When Zhu Bifeng was young, he was often bullied by his two older brothers. He was small and weak, and no one stood up for him or supported him when he was beaten.
Concubine Tang was so cowardly that she didn't even dare to fight for the position of concubine. The most common words she said every day were: you must do your duty, be humble, be patient, and be diligent.
When he was nine years old, he performed the game of pitching pots and became a sensation. The Princess of Zhou held a banquet originally to make her two legitimate sons famous, but she never expected that a bastard's son would steal the show.
After the banquet, Zhu Beifeng was inevitably beaten up.
Aunt Tang didn't ask about his injuries, but insisted on taking him to apologize.
"You come from a bad background, so don't cause trouble for your aunt."
"I didn't cause any trouble. My brother hit me first. What's wrong with me fighting back?"
"You need to be honest and do your job well, work harder, and be more sensible. You should always consider your two brothers. Why would they beat you? It's because you like to be in the spotlight, so they teach you a lesson."
Aunt Tang has never been educated. Her ancestors have made a living by farming and working all year round. They lack the spirit of adventure and the ambition to make progress.
When bullied, beaten or scolded, they will not think of resisting, but scold their own children.
"There are so many illegitimate children in the palace, why do your two brothers only beat you and not others? Isn't it because you made a mistake?"
Zhu Bifeng clenched his fists and gritted his teeth.
"Let's go with Auntie to apologize to the two princes."
"I won't go. I did nothing wrong. Why should I apologize?"
"You said you were right, so you are right?"
"The maids and servants all saw it at the time, and they can testify for me."
Zhu Bifeng looked at the people around him with hope, but their eyes were dull and no one dared to come out to testify for him.
Aunt Tang took Zhu Bifeng's hand and dragged him to apologize, but Zhu Bifeng held the pillar tightly and refused to compromise.
He was in inner torment. His mother was afraid that the powerful would force him to bow his head. Many people came and went in the backyard of Xiaoyao Palace, but no one was willing to help him until she appeared.
"Aunt, I saw it clearly just now. The eldest and second cousins pinched Brother Feng's neck first. If Brother Feng didn't fight back, they would have beaten him to death."
After saying that, she stood on tiptoe and lifted up Zhu Bifeng's scarf, revealing a bright red mark on his neck.
Xi Jiaorong was only five years old at the time, and Aunt Tang was thirty-five years old, an adult, but she was not as brave as a five-year-old child.
Zhu Bifeng picked up the peach on the ground and handed it to her. Xi Jiaorong smiled and said, "Thank you, Brother Feng."
Zhu Bifeng couldn't help but laugh along, and the eyes of the women around him fell on Xi Jiaorong's face almost at the same time, with inquiry, doubt, and hatred.
Xi Jiaorong felt her hair stand on end and she became uncomfortable all over.
Zhu Bifeng immediately restrained his expression and returned to his seat as if nothing had happened.
"Your Majesty, please enjoy the peaches. The peaches at tonight's banquet were picked by the Empress Dowager herself."
The eunuch Shuangxi brought a fruit plate. The peach flesh in the plate was bright red and crispy when put in the mouth. It was slightly sour at first, but the more you chewed, the more delicious it became.
Empress Dowager Hengle had been away from worldly affairs for three years and lived in Sansheng Courtyard with two concubines. When Empress Dowager Hengle sent him peaches, he decided to choose an auspicious day to welcome the Empress Dowager and the two concubines back to the palace.
The four ministers who protected the country urged him to hold a banquet, but in fact it was to select a beauty for him. He had to attend the banquet and enjoy the singing and dancing.
There are still sixteen memorials left to review, and he is a little anxious. When will it be finished?
As soon as Miss Guo finished her dance, Mei Qingqing came forward to perform with a long sword in hand.
"Your Majesty, I am humbled by your humble intentions."
Mei Qingqing has a frosty face and outstanding swordsmanship. She studied under a famous master and is a master of Tai Chi swordsmanship.
