Chapter 112: Did you have fun?
After noon, just after Yueli had finished lunch, Chunhua, who was beside the empress dowager, came to Hezheng Palace to ask for an audience.
"Empress Yu, the Empress Dowager is hosting a banquet for all the ladies in the palace today, and has sent this servant to invite you to join her."
Since there were only two concubines, Yueli and Rong Jieyu, in the palace, and Yueli had the highest rank, showing up on such an occasion was a grace to the ministers.
Yue Li thought of Su Huai, whom Concubine Rong mentioned that day, and wondered if he would appear at the banquet today.
She was not in the mood to reminisce about the past. Now that He Yanchen loved and cared for her, she no longer had any thoughts about Su Huai.
But she was very curious about what Su Huai's expression would be when he saw her. You see, even if he sent her away, she could still live a good life. She should be grateful to him for sending her away, otherwise she would not be where she is today.
"Got it, Lianqiao, come and help me dress up."
Yueli was wearing a red dress with scattered gold flowers today, and a lace gold phoenix hairpin with pearls on her head. She was naturally beautiful, and this elegant and luxurious dress made her even more radiant.
Yueli was very satisfied with her outfit and went to the plum blossom viewing banquet with Chunhua.
It was different from when she first entered the palace. Back then, she was just a little beauty and everyone looked down on her background. Whenever she attended a banquet like this, she would eat cakes and drink tea alone in the pavilion. But now, as soon as she showed up, a group of people would come up to compliment her.
Yueli sat in the pavilion like a moon surrounded by stars. Those ladies were all wives of officials of the third rank and above. They spoke and behaved in a measured manner and only chose words to make her happy.
No wonder everyone likes a high position. Yue Li was flattered by them and felt so dizzy.
This made Rong Jieyu's place seem particularly deserted.
Yu Di felt somewhat indignant watching those who took turns to compliment Yue Li. She complained softly to Concubine Rong, "You, my Lord, organized today's plum blossom viewing banquet, yet all those sycophants went to curry favor with Concubine Yu."
Rong Jieyu's expression was indifferent. She picked up the teacup and took a sip. "When Concubine Yu is favored, everyone is happy to curry favor with her. It's not your first day in the palace. Don't you understand this?"
"This servant understands, but it's not worth it for you, my master."
Rong Jieyu looked in the direction of Yueli, with a faint smile on the corner of her lips. Let her be happy for a while, who knows if she will be able to laugh later.
Concubine Rong felt that she was not as superficial as Shen was before. His Majesty doted on Concubine Yu too much, so he even took lightly the previous murders of Concubine Yu against Yang and Huang. Ordinary frame-ups could not shake her position in His Majesty's heart at all.
The story about Xiao Mingcheng is even more nonsense. Even if this rumor reaches His Majesty's ears, His Majesty will probably suppress it. After all, one is in the harem and the other is in the former court, and Concubine Yu has no real involvement with Xiao Mingcheng.
But Su Huai is different.
He was the moonlight when Yueli first fell in love. Women are the most emotional, and she didn't believe that Yueli would remain unmoved when she saw him.
After the Queen Mother arrived, there were fewer people surrounding Yue Li. In preparation for today's plum blossom viewing banquet, the palace servants specially built a high platform in the plum garden for the nobles to enjoy singing and dancing.
Unlike the palace, which had specially trained actors, the imperial troupe was recruited by Concubine Rong from outside the palace.
Yueli watched the play, eating some fruit and snacks from time to time. She was very leisurely and not at all as anxious and restless as Rong Jieyu had expected.
Rong Jieyu frowned and winked at Yu Di.
While Yueli was eating oranges, a familiar sound of music came. The sound of the piano was melodious and graceful, like the melting ice in winter, gurgling over the gravel, making a gurgling whisper.
Yueli was very familiar with this piece of music. During those five years, this was the piece of music she had practiced most proficiently.
She raised her eyes and looked at the people on the platform.
Su Huai seemed to have not changed much, still as gentle and elegant as he was five years ago.
After the song ended, Rong Jieyu kept paying attention to Yueli's expression, but what disappointed and puzzled her was that except for the moment when Su Huai appeared, Yueli was a little dazed, and then she continued to eat oranges leisurely, as if she didn't care about the person on the stage.
It shouldn't be.
Thinking about the information she had found out, Rong Jieyu felt that Yueli was just pretending to be calm.
Well, with so many people around, no matter how stupid she is, she can't lose her composure in front of them all.
Rong Jieyu thought that she had to create an opportunity for them to be alone.
The banquet lasted until the evening. Yue Li couldn't sit still after only an hour. It was too cold outside. She wanted to go back and snuggle in He Yanchen's arms, holding him while reading her notebook.
Thinking of this, she could no longer sit still. She bowed to the Queen Mother and left with Lian Qiao.
The weather was gloomy in winter, and Yueli walked slowly. After leaving the plum garden, she saw the figure in front of her on the palace road.
She slowed down her pace, and Su Huai turned around and looked at her.
The woman was as stunning as ever. In the past two years, she had shed her youthful innocence and her eyes had become more charming and alluring.
Su Huai unconsciously clenched his hands, and his heart suddenly tightened.
His little Yueli has grown up.
Su Huai watched her walk towards him in silence. He opened his mouth and blurted out her name: "Yueli..."
Yue Li frowned, a hint of sarcasm in her eyes: "Young Master Su, are you calling me? Do you think you can call me by my name?"
Su Huai closed his eyes and said, "I pay my respects to Her Majesty the Concubine Yu."
Yue Li stopped in front of him and looked down at him. "I didn't expect to see Master Su here after all these years. It seems that Master Su has been doing very well in the past two years and has even been able to perform in the palace."
Hearing the sarcasm in her words, Su Huai was a little stunned.
In his impression, Yueli is always well-behaved and obedient, but she is too clingy and relies on him all the time, which makes people feel a little suffocated.
But now that she was so unfamiliar, Su Huai felt a little uncomfortable: "Are you still blaming me?"
"Why should I blame you?" Yue Li twitched the corner of her lips in amusement. "I have to thank you. If you hadn't rejected Mother Wang's proposal, I wouldn't be where I am today."
“There were so many misunderstandings back then…”
Yueli interrupted him impatiently, "I don't have time for your nonsense. In consideration of our past kindness, I will forgive your disrespect today."
"But you'd better get out of here. I don't want to see you again."
Yueli snorted coldly and walked past him and left.
Su Huai looked at her receding figure, his face paler than the snow on the roadside.
Hezheng Palace.
Yue Li scolded the man and returned to the bedroom in a good mood, but when she opened the door, she saw He Yanchen sitting on the couch.
He was holding a piece of parchment in his hand, seemingly reading a letter. When he heard the door open, he casually tossed the parchment aside and glanced at her with a half-smile.
"Did you have fun today?"
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