Yan Qingqing didn't know many people in the capital. The person she was relatively close to was Madam Pei.
Yan Qingqing looked up and saw that it was indeed Madam Pei.
So he smiled and went up to greet Madam Pei.
Madam Pei glanced at Mu Xi beside Yan Qingqing and teased, "Where did this pretty girl come from?"
Even if Mu Xi, disguised as a maid, was recognized when she accompanied Yan Qingqing into the palace, it wouldn't be a big deal. After all, every lady and young lady entering the palace was accompanied by a maid.
This is also why Yan Qingqing dared to openly bring her into the palace.
When Mu Xi saw that Madam Pei recognized her, she calmly bowed to her.
This calm and composed demeanor made Madam Pei even more envious of Yan Qingqing's good fortune; Mu Xi, this daughter-in-law, was clearly capable of great things.
Yan Qingqing explained helplessly, "I told her not to come along, but she was scared by what happened last time and insisted on coming."
"The kids are all grown up and have their own ideas, so as their mother, I can't very well go against their wishes."
Madam Pei naturally knew that Yan Qingqing was referring to the assassination attempt on her last visit to the palace. To be honest, anyone would be traumatized by such an incident, and Madam Pei was quite impressed that Yan Qingqing could still enter the palace so calmly.
After exchanging pleasantries for a while, Madam Pei complained, "Every time there's an important banquet in the palace, there's always a long queue. I find it troublesome and am always the last one to arrive."
But this year, my grandmother said that my husband had just become the commander of the Imperial Guards, and that I should be more proactive in everything I do.
Luckily, I ran into my sister here, otherwise I don't know how bored I would have been.
Just as the two were chatting enthusiastically, a little eunuch hurriedly walked up to Yan Qingqing, bowed, and said, "This servant greets Madam Mingzhao and Madam Pei."
Yan Qingqing took a quick look and realized it was Xiao Ruizi, who was standing next to Xiao Mochen.
This Xiao Ruizi is Xiao Mochen's trusted confidant, and Madam Pei naturally knows him as well.
So he asked, "Little Ruizi, what brings you here? Did Prince Chen send you?"
Xiao Ruizi replied, "It was His Highness who sent me. His Highness was worried that Lady Mingzhao was not familiar with the palace, so he specially sent me to meet her."
Madam Pei clicked her tongue twice upon hearing this. Xiao Mochen was truly good to Yan Qingqing; she, as his legitimate aunt, had never received such treatment.
However, she had nothing to be jealous of, since Yan Qingqing was Xiao Mochen's savior.
Yan Qingqing smiled and said, "Your Highness Prince Chen is too kind. Madam Pei is here, so he can rest assured."
Xiao Ruizi nodded, but since his master had given the order, he had to safely lead Lady Mingzhao to the main hall. Otherwise, if anything went wrong, his master could take his life.
While Yan Qingqing and her group were queuing, many ladies and young women came over to greet them. Although Yan Qingqing didn't recognize most of them, she still responded politely, as the saying goes, "one doesn't hit a smiling face."
This changed everyone's impression of Yan Qingqing; it seemed that Madam Mingzhao wasn't so difficult to approach after all.
After a quarter of an hour, it was finally Yan Qingqing and her group's turn.
After confirming that they did not possess any dangerous weapons, they were allowed to pass.
There is still some distance between the palace gate and Qihua Hall, where the banquet was held.
Presumably to improve efficiency, after entering the palace, there were eunuchs carrying sedan chairs to invite them to get into the chairs.
These are all professional sedan chair carriers in the palace. They wait at the palace gate when there are important banquets, and they are there at other times as well. It's just that Yan Qingqing didn't know this when she entered the palace last time.
The palace where the emperor held his banquet was very large, and it looked like it could hold several thousand people.
Xiao Ruizi considered her mission complete only after leading Yan Qingqing to her seat.
Whether it was intentional or not, her seat was very close to Madam Pei's.
Madam Pei looked at her seat and smiled, "Looks like I'm getting a seat so close to the front again today because of my sister."
Logically speaking, Lord Pei is a third-rank commander of the Imperial Guards, and Madam Pei is also a third-rank Lady of the Palace; their positions shouldn't be next to Yan Qingqing's.
Yan Qingqing smiled and replied, "Don't say that. Lord Pei is the Emperor's legitimate brother-in-law. It's only right that you move up a bit."
Perhaps you ended up in a later position because of me.
Madam Pei knew perfectly well that Yan Qingqing was just being polite. Others might not know, but she did. The Emperor had entrusted the New Year's Eve banquet entirely to Xiao Mochen and the Ministry of Rites.
Who sits in which position is naturally up to Xiao Mochen.
It must be said that the New Year's Eve banquet in the palace was very festive, and the entire Qihua Hall was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, creating a joyful atmosphere.
Even the decorations on the table were carefully chosen.
Various fireworks were set off outside the main hall, creating a festive atmosphere for the Chinese New Year.
The emperor didn't keep everyone waiting long, arriving in a grand procession with a group of high-ranking concubines from the harem.
Yan Qingqing only knew Consort Yu among them, back at Madam Pei's birthday banquet.
Yan Qingqing couldn't help but click her tongue in amazement. This emperor was indeed very lucky with women. Look at this group of women, each with their own unique charm, whether plump or slender.
Moreover, this is only a small part. I've heard that there are many women in the harem of low rank who are not qualified to attend palace banquets.
The emperor walked to his seat and sat down, and the concubines also began to find their own seats.
Consort Yu's face darkened when she saw that she was far away from the Emperor.
Previously, she held the same rank as the Empress Dowager, and she always sat next to the Emperor at palace banquets. Even when the late Empress Dowager was alive, she had never been this far from the Emperor.
It must be Xiao Mochen deliberately targeting her.
Consort Qian, who was assigned to sit next to the emperor, had a joyful expression on her face.
After all these years, she finally got to hold her head high, and she was even happier to see that bitch Yu's face turn green.
The emperor paid no heed to the women's ulterior motives. After receiving their congratulations, he told everyone to relax and eat and drink freely.
Next came the song and dance performance, and I must say, the ancient song and dance performance had a unique artistic conception.
Of course, such a wonderful occasion was not only for the palace entertainers to perform, but also a good time for many noble ladies and imperial concubines to showcase themselves.
Sure enough, after the dance ended, Consort Yu spoke first: "Your Majesty, there's no point in just watching these people perform. Why don't we make a bet and give these young ladies from noble families a chance to showcase their talents?"
"Your Majesty, I am willing to offer a large Eastern pearl as a prize."
Consort Yu's words resonated with the thoughts of some noble ladies who had ulterior motives.
Pearls are fine, though valuable, they are ultimately just material possessions, and they can get them if they want them.
More importantly, the current emperor is only in his forties and quite handsome. If I happen to catch his eye, I might have a chance to enter the palace.
Besides, the position of empress is currently vacant. If the emperor wanted to make these old and faded concubines in the palace empress, he would have done so long ago.
The fact that nothing has happened to this day means that the emperor is not satisfied with them, so they must seize this opportunity.
However, Consort Qian, standing to the side, looked unconvinced.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com