Chapter 85: If you offend Concubine Wan, she will suffer the consequences
I heard that Concubine Wan was over 40 years old, but now she looks like she is only in her early 30s. She is well maintained, with her hair loosely tied up high, which gives her a unique charm.
The Seventh Prince Chu Hean is handsome, but unexpectedly, Concubine Wan is even more stunningly beautiful.
Because this banquet was to raise funds for the disaster victims, she reduced her jewelry, but the nine-phoenix-holding-a-pearl hairpin in her hair was still shining, which showed that it was of great value.
"I heard that Jiang Guiyu, the second daughter of the Minister of Revenue Jiang Shouye, has been distributing porridge outside the city for several days. She is really thoughtful."
Suddenly, everyone in the hall began to praise Jiang Guiyu.
Jiang Qingyue saw that Mrs. Jiang beside her sat up straight in an instant, her face full of satisfaction and pride.
Jiang Guiyu had just managed to hold back his cough, but now, because of the flattery from the ladies at the next table, he became a little too proud and coughed a few times.
When Concubine Wan heard the cough, her expression did become colder, although she didn't say it explicitly.
Madam Jiang immediately pulled Jiang Qingyue to kneel down and apologize. Jiang Qingyue was reluctant, but in the palace, everyone shares the same fate. In order to save her own life, she still knew what to do.
"Your Majesty, please forgive me. My daughter Guiyu caught a cold a few days ago while giving out porridge outside the city, so I've been coughing occasionally. I'm sorry for disturbing your well-being, and I beg for your forgiveness!"
"That's Jiang Guiyu, so this is Wanyin's biological sister, right?"
There was obvious interest in Concubine Wan's gentle voice.
"It is my daughter Qingyue."
Mrs. Jiang covered Jiang Qingyue with her sleeves and gently pulled her.
"Jiang Qingyue, I greet the Imperial Concubine."
She knelt down and saluted, her tone neither humble nor arrogant, without any timidity, which made Concubine Wan very satisfied.
"Raise your head and let me see."
Jiang Qingyue raised her head obediently, but He Peilan became a little nervous.
Concubine Wan is of noble status, and Jiang Qingyue cannot look at her directly with her current status.
Fortunately, Jiang Qingyue knew the rules. Although she looked up, she did not look directly at Concubine Wan. She handled the status of her husband and wife properly, making it impossible for anyone to find fault with her.
"Isn't this what Wanyin looks like? They are indeed sisters, they look so similar."
Mrs. Jiang kept saying yes, and Jiang Qingyue lowered her head again.
Jiang Guiyu, who was sitting in the back, pursed her lips tightly. She relied on hatred to suppress the itch in her throat and hold back her cough, but in fact, the handkerchief in her hand was about to be crushed to pieces.
What's the use of being like that? What does it matter if we are sisters?
If she makes a fool of herself in front of everyone and offends Concubine Wan, she will definitely suffer the consequences.
"Okay, the Jiang family has made great contributions. Stop kneeling and get up quickly."
Mrs. Jiang finally breathed a sigh of relief. As the mother and daughter supported each other, she whispered in Jiang Qingyue's ear, "The Jiang family's achievements are all due to Guiyu. You're just taking advantage of Guiyu today. Just be quiet for a while and don't cause any trouble for the Jiang family."
Jiang Qingyue raised the corners of her lips, "Okay, I understand."
Mrs. Jiang felt relieved because she was so sensible.
Concubine Wan spoke a few more words, and the people in the hall echoed them. At this time, palace maids came to the tables holding brocade trays.
Jiang Qingyue saw Mrs. Jiang beside her hurriedly taking off the gold bracelet on her wrist and putting it into the brocade plate, and He Peilanru even took off the most precious gold hairpin on her head.
The ladies also took down their things.
The most valuable item on Jiang Qingyue's body is the hairpin given by Jiang Wanyin. Thinking that it was a gift from her elder sister, Jiang Qingyue felt reluctant to part with it.
