The emperor sat on the dragon throne with a dark expression.
Everyone took their seats.
The circus performance on stage was not as exciting as Consort Zheng's expression just now.
Now that the Empress Dowager and Empress are no longer in charge, the Imperial Concubine has had her power in the harem revoked.
The imperial harem cannot be without someone in charge.
I wonder who will get this great job.
The emperor looked at the concubines sitting below him, his gaze landing on Consort Mei. He raised his hand and said, "Consort Mei, come sit here."
Consort Mei was holding the Ninth Prince when she heard the Emperor call her name, and she was extremely unwilling.
But since the Emperor had given his word, she had no choice but to go over, handing the child to the wet nurse. Consort Mei stood up.
"Bring Lang'er over here too!" the Emperor said gently.
All the ministers and noblewomen below looked at Consort Mei.
It seems that Consort Mei was indeed favored.
The Emperor's gentle tone made it impossible to tell that he had just been angry.
Consort Mei sat down, and the Emperor touched the Ninth Prince, saying, "You've gotten even stronger."
No one doubted that the Emperor truly valued the Ninth Prince, given his kind and loving expression.
Consort Zheng and Consort Mei sat on either side of the Emperor.
Although Consort Zheng tried her best to maintain a gentle smile, she almost tore the handkerchief in her hand to shreds.
Today, she has completely lost face.
This also tarnished the reputation of the Prince of Jin.
Lin Muheng was a little late because of Su Wan's matter.
Jiang Chuwei's affair with Anyang had already been reported to others.
When Lin Muheng sat down, he held her hand to comfort her.
Jiang Chuwei smiled and responded by increasing the pressure in her hand.
After today, all sorts of rumors will circulate.
The story of Jiang Chuwei causing An Yang to be demoted to a commoner at the Emperor's birthday banquet will be told in various versions.
Jiang Chuwei could imagine that in the end she would be portrayed as a vicious person who couldn't even be tolerated by a princess.
However, Jiang Chuwei underestimated these women's gossip abilities.
The rumors started circulating even during the banquet.
Xia Qi had just gone to the washroom and whispered in Jiang Chuwei's ear when she returned, "Your Highness! I just overheard some people gossiping that because you didn't want Anyang to become your third sister-in-law, you plotted to have the Emperor demote her to a commoner. Now everyone is saying that you are a heartless woman."
A cold smile appeared on Jiang Chuwei's lips; she had long expected this outcome.
These people are just bored.
She turned to Xia Qi and said, "It's alright. People can say whatever they want, so don't worry about it."
Lin Muheng held her hand tightly and said softly, "There's no need to pay attention to those rumors."
Jiang Chuwei smiled. With her reputation for being ruthless and vicious spread, no one would dare to provoke her easily, thus avoiding a lot of trouble.
These words had absolutely no effect on Jiang Chuwei.
Lin Muheng whispered in Jiang Chuwei's ear from time to time, while his hands never stopped peeling melons and fruits.
Seeing this from afar, Yao Ruolan was furious.
Yao Ruolan looked at the scene before her with indignation, her fists clenched so tightly that her nails dug deep into her palms.
She just couldn't understand what charm that bitch Jiang Chuwei possessed that could make Lin Muheng so infatuated.
"Hmph, Jiang Chuwei, don't be too smug!" Yao Ruolan secretly vowed to make Jiang Chuwei pay the price.
At this moment, Lin Muheng noticed Yao Ruolan's gaze. He frowned slightly, a feeling of displeasure rising in his heart.
He subtly shielded Jiang Chuwei behind him, giving Yao Ruolan a cold glance.
Yao Ruolan felt a chill run down her spine and quickly lowered her head, not daring to meet Lin Muheng's gaze again.
Jiang Chuwei's principle regarding Lin Muheng's romantic entanglements was simply to keep them out of her sight.
As for how much Yao Ruolan and her ilk hated and envied her, Jiang Chuwei didn't care.
She lives her happy life alone; it's others who get angry.
Having lived two lives, Jiang Chuwei wouldn't get angry over irrelevant people.
However, even though she wasn't angry, others didn't want to make her feel good.
Yao Ruolan kept glancing at Jiang Chuwei.
She was looking for an opportunity.
She believed that as long as Jiang Chuwei was caught having an affair, Prince Yu would definitely divorce her.
Jiang Chuwei never expected that Yao Ruolan, a lady from a prominent family, would come up with such a despicable tactic.
The banquet had reached the point where gifts were being given.
Now is the time for everyone to show their skills.
If one successfully pleases the emperor, one might be promoted three ranks.
The Emperor first looked at Consort Mei and asked, "I wonder what gift my beloved consort has prepared?"
Consort Mei was taken aback.
Is she supposed to be the first to give a gift?
She doesn't like to be in the limelight.
Consort Zheng's gaze shot towards her like a knife.
If looks could kill, Consort Mei would probably be riddled with bullets by now.
The jealous gazes of the concubines were all focused on her.
Under the Emperor's eager gaze, Consort Mei braced herself and presented a gift, saying, "Your Majesty! May you enjoy boundless happiness and longevity!"
The emperor accepted the gift with a smile, saying, "I also wish my beloved concubine eternal youth."
Everyone craned their necks, wondering what gift the emperor had received that made him so happy.
Consort Zheng, however, saw clearly that it was just a tattered purse.
On the emperor's fiftieth birthday banquet, a simple purse was presented, yet it still managed to please the emperor so much.
What a vixen!
What Consort Zheng didn't know was that this purse had touched the Emperor's heart.
The emperor was successfully pleased by the plum blossom pattern on the purse.
He saw with his own eyes that the purse was embroidered by Consort Mei herself.
He and Consort Mei each had one.
This should indicate that Consort Mei held him in her heart.
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