Qingying has been very distressed these past few days.
The invitation extended to the noble ladies to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival at the palace, but it was clear to everyone that the Empress Dowager's true intentions in organizing the banquet were obvious. She had no choice but to attend, but she was conflicted.
She didn't want to be the Crown Princess, but she had feelings for Wei Huaixu...
She had to admit that she was still a little tempted.
"What are you thinking about so intently?" Madam Pan walked in, followed by Mu Mian carrying a tray.
Qingying snapped out of her daze, stood up and went to greet her: "Mother, what brings you here?"
"I've come to bring you some clothes."
"What clothes?"
Madam Pan held her hand with a smile and said, "You are attending a banquet hosted by the Empress Dowager. You cannot be too flashy, but you also cannot be looked down upon by others. Therefore, your attire is especially important. I have asked Jinxiu Manor to tailor new clothes according to your measurements."
Qingying asked excitedly, "Where is it?"
"Here it is." She beckoned to Mumian, who then presented the tray with the clothes. "Try them on and see if they fit. While there's still time, you can still fix anything if it's not right."
"Okay." Qingying took the clothes and went behind the screen.
Yu Yue followed her inside to help her change.
Pan sat outside and waited.
Before long, Qingying came out after changing her clothes. "Mother, do you think there's anything wrong with it?"
Pan was stunned for a moment.
Qingying was dressed in a cobalt blue, wide-sleeved, belted robe embroidered with butterflies, over which was a moon-white gauze dress. The layers were hazy and ethereal, giving her an air of noble elegance while retaining a youthful charm. Her complexion was a broken, pale white due to her illness, but this color only added to her otherworldly beauty.
She truly is a sickly-beautiful woman.
“My Shushu is growing more and more beautiful.” Madam Pan walked over, raised her hand, and gently tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
This face is starting to look more and more like that person's...
Qingying looked at the woman in front of her. The woman was staring at her intently, but it seemed that she wasn't looking at her, but rather seeing someone else through her.
That person might be her biological mother.
Her grandmother said that her eyebrows and eyes looked very much like her birth mother's.
She dared not mention her birth mother in front of Madam Pan, and only pretended to be innocent, saying, "Mother, do you feel there is something wrong?"
“No, it’s fine.” Madam Pan took a step back, looked you up and down for a while, and said, “Perhaps you’ve lost some weight since you were sick for a while, and your waist is a bit too big. I’ll have them adjust it again.”
"Okay, I'll go change it first."
She lifted her skirt and went behind the screen.
Afterwards, Madam Pan gave her a few more instructions, telling her to take care of herself, before leaving with her clothes.
Qingying sat at the table, gazing thoughtfully in the direction of the door.
"Do you think Mother wants me to marry into the Crown Prince's household?"
Yu Yue shook her head. "This servant does not know."
She didn't expect Yu Yue to give any answers; she was just secretly pondering Pan's attitude.
Pan was born into a noble family. She married into the Liu family when Liu Yu was just a lowly deputy captain. Many people looked down on her and were waiting to see her make a fool of herself.
Later, Liu Yu repeatedly distinguished herself in battle, rising step by step from deputy lieutenant to colonel, then to general, and finally becoming the head of the military. No one in the capital dared to mock her anymore.
But Qingying knew that she still felt a sense of unease because her children had not yet made a name for themselves.
Thinking about it this way, she probably hoped that Qingying could marry into the Eastern Palace, so that she could finally hold her head high.
...
May is the transition from spring to summer. There's neither the biting chill of early spring nor the sweltering heat of midsummer. It's gentle yet not aloof, warm yet not unrestrained; the sky is serene, and the grass thrives.
Qingying left the house with her personal maid and took a carriage to the palace.
Actually, this was only her second time entering the palace.
Two years ago, when Liu Yu was appointed Grand General, she was twelve years old. She was taken to the palace by Madam Pan to meet the Imperial Concubine. At that time, she was silent the whole way. Madam Pan thought she was intimidated by the magnificence of the palace, but in reality, she felt the shackles of being surrounded by high walls and the oppression of strict etiquette.
Everyone says that the palace is a symbol of status and power, a place that inspires awe and longing, but she doesn't like it there.
After a thorough search, they were able to enter the palace through a side gate.
A palace maid led them to Fanghua Palace, and on the way, they suddenly heard someone calling her name from behind.
She turned around and saw Xie Jiaoying.
"I never expected to run into Sister Liu in this palace." She lifted her skirt and caught up with her.
Qingying noticed the sweat on her forehead and handed her a clean handkerchief, saying, "Sister Xie, please wipe your sweat so it doesn't ruin your makeup."
"Thank you." She took the handkerchief and gently patted her forehead.
Why didn't Sister Lu come with you?
"She left early this morning without waiting for me."
Qingying knows that Lu Xingli likes Wei Huaixu, so she must be eager to see her sweetheart.
Xie Jiaoying was well aware of this, but there were too many people and too many eyes in the palace, so she dared not say anything.
The two went together, chatting idly, which made it less boring.
The so-called Fanghua Palace is actually a large garden with a lake inside, and a large palace is built in the middle of the lake.
When they arrived, there were already quite a few people inside. Qingying was helped off the boat, and the little eunuch by the door took the invitation and read out: "Liu Qingying, daughter of a First-Rank General, has arrived—"
From Xie Jiaoying, the daughter of the Second-Rank Academician of the Hanlin Academy, to—
Then palace maids came and led them to their designated seats.
As soon as they entered, they attracted everyone's attention.
Qingying knew that this was a scrutiny from a love rival; they both regarded each other as opponents.
There is only one position for the Crown Princess, and there are nearly thirty young ladies present. These are the candidates chosen by the Empress Dowager after weighing their family background, family traditions, as well as their personal qualities, appearance, and reputation.
She couldn't help but think to herself: There are so many people, it's almost like the emperor choosing his concubines.
Of course, there were also those who came just to join in the fun, and their eyes were mostly filled with curiosity.
Xie Jiaoying had absolutely no intention of becoming the Crown Princess. She came for two reasons: one, she couldn't refuse, and two, she wanted to eat the pastries prepared by the Imperial Kitchen.
"Today is the Dragon Boat Festival. I wonder if the rice dumplings made by the Imperial Kitchen are better than those outside the palace."
Lu Xingli, who was sitting close to her, smiled helplessly upon hearing this and said, "Is there anything else in your eyes besides food?"
"Yes," Xie Jiaoying said, pointing to a row of beautiful boats moored by the lake. "There are also dragon boat races."
This is why the Empress Dowager chose Fanghua Palace as the venue for the banquet.
The palace is in the middle of the lake, which is perfect for dragon boat races around the lake, thus fulfilling the reason for celebrating the festival mentioned in the post.
Qingying sat upright in her seat, a teacup on the table in front of her. Just as she was about to pick up the teacup, she suddenly heard an announcement: "The Empress Dowager has arrived!"
She immediately stopped what she was doing and, along with the other noble ladies, rose and knelt to pay her respects.
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