Chapter 751 Family Banquet

West Palace.

When Consort Chang received the Empress's invitation to a family banquet, Granny Li said, "You should find an excuse to decline! You haven't attended any banquets in all these years. Now that Empress Jiang is inviting you, I think it's better not to go!"

Consort Chang was already aware of the rampant rumors circulating outside about Empress Dowager Cheng and her cousin.

Back then, Cheng Langjin had a huge argument with the late emperor, and when the late emperor found out that she was disloyal to him, he still did not depose her from her position as empress.

She accidentally learned of Cheng Langjin's secret. Everyone who knew about it had been killed by the late emperor. Only Cheng Langjin's maid survived by chance. The maid was disfigured and hated her to the core.

Seeing her in a daze, Granny Li said again, "Your Highness, the Imperial Concubine."

Consort Chang came to her senses and said, "Go, we can't refuse the Empress's invitation."

Li Mama added, "I've also found out that the Empress has invited the Grand Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager to this family banquet."

Consort Chang sneered, "This is going to be interesting." She wanted to see how ugly Empress Dowager Cheng's face would be, but now that Empress Dowager Cheng's scandalous affairs had been exposed, would she even attend?

Empress Dowager Cheng's good days are over; she deserved to be punished for her crimes long ago.

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At the same time, Jiang Fenghua also heard about what happened in the Golden Palace. She looked indifferent and muttered to herself, "So this is what Xie Shang was hesitant to talk about."

She had asked Xie Shang about Empress Dowager Cheng, but Xie Shang thought it wasn't important and didn't mention Empress Dowager Cheng's past romantic affairs. Now, however, people were using this to create public opinion and harm her son. She wondered if Empress Dowager Cheng would go crazy again.

Granny Wang was helping Jiang Fenghua get dressed. The phoenix robe was too complicated to wear, so she needed someone to help her.

Granny Wang said, "I never thought that Empress Dowager Cheng's romantic affairs would become a knife in her throat. I wonder if she will attend the family banquet hosted by the Empress."

Jiang Fenghua said in a deep voice, "The more she hides, the more guilty she is. Only if she appears openly will she have a chance to prove her innocence. Given the Empress Dowager's temper, I am really worried that she will ruin my banquet."

“It is indeed somewhat inappropriate for Your Highness to hold a banquet at this opportune time,” said Granny Wang. “However, Your Highness has your own plans, and we will fully cooperate with you.”

Jiang Fenghua smiled politely. Her purpose in organizing the family banquet was not to cause trouble. If Empress Dowager Cheng wanted to make a scene or go crazy, so be it.

After finishing her makeup, Jiang Fenghua called Lin Yu and they went to the banquet hall together.

Over here, several princesses also arrived one after another. The Empress Dowager was helped to the family banquet. "It's not easy for me to eat a meal hosted by the Empress for the first time since I returned to the palace!"

Since the Fourth Princess Consort was imprisoned, the Third Princess Consort and the Second Princess Consort Zhao Yunhui have become close. When they saw the Empress Dowager in front of them, they all bowed and said, "Your Majesty, we pay our respects to the Empress Dowager."

They only knew the Empress Dowager by guessing that she was clever and perceptive, but the Empress Dowager didn't recognize them, nor did the nanny around her.

She asked, "Whose wives are you?"

Yuan Wenqiang took the initiative to introduce herself: "I am the Third Princess Consort of the Third Prince's residence. I received an invitation from the Empress to attend a banquet in the palace early this morning and have met the Empress Dowager."

Zhao Yunhui followed suit, saying, "Your Majesty, I am the Second Princess Consort of the Second Prince's residence. I pay my respects to the Empress Dowager."

If the Empress Dowager hadn't suddenly returned to the capital, they probably would never have seen her in their entire lives, let alone known what she looked like. Now that they had seen her, no one dared to make a sound.

They didn't know that the Empress Dowager was no pushover either. Upon returning to the palace, she caused the deaths of two concubines, and Zhu Zhenzhen ended up taking the blame for everything. Zhu Zhenzhen was sent to the imperial palace, meaning she would never be able to leave again. The Emperor did not punish the Empress Dowager, but instead sent Prince Kang's two children to do hard labor.

These are all pieces of information that the Third Princess Consort found out.

Just then, the concubines of the harem arrived one after another. Consort Gao and Consort Song led the concubines of the harem to pay their respects to the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager didn't see Jiang Fenghua and felt no interest in her; Jiang Fenghua's organization of this family banquet was actually somewhat unnecessary.

She said, "No need for formalities."

Just as the Empress Dowager was about to leave, Shu Yan, who was standing in the crowd, suddenly collapsed to the ground. A palace maid exclaimed in surprise, "Why has Consort Ronghua fainted?"

The Empress Dowager coldly observed the situation unfolding before her, remaining unmoved. Finally, the nanny serving Shu Ronghua cried out, "Quickly, summon the imperial physician!"

Jiang Fenghua also arrived late. Her face was full of anxiety as she ordered in a deep voice, "Why is she still lying on the ground? Why don't you take Shu Ronghua to the side hall to rest? Go and fetch the imperial physician. Don't crowd around to look at her. Shu Ronghua isn't a red-faced monkey. Everyone, disperse!"

As soon as the concubines dispersed, the area instantly became empty, and Shu Yan was carried away.

Jiang Fenghua calmly said, "Quickly go and fetch the imperial physician."

Jiang Fenghua also greeted the Empress Dowager with a forced smile, saying, "Your Majesty, I greet you."

The Empress Dowager utterly disliked Jiang Fenghua. The reason she attended the banquet hosted by Jiang Fenghua was because she had heard about what was happening in the court, so she had to come and see the chaotic state of the palace.

She firmly believed that the Great Zhou Dynasty had become what it was due to Xie Jing's mismanagement, and that the most suitable person to be emperor was still her youngest son, Xie Kang. If it had been him, the harem would not have turned out this way.

Jiang Fenghua knew that everyone she had invited would come today; the palace was full of ghosts. The reason the palace had become such a mess was because of a vicious grandmother like the Empress Dowager and a restless Empress Dowager.

The family was not united and even betrayed Xie Shang. No matter how hard Xie Shang tried to become a good emperor, it was useless. Everyone was stabbing him in the back. He was not physically exhausted, but mentally exhausted.

Everyone was selfish and self-interested, and Jiang Fenghua didn't give the Empress Dowager a kind look either. "Empress Dowager, please take a seat. We'll start the banquet once everyone has arrived."

After saying that, she turned and walked away without looking back.

Empress Dowager Cheng was so anxious in Cining Palace that she scratched her head and cheeks. Who was Cui Tao? She had no recollection of her at all. The people in her palace had been replaced long ago. How could she know so clearly?

The key point is that much of the content in the booklet compiled by Cui Tao is true. The only untrue part is that she did not kill her cousin. Xie Jing also knew about what happened back then, but he is dead, and no one can prove Shang'er's status as a prince.

Granny Xi brought over the cloak. "It's getting late. Does Your Majesty really wish to attend the family banquet hosted by the Empress?"

Empress Dowager Cheng clenched her fists, furious at the rumors circulating outside the palace. Although she and her cousin were in love, they had never done anything improper because her cousin was an upright man. It was a pity that he gave up his life for her in the end.

Her cousin was the only man in the world who truly loved her.

Thinking of her cousin's death, Empress Dowager Cheng's eyes suddenly turned red. She definitely had to go, otherwise everyone would think she was guilty.