In the eyes of outsiders, the couple was like this: Meng Qi was talking to Prince Rui with her body close to his, but Prince Rui was indifferent. After a while, he moved his mouth and said something, and Meng Qi withdrew her body which had been leaning for a long time.
Meng Qi felt that when she was talking to Song Chengze, there was a pair of eyes staring at her. When she sat up straight and looked over, she saw several pairs of eyes looking at her.
Some were surprised, some understood, and some were disdainful. Concubine Xiu was chatting with Concubine Jing. I don’t know what they were talking about, but Concubine Xiu smiled, revealing two small dimples on her cheeks, which were so beautiful that people couldn’t take their eyes off them.
The Emperor inquired about the Empress's Thousand Years Banquet, prompting the Empress to exclaim excitedly, "Your Majesty, I am deeply concerned about this. However, I am a concubine who has been absent from the imperial court. I can ask the Imperial Household Department to follow the old tradition and arrange it. It is a blessing for me to have Your Majesty personally inquire about this."
The emperor hummed, "It's a pity that the weather is still cold on your birthday. Otherwise, I could take everyone outside to enjoy the wind and the scenery. That would be beneficial."
The Queen smiled gently, "As long as the Emperor is healthy and the Great Xia Dynasty is peaceful and happy, I will be very happy to just eat a bowl of longevity noodles in the palace."
The Emperor smiled his first smile of the day. "You are a virtuous woman. That being said, it's not right to be too careless about your birthday, which only happens once a year. Every year, the Imperial Household Department takes care of it. Even though the Imperial Concubine is there to oversee it, it inevitably loses its originality. How about letting Fanghua and Yong'an come up with a good idea and take care of it for you this year?"
The Empress was taken aback at first, then she remembered that Fanghua had gone to Chengtian Palace yesterday afternoon and didn't return until after dinner. Then she smiled and said, "That's great! Let the two princesses take care of it, and I can enjoy their filial piety."
Yong'an went to look at Fanghua, only to see her with her eyebrows curved and her head held high with pride. Yong'an didn't dare show his surprise, but walked to the middle with Fanghua, one in front and one behind. Fanghua was two steps behind Yong'an, and said, "Thank you, father. Your daughter and I will definitely make your mother's birthday a grand occasion, to satisfy her and let everyone have an unforgettable banquet."
After listening to Fanghua, Yongan also said a few festive words and expressed his confidence.
Emperor Jing'an was delighted and nodded, saying, "It's fitting that you've all grown up. You should set an example for your brothers and sisters, as well as your nephews and nieces. Fanghua, you're the elder sister. You should consult with Yong'an about everything. If you need anything, go find the Imperial Concubine or the Virtuous Concubine yourself. Don't let your mother worry about it, understand?"
Concubine Xiang and Concubine Xian have always been assisting the Empress in managing the affairs of the six palaces. Only Concubine Xian is in charge of some miscellaneous matters, while Concubine Xiang is in charge of several important tasks. Although she cannot share the same responsibilities as the Empress, the Empress has to consult with her whenever there are major events.
Fanghua replied in a crisp voice, "Don't worry, Your Majesty. I will do my best to ensure that your mother will have an unforgettable banquet."
The Empress was unsure. It was obvious that this was the decision made yesterday between the Emperor and Fanghua, and it must have been Fanghua's suggestion. Even Yongan probably didn't know. Furthermore, Fanghua had endured it all night without telling Yongan, eagerly waiting for the Emperor to reveal it today. What new idea had this demon star come up with?
The Queen quickly reviewed recent events. Neither she, nor anyone in Yong'an or Kunning Palace seemed to have done anything to displease her. Could it be that this was a sudden impulse to show off?
Everyone happily chatted with the emperor for a while, and Emperor Jing'an seemed to be in better spirits. After chatting with everyone for a while, he stood up and said, "Okay, you guys can accompany the queen to relieve her boredom. All of you, follow me."
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