Chapter 31: Palace Family Banquet (Part 1)
Prince Kang's Palace.
The nanny brought out a lilac cloak embroidered with a lotus pattern.
The Crown Prince's Consort immediately pursed her lips and praised, "This color suits Mother perfectly. The lotus pattern is noble and pure, and it also suits Mother very well."
Listen, this is how you should properly praise someone. Princess Kang's expression brightened slightly, but then darkened again.
"Take it away."
The nanny asked hurriedly, "Does the princess think this is not good?"
Princess Kang gritted her teeth and said, "It's not that it's bad, it's that it's inappropriate. Pick something plain and simple. I won't wear this crown today."
Everyone was extremely surprised for a moment.
Her daughter Fu Xiao even said, "How can that be possible? There's a banquet in the palace today, how can mother go dressed plainly?"
Princess Kang could only say, "Your brother is seriously ill. How can a mother dress up?"
Fu Xiao was so shocked that he couldn't speak.
Fu Yi didn't get sick today.
Prince Kang nodded upon hearing this. "You are well-intentioned." He ordered his servants, "Listen to the princess and change it."
After all this trouble, it’s getting late.
After getting on the carriage, Princess Kang raised the curtain and said, "Let's go to the Prince's Mansion first."
Everyone was suddenly surprised again.
Princess Kang said magnanimously: "Fu Yi's wife is also going to enter the palace, so let's take her along."
The Crown Princess and Fu Xiao looked at each other and saw surprise in each other's eyes.
Princess Kang lowered the curtain and adopted a motherly tone, "The Wuning Marquisate has been quite unpopular in recent years, and the daughter they raised is quite foolish. I'm worried that if she enters the palace, she'll cause trouble and bring disgrace to your brother, so I'm thinking of asking you two to look after her."
As a daughter-in-law and a daughter, who had served Princess Kang for a long time, how could they not understand her temperament? As soon as she said this, she understood... Princess Kang looked down on this Princess of the County.
Fu Xiao took the lead and said, "Don't worry, mother. I will keep a close eye on her."
After he had made this statement, he waited for the carriage to stop at the gate of the Prince's Mansion and asked.
"The princess has already gone to the palace."
Princess Kang: "..."
"No rules!" Princess Kang cursed angrily.
It's like a warm welcome, Fu Xiao thought. But Mother should have sent someone to let me know in advance!
Princess Kang was so unhappy that the carriage in Prince Kang's mansion was no longer filled with the laughter and joy of the past.
It wasn't until they reached the Imperial City that Princess Kang said coldly, "There's not a single person she knows today. If she gets here first, let's see what she'll do."
…
Cheng Nianying raised her head at this moment, with a trace of awe and wonder towards the imperial palace in her heart.
She kept moving forward, not feeling tired at all, and gradually passed many people.
"Who is that?"
"I don't know. I haven't seen it much before."
They looked at Cheng Nianying, and Cheng Nianying was not afraid of being looked at.
The palace maid led her through the flowers and willows, and after passing through several palace gates, they finally arrived outside the imperial garden.
Today's banquet is set in it.
"Princess, please wait a moment." The palace servant who was leading the way suddenly stopped.
Cheng Nianying stopped looking and slowly digested the map of the palace route she had just memorized.
At this time, a group of people came from the other side.
Leading the group were two men in brocade robes. They were of similar height, one a bit more burly, the other a bit thinner. The burly one wore a purple-gold crown, the thinner one a white jade crown.
Both of them were extraordinarily handsome.
"Greetings to His Royal Highness Prince Liang and His Royal Highness Prince Rui." The palace maid bowed.
Here it comes.
The emperor's son.
Cheng Nianying's eyes swept past, then she lowered her head slightly and bowed slightly.
Mother Zou's breathing behind her became heavier, but fortunately she was not stupid and did not panic and make mistakes at this moment. She also bowed.
"Who is she?" asked the burly man.
The other one was a little taciturn and didn't seem to have much interest in Cheng Nianying, so he just stood there quietly.
The palace maid bowed and said, "In reply to His Royal Highness Prince Liang, this is the Princess of Danshuo County."
Now Cheng Nianying knew that the burly one was King Liang and the thin one was King Rui.
"Oh, it turns out to be Fu Yi's wife. Father said that he wanted to bring him happiness, and he actually found a wife for him. But I don't think it's any use. He must have vomited blood again." King Liang's tone changed.
Prince Rui finally spoke, trying to comfort him: "Brother, the prince was injured while saving His Majesty. How can you speak so harshly to him? If His Majesty hears, he will punish you again."