Seeing her hesitation, He Peilan, who was sitting on the other side of her, whispered to her, "Qingyue, it doesn't matter. It's just a token of your appreciation. Your father donated cash, and we're just going through the motions."
As he was speaking, a palace maid carrying a brocade tray came to his side.
Having said that, everyone took valuable jewelry, so Jiang Qingyue couldn't just be perfunctory.
Although she was reluctant, she still took off the hairpin and placed it on the brocade plate.
After everyone donated their jewelry, Concubine Wan suddenly laughed.
"Just paying for something is boring. I remember the last palace banquet, where many young ladies showcased their talents, which was truly spectacular. Today, are there any young ladies who would like to perform? If anyone performs well, I will reward them handsomely."
Performing at a palace banquet is the best opportunity to prove yourself.
In just a short while, many young ladies had already gone up to perform, which was really beautiful.
Miss Bai had just finished singing a song when Guo Jingyu went up to perform a dance. Seeing that Concubine Wan looked indifferent, she couldn't help feeling disappointed.
Jiang Guiyu covered his mouth with a wrinkled handkerchief to suppress his two coughs.
"Sister Yuting, you dance the best, why don't you go up and give it a try?"
Li Yuting shook her head. "No, my grandmother is seriously ill, so I have to leave in a while."
Jiang Guiyu greeted Mrs. Li for a few words before walking forward and preparing to play the piano and perform some music.
"In Yanjing City, Guiyu plays the zither the best."
Mrs. Jiang's words were full of pride.
Unexpectedly, Jiang Guiyu had just sat down and his fingers had just brushed the surface of the piano, without even playing a single note, when he exclaimed and abruptly withdrew his hand.
When everyone looked over, they saw that her finger was cut for some reason and bleeding profusely.
"Return Jade!"
Mrs. Jiang lost her composure and almost rushed out, but Jiang Qingyue grabbed her.
"Madam, the Imperial Concubine is here and will make the decision for the Second Young Miss."
Yes, this is a palace banquet, Concubine Wan’s palace banquet, she cannot break the rules.
Mrs. Jiang sat down in a panic, while on Jiang Guiyu's side, the two palace maids who came to set up the zither knelt in the hall, trembling.
Suddenly, everyone in the hall began to discuss in low voices.
"Why would Qin cut someone for no reason?"
"There's so much blood, it looks like he's seriously injured."
Miss Bai said in a voice that was neither too loud nor too soft, just enough for everyone to hear: "Gui Yu plays the zither the best, how could she possibly have scratched her fingers?"
She was sitting in the back and could only see the back of Jiang Qingyue's head. She said sarcastically, "Could it be that someone is afraid of being outdone, so they're deliberately doing something bad and don't want Gui Yu to play the piano?"
She didn't mention anyone by name, so Jiang Qingyue didn't need to rush to say anything.
However, Jiang Qingyue was also curious about how Jiang Guiyu injured his finger.
At this time, the female official beside Concubine Wan came into the hall and carefully checked the body of the piano, but did not find any sharp objects.
Jiang Guiyu quickly covered her injured finger with a handkerchief and said, "It was my stupidity that caused me to accidentally scratch my finger. Please don't punish these two palace maids, Your Majesty."
She looked towards Mrs. Jiang, and her eyes, seeking help, were heartbreaking.
"I have disturbed Your Majesty's mood and deserve death. How about letting my sister Qingyue finish this song? It will be considered as an apology to Your Majesty."
Jiang Qingyue sneered in her heart.
It turned out that he was waiting for her here.
He Peilan was filled with anger.
Jiang Qingyue grew up in the northern border. What kind of piano can she play?
What happened today was obviously a trap set by Jiang Guiyu. Is He Zhiyi, the mother, blind?
Unexpectedly, at this moment, Jiang Qingyue slowly stood up, revealing the wound on her wrist.
"Your Majesty, my hand was injured a few days ago."
Everyone started talking again, wondering what a coincidence it was that he was also injured.
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