Chapter 306
Tao Tao could tell from her expression that she had misunderstood.
"I really didn't know, because I just received the news myself."
Upon hearing this, Murong Jia Hui's expression immediately improved. "I see. In your opinion, sister, what should we do?"
It is believed that most of the prominent ladies from noble families in the capital received invitations from the Princess and Empress Dowager Liu.
So, in terms of power, it goes without saying that Empress Dowager Liu is the most powerful.
Princess Qi Roufu is a petty and narrow-minded person. If you offend her, she will definitely find every way to make trouble for you.
Empress Dowager Liu is the biological mother of the current young emperor, and since the emperor is still young, she makes many decisions based on his age.
Although the situation is currently volatile and the royal family still needs the assistance of the aristocratic families, they must still maintain appearances to avoid criticism and damage to their reputation.
Tao Tao looked thoughtful, and unconsciously tapped her fingers twice on the stone table.
Three days later.
Tao Tao got up early, dressed in a rather gorgeous dark red dress, stepped into the carriage, lifted the curtain, and saw Murong Jia Hui smiling at her.
The cart wheels rolled over the bluestone slabs, heading towards the outskirts of the city.
After walking for about half an hour, we arrived at Jinquan Temple.
There weren't many people at that time, but people were still coming and going.
Tao Tao walked in front, and because she was followed by the guards of the Privy Council, everyone else avoided her.
Murong Jia Hui walked on the right and asked in confusion, "Sister, what are we doing here? Just to offer incense?"
"Don't we still need to attend a banquet at the palace this afternoon?"
She took the incense from the monk, bowed in worship toward the gleaming Buddha statue, and then placed it in the incense burner.
Murong Jia Hui looked around in confusion, thinking that she shouldn't kneel down to appear more devout, otherwise she might be disrespectful to the Buddha.
But just as she was about to speak, she remembered that Tao Tao had a bad temper, so she didn't say anything.
As she knelt down to worship, a young monk walked up to her, holding a book in his hands, and approached Tao Tao. "Benefactor, this is the longevity sutra that you had the temple copy before."
Rong'er stepped forward, took the money, and then took out some silver from her sleeve and stuffed it into the monk's hand.
The young monk accepted it without changing his expression, bowed and said "Amitabha," then turned and left.
"Sister, did you request this for the Regent?"
"Today is the Empress Dowager's birthday, so it is naturally for the Empress Dowager."
"But didn't you prepare a jade ruyi?"
"It's not like I wrote it, so it doesn't matter."
Murong Jia Hui nodded as if she understood, but the piece she had prepared was an embroidery of a crane.
Time was tight, and I barely managed to finish it last night.
After they had eaten vegetarian food at the temple, little did they know that the princess's men had been waiting for them at the Privy Council for a long time.
Qi Roufu sat in the garden where the banquet was being held, looking rather unwell.
The banquet was fast approaching, but no one had arrived yet.
It seems they went to the palace for a banquet, but chose to offend her.
Okay, very good!
Just then, the servant who had gone to the Privy Council returned.
She stared at the empty space behind the servants, her expression instantly darkening. "Where is she? Where is Huaimin?!"
"Your Highness, the steward of the Privy Council said that the Princess Consort went out of the city to pray for blessings a long time ago. I have been waiting for her, but I still haven't seen her."
After the servant finished speaking, he almost buried his head in his chest.
"Please forgive me, Your Highness, I have truly done my best."
No sooner had he finished speaking than Qi Roufu flew into a rage, flicked his sleeve, and a series of cracking sounds echoed on the ground.
"Huai, Min! Even you're playing me!"
"I didn't."
A familiar voice came from behind me.
She turned her head abruptly and saw Tao Tao staring at her calmly.
Qi Roufu's face lit up with joy, and she hurriedly ran over, saying, "I knew you would come."
Tao Tao smiled faintly, glanced around, and found the place empty; no one dared to disobey the Empress Dowager and attend the banquet.
"These vile women! I'll make them pay!"
Qi Roufu noticed her gaze as she looked around, her eyes filled with agitation, completely oblivious to the fact that she felt her actions were wrong.
"Let's go."
She turned to walk outside.
Qi Roufu looked puzzled. "Where to?"
"I have had the banquet arranged."
"Entering the palace to attend the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet."
Qi Roufu blurted out, "I won't go. It's absolutely impossible for me to celebrate with that despicable person!"
"So you knew from the beginning that there would be a banquet in the palace today, yet you still chose to hold a grand banquet in your residence on the same day. If you wanted to humiliate yourself, you didn't need to make such a big show of it."
Tao Tao looked at her with a hint of helplessness and speechlessness.
She gritted her teeth and glared at her: "What do you mean?"
"Instead of getting angry here, you might as well swagger into the palace. You don't want to see her, and she may not want to see you either."
"In that case, it's better for you to hang around in front of her and annoy her than to stay here and sulk."
After Tao Tao finished speaking, Qi Roufu gradually calmed down.
She walked over, took her hand, and said, "Come on, I've prepared your gift."
"A congratulatory gift? What congratulatory gift? It's already a huge honor for her that I even went. As for her to prepare a congratulatory gift, does a lowly commoner like her deserve it?"
"Didn't I tell you? I've prepared it for you."
"Just go ahead."
The two walked and talked, with Murong Jia Hui following behind, pursing her lips.
"Oh, right." Tao Tao turned around and pulled Murong Jia Hui to her side. "This is my older sister, Murong Jia Hui."
"This humble woman greets the Princess." She quickly curtsied, a warm feeling suddenly washing over her.
Qi Roufu glanced at her, seemingly indifferent as if she were a speck of dust, and said in a calm voice, "Get up."
The three boarded a carriage bound for the palace.
When I arrived, the banquet was almost about to begin.
At the banquet, men were seated on the left and women on the right, separated by a screen, and whispers could be heard from time to time.
"The Eldest Princess has arrived, and the Regent's Consort has arrived!"
The eunuch shouted loudly, and everyone stood up.
Many of the ladies who received invitations but did not attend were filled with anxiety.
They were afraid she would embarrass them in this situation.
After all, besides the Empress Dowager and the young emperor, there was also a seriously ill retired emperor, and the eldest princess was the most senior member of the royal family.
Of course, we might also include a regent's wife.
The two came together, suggesting they have a good personal relationship.
"Greetings to the Eldest Princess and the Regent's Consort."
Qi Roufu looked straight ahead and arrogantly took her seat in the first position on the right.
Tao Tao sat next to her.
Not long after they sat down, Empress Dowager Liu and the young emperor appeared at the door.
"Greetings to the Empress Dowager and Your Majesty. May you enjoy boundless blessings and peace."
"All of you, rise."
Empress Dowager Liu was in a great mood because it was her birthday banquet, but her expression immediately changed when she passed by Qi Roufu.
The disgust in his eyes was undisguised.
Next came the time for everyone to present their congratulatory gifts and blessings.
Until the eldest princess sent her congratulatory gift.
"Your Majesty, this is my gift to you, a longevity scripture. I wish you 'continuous blessings and long life like the Southern Mountain'."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com