Perhaps because they were so familiar with each other, she recognized him at a glance as Zhou Xuance.
Extremely rare,
Having been stationed away from home for many years, his complexion was unusually pale, and if it weren't for the calluses on his hands, he wouldn't look like a soldier.
"Your Highness?" Shen Zhiyi asked in surprise.
"Just finished work, came to pick you and your parents-in-law."
Zhou Xuance personally helped her down from the carriage, attracting the attention of many arriving officials and their families.
"I had long heard that the Regent's health had been improving since his marriage, and it's true! Could a marriage to ward off bad luck really have such a miraculous effect?"
"The prince treats the princess so well that he personally came out to greet her."
"This is a life-saving grace. Everyone in the capital says she is the prince's lucky star, so naturally he treats her exceptionally well. I heard that the prince dotes on his princess."
"This girl from the Shen family is truly blessed. She became the Regent's principal wife in her second marriage and is so favored."
They seem to have forgotten.
When Zhou Xuance was seriously ill, Shen Zhiyi married into the royal family, and everyone said she was unlucky. Now, however, they all envy her.
Especially those unmarried girls, who still hope to marry into the royal palace as concubines. After all, there has never been monogamy in the royal family, and the regent will eventually take new women into his palace.
When Shen Zhiyi married into the Marquis's mansion, the Song family was weak and dared not openly take concubines, so they could only secretly keep mistresses.
But the regent is of noble birth, so how could he only have one queen?
...
Amidst the murmurs of the crowd, Zhou Xuance had already met his father-in-law and mother-in-law in turn.
The group slowly entered the palace. The banquet was held in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony. The hall was brightly lit, the moon hung high, casting countless rays of light. There were string and brass instruments playing, palace maids moving about, and guards standing guard. The atmosphere was solemn and dignified.
Civil and military officials, along with their families, entered the banquet venue one after another.
The Seventh Prince suddenly appeared out of nowhere and dragged Shen Qi'an towards the Imperial Garden.
"Your Highness, the Crown Prince requests your presence," Kong Qing said in a low voice.
As soon as Zhou Xuance left, many people came to exchange pleasantries and chat.
The Shen family had only been in the capital for a short time and rarely attended palace banquets. Although the Duke of Zhenguo had been stripped of his military power, everyone knew that the northern frontier was unstable and needed the Shen family.
Many unmarried women tried to get close to Shen Zhiyi.
They said they were just saying hello, but as they chatted, they couldn't wait to inquire about Zhou Xuance's situation.
Shen Zhiyi isn't stupid.
So their attitude was lukewarm; they were all shrewd people. Seeing that she didn't want to talk to them, they could only leave disappointed.
"Does she really think the prince will never bring new brides into the family again? She's a second-marriage woman, what's with all the airs she's putting on?"
"In any case, she is now the Regent's wife."
"It's all because she's lucky; her birth chart matches the prince's. I heard that the prince was extremely unwilling to have her marry him to ward off bad luck."
...
As the crowd murmured among themselves, Shen Zhiyi ignored them, her gaze instead falling on Zheng's youngest daughter, who was sitting in the corner.
Is that the person my second brother has his eye on?
They were complete opposites, just like her second brother.
The second brother was tall and strong, with a rough temperament, while the Zheng family's daughter was delicate and graceful, quiet and reserved. She sat alone drinking tea. Perhaps because Shen Zhiyi's gaze was too direct, when their eyes met, she stood up and bowed from a distance, but did not try to curry favor with him.
She looks like a pretty nice girl.
What a pity...
Such a fresh and tender cabbage, how could it have caught the eye of that pig, my second brother?
After a cup of tea, the palace banquet began.
When Emperor Xiaoxuan appeared, all the officials and their families knelt to greet him. Everyone lowered their heads and dared not look directly at the emperor. However, they only heard him cough a few times. After he said, "My beloved ministers, rise," Shen Zhiyi secretly glanced at him as she stood up.
