Chapter 426: Strong outside and infatuated inside male protagonist x beautiful and cruel reborn female protagonist 20
The palace banquet for the empress dowager's return was no less low-key than the one when the second prince came. The empress dowager was the emperor's biological mother, so naturally the banquet was more grand.
Xie Anhuai entered the palace earlier and heard from the eunuch who came to deliver the message that the Queen Mother wanted to summon him alone.
After finishing her makeup, Aunt Qiao got on the carriage of Prince Zhao's palace with the help of Lulu.
There were many secret guards in the dark, and the carriage was surrounded by a circle of royal guards. It could be said that not even a fly could get close to the carriage.
Lulu gently massaged Qiao Jinjin's calves, looked at her pale lips, and was filled with worry. "Princess, the prince said that you don't have to enter the palace today if you are not feeling well."
Aunt Qiao smiled faintly and said, "It's okay. I haven't had a good appetite lately. I'll just have Doctor Xuan Yu come and take a look in two days."
Aunt Qiao had some vague guesses in her mind. This month's menstruation was half a month late. Before, it was always Xiao Taoji's day, but now it was Lulu's day. Lulu didn't know when she would have her menstruation, but Aunt Qiao knew it herself.
Jishou Temple
The Queen Mother sat in the upper seat, and below her sat Xie Anhuai, Xie Chengyu, Princess Wencheng, Princess De'an, and the eight-year-old third prince Xie Kangyun.
The third prince, Xie Kangyun, was born to Concubine Xian and was at the age when he was very naughty.
Princess De'an was born to Concubine Shun, but Concubine Shun died of illness a few years ago. Princess De'an is currently being raised by Concubine An.
The Queen Mother smiled kindly, as if she was in a good mood just seeing her grandchildren, but the words she said were unpleasant to the ear.
"I heard from your father that Huai'er got married last month?"
When Xie Anhuai heard the Queen Mother mention his name, he stood up and said, "Grandmother, my grandson got married last month. The princess is the legitimate daughter of Prime Minister Qiao."
The Queen Mother put away her smile and drooped her lips. "But what about Miss Qiao who was engaged to the son of Shang Jia?"
Before Xie Anhuai could reply, Princess Wencheng stood up and said, "Grandmother, it's Miss Qiao. I don't know why my brother fell in love with her. She is not worthy of him at all."
Xie Anhuai pursed his thin lips tightly, with a cold light flashing in his eyes. Princess Wencheng shuddered and sat down tremblingly.
The Queen Mother looked at Xie Anhuai with dissatisfaction and said, "Your father said that you like Miss Qiao. I will not stop you from marrying her as your princess. But I will personally select the concubine for you."
"Otherwise, you're going to marry someone who's divorced, that's going to be terrible."
Xie Anhuai walked to the center of the palace, knelt down and said, "Grandmother, my grandson will only marry a princess in this lifetime. Please don't worry about me anymore."
"How dare you!" The Queen Mother suddenly slammed the table hard, then pointed at Xie Anhuai and said, "How can you speak to the Imperial Grandmother like this? But your princess taught you to speak like this?"
Xie Anhuai was filled with impatience. He and the Queen Mother did not have a close relationship. The Queen Mother disliked his mother in the past, and now she disliked his princess. He was really annoyed.
Xie Chengyu looked at the joke for a long time, and finally spoke, "Grandmother, you don't know, but my elder brother likes Princess Zhao very much. If anyone says something bad about Princess Zhao, my elder brother will be angry."
Seeing that the Queen Mother's face was getting worse, Princess De'an also spoke up, "Grandmother, please calm down. My eldest brother has already married the princess, and this cannot be changed."
The Queen Mother suppressed her anger and decided to select two daughters of high-ranking officials with clean family backgrounds to be concubines for Xie Anhuai at the palace banquet today.
"Forget it, it's getting late, let's go to the palace banquet."
