When Qiuqiu got home, she saw her mother and brothers whom she hadn't seen for many days and immediately rushed into their arms.
Chirp chirp: "Mother, brother—"
I miss you all so much!
Xu Ruyun hugged Qiuqiu tightly: "My dear Qiuqiu, Mommy missed you so much!"
The three older brothers also surrounded Qiuqiu, taking turns picking her up and kissing her face repeatedly.
It feels so wonderful to have family!
The family had not been reunited for long when a eunuch came to report that the emperor had invited them to a palace banquet.
Chirp chirp happily: "Great! More delicious food!"
In an effort to please the emperor, the second prince meticulously prepared a palace banquet.
The ministers took their seats one after another.
Jiu Jiu sat down next to the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager hadn't seen Qiuqiu in a long time, and she was overjoyed to hold her.
Qiuqiu took out a pearl necklace and hung it around the Empress Dowager's neck.
Chiu Chiu: "Your Majesty, this is a gift from Chiu Chiu to you!"
Consort Chen, standing nearby, glanced at Qiuqiu disdainfully and said, "The Empress Dowager's status is so noble, how could she wear such cheap pearls!"
Chiu Chiu pouted, looking a little unhappy.
"This isn't some cheap pearl! It's a treasure given to me by the Dragon King. It's a talisman! It can save my life in a pinch."
Upon hearing Qiuqiu's words, the Empress Dowager began to reprimand Consort Chen.
Empress Dowager: "How dare you be rude! I like anything that comes from Qiuqiu!"
Consort Chen lowered her head in boredom.
The Empress Dowager picked up Qiuqiu and gave her some treats.
At this moment, a prince came over, greeted the Empress Dowager, and sat down to one side.
Chiu Chiu glanced at the prince.
He was not very old, about five or six years old.
The prince smiled at Qiuqiu, then sat down to one side.
Chiu Chiu looked at the Empress Dowager and said, "Empress Dowager, can I play with him?"
Empress Dowager: "Of course. Go!"
Chirp skipped over to the prince and asked, "Excuse me, are you the sixth prince?"
Sixth Prince: "Exactly!"
[Oh no! As fate would have it, the Sixth Prince has officially died at this palace banquet. He left the banquet midway through and was never found again.]
His body was found in a pond. Brothers, you must keep a close eye on the Sixth Prince! Don't let anything happen to him! He's so young, so innocent!
The three older brothers heard this and were startled.
Fortunately, the sixth prince was watching the emperor intently and did not notice anything unusual about them.
The palace banquet officially began.
Consort Chen, dressed in her finest attire, bowed before the Emperor and said, "Your Majesty, I have prepared a dance to welcome your return."
The Emperor: "Good!"
Consort Chen gestured to the person next to her to play music.
A beautiful melody began to play.
Consort Chen performed a beautiful dance.
Her dance steps were light and graceful, and her clothes flowed beautifully.
The Emperor clapped his hands: "Excellent!"
【What nonsense! I don't appreciate it. Let's eat!】
The older brother stuffed a large shrimp into Qiuqiu's mouth.
We need to shut this little guy up quickly; this is a palace banquet, and he can't just talk nonsense.
After the dance ended, Consort Chen stood aside to observe the Emperor's reaction.
The Emperor said, "Excellent, Consort Chen is thoughtful. Reward her!"
Consort Chen bowed and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty! Then I will go and change my clothes."
The Emperor nodded.
Consort Chen left.
The Emperor raised his cup and said, "Everyone, please don't be shy today, eat and drink freely! Cheers!"
Everyone raised their glasses: "Thank you, Your Majesty! Cheers!"
Second Prince: "May Father Emperor live a long and prosperous life! May the Dragon Kingdom become ever more prosperous and powerful!"
The Emperor raised his cup in delight and said, "Excellent! The Second Prince's banquet today was very well organized. Reward him!"
Second Prince: "Thank you, Father!"
Chuchu smacked her lips as she ate, all the while mentally complaining.
[What's the point of the Second Prince's empty gestures? But it seems the Emperor quite likes them. Doesn't he know the Second Prince isn't truly sincere towards him?]
The older brother glared at Qiuqiu.
You can just mutter these thoughts to yourself, but please don't say them out loud, little sister.
Chiu Chiu glanced at her older brother and whispered something to him.
"Why are you looking at me, big brother?"
Keep a close eye on the Sixth Prince. His life is in danger today!
Qi Junlin replied to Qiuqiu, "No, it's nothing. I see there's a grain of rice on your face. Look, you've eaten grains of rice all over the place."
Qi Junlin wiped the rice grains off Qiuqiu's face.
A eunuch whispered something in the second prince's ear.
The second prince's face immediately turned very ugly, and then he left the banquet.
At this moment, Consort Chen was reprimanding her maid in a secluded room in the palace.
Consort Chen: "I asked you to do something, and you're so clumsy! How could you be so careless!"
Maid: "Master, didn't you tell me to lure her here, knock her unconscious, and tie her up?"
Consort Chen looked at the woman on the ground whose hands and feet were bound and whose face was covered.
She angrily kicked the woman on the ground.
The woman had been knocked unconscious and was completely unaware of anything.
Consort Chen: "It's all because of this wretched woman, she stole my Second Prince. Has anyone been sent to inform the Second Prince?"
Maid: "Yes! I've already notified them. The Second Prince should be here soon!"
Consort Chen nodded in satisfaction.
At the palace banquet, Qiuqiu looked at the Sixth Prince.
The sixth prince, gentle in nature, sat down to eat next to his mother, Consort Li.
Consort Li was also exceptionally beautiful, but before entering the palace, her family had fallen on hard times. It was only thanks to the Empress's help that her life wasn't so miserable.
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