In February, the palace was decorated with lights and colors. Today was the day when the eldest princess was getting married, so of course it had to be lively.

Chu Jinyao, wearing the court dress of the Crown Princess, smiled and patted the eldest princess's hand, then made way for the matchmaker to put a red veil on the eldest princess. After the ceremony in the palace was over, Chu Jinyao harnessed the carriage and went to Princess Runing's mansion.

The eldest princess was canonized as Princess Runing and married to Chai An, the youngest son of the Chai family of Marquis Yichun. Runing was the first princess in the palace, and even the emperor had asked about her wedding many times, so it was naturally grand. As the eldest sister-in-law of Princess Runing, Chu Jinyao was indispensable. She came to the palace of the eldest princess in person, accompanied the princess to dress up and change into wedding clothes, and then accompanied her to the princess's mansion to show off. Having the Crown Princess personally send off the bride was simply the most honorable thing in the wedding of princesses of all dynasties.

Even though Chu Jinyao was the eldest princess' sister-in-law, she was also the Crown Princess, so she would definitely not be early when she arrived. When her carriage and procession arrived at Princess Runing's mansion, many people had already arrived for the wedding banquet. The Chai family had received the news a long time ago and were waiting at the second gate.

This is the difference of marrying a royal daughter. Usually, the main venue of the wedding banquet is at the husband's house, but the princess is different. The princess has her own princess's mansion and does not live with the husband's family. So on the wedding day, the real distinguished guests were all in the Princess's Mansion. Although the Yichun Marquis' Mansion also set up a banquet, they had to send several people to the Princess's Mansion to entertain the royal guests.

The female family members in the banquet hall were chatting happily with their families, and suddenly someone heard that the Crown Princess had arrived. The hall suddenly became quiet, and everyone looked towards the door.

Chu Jinyao, wearing a bright red dress of the Crown Princess, walked slowly in accompanied by the eldest wife of the Chai family. The ladies inside saw that it was really the Crown Princess, and immediately brought their daughters to greet Chu Jinyao: "Greetings to the Crown Princess." Greetings

came one after another, and one lady found that the Crown Princess actually smiled in her direction, and her face immediately lit up. However, in fact, there were too many people greeting her, and Chu Jinyao couldn't even remember their faces.

She first went to the bridal chamber to see the bride, and then returned to the front hall for the banquet. Now the auspicious time has not yet arrived, and the banquet has not yet begun. This period of time is the precious social time for the female family members.

There are countless people who want to talk to Chu Jinyao. As the sister-in-law of Princess Runing, Chu Jinyao has to support her sister-in-law, so she smiled at the eldest lady of the Chai family the whole time. Even when several girls from the Yichun Marquis's Mansion came forward to pay their respects, she also called them over and said a few words. For

a while, everyone in the Yichun Marquis's Mansion was beaming, and these girls from the Chai family were so happy that they earned enough respect in front of their sisters. It's different to be a relative of the royal family. In the past, they would never have the opportunity to talk to the Crown Princess.

The ladies who came to pay their respects kept coming one after another, especially those who brought their daughters with them and pulled them over for Chu Jinyao to see. Chu Jinyao saw so many rosy and bright little girls at once, and her eyes were really dazzled. While a group of people went down, Chu Jinyao saw an opportunity and quickly brought people out.

These ladies were really good at talking. I don’t know how they are, but Chu Jinyao, who was listening, was exhausted. Chu Jinyao took the people to rest in a quiet place. He finally felt that his ears were alive again. Suddenly, a voice came from outside the pavilion: "Crown Princess."

Chu Jinyao was stunned for a moment when he heard the voice, and stood up in surprise: "Eldest sister!"

Chu Jinxian walked over with a smile, stopped three steps away, and was about to bow and salute, but was stopped by Chu Jinyao: "Eldest sister, what are you doing!" "

Etiquette cannot be abandoned. You are the Crown Princess now. You can't be careless."

"You are still a pregnant woman. How can I let you salute me." Chu Jinyao said with an angry tone, and happily asked Kikgeol to get a blanket, and carefully helped Chu Jinxian sit down.

"Sister, my nephew should be five months old now, right?"

"Yes." Chu Jinxian smiled softly when she mentioned the child, with a maternal glow on her face. "I didn't dare to send a letter home until the baby was three months old last year. At that time, the fetus was unstable and I couldn't go out, so I didn't make it in time for your wedding."