Aunt Qiao sat in the seat specially arranged for Prince Zhao's Mansion. Xie Anhuai didn't come over for a long time, and Aunt Qiao felt a little uneasy.
After waiting for another quarter of an hour, Xie Anhuai finally came, but he looked unhappy. Even though he tried to suppress his expression when he saw Aunt Qiao, Aunt Qiao still saw something was wrong.
"Ah Huai, what's wrong with you?"
Xie Anhuai sat on the chair, took Qiao Jinjin's hand, patted it and said, "It's okay, are you anxious?"
Aunt Qiao shook her head gently. Since Xie Anhuai didn't want to say anything, she didn't ask anymore. She would know sooner or later.
"The Emperor has arrived, the Empress Dowager has arrived, and the Concubine Xian has arrived."
With the arrival of the emperor and others, the sound of pianos rang out, and dancers stood in the hall and danced gracefully.
This palace banquet was arranged by Concubine Xian, and it seemed much more appropriate than the last palace banquet when the second prince came.
The Queen Mother sat on a chair and observed Aunt Qiao. Seeing that Xie Anhuai's eyes could not leave Aunt Qiao, the Queen Mother felt even more uncomfortable.
The Empress Dowager's mother's family is the Mansion of the Duke of Zhenguo. The Duke of Zhenguo's eldest daughter, Li Ruoqiong, is seventeen years old and has not yet married. Li Ruoqiong had been in poor health before, so the marriage was delayed. Now that the Empress Dowager sees Li Ruoqiong's rosy face, she has made up her mind.
"Ruoqiong, come here to me"
Li Ruoqiong looked cold and aloof. Even when the empress dowager enthusiastically asked her to come forward, Li Ruoqiong only smiled slightly.
"Ruoqiong pays respects to aunt"
The Queen Mother nodded with satisfaction and waved. When Li Ruoqiong came closer, she took her hand and asked, "Does Ruoqiong have a son that you like?"
Li Ruoqiong shook her head slightly and said, "Aunt, Ruoqiong has not been in good health before, so how could she have the chance to go out?"
The more the Queen Mother looked at Li Ruoqiong, the more satisfied she felt. She then looked at Xie Anhuai, who was snuggling with Aunt Qiao, and her annoyance instantly rose.
"Huai'er, come forward."
Xie Anhuai pulled Jinjin Qiao's hand and paused. He couldn't embarrass the empress dowager at this moment, so he stood up reluctantly.
"Grandmother, what do you want to ask your grandson?"
The Queen Mother smiled kindly, but to Aunt Qiao, it was like a dagger hidden in her smile.
"How about I betroth Ruoqiong to you as your concubine?"
Xie Anhuai refused the Queen Mother without a second thought, "Grandmother, I don't want to marry you. I have said that I will only marry Qiao'er in this life."
The Queen Mother wanted to continue speaking, but was interrupted by the Emperor beside her, "Mother, are you trying to force Huai'er to become a nun? Don't forget that Huai'er had this idea a few years ago."
The Empress Dowager was choked by the Emperor's words.
Li Ruoqiong felt awkward and embarrassed at this moment. This was the first time she went out after she recovered and she was rejected like this. How could she talk about marriage in the future? She had become a laughing stock in the whole capital.
The Queen Mother patted Li Ruoqiong's hand soothingly and said, "I am inconsiderate and have wronged Ruoqiong. Mammy, give me my treasured coral bracelet and give it to Ruoqiong."
Li Ruoqiong sat back in his seat and looked at Xie Anhuai, whose face had regained its gentleness. For the first time, he felt jealous of Qiao Jinjin.
Princess Wencheng saw that the time was right and said to the Queen Mother, "Mother, today's palace banquet is specially prepared for you. Wencheng has prepared a gift for you. I hope you like it."
The Queen Mother raised her eyebrows and said, "Oh? Wencheng is thoughtful. Let me see what kind of gift it is."
At this time, the Queen Mother did not know that Wencheng's gift would make her angry to death.