Chapter 51: Palace Banquet "Who is it!"
After Zhou Tinglan left the palace, she went straight to Duke Xie's mansion.
"Why haven't you come yet? Didn't you say you would release him immediately?"
Zhou Tinglan stood anxiously at the gate of the mansion, looking eagerly at the crowd around him.
Could it be that the emperor regretted his decision as soon as he left the court? The thoughts of ancient emperors were truly unpredictable, as unclear as a needle in the sea.
"Lan'er!"
Suddenly, a familiar voice rang out from the street.
"Xie Zechuan, you..."
Before she could finish her words, Xie Zechuan hugged her in his arms.
"Xie Zechuan..."
"Shh-"
Her lips were pressed against her fingers, and Xie Zechuan's low voice sounded in her ear.
"Lan'er, let me hold you for a while."
Zhou Tinglan shyly nudged Xie Zechuan in front of him. "I just saw you yesterday at the prison. Why are you so clingy again?"
"I hugged you yesterday, but I didn't hug you today."
Xie Zechuan was unwilling and acted like a puppy holding a bone. If he had a tail, it would definitely wag it happily.
"There are so many people watching on the street, don't..."
"Lan'er, we're getting married soon. They're just envious of us, so why bother with their looks?"
What Xie Zechuan said was getting more and more outrageous.
"Get out of here!" Zhou Tinglan cursed angrily.
"Okay, okay, Lan'er, I'll let go. Don't be angry."
Zhou Tinglan finally broke free from Xie Zechuan's hands. She rubbed her arms which were numb from hugging them tightly and glared at Xie Zechuan fiercely.
"Lan'er..." Xie Zechuan touched his nose and dared not speak again.
Lin looked at the interaction between the two and said jokingly, "Lan'er and Chuan'er have a really good relationship."
"He's just a brat. Madam, do you mean that they have a good relationship, but you and I don't have a good relationship?"
"How can you, an old man, still be fighting with your son over jealousy? You have no shame."
Duke Xie was scolded by Lin a few times. He snorted twice, stood in a row, and dared not say a word.
When Zhou Tinglan saw the same expressions on the faces of the Xie family father and son, he immediately understood what was going on.
She couldn't guarantee anything else, but Xie Zechuan's clinginess must have been inherited from Duke Xie, and it was true that like father, like son.
"Don't stand at the door, let's go in quickly, I'm a little tired."
Xie Zeqing came from behind, supporting Old Madam Xie.
"Don't worry, old lady. Let's go into the mansion now." Zhou Tinglan walked to the other side of Old Lady Xie and supported her.
The seal on the door had been torn off in advance by government officials, and Zhou Tinglan looked at it with flashing eyes.
Same place, different time, different mood, she has fulfilled her original wish.
**
The carriage slowly drove towards the palace, and Zhou Tinglan lowered the carriage window curtains.
She stretched herself and said, "Time flies."
"Lan'er is looking forward to this palace banquet, can't it be sooner?"
“I’m really looking forward to it.”
Zhou Tinglan asked curiously, "You said Princess Zhaoyang invited me to a palace banquet. What would the Queen Mother ask me?"
"It must be related to your exposure of Yao Ningde in the court."
Seeing Zhou Tinglan was a little worried, Xie Zechuan comforted her, "Don't worry, His Majesty is very satisfied with the new sword you forged a few days ago. I'm sure the Queen Mother also knows your ability, so she won't make things too difficult for you."
"How can I not worry?"
After all, it was the first palace banquet she attended after traveling to the Kingdom of Dazhao. In order to avoid making mistakes, Zhou Tinglan once again searched through all the original owner's memories when she was in the capital, and asked Lin about some palace rules.
On the table were snacks that Lin had prepared for them.
Zhou Tinglan picked up a string of candied haws. The thick syrup covered the surface of the hawthorn balls. It was sweet and sour, and very delicious.
Her eyes lit up immediately: "Delicious! Xie Zechuan, do you want to eat some?"
The candied haws was handed to Xie Zechuan's mouth, and he lowered his head and bit off a hawthorn ball.
Zhou Tinglan looked at Xie Zechuan expectantly: "Is it delicious? Is it delicious?"
