her to celebrate the Emperor's birthday."

These words were spoken by Princess Huai'an, but also served as a warning to Shen Wan.

Shen Wan still couldn't understand Empress Song's implied meaning. She said, "Father and elder brother have both left the capital, the Pingyang Marquis's Mansion has split up again, and Princess Huai'an is not coming to the palace, so no one from the Pingyang Marquis's Mansion will present birthday gifts to the Emperor."

There's no shortage of Princess Huai'an to offer birthday greetings to the Emperor, but the Pingyang Marquis's residence only has Princess Huai'an to represent them.

Empress Song was surprised that Shen Wan dared to contradict her in public, and her eyes flashed with a cold light. Consort Wang looked at Shen Wan's swollen belly and said enviously, "When I was pregnant with the Emperor, I was so nauseous that I couldn't even leave my bedchamber. Princess Ling is so lucky that she didn't have to suffer from morning sickness."

Which of the ladies present hadn't suffered the hardships of pregnancy? The more they had endured, the more they envied Shen Wan.

Even Empress Song, who desperately wanted Shen Wan dead, had to admit that Shen Wan was very fortunate.

Shen Wan stopped admiring the flowers and found a place to sit down. After sitting for a quarter of an hour, a young eunuch came over, bowed, and said, "The birthday banquet is about to begin. You may take your seats now."

"Then let's take our seats."

Empress Song stood up and was the first to step out of the pavilion.

Consort Zheng and Consort Wang followed.

Then came Princess Huyang and the Right Chancellor's wife. Shen Wan wasn't in a hurry to leave, so she walked at the very back.

The Emperor's birthday banquet was held in the Hall of Supreme Harmony. When Shen Wan arrived, Xie Jingyan came from somewhere, and the two happened to meet outside the hall and went in together.

The seating arrangement was the same as at previous palace banquets, opposite Xie Jingyin.

Xie Jingyin sat there, his face not looking too good. He had been given twenty lashes by the Emperor the day before yesterday. Although he had rested for two days, his injuries were not fully healed. It still hurt a little when he sat down, and it hurt even more if he sat for a long time.

The eldest prince sat above Xie Jingyin and said, "It seems that Prince Jin's injuries have not yet healed. If you really can't hold on, you can go back. Your father will not blame you."

Xie Jingyin's face was longer than a horse's. He didn't know whether it was the First Prince or the Prince Ling who was plotting against him this time. No matter who it was, once he caught them with evidence, he would definitely get his money back with interest!

All the civil and military officials and their families took their seats. The inner hall was bustling and noisy, filled with laughter and chatter, until a hoarse voice announced, "The Emperor has arrived!"

The noisy hall fell silent instantly.

The Emperor walked over, followed closely by Empress Song, then Consort Zheng and Consort Wang. The Empress Dowager did not come with them.

Everyone in the hall knelt down, wishing the Emperor boundless happiness and longevity.

The Emperor smiled broadly, "Rise, all of you."

Everyone then stood up.

Xie Jingyan helped Shen Wan up and then sat down.

Once the Emperor arrived, the birthday banquet officially began. Dancers came up to perform, and the melodious music was delightful.

After about two dances, another hoarse voice came:

"The Empress Dowager has arrived!"

The Emperor and his officials rose to greet the Empress Dowager.

The court governs the country with filial piety in mind. The emperor's birthday is the day the empress dowager suffered to give birth to him. Today is the day when all the officials celebrate the emperor's birthday, and it is also the day when the emperor expresses his filial piety to the empress dowager.

The Emperor helped the Empress Dowager sit down, then glanced at Eunuch Yuan. Eunuch Yuan clapped his hands, and two palace servants brought up something covered with red silk, so it was unknown what it was.

Upon seeing this, the Empress Dowager looked at the Emperor and asked, "This is...?"

The Emperor said, "The Empress Dowager is fond of Buddhism, so I ordered a Buddha statue to be made and presented to her."

As soon as the emperor finished speaking, the eunuch unveiled the red silk, revealing the Buddha statue.

The Buddha statue, crafted from purple jade, was half a person's height, crystal clear, and exquisitely beautiful. Even the Empress Dowager, who was used to seeing fine things, couldn't help but marvel at it.

This wasn't the first time Shen Wan had seen this Buddha statue, but she still couldn't help but be amazed.

Purple jade Buddha statues are rare enough, but such a large purple jade Buddha statue can definitely be called a priceless treasure.

The Empress Dowager was overjoyed and said, "Your Majesty is busy with countless affairs of state. This filial piety is enough. Why did you go to the trouble of making such a Buddha statue for me?"

The Emperor said, “Without the Empress Dowager, what would I be? I should support the Empress Dowager with the entire empire.”

The Emperor has always held the Empress Dowager in high esteem, and the Empress Dowager is well aware of this. The civil and military officials also praised the Emperor's filial piety towards the Empress Dowager, which made the Empress Dowager even happier.

The Empress Dowager would certainly accept the tribute from the Emperor, and immediately ordered it to be carried to Shou Kang Palace.

After the Emperor finished showing respect to the Empress Dowager, it was the princes and princesses' turn to show respect to their father.

Princes and princesses presented birthday gifts, regardless of rank, in order of seniority.

The first to present birthday gifts was naturally the eldest prince.

The eldest prince presented the emperor with a jade cabbage.

Its emerald green color is crystal clear and elegant, flawless and lifelike. At first glance, one might think that the eldest prince had lost his mind and sent a cabbage to the emperor, which shows how precious it is.

Shen Wan sat there looking at it. Fortunately, this jade cabbage wasn't a gift from the guy next to her, otherwise the emperor and the officials would really suspect it was a real cabbage.

The Emperor was very satisfied with the Crown Prince's birthday gift and praised him a few times. The Crown Prince had a rather smug look on his face.

After the eldest prince presented his congratulatory gifts, it was Prince Jin's turn.

Although two days had passed since the leak at the Imperial Ancestral Temple, Prince Jin's injuries had not healed, and his gait was somewhat unnatural. The Emperor was still somewhat displeased whenever he thought of the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

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