After Laba, the festive atmosphere becomes stronger.

The capital city remains prosperous as always. Despite the freezing cold weather, it cannot stop people from visiting the market.

Some New Year goods need to be purchased early, as the later you wait, the more expensive they will be.

Walking down the street, you can see people walking hurriedly with smiles on their faces, holding a duck in one hand and cakes and other things in the other.

Deposing the crown prince is still a distant thing for the people. At least for now they haven't noticed any difference from usual.

However, all the officials and nobles felt that a storm was about to come as the year was drawing to a close.

Although no one has yet stepped forward to propose the appointment of a crown prince, the confrontation between the third prince, Prince Jin, and the fourth prince, Prince Qi, has slowly begun.

Today, an official on the side of King Jin impeaches an official close to King Qi for corruption and bribery. Tomorrow, an official close to King Qi will impeach someone on the side of King Jin for bullying men and women.

The movements of both parties were not big, and there was no pain or itching, but it made many people feel uneasy.

The emperor is already old. Even if we put it on hold for now considering his mood, the issue of appointing a crown prince must be put on the agenda next year.

How should the King of Jin and the King of Qi stand on the same side?

In this delicate silence, Concubine Xian's birthday arrived.

Apart from the Empress, concubines with high status, such as Concubine Xian, Concubine Zhuang, and Concubine Ning, did not hold grand celebrations on their birthdays, but received many gifts.

Especially since the crown prince had just been deposed and Prince Qi became the hot candidate for the new crown prince, Concubine Xian's birthday banquet suddenly became lively, and even Princess Rongyang, who had come to the palace to pay her respects to the Queen Mother, came to show her support.

This had never happened before, and Concubine Xian was quite proud of it.

Although Jiang Si avoided going to the palace to pay her respects to Concubine Xian on the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month after she became pregnant, she had no reason to avoid going to the palace on Concubine Xian's birthday.

What's more, she is already four months pregnant and it is time for her to resume normal interpersonal relationships.

"I wish Your Majesty eternal youth and good health." Compared with the carefully prepared congratulatory speech and gifts by Princess Qi, Jiang Si's was much simpler, and in the eyes of Concubine Xian, it was purely perfunctory.

"Well, you are thoughtful." Concubine Xian said lightly.

Jiang Sisi didn't care about Concubine Xian's coldness at all and sat back leisurely.

Concubine Xian looked down at Jiang Si's belly and asked, "It's been four months, right?"

Jiang Si responded with a yes.

"It doesn't seem obvious, but you should move around more in the future. Staying indoors all the time is bad for your child."

This was a warning to her for Jiang Si's failure to come and pay his respects before.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Jiang Si naturally would not contradict the others and said with a smile, "Thank you for your advice, Your Majesty. I will remember it and will come to pay my respects to you often in the future."

After hearing what Jiang Si said, Concubine Xian felt a little relieved.

Princess Rongyang, who was sitting next to her, suddenly said, "Your Majesty is so generous that you didn't blame your daughter-in-law for not coming to pay respects for several months. When I was pregnant with Yi'er, I would go from the Princess's Mansion to the General's Mansion to pay respects to my mother-in-law every day."

As she spoke, she looked at Jiang Si and curled her lips slightly: "Princess Yan is so lucky to have such a wise mother-in-law."

Princess Rongyang enjoyed great respect in front of the Emperor and the Empress Dowager. Over the years, even concubines like Concubine Xian had to be respectful and yield to her. Naturally, no one said anything when she said this.

Not only will they not say much, some people will even laugh secretly, like Princess Qi.

She had really been dissatisfied with Princess Yan for a long time, and now someone finally stepped on Princess Yan's face in public, which gave her a chance to vent her anger.

Princess Qi glanced at Jiang Si and thought to herself that every evildoer will be punished by his own evil. No matter how arrogant and willful Princess Yan was, she had to endure the sarcasm and ridicule from Princess Rongyang.

The harem was different from the outside world. Although the Prince of Qi and the Prince of Yan were the sons of Concubine Xian, they only stayed for a short while after entering the palace to celebrate the birthday of Concubine Xian and were about to leave. The only ones who stayed behind to accompany her were the female relatives.

Princess Qi knew that Prince Yan was a man who dared to beat even the Crown Prince, but she didn't believe that Princess Yan would dare to say a word under the pressure of Princess Rongyang.

Who would have thought that at this moment, a slightly cold voice sounded: "So, the mother-in-law that Auntie met is not wise enough, and she is not blessed?"

The scene suddenly became quiet, and countless eyes fell on Jiang Si who was sitting upright.

Did they hear it wrongly?

Princess Rongyang did not doubt her ears at all. She slapped her hands on the table and said coldly, "The Princess of Yan said that I am unlucky?"

Jiang Si smiled slightly, his eyes calm and fearless: "Auntie said it herself just now. You envy me for having a wise mother-in-law and think I am lucky. Doesn't that mean that Auntie is not lucky and the mother-in-law she met is not wise enough?"

In this situation, if it was someone else who was bullying her, she might be able to endure it for the time it takes to eat a meal, but when it was the murderer who killed her own mother, she didn't want to endure it for even a moment.

"You are so brave!" Princess Rongyang never imagined that there would be such a bold person who dared to contradict her in public.

"Princess Yan, you are making irresponsible remarks about your elders. Is this your upbringing as a princess?"

Jiang Si raised her chin slightly, and said with a smile: "As the princess appointed by my father, when someone questions my upbringing, I will naturally prove to that person that my father's choice was not wrong."

"You——" Jiang Si raised the banner of Emperor Jingming so skillfully that Princess Rongyang was almost choked to death.

Jiang Si lowered her eyes, regaining her gentle and obedient appearance, and said softly and soothingly: "Don't be sad, aunt. Even if your mother-in-law is not wise enough, it is all in the past now. People should always look forward."

At that time, his mother had already been engaged to General Cui. Princess Rongyang was determined to seize her favor and move out of the Queen Mother's support. General Cui was strongly opposed at first, but his mother threatened to commit suicide and made him give up the idea of ​​resistance.

She could understand the choice of General Cui's mother, but she could not have a good impression of her. It was not unfair to say that Cui's mother was not wise enough.

"Princess Yan, don't play dumb!" Princess Rongyang felt as uncomfortable as if she had eaten a fly to this kind of comfort, and she didn't appreciate it at all.

The atmosphere was somewhat stagnant for a moment.

Jiang Si Quesi was not affected at all. She stroked her belly gently and smiled, "It is said that pregnant women will become stupid for a period of time. Thank you for reminding me, aunt."

Princess Rongyang was completely at a loss.

The world is big, and the one who carries the dragon's son or grandson is the most important. If she said a few more words, and if it irritated this bastard and gave him a headache, she would not be well received by her brother and mother.

But Princess Rongyang had never swallowed her anger in front of anyone except Emperor Jingming and the Queen Mother. At this moment, she felt like there was a lump in her throat that was hard to swallow.

She was really pissed off!

She now believed more and more what Mingyue had said to her before she disappeared.

Mingyue ended up like that, it must have been a trap set by this bastard!

Princess Rongyang narrowed her eyes and stared at Jiang Si.

Jiang Silun was not afraid to look her in the eye, and his slightly raised chin showed a hint of provocation.

Yes, she was the one who killed Cui Mingyue, and she would never let go of Princess Rongyang.

Princess Rongyang's eyes narrowed.

This bastard is provoking me again. This is intolerable!