Because of the King of Qin, none of the ladies dared to approach Shen Youying and talk to her. They just kept their distance and observed her, whispering among themselves.
"You previously said that Princess Qin was so beautiful that even Prince Qin couldn't bear to mistreat her, but now look at her, Prince Qin is ruthless and merciless in destroying her beauty. Look at how pale Princess Qin's face is, it can't even be hidden at the palace banquet, can it?"
"Such a beauty, yet the King of Qin shows her no pity whatsoever..." The lady mentioned had always admired all kinds of beauties. Although she had never befriended Shen Youying because of her low status, she had always had a good impression of her.
I had seen the Princess of Qin from afar at the Spring Banquet before and even said, "I feel pity for her."
Looking at the Qin Princess's haggard face and frail body, she sighed with pity, "What a pity for the Qin Princess."
If she had married a normal man, she wouldn't have been showered with love, but at least no one would have been willing to mistreat such a beauty.
Hearing the whispers reaching his ears, Xue Shen couldn't help but glance at the two ladies who were talking.
He had a good memory and sharp eyes, and recognized that one of the two women was a concubine of the Director of the Imperial Household Department, and the other was a concubine of the Grand Attendant.
The two people who were whispering noticed his undisguised gaze, their hearts skipped a beat, and they quickly stopped talking and hid behind their husbands.
Xue Shen twirled his fingers and looked at Shen Youying.
The two were speaking in hushed tones, and it was only because he was skilled in martial arts and had sharp hearing that he heard them. Shen Youying and Bai Luodanzhu, who was supporting her, were completely unaware.
She must have been terribly hot; she looked like she had heatstroke, her face was pale and bluish-white, without a trace of color.
Xue Shen frowned, looking displeased at the eunuch leading the way: "Why hasn't the sedan chair arrived yet?"
His face was already intimidating enough, and now, with his furrowed brows and questioning, the eunuch was so frightened that he repeatedly begged for forgiveness: "Your Highness, please forgive me, the sedan chair will be here soon!"
Xue Shen, however, was not understanding and impatiently issued an ultimatum: "I'll give you the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. If the sedan chair doesn't arrive by then, I will take a carriage into the palace. The Emperor may not blame me for taking a carriage in the palace, but you will be held accountable for your dereliction of duty."
The eunuch was so frightened that his legs trembled, and he scrambled to urge the sedan chair to move.
The other officials, listening to his disregard for palace rules and his outrageous remarks, all had different expressions.
Only the arrogant and domineering King of Qin would dare to say something as treasonous as wanting to ride in a chariot within the imperial palace.
Because of Xue Shen's threat, the sedan chair arrived in less than the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea.
Shen Youying sat in the sedan chair, with palace servants holding umbrellas and her own fan in hand, and only then did she feel a little better.
Xue Shen was pushed by the guards to walk alongside her. Seeing her lying weakly on the sedan chair, he said, "If you are really feeling unwell, I will talk to the Emperor later and have someone take you to the side hall to rest."
Shen Youying was actually a little tempted, but today was a palace banquet, and most of the imperial family members, noblewomen, and civil and military officials were present.
Everyone else gets the heat just the same, but she's the only one who's afraid of the heat and slacks off, which always sounds bad when word gets out.
Moreover, rumors are more dangerous than tigers, and who knows what strange rumors might spread. So, although she was tempted, she shook her head and refused: "I'll rest when we get to the Hall of Heroes."
Seeing this, Xue Shu did not try to persuade her further, but only told her to speak up if she felt unwell.
.
The palace banquet was held in the Jiying Hall. Once the two arrived at the Jiying Hall, they had to separate.
The emperor, princes, and civil and military officials were in the front hall of the Jiying Hall; while the empress, princesses, and noblewomen of the imperial family were in the rear hall.
The Hall of Heroes was filled with ice chests. As soon as Shen Youying stepped into the hall, she felt a cool breeze and felt refreshed, as if she had been reborn.
After parting ways with Xue Shen, she was led into the inner palace by a female official.
In the inner palace, Empress Zhou Ji, Princess Xuanci, and a group of concubines had not yet arrived, but most of the royal family's wives had already arrived, including the heavily pregnant Crown Princess Jiang Yun.
When Shen Youying saw her, she smiled and stepped forward to greet her, "How have you been these days, sister-in-law?"
“It’s good, but it’s not good either.” Jiang Yun complained, holding her hand, “This child has a bad temper. She’s only so little and she already knows how to make trouble for me. She can’t eat or sleep well every day.”
"Your Highness is worried that I might have a miscarriage, so you won't let me go out. I'm so bored staying at home all day. If you have time in the future, please come to the manor more often and keep me company."
Jiang Yun was still very thin, with only her belly protruding noticeably, which looked somewhat alarming. However, Shen Youying observed her expression and saw that although she was somewhat thin, her complexion was still rosy, so it seemed that she was just suffering from severe morning sickness. If she were truly unwell, the Crown Prince would not have allowed her to attend the banquet.
So he smiled and said, "If you're feeling down, just send someone to call me over anytime. I'm worried that since you're pregnant, I might bother you and tire you out, so I haven't dared to visit you easily."
Jiang Yun smiled and said okay.
The two talked for a while longer before Empress Zhou, Princess Xuanci, and the concubines of the harem arrived.
As the music and dance began, Shen Youying could no longer speak to the Crown Princess and returned to her seat.
The seating arrangement at the banquet was based on rank and status. Because of Princess Qin's status, Shen Youying's seat was near the front, preceded by the Crown Princess and Princess Xuanci. Behind her were Zhou Zhenrong, the concubine of Prince Chen, and Shen Muyu…
When Shen Youying suddenly saw Shen Muyu, she showed obvious surprise.
Prince Chen is not yet married, and it is perfectly reasonable for Zhou Zhenrong, as a concubine and the niece of Empress Zhou, to attend the palace banquet. However, Shen Muyu's status is only that of a concubine... It is truly surprising that Prince Chen would allow her to attend the palace banquet.
Perhaps because the surprise in her eyes was too intense, Shen Muyu took advantage of the time before the banquet started to gracefully walk to her side and said with a smile, "Second sister, why are you so surprised to see me?"
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