44 I'd like to see who dares!

Must we, mother and daughter, truly become so estranged?

Qi Gu debated with the group of beauties and won a great victory, feeling completely comfortable and at ease.

She sat back in her seat, and a new tail appeared behind her—Li Qiao.

She felt guilty towards Li Qiaoqi, because it was her momentary lapse of judgment that led to Li Qiao being caught up in palace intrigues and even being sent away for a political marriage.

Li Qiao's three months in the palace had allowed her to mature rapidly, come to recognize reality, and realize how many foolish things she had done before.

When she saw Qi Gu again, she realized that Qi Gu was the only person she knew in the palace. They used to be enemies, but now she knew that they were never enemies. Feeling awkward, she unconsciously followed behind Qi Gu.

Qi Gu secured the title of "Princess" for her, and she was grateful and wanted to thank her, but the words that came out of her mouth were, "Li Qi Gu, I will not thank you..." As soon as the words left her mouth, she was terrified.

The person before me was no longer Li Qigu from Li Family Village. Her name was Chu Yuanchu, the first child of the Emperor and Empress, and a truly noble and legitimate "Princess".

Qi Gu glanced at her, saw her almost crying expression, and chuckled, "Li Qiao, do you know what you look like right now?"

"What?" Li Qiao asked.

"Like a stubborn duck, but it's actually quite cute."

Li Qiao almost burst into tears upon hearing the familiar local accent. "Li Qigu, you really haven't changed at all, hmph~" It was as if they had returned to Li Family Village, where two ordinary farm girls were arguing over a trivial matter. But not now, one was a princess about to be married off, and the other was a princess facing the treacherous palace intrigues.

"Madam Zhao has arrived!"

"The Crown Princess has arrived!"

The eunuch shouted again.

Just as Qi Gu and Li Qiao sat down, two beauties entered one after the other.

She turned out to be the eldest daughter of the Gao family, the wife of her own younger brother, and the mother of the Ninth Princess.

As soon as Gao Ruyi entered, after paying her respects to Qu Zhouhou and the others, she walked up to her, bowed respectfully, and said, “Sister Yuanchu, my sister is ignorant. I apologize to you on her behalf. After today’s matter is over, I will tell Father about what happened today. It is the father’s fault if the son is not taught. Father will give the princess an explanation.”

Behind her, Madam Zhao also came over and apologized to her on behalf of the Ninth Princess.

Gao Ruyu and the Ninth Princess stood behind the two. Gao Ruyu had her head bowed and looked unpleasant; the Ninth Princess had a defiant look on her face and turned her head away from her mother.

Qi Gu looked at Gao Ruyi in front of her, her sister-in-law. In her previous life, this sister-in-law was very virtuous and kind, and did not like to cause trouble. She was sensible and knew what was important. She took good care of her sick brother. Her mother liked her very much.

Although she wasn't particularly close to Qi Gu, she was still very polite and respectful. However, her sister was the complete opposite.

Logically speaking, Gao Ruyu is Gao Ruyi's younger sister, and Gao Ruyi is her brother's wife. Gao Ruyu should be closer to her, but Gao Ruyu is closer to the second princess instead.

At first she didn't understand, but later when she learned that Gao Ruyu was in love with Sima Hong, she understood why.

No wonder Gao Ruyu conspired with the Second Princess, the Ninth Princess, and others to make things difficult for her and embarrass her; it turns out she also harbored the idea of ​​marrying Sima Hong.

In her previous life, she was completely unaware of this until three months after her marriage to Sima Hong, when her mother told her that Sima Hong was going to marry Gao Ruyu as his concubine.

In her past life, she was incredibly oblivious; she couldn't even see something so obvious. But in this life, she was reborn, and she believed she had no connection with Sima Hong. However, Gao Ruyu still wouldn't let her go.

Looking at Gao Ruyi bowing solemnly and Madam Zhao looking embarrassed, Qi Gu was slightly lost in thought.

