Chu Yuan walked into Yun Ya Garden with a proud look on his face, and ran into Lu Yanluo who had been waiting there.
"Mom!" Chu Yuan jumped into Lu Yanluo's arms.
Long before Chu Yuan entered the door, Xiao Ran came back with a mysterious look on her face and told Lu Yanluo what happened in the garden, with joy in her words.
Lu Yanluo smiled and touched Chu Yuan's little head, praising: "Our Yuanyuan is really smart!"
Chu Yuan chuckled and hugged Lu Yanluo: "I don't like that bad woman. She deliberately complained to Daddy. Daddy believes Yuan Yuan and doesn't believe that bad woman. Daddy scolded the bad woman!"
"Okay, okay!" Lu Yanluo lovingly comforted the emotional little girl: "Yuanyuan is right, we don't bully others, but we can't let others bully us either!"
"Yeah!" Chu Yuan nodded proudly after being praised by his mother, but then he became a little depressed again: "But Dad left, and said that he would go on a long journey and would not be able to come back to spend the Mid-Autumn Festival with Yuanyuan. He also asked Yuanyuan to tell mother to wait for him in the mansion."
Chu Yuan raised his head and looked at Lu Yanluo disappointedly: "Mother, where is father?"
Lu Yanluo pondered for a moment, secretly worried, and hugged Chu Yuan tightly in her arms: "Dad has gone to do something, Yuanyuan and mother will wait for Dad to come back together."
Lu Yanluo had a guess in her mind. With the confession of Prince Jin in hand, Chu Xuan must have gone out of the capital in order to verify some clues. However, since the confession came from Concubine Lin, she always felt uneasy. She just hoped that everything went well for him and nothing would happen.
Two days after Chu Xuan left Beijing, Mid-Autumn Festival arrived.
During the Mid-Autumn Festival, there are lively fireworks shows among the people, and jugglers and opera troupes from all over the country perform on stage, making the occasion extremely lively.
The emperor in the palace would also hold a grand banquet for his ministers in the Pilgrimage Hall to show his grace.
Inside the pilgrimage hall, eunuchs were carrying wine and food and moving quietly between the tables.
The emperor sat at the head of the table, with Concubine Lin, who was dressed in gorgeous clothes, sitting beside him. The two of them raised their glasses, signaling to all the ministers that they should enjoy themselves together.
Lu Yanluo and Zhong Xiu were dressed in their best clothes and sat at the seats in Prince Ye's Mansion. Lu Yanluo had a cool temperament, while Zhong Xiu was dignified and generous. The two of them sitting together were particularly pleasing to the eye.
The emperor looked over there with great satisfaction: "It's unfortunate today. There is something going on in the army. I sent King Ye to Huizhou. He can't spend the Mid-Autumn Festival with you two, especially Zhaohe."
The emperor looked at Zhong Xiu lovingly and said, "Princess Zhaohe has been married to the Night King's mansion for some time. Are you used to living in the Night King's mansion? Is the Night King kind to you?"
Zhong Xiu walked forward and bowed respectfully, "Your Majesty, the Ye Palace is very good, and the prince is also very good to Zhaohe. Thank you, Your Majesty and Your Majesty for taking the trouble to find a good match for Zhaohe."
Concubine Lin chuckled, then turned to look at the emperor, teasing, "Look at what your majesty is asking. They are newlyweds, what can be wrong? Everything should be good, right, Showa?"
Showa's face suddenly became full of shyness, and he lowered his head in shame without saying a word.
Concubine Lin deliberately looked at Lu Yanluo, her eyes full of mockery: "Our Zhaohe has been spoiled by the Empress Dowager since he was a child, so it is inevitable that he has a temper. If there is any verbal conflict in the mansion, I hope Princess Ye will bear with it for the sake of His Majesty and me."
As soon as she finished speaking, the eyes of everyone present looked at Lu Yanluo changed. Concubine Lin's words showed the importance the royal family attached to Zhong Xiu, the concubine. In comparison, Lu Yanluo, the main concubine, fell behind. The difference in status was clear at a glance.
Just when everyone thought that Lu Yanluo would swallow her anger, she stood up slowly and walked to Zhong Xiu's side. She kept her smile, as if she didn't understand the implication of Concubine Lin's words, and spoke in a calm tone.
"Your Highness, you are worrying too much. Concubine Zhong is polite and tactful, and she is very smart. In addition, you have taught me and set an example for me. She is very respectful to me in the mansion. How can I say that I offended you? I would like to thank you on behalf of the prince for finding such a knowledgeable and well-mannered concubine for him."
The others could not hear anything strange in the words, but Concubine Lin and Zhong Xiu already had something to hide, and their hearts immediately tightened.
Concubine Lin looked at the ambiguous smile on Lu Yanluo's lips and gritted her teeth secretly. She had no intention of arguing with her anymore. She picked up the wine glass listlessly, gestured to Lu Yanluo, and looked away.
Zhong Xiu lowered her head and walked back to her seat. She didn't show it on her face, but her hands clenched tightly in her sleeves revealed her annoyance.
Lu Yanluo's words about Concubine Zhong really angered her, making her more determined to get rid of Lu Yanluo.
The banquet did not end until the evening hour. The sounds of stringed instruments and orchestras were heard, which made Lu Yanluo feel very annoyed. She took Xiao Ran out of the Pilgrimage Hall while no one was paying attention.
A banquet was held in the Pilgrimage Hall. The guards in the palace surrounded the hall and moved away from it. The surroundings suddenly became quiet.
Lu Yanluo walked through the corridor, wandering aimlessly to pass the time.
Xiao Ran, who was following beside him, noticed that the surroundings were becoming more and more desolate, so she reminded him, "Princess, let's not go any further. This place is so desolate, and it seems that not many people come here normally. We might be lost."
Upon hearing this, Lu Yanluo looked around and found it indeed a bit desolate. The palaces here were a bit dilapidated and it was obvious that they had been in disrepair for a long time.
"Let's go back the way we came and see."
The two walked back along the same path they came, and suddenly a strange palace came into Lu Yanluo's sight.
This palace is hidden behind many palaces. It is difficult to detect its existence without careful observation. And the most important thing is that although the surroundings are simple, it is obviously inhabited here.
When you get closer, you can see soldiers guarding outside the door, with a guard post every five steps. It looks like a confined place.
Lu Yanluo immediately became curious about the people living here. Who on earth was living there that would cause so many troops to be stationed here?
"Princess, please don't go over there." Xiao Ran hurriedly stopped Lu Yanluo who wanted to go over to find out what was going on, and said nervously, "There are many things in the deep palace that are kept secret and cannot be told to outsiders. Since this place is heavily guarded, outsiders are definitely not allowed to enter. Princess, please don't go over there. Let's leave here quickly."
After saying that, he pulled Lu Yanluo back.
Lu Yanluo walked forward following Xiao Ran's force.
For some unknown reason, just before leaving, Lu Yanluo turned around and looked at the palace again.
It happened that the person inside walked to the window at this moment, and through the window, Lu Yanluo saw a peerless and beautiful face.
The man was wearing a green robe that was loose on his body, with loose black hair, picturesque eyebrows, and deep facial features. For a moment, he had a beauty that was breathtaking.
Lu Yanluo was extremely curious and wanted to stop and talk to that person, but after listening to Xiaoran's advice, she finally gave up the idea and went back to the Pilgrimage Temple with Xiaoran.