Cheng Nianying noticed something strange.
Prince Liang addressed the emperor as "Father", while Prince Rui addressed the emperor as "Your Majesty".
"Fu Yi, a treacherous minister, I haven't cursed him to death yet, so how can you say such bad things to him?" King Liang said with a sullen face, waving his sleeves and leaving.
Prince Rui moved his lips, as if helpless, then turned around and said, "Prince Liang is a military commander, his mind is rough and straightforward, and he has no other intentions."
This was said to Cheng Nianying.
"Hurry up and take the princess to a seat." This was said to the palace servants.
Then King Rui turned around and walked away slowly.
These two don't look alike. Cheng Nianying briefly ruled out the suspicion.
Then he thought of Prince Liang’s evaluation of Prince Danshuo.
A flatterer? Why do you call him that?
"Princess, please." The palace maid shrank her neck and began to tremble in front of Cheng Nianying.
Cheng Nianying asked her, "What are you afraid of?"
The palace maid stammered, "It is my fault that I failed to stop Prince Liang."
Cheng Nianying: "I don't hold a grudge against you."
The palace maid still shrank her shoulders. After bringing Cheng Nianying into the imperial garden and settling her down, she fled.
"Yurong." Someone called out happily.
Cheng Nianying turned her head and looked over.
Then she saw a woman in pink clothes and with an oval face walking towards her.
Mother Zou was startled and said hurriedly, "That's Zhou Yunfu, the third daughter of the Zhou family."
This... is Qin Yurong's friend.
But Cheng Nianying thought for a moment and said, "She shouldn't be here, right?"
Mother Zou was also puzzled: "Yes, her father is just a viscount."
As he was speaking, Zhou Yunfu had already appeared before him.
Zhou Yunfu was very excited, with a complex light flashing in her eyes: "Yurong, you and I came to the palace once when we were children, and today we meet here again."
"Ever since you married into the Prince's Mansion, I haven't dared to contact you. I was afraid you were still upset..." Zhou Yunfu sighed and asked in a low voice, "Have you... accepted it now?"
Cheng Nianying: "..."
Is her "sister" a big liar? How come so many people seem to know that she doesn't want to marry the Prince of Danshuo?
"Hey, let's not talk about this. Why did you go to the Wei family a few days ago? Don't bother with Wei Yanhua. If you feel upset, just come to us." Zhou Yunfu pouted, seeming to be quite jealous.
Cheng Nianying didn't respond. She looked around and asked softly, "Why are there so many people?"
Zhou Yunfu laughed, not understanding why she said such a foolish thing: "Your Majesty has many children, so naturally there are many people."
Cheng Nianying's scalp tingled slightly: "How many sons does Your Majesty have?"
"You don't know? There are seven kings who have been crowned, ten who are adults waiting to be crowned, and four who are not yet adults."
Cheng Nianying: "..."
"Even so, it's still not as good as Prince Danshuo who has won the trust of His Majesty and holds great power. What else are you dissatisfied with?" Zhou Yunfu pushed her arm.
Cheng Nianying was stunned for a moment, and faintly saw some fire in Zhou Yunfu's eyes.
Before she could take a closer look, she suddenly realized something and turned her head back calmly.
Someone is watching her.
She turned around so suddenly that the man had no time to cover up and they faced each other in a hurry.
The man nodded slightly at her, turned and walked away.
It’s King Rui.
"Yurong, did I say something wrong?" Zhou Yunfu's voice sounded again.
Cheng Nianying turned back and said, "Nothing, I was just looking around."
Zhou Yunfu bit her lip and said, "You seem a little weird today."
Cheng Nianying suddenly turned her head back.
Someone was watching her.
This time... it's King Liang.
There was a hint of pity in King Liang's eyes, but it disappeared in an instant.
Is he pitying me?
Cheng Nianying tilted her head.
At this time, people from Prince Kang's Mansion also arrived.
They looked closely and saw that Fu Yi's wife was not sitting there alone, bewildered. A woman in pink was tugging at her sleeve, mumbling something.
Seeing this, Prince Kang was silent for a moment and said, "Fu Yi still has a lot of face, so there is no need to worry about his wife being ignored and embarrassed today."
"Your Majesty has arrived--" a eunuch sang loudly.
No matter what everyone was doing at the moment, they all knelt down and saluted.
"Where is the Princess of Danshuo County? Come and sit next to the Queen." The emperor spoke.
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