Seeing that Qi Gu didn't react, Li Qiao quickly tugged at her sleeve, signaling her to hurry up and help her get up. Otherwise, her reputation for being arrogant and making the prince's wife and the emperor's concubines lose face on her very first day back in the palace would probably spread throughout the entire capital.

Unexpectedly, Aunt Qi said, "What's going on today? One by one, they've come to apologize to me. Sister-in-law and Madam Zhao, please get up quickly."

“We’re all family, it was just some banter between sisters. Your seriousness makes me seem like I don’t have the grace of an elder sister. If word gets out, it will make me look like this country bumpkin princess who bullies her sisters as soon as she enters the palace. Wouldn’t that confirm my reputation?”

"Let's see who dares!" The Empress walked in from the front hall, her majestic voice ringing out. She slowly walked up the steps from behind the golden screen.

Empress Zhang was a powerful empress who could assist the emperor in handling political affairs. She had accumulated great prestige, and her appearance would immediately bring solemnity to the previously chaotic hall.

Just then, the eunuch's untimely voice rang out again, "Madam Guo has arrived!"

"Oh, everyone's here, even Her Majesty the Empress. It seems I'm late. I apologize to Her Majesty, I'm not feeling well today, please forgive me for being a little late."

She was unaware of the discord between the Second Princess and the First Princess today, and her late arrival was not due to illness, but rather a deliberate act, as the title of "Eldest Princess" originally belonged to her, Rong'er.

Unexpectedly, a fake princess arrived first, which was fine since she and her daughter didn't take her seriously, as she was only sent there for a political marriage.

Now a real princess has arrived, not only stealing her daughter's "eldest princess" title, but also making her, the emperor's concubine, celebrate for a village princess!

She wasn't going to give them any face; she was deliberately going to be late!

Inside the hall, everyone noticed that Madam Guo's excuses were extremely perfunctory, showing that she was usually so rude.

Madam Zhao secretly glanced at Madam Guo. No wonder this woman was so stupid. On a day like this, she still dared to disrespect the Empress. She was deliberately trying to get the Empress to use her methods against her.

Madam Zhao smiled secretly. Thanks to this fool, she had been able to live a smooth life in the palace all these years. However, she would keep Jiu'er away from Pixiang Palace in the future, so that she wouldn't be infected by his stupidity!

The Empress didn't even lift her eyelids. "Since you're not feeling well, then don't stand here. Otherwise, you might aggravate your sister's condition and delay serving the Emperor."

Empress Zhang called out to the outside, "Someone, escort Lady Guo back to the palace."

His phoenix eyes looked at Madam Guo without a trace of emotion. "You should stay in the Pixiang Palace and recuperate properly."

He then turned to look at the second princess, who immediately felt a chill on her head.

"Second Princess, your mother is unwell. As her daughter, you must fulfill your filial duty and take good care of her. You can come out again after she recovers."

Before Madam Guo and the Second Princess could utter a word in their defense, a tall and imposing maidservant stepped forward and ushered them out.

Everyone in the hall lowered their heads, glancing out of the corner of their eyes as Madam Guo, whose face was pale, and the Second Princess were "invited" out.

This is not a matter of going back to recuperate and care for the sick; it is clearly a matter of confining the two of them until the Empress's anger subsides, at which point they will be allowed to come out.

No one sympathized with her; after all, for Madam Guo to disregard the dignity of the Empress and the Princess on such a day was truly out of line.

Gao Ruyi's face turned pale. Her mother-in-law was no ordinary mother-in-law; she was the empress, second only to the emperor.

She knew all too well her mother-in-law's ruthless methods and how fiercely protective she was of her own. The Empress already felt guilty and wanted to make amends for the eldest princess's exile. Today was the first day the princess entered the palace, but the younger sister wanted to embarrass the eldest princess by speaking rudely at the princess's return banquet.