Although it was a bit regrettable that her sister didn't come to see her off when she got married, it was obviously nothing compared to the little nephew or niece in Chu Jinxian's belly. Since Chu Jinxian got married, the sisters have seen less and less. Later, when Chu Jinyao arranged a marriage and then moved to the capital, it was even more difficult for them to see each other. By this calculation, the sisters have not seen each other for more than a year.

Chu Jinyao was both regretful and satisfied: "Fortunately, my brother-in-law has been transferred to the capital, and we can see each other often in the future. By the way, sister, have you been okay during this period?"

Chu Jinxian knew what Chu Jinyao was asking. She had a hard time with offspring, and it took her two full years to get pregnant. If it weren't for her grandmother watching over her, and Chu Jinyao marrying the prince, I'm afraid Chu Jinxian would have suffered a lot in her husband's family. Chu Jinxian sighed softly and said, "What's the point of saying these things? Everything is fine for me now, and there's nothing to worry about."

That's right, people always have to look forward. Chu Jinyao didn't want to bring up Chu Jinxian's sadness, so she changed the subject and asked about the child with great interest. Speaking of this, Chu Jinxian, who was usually cold, also had a lot to say: "...My pregnancy was difficult. I took medicine for a whole year before I got pregnant. I was born with a cold body. When I first got pregnant, the fetus was unstable. I didn't dare to get out of bed for the first three months... But after the most difficult period, it was fine. Now that he is older, he no longer tortures me. My appetite has improved a lot."

Chu Jinyao was shocked when she heard these words. She only knew that it was not easy for Chu Jinxian to have children, but she didn't expect the situation to be so serious. Calculating the time, the year Chu Jinxian took medicine, the Changxing Marquis's Mansion happened to move to the capital. Chu Jinxian was alone in Taiyuan Prefecture, and no one knew how she survived.

However, Chu Jinyao was preparing to get married at that time, and she herself was not free, so she didn't know anything about Chu Jinxian. Chu Jinyao felt a little guilty, but on such a happy day, she didn't want to say these things deliberately to hurt people, so she pretended to be relieved and said: "It's okay, they say that after all the hardships come happiness, my little nephew is so hardworking, he will definitely be a lively boy in the future."

Chu Jinxian also laughed, and neither of them mentioned what to do if it was a daughter. Chu Jinyao actually didn't care whether it was a boy or a girl. If it was a girl, she would definitely look like her sister, and Chu Jinyao liked it more, but offspring is a knife on a woman's head. Chu Jinxian's pregnancy was so difficult, and Chu Jinyao really hoped that she could have a boy.

Chu Jinxian could probably guess what Chu Jinyao was thinking. She herself didn't have anything to complain about, so she comforted Chu Jinyao: "I'm fine. No one in the Zhao family dares to treat me harshly, and your brother-in-law also understands my hard work and is not in a hurry to take a concubine for the sake of offspring. Moving our family to the capital will only give me more confidence. Who would be so blind as to look down on me just because my parents' family is not local? If you live a good life, it will only bring honor to me. On the contrary, I am the one who couldn't come to see you off and didn't see the royal wedding ceremony. Instead, I regret it very much."

The two sisters understood each other, slowly untied the knots of this year, and their hearts became closer. Chu Jinxian talked about the child for a while, and then slowly asked Chu Jinyao: "How about you, how have you been doing these days?"

Chu Jinyao saw the worry in Chu Jinxian's eyes, and knew that she was really worried, but she was afraid of touching Chu Jinyao's pain. Chu Jinyao smiled, held Chu Jinxian's hand and said: "I'm fine too."

Chu Jinxian whispered: "Any news?"

Chu Jinyao was upset when she mentioned this, and she shook her head slightly. Chu Jinxian also sighed: "I was born with a cold body and cold uterus, so it's not easy to get pregnant. You are not the same, right?"

Chu Jinyao really didn't know. She originally thought there was no need to rush, as she and Qin Yi were both young, so there was nothing to rush about. However, everyone around her was extremely anxious about the fact that she wasn't pregnant yet, and gradually, Chu Jinyao herself became anxious.

But pregnancy wasn't something that could be accomplished by just talking about it. Usually, the main wife had difficulty getting pregnant because her husband didn't stay overnight, but with Qin Yi's determination, Chu Jinyao was definitely not in this situation. The Zhao family had difficulty in having offspring, and now Chu Jinxian was the same. Could it be that this was a problem with the physical constitution of them, mother and daughter?

