This cotton towel was stained with a layer of green vitriol oil. It would not cause any harm if touched by hand, but if you rub pearls with it vigorously, the pearls would be corroded by the green vitriol oil immediately.
Su Qingyu walked to the window and quietly looked towards the door through the crack in the window frame. The little palace maid who led them here was sticking to the door, listening to the movements in the room.
She winked at Feicui calmly and whispered a few words in her ear.
Feicui understood and said loudly, "Miss, these cotton towels used to clean jewelry in the palace feel really good. It just so happens that our headgear is dirty."
After a while, Feicui suddenly exclaimed, "Miss, why did this hairpin suddenly become like this?"
Su Qingyu also shouted in panic: "How could this happen? This is the dowry that the late Empress Dowager gave to Old Madam Shen. If anyone knew about this, it would be a crime of disrespect."
Feicui continued, "Miss, let's turn the flowered side of the hairpin inwards to avoid being discovered. Once we leave the palace, we can find someone to fix it. Although top-grade Dongzhu is hard to find, it's not impossible."
Su Qingyu sighed, "This is the only way. Go get dressed and wear something more discreet."
A quarter of an hour later, Su Qingyu went out with two maids.
The little palace maid had disappeared without a trace.
When Su Qingyu walked into the Hall of Supreme Harmony again, she found that everyone in the hall had already taken their seats according to their assigned seats.
Her entry attracted a lot of people's attention.
Some people whispered that the young lady of the Su family was very brave. She was late when the palace banquet was about to begin.
Some people also said that she was too arrogant because she relied on the power of the Shen family.
She didn't care about what these people said, but as she walked in, she subconsciously reached out to touch the pearl-studded hairpin on her head. But as soon as her hand touched it, she nervously withdrew it.
Shen Zhixiu, who was sitting in the second seat among the officials, kept looking at Su Qingyu, his brows slightly furrowed. Shen Yue said she was going to get dressed, but why did she look so nervous?
But Shen Zhixiu couldn't help but think deeply. Su Qingyu had just sat down for a while when she heard a voice from the hall, "The Emperor has arrived."
Emperor Xuande walked in with the Crown Prince and Consort Xian.
Everyone stood up and knelt to salute, and then wished the emperor a happy birthday in unison.
This year was not Emperor Xuande's birthday, so the Wanshou Festival was kept simple. According to the rules, after the emperor called, everyone presented gifts.
The gift for the Su family was prepared by Su Chengye. Su Qingyu did not need a separate birthday celebration, so she just sat in her seat and watched the fun.
Su Qingyu sat next to Shen Yue, and the two of them whispered a few private words from time to time.
Next to Shen Yue was Shen Ying. From the moment Su Qingyu sat down, Shen Ying looked up at her, especially at her Dongzhu headdress.
"Sister Su, your hairpin is worn upside down. Let me straighten it for you." Shen Ying said as she stretched out her hand from behind Shen Yue.
At this time, Su Qingyu was talking to Shen Yue with her head down, and Shen Ying's hand had already touched Su Qingyu's hair.
Su Qingyu nervously moved away and said in a panic, "Don't worry, Second Miss. Let's just sit properly and don't let others see us and make fun of us."
Shen Ying withdrew her hand thoughtfully, looked at Su Qingyu deeply again, turned her head and nodded slightly to Li Chaoyun who was sitting in the front seat.
After the birthday celebration, there is a banquet with wine and food.
Shen Zhixiu had been handling the Xu family's affairs these days, earning him the respect of Emperor Xuande. After the emperor and his ministers drank a glass of wine, Emperor Xuande said, "I heard that Mr. Shen and the eldest daughter of the Su family have been engaged. Is she here? Come forward and let me see her."
"When you get married, I will personally officiate your wedding."
Upon hearing this, Su Qingyu immediately straightened her clothes, stood up and walked to the middle of the hall to salute Emperor Xuande.
Even though many people present said that Su Qingyu was lucky to marry into the Shen family, they had to admit that the eldest daughter of the Su family was extremely beautiful and well-mannered. Her every move was elegant and graceful.
No one could find fault with even the subtle expressions on his face.
Emperor Xuande nodded slightly and said with a smile: "Stand up, Mr. Shen has good taste."
Shen Zhixiu looked at the prince calmly.
Seeing that the prince looked at Su Qingyu with not surprise but disdain, he felt relieved.
Li Chaoyun, who was sitting at the head of the noble ladies, had a dark look in her eyes.
Just when Emperor Xuande was about to ask Su Qingyu to sit back down, Li Chaoyun spoke.
"Uncle Emperor, I heard that the Dongzhu headpiece Miss Su is wearing was given to Old Madam Shen by the Empress Dowager."
"Seeing this headdress reminds me of my royal grandmother."
Li Chaoyun said this, and took out a handkerchief to wipe the corners of his eyes. Then he quickly apologized, "Uncle Emperor, please forgive me, did Chaoyun say something wrong?"
It is somewhat unlucky to mention the late Empress Dowager on the Emperor's birthday.
Emperor Xuande said, "It's okay. I know you are filial."
Then he added, "Miss Su, please take two steps forward. I want to take another look at that headgear."
Upon hearing this, Su Qingyu took two steps forward and tilted her head slightly.
For a moment, no one in the hall dared to laugh or smile. The Emperor was clearly reminiscing about the late Empress Dowager, and those who were drinking quickly put down their glasses.
Li Chaoyun stood up and walked towards the center of the hall, saying, "I see that Miss Su's hairpin is worn crookedly. Let me help you straighten it."
Su Qingyu took two steps back and said timidly, "I dare not trouble you, princess. I will go downstairs and re-dress in a moment."
The more she acted like this, the more Li Chaoyun felt that she was afraid.
She took two steps back, and Li Chaoyun took two steps forward.
Su Qingyu couldn't keep retreating, so after Su Qingyu stood firm, Li Chaoyun reached out for the hairpin on Su Qingyu's head.
She took the hairpin in her hand and said, "This hairpin..." before she even looked at it clearly.
Before he finished speaking, everyone heard Li Chaoyun exclaim, and then threw the hairpin in his hand directly.
Upon seeing this, Su Qingyu quickly knelt down and apologized, "Your Majesty, I failed to keep the late Empress Dowager's gift well. Please forgive me."
Although Su Qingyu's apology was extremely sincere, any discerning person could see that the hairpin was clearly thrown out by Princess Chaoyun.
Li Chaoyun was also confused at this time. The hairpin that fell on the ground did not show any signs of being corroded by green vitriol oil.
However, this fall caused a bead to fall off.
Now Li Chaoyun's face changed completely. He originally wanted to expose Su Qingyu, but ended up getting into trouble.
The stinging in his fingertips was still there. Li Chaoyun narrowed his eyes, knowing clearly that Su Qingyu had tricked him.
Su Qingyu put a tiny needle on the hairpin and pricked her hand with it, and then she let go of the hairpin and threw it away.
She didn't involve Su Qingyu either, mainly because it was useless and would only make people think she was shirking responsibility.
That needle had long since rolled away to who knows where. She couldn't possibly ruin the Emperor's birthday celebration by having the palace maids come in and crawl on the floor looking for the needle.
"Uncle Imperial, please forgive me. I made a mistake. I had just taken off the hairpin when I suddenly saw the Imperial Grandmother smiling at me. I was so excited that I made a big mistake."
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