On this day, early in the morning, Chu Yaoyao was pulled out of bed by her mother.
She half opened her eyes in a daze and let Xia Ge help her change her clothes.
"Today is the first time that the Princess of Xiyue Kingdom is paying respects to the Queen. We have to go there early and we must not lose our manners."
Seeing her dazed look, Concubine Shu gently put a warm handkerchief on her little face.
The hot and humid water vapor hit Chu Yaoyao in the face, and she felt that the pores on her face were opened instantly, and she woke up.
"Chunshi, go to the storehouse and take out the pair of white jade bracelets. I want to give them to Princess Mingyue as a gift."
After hearing this, Chunshi did not move. She muttered softly with a look of reluctance on her face.
"Isn't she just a princess from a defeated country? The emperor didn't even give her a concubine position, so why should you worry about her? The jade bracelets are your dowry."
“That’s enough!”
"It's fine if you say this in front of me, but don't say a word about it outside!"
With a slightly sharp look, she swept over the several palace maids in the room one by one, and said sternly:
"No matter what, she is a princess of a country. Even in this Daqi harem, she is still the master. You can't say anything about her. If someone with ulterior motives spreads it, even I can't protect you!"
Chunshi and several palace maids around her turned pale with fright.
"I know I was wrong, please calm down, madam."
After a simple breakfast, the mother and daughter got on the sedan chair and headed for Fengyi Palace.
Fengyi Palace
At this time, many concubines had arrived. When they saw them, they stood up and knelt to salute.
As usual, Concubine Meng sat next to Concubine Liang and waved to Yaoyao hastily when she saw her.
"Come quickly, little princess, the snacks in the Queen's Palace are delicious!"
Chu Yaoyao looked up at her mother, and after getting permission, she ran over with a grin on her face.
When the concubines around saw this, some were envious, some were jealous, and many were disdainful.
Some people who were impatient couldn't help but vent their anger on Princess Mingyue who had not shown up for a long time.
"She is just a tribute from the defeated country, but she thinks she is such a big shot. She wants to act like a princess in our Daqi? She even made us wait for her!"
When Chu Yaoyao heard Meng Jieyu's low muttering in her ear, she realized that the person who said this in a sarcastic tone was Xu Shuyi.
Chu Yaoyao curled her lips.
Although she was also waiting impatiently.
However, objectification of women is prohibited! A concubine in a light green dress covered her mouth with a handkerchief, giggled, and nodded in agreement, her voice soft and gentle.
"Sister Xu is right. If it were me, I would have come here to wait for you a long time ago."
After hearing the whispered introduction by Tongzui, Chu Yaoyao got to know this person again.
Concubine Zhao has always followed Xu Shuyi's lead.
In the words of Meng Jieyu, commonly known as a lackey.
Several people were approaching slowly outside the hall.
"Yeah?"
A slightly cold voice reached everyone's ears.
Following the sound, I saw a graceful woman in a lavender gauze dress and a flower ornament on her forehead . However, her face was covered with a thin gauze.
Although her face was covered, just by looking at her sparkling peach blossom eyes, one could imagine how beautiful she was beneath the veil.
As she approached, a faint fragrance came over, making people feel relaxed and happy.
Chu Yaoyao glanced above her head, and her curiosity was instantly suppressed.
Another malicious person.
But it's normal. After all, Da Qi conquered two cities in Xiyue, and her family sent her thousands of miles here to marry. She must be feeling uncomfortable.
If it were her, she would definitely hate everyone equally.
Princess Mingyue glanced at Concubine Zhao lightly.
"Who is this?"
The maid beside her stepped forward and whispered, "This is Concubine Zhao."
"Your Excellency?"
Princess Mingyue chuckled, with a hint of disdain in her tone, "Your position is lower than mine, then?"
"In our Xiyue, if a concubine of a lower rank is disrespectful to a concubine of a higher rank, she will be slapped in the face and made to kneel. Is it possible that Daqi does not have such a rule?"
"you!"
Concubine Zhao was speechless for a moment. She realized that everyone around her was looking at her, looking at her with anger and shame.
Princess Mingyue raised her eyes and glanced at her nonchalantly, as if this person was not worthy of her attention at all.
"Someone come!"
"The Queen has arrived——"
Everyone stood up and saluted.
