Defei was an exception among the concubines. The other concubines were given to Xuanyuan Hao by old man Xuanyuan. Defei took the initiative to ask for marriage because she admired Xuanyuan Hao.

This required a lot of courage at the time. Old man Xuanyuan clearly showed his dislike for Xuanyuan Hao on a daily basis, and the consequences of marrying this prince were unpredictable.

Furthermore, Xuanyuan Hao has a fiancée named Zhang Ru, with whom he has a marriage contract. Not only does Zhang Ru and Xuanyuan Hao love each other, but she also has the support of the Duke's Mansion of Ding and An and several marquises.

Zhang Ru herself was outstanding in both character, appearance, and knowledge among the noble ladies of Kyoto. With such a wife, Concubine De could only hope for the best if she became a concubine.

But compared with several other concubines, Defei was obviously treated differently and was favored.

This also made Zhang Ru uncomfortable for a while.

But when Concubine De came to see the Queen this time, she said that Xuanyuan Hao had never favored her.

According to what Concubine De said, she once thought she was favored, but it was not until she fell out of favor that she slowly realized it.

Xuanyuan Hao had never received any favoritism from his parents, or even equal love, but he had seen other brothers receive favoritism since he was a child.

If a woman, who is clearly in a weak position, dares to give him this kind of preference regardless of everything, even if he does not love her, he will protect her and consider her.

If anyone bullies her, he will definitely stand up for her.

De Fei said: "He is not pleased with me, but he is touched and grateful. He knows that I need love to survive and a child to support me.

When I gave birth to the eldest princess, I couldn't hide my loneliness. I was worried that the other concubines would laugh at me because they only gave birth to a daughter.

He said it was okay, daughters were rare, and it was his first daughter, so he was very happy.

She also comforted me that my son would have one too. Later, she really came to me often until I gave birth to a son.

Then, I suddenly fell out of favor. Ultimately, all his favor to me came from the fact that I was someone who loved him regardless of everything, so he had a reward based on that."

Zhang Ru asked, "Why are you suddenly telling me this?"

De Fei said: "I don't know what happened, and I don't know what's wrong, but I am always uneasy and feel that something is going to happen.

But when I think about it, Your Majesty, you and His Majesty are in love with each other and have been in love for most of your lives. I really can't think of any reason.

After much thought, it seems that I was the only one who overestimated my own abilities and was self-righteous and caused trouble for the Queen during those years.

So, I might be explaining it in a self-righteous way. I just want everyone to be well."

In the dream, the eldest princess, the daughter of Consort De, repeatedly defended Empress Zhang Ru, angrily exposing the lies of Consort Ming Huang Mengling, and was later brutally retaliated by Huang Mengling...

If Concubine De knew about her children... would she join forces with her?

But she wouldn't believe it, Zhang Ru sighed. Even though Xuanyuan Hao no longer had any special affection for her, he had always been good to her and her two children, especially the eldest princess.

So Zhang Ru could only say, "How could you say that about yourself? Relax, everything will be fine."

Defei used to keep her distance from me until the eldest princess got married.

Because of the past events in Zhang Ru's dream, this prince consort came according to the eldest princess's own wishes.

Of course, that person looked good, and Concubine De also took a liking to him.

From then on, Concubine De let go of the inexplicable grudge she had towards Zhang Ru.

Zhang Ru sighed in her heart. Concubine De was a very perceptive person. Even if she knew nothing, she knew something was wrong like a bird sensing an earthquake.

In this life, Huang Mengling was tortured thoroughly by the people sent by Zhang Ru before her execution. Zhang Ru did not spare any of the minions and accomplices she saw in her dreams.

But everything was done as quietly as possible. No one except myself had "seen" the tragic scene in the dream, so they would not understand.

For the sake of her son, she cannot have a reputation of being cruel and bloodthirsty. She must be the dignified and generous queen who is the mother of the country.

If I rebel in this life, what will these children who have always protected me and stood on my side in the previous life choose?

If they choose their father Emperor Xuanyuan Hao, will the prince and I turn our butcher knives against them?

How will the princes, the two princesses, the princess consort, and the prince consort stand? Will they fight each other to the bitter end, or will the whole family be wiped out?

Wasn't my initial forbearance just for the sake of everyone's well-being?

Forget it, she remembered Zhang Guanghe bowing to her and saying, "I beg Your Majesty to do this for me and for the people of the world."

I finally gave up the idea.

Xuanyuan Hao saw that she was distracted and asked, "What are you thinking about?"

Zhang Ru smiled and said, "I'm thinking about the Mid-Autumn Festival family dinner."

Xuanyuan Hao said, "Please invite Wang Hanyuan as well."

Zhang Ru said, "Last time, His Majesty asked Shi Yue to bring Shi Canglan with him. Because of the Phoenix Mandate, it can barely be considered a family dinner.

What is the reason for Minister Wang's visit?"

Xuanyuan Hao said: "Then invite some old ministers."

Zhang Ru said, "There are many civil officials and military generals."

Xuanyuan Hao said: "I will ask the Ministry of Personnel to draw up a list for you, and I will invite the old officials who have been here for more than ten years."

Tie Ren also received the invitation to the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet in the palace.

Qin Zhong said, "It says here to bring female relatives. Big brother, can you bring the one from the next courtyard with you?"

Tie Ren glanced at him, and Qin Zhong wilted and said nothing.

Zhong Yong asked, "Do you want to wear the uniform for entering the palace? Marquis Zhongyong's uniform or General Xiaoyong's uniform? I'll go back to the palace and get it."

Tie Ren said, "No, formal attire will do." Then he seemed to be talking to Qin Zhong, "I'm not bringing any women with me."

Many of these old ministers who have followed Xuanyuan Hao for more than ten years are military generals.

The wine was first brought in jugs, and later in jars. This group of people was determined to clear out all the fine wine in the palace.

Xuanyuan Hao was happy to see them. When they were a little tipsy, they started to call each other names randomly.

Zhang Ru was not surprised. After so many years, these people were still like this.

Among the younger generation of princesses, only the Fifth Princess Ye Qiu was very calm. She had seen this with her father and husband.

It was a tacit understanding that had been established for many years. With just one look from Xuanyuan Hao, everyone knew that today's target was Shangshu Wang Hanyuan.

So they took turns to toast him.

Once Xuanyuan Hao realizes that he likes this guy, he will treat him as his own, and if he is his own, he will have to drink him down.

A few civil servants found something wrong and thought that the military generals were going to deal with them again. By making the head of the civil servants fall down in anger, wasn't that dealing with the civil servants?

The civil officials rushed to block the flow of alcohol, but they were outnumbered and outdone by the military commanders. It didn't last long, and the drunken civil officials were pulled away one by one.

The generals gathered around Wang Hanyuan and toasted him.

It wasn't until Wang Hanyuan couldn't hold on any longer and was about to vomit against the wall that Xuanyuan Hao smiled and said, "That's enough. Don't make my loyal minister drunk."

No one expected that Shen Zhaoshu, who had helped her husband Wang Hanyuan sit down and poured him tea, would stand up and say to the group that had just poured wine to Wang Shangshu: "Don't leave! Come one by one and drink with me!"