Gao Ruyi thought that her father and mother were still too indulgent and spoiling towards her younger sister. If this continued, they might cause a big disaster. She needed to ask her father to discipline her younger sister's temperament properly, otherwise her life would be in danger.

After clearing away all the eyesores, the Empress stood up. "Qi Gu, come here." She reached out her hand to her daughter, gesturing for her to come to her side.

Aunt Qi was shocked; this procedure didn't exist in her previous life!

Because of her poor performance in the main hall, she was very reserved throughout the banquet that night.

The second and ninth princesses also said many sarcastic things to her, but she silently endured them. Firstly, she couldn't understand them, and secondly, she didn't know how to speak Mandarin at that time, and was afraid that speaking would only invite their laughter again.

Her mother, after arriving at the rear hall, glanced lightly at the princesses and noblewomen and then announced the start of the banquet.

Now, the Empress Dowager stretched out her hand, waiting for her to come forward and walk to her side.

Qi Gu was stunned for a moment, then Qu Zhouhou pushed her, "Qi Gu, go quickly." Only then did Qi Gu understand what this meant. It meant that she had passed her mother's test and her mother had approved of her.

She accomplished what she couldn't do in her past life, but for some reason, she didn't feel particularly happy.

She climbed seven steps one by one until she reached the Empress's Phoenix Chair.

The Empress Dowager took her hand. The hand she held was no longer as slightly rough as it had been when she was a child, but it was still warm and strong. Qi Gu's eyes reddened, and she lowered her head slightly to hide it.

The Empress, holding Qi Gu's hand, stood hand in hand before the large vermilion table, facing the crowd. "Everyone," she said, "my daughter, Chu Yuan Chu, has returned. I hope you will all take good care of her from now on."

Everyone stood up and bowed, saying, "Long live the Empress! May the Princess enjoy eternal happiness!"

For a moment, the sounds of wind and string instruments filled the air, and the lights shimmered. Qi Gu held a wine glass, the pale white liquid swirling within. Qi Gu felt as if it were all unreal.

She missed her father. Only when she was with him, with her feet on the ground, the sticky, damp earth anchoring her in the millet and wheat field, the wheat ears gently rubbing against her palms, did she feel at ease.

Right now, she feels like she's standing on a floating platform; if she loses her footing, she'll fall into the bottomless lake.

As the moon moved westward, the banquet finally came to an end.

After seeing off the last departing Marquis Qu Zhou, the Empress stood behind her and said, "I have ordered people to take care of your palace. If you need anything, just tell Aunt Lu."

"Thank you, Mother." Qi Gu bowed respectfully, still performing the proper etiquette between a subject and a ruler.

"Let Hongyan and Honghu take you back to your palace. They are familiar with the palace roads. Also, I'll have Fulian take twenty people with her. From now on, these people will be at your beck and call."

Qi Gu was once again shocked by the unexpected turn of events, so different from her previous life. "Mother... this is probably against the rules."

"Twenty people isn't a lot. Besides, you'll have official duties to perform in the future, so your father won't say anything, and others certainly won't dare," Empress Zhang explained, a rare occurrence.

"Then, thank you for your trouble, Mother." Qi Gu bowed respectfully in thanks again.

"Qi Gu, you..." The Empress wanted to ask, but in the end she didn't.

Her brows were tightly furrowed as she looked at her cautious daughter. Her respectful demeanor was nothing less than a deliberate act of distance.

Having held a high position for so long, even if they are mother and daughter or mother and son, their status is different now, and there are some things they simply cannot ask directly.

Empress Zhang left with her entourage, and only after her figure had completely disappeared into the night did Qi Gu say to Hong Hu and Hong Yan behind her, as well as Fu Lian and the others newly sent by the Empress Dowager, "Let's go."

As soon as I turned around, I saw a thin figure standing not far away. The figure swayed slightly in the wind.

[Author's Note]

The investiture ceremony and palace banquet are finally finished. Now, let's officially move on to the "Princess Chapter" [Sunglasses].

Bug fixes on October 11, 2025