Even though the old Duke and Madam Xiao were used to Ye Chen's clinginess to Shen Qiu, they were still a little surprised. What was wrong with this Chen?
Madam Xiao sat above Ye Chen. After listening to what Ye Chen said, she smiled awkwardly at the emperor and Lan Yu, then quietly reached behind Ye Chen, pinched Ye Chen's back, and twisted it.
Ye Chen groaned in pain. When Chen Qiu heard Ye Chen's groan, she forgot her shyness for a moment and asked hurriedly: "What's wrong? Where do you feel uncomfortable?"
Ye Chen smiled and said: "It's okay, I was just pinched by my grandmother."
Xiao Taijun didn't expect Ye Chen to say it so bluntly. She was embarrassed for a moment, then laughed and said, "You are getting more and more shameless. I think the emperor's palace walls can't compare to your shamelessness."
Everyone started laughing, but Ye Chen didn't care and just played with the calluses on Chen Qiu's hands.
The banquets in the palace lasted all day, and everyone arrived at the banquet palace just after noon.
After Chen Qiu helped Madam Xiao in, the wives of the ministers all greeted Madam Xiao. Chen Qiu accompanied them and returned the greetings one by one.
After entering, Concubine Lu and Princess An Ning were also there, as well as the emperor's two noble ladies. The emperor had a queen, a concubine and two noble ladies. For an emperor, such a harem was already very clean.
Chen Qiu glanced at Princess An Ning. Madam Xiao held Chen Qiu's hand tightly and said, "She is a princess and has done nothing to harm the royal family. The imperial concubine has done nothing either, so this is normal!"
Shen Qiu smiled and said, "It's my grandmother."
When Princess An Ning saw Ye Chen and the old Duke talking with the ministers, she wanted to go up and talk to Ye Chen, but was stopped by the imperial concubine.
The imperial concubine said: "An Ning, don't do anything stupid in such an occasion. Not only will you not achieve your wish, but it will also make him hate you even more. If you want to marry him, you must learn to endure."
An Ning looked at Concubine Lu and finally withdrew her foot.
Shen Qiu was talking to Madam Zheng when suddenly a voice came from behind him: "Xiao Qiu?"
Chen Qiu was stunned because the voice seemed familiar. Chen Qiu turned around and saw a person, a big brother she had helped before.
Shen Qiu smiled and said, "Brother Lu, why are you here?"
Madam Xiao said with a smile: "Lu family boy, do you know Xiaoqiu?"
Chen Qiu was confused and asked Madam Xiao, "Grandma, do you know Brother Lu?"
Xiao Taijun said: "I know him, he is the King of Zhennan, Lu Chenyuan!"
Chen Qiu looked at Lu Chenyuan in surprise and said, "Didn't you say your last name is Lu?"
Before Lu Chenyuan could explain, Ye Chen came over, took Chen Qiu's hand and said, "Qiu'er, other people's surnames are Lu, which means road, or Lu, which means land. It has nothing to do with us. I am Ye, which means leaf. Remember?"
When Chen Qiu saw Ye Chen, the unhappiness in his eyes disappeared. He looked up at Ye Chen and said with a smile: "Remember, the autumn wind sweeps the fallen leaves, and the fallen leaves dance only for the autumn wind, right?"
Ye Chen adjusted Shen Qiu's hairpin and said, "Grandfather has already taken his seat. Let's help Grandmother over!"
Chen Qiu said to Madam Zheng: "Madam, grandma is a little tired. I will help her sit down first." Madam Zheng nodded.
Then Chen Qiu bowed to Lu Chenyuan and said, "Prince Zhennan, we will go first."
Then, together with Ye Chen, he helped Madam Xiao to go to the old Duke. After arranging Madam Xiao, Ye Chen helped Chen Qiu sit in the seats arranged for them.
Lan Yu was a foreign guest, so he naturally sat in the most honorable position, first on the emperor's right hand, followed by Lu Chenyuan, the King of Zhennan, and then Ye Chen and Shen Qiu.
Because Ye Chen had inherited the title, the old Duke was arranged to be the first on the left, the second was the eldest prince Chu Jingyan, followed by the imperial concubine and Princess An Ning, and below them were the two noble ladies of the emperor.