Many ladies who were preparing to dance at the banquet gave up the idea of dancing after watching Guo Qiuyu's Huxuan dance and Mei Qingqing's sword dance.
Qi Yuer buried her head in her food. She thought it was a good decision to come to today's banquet. The food was delicious and the dancing was beautiful. She was looking forward to seeing who would perform next.
Guo Qiuyu opened the banquet with a Huxuan dance, and the atmosphere suddenly became lively. Mei Qingqing performed a Tai Chi sword dance, and the atmosphere at the banquet immediately became quiet.
You finish your song and I come on stage, with drinks clinking and the sounds of stringed instruments and laughter filling the air.
The noble ladies who came to the palace for the banquet today all had a force supporting them. When Zhu Bifeng faced them, he spoke softly and showed his imperial demeanor.
Until the end of the banquet, the ladies were reluctant to leave.
Qi Yu'er was only concerned with eating, and Xi Jiaorong was only concerned with watching. The two of them were out of tune with the group of women who were vying to please the new emperor.
Zhu Bifeng glanced around and Qi Yuer's eyes met his. Qi Yuer tore off a chicken leg and ate it without restraint. She ate in an elegant manner but had a big appetite.
Shuangxi hurriedly ordered the eunuchs to serve Qi Yuer a fresh plate of roast duck, and Qi Yuer's eyes lit up. The food in the palace was really good. If she could live in the palace for a long time in the future, she would never have to worry about food and clothing.
Qi Yuer was born into a scholarly family. Her mother was very strict with her, requiring her to eat only until she was 70% full, smile without showing her teeth, and walk with a proper gait.
This is the first time in my life that I can enjoy eating meat and watch singing and dancing happily.
Qi Yuer decided that she wanted to enter the palace, break free from the constraints of her parents, and live a happy life eating meat and drinking wine.
The banquet lasted for more than two hours. The ladies came with great joy and left with great satisfaction.
Madam Qi and a group of maids waited for a long time. As soon as Qi Yu'er got off the carriage, the maid hurriedly ran in to report the news.
"Madam, the young lady is back."
Qi Yuer had a droopy face and a serious expression.
"Yu'er, why do you seem so unhappy? Maybe the food in the palace is not to your taste."
There was a voice in Qi Yuer's heart that kept shouting, "It's just to my taste, it's absolutely perfect for me."
"Mother, I've made up my mind."
"Are you unwilling to enter the palace? Even if you don't want to, mother will immediately send a message to the Dongbo Marquis's Mansion, asking them to come and propose marriage. Let's first arrange your marriage with the Dongbo family..."
Qi Yuer interrupted Madam Qi: "Mother, I have decided. I want to enter the palace."
"Oh, my daughter! Once you enter the palace, it's like entering a deep sea."
"Being with the king is like being with a tiger. How can a mother bear to see her daughter feed the tiger?"
"Mother, my daughter will eventually get married. Instead of marrying someone else, it's better to marry the emperor. After all, the emperor is the most noble man in the entire Xuanhua Kingdom."
Mrs. Qi wanted to persuade her, but Qi Yuer refused to talk to her any more and turned back to her room.
Mrs. Qi didn't know what kind of magic potion her daughter had drunk. Before entering the palace, she promised everything and repeatedly assured that she would not enter the palace. But after returning from the banquet, she changed her mind.
The harem is extremely dangerous. The emperor has many beauties and cannot treat one person wholeheartedly. Mrs. Qi does not want her daughter to enter the palace from the bottom of her heart.
After Qi Yuer returned to her boudoir, she picked up the pastries on the table and prepared to eat.
The maid immediately took away the cakes and advised earnestly: "Madam said that the young lady must maintain her figure and cannot eat sweets before going to bed."
Qi Yu'er picked up a book to read. The maid came forward and took the book away from her. "Madam said that reading at night hurts your eyes. Miss, you should rest early."
Qi Yuer looked up at the sky and sighed deeply.
"Madam said..."
"Speak, speak, Madam Tiantian said, get out of here, I want to go to bed."
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