Xie Zechuan doesn't like sweets, but seeing Zhou Tinglan's expression, he said, "It's quite delicious."
"I just said that I think delicious things can be good."
Xie Zechuan stared at Zhou Tinglan's face, a dark light flashed in his eyes. He grabbed Zhou Tinglan's hand holding the candied haws and pulled it into his arms.
Zhou Tinglan exclaimed: "What are you doing!"
Xie Zechuan bit off a hawthorn ball from the candied haws: "Since Lan'er likes it, let's eat it together."
Under the dark shadow, the syrup on the surface of the hawthorn ball had mostly melted, and the warm touch brought the hawthorn ball into Zhou Tinglan's mouth.
The sweetness of the syrup exploded in Zhou Tinglan's mouth. His tongue couldn't help but chase the hawthorn, but was swept away by another force.
After a long moment, Zhou Tinglan clutched Xie Zechuan's clothes tightly, panting softly, "You..."
Xie Zechuan swallowed the hawthorn ball, which no longer had any syrup in its mouth. He licked the corner of his lips and said, "It seems to taste even better."
"You eat this one!" Zhou Tinglan's face flushed. She picked up another string of candied haws and stuffed it into Xie Zechuan's hand.
When the carriage reached the palace gate, a guard knocked on the window sill and said, "Carriages are not allowed in the palace. Gentlemen and ladies, please get out."
Xie Zechuan placed a gentle kiss on Zhou Tinglan's face: "If anything happens at the palace banquet, please ask the palace maids to look for me among the male guests."
"Don't worry, I'm not stupid."
Xie Zechuan pinched her cheek: "Yes, my Lan'er is very smart."
Zhou Tinglan slapped his hand away: "It's at the palace gate. I'll go down first."
"Lan'er, wait for me, I'll go down with you."
Xie Zechuan became more and more unrestrained, being sticky on the streets and at the palace gate.
The two separated at the palace gate. Xie Zechuan frequently looked back in the direction Zhou Tinglan left, and their eyes met in the air.
**
The banquet was held in an elegant palace, with separate areas for male and female guests.
Xie Zechuan went straight to the male guests, while Zhou Tinglan followed the palace maid to the seats for the female guests.
"Miss Zhou is here. Come and sit here with me."
Princess Zhaoyang was sitting at the banquet. She saw Zhou Tinglan enter the palace and called her over.
Zhou Tinglan stepped forward and saluted: "I greet Her Royal Highness the Princess."
"No need to be polite." Princess Zhaoyang waved her hand: "Taohong, show Miss Zhou to sit down."
Zhou Tinglan sat on the seat to the right of Princess Zhaoyang.
"Miss Zhou, you haven't been back to the capital for a long time. Have you forgotten us sisters?"
Zhou Tinglan looked in the direction of the voice and saw a woman wearing a long, green gauze, double-breasted dress.
She is the legitimate daughter of Minister Shen.
"Ms. Shen." Zhou Tinglan pointed at herself and pretended to be surprised: "Do I look old?"
"What do you mean, Miss Zhou?"
"If Miss Shen didn't think I was old enough to forget things, how could she think I didn't see you?"
When the young ladies from the aristocratic families heard Zhou Tinglan's words during the banquet, they almost couldn't hold back their dignified expressions and covered their mouths to laugh.
"You!" Miss Shen was angered by Zhou Tinglan's words.
The lady next to her tried to dissuade her: "Miss Shen, it's not nice for you to cause trouble just after Miss Zhou comes back."
"Well, I won't bother with you."
"It's so lively!" An old voice suddenly sounded in the hall, and the empress dowager was supported by someone and walked into the hall.
Everyone stood up and saluted; "Greetings, Her Majesty the Queen Mother."
"Meet the Imperial Grandmother."
"Everyone, get up. I'm only here to see the fun. I'm old now, so I'm afraid I can't stay for long."
"How could that be? The Imperial Grandmother is in good health and will surely live to be a hundred years old."
The Queen Mother's eyes crinkled with laughter. "Zhao Yang is the one who knows how to say it. I know my own physical condition, so there's no need to say more."
The palace maid helped the empress dowager to sit in the chief seat.
