Chapter 229 Etiquette
When Shangguan Jin went to the palace for the banquet, she still only brought one head maid with her.
As for Shen Qingyue, she went to Bao'en Temple by carriage to pray for blessings the next day.
However, to Shangguan Jin's surprise, Madam Huangfu declined to come.
They said something had happened at the manor and they couldn't leave for the time being.
However, the valuable congratulatory gift was sent to Consort Die's Ronghua Pavilion.
Because Shangguan Jin was delayed on the way, she only just saw Emperor Xiao Jing leading the Seventh Prince toward the Hall of Diligent Governance after entering the palace.
"Your Majesty, this humble woman greets you..." Shangguan Jin was about to perform the salute.
"Xiao Qi, quickly help your aunt up. I told you you don't need to bow."
"Why bother with so many formalities!" Emperor Xiao Jing said with a smile.
Shangguan Jin originally intended to complete the ceremony, but upon thinking that she would be seeing Consort Die later, she immediately stood up at the Seventh Prince's prompting.
"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty."
Emperor Xiao Jing smiled and then continued walking with the Seventh Prince toward the Hall of Diligent Governance.
The Seventh Prince chuckled, and after taking a few steps away, he suddenly turned back and made a face at Shangguan Jin.
Shangguan Jin...
This kid, he's got one little scheme after another...
The young eunuch leading the way didn't dare to say a word, keeping his head down as he led Shangguan Jin to the Linde Hall, where the Eighth Prince's 100-day celebration was being held.
Shangguan Jin had only been inside for a short while and hadn't even spoken to any of the ladies he knew!
Consort Die then entered with her palace servants.
Consort Die was adorned with jewels and wore a bright red palace dress. The phoenix hairpin she wore was particularly eye-catching.
Shangguan Jin frowned slightly.
The bright red palace attire is understandable, but that phoenix hairpin... it looks like it has nine phoenixes...
Consort Die sat down in the main seat, while the nanny stood to one side holding the Eighth Prince.
"Greetings, Consort Die! May Your Majesty live a thousand years!"
Lady Qi, the wife of the Duke of Qi, still did not come. Apart from Lady Anguo and Shangguan Jin, all the other ladies solemnly performed the kneeling ceremony.
Oh, Lady Shangguan didn't come either. I heard it was said by the Imperial Astronomical Bureau that Lady Shangguan's zodiac sign clashes with the Eighth Prince's...
Consort Die looked at the ladies with a smile.
He only waved his hand gently after everyone had finished performing the full kneeling ceremony.
The head maid beside her immediately said, "No need for formalities."
But after admiring the grand ceremony of the ladies, Consort Die suddenly noticed Shangguan Jin standing there motionless.
Her brows furrowed immediately.
When the head maid beside her saw Consort Die frowning, she quickly asked.
"Madam Shen, why don't you kneel?"
Is this disrespect towards our Empress?
The ladies who had already performed the rites looked at Shangguan Jin and immediately began to whisper among themselves.
Previously, everyone was saying that Consort Die was originally going to be Lady Shen's daughter-in-law, but who knew that she would end up entering the palace...
Judging from the way Butterfly Consort is acting now, she might just have a meltdown today...
However, Madam Shen is never lacking in manners, so what's going on today?
Could it be true, as the rumors are circulating, that the Duke of Dingguo's mansion and the Duke of Anguo's mansion have already broken off relations...?
No one dared to get too close to Shangguan Jin, for fear of getting caught in the wind.
"In response to Your Highness, I cannot kneel today," Shangguan Jin nodded slightly.
These words made Consort Die even angrier.
"If you can't kneel today, then when can you kneel?"
Or does Madam Shen even have to choose a day for kneeling?
"How dare you! You are defying the majesty of Heaven and the authority of the Emperor!" Consort Die slapped the armrest beside her.
This slap startled all the ladies who had already stood up, causing them to kneel down again.
The old lady of the Duke of Anguo felt that something was wrong.
Logically speaking, women from the Shangguan family are known for their impeccable manners; how could they possibly make such a grave mistake...?
"Your Highness, it seems that Madam Shen's situation is..."
"Regardless of the reason, I am the Butterfly Consort personally appointed by His Majesty. To disrespect me is to disrespect His Majesty."
"Someone, go and teach Madam Shen how to kneel," Consort Die said coldly.
She still remembers it vividly: how Shen Qingyue and the Seventh Prince made her kneel on the back mountain of Bao'en Temple.
Two palace servants cautiously stepped forward, but neither of them dared to make a move.
The Duchess of Dingguo was a first-rank duke's wife, and also a first-rank protector of the country's wife, bestowed by the imperial family.
In terms of rank, she's already a super-ranking lady...
“Madam Shen…” The palace servant smiled bitterly.
Shangguan Jin still ignored the two palace maids and continued to smile at Consort Die.
"Your Highness, it is precisely because I know that I cannot disrespect the majesty of Heaven that I cannot kneel."
"No matter what Your Majesty says, I cannot kneel today," Shangguan Jin said with a smile.
Seeing Shangguan Jin's attitude, Consort Die's anger flared even more.
"How dare you! This is the imperial palace, the Linde Hall, not your Duke Dingguo's mansion."
Today is the Eighth Prince's 100-day celebration, so you have no right to be presumptuous.
"Granny, teach Madam Shen some manners." Consort Die then looked at the governess on the side.
The governess was a shrewd person.
Everyone in the palace knows that the Shangguan family is very strict in their upbringing. As the eldest daughter of the Shangguan family, how could she possibly be impolite?
"Your Highness, perhaps Madam Shen has no choice but to accept it," the nanny whispered.
Butterfly Consort gave a cold laugh.
"In a situation where there is no other choice, I can see that this is clearly a contempt for imperial authority, and that he is just arrogant because he is used to relying on the merits of the Duke of Dingguo."
"Your Highness, please be careful with your words."
Although I am the wife of a first-rank duke and have been granted the title of first-rank protector of the country, I never fail to observe proper etiquette.
There is a reason why we cannot perform the full kneeling ceremony for Consort Die today.
On my way to Linde Hall, I had the pleasure of seeing His Majesty passing by.
Just as I was about to perform the rites, His Majesty called me back, saying that I was exempt from the kowtow.
Therefore, I did not bow to Your Majesty just now.
There's one more thing, which Consort Die is too young to know.
Eighteen years ago, when I had just married into the Duke of Dingguo's mansion, His Majesty had just ascended the throne. His Majesty personally said that I would not need to perform the kneeling ceremony when I saw him in the future.
"That's why we can't perform the full kneeling ceremony for Her Majesty today," Shangguan Jin said unhurriedly.
After these words were spoken, no one in the entire Linde Hall dared to speak.
Diefei looked as if she had swallowed a fly, her expression strange.
I was just exempted from kneeling when I met His Majesty, so I certainly can't kneel when I see her.
Otherwise, where would His Majesty be placed?
Judging from Madam Shen's tone, she was exempted from the kneeling ceremony before His Majesty.
Who do you think you are, to expect me to bow to you?
Not to mention today, even in the future, she can forget about seeing the Duchess of Dingguo perform the kowtow to her.
Butterfly Consort is now somewhat regretful.
If I had known, I wouldn't have tried to intimidate the Duchess of Dingguo.
Now all the noble ladies know that the Duchess of Dingguo will no longer bow to her.
Or rather, the Duchess of Dingguo was telling everyone.
You want me to kneel before you? Do you deserve it?
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