September 15th, the emperor’s birthday banquet.
Qi Yuning had prepared a gift for the birthday banquet early in the morning, which was a top-quality red coral that was taller than a person.
Qi Yuning put a small veil on Lingling and said, "Lingling, when you go to the palace today, you are not allowed to take off the veil."
Lingling pouted and asked, "Why?"
Qi Yuning said, "There's a bad aunt who will definitely bully you if she sees your appearance. Wearing a veil will prevent bad people from bullying you. Also, today you can only follow your mother. You can't call grandma, grandfather, aunt, or daddy when you see them."
Lingling uttered an "oh" as if she understood something, "Will I be able to see my uncle when I go to the palace today?"
Qi Yuning chuckled and said, "Yeah."
Lingling raised her hands and said, "That's great! Lingling misses Uncle so much. It's been a long time since I last saw him."
Qi Yuning carried Lingling into the palace early in the morning to pay her respects to the Queen and His Majesty.
Lingling followed Qi Yuning's instructions, clasped her hands together, bowed to Emperor Shiyuan, and said, "Lingling wishes Your Majesty happiness as vast as the East Sea, a long life as long as the Southern Mountains, and happiness every day."
Emperor Shi Yuan stroked his gray beard and laughed heartily at his great-granddaughter's adorable appearance and sweet voice. "Lingling is truly clever," he said.
Qi Yuning held Lingling and stood aside, waiting for the princes to come with their children to celebrate the birthday. Qi Yuning asked Lingling if there was anyone who looked like her uncle.
Lingling shook her head, "No uncle."
According to calculations, the little uncle Lingling mentioned should be three or four years old this year. Among His Majesty's grandchildren, there are four little princes who are three or four years old.
After the birthday celebration, Qi Yuning took Lingling to meet her uncles one by one. Lingling was very unfamiliar with them.
Lu Ze saw Qi Yuning and Lingling chatting with the princesses from afar. He walked over to Qi Yuning and asked, "Didn't you find the uncle Lingling mentioned?"
Qi Yuning said, "Among His Majesty's grandchildren, only four are of the same age as the uncle Lingling mentioned. Lingling didn't recognize any of the three she met."
Lu Ze raised his eyebrows and asked, "What about the other one?"
Qi Yuning said, "The other one is Prince Duan from the Third Prince's family. The princess and the prince are still keeping vigil in the imperial mausoleum and did not come to the birthday banquet today."
Lu Ze said, "I have to take Lingling to the imperial mausoleum tomorrow."
The two of them talked familiarly.
Qin Yuli, who was far away, saw this and clutched her handkerchief tightly, saying, "Baozhu, when did Cousin Ze become so close to Princess Qi?"
Lu Baozhu thought of what Qi Yuning had told her and made up a story: "My eldest brother dotes on me. He wants to help me marry Qi Yuning home to be my sister-in-law. Then Qi Yuning will have to take care of me, her younger sister-in-law. Wasn't it you who came up with this idea for me?"
Qin Yuli said, "But shouldn't you call Qi Yuning sister-in-law? You should let Lu Yun return to secular life and marry Qi Yuning, so that she can call you sister!"
"My sister-in-law and younger sisters-in-law are all fine, but it would be fine if Qi Yuning could marry in and serve me, the elder and younger sisters-in-law!" Lu Baozhu said.
Qin Yuli was anxious. She glanced at Lu Baozhu and said, "It's a pity for a person like Cousin Ze to fall into the hands of Princess Qi."
Lu Baozhu said, "It's not a pity! Qi Yuning is so beautiful. The nephews and nieces she and my brother have will definitely be the cutest in the world!"
Lingling is the best proof. There are many little cousins from the royal family who came today, but none of them can be as cute as Lingling.
Qin Yuli frowned and said, "How can Qi Yuning be a good match? She has always been at odds with you. If she becomes your sister-in-law, how can you expect anything good to happen to her?"
Lu Baozhu said: "It is only natural for a sister-in-law to serve her sister-in-law!"
Qin Yuli added: "She also has a bastard daughter!"
Lu Baozhu frowned upon hearing the bastard's words and said unhappily, "Lingling is the Princess of Xichang, personally appointed by His Majesty. You have to bow to her whenever you see her!"
Qin Yuli said unwillingly, "Lu Baozhu, what's wrong with you? Did Qi Yuning drug you? Don't forget how Qi Yuning fought with you for what you wanted!"
Lu Baozhu said, "Of course I haven't forgotten, that's why I want her to be my sister-in-law, so that she can serve me!"
Qin Yuli cursed him in her heart as an idiot, and looked at Lu Ze with jealousy as he gently touched the twin buns of the child next to Qi Yuning.
When the banquet began, everyone presented birthday gifts.
Hong Shanhu, who was taller than everyone else in Prince Qi's mansion, outshined all the other birthday presents, making Emperor Shi Yuan very happy. "Yuning, you are so thoughtful."
Qi Yuning smiled and said, "My brother and I have been without any elders since we were young. Thanks to Your Majesty's care, although this red coral is rare, as long as Your Majesty likes it, the Qi Palace will offer it to you even if it means risking everything."
Emperor Shi Yuan sighed and said, "Speaking of taking care of me, I really feel guilty towards my brother Prince Qi. You two, brother and sister, have yet to get married."
As soon as Emperor Shi Yuan said this, all the young men at the palace banquet shrank their heads. It was not that they did not want to marry the beautiful Princess Qi, but they were really not worthy of her. Even the Eighth Prince's legs could be broken at will.
Even the little bully of Shengjing, Lu Yun, didn't dare to marry and became a monk, so they didn't dare to marry this ancestor home.
Qi Yuning lowered her head when she saw the engaged Lin Jiang, fearing that he would be noticed by Emperor Shi Yuan. She actually regretted praising Lin Jiang that day. Those who could be friends with Lu Ze were all birds of the same flock.
Emperor Shi Yuan looked at Lu Ze and said, "Yuning, what do you think of my grandson?"
Qi Yuning was stunned. She couldn't say anything bad about the emperor's grandson at the palace banquet, but if she said anything to praise him, she was afraid that the emperor would directly grant him a marriage.
Although Qi Yuning has gradually accepted the fact that they will get married in a year, he didn't want to get married so soon.
Crown Prince Zhao Chong looked at Qi Yuning and helped Qi Yuning out of the predicament, saying, "Father, Ze'er is naturally a good person, otherwise you wouldn't have appointed him as the Junior Minister of the Dali Temple. Speaking of marriage, Prince Qi has been in the North City all year round and is now almost twenty-one. It's time to carefully choose a Princess for him."
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