Chapter 161: Scheming at the Palace Banquet
Queen Mother Cui did not respond, but turned to look at the other people in the hall.
"You all, get up."
As soon as the voice fell, everyone stood up one after another.
But because of the arrival of Queen Mother Cui, the atmosphere was no longer as lively as before.
With the help of palace maids, Queen Mother Cui slowly sat down in the main seat.
He Yunshu had no choice but to follow, but the moment she sat down, she glared at Shen Ningyuan resentfully.
After taking her seat, Empress Dowager Cui swept her eyes around the hall.
Finally, he set his gaze on Shen Ningyuan.
He asked softly, "Where is your mother? Why is she not here today?"
"Your Highness, my cousin is ill and mother is taking care of her at home."
"Cousin?" Queen Mother Cui was stunned, but did not ask any more questions. "So that's how it is. I thought I would be able to see your mother when I return to Beijing this time."
"When I return, I will ask mother to come to the palace to pay respects to the Queen Mother."
"No need. Your mother knows her limits. If the situation wasn't serious, she wouldn't stay at home."
Queen Mother Cui didn't want to continue this topic and changed the subject to other people.
In this case, Shen Ningyuan didn't need to speak, and stayed quietly beside Song Yaner, casually finding a topic, "Sister-in-law, where is your eldest sister Yingfei?"
When she heard the name Ying Fei, Song Yan'er couldn't help but laugh and said, "She is now Ying Guifei!"
"Oh? In just one month, you were promoted to Imperial Concubine?"
Song Yan'er raised her eyebrows, "That's right. The imperial physician diagnosed her a few days ago and found out that she was pregnant. She is very angry now and doesn't want to attend the palace banquet. Your Majesty can't do anything about it, so he has to let her do what she wants."
Hearing this, Shen Ningyuan couldn't help but wonder, "Doesn't Concubine Ying want to have a baby?"
"She has been afraid of pain since she was young, so she has been secretly taking contraceptive soup since she entered the palace. This time it was an accident. Your Majesty treasures her baby so much that he will let her do whatever she wants."
Song Yan'er lowered her voice and said, "To tell you the truth, even the Queen, who is so arrogant and domineering, has been avoiding my eldest sister for some time."
"Why?"
"Because everyone in the palace knows that my eldest sister doesn't want children, the queen is afraid to stay with my eldest sister. If something unexpected happens, His Majesty will be angry with her, so she even forgoes the daily morning greetings."
“Is it possible to do this?” Shen Ningyuan opened her mouth slightly, with a gossipy look on her face.
"I can't help it. His Majesty dotes on my elder sister, but he can't do anything to her." Song Yan'er said, "This man is just cheap. What he can't get is the best."
Shen Ningyuan immediately asked: "What about my eldest brother? Is my eldest brother also a bitch?"
Song Yaner rolled her eyes at her and said, "Your elder brother is honest and upright. I chose him because of this."
Shen Ningyuan glanced at Song Yaner playfully, and said nothing more.
The two ended their conversation, and Shen Ningyuan turned her head and noticed that Chen's eyes were always on her.
From her eyes, Shen Ningyuan detected a hint of resentment and calculation.
Shen Ningyuan withdrew her gaze inconspicuously, pretending not to notice Chen.
Then, from the corner of her eye, Shen Ningyuan saw Chen give a slight wink to the palace maid beside her.
Shen Ningyuan looked at the palace maid and saw that the maid's eyebrows and eyes were somewhat similar to Chen Moer.
It is not difficult to see that Chen and Chen Moer had already planned to plot against her at the palace banquet.
Chen Ningyuan frowned and asked Song Yan'er beside her in a low voice, "Sister-in-law, what is the best way to plot against someone at Queen Mother Cui's palace banquet?"
Song Yan'er said without thinking, "Empress Dowager Cui hates unfaithful women the most. If she messes around at the palace banquet held for her, it would be an unforgivable crime. With Empress Dowager Cui's hypocritical nature, she will definitely take this woman away from the capital on the pretext of accompanying her to worship Buddha, and then find a random excuse to kill her without making a fuss."
Shen Ningyuan's face darkened, "It's like this..."
"Why are you asking this suddenly?"
"Nothing, just asking out of curiosity." Shen Ningyuan answered perfunctorily.
At this time, Chen Moer, who was dressed as a palace maid, moved over quietly and poured a glass of wine into the glass in front of Shen Ningyuan.
After pouring the wine, Chen Moer took two steps back, staring at Shen Ningyuan.
At the same time, Chen was also staring at Shen Ningyuan.
It was obvious that he was expecting her to drink the glass of wine quickly.
Shen Ningyuan curled her lips, picked up the wine glass but did not drink it directly, but put it to the tip of her nose and sniffed it.
It's an aphrodisiac scent.
Sure enough, it was just as Song Yaner said.
The Chen aunt and nephew racked their brains, but they could only resort to such a despicable trick to plot against her.
Shen Ningyuan's lips curled up into a smile, and as Chen and Chen Moer expected, she brought the wine glass to her lips.
Seeing this scene, Chen's eyes widened.
But the next second, Shen Ningyuan suddenly loosened her grip, and the wine glass in her hand slipped into her arms, spilling the wine on her clothes.
"ah!"
Shen Ningyuan cried out in surprise.
Afterwards, everyone's eyes fell on Shen Ningyuan.
Queen Mother Cui also looked at Shen Ningyuan and asked indifferently, "What's wrong?"
Shen Ningyuan pretended to be flustered and said, "Your Majesty, I was drunk and accidentally spilled the wine."
"It's okay. I'll ask the maid to take you to the back and change into dry clothes."
As she spoke, Queen Mother Cui winked at the palace maid behind her, and the palace maid walked towards Shen Ningyuan.
He said respectfully, "Please follow me."
Song Yaner looked at Shen Ningyuan and asked, "Do you need your sister-in-law to accompany you?"
Shen Ningyuan patted Song Yaner soothingly, “Sister-in-law is not feeling well, so you don’t have to accompany me.”
Having said that, Shen Ningyuan immediately stood up, followed the palace maid, and walked out of the hall through the corridor.
From the moment Shen Ningyuan stood up until she walked out of the hall, Chen had been staring at Shen Ningyuan, her eyes full of resentment.
It was obviously just a little bit away, why did Shen Ningyuan suddenly knock over the drink?
This bitch, how could she even spill the wine when drinking it.
After Shen Ningyuan left the hall, Chen looked at Chen Moer.
Unlike Chen, there was no trace of emotion in Chen Moer's eyes.
He seemed not surprised by Shen Ningyuan's sudden action of spilling the wine.
If Chen Ningyuan drank the wine obediently, she would find it strange.
Thinking of this, Chen Moer quietly stepped back and walked behind Chen.
"What should we do if the drug administration failed?" Chen asked nervously.
Chen Moer gently comforted him, “Forget about the failure, aunt, don’t worry, wait until Shen Ningyuan comes back.”
Seeing Chen Moer's calm eyes, Chen's uneasiness immediately eased a little.
It doesn’t matter if the drugging fails. I can just try again after Shen Ningyuan changes her clothes and comes back.
Thinking of this, Chen barely suppressed her panic and focused her attention back on the palace banquet.
Little did they know that Shen Ningyuan, who had walked out of the hall, had already begun her calculations against the Marquis' Mansion...
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
