Although Xu Yuehuai showed no outward signs of distress, she couldn't help but feel uneasy inside.

She simply couldn't understand why the Empress had done this today.

However, she still smiled and agreed: "If Your Majesty doesn't mind, I will naturally come."

The Empress looked pleased and nodded again.

Just then, a palace maid rushed over to report: "Your Highness, the banquet has already started in the garden. Let's hurry over there."

"Alright." The Empress immediately stood up, and even gestured with her eyes for Xu Yuehuai to come and help her. "Duchess, let's go together."

"Alright." Upon hearing that the Empress had spoken, the Duchess of Zhenguo rose to respond and followed.

She lowered her voice and said to Xu Yuehuai beside her, "Go and help Her Majesty the Empress."

Xu Yuehua nodded in agreement and went over to help the Empress. The group then headed together into the Imperial Garden.

Ah Qi followed behind them with little interest.

They had just arrived at the Imperial Garden when they ran into Consort Min and Zhao Min, who had arrived late.

Consort Min looked at Xu Yuehuai beside the Empress and couldn't help but sigh. She couldn't believe there was such a beautiful person in the world. If she stayed in the palace, she would never receive the Emperor's favor.

Unexpectedly, Zhao Min suddenly pouted in dissatisfaction: "Aunt, she is that Xu Yuehuai."

"Your Majesty, this palace isn't a marketplace. How can just anyone be allowed to enter?" Her words were full of disdain. "Is this probably just a cook? How can she be qualified to enter the palace?"

Zhao Min was extremely arrogant, and she kept sneering at Xu Yuehuai.

Consort Min looked her up and down again, and couldn't help but sneer: "Oh, who are you trying to seduce dressed so brightly?"

Zhao Min instantly beamed with joy. That bitch Xu Yuehuai, let's see who can back her up this time. Her aunt is a Noble Consort of the current dynasty, enjoying the Emperor's favor.

Xu Yuehuai was speechless. It was bad enough to run into him outside the palace gates, but now he had to run into him in the Imperial Garden.

Although she didn't want to cause any trouble in the palace, she also didn't want to be bullied like this.

"Consort Min, my attire is almost identical to Zhao Min's. How am I considered glamorous and seductive? Or do you think Zhao Min is also trying to seduce someone?" She took a deep breath and countered, "Furthermore, Zhao Min's dress has phoenixes outlined in gold thread. What is her intention in doing that?"

Upon hearing this, Consort Min immediately looked somewhat embarrassed and subconsciously glanced at Zhao Min beside her.

The golden phoenix on Zhao Min's dress made her dizzy.

The Empress had been thinking about how to embarrass Consort Min, but she couldn't find a way out. Unexpectedly, Zhao Min had delivered this loophole directly to her doorstep.

Her face immediately turned cold, and she pretended to be serious: "Miss Zhao Min probably doesn't know the rules of the palace. Guards, strip her clothes off so she can learn a lesson."

As soon as the Empress finished speaking, someone came up and started to strip her clothes off.

Zhao Min naturally didn't want to lose face in such a situation, so she immediately covered her clothes while crying out, "Aunt, Aunt, please save me!"

"Your Majesty, today is my birthday banquet. Isn't it a bit too much for you to treat my niece like this?" Consort Min's face immediately turned ugly.

However, the Empress was not about to let them off so easily, and urged, "Hurry up!"

In no time at all, Zhao Min's outer clothes were stripped off.

Consort Min's face had turned extremely gloomy.

Fortunately, her maid was a reasonable person and immediately put an outer garment on Zhao Min, which eased Guang'an's anxiety.

Unexpectedly, Consort Min was no pushover either, and continued to bring up the matter of her identity.

"Xu Yuehuai, is your name Xu Yuehuai? I have never seen you before. I wonder what your status is to have entered the palace?" She continued to mock him without changing her expression.

She was determined to avenge the humiliation Zhao Min had suffered.

Xu Yuehuai's face darkened upon hearing this, and the Duchess of Zhenguo's expression was also extremely unpleasant.

“Your Highness Consort Min, it’s inappropriate for you to say that. Xu Yuehuai is now a young lady of our Duke Zhenguo’s mansion.” The Duchess of Zhenguo stood in front of Xu Yuehuai to defend her, her eyes also carrying a hint of coldness.

Zhao Min immediately realized that Consort Min was preparing to stand up for her.

She immediately sneered, "Aunt, I remember the Zhenguo Duke's mansion doesn't seem to have the surname Xu. If it doesn't have the surname Xu, then what kind of daughter is she from a duke's mansion? Is she just a charlatan?"

Consort Min felt a sense of satisfaction seeing the gloom on Xu Yuehuai's face, and the two of them laughed.

The Duchess of Zhenguo was so angry that she lost face, but she was no match for Consort Min and her companion.

Xu Yuehuai, who was standing to the side, was also furious. She secretly made a fuss about Zhao Min and the other woman. However, she felt sorry for the Duchess of Zhenguo and was upset about the matter.

The Empress was no pushover either. Since Xu Yuehuai had helped her vent her anger, she would naturally lend them a hand in return.

She immediately spoke in a cold voice: "Your Highness, this is a family matter of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, and it seems to have nothing to do with you. Besides, A-Yue came to the palace with an invitation from me. She has the right to stand here, both morally and logically. If you continue to speak recklessly, I will not be so polite."

The Empress had just finished speaking when a eunuch announced from outside: "His Majesty has arrived! His Highness the Prince has arrived!"

Everyone bowed in greeting.

Seeing the garden bustling with people and the banquet well prepared, the Emperor was naturally in a good mood and skipped the formalities: "Alright, get up quickly."

When Consort Min saw the Emperor arrive, she immediately prepared to step forward and cry out her grievances.

At this moment, seeing that the Emperor was in a good mood and looked very pleased, the Duchess of Zhenguo decided to petition for Xu Yuehuai's permission.

"Your Majesty, I humbly request that you bestow upon my daughter, Xu Yuehuai, the title of Princess." The Duchess of Zhenguo bowed to the Emperor first. "Your Majesty, our Zhenguo Duke's Mansion can be considered a founding hero. Over the years, we have never used this merit to be complacent. Today, I present this merit only in the hope that my poor daughter can be given a new title."

The Emperor was completely bewildered, and everyone was caught off guard, especially Consort Min and Zhao Min, who were waiting to see them make a fool of themselves. How could a cook dare to dream of becoming a princess?

That's a huge joke.

The Emperor stroked his beard, but before he could speak, Qi Guze bowed and said, "Your Majesty, Xu Yuehuai certainly deserves to be rewarded."