"I heard that your Majesty passed around all the sweets and pastries in the imperial kitchen a few days ago?"
The Queen Mother looked unhappy.
"When did the emperor start liking those things? Recently, there have been rumors in the palace that His Majesty has a beauty hidden in his bedroom. The emperor has reached the age to establish a queen. If the woman's status is good, it would be fine to take her into the harem and make her a beauty. Why is he doing it so secretly? It's not presentable!"
"Where did you hear these rumors, mother?"
Xiao Yuqi said: My son is still young..."
"Young? When the late emperor was your age, the eldest prince could already pull all the young eunuchs in the palace to play hide-and-seek with him!"
The Queen Mother was helped up by Nanny Gui and walked out of the inner hall.
"Your youth is no excuse for spreading rumors. Your Majesty, forget that there is no wind without waves!"
"Today, I have specially invited the noble ladies in my family who have not yet been betrothed to come to the banquet. Your Majesty, please pay attention. If Your Majesty still refuses, don't blame me for making the decision myself and settling your marriage!"
What she called "the dust has settled" was just a desire to send the daughter of Wang of Langya back into the palace.
...
...
Unlike her past, she has now become the empress dowager. If Xiao Yuqi's queen is also from the Wang family of Langya, then why would the Wang family of Langya need to stay in a corner?
How could Xiao Yuqi not know what she was thinking?
He only hated that his biological mother died early and that he had no prominent maternal family to support him.
Only then will you be constrained everywhere in the court.
Once you enter the deep palace, you have to be at the mercy of the Queen Mother.
The clay sculptor should have developed some temper after enduring for so many years, let alone the king of a country?
Xiao Yuqi said firmly, "This son has no intention of establishing a queen. If your mother wishes to discuss this issue today, then please forgive me for being unfilial. I am afraid I will not be able to attend your birthday celebration."
"You have been completely bewitched by that unknown vixen!"
On such a happy day, the Queen Mother did not want to bring bad luck to herself.
"It's getting late, let's go!"
If they continue talking, I'm afraid the rift between the mother and son will get even deeper.
Xiao Yuqi stepped aside and asked the Queen Mother to go first.
In Zuiqing Garden, most of the princes and ministers have already arrived.
The Queen Mother's throne was placed on the left side of the dragon throne, and on the right side of the dragon throne was the Regent's dragon throne.
Further down, there are the Prime Minister and the Duke of Anguo...
Only officials of the fifth rank and above are eligible to attend the palace banquet. The lower the official rank, the farthest the seat from the Empress Dowager and His Majesty.
Today's banquet was served with the Queen Mother's favorite peach blossom wine.
As soon as you enter the garden, in addition to the fragrance of lotus flowers filling the pond, there is also a strong aroma of peach blossom wine floating in the air.
The palace banquet was actually not delicious at all.
The steaming food came out of the imperial kitchen and was sent far away to Zuiqing Garden. Before it was distributed to the ministers, it had to be tested for poison one by one by a special person to make sure it was safe before it could be served.
After all this trouble, it’s okay in the summer, but in the winter, when the weather gets cold, eight out of ten dishes on the table are cold.
On the contrary, Xiao Yuqi likes the noodles cooked by Su Jianyue even more.
"Congratulations to the Queen Mother, may you live a thousand years and be blessed with everlasting health and prosperity, and may you live as long as the evergreen pines on the southern mountains!"
Banquets are the same everywhere, with flattery that weighs the pros and cons and polite words that are free of charge popping out one after another.
After the collective toast, the regent Xiao Linshen, who was on Xiao Yuqi's right, raised his glass again, "I wish the Queen Mother to eat well, sleep well, and be happy every day!"
Everyone present was already accustomed to such a friendly and approachable speech.
There was a knife in Xiao Yuqi's eyes when he looked at Xiao Linshen.
He knew that before the Queen Mother entered the palace, she had a man she loved.
However, for the sake of the glory of the Wang family of Langya, the empress dowager did not abandon the family honor and fly away with Xiao Linshen to become a pair of immortal lovers living a carefree life.
Instead, she chose to enter the palace and became the most unknown and virtuous concubine in the palace.
Before the late emperor died, he appointed Xiao Linshen as regent to assist the sixteen-year-old Xiao Yuqi in taking power. A big part of the reason was that Xiao Linshen had never married in his life, and the backyard of the palace was empty.
I have no sons or daughters.
He will not have any selfish motives.
He will be able to assist Xiao Yuqi wholeheartedly.
However, the late emperor had not anticipated this, despite all his calculations.
His most trusted royal brother and the concubine to whom he entrusted his son before his death had long been secretly in collusion with each other.
"The Emperor's uncle's congratulatory message is truly unique as always!"
The sound of stringed instruments became louder and louder.
The court dancers specially rehearsed the song "Long Live the King" for this birthday banquet and danced to the music.
The dancers entered the stage one after another wearing bright red dance costumes.
Slim waist, perky hips, and graceful dancing posture.
However, Xiao Yuqi didn't even have the desire to take another look.
It was not for any other reason, but because, at the table of almost every minister and his family, there was a young woman waiting to get married.
Without exception, they all looked closely at Xiao Yuqi's every move.
Some are as gentle as water, some are passionate and unrestrained, some are shy and timid, and some have spring in their eyes.
Such a look made Xiao Yuqi puzzled.
"The prince is thoughtful!"
The empress dowager nodded seriously towards Xiao Linshen, raised her head, and drank the peach blossom wine in the cup.
"The Queen Mother is really as capable as any man, she's a huge talent!"
The prime minister who was sitting down immediately stood up.
"I heard that when the Queen Mother was young, she was very fond of studying exotic dances. Today, I will give her a unique birthday gift."
"Oh? What Wei Qing said makes me very curious!"
Prime Minister Wei clapped his hands.
The girls from the Western Regions were dressed in orange-red clothes, as gorgeous as the clouds in the sky. They had orange-red veils on their heads and light gauze covering their faces. They wore clothes that were very Western-style, revealing their slender waists and flat bellies. They were barefoot and full of joy. They danced vividly from the inside out, swaying their graceful bodies.
It instantly attracted most people's attention.
Their wrists and ankles were tied with silver bells that rang sweetly.
The bells rang as they moved.
If any one of them catches Xiao Yuqi's eye, the mission will be half accomplished.
But Xiao Yuqi didn't like any of them.
The leading dancer put her hands together and moved them from top to bottom like a water snake, shaking her flower hands as she fell.
According to the original plot, at this moment a cold arrow should be shot from the wall directly opposite Zui Qingyuan.
But the prime minister waited for a long time and did not notice any unusual movement.
Realizing this problem, Prime Minister Wei frowned slightly.
Soon, his brows relaxed again.
He raised his glass and asked, "What do you think of the Dance of the Western Regions, Queen Mother?"
"I don't deserve your kind words. We are both young and beautiful. It would be great if you could stay in the palace and keep me company."
"It is their honor that the Queen Mother wants to keep them."
The Prime Minister toasted the Queen Mother.
The maid immediately filled his glass.
The prime minister raised his glass again, this time, in toast to Xiao Yuqi.
"Your Majesty is very busy and exhausted. I would like to offer you a drink. Please do me the honor of being here."
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