Chapter 194
Tao Tao smiled shyly and said softly, "Thank you. My mother, the Princess Consort, will be here soon. I'll wait for her."
Lin Wange nodded knowingly and asked with concern, "Are you feeling better? That day was so chaotic, I was almost scared to death, and I forgot to go see you afterwards."
She shook her head. "It's alright, I'm fine now."
"In that case, I'll head over now. See you at the banquet."
"Okay, see you at the banquet."
Only after she had walked a distance did Tao Tao frown and ask Granny Wu, "Who was that person?"
These words immediately left Granny Wu and Rong'er speechless, thinking that the two of them seemed to know each other well, but then the county princess asked her who she was, which meant she didn't remember her.
It sounds pretty funny.
Granny Wu suppressed a laugh and said, "She is Lin Taichang's daughter, Lin Wange."
Seeing their barely suppressed laughter, Tao Tao exclaimed embarrassedly, "What are you laughing at? Can't I just have a bad memory?"
Just then, a carriage stopped beside them, and Murong Jia Hui appeared when the curtain was lifted.
She saw Tao Tao and the others, and was initially a little embarrassed, but then gave a friendly smile: "Princess Huaimin."
She dared not call her "sister" again, in case Murong Tao used her status as a county princess to embarrass her, especially with so many people here this time, she would probably become the laughing stock of everyone.
Remembering what Granny Wu had just told her to be patient with them, Tao Tao nodded slightly: "I reckon we'll be able to go in soon. Let Mother get out of the carriage and wait."
After what happened before, her gentleness was still a bit overwhelming for Murong Jia Hui, who turned around and helped Lu Shu Qing down.
Lu Shuqing saw that Tao Tao's face had turned pale, but she also knew how many prominent families were gathered here. If things got out of hand, they wouldn't try to exonerate Tao Tao; they would just laugh at the Prince's Mansion.
Moreover, it would be even more difficult for Murong Jia Hui, who was born out of wedlock, to climb into a high-ranking family.
Suddenly, some people around recognized Lu Shuqing. After three years apart, some people still couldn't believe it and tentatively came over to say hello.
The visitor was Madam Sun from the humble Sun family of Fanyang. Her attitude towards Lu Shuqing could be described as attentive. She then turned to look at the two young girls behind Lu Shuqing and asked them a question with her eyes.
Lu Shuqing affectionately took Tao Tao's hand and said with a smile, "This is my daughter, Murong Tao, the Princess Huaimin, personally bestowed by the Emperor."
"So you are Princess Huaimin."
Madam Sun was quite surprised to see the innocent-looking girl. She hadn't been qualified to attend the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet and hadn't witnessed the situation at the time.
I only heard that a fearless and daring woman saved the Emperor's life in the chaos, and was later bestowed the title of Princess Huaimin by the Emperor.
I originally thought she was the daughter of a military officer who was skilled in wielding swords and spears, but she turned out to be a soft-looking girl who still had a childish air about her.
Tao Tao smiled faintly, nodded, and asked, "Madam Sun seems to recognize me?"
Madam Sun smiled warmly: "We didn't know each other before, but now that we do, you are truly a woman of extraordinary courage and wisdom."
Tao Tao: "You flatter me, Madam Sun."
“This is my daughter, Sun Qingyan. You are about the same age, so you’ll probably have a lot to talk about.” She pulled the girl in the light red dress next to her in front of Tao Tao.
The three young girls walked behind, while the two women in front chatted and laughed. Under Madam Sun's flattery, Lu Shuqing's gloomy mood gradually dissipated, and her face softened.
Sun Qingyan glanced at the girl beside her and noticed that when she was silent, she had a cold and indifferent feeling, which was completely unlike her approachable appearance just now.
Murong Jiawei, walking on the left, was observing Sun Qingyan, hesitant to speak, waiting for an opportunity to do so.
Led by the eunuch leader, the group passed through the palace road and along the path, arriving at the Shouyue Garden where flowers were in full bloom. The banquet had been prepared, and the palace maids guided the ladies to their seats.
After everyone had taken their seats, a short while later, the eunuch's shrill voice announced something.
"Her Majesty the Empress has arrived!"
Everyone rose and knelt in obeisance, shouting, "Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress!"
"Rise, all of you. There's no need for such formalities."
Tao Tao was seated on the left, closest to the main seat, while Lu Shuqing and Murong Jia Hui were on her left and right sides.
Just before she was about to kneel down, she deliberately took a step back, letting the two men block her way, and then she knelt down, her knees half-squatting hidden by her wide skirt.
As I stood up, I took another step forward and stood shoulder to shoulder with them.
As she walked toward the main seat, the Empress's gaze lingered on Tao Tao for two seconds before she sat down with a faint smile.
"It has been a long time since I invited you ladies to the palace to reminisce. As autumn is about to pass, I would like to invite you ladies to enjoy this last beautiful scenery together."
No sooner had he finished speaking than someone flattered him, saying, "It is our great honor to be invited by Her Majesty the Empress."
The Empress smiled, looked at Lu Shuqing from the Prince's residence beside her, and said softly, "I vaguely remember that I haven't seen the Princess for three years. It was only at this banquet that I had the opportunity to meet her again."
Lu Shuqing met her gaze and smiled respectfully, saying, "If Your Majesty wishes to see me, you need only issue a verbal order, and I will travel day and night to come."
"You must have had a hard time this time. You must be tired from the journey. Have something to eat first, and we can go down to admire the flowers together later."
During this time, the people below chatted and laughed. At first, they were a little reserved, but after realizing that the Empress really didn't say anything, they gradually relaxed.
The empress, seated in a high position, would judge a young woman's character and suitability for the crown prince by observing her words and actions.
Of course, the most important person is Tao Tao, because she is close by and can observe the area most easily.
However, I didn't observe anything. If no one came to find her, she would sit quietly and eat. If someone came to find her, she would smile, exchange a few words, and then let the person leave.
The woman beside her seemed rather opportunistic, constantly making friends with different people from the moment she arrived. Her charming smile carried a hint of flattery, as if she were using this banquet as a stepping stone to climb higher.
Thinking of this, the Empress lowered her eyes, a hint of disgust flashing in them.
Putting aside the fact that she was born out of wedlock, there was absolutely no way such a scheming woman could be sent to the Eastern Palace and placed by the Crown Prince's side.
Lin Wange led Li Miaomiao to Tao Tao and suggested, "Tao'er, this banquet won't end anytime soon, why don't we go for a walk outside?"
"We've finally made it to the palace, and I've heard that Shouyue Garden has hundreds of kinds of flowers. Let's go and take a look together."
Tao Tao glanced at the two of them, then inadvertently looked up and caught the Empress's gaze on her out of the corner of her eye, causing her brows to furrow slightly.
She wondered if there was something wrong with the old woman, otherwise why was she always staring at her? Could it be that she remembered seeing her in the Privy Council? Probably not, if she were going to remember, she would have remembered long ago.
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