Chapter 217 First Meeting with Consort Duan
Zhou Ruiyuan nodded and reached out to brush a strand of hair from her temple. "Well, if you don't want to go, I'll go and refuse for you."
Du Wanchun laughed and said, "Of course I'll go, I've never been to the palace before."
Zhou Ruiyuan's gaze darkened slightly as he listened, "From now on, that palace will be our home."
Du Wanchun leaned against him, smiling and nodding.
The next morning, Du Wanchun changed into a pale yellow palace dress, put on the headdress given to her by Aunt Zhou, and went to the palace with Miss Han.
Miss Han held her hand and whispered, "Sister-in-law, today's flower viewing banquet is all for the ladies of the palace. Don't worry, as long as we don't provoke them, nothing will happen."
A few days ago, when Consort Duan heard that Miss Han was getting married, she specially held a flower-viewing banquet in the palace. One reason was to win over Miss Han, and the other was to give the Han family a warning.
Du Wanchun followed Miss Han into the palace in a carriage. Once inside, she got off the carriage and followed a group of palace maids and eunuchs.
Soon, guided by the palace maids, they arrived at Consort Duan's palace.
Miss Han and Du Wanchun bowed to Consort Duan together, saying, "Your Highness, Consort Duan."
When Consort Duan saw Miss Han enter with a strange woman, she began to sized up Du Wanchun and asked her, "And who is this?"
Han Yan'er stood up and replied, "This is Sister-in-law Zhou. I brought her to the palace today."
Consort Duan lowered her gaze and looked Du Wanchun up and down again.
At this moment, one of the concubines standing nearby said with a smile, "Isn't this Zhou family's sister-in-law just a peasant woman? I heard that the Zhou family makes a living by making incense and farming."
"Yes, but judging from her overall attire, she's no less elegant than the women in the capital."
"It's all because of Miss Han. Speaking of which, Miss Han has become increasingly rude, actually bringing a peasant woman into the palace."
Du Wanchun wasn't angry at their chatter and sat down next to Miss Han.
Consort Duan smiled and said, "Now that His Majesty has adopted the Zhou family's son as his godson, the Zhou family is naturally no ordinary farming family. You should watch your words."
The concubines immediately shut their mouths, each lowering their heads with resentment on their faces.
Contrary to Du Wanchun's expectations, this Consort Duan looked quite kind and spoke in a gentle voice.
However, it is often the people who are like this that are the most terrifying.
With Consort Duan's words, no one made things difficult for Du Wanchun at the entire flower-viewing banquet.
The emperor arrived just as the banquet was drawing to a close.
This was the first time Du Wanchun had met Zhou Ruiyuan's biological father. Seeing the two men's somewhat similar faces, she was once again struck by the emperor's ruthlessness.
When the old emperor saw Du Wanchun, his eyes darkened slightly as he scrutinized her closely.
Consort Duan quickly said, "This is Zhou Yan's sister-in-law."
Upon hearing this, the old emperor immediately withdrew his gaze.
Du Wanchun quickly bowed deeply to him, saying, "This humble woman greets Your Majesty."
The old emperor said slowly, "Hmm, rise."
Du Wanchun lowered her head and stood up.
The old emperor did not stay long; he sat there for a while and then left.
After the banquet ended, Du Wanchun hurriedly left the palace with Miss Han.
After they left, Consort Duan asked a young palace maid standing nearby, "Did you see that just now?"
The young palace maid asked, "What is Your Highness referring to?"
Consort Duan took out a box of incense and slowly lit it, "The way the Emperor looked at that Zhou family sister-in-law."
The palace maid paused, then comforted her, saying, "Your Majesty, the Emperor has always been like this."
Consort Duan picked up the burning incense and smelled it, saying, "Yes, he always does, but the fragrance on Sister-in-law Zhou is indeed quite unique."
The young palace maid asked in confusion, "Unique? I didn't notice anything amiss."
Consort Duan stood up and walked towards the window. "The fragrance on her body always reminds me of the Empress."
The young palace maid was taken aback. "Your Highness, you must be mistaken. I also smelled the fragrance on that peasant woman today, but it was no different from the fragrance of ordinary perfumes."
Consort Duan coughed lightly, turned around and said, "I must have been overthinking it."
When the palace maid saw her coughing, she quickly asked, "Your Highness, your cough has been quite severe lately. Should we call the imperial physician to take a look?"
Consort Duan waved her hand and said, "No need, it's just a cold."
Hearing her say that, the young palace maid did not ask any further questions.
After leaving the palace, Du Wanchun told Zhou Ruiyuan everything that had happened there.
Zhou Ruiyuan held her hand and said, "From now on, with me here, no one will be able to say such things to you again."
Du Wanchun laughed and said, "That's enough, it's just a verbal dispute, nothing to worry about."
Zhou Ruiyuan held her hand, his face full of tenderness.
At this moment, Zhou Feng walked over and said, "Sister-in-law, it's time to eat."
Du Wanchun didn't eat much while she was in the palace today, and she happened to be there when the Zhou family was having dinner on her way back.
She stood up and said, "Thank you, Second Brother."
After the group finished their meal, a voice suddenly came from outside the mansion gate, "Manager, the Emperor has arrived."
Zhou Feng was startled. "What did you say? The Emperor has arrived?"
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