Chapter 332 A Special Birthday
Jiang Fenghua's birthday banquet was ultimately not held in a grand manner due to her strong insistence. Instead, two tables were simply set up in Chenxi Palace, and the young mistress of the East Palace was invited to come and have a small celebration.
Jiang Fenghua is now focusing all her attention on Song Qing, fearing that someone might cause trouble and make her pregnancy unstable. Song Qing has also been promoted to the rank of concubine, which has spurred the other two concubines.
At the entrance of Chenxi Palace, Song Qing was seen being surrounded by people as she arrived. She was still in the early stages of pregnancy and her belly was not showing, but since becoming pregnant, she was exaggeratedly pregnant as if she were ten months along.
Zhu Zhenzhen and Tang Qianran were furious when they saw her, but they didn't dare to be presumptuous.
Song Qing also saw the two of them. She unconsciously protected her belly, waiting for them to come and pay their respects to her so she could show off her power.
She knew that her rank was the lowest when she entered the palace because her father's official position was not as high as that of the Zhu and Tang families. Her father was a high-ranking official in the capital and was also favored by the Empress. But what happened later? In the end, it all depended on whose womb was more fertile.
Her men blocked the entrance to Chenxi Palace, preventing Zhu Zhenzhen and Tang Qianran from entering. They had no choice but to step forward and bow, saying, "This concubine greets Consort Song."
Consort Song held her head high, her eyes looking down at the sky, and with a soft "hmm," she took Dong'er's hand and went inside ahead of them.
The two were furious, but what could they do when the villain had gotten away with it?
Upon reaching the Crown Princess, the group bowed and greeted her, saying, "Your Highness, we wish you a joyous birthday, eternal youth, and a long and healthy life."
Of the group, Consort Song's voice was naturally the loudest.
Jiang Fenghua then had someone take their gifts before saying, "Thank you all for coming to celebrate my birthday. Please be seated. We will begin the banquet once His Highness the Crown Prince arrives."
She knew that everyone was only superficially friendly, but so what? All she needed to do was be a good Crown Princess and keep the Eastern Palace peaceful.
Once everyone was seated, Jiang Fenghua stared at Consort Tang and instructed her, "I know that Consort Tang and Consort Song had a past conflict. I hope that from today onwards you can shake hands and make peace. Now we are all family, so naturally we should love each other. Don't you agree?"
Tang Qianran was stunned for a moment, then quickly said, "Yes, I will never be willful again. I apologize to Consort Song and hope that she will forgive me."
Song Qing smiled and said, "We're all sisters, I won't hold a grudge against Sister Tang." She felt that since she was of a higher rank, she should call her "sister."
Jiang Fenghua could only roll her eyes after hearing this. Song Qing's personality was really too lively, it was infuriating.
She also subtly warned Zhu Zhenzhen not to try to conceive Song Qing's child, lest she cause unrest in the Eastern Palace.
On the day Xie Shang escorted her back to the palace, he didn't touch her at all. She thought Xie Shang would spend more time with her to appease the Zhu family.
Just then, Xie Shang led a large group of people in. She looked in the direction of the sound and saw Jiang Jinyan, Zhang Yumo, Jiang Zhiqin, and even Lin Yu and Tan Wanqing.
Jiang Fenghua quickly stood up from her seat, and Jiang Zhiqin was the first to run up to her, saying, "Greetings to the Crown Princess."
Jiang Fenghua glared at him, then pretended to say in a deep voice, "The fourth young master of the Jiang family is becoming more and more well-mannered."
Jiang Zhiqin chuckled, "Since Third Sister praised me directly, I'll be very sensible. I wish Third Sister many happy returns of the day, and that she becomes more and more beautiful every year."
Following that, Jiang Jinyan, Zhang Yumo, and others also sent their blessings.
Jiang Fenghua stared at Lin Yu and Tan Wanqing, "Why are Manager Lin and Master Tan here too?"
The two also said, "Greetings to the Crown Princess, wishing her a happy birthday and eternal youth."
They brought a lot of pastries, saying, "These are things that aren't even available in the palace. We're giving them to the Crown Princess to try." They were all things Jiang Fenghua liked to eat.
"Thank you." She then had someone else take the money.
Xie Shang explained, "Now Zhiqin, Lin Yu, and Tan Wanqing have officially joined the training camp I've set up. Like Zhiqin, they are considered reserve soldiers. In the future, I'm counting on them to lead a female army." Sometimes women have an advantage over men on the battlefield, and that's Xie Shang's plan.
Jiang Fenghua felt that Xie Shang wanted to cultivate a group of spies for his use, but he chose Lin Yu and Tan Wanqing instead, who were her people.
Lin Yu and Tan Wanqing didn't send her any message saying they had entered the military camp!
Are their restaurants, Yichunlou and Jishantang, no longer in operation? They should spend their time training in the military camp.
Jiang Fenghua was still lost in her own thoughts.
Jiang Zhiqin continued, "I begged His Highness the Crown Prince to come and personally celebrate my third sister's birthday. Then, Sister Lin and Sister Tan were with me. They are also friends with my third sister, so I invited them to come. It's more lively with more people."
They had already prepared their lines and were just waiting to put on this show in front of His Highness the Crown Prince.
Jiang Fenghua said, "Please come in! Thank you all for coming to celebrate my birthday, I am truly flattered." These people are too bold, aren't they afraid that Xie Shang will notice something?
Just then, Lu Xuefei arrived with Xie Qi. The two bowed respectfully to Xie Shang and Jiang Fenghua, saying, "This servant wishes the Crown Princess a happy birthday. Today, this servant has also brought a friend. I wonder if the Crown Princess would be pleased to have him!"
Xie Qi cupped his hands in greeting, "Happy birthday to the Crown Princess, may you have peace and joy every year."
Jiang Fenghua glanced at Xie Shang, her lips curving into a smile. "Of course you're welcome, Eighth Prince, please come in."
Xie Qi nodded, then walked up to Xie Shang and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince."
Xie Shang gave him a deep look, then glanced at Lu Xuefei, before smiling and saying, "Just call me Fifth Brother from now on. We're all family. Welcome, Eighth Brother, to celebrate your Fifth Sister-in-law's birthday."
Xie Qi hesitated for a moment, still looking somewhat timid, "Fifth Brother, Fifth Sister-in-law."
If it weren't for Lu Xuefei, he really wouldn't have dared to come, nor would he have had the chance. He thought he should seize this opportunity because neither of them were favored by their father, so the Crown Prince was bullied by his brothers when he was young. However, with the Empress backing him up, no one could bully him. He did as he pleased, and even helped him a few times. But after the Crown Prince left the palace to establish his own residence, they rarely met, and almost never bumped into each other.
At the dinner table, everyone was in high spirits, as if all awkwardness had disappeared. It was like a gathering in an ordinary family, without any singing or dancing performances, and everyone could speak freely without having to say many polite words.
Xie Shang didn't have the airs of a crown prince. He never associated with the scions of powerful families in the capital, so he didn't have many friends. Whether he was a prince or a nobleman, he was always very easygoing.
Like him, Jiang Fenghua had not made any close friends with any noble ladies from prominent families, so Lin Yu became her only friend and confidante.
Lin Yu has never missed her birthday celebrations.
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