Chapter 206 Banquet

Soon, the day to go to the palace for the banquet arrived.

"Second Miss, the pair of earrings given by the prince are so beautiful!" Qingzhi put the pair of sapphire and pearl earrings given by Huo Xifei on Yuan Ziyu's ears, looked at them left and right, and said with a smile.

Yuan Ziyu looked around in the mirror, stroked the jade hairpin in her hair, and smiled.

"Second Miss, let me help you change your clothes!" Qingying held up the dress she had chosen long ago and said to Yuan Ziyu, "Sister Qingyan from Liufeng Garden came over and told me that Madam will be leaving in a quarter of an hour!"

"good!"

Today, in order to match the pair of sapphire earrings, Yuan Ziyu specially chose an ice blue pleated skirt embroidered with silver thread willow catkins and flowers, which perfectly complements the earrings.

"The second young lady is so beautiful!" Qingzhi couldn't help but praise Yuan Ziyu after she changed her clothes.

Qingying also smiled and nodded, and then hurriedly said, "Second Miss, you must be extra careful in the palace today, and follow the madam closely!"

The maids were still not allowed to enter the palace for this palace banquet. Qingying was worried that Concubine Liu would do something bad, so she hurriedly reminded them.

"Don't worry, I'm not going to a dangerous place, it's not that scary!" Yuan Ziyu smiled and tapped Qingying's forehead: "You guys, just stay home and wait for me!"

"Second Miss, you must be careful!" Qingzhi said worriedly.

"Don't worry!"

Because the officials had to go to the emperor's study first, Yuan Qifeng brought the two brothers of the Yuan family into the palace early in the morning.

Liu and Yuan Ziyu only need to go directly into the palace and go to Yanshou Hall, which is also where the Queen Mother will hold her birthday banquet today.

After everything was packed, Yuan Ziyu followed Liu in a carriage towards the palace.

Because there were quite a few officials and their families entering the palace today, the carriage was not moving very fast. Fortunately, Liu and Yuan Ziyu came out early today, so when they arrived at the gate of the palace, there was still plenty of time.

"Sister You, Sister You!" Yuan Ziyu had just helped Liu get off the carriage when she heard Huo Wan's voice behind her.

Yuan Ziyu quickly turned her head and saw Huo Wan running towards her like a jumping little rabbit.

"Wan'er!" Yuan Ziyu smiled and caught Huo Wan who was running towards him.

Huo Wan smiled and took Yuan Ziyu's arm, saying to Liu: "Aunt Liu!"

"Wan'er!" Liu asked with a smile, "Where's your mother?"

"With my second and third aunts!" Huo Wan responded, pointing in a direction: "Look, they're over there!"

Liu and Yuan Ziyu looked in the direction Huo Wan pointed, and saw Meng, Min, and Yu standing together. Except for Huo Chan, who was already married from the second house, and Huo Xian, the concubine from the third house, all the other girls of the Huo family had arrived and were standing quietly by.

The palace gate was extremely lively at this time. The eunuchs who came to pick them up from the palace had not yet arrived, so the officials' families who arrived first could only wait at the palace gate.

"You'er, let's go over there too!" Liu said.

"Okay, Mom!"

Yuan Ziyu and Huo Wan followed Liu to Meng's place. The two sides greeted each other and exchanged pleasantries.

Yuan Ziyu didn't pay any attention to Yu's fake smile and Huo Jiao's obvious hostility. However, one look made her very uncomfortable. Yuan Ziyu turned her head and saw a girl in a light green dress looking at her. She squinted her eyes and thought for a while, then she remembered that if she remembered correctly, this girl should be Huo Na, the concubine of the third house.

However, based on Yuan Ziyu's understanding of the family, it is unlikely that she would bring a concubine's daughter into the palace. After all, Huo Xian did not come with them.

It seems that Huo Na is very good at pleasing people. She even managed to coax Yu into taking her to the palace for a banquet.

When Huo Na saw Yuan Ziyu looking at her, she was stunned for a moment, then she quickly smiled and nodded at Yuan Ziyu.

Yuan Ziyu had little contact with Huo Na from his previous life to this life, and didn't know her well. Seeing Huo Na showing goodwill to him, he nodded lightly and turned away.

Huo Na didn't expect Yuan Ziyu's perception to be so sharp, so she didn't dare to stare at Yuan Ziyu anymore. She just stood quietly behind Yu, as quiet as if she didn't exist.

Soon, a young eunuch came out and led the ladies waiting at the palace gate into the palace and headed towards the Yanshou Palace.

The seats in Yanshou Hall were arranged according to official rank, and Liu and Meng's seats happened to be next to each other, which really made Yuan Ziyu and Huo Wan very happy.

As for the Min and Yu families, they were much further behind.

Because it was still early and many officials' families had not arrived yet, everyone started chatting with the people around them.

As Yu was talking to Min, a voice rang out beside her: "Mrs. Huo, I accidentally soiled my dress and want to go to my aunt's to change clothes. Could Miss Huo accompany me?"

Yu turned around and smiled, "It's Miss Miao San. What's the big deal? Of course it's fine!"

After saying this, Yu said to Huo Na, "You should accompany Miss Miao San to change her clothes. If you see Empress Zhao, you must not be rude."

"Yes, mother!" Huo Na quickly stood up and said to Yu.

Miss Miao San is the legitimate daughter of Cabinet Scholar Miao Qian, named Miao Yin. She is also the niece of Empress Zhao. Although Miao Qian is only a second-rank official, many people are willing to curry favor with her. After all, the Miao family has produced Empress Zhao.

Huo Na followed Miao Yin and the palace maids all the way to Yichun Palace where Concubine Zhao was staying. Shao Hong, Concubine Zhao's personal maid, came out to greet her, "This servant greets the Third Young Lady. May I know who this is?"

"No need to be polite!" Miao Yin said, "Sister Shao Hong, this is the fourth Miss Huo from the Huo family. Oh, and where is my aunt?"

"It's Fourth Miss Huo!" Shao Hong said with a smile, "Third Miss, the Queen has gone to the Empress Dowager's Yongshou Palace and asked this servant to wait for you here."

"Oh!" Miao Yin nodded, then turned to look at Huo Na. "I was thinking of bringing you to show off in front of my aunt, but it turned out to be such a coincidence. You can only blame yourself for your bad luck!"

Huo Na hurriedly said, "Na'er thanks Miss Miao San for her kindness. Regardless of whether Na'er meets Empress Zhao or not, she will definitely do her best to do things well."

Shao Hong glanced at Huo Na with disdain, then smiled and said to Miao Yin, "Young lady, the Queen asked me to wait for you because she wanted to tell you that you shouldn't rush into anything. Don't end up like the third young lady of the Liu family. Not only did she fail, but she also got herself involved and tarnished the family's reputation. If that happens, the Queen will not allow it!"

Miao Yin was startled when she heard this and hurriedly said, "Sister Shao Hong, please tell my aunt that I've taken note of it. It's just... my matter..."

"Don't worry, young lady!" Shao Hong said with a smile, "As long as the matter is settled, the Queen will definitely help you achieve your wish."

When Miao Yin heard this, she couldn't help but feel happy.

(End of this chapter)