I was momentarily stunned.
The last time she saw the Emperor was during the Empress's assassination attempt. At that time, although he had not yet recovered, he looked alright.
After resting for more than a month, her complexion is still not as good as before.
He was helped to a seat by the Crown Prince and Zhou Xuance, and then he raised his hand to signal the two of them to sit down.
"Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet, everyone please make yourselves at home and take your seats." Emperor Xiaoxuan forced himself to stay alert, with the Empress Dowager sitting beside him, her eyes full of worry.
Despite consuming herbal decoctions daily, the emperor's health deteriorated.
The imperial physician diagnosed it as an illness caused by overwork, which had all manifested at once due to the poisoning, and said that he could only take good care of himself.
As everyone took their seats, palace maids served food and refreshments. The bright moon hung high in the sky, and the night was deep. At Emperor Xiaoxuan's behest, Gao Daban read out the imperial edict.
These are all official pronouncements, praising peace and prosperity, merely intended to encourage officials.
"Are you hungry?" Zhou Xuance naturally sat down next to Shen Zhiyi.
"fine."
"If you're hungry, eat something first."
“His Majesty hasn’t announced the start of the banquet yet, how can we begin eating?” Shen Zhiyi frowned.
"It's nothing to worry about, Your Majesty won't blame me."
Shen Zhiyi was helpless; he truly had no scruples.
After Gao Daban finished reading the imperial edict, the emperor raised his wine cup and drank with all the officials, signaling the start of the banquet. Then, dancers appeared, their movements graceful and elegant. Amidst the clinking of cups and the sounds of singing and dancing, the atmosphere was peaceful and prosperous.
As Shen Zhiyi watched, she unconsciously yawned.
She often attended palace banquets, but the food around her was always the same, so she found it all rather boring.
"Feeling bored?" Zhou Xuance asked in a low voice.
"fine."
"You seem to be sleeping a lot lately."
"Spring drowsiness and autumn fatigue."
...
The two chatted in hushed tones. To outsiders, Zhou Xuance, who was wearing a mask and was usually arrogant and cold, had a smile on his lips at this moment, causing the civil and military officials who had dealt with him before to turn their heads.
It's just a marriage, yet so much has changed.
Just then, the song and dance came to an end, and the Empress Dowager suddenly smiled and said, "It seems that Xuan Ce and Zhi Yi have a very good relationship."
"I originally intended to bring you two together, but I was worried that you wouldn't get along after marriage. It seems that I was worrying too much."
Zhou Xuance simply smiled and said, "I must thank my imperial brother for bestowing this marriage upon me."
"They say a man only truly grows up when he gets married and starts a family. I see you are becoming more and more mature and steady."
The key point is that, unlike before, he no longer always had a cold and aloof demeanor.
seem,
It has a more down-to-earth feel.
As the Empress Dowager spoke, she glanced at Emperor Xiaoxuan and asked, "Emperor, what do you say?"
The Emperor nodded, “Indeed, if I had known that getting married would change you so much, I should have granted you a marriage sooner.”
"It's been almost three months since you and Zhiyi got married, hasn't it?"
Zhou Xuan responded with a reply.
"I see that your health is getting better and better. The Regent's Palace is so big, but it's lonely with only the two of you. You should have children soon."
Shen Zhiyi just smiled.
"By the way, the Empress Dowager summoned you to the palace a few days ago, and you said you weren't feeling well. How are you now?"
"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. My health is much better now."
"If you feel unwell, you should rest more. You have to take care of Xuan Ce and manage the huge palace. I'm afraid your body can't handle it. Another day, I will bestow a few people upon you."
Upon hearing this, all the ministers lowered their heads and remained silent.
The Regent and the Princess have been married for less than three months, and His Majesty is already sending people to the Prince's residence?
It just so happens that the Duke of Zhenguo, who is a doting father, is also there...
Today's palace banquet is quite interesting.
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