She now understood who Guan Xi's personality was from. She really offended people, but she looked so comfortable when she was beaten.

The young eunuch leading the way was bending over.

The most taboo thing in the palace is to talk too much. Sometimes learning to pretend to be deaf and dumb can also be a life-saving talisman.

The dinner hasn't started yet.

The young eunuch led Yang to sit on the side for the female members of the family.

Su Yun took a quick look and didn't look around. When she came, Yang had already told her about the palace rules.

The dinner was held in Baohedian. The male ministers sat on the left with their children and grandchildren, and the female family members sat on the right.

There is also a carved pear flower table in front of each person.

Hundreds of palace maids were walking around in the hall, serving up fine wines and all kinds of delicious food, which smelled delicious and made people salivate.

The concubines, princesses, and princes had all arrived early and sat in the seats closest to the emperor.

At first glance, the group of beautiful concubines is dazzling.

Su Yun and Yang were sitting in the middle.

Su Jiaojiao was standing next to her, and she pulled at the corner of Su Yun's clothes.

When he saw Su Yun looking at him, he blinked.

Su Jiaojiao lost her mother and had a little maid by her side.

The maid reminded quietly.

"Miss, Eunuch Li is here."

As soon as he finished speaking, Eunuch Li stood aside with a whisk in his hand and shouted.

"The Queen Mother has arrived~"

"Live a thousand years, Queen Mother." All the ministers and female relatives knelt down in worship.

The Queen Mother was wearing a gorgeous palace robe, with intricate patterns embroidered on the golden brocade. She was fifty-five years old, but she didn't have a single gray hair. It was as if time had left no trace on her.

The Empress Dowager was the concubine of the late emperor when he was old. She was still alive and well until the late emperor passed away.

She said casually after sitting down.

"Everyone, stand up."

Zhou Yingwan came with Prime Minister Zhou. They first paid their respects in turn and then took their seats.

Guan Qing and Prime Minister Zhou leaned back in their seats, talking in low voices.

Zhou Yingwan was in the position before Su Yun.

"The little guy is here too." Zhou Yingwan nodded with a smile.

"Aunt Yingwan."

Su Yun called out softly, and the two of them greeted each other.

"The Emperor has arrived~The Princess has arrived~" Eunuch Li sang in a rhythmic manner.

Everyone knelt down again.

[I don’t think I need to kneel now. Everyone should be here…]

Su Yun knelt on the ground and thought boredly.

The emperor on the high platform looked around with sharp eyes, but because there were so many female relatives, he didn't know who made the sound just now.

However, judging by everyone’s reactions, it should be that he was the only one who could hear it.

"My dear ministers, please stand up." The emperor sat on the dragon throne shining with golden light.

Qin Fuying was sitting next to the emperor.

The Queen Mother waved her hand and said, "Fuying, come here."

"Grandmother, today is Ying'er's birthday. She wants to be closer to our father." Qin Fuying declined politely.

The Queen Mother felt humiliated and put on a kind smile.

"Okay, today is your birthday, so you should see if there is anyone you like. If you like someone, the Imperial Grandmother will make the decision for you."

Having said that, Qin Fuying knew that the Queen Mother wanted to arrange a marriage for her.

She pretended not to understand, "I can't bear to leave my grandmother and father, and I don't want to get married yet."

The Queen Mother smiled and said nothing more.

She held the handle of the chair and glanced at Concubine Shu below.

Concubine Shu tightly grasped her handkerchief. This old man was putting pressure on her.

Shufei is actually the Empress Dowager's niece, but between them, she is a daughter and an aunt, so it goes without saying who is closer.

Concubine Shu smiled softly and said under the pressure.

"Today is your birthday, as long as Ying'er is happy."

The Queen Mother was about to speak when she was interrupted by the Emperor.

"Okay, let the palace banquet begin."

Just as he finished speaking, a group of palace maids in dance dresses came over and started dancing in the center.

The sound of the guzheng rang out, accompanying it.

The emperor stopped in mid-air with the chopsticks in his hand.

Who is it?

Eunuch De had just served a dish when he saw that the emperor held the golden chopsticks but never started eating. He was so scared that beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

It's over. Is he going to lose his head just after being promoted? He clearly remembered that the emperor ate squirrel mandarin fish. Could it be that he remembered it wrong?

Eunuch De knelt down.

"Your Majesty, forgive me."

"No problem." The emperor waved his hand and put the fish into his mouth.

Only then did Eunuch De stand up and let out a breath.

It's really like living with a tiger to serve the king. His heart really can't take it.

Only after the emperor started eating did everyone else start to eat.

Su Yun picked up a small piece of Dongpo pork and put it into her mouth.

[This Dongpo pork melts in your mouth, delicious! But the quantity is a bit too small. 】

Only in front of the emperor was there a whole dish, while in front of the ministers and female relatives was only a small exquisite dish.

The emperor looked downward.

But there were a lot of people eating Dongpo pork, and he still couldn't find out who it was.

He looked at the Dongpo pork.

Is it really that delicious? Eunuch De understood and immediately picked up a piece and put it on the carved gold-painted plate.

The emperor put it in his mouth and frowned.

It's just so-so, no different from usual.

Eunuch De was so frightened that he knelt down again.

Fu Yuan and Qin Shi in the audience noticed Eunuch De and the Emperor, and they both thought at the same time.

The Dog Emperor (father) can hear it too.

The emperor said, "Xiao Dezi, can you please serve the food? You can't replace someone else."

"Minions can."

Eunuch De stood up, and this time he carefully picked up a piece of emerald cabbage.

Only when he saw the emperor eat it did he feel relieved.

Qin Fuying kept staring at Su Yun, and ate whatever Su Yun ate.

Before she knew it, she had eaten her fill.

So she put down her chopsticks, propped up her face and stared at Su Yun.

The Queen Mother wiped the corners of her mouth with a silk handkerchief.

"Fuying has been in a daze, maybe she has a lover. Tell the Empress Dowager about it. If he is a good boy, the Empress Dowager will decide and arrange the marriage for you."

[This Queen Mother really loves to be a matchmaker. ]

Su Yun sipped her tea; she had almost finished eating.

Zhou Yingwan nodded in agreement. If her father hadn’t been so insistent on finding a live-in son-in-law, the empress dowager would have definitely arranged a match for her.

The emperor smiled.

Whose girl is this? She's quite bold.

Qin Fuying sat up straight, "Grandmother, I was just wondering what birthday gift you will give me later."

The maid beside the Queen Mother took out a brocade box.

The Queen Mother smiled and said, "You little girl, it turns out that you are thinking about the things of the Imperial Grandmother."

Although it was a joke, Qin Fuying didn't feel any closeness at all. She took the brocade box and thanked him.

"Thank you, Grandmother."

The meal was almost finished, and the next step was for everyone to present gifts to the princess.

They were all gifts from the wives of officials, usually given to the palace maids, who then unfolded them for Qin Fuying to see.

The maid unfolded it and the Queen Mother nodded.

“This is a nice painting.”

Qin Fuying raised his eyelids lazily.

Today is her birthday. Those who don’t know might think it’s the Queen Mother’s birthday.

After presenting the gift, the emperor cleared his throat and the hall fell silent.

"I have heard that the children of each mansion are proficient in music, chess, calligraphy and painting. I wonder if anyone will come forward to play?"

[Your Majesty, are you planning to choose a consort for the eldest princess? Are you planning to choose a concubine for the crown prince and the prince? Yes, except for Qin Zhihuai, the others are all of the right age, so it's time to choose one.]

(End of this chapter)