"Greetings to Her Majesty the Queen."
"Why are they making so much noise so early in the morning? What happened?"
Concubine Zhao spoke hastily, looking as if she had suffered a great deal of injustice.
"Your Majesty, Princess Mingyue is late in paying her respects. I was just telling you the truth, but I didn't expect Princess Mingyue to be so aggressive!"
Shangguan Mingyue looked straight at the queen and refused to give in.
"Noble Zhao was disrespectful to this princess, shouldn't she be punished?"
The queen opened her eyes, looked at Concubine Zhao, and asked calmly, "Is this true?"
Concubine Zhao looked a little flustered and kept looking at Xu Shuyi beside her.
"Empress, no matter what, it was Princess Mingyue who made the mistake first."
"shut up!"
The Queen looked at Xu Shuyi with slight displeasure and shouted angrily.
"Yue Zhaoyi doesn't know the rules. You've been in the palace for many years, don't you know them either?!"
Then she seemed to be talking to Xu Zhaoyi, but actually she was looking at Shangguan Mingyue.
"There is no Princess Mingyue here, only Yue Zhaoyi!"
Xu Shuyi quickly lowered her head and responded.
After saying this, the Queen looked at Concubine Zhao.
"In that case, I will punish you to go back and reflect on your mistakes for half a month. If you do it again, it won't be so easy!"
"I will obey the Queen's order."
Before leaving, Concubine Zhao glared at Shangguan Mingyue fiercely.
The interlude came to an end, and the queen looked around at the concubines, finally her eyes resting on Shangguan Mingyue.
"We should have gone to Ci'an Palace to pay respects to the Queen Mother first, but the Queen Mother has been unwell recently, so we have exempted the other palaces from paying respects. Yue Zhaoyi, please don't think too much about it."
Shangguan Mingyue bowed slightly and said, "I dare not."
The queen asked her personal maid to bring the gift to her.
"Since we have entered the palace, we are all sisters in the future. It is important to support each other and serve the emperor well."
Afterwards, each concubine presented a gift.
"Why is Yue Zhaoyi wearing a veil?"
"It is said that Yue Zhaoyi is so beautiful that she can make fish sink to the bottom of the water and geese fall to the ground. Could it be that the rumor is wrong?"
Of course, it was Xu Shuyi who said this.
Shangguan Mingyue chuckled and stroked her veil, "This is the rule of my mother's family. My husband can only take it off on the wedding day."
Chu Yaoyao was concentrating on eating snacks when she suddenly sensed a malicious intent that made her hair stand on end.
"I've heard that Princess Qiyuan is innocent and naive. Now I see that she is indeed not particular about small matters. It shows that the Imperial Concubine Sister has taught her well."
Hearing this, Chu Yaoyao looked over with a bite of dessert in her mouth.
Those big round eyes showed one part displeasure, three parts impatience, seven parts puzzlement, and 100% bewilderment.
[What's going on? Why are you cueing me?]
A hint of hatred and malice flashed across those beautiful peach blossom eyes.
When the concubines present heard her words, they subconsciously lowered their heads, shrank their shoulders, and moved their feet uneasily, wishing they could quickly escape from this place of trouble.
Dare to mess with the little princess? You are really brave! Chu Yaoyao, who saw the emotions in her eyes, suddenly realized.
[So this malice is directed at me and my mother? ]
Malice?
Concubine Shu looked at her warily.
"Yue Zhaoyi, you are too kind. My daughter is naturally the best."
The Queen also looked at Shangguan Mingyue impatiently and spoke lightly.
"The emperor has only one princess, Qiyuan. Yaoyao was born to be favored. Besides, who dares to say anything about my princess, Daqi?"
The concubines present looked at each other.
I didn't expect that besides Concubine Shu, the first person who couldn't help it was the Queen?
Shangguan Mingyue frowned slightly, looking as if to say, 'I'm also thinking about Daqi.'
"But we still have to learn the rules. If we make peace with other countries in the future, I'm afraid..."
"Yue Zhaoyi is worrying too much!"
Meng Jieyu rolled her eyes at her.
"The little princess is the apple of the emperor's eye. She must be kept by his side. How can he bear to send her away to suffer?"
Many concubines raised their hands and covered their lips with their hands and laughed softly.
Sure enough, it finally came! (End of this chapter)