Chapter 94: This is about Concubine Yu, I have no choice but to stop Your Majesty
When He Yanchen arrived, the palace banquet had already begun, with the sounds of dancing and music filling the air, creating a peaceful atmosphere.
Xiao Mingcheng subconsciously glanced to his side, but did not see the beautiful figure.
He looked away and continued drinking in silence.
Beside him was Xiao Mingyue, who had not been seen for a long time.
Xiao Mingyue has been staying indoors since she was reprimanded in the palace last time. She has copied the "Female Rules" a hundred times until her hands are about to break. In addition, the wife of the Marquis of Shou'an doesn't want her to cause trouble again, so she can only detain her at home and hope to arrange a marriage for her as soon as possible.
But anyone who is ordered by His Majesty to copy the female rules will have her reputation ruined. Which noble family would be willing to marry her?
After much discussion, they finally chose the second son of Marquis Guangnan who was about to be sent out. The second son of Marquis Guangnan was born to his second wife, and his character was acceptable. However, if it were in the past, his status would still be inferior to that of Marquis Shou'an. But now, the wife of Marquis Shou'an no longer dared to be picky. She just wanted to settle the marriage as soon as possible, and Xiao Mingyue would be more content after getting married.
Xiao Mingyue stared at the man above her in a trance, the infatuation in her eyes not fake at all.
Xiao Mingcheng noticed her gaze and touched her: "Don't look at me. Father and Mother have already taken a step back by allowing you to come out today. You better stay here and don't cause any trouble."
Xiao Mingyue sneered. How dare he talk about himself?
Who was that bitch cuddling in the garden yesterday? She never expected that her usually reserved brother would have moments of romantic feelings.
Xiao Mingyue didn't say anything, but just clenched the thing in his hand, and his slender joints turned bluish-white.
"Brother." She suddenly called Xiao Mingcheng.
Xiao Mingcheng turned his head: "What's wrong?"
He felt bad these days watching Xiao Mingyue losing weight day by day and looking haggard and uneasy in the mansion.
He is five years older than Xiao Mingyue. When he was a child, his father was exiled to Yuzhou, and only his mother, he and his younger sister were at home. At that time, his mother had just given birth to his younger sister and was in poor health and bedridden. The five-year-old boy stayed with his younger sister all day long, watching her babbling in her cradle, and watching her grow from a babbling baby into a graceful young lady.
Later he went to the battlefield and rarely returned home, but his sister would often send him letters, and their relationship was always close.
It was not until my younger sister entered the palace at the age of fourteen that she fell in love with the current emperor at first sight.
The palace was not a good place, and the Shou'an Marquis's Mansion did not need to send their daughter to the palace to seek wealth and glory. Moreover, the court was in turmoil at the time, and His Majesty was not a benevolent monarch. Xiao Mingcheng was the first to oppose Xiao Mingyue's entry into the palace.
Unfortunately, Xiao Mingyue insisted on her own way. After her father was transferred back to Beijing, he doted on her very much. During the years he was at the border, Xiao Mingyue had developed a domineering personality.
The brother and sister often disagreed, and he was not good at speaking, which led to their current estrangement.
Now that Xiao Mingyue is showing signs of wanting to make peace, Xiao Mingcheng feels emotional.
"I want to get some fresh air."
Xiao Mingcheng remembered his mother's instructions to keep an eye on Mingyue, and he was worried about her going out alone: "Where are you going? I'll accompany you?"
"No need." Xiao Mingyue said, "I've figured it out these days at home. It was my fault in the past. I caused trouble for my father, mother, and elder brother. I won't do that again."
Xiao Mingcheng's usually cold expression softened: "I'm glad my sister can figure it out."
"The second son of the Marquis of Guangnan is a good person. I have dealt with him before. He has a soft personality and you can control him. Besides, Yuzhou is not far away. I will come to see you whenever I am free."
Xiao Mingyue lowered her head, making it difficult to discern her expression. “Well, I’ll listen to my brother.”
A faint smile appeared in Xiao Mingcheng's eyes. As long as the second son of Marquis Guangnan treated his sister well, the Marquis Shou'an Mansion would not be unable to help him. After two or three years, when he made some achievements, it would not be difficult to find a reason to transfer him back.
Xiao Mingyue tightly grasped the object in her hand, pinching her palm tightly. Finally, she closed her eyes and said reluctantly, "I'm going out to get some fresh air."
Looking at her somewhat flustered back, Xiao Mingcheng had some confusion in his eyes. He was about to follow her to see what was going on, but a few colleagues came over to talk to him, so he had to call a servant to keep an eye on Xiao Mingyue.
*
Yueli had slept too much during the day and was not sleepy at all. Listening to the sounds of string instruments and bamboo music coming from afar, she couldn't help but feel a little interested: "Lianqiao, is the palace banquet still over?"
Lian Qiao shook her head: "Not yet, His Majesty hasn't come out yet."
"But just now, Eunuch Ji came and said that there was a Hu dance at today's banquet. His Majesty knew that the Empress liked it, and said that if the Empress was bored, she could go over."
"Please help me dress up. I want to go over and take a look."
After Yueli had a good rest, she got up, changed her clothes, and without getting dressed up, she left the Hezheng Palace with a few palace maids.
The palace was not very big, and the ceremonial procession only took a quarter of an hour before Yue Li saw the magnificent palace not far away.
Lian Qiao suddenly said, "Your Majesty, Consort Shen is in front."
Yueli was a little annoyed with her. Why did she keep haunting her?
She used to think that Shen Zhaoyi was a knowledgeable and good person, but now she realized that she was probably just trying to stick to her and make her presence felt so that He Yanchen would notice her.
"Go away. I don't want to bother with her."
Shen Zhaoyi was originally waiting for Yueli to come over, but Yueli was not even willing to put in the effort and simply took a detour and left.
She almost broke her teeth.
The procession stopped at the steps in front of the main hall. As Yue Li stepped down, a young eunuch hurried over and said, "Your servant pays respects to Her Majesty the Concubine Yu."
Yueli had never seen this person before, and asked impatiently, "What's the matter?"
"Your Majesty, His Majesty is drunk and is resting in the side room. Eunuch Ji asked me to invite you over."
Seeing Yueli's puzzled expression, he continued, "I just went to the Hezheng Palace and heard from the palace servants that the Empress had arrived at the main hall, so I hurried over."
"Please follow me, Your Majesty."
*
After three rounds of drinks, He Yanchen finished dealing with a wave of court officials out of boredom, then called Ji Ming over: "Did the message get through?"
Ji Ming nodded quickly: "I have already told Lian Qiao, but it is getting late now and the snowy roads are difficult to walk on. I am afraid that the queen does not want to come out."
Yue Li didn't come, and He Yanchen lost interest in Hu Wu below. He sat for a while and then planned to leave.
He came out of the main hall and took the imperial carriage back to Hezheng Hall.
There was snow on both sides of the palace road. There were many green bamboos in the palace. The cold wind at night made the bamboo leaves rustle, and there was a creepy feeling in the silence.
Ji Ming was holding a sheep-horn lantern when he suddenly saw a man blocking the road to the palace and quickly called for a stop.
"Your Majesty, there is someone in front. I will go and take a look."
When Ji Ming got closer, he realized it was Shen Zhaoyi.
"Empress Zhaoyi, what are you doing?"
Shen Zhaoyi looked anxious, knelt down and said loudly: "Your Majesty, I have something important to report to Your Majesty!"
"This is about Concubine Yu. I have no choice but to stop Your Majesty. I beg Your Majesty to forgive me."
Hearing Yueli's name, the man on the imperial sedan finally opened his eyes.
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