The Queen Mother looked at the noble ladies below and nodded, "It seems everyone is here. Then order the banquet to begin."
"yes."
The palace maids placed bowls and plates filled with delicacies on the table in front of Zhou Tinglan.
Zhou Tinglan looked around at the people around her and whispered to Princess Zhaoyang beside her, "Why isn't the Empress here?"
"Mother was ill today, so she didn't come to the palace banquet. Why are you asking this?"
"Nothing, I was just a little worried when the Empress didn't come. I'm glad you're alright."
Zhou Tinglan heard the Queen Mother suddenly ask from above, "I heard that the former Prime Minister's daughter is also attending the banquet today. Where is she now?"
Sure enough, he was looking for her.
The day before yesterday, she asked Xie Zechuan to hand over the newly forged knife to His Majesty, and asked him to deliver a letter to Princess Zhaoyang on her behalf.
"His Majesty is very satisfied with the sword you gave him."
Only when Xie Zechuan brought back a large number of rewards did Zhou Tinglan finally feel relieved.
She was confident in the sword she forged, but the emperor's heart was unpredictable. If she failed to do her job well, it would be a disaster.
At the same time, Xie Zechuan also brought back a reply letter from Princess Zhaoyang, in which she told herself that the Queen Mother knew about the affairs of the previous dynasty and might ask her about it at the banquet.
Zhou Tinglan hurriedly stood up and saluted: "Your Majesty the Queen Mother, I am here."
"You're a good kid. I heard you accomplished something great."
"Your Majesty, thank you for your praise. It is my duty to work for the well-being of the Great Zhao Kingdom." Zhou Tinglan spoke in an increasingly low voice.
"Miss Zhou, what's going on?" the Queen Mother asked in confusion.
"Your Majesty, may I have a private word from you?"
"Can."
Zhou Tinglan bowed again. "Although I am a member of the Great Zhao Kingdom, I also have selfish motives. My father was framed by the Minister of War and his entire family was exiled. My parents are already old, and with this sudden change, they have not been in good health since arriving in Northern Frontier City. I am deeply distressed, and therefore I have made this resolution to redress my father's wrongdoing."
As she spoke, her eyes turned slightly red, as if she was thinking of her elderly parents who were seriously ill and bedridden.
"I didn't understand why when I first heard this. Miss Zhou is a very filial daughter. It is truly rare and precious for her to be able to show such filial piety. I admire her very much."
She turned and called to the palace maid beside her: "Bring me the jade bracelet from my dressing box."
"The jade bracelet has a very good meaning. I heard that you are about to get married, so I will give you this jade bracelet as a gift to make you happy."
Zhou Tinglan expressed his gratitude: "Thank you, Empress Dowager."
She returned to her seat under the envious gazes of the ladies at the table.
The Queen Mother soon stood up and wanted to leave.
"I am a little tired, ladies, please continue your conversation."
"Farewell, Her Majesty the Queen Mother."
As soon as the Queen Mother left, the young ladies could no longer contain their excitement.
"Miss Zhou, you are truly a role model among our noble ladies. All the sisters should learn from you."
"Miss Zhou, you..."
Zhou Tinglan couldn't bear the praise from the young ladies, so he told Princess Zhaoyang that he wanted to go outside for some fresh air and walked out of the hall.
When women talk about sugar-coated bullets, men have nothing to do with it.
As soon as he walked out of the hall, Zhou Tinglan saw a familiar figure flash in front of him.
"Who is that, Fuchang?"
She followed quietly and saw Fu Chang following a man in a black brocade robe.
"Dragon robe..." Zhou Tinglan was shocked when he saw the pattern on the man's brocade robe.
It’s Prince Duan!
"Thank you for lurking beside Yao Ningde."
"Your Highness has done me a favor. If Your Highness needs me, I will do my best."
Prince Duan was very satisfied with Fuchang's answer: "Our plan will begin soon. We must succeed and not fail."
Fuchang is actually Prince Duan's man! What is the plan they are talking about?
Zhou Tinglan wanted to move closer to hear more clearly, but even though she moved very quietly, she was still noticed by the two men cautiously.
“Who is it?”
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