Chu Jinyao was a little sad. Seeing this, Chu Jinxian comforted her softly, "It's okay. Although people with cold bodies have difficulty getting pregnant, there are still many women with cold bodies. It's just that the degree of coldness varies. I'll give you a few conditioning prescriptions. You should pay more attention to your diet and adjust slowly. Then you will naturally get pregnant."

It was the only way. Chu Jinxian and Chu Jinyao didn't need to remember the prescriptions. Their maids had already gone to communicate smartly. Chu Jinyao talked to Chu Jinxian about the Changxing Marquis' Mansion. Although Chu Jinxian didn't talk much, she listened carefully. The two were talking when suddenly there was a small commotion from the direction of the banquet hall. Chu Jinyao and Chu Jinxian both looked up, and Linglong came over to report in time: "Crown Princess, Princess Rong'an and Miss Zhao are here."

It turned out to be Zhao Lanhui.

Chu Jinyao turned around and looked at Chu Jinxian, and they both saw caution in each other's eyes. The imperial decree of marriage was issued in the first month of the year, and the wedding date was set in June this year. It can be said that Zhao Lanhui is already the second prince's consort. Even though the marriage has not been completed, but with the imperial decree, no one dares to treat Zhao Lanhui as a girl. Zhao Lanhui obviously understands the change in her status. But today Zhao Lanhui arrived later than her, the Crown Princess. Even if she could put the blame on Princess Rong'an, it would be too ostentatious.

Along with the imperial decree of marriage, there were also decrees to make the second and third princes kings. The emperor might be too lazy to go through the trouble again, so when he divided the fiefdom for the second prince, he also included the third prince. The second prince was named Prince Su, with the fiefdom of Qingyang Prefecture, and the third prince was named Prince Lu, with the fiefdom of Luoyang.

They are all first-class places.

Chu Jinyao had a superficial acquaintance with the second and third princes. In Chu Jinyao's impression, the second prince was respectful and modest, and the third prince was proud and straightforward. They both had their own strengths, but they were both the image of princes expected by the world. Of course, it was time to call them princes now. In contrast, Qin Yi was somewhat unkind and a little domineering.

The more Chu Jinyao thought about it, the more she felt something was wrong. How could this trend be closer and closer to the princes in the history books? Prince Su was very low-key and humble, but the future Princess Su's family was very powerful. Because of the relationship between Princess Rong'an and the Duke of Wei's Mansion, Prince Su's influence in the court has gradually increased in recent days.

As for Prince Lu, he himself is a proud son of heaven and the focus of attention, but his changes are not as obvious as Prince Su.

Chu Jinyao didn't understand it before, but after she entered the palace, she gradually understood a little bit of what was going on in the court. Prince Su is now very famous. If you say that this is all because Zhao Lanhui is too high-profile and doesn't know how to restrain himself, then that's fooling children and outsiders.

Chu Jinyao is sure that someone must be taking advantage of the situation. As for why they do this, it goes without saying.

The emperor does not have the idea of ​​changing the crown prince now, but the emperor's ideas are always different from those of the crown prince. As a father, the emperor favors the crown prince, but also wants his other sons to enjoy glory and prominence from generation to generation. The emperor himself has never thought of changing the crown prince, but what about his sons who have been treated well by him?

Chu Jinxian looked at Chu Jinyao worriedly, and obviously she also felt that the future Princess Su was too noisy and stealing the show. Chu Jinyao held Chu Jinxian's hand and shook her head to indicate that it was okay.

Zhao Lanhui had come to make trouble, how could Chu Jinyao let her be so arrogant. She did not return to the banquet hall immediately, but sat for a while before walking back slowly.

Zhao Lanhui has been very busy since she showed up. Young ladies from the royal family who used to admire her came to flatter her, and even young ladies who were not in the same circle came to talk to Zhao Lanhui. The wedding date has been set, and Zhao Lanhui is about to become the Princess Su, and everyone wants to come early to take advantage of it.

There were many people around Zhao Lanhui, and she handled these overtures with ease. The banquet hall was bustling with activity. Zhao Lanhui was about to respond to a daughter of a marquis, when suddenly the whole hall fell silent, and then everyone's eyes turned to the other side.

For a moment, those who were joking, making friends, and discussing their children's marriages all stopped and made way for the visitor to greet them.

"Long live the Crown Princess."