Although the Ministry of Rites was somewhat embarrassed by the emperor's arrangement, the emperor said: "The old Duke is a relative, not a subject, so we should not judge him by his age, but by his seniority."
Ye Chen sat close to Lu Chenyuan, deliberately separating Lu Chenyuan and Shen Qiu.
Lu Chenyuan leaned back and said to Chen Qiu: "Xiaoqiu, you got married? When did it happen?"
Ye Chen held Chen Qiu in his arms and said, "Prince Zhennan knows Qiu'er, so there's nothing wrong with talking to Qiu'er, but calling her so affectionately isn't good, right? Prince Zhennan should call Qiu'er Madam, the Duke."
Lu Chenyuan sneered and said, "I have known Xiaoqiu for two years and have always called her that. Is it possible that you, Duke, have no confidence in yourself? Are you afraid..."
"Prince Zhennan, be careful with your words!" Chen Qiu interrupted Lu Chenyuan before he could finish.
Lu Chenyuan glanced at Chen Qiu with a serious look and said nothing more.
How would she, Shen Qiu, cope with such a statement in such an occasion, if it were overheard by someone with ulterior motives? He was the Prince of Zhennan, and he would just walk away, but she would have to live in Kyoto forever, and the large mansions in Kyoto were the perfect breeding ground for rumors.
Besides, she and her husband are very happy now. Isn’t he afraid that his husband will misunderstand him when he says this?
Although Chen Qiu believes that Ye Chen will trust him without reservation, Ye Chen will also feel uncomfortable, right?
Ye Chen has been following Chen Qiu at today's banquet. It's not that he doesn't trust Chen Qiu, but he doesn't trust Lu Chenyuan. Based on his understanding of Lu Chenyuan's previous life, he will definitely pester his Qiu'er.
At the banquet in the palace, people ate, drank, watched singing and dancing, and after noon, they came out to appreciate the flowers. The chrysanthemums in the palace had the most varieties in the entire city of Kyoto.
The old Duke and Madam Xiao were sent back to the Princess's palace to rest. Shen Qiu said to Ye Chen, "My husband, I'm going to enjoy the flowers with Madam Zheng. Is it not okay for you to come along?"
Ye Chen thought about it and said, "Then go ahead. I'll wait for you here. I'll take you to see Mother's palace later."
Shen Qiu agreed with a smile, and then left with Madam Zheng.
Xing'er and Jin'er followed Shen Qiu. Since they were not allowed to bring guards into the palace, Ye Chen was now alone.
Ye Chen went to the men's side alone. An Ning watched Chen Qiu leave and wanted to go over to talk to Ye Chen, but Ye Chen soon left with several princes of similar age.
An Ning looked at Ye Chen and walked towards Chen Qiu.
Chen Qiu was originally appreciating flowers with Madam Zheng, and Madam Chen Gu Ruojin was also there. Since Madam Zheng's chrysanthemum viewing banquet, Chen Qiu and Gu Ruojin no longer felt as awkward when they met.
After all, the two of them are now living their own lives, and there is no conflict of interest between them. Ye Chen and Gu Ruojin also stick to their duties and do not overstep the line.
As they were talking, Princess An Ning hurried over, grabbed Chen Qiu, and asked, "Chen Qiu, what is your relationship with my uncle? How do you know each other?"
Chen Qiu frowned instantly. What was going on with this princess? What was her purpose in asking this?
Chen Qiu straightened his clothes that were wrinkled by An Ning and said, "Princess, what do you mean?"
An Ning snorted coldly and said, "I heard your uncle call you Xiaoqiu? So affectionately? How dare you say you two have no relationship?"
Chen Qiu rolled his eyes at An Ning. This princess was really stupid. She didn't seem stupid when it came to assassinating her, so how could she be so stupid when facing her face to face?
By making such insinuations in front of so many people, aren't you afraid of attracting gossip about her uncle? Or do you think that because her uncle is a man, the gossip doesn't matter?
Chen Qiu said solemnly: "I saved him two years ago. At that time, his name was Lu Liu, not Lu Chenyuan!"
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