Chapter 133 Queen Mother's Birthday Banquet
Time soon arrived for the Queen Mother's birthday, and the banquet was held in an orderly manner as planned, but everyone sitting there had different thoughts.
"Your Majesty, I offer my respects to you and wish you a happy birthday and long-lasting blessings. May you be safe, successful, and live a long and healthy life!"
The Queen was the first to raise a glass of wine to toast the Queen Mother.
"The Queen is thoughtful. Thank you for your hard work these days."
Although a lot of things happened in the past two years, causing the Queen Mother to feel somewhat resentful towards the Queen, she ultimately represented her own maternal family. If she no longer did those things in the future, the Queen Mother would not want to create more rifts with her.
"Old Seventeen, you finally showed up today. It's usually difficult to see you on other days."
The Queen Mother couldn't help but make a joke when she saw Prince Guo.
"Your Majesty, your words make me feel ashamed. In the future, I will definitely appear before your Majesty more often. Please do not look down on me when the time comes."
Prince Guo's few words made the Queen Mother burst into laughter.
"Grandmother, Shuhe greets you. May you be blessed with longevity and peace throughout the year."
Shuhe was the oldest among the children. After many concubines had wished the Queen Mother a happy birthday, she stood up first in a dignified and proper manner to congratulate the Queen Mother on her birthday at the signal of Nian Shilan.
Today, she is no longer the timid and cowardly person she was a few years ago. In the past few years in Yiku Palace, she has been by Nian Shilan's side, and she has undergone great changes in her temperament and attitude towards handling things, and has become even more lovable.
"Okay, okay, Shuhe is very sensible."
"Wen Yi also pays respects to the Empress Dowager."
"And Jinghe, she also pays her respects to the Empress Dowager."
"Grandmother, there's Lingxi. Lingxi is here..."
Lingxi and Hongzhou are the youngest among the children, but they are also the most favored by the emperor. Compared with their older sisters and brothers, they are younger and can express their ideas clearly at a young age.
Just now, when Lingxi heard that others were congratulating the Queen Mother, she quickly waved her little arms. Her eager look made everyone present laugh.
Jinghe usually spends more time with Lingxi, so the two sisters naturally have a deep relationship. When Jinghe saw Lingxi's happy look, she left Chen Meizhuang's arms, quietly walked to Lingxi, and hugged her.
Looking at such a joyful scene, the emperor was naturally extremely happy in his heart. Isn't this exactly the harmony he has been looking forward to for a long time?
Seeing that the Emperor's attention was attracted by Zhen Huan and others, the Queen glanced at the Fourth Prince. The Fourth Prince immediately understood and paid his respects to the Queen Mother, and even took out the birthday gift he had carefully prepared some time ago.
The Queen Mother originally did not have much affection for the Fourth Prince, who had lived in the temporary palace since he was a child. However, since he was the emperor's child after all, she still accepted him with a smile and even praised him a few words. The Fourth Prince was already satisfied with the Queen Mother's attitude towards him, but the Queen was very dissatisfied with it.
However, she suppressed her dissatisfaction. The most important thing at the moment was the Fourth Prince's marriage.
"The girls who came today are all famous ladies from various mansions in the capital. I am very happy to see them. Hongshi and Hongli are not young anymore, so it's time to add a close friend to their side."
At this time, it was time for the young ladies from each family to show their talents. The Queen looked at Qingying who was dancing below and praised her in words.
The Empress Dowager naturally understood the Empress's thoughts, but in her opinion, this matter could not be rushed. Their Ulanara family had produced several generations of Empresses, and now the Emperor had become suspicious of Yixiu. If she sent a girl from her mother's family to the Fourth Prince at this time, her purpose would be obvious to the Emperor.
As expected by the Empress Dowager, when the Queen just spoke, the Emperor looked at her with a deeper look. But after looking at her quietly for a few seconds, he did not respond to the Queen's words at all, but instead turned his gaze to the Third Prince and the Fourth Prince.
"Hongshi, Hongli, although marriage is decided by parents and matchmakers, it does affect your future lives. I would like to ask for your own thoughts. Hongshi, you are the older brother, so you should speak first."
"Your Majesty, I feel I am still young and it is not the right time for me to get married. I think now is a good time to study. If I get married now, I will definitely be distracted by it. I beg Your Majesty to approve it."
The emperor nodded with satisfaction at his words, and then he looked at the Fourth Prince.
"Hongli, what about you? What do you think?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, this son and my third brother share the same idea. Right now, this son is completely focused on studying so that he can help Your Majesty in the future. I naturally don't want to delay this good girl."
The Fourth Prince ignored the Queen's gaze on him and looked at the Emperor sincerely as he responded to his words.
"Very well, you are both good children. I am very pleased. In that case, I will follow your advice and put the marriage aside for now. It won't be too late to get married later when you have completed your studies. Queen, what do you think?"
"Yes, Your Majesty is right. I was not thoughtful enough."
The Queen's resentment towards the Emperor deepened, but the look in her eyes when she looked at the Fourth Prince was especially deep.
They had talked fine before in Jingren Palace, but now this child actually refuted his previous words in front of him. He is really a wild child who can't be tamed.
"Girl, please wait a moment."
After the banquet, Jianqiu hurried to the palace gate and stopped Qingying who was about to leave.
"My lady, the Empress has sent me here to tell you that although today's matter was not successful, the Empress wants you to be patient and that you will definitely achieve your wish in the future. Don't lose your patience over such a small matter."
Qingying was filled with indignation at this moment. "Am I not patient enough? How many people will laugh at me after today's banquet? Everyone knows this palace banquet is for the Fourth Prince to choose a concubine, and I was the one chosen by my aunt to be the Fourth Prince's legitimate wife. But now, you're saying you won't choose me. How am I supposed to gain a foothold among these women in the capital in the future?"
Thinking of the humiliation she suffered today, Qingying became more and more angry.
"Aunt Jianqiu, please report this to Aunt Queen. Qingying thanks you for your kindness, but I really cannot accept your kindness."
After saying this, without waiting for Jianqiu to react, he took the maid and left the palace.
Looking at her figure, Jianqiu looked back from his original place and turned back to Jingren Palace.
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