Chapter 83: Beheading 2 This is the palace, Miss, you must not act rashly...

Su He was not sure whether Zhou Yuanze would enter the palace, but she could not ask Xie Wuhen directly, so she hesitated for three days.

Zhang Xiuhua couldn't help but remind him, "This is the palace. Miss, you must not act rashly."

Su He answered the question irrelevantly: "Is there any news from Ah Si?"

Zhang Xiuhua shook her head helplessly. "There's no news. Ah Si said that all of Zhou Yuanze's food and drink is delivered to the Zhou family by vegetable and rice vendors. The food is first transported to the Zhou family kitchen, where it's cooked into rice and other dishes before being distributed to the various courtyards. There's no chance of taking any action."

Su He was silent for a long time, then whispered, "In that case, the palace banquet is a rare opportunity to get close to Zhou Yuanze."

Zhang Xiuhua grew increasingly uneasy. "I don't know how high the walls are, how complex the passages are, and how secretive the guards are. If anything goes wrong, I'm afraid there's nowhere to run. Besides, Miss, you've already met Zhou Yuanze before. Let's not even talk about what we should do to him this time. If he recognizes us, everything will be over. Miss, please don't be impulsive."

Su He acted unconcerned. "This time, I'm not meeting some prostitute, but the wife of the Dali Temple's Junior Official. Even if he finds me somewhat familiar, he certainly wouldn't dare do anything to me. Don't worry, Auntie. I know the importance of this situation and will act accordingly."

Zhang Xiuhua couldn't let it go, and repeatedly reminded her: "No matter what, young lady, you must behave yourself when you enter the palace this time. You must promise your aunt."

Su He was pestered by her and had no choice but to nod and agree.

But before leaving for the palace, she still put the bracelet containing the powder on her wrist.

Zhang Xiuhua pulled her aside and asked in a low voice, "Miss, since you have promised to be quiet, why do you still wear this bracelet?"

Su He explained: "It's just filled with some drugs for self-defense."

She didn't lie, it was just for self-defense.

There were many unknowns in this palace banquet, so she couldn't make any rash assumptions and could only seek to protect herself.

Zhang Xiuhua finally breathed a sigh of relief and felt relieved.

Xie Wuhen pushed the door open and entered the room, then asked, "Madam, have you packed up?"

Zhang Xiuhua was so scared that her back tightened and she quickly stepped aside.

Su He smiled and replied, "I have packed everything and will go to the palace with my husband right away." After saying that, she took the hand that Xie Wuhen extended to her, walked out of Chunhua Courtyard just after him, and got on the carriage to the palace.

In the carriage, Su He couldn't help but ask about the scale of the palace banquet and the palace etiquette.

After all, even if she was the real Li Shuli, she would not have the chance to enter the palace. What's more, she was just a slave of humble origin, and she felt a little pressured.

Xie Wuhen said in a thoughtful and soothing tone, "Although today's palace banquet is large in scale and has many people, my lady, don't be nervous. Those people are just here for the banquet, and it's nothing serious. My lady, you are not familiar with them, so don't pay any attention to them."

He added, "As for etiquette, you should do the same as others do. It's okay to take advantage of the situation. There's no need to be so formal."

He made everything sound so light and easy, which actually relieved a lot of her pressure.

After a few minutes, the carriage arrived at the palace gate.

Because there were so many people attending the banquet, the palace gate was completely blocked. Carriages were piled up side by side, and there was no place to stand on the open space in front of the gate.

Wu Sheng had no choice but to turn the carriage around and finally found a parking space at the entrance of the alley.

Xie Wuhen helped Su He get off the carriage, and after turning left and right in the dense crowd, they finally arrived at the palace gate. He then handed his badge to the gate guard and stepped into the palace.

The crowd dispersed in the palace, and it became much quieter.

Su He looked up at the tall palace walls, then at the sky, which was cut into different shapes by the walls and palaces. He couldn't help but sigh with emotion: "So this is what the imperial palace looks like."

Xie Wuhen smiled meaningfully: "It is a palace, but also a deep well."

Su He looked around vigilantly and said, "Husband, please keep your voice down."

Xie Wuhen didn't care at all: "Even if the emperor heard it, he wouldn't do anything to me, your husband."

She asked, "Why?"

