Today is the day when the East Palace hosts a banquet to entertain envoys from various countries.

At the gate of Linhua Palace, there was a constant stream of traffic and people of all kinds.

The eunuch who was singing at the door almost shouted out his throat, which showed how many people came to the banquet.

Since the guests from various countries were princes and princesses, and the banquet was hosted by the crown prince, most of the guests who came to the banquet were young people.

Some senior officials in high positions and with great power would naturally not come, and instead of those envoys, they sent their own younger generations to attend the ceremony.

Ning Xihua got off the carriage and was amazed at the huge crowds of people in front of him. Those who knew would think that the Eastern Palace was ordered to host a banquet to entertain the envoys, while those who didn't would think they were at a market.

Chang Yi had been waiting at the door. As soon as Ning Xihua got off the carriage, he saw her immediately with his sharp eyes and hurried forward to meet her.

"My princess, why did you come just now? His Highness is getting impatient waiting!"

Ning Xihua didn't listen to Su Bi's nonsense and came early, for fear of running into a bunch of young men and women who came to greet each other. So she came on time, thinking that the banquet would start soon after she sat down.

"I think you're getting impatient waiting here." Ning Xihua joked.

Chang Yi, this clever girl, always mentions Su Bi, which makes her presence felt in front of her.

Chang Yi hastily denied it, wishing he could show his loyalty a hundred times.

"How can that be possible! I will wait for the princess until the sky falls and the earth breaks apart, and I will never be anxious!"

He replied with a smile, and continued to curry favor with his Highness.

"Your Highness has been sending people to ask if the princess has arrived. I have replied more than ten times, but she still hasn't arrived. I am so worried for Your Highness!"

Ning Xihua was amused, "That's enough, your mouth is as sweet as honey every day."

Chang Yi had a look of joy on his face as he had finally met someone. He walked briskly in front of Ning Xihua.

"There are so many people coming this time that the main hall can't accommodate them all, so the banquet was held in the inner palace garden, oh, the one where the princess often goes to cool off."

Ning Xihua was also very confused and asked Chang Yi, "Aren't you hosting a banquet for the envoys? Why are there so many people?"

Chang Yi explained, "My princess, you don't know that because of His Highness' illness, Linhua Palace hasn't held a banquet for many years. This time, we finally held a banquet to see off the envoys, and many families sent visiting cards. His Highness had no choice but to send out invitations to all of them."

Ning Xihua thought for a moment, "Isn't this the first time in recent years that His Majesty has asked the Eastern Palace to host a banquet on his behalf?"

"Yes. Princess, there are rumors outside that the emperor asked the Eastern Palace to hold a banquet this time in the name of entertaining envoys to let His Highness and the princes choose concubines."

No wonder she was puzzled when she saw so many young ladies' carriages at the door just now.

However, this time the emperor asked the Eastern Palace to hold a banquet, which was a signal.

The frail Prince Chu performed his duties for the first time and hosted a banquet for envoys from various countries on behalf of the emperor. Many people might be unable to sit still.

Among so many people who came today, I wonder how many of them are here to find out the truth on behalf of their elders.

Seeing that Ning Xihua didn't reply, Chang Yi curled his lips and carefully observed her expression while saying, "If you ask me, which young lady can compare to the princess?"

Song Yi nodded madly in agreement.

Ning Xihua is a little funny. Well, she has another little fan.

Regardless of whether Chang Yi made her happy or not, she appreciated the kindness.

Ning Xihua saw the garden's hanging flower gate from afar. Just as she was about to go in, she was suddenly bumped by someone and stumbled.

The man suddenly appeared from the bushes at the corner, and rushed straight towards her without paying attention to the road. The distance was too close, and even Chang Yi and Song Yi didn't react.

Fortunately, Song Yi reached out to support her in time, so she didn't fall down in public.

Chang Yi also quickly reached out and grabbed the man, otherwise the man would have almost fallen on her.

When Ning Xihua stood still, she saw clearly that the person who bumped into her was a little maid.

"Where did you come from, little girl? You didn't even look where you were going. You were so careless that you almost bumped into the noble man!"

Chang Yi instantly took on the posture of the chief steward of Linhua Palace and glared at the maid with a sullen face.

He was still in shock, but luckily nothing happened. If the princess fell down under his nose, His Highness would have skinned her alive!

When the little maid saw what had happened, she immediately fell to the ground and kowtowed repeatedly to admit her mistake.

"It is my fault that I am blind. Please forgive me, sir!"

When Ning Xihua saw the little girl trembling with fear, she didn't want to make things difficult for her, so she waved her hand to signal her to let it go.

Chang Yi then put away his accusatory look and said, "Hurry up and get down!"

The maid quickly kowtowed to express her gratitude and left in a hurry.

Ning Xihua continued to follow Chang Yi and walked forward a few steps. Just as she was about to enter the Chuihua Gate, she suddenly stopped.

"Princess?" Song Yi asked in confusion.

Ning Xihua looked at Chang Yi who had turned around and was waiting for orders, and asked, "Isn't that little maid from Linhua Palace?"

Chang Yi immediately stopped smiling and said seriously, "No, I remember all the maids and eunuchs in Linhua Palace. That maid looks unfamiliar and is definitely not from Linhua Palace. What do you mean?"

really.

She didn't take it seriously at first, but just now she realized that she seemed to have never seen that maid in Linhua Palace before.

The servants and maids brought by the masters who were able to come to the East Palace for the banquet were all carefully selected for fear of anything going wrong, so how come a little maid almost bumped into him.

Moreover, I was walking between Chang Yi and Song Yi, and she didn't bump into either of them, but just happened to bump into me?

Ning Xihua was just guessing and didn't say much. She just gave Chang Yi a look.

Chang Yi immediately leaned forward and replied, "I understand. Princess, please take your seat first. I will go check it out."

Ning Xihua nodded. As expected of Su Bi's personal eunuch, it was easy to get along with such an intelligent person.

After entering the Chuihua Gate, Ning Xihua felt a gaze falling on her before she could take a closer look at the scene.

She looked back along the line of sight and saw Su Bi standing near the main seat, looking at her from a distance across the crowd.

Unlike her usual casual demeanor, Su Bi wore a blue-white dress today. It was still a light and elegant color, but the sleeves and hem were embroidered with silver bamboo leaf patterns, and she wore a silver belt of the same color.

The hair that had been tied up with a hairband for many years was now tied up with a jade crown. Although his face was still a little pale, his complexion looked much better, and he was definitely a noble man in the world as bright as the moon.

Ning Xihua looked at his handsome face and couldn't help but sigh. No wonder those old ministers, although they secretly complained about the prince's loss of power, still had to express regret and praise him as a gentleman on their faces.

Just based on her looks and demeanor, it's hard not to admire her.

When Su Bi saw Ning Xihua looking at her, a clear smile appeared on her usually gentle face, and even her eyes softened.

Ning Xihua was pleased with his reaction. She curled her lips towards him and her mood became cheerful.

Ah, she always succumbs to beauty.

When a beauty smiles, even the weather becomes extra cool and comfortable.