Chapter 752 They Look Just Like a Family
Before Jiang Fenghua could even sit down, Empress Dowager Cheng, dressed in a magnificent phoenix robe, walked over and sat in the center, seemingly oblivious to everyone else. Everyone stared at her, almost forgetting to bow and greet her. News of the Empress Dowager and her cousin spread throughout the palace at lightning speed.
The palace maids, eunuchs, and concubines all knew about it, as did the palace guards. As for those outside the palace, the news had already spread like wildfire.
Things were far worse than Empress Dowager Cheng had imagined. It was as if someone had set a trap specifically for her. Her greatest enemy was Su Qingqing, and she suspected that Su Qingqing was behind it.
At this moment, Empress Dowager Cheng, with an attitude of being upright and not afraid of being crooked, coldly glanced at everyone and said in a deep voice, "Why are you all looking at me? Since the Empress took over the harem, the entire harem has become more and more unruly."
Immediately, everyone bowed to Empress Dowager Cheng, saying, "Your Majesty, we pay our respects. May Your Majesty enjoy boundless blessings and peace."
Empress Dowager Cheng raised her hand, "You may all dispense with the formalities!"
The crowd then said, "Thank you, Empress Dowager."
At this moment, the Empress Dowager curled her lips into a provocative smile and directly exposed Jiang Fenghua: "The Empress's decision to hold a family banquet at this juncture is probably for ulterior motives! Knowing full well that rumors about your mother-in-law are rampant, she still invited your mother-in-law to the banquet. Isn't this a slap in the face to your mother-in-law?"
The Empress Dowager knew that Jiang Fenghua and Cheng Langjin had never gotten along, and that she was only saying these things to sow discord between Jiang Fenghua and the Empress Dowager.
Empress Dowager Cheng frowned, a flash of anger crossing her eyes as she coldly glanced at Jiang Fenghua. This vicious woman had such thoughts; Jiang Fenghua must be very happy now, waiting to see her make a fool of herself.
Jiang Fenghua remained composed and dignified, smiling slightly as she said, "So the Empress Dowager has also heard those rumors outside the palace? They are just rumors spread by common people and should not be taken seriously. Your Majesty, I believe you."
Empress Dowager Cheng glanced at her again, feeling that Jiang Fenghua was becoming more and more fake. Back then, she had put on airs in front of the emperor, causing him to develop a grudge against her as his mother.
"Your Majesty, please don't take the rumors outside to heart. Your Majesty and I have analyzed the recent events, and it seems that someone is deliberately targeting the royal family," Jiang Fenghua said.
Everyone was puzzled when the Empress said this, and they began to whisper among themselves, "So someone is trying to harm the Emperor."
Jiang Fenghua continued, "I have not summoned you all here today solely to hold a family banquet. I am also reminding you that the common people outside the palace may gossip without knowing the reason, but as concubines of the harem, you must not believe the rumors and lose your composure."
The Third Princess said, "Your Majesty means that someone deliberately framed the Empress Dowager and the Emperor. I haven't been able to sleep or eat well these past few days, and my eyelids keep twitching. I never imagined that the Fourth Princess would be the murderer of Shu Xue. But thinking about it carefully, her strange behavior when she went to the Li residence to pay her respects that day makes her very suspicious."
The Third Princess Consort continued, "I was still thinking that the Fourth Princess Consort must have some kind of trouble. She has always been gentle and polite, how could she kill someone? I never thought that she would smear the Emperor and ruin his reputation. I also believe that those rumors outside the palace must be untrue. Someone is framing the relationship between the Empress Dowager and her maternal uncle. People can really make up stories with just their mouths. They can turn white into black. Human hearts are unpredictable, and it is difficult to argue with reason!"
The Third Princess looked worried and spoke the most pleasing words. She offended neither gods nor ghosts, and even called Xie Shang's maternal uncle "maternal uncle," which shows how unconventional she was.
In fact, what the Third Princess was thinking was: the Third Prince's Mansion was doing alright, but with Xie Shang's downfall, things would change, and it was hard to say whether the Third Prince's Mansion would still have such good days after that. So she knew clearly whose side to stand on.
Jiang Fenghua said, "If everyone thought like Third Sister-in-law, that would be great."
With the Empress's words, everyone felt reassured and had a sense of security.
The Empress Dowager gave Jiang Fenghua and the Third Princess a deep look. They were indeed sharp-tongued, but unfortunately, it would never be possible to truly clear Xie Shang and Cheng Langjin's name.
The Third Princess said, "So many things have happened in the palace. Your Majesty, please tell me your orders. I will do my best to help if I can."
Jiang Fenghua smiled and said, "I do have something I need your help with, Third Sister-in-law."
“You have a wide network of connections outside the palace and can talk to the families of ministers. It would be best if you could help clarify the rumors about someone deliberately harming the royal family.” Jiang Fenghua knew that the Third Princess Consort had this ability; her ability to navigate social situations was even better than that of the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The Third Princess said, "Your Majesty, I will do my best."
Soon, Xie Shang arrived at the banquet hall with two Grand Tutors and Shu Lang. Everyone stood up and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Your Majesty."
Xie Shang said, "No need for formalities."
He walked straight to the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager and bowed slightly.
Empress Dowager Cheng felt awkward when she saw her son. Outsiders didn't know about her relationship with her cousin, and Jiang Fenghua's remarks could be used to cover it up, but the emperor knew.
Xie Shang said, "The Empress is hosting a family banquet. Everyone, please eat and drink well and don't worry about the rumors. Grand Tutor Pan, Grand Tutor Jiang, and Vice Minister Shu, since you've all come here, please sit down and have a drink with us!"
Jiang Huai spoke first: "I haven't had breakfast and I'm quite hungry."
Grand Tutor Pan said, "No matter how difficult things are outside, we still need to eat our fill."
Jiang Fenghua and Xie Shang exchanged a glance and quickly said, "Lianye, please set out the bowls and chopsticks for the gentlemen."
Lianye respectfully went to prepare.
Soon, the Second Prince, Third Prince, Fourth Prince, Sixth Prince, Eighth Prince, Tenth Prince and others also arrived one by one.
Seeing this, Xie Shang said, "Today is a family banquet, please don't stand on ceremony, everyone, please be seated!"
Everyone answered in unison, "Yes."
Just then, Consort Chang, dressed in her finest attire, arrived at the banquet hall. She also saw Shu Lang's figure and suddenly became somewhat nervous. She tried her best to control her emotions and approached the crowd calmly, bowing to everyone, "Greetings, Empress Dowager, Your Majesty."
She greeted everyone one by one. The Empress Dowager glanced at Consort Chang and smiled. So this was Consort Chang. She must have been a beauty in her youth! No wonder Shu Lang was willing to do things for her.
Jiang Fenghua spoke first: "We're just waiting for Her Highness the Dowager to arrive."
Consort Chang didn't say much, a smile on her face. The Fourth Prince walked up to her and bowed, "Greetings, Mother Consort."
Jiang Fenghua suggested, "It's rare for the Fourth Prince to visit the Dowager Consort, and it's also rare for the Dowager Consort to leave the West Palace. I'll have someone arrange your seats together! The Fourth Prince should take good care of the Dowager Consort."
It wasn't surprising that Jiang Fenghua said that, but once the seats were arranged, they found that their seats were right next to those of Vice Minister Shu.
Xie Shang said in a deep voice, "Don't stand, sit down!"
Xie Shang took Jiang Fenghua's hand and walked towards the main seat. Just as they sat down, they saw Xie Yang sandwiched between Shu Lang and Consort Chang, looking just like a family.
Consort Chang was even somewhat reserved.
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