The second courtyard of the Marquis of Lin'an's residence.
"Sister, Her Majesty the Empress has sent out invitations today to all the women in the household to come to the palace to participate in the Hundred Flowers Banquet."
As soon as Chen Siyi heard the news, she went to Chen Siqi's room and told her the news immediately.
Upon hearing the news, Chen Siqi paused in her hand, which was being punished by copying Buddhist scriptures, and the black ink from the pen dripped onto the white paper and spread.
She quickly put down her pen, looked up at Chen Siyi, and asked, "Are you telling the truth?"
"Really, I heard it with my own ears."
After confirming the information, Chen Siqi could no longer sit still and immediately stood up, her mouth almost stretched to the back of her ears in a wide grin.
She took a few steps before turning to look at her younger sister, "What are you still standing there for?"
"Quickly help me decide what clothes to wear to the palace, something that will outshine the noble ladies attending the Hundred Flowers Banquet!"
Seeing that Chen Siyi was standing still, she knew what the other was thinking since the two sisters had grown up together. "Give your sister some advice. What's wrong with lending you a few pieces of jewelry?"
Chen Siyi wanted to hear those words, and her lips immediately curled into a smile as she quickly stepped forward, saying, "Then thank you very much, sister."
But as soon as Chen Siqi turned around, the smile on Chen Siyi's lips immediately vanished.
She thought to herself, 'Those pieces of jewelry were just snatched from Lu Changping, and they even have the audacity to claim they were a gift from her.'
If she didn't need to maintain her image in front of the princes, all these good things would have been hers!
The two entered the inner room, and Chen Siqi instructed the maid to open the jewelry box and display all kinds of hairpins and bracelets.
Chen Siqi sat down in front of the bronze mirror, picked up an exquisitely crafted gold hairpin, and put it on her head. Soon her head was covered with gold hairpins.
Looking at her sister, whose head was covered in gold hairpins and looked like a golden hedgehog, Chen Siyi couldn't help but twitch her lips.
"Little sister, come quickly and help me choose."
Upon hearing Chen Siqi's call, Chen Siyi stepped forward and carefully helped her choose.
On the other side, Lu Yao, upon learning that she could enter the palace, happily ran into Lu Qiqi's courtyard.
"Sister, the palace is holding a Hundred Flowers Banquet, and my aunt said we can all go."
Before you see him, you hear his voice.
As soon as Lu Qiqi looked up, she saw Lu Yao running into the house from outside with her short legs, and standing in front of her with a big smile on her face.
Just now, when she heard the words "Hundred Flowers Banquet" from Lu Yao, she almost had to react.
She was not familiar with the Empress, and the Empress Dowager was not close to the Empress either. Moreover, it was because of Song Yanqing that the Empress specially invited her to the palace.
She couldn't figure out what the Empress was thinking, no matter how hard she tried.
But now that Wuqi is eyeing her covetously, she can't afford to make a mistake at this time.
"Sister?" Seeing that she didn't speak for a long time and was staring at her intently, Lu Yao couldn't help but wave her little hand in front of her eyes.
Lu Qiqi turned around, gently took Lu Yao's hand, and made her sit down quietly. Then she moved the pastries on the table in front of her.
"These are pear blossom pastries that Qingdai made according to the recipe I gave her. Why don't you try them and see how they taste?"
Lu Yao picked up a pear blossom pastry, took a small bite, and the sweet taste melted in her mouth. Her eyes sparkled as she looked up and exclaimed, "Delicious!"
Seeing that she had finished the pastry in her hand with a smile, Lu Qiqi said, "Ayao, some things have happened at the manor recently, and there is also some unrest outside."
With guards protecting you in the manor, your sister can rest assured.
"Once this matter is resolved, if there's another opportunity, I will definitely take you to the palace so you can witness its splendor."
Upon hearing this, a hint of disappointment flashed in Lu Yao's eyes.
But when she thought of the night the assassins broke into the mansion, the clanging of swords on the roof, she knew that danger lurked everywhere.
She couldn't cause trouble for her sister at this time.
Thinking of this, Lu Yao smiled and nodded obediently, "Okay, I'll listen to my sister."
After saying that, she reached out and took a piece of pear blossom pastry and ate it.
The Hundred Flowers Banquet is scheduled for three days later.
Time flies, it passes in the blink of an eye.
On the day she entered the palace to attend the Hundred Flowers Banquet, Lu Qiqi wore a red dress and stood under the gate of the Marquis of Lin'an's mansion. Her straight back was heroic and spirited, like a general returning victorious from the battlefield.
The two sisters from the second wife arrived late, one wearing a pink dress and the other a light blue dress.
Xuan Wenying knew in advance that Lu Yao was staying at the residence. After everyone arrived, she led Lu Qiqi into the palace in a carriage.
On the carriage, Xuan Wenying looked at Lu Qiqi seriously and said, "The current Empress Dowager is the elder sister of the Marquis of Anyang. Everyone in the capital knows about your mother's marriage to the Marquis of Anyang."
In recent years, Lady Jia, the wife of the Marquis of Anyang, has never appeared at banquets in various mansions, and has been keeping a low profile all these years.
The Empress has specially invited you, a junior, today; it's probably not that simple.
Lu Qiqi naturally knew that Lu Yao was not simple, otherwise she would not have kept Lu Yao in the mansion.
Seeing that she didn't speak, Xuan Wenying placed her right hand on her left hand and comforted her, "You don't need to worry too much. You have the Lin'an Marquis's Mansion behind you. Even the Empress can't use you as a pawn."
Lu Qiqi raised an eyebrow.
Xuan Wenying explained to her, "Even those in high positions must be mindful of the censors."
I see.
Lu Qiqi said, "Don't worry, Aunt, I will act according to the situation and will not put myself in danger."
Before entering the palace, female relatives had to dismount from their carriages and undergo inspection by female officials to prevent them from bringing anything that could harm the nobles into the palace.
After the group from the Marquis of Lin'an's residence finished their inspection, it was Lu Qiqi's turn.
She pulled a dagger from her sleeve; the ruby gleamed alluringly in the sunlight.
The female official had been inspecting the women of various households for many years and had never seen anyone dare to bring a sharp weapon into the palace. Her eyes widened like copper bells.
The guard with a sword at his waist instinctively tried to draw his sword upon seeing the dagger.
But reason made them grip the knife handle tightly and not take any further action.
This place is full of women. If they are frightened by sharp blades and cause the Hundred Flowers Banquet to be ruined, that is something that we guards cannot bear.
Therefore, the guards could only keep their eyes wide open and watch Lu Qiqi's next move closely.
Xuan Wenying was also startled and quickly said to the female official, "This is my junior's first time entering the palace. It's my fault for not explaining the palace rules clearly."
When entering the palace to pay respects to a noble person, one must not bring sharp weapons or similar items into the palace.
"Quickly hand the dagger to the lady-in-waiting; you can retrieve it upon returning to the residence."
Upon hearing this, Lu Qiqi explained, "This dagger was given to me by Song Yanqing for self-defense, and I've gotten used to carrying it with me."
I completely forgot for a moment, I'm so sorry.
After saying this, she handed the dagger to the female official.
After handing over the dagger, Xuan Wenying quickly pulled Lu Qiqi into the palace.
The second wife, who had been following behind them, instinctively distanced herself.
After the group left, the female official looked down at the dagger in her hand, feeling as if it were a hot potato, and cold sweat poured down her back.
After that, the female officials and guards dared not be careless in their inspections of the women entering the palace.
After all, they could tell the difference between offending someone and losing their head.
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