Chapter 97 The old father was very sad
Sheng Sheng frowned and recalled seriously, "No way, Sheng Sheng was clearly smiling at the Fourth Prince the whole time."
Everyone burst into laughter.
The atmosphere was lively, and Pei Ji, who was at the very back, felt he should go to the bottom to find an empty seat. Sheng Sheng noticed this and pulled him back: "Brother Pei Ji, sit with Sheng Sheng."
Pei Ji paused, then looked up at Xie Yunchuan.
Just as Xie Yunyang was about to mediate, Xie Yunqi pulled Pei Ji to sit down beside her, looking quite reluctant: "You sit with me. Although Sheng Sheng is not a big shot, what's the point of you two sitting together? It's not good for her reputation. I'll just have to make do and drink and sing with you!"
Pei Ji glanced at him but said nothing.
Xie Yunchuan didn't have any objections, though he naturally didn't want to sit with Sheng Sheng either.
Sheng Sheng also felt that this was the best way to sit, since she still wanted to talk to Xie Yunchuan about something, and it couldn't be more convenient for her to sit with Xie Yunchuan as usual.
So the seating arrangement was changed so that Xie Yunchuan and Shengsheng sat in the middle seats on either side of them, Xie Yunyang and Xie Yunwen sat on their left, and Xie Yunqi and Pei Ji sat on their right.
Xie Yunqi was extremely satisfied. This seat of his wouldn't let Pei Ji and Sheng Sheng sit together, and he himself was sitting next to Sheng Sheng.
Meanwhile, the crowd below, who had been subtly observing the commotion, were abuzz with a stir when they saw Pei Ji sitting with the princes. Their expressions varied, each harboring their own thoughts.
This hostage prince not only attended the palace banquet, but he was also so close to the princes. Things are really different now!
But before the commotion could escalate, the high-pitched voice of the eunuch announcing the arrival at the palace gate rang out.
"His Majesty has arrived—"
The Empress and Consort Rong have arrived!
The Golden Palace fell silent once more. Xie Yuxiao, dressed in a dragon robe, walked in, exuding an imposing aura. The Empress walked to his left, while Consort Rong stood to his right, slightly behind them by half a step.
The officials all knelt and bowed.
Xie Yuxiao casually dismissed the officials from formalities, but as he passed by Sheng Sheng and the others, his gaze lingered on Pei Ji for a few seconds.
Everyone present was shrewd; seeing that even His Majesty had tacitly allowed Pei Ji to sit there, they all understood perfectly what was going on.
"Alright, today is the New Year's Day. My beloved ministers, please join me in celebrating the New Year. Let us all enjoy ourselves and be free from any formalities!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty—"
After a typical opening speech, the palace maids filed in carrying dishes, and soon the table was filled with all kinds of exquisite dishes.
The musicians of Changyin Pavilion sat in a corner playing their instruments, while dancers, dressed in light gauze, entered and began to dance in the center of the hall.
Sheng Sheng was hungry, but she didn't rush to pick up her chopsticks, still thinking about what had just happened.
Sheng Sheng tugged at Xie Yunchuan's sleeve and whispered, "Brother, Sheng Sheng has something to say."
"Um?"
Sheng Sheng briefly recounted what had just happened, then added, "Chunhua and Qiuyue said they overheard the palace maids beside Consort Yue saying something like, 'A small act of impatience can ruin a great plan,' or 'We can't expose our years of scheming because of a momentary impulse.' There were many people around, and Chunhua and Qiuyue couldn't get too close, so they only vaguely heard those few words. Brother, Sheng Sheng suspects that Consort Yue is from the Song Kingdom!"
The little dumpling looked serious, its round face slightly puffed out, its brows furrowed, and its small face was full of focus.
Xie Yunchuan rubbed Sheng Sheng's head, pondering to himself.
Just then, Thirteen returned from his investigation. Xie Yunchuan looked up and took the note Thirteen handed him. It listed several concubines who would be performing at the New Year's Day palace banquet that day.
Consort Yue's name was prominently displayed among them.
Xie Yunchuan's eyes darkened slightly as he stared at the name without speaking, mentally connecting what Sheng Sheng had said with the events that had unfolded before and after.
Could it be Consort Yue who bribed Cai Die?
Sheng Sheng was a little confused: "See, Sheng Sheng knew there was a problem! But why did she have Cai Die take Sheng Sheng to that room this afternoon? There was nothing in that room."
"There were many palace servants in the Golden Palace at the time, and they all saw Cai Die leading you there. Perhaps she didn't do anything in the room, but just needed you to go to that room."
Xie Yunchuan said calmly, "Go find that Caidie and ask her everything she knows. Also, check if Consort Jing gave that batch of Hangzhou silk to Consort Yue."
"yes."
There are some things that Sheng Sheng doesn't know why he can't see clearly.
Consort Yue was perhaps desperate to find a new patron after her fall from grace, and she happened to come across Princess Xie Yunsheng, who was favored and seemed easy to manipulate, so she set her sights on her.
Unexpectedly, Sheng Sheng, despite her young age, was not stupid. Not only did she fail to curry favor with Sheng Sheng, she also made Sheng Sheng lose face, so Sheng Sheng wanted to get revenge.
Thinking of this, Xie Yunchuan couldn't help but frown.
Consort Yue has been in the palace for eight or nine years. If she really is a spy from the Song Kingdom, how could she have hidden herself so well, and now she is so easily exposed because of the slightest disturbance in the harem in order to seek revenge?
Was the State of Song stupid to send such a person as a spy?
Xie Yunchuan always felt that things weren't that simple.
Xie Yunchuan had arranged everything and said softly to Shengsheng, "It's alright, Your Majesty is here."
Sheng Sheng smiled at Xie Yunchuan, and out of the corner of her eye, she saw Yan Hu returning, so she quickly called Yan Hu over.
"Yan Hu, what did you find?"
Yan Hu spat out what was in his mouth and sat between the two, rubbing against one and then the other as if seeking praise.
Sheng Sheng wiped the drool off with a handkerchief and then realized it was a stamp.
"A seal? What kind of seal is this?"
Sheng Sheng looked at it with a puzzled expression. Xie Yunchuan took it, his brows furrowed: "Where did this come from?"
Sheng Sheng asked Yan Hu, who replied, "There was no one in Consort Yue's palace, so I sneaked in. There was a hidden compartment under her pillow, and it took me a lot of effort to open it. Inside was this seal and several letters. The seals on the letters had the same design as this one. I couldn't take the letters; they would have attracted too much attention. This one is easier to hide in my mouth, so I only took this one."
He praised Yan Hu a few times, and then repeated it to Xie Yunchuan.
Xie Yunchuan nodded, guessing that the seal might be something to prove her identity.
Xie Yunchuan immediately ordered people to go and search for it.
People came and went around Xie Yunchuan's place, and he kept chatting with Shengsheng without ever looking up. Neither of them noticed that they had secretly attracted the attention of several groups of people, whose eyes were all drawn to them.
Consort Rong was very pleased to see the brother and sister had such a good relationship, and looked at them with a smile.
Xie Yuxiao had been keeping an eye on them out of the corner of his eye. Ever since Sheng Sheng said "Greetings, Father Emperor" at the beginning, she hadn't looked at him at all, focusing on chatting with Xie Yunchuan. She was nothing like she used to be, always clinging to him and acting cute.
The old father was heartbroken that his daughter had grown tired of him, but he couldn't show it in front of his ministers, so he could only drink from his wine cup.
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