Chu Jinyao walked slowly with Chu Jinxian, and responded to all these greetings with a gentle smile. As soon as Chu Jinyao appeared, Zhao Lanhui was immediately portrayed as a little girl. No matter how good Zhao Lanhui's family background was or how high her mother's status was, they could not be higher than the Crown Princess. Chu Jinyao was wearing a first-class dress, with a bun of pearls and jade, and a clear jade bracelet on her wrist. She had a calm and noble temperament. She walked along, nodded and smiled gently, and people on both sides praised her for her royal calmness. Compared with Chu Jinyao, Zhao Lanhui was too noisy, especially compared with the previous one, Zhao Lanhui made the banquet hall noisy, but as soon as Chu Jinyao appeared, it immediately quieted down.

The contrast between movement and stillness was too obvious, because people with real status do not need to flaunt their status.

In this strange and awkward situation, Zhao Lanhui had to respectfully step forward and salute Chu Jinyao: "Greetings to the Crown Princess."

"Second cousin Zhao is here too, get up quickly." Chu Jinyao just smiled and glanced at her, then looked away nonchalantly at Princess Rong'an, "Aunt Rong'an."

Princess Rong'an smiled and returned a half-salute, speaking to Chu Jinyao slowly and eagerly. The two of them sat in the upper seats, while Zhao Lanhui could only stand below.

At this moment, not only Zhao Lanhui, but everyone else also deeply realized that Zhao Lanhui was only the Princess Su, while Chu Jinyao was the Crown Princess. The Crown Princess could talk to any senior ancestor present at the scene casually and on an equal footing, but the Princess Su could not.

This silent defeat was too cruel. Zhao Lanhui's face did not show it, but her eyes were filled with the humiliation of being ignored. If Chu Jinyao came back in a hurry to find trouble, she could still think that Chu Jinyao was also nervous, but Chu Jinyao was not. Chu Jinyao came back slowly and did not care about what she did at all. Even after Chu Jinyao entered the house, she did not cast her eyes here, but talked to Princess Rong'an in a familiar way, which made Zhao Lanhui feel like a child who was deliberately demonstrating against adults.

This is simply unreasonable, Chu Jinyao is one year younger than Zhao Lanhui! Zhao Lanhui was indignant. A year ago, she and Princess Baoqing worked together to interrogate Chu Jinyao, but today, the situation is completely reversed.

After the banquet started, the noise was noisy and it was convenient to talk. Many ladies were secretly asking the people at the same table: "The one who just came in with the Crown Princess is the eldest daughter of the Changxing Marquis's Mansion and the Crown Princess's biological sister?"

"That's right, she was just transferred back to the capital this month."

"Oh, look at these two sisters." The lady who spoke didn't know whether she was sighing or envious, "When these two people walked over, they were like the Queen Mother of the West, dignified and beautiful. Whoever has such a pair of sisters, it must be a blessing."

The listeners felt the same way. Chu Jinyao and Chu Jinxian look like sisters, both of them are beautiful and have outstanding temperaments. Chu Jinxian is more serious and solemn, while Chu Jinyao is more vivid and lively.

In the palace, Empress Xiao Qi is also asking about Princess Runing's wedding banquet today: "Is the makeup ready?"

"It's all settled. Someone has sent it to the princess's residence."

As the stepmother, Empress Xiao Qi not only had to send expensive dowry as part of the bridal outfit, but also had to give gifts on the wedding day to show the emperor's great favor and the princess's favor. These things were all prepared by the servants. When Empress Xiao Qi learned that the reward from Kunning Palace had been delivered, she put this matter aside in her heart and sighed: "It's good to be a princess. You don't have to serve your mother-in-law, you don't have to look at your husband's face, and after you get married, you can eat and live in the royal family. This is a good life."

Lan Yu couldn't agree with this. She said lightly: "Your Majesty, what you said is wrong. If the princess is lucky, then why do they want to do everything possible to marry their daughter back to the royal family? Obviously, your Majesty has the best life in the world."

This was said cleverly, and Empress Xiao Qi was amused. From her expression, it was obvious that she also felt that being an empress was better than being a princess. All the people in the world are the subjects of the king. The honor and disgrace of all the people in the world depend on the emperor. Obviously, it is more glorious to be the woman of the strongest.

If her son can become the next emperor, it will be even better.

At this time, Lan Yu whispered: "My queen, our secret agent has sent back news about the Crown Princess."