On August 15th, there was peace and tranquility in the front court and the harem. Because the empress dowager issued an order, all the palace ladies worked hard.

Because it was the first family banquet held by Zhao Yuancheng after he ascended the throne, Yuqing Palace was also brightly lit and decorated very grandly. Not only the empress dowager would attend, but also the princes and princesses of the royal family would attend.

The concubines hadn't seen Zhao Yuancheng for a long time. In order to win the first place tonight, everyone put a lot of effort into dressing themselves up.

When Fu Qianyu arrived at Yuqing Palace, many people had already arrived in the main hall.

The palace maid who led the way carefully led her to her seat. When the concubines of lower rank saw her, they all knelt down and saluted.

Each person has one table at the palace banquet.

Fu Qianyu's position is not low and she also has a title. Her position is exactly the second to the left of the main seat. The first position is undoubtedly occupied by Concubine Li.

But before she could sit down, Concubine Wan came to greet her.

"This concubine pays her respects to Sister Zhaoyi."

The tone of Wan Jieyu's voice was just like her title, like the most lingering wind in the south of the Yangtze River, revealing a sense of comfort and tranquility.

Coupled with her extraordinary appearance, if I were a man, I would definitely be moved.

"No need to be so polite, sister."

Wan Jieyu rose slowly, her movements graceful and delicate. "Lanyue Pavilion is adjacent to your Huayang Palace. I should have gone there every day to pay my respects, but I am not feeling well and cannot serve you. I beg your forgiveness."

Fu Qianyu smiled gently, "These are all trivial matters, don't worry about them, the most important thing is to take good care of yourself."

Wan Jieyu nodded slightly, "Yes, I have taken note of your words, sister. The imperial physician in the palace is very skilled, and I am now well again. If you don't mind, could I come to your palace and have a visit?"

"I heard that my sister is known as a talented woman in the capital. If my sister could come, it would be a great honor for Huayang Palace."

A blush rose on Concubine Wan's fair cheeks, and her slightly drooping neck was as smooth as white jade. "The Fu family is a family of scholars, and Master Fu is a rare talent among the censors. When I was at home, I also heard my father praise Master Fu for his virtue, prudence, wisdom, fairness, and diligence. How can I have the face to call him a talented woman in front of Your Majesty?"

The two were talking when they heard an announcement from outside: "The Imperial Concubine has arrived!"

At this shout, everyone looked towards the door and bowed, "Greetings, Her Majesty the Imperial Concubine."

The imperial concubine was dressed very elegantly tonight, in a rouge red brocade palace gown with a cloud pattern of four joys and auspicious wishes, and a five-tailed phoenix hairpin inserted in her high bun. As she walked, she was full of charm.

When she walked in front of Wan Jieyu and Fu Qianyu, the imperial concubine glanced at them with a sharp look.

Especially when seeing Concubine Wan.

When she thought about how she had been accompanying the emperor recently, the sharpness in the imperial concubine's eyes gradually turned into jealousy and resentment.

"No wonder the emperor gave you the title of Wan. You are indeed gentle and charming."

Hearing the Imperial Concubine's words, Wan Jieyu became even more humble, "Your Majesty is both talented and beautiful, and you are the most favored in the harem. I, a concubine, am ashamed to accept your honor."

Because there were still relatives and ladies present, the imperial concubine did not say much to Concubine Wan. After taking a deep breath, she sat in her seat according to the rules.

The concubines took their seats, and not long after, an announcement came from outside that the Empress Dowager, the Emperor, and the Empress had arrived. After helping the Empress Dowager to take her seat, Zhao Yuancheng waved his hand, signaling everyone to excuse themselves.

Yuqing Palace was filled with concubines and civil and military officials. Zhao Yuancheng raised his glass first, and his eyes were filled with infinite passion as he looked down at the crowd.

"Let's forget about the waxing and waning of the moon. Let's just enjoy the beautiful season. Today is Mid-Autumn Festival. Don't be restrained. Let's drink to our heart's content."

Everyone also raised their glasses, "Long live our emperor."

The king and his ministers raised their heads and drank the wine in their cups. Not long after, the sound of stringed instruments began to play, and the dancers walked briskly into the center of the hall.

A great victory on the border coincided with the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Zhao Yuancheng was in a very good mood. He held his wine glass and glanced at the concubines below. Seeing that the seat of Concubine Xi was still vacant, he tilted his head and asked the Queen, "What's wrong? Is Concubine Xi's face still not healed?"

The Queen hummed and replied softly, "This morning, someone from Zhilin Palace came to report that Concubine Xi was unwell and could not attend the banquet. I have allowed her to rest in the palace."

Zhao Yuancheng just nodded lightly, then straightened his body and continued drinking. Until he saw Fu Qianyu sitting down and eating with relish, a smile appeared on his lips again.

Fu Qianyu loves to eat meat, and tonight's steamed lamb with wine is very much to her liking. Not long after the singing and dancing started, she had already eaten up the whole plate of lamb.

Zhao Yuancheng looked at her with a faint smile while holding a wine glass, then raised his hand to signal Zhu Yu to bring the plate of mutton in front of him to Fu Qianyu.

Fu Qianyu was just feeling unsatisfied with her meal when she didn't expect the old emperor to be so perceptive. She immediately smiled broadly at Zhao Yuancheng and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace."

Zhao Yuancheng did not show favoritism and then gave the crab meat lion head in front of him to the imperial concubine.

The concubine, who had been jealous, no longer felt jealous after seeing this. She just smiled at Zhao Yuancheng and said, "Your Majesty, you still remember that I like crab meat and lion's head the most."

Zhao Yuancheng spoke in a gentle tone and said with a smile, "You have served me for many years, how could I not know your preferences?"

The imperial concubine was even more delighted after hearing these words, and her smile was more beautiful than flowers.

When the banquet was halfway through, the maid of Fengqi Palace came in in a panic, knelt directly in front of the queen, and said in horror, "Queen, the eldest prince has been infected with smallpox. You should go back and see him immediately."

"What?"

The eldest prince was the queen's favorite. When she heard that her son had contracted smallpox, she felt as if she had fallen into an ice cellar, and her heart was cold from head to toe.

Zhao Yuancheng suddenly stood up and supported the empress's shaky body in time. He said angrily, "Chen'er was fine yesterday. How could he get smallpox out of nowhere?"

The young palace maid trembled with fear. "The eldest prince's wet nurse has been feeling unwell for the past few days, but unexpectedly, in the evening, the eldest prince developed a high fever. When the imperial physician was summoned, he had already developed a patch of chickenpox on his back."

The queen could no longer sit still. Without waiting for the palace maid to finish her words, she hurried towards Fengqi Palace. The concubines also looked unhappy.

Not long after, the Mid-Autumn Festival dinner was hastily over.

The Empress Dowager, the Emperor, and the Empress all went to Fengqi Palace, and the concubines followed closely behind. But before they even stepped into the main hall, they heard the Empress's heart-wrenching cries coming from the side hall.

Fu Qianyu stood outside the hall with a gloomy look in her eyes.

Chickenpox is not a serious disease in later generations, but it was fatal in ancient times.

The eldest prince has only been born for three months. How can a little kid bear it?

Now we can only hope that our ancestors will bless us and that the eldest prince can get through this difficult time safely.