He replied: "Because the emperor is an open-minded person."

There was a hint of pride in his expression, a kind of pride that only belonged to those who were favored by the emperor.

She deliberately said with a hint of envy: "It seems that the emperor's appreciation of my husband is not unreasonable."

He climbed up the pole: "It's natural, my lady has a good eye."

The two smiled at each other.

Occasionally, officials came to say hello along the way, and Xie Wuhen dealt with them all.

After two quarters of an hour, the two arrived in front of the Jiade Hall.

The Jiade Hall is also the hall where the banquet is held today.

At this time, the hall was crowded with people and the aroma of wine filled the air. The emperor and his concubines had not arrived yet, but the officials in the hall gathered in groups of three or five, chatting about family matters and official business. Bursts of laughter could be heard from time to time, and it was very lively.

Men and women sat separately in the hall, separated by a huge curtain.

Xie Wuhen first sent Su He to the entrance of the women's section and repeatedly reminded her: "It's just a meal, my lady, relax."

She also said: "If you don't like someone, just ignore him. Anyway, I have my husband to take care of everything."

Su He nodded: "Don't worry, my dear husband, I can do it."

He felt a little relieved, looked at her gently, and then turned and left.

The ladies' seats were already filled with the families of officials from the court, including middle-aged ladies and young noble ladies. They either sat upright or talked in low voices with their neighbors.

When Su He entered the hall, everyone looked at her sideways.

Someone whispered, "Who is this person? Why haven't I seen him before?"

Another person replied, "I just saw the eldest son of the Xie family escort this person to the palace gate. She should be the young lady of the Xie family, right?"

Someone sarcastically said, "So it's the Xie family. That scandal was all over the capital, and she still has the nerve to go out?"

"The protagonist of the scandal is the old lady of the Xie family. She is the young lady of the Xie family. They are not the same person."

"If the top beam is crooked, the bottom beam will be crooked, which is the same thing."

Su He didn't bother to pay attention to the noise and sat down at the last seat.

Since marrying into the Xie family, she had never dealt with the noble ladies in the capital, and she didn't recognize any of the people present.

It was better that she didn't recognize him. It saved her the trouble of socializing and she could enjoy the meals in the palace with peace of mind.

At this time, three dishes, "Peony Bird's Nest", "Crispy Fried Meatballs" and "Crispy Black Glue Marbled Beef" were placed on the banquet table in front of him. Each dish was delicious and tasty, making people salivate at the sight of it.

The maids then served a cup of "cinnamon tea".

But a moment later, the eunuchs' voices could be heard from the other side of the curtain: "The Emperor has arrived..."

As soon as the words fell, the noise stopped instantly and the entire hall became completely quiet.

Through the thin curtain, Su He saw the emperor in dragon robe, supported by eunuchs, walk into the hall from the side door and sit on the dragon throne.

Following behind him was a woman in gorgeous clothes, perhaps the queen?

Behind the woman were two men and a child.

Even through the curtain, Su He recognized at a glance that one of the men was the Second Prince who had whipped her with a belt in Yichun Tower.

In contrast to the cold and brutal behavior in Yichun Tower that day, the Second Prince today was dressed in a python robe and had a smile on his face. He looked noble, friendly, and refreshing.

It really is true that you can’t judge a book by its cover!

Su He secretly clenched his fists and breathed a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, she had the identity of Madam Shaoqing as a cover. Even if the Second Prince saw her up close, he would definitely not associate her with the Hua Niang from that day, right?

The officials in the hall were already kneeling, and the women followed suit, prostrating themselves on the ground and shouting in unison: "Long live the emperor, long live the emperor, long live the emperor, a thousand years ...

The emperor's voice was deep and friendly, "Everyone, please stand up without further ceremony."

Everyone then stood up.

But he stood up and did not sit down, but remained standing in the hall.

A man in front of the palace bowed and said, "I don't know why, on such an important occasion today, the Empress is not here, but only the Consort Shu is here."

Su He was stunned for a moment before she realized that the woman beside the emperor was not the queen, but the concubine.

The emperor seemed to have a hidden meaning in his words: "Mr. Zhou is truly destined to worry. To the point where you're worrying about my harem?"

The man knelt again: "I dare not, I am just... worried about the Queen."

