In the early morning, Qingyan drank a glass of freshly squeezed apple juice. On the table was a menu written by Imperial Physician Yuan, some of which were tailored to Qingyan's physical condition. Therefore, Suzhu received the menu.
"My lady, please have some. After each consultation, the menu will be adjusted according to the lady's physical condition!" Su Zhu noticed that Qing Yan's appetite was not as good as when she was first pregnant, and she was very anxious.
"No need, just give me a glass of lemonade." Qingyan had specially arranged for lemons to be planted in a remote part of the mansion, and the reward was only given at the last minute. As soon as he received the news, Yinzhen quickly sent Erlu to the courtyard to pick some.
She leisurely drank a glass of lemonade, then waved her hand, signaling them to take her breakfast away, but it was to no avail.
"Sulan, Master doesn't need to have breakfast, that won't do!" Suzhu whispered to Sulan.
"Well, let's see how it goes. Luckily, we're going to the Hundred Flowers Banquet; they should have plenty of food there!" Su Lan said helplessly. "Go and talk to Shu Rong first, and ask her to prepare some extra snacks!"
Later that evening, Qingyan, accompanied by her twins, rode in a sedan chair to Chengqian Palace. Some of the officials' wives were already there; since they hadn't been able to cultivate good relationships with the royal family's wives, they would all arrive early!
At the entrance of Chengqian Palace, Qingyan was helped down from the sedan chair. Some officials' wives were waiting at the entrance. Upon seeing Qingyan, they quickly bowed. They noticed that Qingyan was wearing an elegant white long robe with arrow-sleeved cuffs embroidered with auspicious cloud patterns in colorful gold thread. Over this, she wore a light blue double-breasted jacket with auspicious cloud patterns embroidered in colorful gold thread on the chest. The hem of the jacket was four-pronged and wrapped with three layers of auspicious cloud patterns. Her waist was very loose. She wore two-inch flowerpot-shaped shoes and, with Sulan's help, walked step by step towards the palace courtyard.
"Fourth Prince's Wife, how are you feeling? A few days ago, I had someone deliver an invitation to the Fourth Prince's residence. Are you going?" Madam Tong asked the Fourth Prince's Wife.
Qingyan merely smiled, which greatly displeased Madam Tong. Why was she ignoring her?
"Fourth Princess Consort, Her Majesty invites you in first." Shu Rong came out of the palace and quickly called the Fourth Princess Consort inside.
Qingyan smiled and asked, "Has Mother had breakfast?"
"Yes, we're waiting for the two young masters." Shu Rong quickly helped Qingyan, and the little prince and princess called out to Shu Rong in their sweet voices.
At this time, the main hall had already begun to be decorated, with four or five plates of snacks on a high table between two chairs.
"Little darling, have some breakfast with your mother!" Consort Tong had heard from Su Lan that Little darling's appetite had been poor, and that he had only had a cup of lemon water this morning, which was not good.
Qingyan looked at the food on the table and noticed that many of the dishes had appeared at the breakfast table. Qingyan understood that this was specially arranged by Consort Tong.
"Mother... Sulan, go and prepare another cup of lemon water!" Qingyan didn't want to waste Consort Tong's efforts. If she didn't have a good appetite, she could use lemon water to suppress it.
Su Lan went to prepare, and Consort Tong ate with Qing Yan. Her appetite was still okay, but she didn't like greasy food.
"Little darling, come over for meals every day from now on." Consort Tong was worried that Little darling would eat alone while Yinzhen was not in the courtyard, which might cause him to lose his appetite. "Eating alone is a bit lonely. I think it would be better if we ate together, mother and son!"
Qingyan nodded obediently, firmly agreeing with Consort Tong's opinion.
"Mother, I want to attend all the banquets these days!" Qingyan said, preparing to participate. "Fourth Brother said that we're not planning to hold any banquets at home!"
"That's fine too. You need to rest. You can just attend the event at Chengqian Palace." Consort Tong advised against Qingyan wandering around aimlessly.
After all, she still needs to rest. If she were to entertain a large number of officials' wives and relatives, it would take a lot of effort to prepare for their arrival and departure.
"Mother, thank you so much!" Qingyan said gratefully.
After having breakfast, Consort Tong and Qingyan walked out of the dining hall together.
The officials' wives and children had already entered the hall, and Lady Yin Genjue Luo had taken her seat.
"Sister-in-law, you've arrived very early!" Qingyan said as she saw Yingenjueluo Shi bringing Songkelierha over. "Tell the three children to go play in the study."
The officials' wives, seeing the twins, all wanted to get closer and talk to them, but with ten maids from Chengqian Palace, including Shu Rong, surrounding them, they couldn't get a word in edgewise.
They could only watch the three children leave with regret, missing their best opportunity.
"How are you? How's your appetite?!" Yin Genjue Luo glanced at Qing Yan. When she was pregnant with twins last time, Qing Yan's appetite wasn't very good.
At that time, the wives of officials and censors caused a lot of trouble; they even went to the Fourth Prince's residence to cause trouble.
"Not very good, but better than last time. I don't feel as hungry as before!" Qingyan said softly.
The officials' wives dared not say a word, and just waited for others to speak first. Madam Tong glanced at Qingyan, thinking that her family also had illegitimate daughters participating in the selection, but they could not enter the Fourth Prince's mansion.
Consort Tong's expression was stern, and Madam Tong dared not act rashly.
"Princess Consort of Prince Zhi, how have you been feeling lately?" Lady Tong turned her attention to Lady Yin Genjue Luo.
The officials' wives were all taken aback, as the Tong family was clearly closer to Yinzhen. Yet they had chosen a less desirable option.
“They’re not bad, Madam Tong. We’ve already selected a few concubines, so you don’t need to recommend any more!” Lady Yin Genjue Luo directly rejected them.
Madam Tong's face stiffened, clearly showing that she looked down on the Tongjia clan.
"Madam Tong, what you're saying is wrong. All the young ladies selected for the imperial concubines are the same. How come it's become a selection of princes in your family?" The Prime Minister's wife was annoyed.
Hesheli prepared two young women for the imperial concubine selection, hoping to arrange another marriage within the palace; otherwise, their family might decline into obscurity.
"Lady Hesheli is talking without understanding the situation. You have the Crown Prince as your backing, but our families don't!" Madam Tong said with a cold laugh.
Madam Su snorted and turned to talk to someone else.
"What Madam Tong says is absolutely right, and you are still not satisfied!" Several ministers from the Tong family faction echoed.
Consort Tong sat upright on the throne, a smile on her face. She did not rebuke Madam Tong's words at all. Madam Suo's words were somewhat inappropriate, as if all the princes of the royal family had to choose from the women of the Hesheli clan.
There was no word from the Crown Prince's side either. It was said that Prime Minister Suo's health was not good. This year's imperial concubine selection was handled by Prime Minister Suo's wife, and the quality of the ladies selected was not comparable to that of previous years.
"Madam Suo is being a bit too far ahead. The imperial concubine selection will only officially begin next Spring Festival. Are you already choosing your next partner?" Yin Genjue Luo sneered.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
