Upon hearing this, Qiao Zhen was so frightened that she quickly turned her head to the side, worried that someone might overhear and bring about terrible trouble.
Chen Siyuan was amused by her cautious manner. "Alright, I've already checked. This place is secluded; no one will hear us."
Qiao Zhen smiled, only then realizing that Chen Siyuan, who seemed to have no manners, was actually very thoughtful.
"I have a question for you. You've met Princess Qiya quite a few times. Tell me, has she been acting strangely today?"
Qiao Zhen thought for a moment, "At first, nothing was different, but after my sister-in-law came, things... were different." She felt that Princess Qi Ya seemed afraid of her sister-in-law, but it didn't seem like it.
"It's impossible for me to be afraid. I just feel that she's acting a bit strange today." This feeling was unsettling. Hearing that Qiao Zhen shared the same thought, she felt that perhaps Qiao Yuchen knew why.
"Alright, that's enough. There's still some time before we eat. Let's play here for a bit and then go out when we eat."
Why?
"It's uncomfortable to be watched by so many eyes. Besides, some people are waiting for us to make a mistake so they can find an opportunity to intimidate us. We'll just not show up and see what they can do." Chen Siyuan spoke to Qiao Zhen very casually, without any caution towards others.
Qiao Zhen thought this was bold and agreed with it, and it was precisely because of this that she was able to meet Princess Qi Ya.
It's all just bad luck of mine.
Distracted, she fell into Princess Qiya's hands twice. Fortunately, her sister-in-law intervened both times, preventing her from being too humiliated.
The two women were whispering to each other, and Chen Siyuan would occasionally pull out some pastries from her sleeve as if by magic and give some to Qiao Zhen.
At first, Qiao Zhen was a little embarrassed, but seeing how happily Chen Siyuan was eating, she started eating too.
She's been in a bad mood lately, and because of Li Kun's matter, she fell ill. She didn't eat much at the palace today, and now she's really hungry.
"The pastries from the palace are still the best," Chen Siyuan said as she ate.
The food in the palace was indeed delicious, and she would be even happier if she weren't being schemed against.
"Does your sister-in-law think so too?"
"Hmm, if it weren't for these pastries, I wouldn't have come here."
"My sister-in-law is a first-rank lady; there's no escaping this matter."
"I know," Chen Siyuan said with a helpless sigh, but she didn't slow down her eating speed at all.
"Then sister-in-law, eat more." Qiao Zhen remembered what Chen Siyuan had just said.
Even though she felt that Chen Siyuan said it on purpose, she still kept those words in mind.
I will always remember.
"good."
The two women ate until they were about half full, and then left together just before the banquet was about to begin.
Unbeknownst to them as they left, a woman dressed in palace attire remained behind them.
After Chen Siyuan and Qiao Zhen left, they thought it would be quieter as the banquet was about to begin. However, they were surprised to see a lively scene shortly after they left.
Now they're just watching from the sidelines.
As they watched, they sighed inwardly. In the palace, even the smallest things could be magnified infinitely, and no matter how big the matter, as long as you had the ability, you could suppress it.
Chen Siyuan watched from afar, then turned to look at Qiao Zhen, "Who is that person?" How strange, she had never seen him before.
Qiao Zhen thought that Chen Siyuan had only been in the capital for a short time, so it was normal that she didn't know her.
"The one who spoke was Princess Qi. The one next to her in pink was her daughter, Qi Hong, the eldest daughter of the Qi Prince's Mansion. The one in sky-blue embroidered with peonies was Bi Cailian, the Fifth Concubine. The one kneeling on the ground was Feng Lingfu, the Fifth Prince's favorite concubine. The one crying on the ground was Qi Li, the second daughter of the Qi Prince's Mansion..."
"Isn't this Qi Li born to Princess Qi?" Chen Siyuan asked.
"She was born to Concubine Wei of the Prince Qi's mansion."
"Does the Prince of Qi's mansion have no sons?"
"Yes, he died when he was very young."
Chen Siyuan smiled, but it was a cold laugh.
It's true that it's not easy for people with status to have sons, and it's even harder to raise them.
Chen Siyuan vaguely remembered that the only son of the Prince of Qi was born to his concubine and died when he was a few years old. This was revealed after the new emperor ascended the throne, but unfortunately, the border was under attack at that time, and no one would care about such a trivial matter.
Later, that concubine Wei committed suicide by running herself over at the entrance of Prince Qi's mansion.
Why--
What a pity.
I've already met the princess from another family, and she's too flamboyant. She's changed today. The prince from another family isn't having a peaceful time in his harem either.
The farces at the General's Mansion didn't just happen there; there were unseen forces in every backyard dealing with things that couldn't be brought to the table.
As she looked and looked, she began to make sense of it.
She didn't care because the matter had nothing to do with her.
He glanced at the Fifth Princess and that concubine a few more times.
Thinking of the Fifth Princess Consort he had met, she must not be a simple person. Could it be that she really doesn't care about the Fifth Prince's thoughts and only cares about her own business?
It must be because they were disappointed with some people that they turned their attention elsewhere.
The concubine is clearly no ordinary person, and the fact that she could attend such an occasion, along with the kneeling concubine, shows she's quite capable.
That pitiful look on her face was truly disgusting.
Thinking of the Fifth Princess's words about 'cleanliness,' a smile immediately appeared on his lips.
Seeing that the farce had ended, the two walked together toward the banquet hall.
Upon arrival, they could see Mrs. Qiao looking around from afar. The moment she saw Chen Siyuan, she visibly breathed a sigh of relief.
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