The emperor said nonchalantly: "The Queen is Zhou Qing's cousin. It's not unreasonable for Zhou Qing to worry about her. Please stand up first."

After the man stood up, the emperor explained, "The queen is sick with a cold and is resting in Kunning Palace, so she didn't attend today's event."

The man called Zhou Qing lowered his head and was speechless for a moment.

Su He suddenly realized that Zhou Qing was actually Zhou Ping, the sixty-year-old man who almost married her—also Zhou Yuanze's father.

She glanced at Zhou Ping through the curtains. He was short, with a hunched back, and looked quite old. If she had married him back then, Zhou Yuanze would have probably died at her hands long ago, right? Now, she wouldn't be so troubled by the thought of killing Zhou Yuanze, would she?

Su He felt a little regretful when he thought about it.

At this time, another man in the hall also made an exception: "Your Majesty, the human relationship in the world has always been orderly and distinguished between the superior and the inferior. In this occasion, if you can't see the Empress, you can't see the Concubine."

This person was obviously speaking for the Zhou family.

"Lord Tao, you're joking. Today is the birthday banquet of Concubine Shu. How can the birthday banquet go on without Concubine Shu?" It was Xie Wuhen's voice.

Lord Tao refused to give in: "Even if we want to do it, we have to wait until the Queen is in good health."

Xie Wuhen chuckled: "When the Empress is in good health, the Concubine Shu's birthday will have long passed. What's the point of holding this birthday banquet?"

Lord Tao choked up and said, "The Empress is the mother of a country and a role model for women in the world. It is only right that the world respects the Empress, and it is not right for the Empress to obey others. I hope Lord Xie will be careful with his words."

Xie Wuhen's tone grew increasingly disdainful. "You, Lord Tao, are the one who should be careful with your words. Lord Tao just said that human relationships in this world have always been orderly and distinguished between superiors and subordinates. So, Lord Tao, as a mere official, what qualifications do you have to question the Emperor and Concubine Shu's arrangements today?"

Lord Tao paused and fell silent for a moment.

With Xie Wuhen taking the lead, several officials came forward to speak for Concubine Shu.

Zhou Ping was so angry that he secretly clenched his fists and his back became more hunched.

The emperor waved his hand in a feigned resignation, "My Lords, please stop arguing. Now that we've set up a banquet, we should enjoy it properly."

The Concubine Shu beside her also took up the conversation: "If I had known that this lawsuit would ensue, I would have canceled this birthday banquet."

The emperor held her hand and soothed her softly, "How can you just not hold your beloved concubine's birthday banquet?"

Then he told all the ministers to take their seats and said, "Let's eat."

For a moment, the hall was filled with delicious food and the clinking of glasses.

Everyone raised their glasses to wish Concubine Shu eternal youth and endless blessings. Then the Emperor and Concubine Shu raised their glasses to wish all the ministers and their families peace and prosperity for many years.

Halfway through the banquet, the emperor left early and took Xie Wuhen away.

Before leaving, the emperor winked at Zhao Fu.

Zhao Fu understood and winked at the eunuch who was serving wine in the hall.

The eunuch understood and filled the officials' cups with wine, especially staying by Zhou Yuanze's side for a long time...

Su He on the other side of the curtain also ate a big meal.

At this time, because the emperor had left, everyone relaxed a lot, and the hall began to become noisy again. Some people even stood up to drink and chat with their colleagues.

The situation on the female side was exactly the same. The ladies gathered in groups of three or four and started chatting about gossip.

Su He was not familiar with them and was still sitting alone.

A slightly tipsy lady stumbled as she passed by Su He's table, spilling the full cup of wine in her hand onto Su He's sleeve.

The lady was a little confused and apologized repeatedly.

Su He was helpless and said "It's okay".

Then she called a palace maid and asked her to take her to change into clean clothes.

The palace maid respectfully replied "yes" and led her out of the palace gate.

The two walked through a long and narrow corridor and came to a side hall. Dozens of palace costumes were hung in the hall, which looked dazzling.

The palace maid said, "These are prepared for today's banquet. Madam, you can choose any one."

Su He said "thank you" and picked up a dress to change into.

She had just straightened her clothes and walked out of the side hall when she bumped into someone and almost fell down.

Su He finally managed to steady herself, looked up, and saw Zhou Yuanze's face...