Chapter 91: It was because her son went to the battlefield that she got the chance to leave the cold palace
"Your Highness, the Crown Prince's Consort, we're here." The curtain of the carriage was lifted. Before Liu Mingyue had time to stand up, Tan Zhuoyan passed by her like the wind and got off the carriage first.
He was too impatient, afraid that others would not see how uncomfortable he was sitting in the carriage with two people.
Liu Mingyue paused for a moment before she got up and followed the other person out of the carriage.
Seeing that her precious son looked unwell, the Marquis' wife walked over to Liu Mingyue and whispered some advice.
"Today is the Queen Mother's birthday banquet, it is very solemn. I have no right to interfere with what you and Yan'er do in private, but in the palace, you should be careful about your words and actions, don't offend the Queen Mother, and don't bring shame to the Marquis' Mansion."
The Marquis's wife was both warning and worried. If the empress dowager was offended, the entire Marquis's mansion would suffer.
"Don't worry, Madam." Liu Mingyue bowed and agreed. The Marquis' wife was a little surprised that she followed the rules so well, but she also felt a little relieved.
The Marquis and his wife followed the palace servants who led the way and walked in front, while Liu Mingyue and Tan Zhuoyan walked behind. The Dingbei Marquis's mansion had a relatively good position at the banquet, so after the group took their seats, they waited quietly.
The protagonist of this banquet is the Queen Mother. Before the Queen Mother takes her seat, the royal family members will arrive first.
Every time a royal child entered the palace, everyone at the table had to perform formal greetings. At today's palace banquet, many young ladies knew that the emperor and empress intended to select wives and concubines for the princes, and they were a little shy.
Liu Mingyue respectfully stood up and saluted. When she looked at the people present, she saw two familiar figures at the Zhou family's seats.
"Your Highness, your humble servant greets you." Zhou Qianqian and Zhou Xiaoxiao bowed to the prince together.
Unlike Zhou Qianqian who held her head high and chest out, Aunt Bai's daughter Zhou Xiaoxiao hunched her chest and lowered her head, looking very timid.
Liu Mingyue was a little absent-minded. Concubines could not attend today's palace banquet, but illegitimate daughters could. Today's palace banquet was destined to be not too quiet, but no matter how lively it was, it had nothing to do with her as an outsider.
Soon, the Queen Mother and the Emperor and Empress entered the venue together. The Emperor and Empress helped the Queen Mother to her seat and ordered the birthday banquet to begin.
"Today is the Queen Mother's birthday. The dishes at the banquet are different from the usual palace banquets. You should eat more. I don't know if there will be such an opportunity again in the future."
Qin Zhuoyan glanced at Liu Mingyue and sneered at this boring woman.
"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I will definitely live up to my mission." Liu Mingyue knew that he was mocking her, so she ignored his words. However, she did not forget to disgust him.
Qin Zhuoyan sat further away with a shudder, "Don't be so sentimental. How could this prince care about an ugly girl like you? Behave yourself later. I can't do anything to you here. Can't I do that when we return to the Marquis' Mansion?"
Liu Mingyue took in Qin Zhuoyan's reaction and found it funny, so she didn't even look at him.
After the protagonist took his seat, the palace servants served food and snacks one after another, and soon the food table was full.
The only thing that was relevant to Liu Mingyue in this palace banquet was the delicious food on the table. Liu Mingyue had no other thoughts and only focused on eating.
When Liu Mingyue was secretly sighing that the imperial chef's cooking skills were indeed well-deserved, the emperor on the throne mentioned a word that she was familiar with.
"A few months ago, the border was in danger, and the Ninth Prince Chi Hongyuan was ordered to go to the border. I didn't have high hopes for him, thinking that he could only boost morale. I didn't expect the Ninth Prince to be both wise and brave. After arriving at the border, he immediately formulated a countermeasure and repelled the invading Hu people! I am relieved!"
The emperor intended to promote Chi Hongyuan because he was a rare military talent. After Zhou Junyuan's death, the soldiers at the border needed someone to take charge of the situation, and Chi Hongyuan was the most suitable candidate.
"Your Majesty is wise and has a keen eye for talent. He appointed His Royal Highness the Ninth Prince. I admire you."
No matter what the circumstances, there would always be someone to flatter the emperor.
However, the emperor was very pleased with the compliment. After talking to the ministers for a few words, he turned his attention to the former queen, now Concubine Rong, who was sitting in the concubines' seat.
"Fei Rong has taught well. She has taught Yuan Er to be so outstanding. It is not easy."
The emperor looked at Concubine Rong with pity in his eyes, but Liu Mingyue heard a hint of temptation in it.
The emperor knew immediately how difficult Rong Yuer and Chi Hongyuan's life had been in the cold palace for so many years.
In a time when it was hard to even have a full meal, it was not easy for Concubine Rong to teach her son so well. The emperor was very suspicious and was testing whether there was anyone in the Rong family who had not been cleared out.
"Your Majesty, Yuan'er has loved swords and guns since he was young, and has always hoped to contribute to your majesty and the people at the border. He has only been practicing clumsily over the years, and his years of hard work have finally come in handy."
Rong Fei's eyes became red unconsciously when she talked about the past: "Yuan Er and I should be grateful to Your Majesty for giving him a chance, otherwise how could Yuan Er achieve his wish at the border?"
Liu Mingyue lowered her head and listened to what she said, and felt admiration for this once deposed queen.
In order to dispel the emperor's suspicion, she did not mention how difficult it was for her in the cold palace, nor did she mention the Rong family. She only mentioned that the emperor gave Chi Hongyuan the opportunity to be loyal to the emperor and serve the country.
"Haha, you and your son are both equally humble." The emperor was very satisfied with Concubine Rong's answer.
For an emperor who holds the power of life and death, he would certainly feel proud when others emphasize his rights.
Liu Mingyue waited until the emperor finished speaking before she raised her head and looked cautiously in the direction of Concubine Rong. When her eyes fell on Concubine Rong, Liu Mingyue's breathing stagnated slightly.
As expected of the woman who gave birth to Chi Hongyuan, Chi Hongyuan looked 60% like her, and the remaining 40% was Rong Yuer's incomparable beauty that combined charm and heroism.
Her appearance can be said to be the most beautiful in the harem. Among the young girls, Rong Yuer's appearance is incomparable to others.
"This Concubine Rong seems to be almost 40 years old this year, but she still looks so young."
The ladies at the banquet were all amazed and surprised when they saw Rong Yu'er. Looking at the guests in the hall, only Liu Mingyue knew how Concubine Rong got her appearance.
On the way to Qinghe Palace, Liu Mingyue heard from the palace servants that Concubine Rong had regained the emperor's favor. It seemed that she was very good at using Bai Ziyu's medicine. The emperor and Concubine Rong drank from their cups, and their eyes never left each other.
Many concubines were very jealous of Rong Fei's sudden return from the cold palace, especially the current queen. The beautiful woman on the Phoenix throne smiled but did not smile, but under the table, the handkerchief in her hand was almost torn to pieces.
"Hmph, what is there to be proud of? It's just because her son went to the battlefield that she got the chance to leave the cold palace!" A princess who was dressed beautifully at the banquet couldn't stand Concubine Rong and whispered to the camera.
When the Queen heard that someone disdained Concubine Rong, her expression eased a little, but the jealousy in her heart was difficult to calm down for a while.
She didn't understand why a woman who had wasted so many years in the cold palace should have suffered a lot and lost her beauty, but how come Concubine Rong was still as beautiful as a 20-year-old girl after so many years!
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