The old man smiled with his eyes curved as he listened to the compliments from several people.
"Hahaha, I, an old man, can't say anything else, but I have decades more life experience than you."
In another room separated from this private room by a few walls, Liang Chaozong and Yao Jinse were sitting on a soft couch.
Yao Jinse gently rubbed Liang Chaozong's shoulders.
"Recently, there have been rumors in the palace and among the people that the Queen and the entire Xiao family are about to face a disaster." Yao Jinse frowned.
"But I always feel like something is wrong."
Liang Chaozong reached out and squeezed Yao Jinse's delicate hand, "What do you mean?"
Yao Jinse whispered, "These past few days, I've wanted to go to the palace to pay my respects to the Empress Dowager, but the palace maids always pass on the message that the Empress Dowager doesn't want to see guests."
"And the one who came to the palace gate to deliver the message to me was not the little Dongzi who usually came to Shoukang Palace, but another young eunuch."
Liang Chaozong narrowed his eyes nonchalantly, enjoying the strength on his shoulders, "You're overthinking it."
"Let's not discuss whether the Queen has lost her heart or not, let's just talk about the situation in the northern border."
"Now all sixteen tribes in the northern border have been annexed by the Xiao family."
"The Xiao family is now the king of the northern border."
"Although the Xiao family claims to be subservient to Daxia, Daxia and the Xiao Lin tribe have lived in harmony for nearly twenty years. But that was in the past. The Xiao family was less powerful, and Xia Zhengqi trusted his Xiao Lin tribe."
"But now that the Xiao family owns the entire Northern Frontier, can Xia Zhengqi still trust him?"
"As long as the Xiao family has any ideas, Daxia may be in crisis at any time. Xia Zhengqi is not a fool, how could he allow the Xiao family to continue to exist?"
Yao Jinse's eyes lit up as if she had suddenly realized something: "My husband is indeed very wise. He thinks things through clearly!"
After a pause, Yao Jinse asked again, "Should we go to the palace banquet in the next few days?"
Liang Chaozong opened his eyes suddenly: "Of course I have to go!"
Yao Jinse hesitated a little: "But, what can I go to celebrate the Queen's mother's birthday?"
Liang Chaozong waved his hand leisurely: "Hey, Madam, have you forgotten the couple who farmed in the imperial farm?"
"You mean the Prince of Jin and his wife?"
Liang Chaozong nodded slightly: "Don't you want to take this opportunity to see them?"
"The old woman reported that everything went smoothly, but the Prince of Jin and his wife never show up, so it's hard for us to see them. The palace banquet is just the right opportunity."
Yao Jinse smiled flatteringly, "My husband is really thoughtful."
Time flies, and the day of the palace banquet arrived in a blink of an eye.
On this day, the entire palace was filled with a festive and peaceful atmosphere.
Early that morning, the nanny woke up the two sisters Xia Miaoyuan and Xiao Wanyin.
After helping them wash and groom themselves, she had a simple breakfast and then ordered the palace maids to carefully comb their hair and change their clothes.
The two delicate little girls both put on the most gorgeous dresses and combed their hair into complicated and grand buns.
Xia Miaoyuan is wearing a bright yellow palace dress embroidered with colorful peonies and a specially made small phoenix crown on her head. This is the exclusive dress of Princess Daxia.
She also wore a necklace and bracelets of colored gemstones around her neck and wrists.
Her already cute little face looks even more beautiful and charming against the backdrop of this luxurious palace dress, as if she is a fairy who has descended to earth, making people reluctant to look away.
Xiao Wanyin was wearing a pink palace dress and a crown adorned with pearls and gems on her head.
This little girl is almost seven years old. The baby fat on her face has decreased a little. Wearing this palace dress, she has a more youthful beauty.
The two looked at each other, ecstatic at each other's gorgeous attire.
"My little cousin, you are so beautiful!"
"Miao'er, you are more beautiful today!"
After Xia Miaoyuan and her little cousin praised each other, they still felt unsatisfied, so they stood in front of the mirror, slowly turned around, and carefully looked at themselves in the mirror.
[Tsk tsk tsk, I'm so beautiful! When I grow up, won't I become a stunning beauty that captivates the whole country and captivates the whole world?]
[When the time comes, I will have the young masters of the noble families toying with my will.]
Xia Miaoyuan's thoughts were very jumpy. Every minute she thought of the bloody plots about peerless beauties in ancient novels.
Xiao Wanyin got goosebumps all over her body after hearing this, but she was afraid of being discovered by Xia Miaoyuan, so she had to find an excuse to slip away, "Miao'er, you continue looking in the mirror. I'll go see my aunt and grandmother!"
With that, Xiao Wanyin ran out skipping and jumping.
"Hey! Wait for me!" Xia Miaoyuan shouted and ran after Xiao Wanyin.
As the mistress of the harem, the queen had a lot of things to deal with on the day of the palace banquet.
So she got dressed and made up early.
At this time, she was in Meng's room, watching the palace maids and nannies dressing Meng up, and giving some suggestions from time to time.
When Xiao Wanyin and Xia Miaoyuan ran in, Meng had already put on her makeup and combed her hair, and the palace maid was helping her put on a dress.
"Oh, I'm already old, why should I wear such bright clothes?" Mrs. Meng pushed a red dress out with her hand.
"Mother, today is your 60th birthday. It is reasonable for the birthday girl to wear something festive. Who dares to say anything?" the queen advised.
Xia Miaoyuan and Xiao Wanyin rushed in like two puppies.
"Grandma!"
"grandmother!"
The two children suddenly bumped into Meng and hugged her legs.
"Oh, you two naughty monkeys!" Meng smiled lovingly.
The Queen frowned slightly, but smiled. "What are you two doing? Grandmother is well now, but she can't stand you torturing her like this!"
Three generations of grandparents and grandchildren chatted and laughed, and the house suddenly became full of cheerful atmosphere.
"In my opinion, grandma should wear pink. That's the most beautiful one, just like the palace dress my little cousin is wearing." Xia Miaoyuan said seriously.
Ever since she was reincarnated as a child, although her soul is that of an adult, her preferences and habits in daily life are always involuntarily more inclined towards that of a child.
"Yes, yes, pink looks the best!" Xiao Wanyin agreed.
"You two are just fooling around!" the Queen said, trying not to laugh.
Finally, amidst the cheers, Meng changed into a purple-red palace dress.
After the three generations of grandparents and grandchildren were dressed, Emperor Mingxi was already waiting at the gate of Kunning Palace in a carriage.
Since there were many people today, Emperor Mingxi had two carriages prepared.
He and the queen rode in one car, while Kezun Meng and her two little granddaughters rode in another.
When they arrived at Shanglin Garden, the sound of stringed instruments was already heard from there.
Shanglin Garden was already decorated with brilliant lights and fluttering ribbons.
Speaking of palace banquets, there are at least a dozen of them throughout the year, including the annual New Year celebrations, the emperor and empress's birthdays and other important festivals.
However, today's palace banquet is different from previous ones.
The reason was simple: the great victory in the Battle of Northern Frontier! Sixteen tribes, large and small, were successfully integrated into one, and would henceforth become vassals of Daxia.
As a result, this palace banquet naturally became extraordinary, with its scale and spectacular scene far exceeding any previous one.
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