Jiang Chengyan led the way, and Yuan Yao followed closely behind with her short legs.
The women's seats were separated from the men's seats by an exquisite peony embroidered screen.
The banquet was filled with the fragrance of fine clothes and the vibrant colors of flowers. Ladies and young ladies chatted and laughed, creating a lively and harmonious atmosphere.
From afar, Yuan Yao was captivated by the beauty, the gorgeous clothes, and the jeweled hairpins.
Seeing her looking around curiously, Jiang Chengyan bent down and picked her up.
Yuan Yao: "?"
Jiang Chengyan said with a stern face, "Your legs are too short, and you walk too slowly."
Was I rejected again?
Yuan Yao pursed her lips: "You're not much taller than me!"
Jiang Chengyan sneered: "Hmph! Two of you, stacked together, would only be as tall as this prince!"
Yuan Yao almost burst out laughing: "Second Prince, aren't there other princes and princesses in the palace? Why are you comparing yourself to me?"
Jiang Chengyan said with a straight face, "This prince is willing."
Along the way, many ladies and young women were eyeing the two of them.
Upon hearing this, Yuan Yao heard someone whisper, "Is that Princess Yuan Yao that the Second Prince is holding? I saw her from afar at the National Academy before, and she seemed so small!"
Someone else replied, "I heard she's still breastfeeding!"
Someone asked in a low voice, "Oh? Really? Isn't she already over three years old?"
"Yes! I heard that she was almost poisoned to death by her wet nurse, so she stopped breastfeeding. The Ninth Prince raised cows for her, and now she drinks cow's milk instead."
Wow! The Ninth Prince spoils her so much!
Yuan Yao: "..."
Honestly, there's nothing wrong with gossiping!
They just have to gossip about whether she's weaned or not!
Doesn't she have any pride?
Before they knew it, they had arrived at the Empress's seat.
Today, the Empress is dressed in a bright red palace gown, her hair ornaments swaying gently, her makeup gentle yet exuding the grandeur and majesty of an empress.
However, she probably hasn't been getting enough rest lately; up close, her eye bags are quite heavy, and her skin looks a bit rough...
Beside the Empress, Consort Lin, dressed in a sapphire blue palace gown, with light makeup and a simple hairpin, still looked as dashing as ever, even the way she held her teacup was quite unrestrained.
The other concubines, some plump and some slender, sat below Consort Lin, looking towards Yuan Yao.
As for the other women, they had never seen Yuan Yao before and were extremely curious about her...
Under countless gazes, Yuan Yao had Jiang Chengyan put her down, obediently walked to the Empress, bowed, and said in a childish voice, "Yao'er greets Your Majesty the Empress."
The Empress smiled gently and said, "Good girl, get up."
Yuan Yao bowed to Consort Lin again: "Yao'er greets Your Highness, Consort Lin."
"No need for formalities," Consort Lin said with a faint smile.
Yuan Yao then bowed to the other concubines in turn, but before she could finish, she was pulled up.
The daughter of a high-ranking official, a concubine of low rank, who would dare to make things difficult for her and force her to keep bowing?
However, not wanting to give anyone cause for criticism, Yuan Yao simply curtsied to the concubines.
Afterwards, she had a cold sweat on her forehead.
Seeing this, Jiang Chengyan muttered, "If I had known, I wouldn't have brought her along..."
The Empress glanced at him indifferently and beckoned to Yuan Yao: "Yao'er, come here to me."
Yuan Yao immediately put on a sweet smile and said, "Your Majesty the Empress."
Seeing how well-behaved and adorable she was, the Empress couldn't help but pull her into her arms, wipe the sweat from her forehead, and then said to the crowd below, "Princess Yuan Yao, I'm sure many of you ladies have met her before."
The refreshments for today's banquet were prepared by her and her team after she made the order!
As soon as the Empress finished speaking, a lady smiled and said, "Although the princess is young, she is so lovely and hardworking. It is truly admirable!"
The other ladies chimed in, "Yes! Your Majesty really knows how to raise children!"
"Yes! In the future, who knows whose son will be blessed."
Yuan Yao: "..."
What the heck?
How old is she?
Over three years old!
When she was just over three years old, people were already joking that she was already married!
That's outrageous!
Whose son is so lucky?
It can't be your house!
Yuan Yao glanced at the lady; she had a mole on the corner of her lip, triangular eyes, high cheekbones, and a naturally smiling face.
She didn't know whose wife she was, but she remembered her face.
In the future, if she encounters this lady's son, she will definitely take a detour!
The Empress glanced at the lady and said with a smile, "That day, the Prince of Xuanping's men entered the National Academy, intending to massacre the students. The freshmen class was unharmed, and Princess Yuan Yao deserves some credit for that."
As soon as she finished speaking, a murmur rippled through the room.
Everyone present had heard about what happened at the National Academy that day.
Furthermore, almost all the female relatives who attended had children attending the National Academy, and some of them were even in the same school as Yuan Yao.
I heard that the children at the school were crying that day, but fortunately Yuan Yao reminded them to stop in time, thus preventing them from being led astray by the assassins...
Yuan Yao deserves credit for the children's survival.
At such a young age, he is so intelligent and has such courage; he is truly not to be underestimated.
Unfortunately, she was the daughter of a nine-thousand-year-old...
If she had been born into a different family, she would likely have become a popular candidate for daughter-in-law among the prominent families of the capital when she grew up...
For a time, everyone had their own thoughts.
Some expressed their gratitude, while others offered praise...
Yuan Yao gave a few perfunctory replies. At this moment, the Empress beckoned and had someone bring over a wooden box. She said gently, "Yao'er, that day, you disregarded your own life and death and let the guards go to save the Crown Prince and the princes and princesses first. I have always been very grateful to you."
This jade ruyi is for you; may it protect you and bring you peace and joy.
Jade Ruyi?
Yuan Yao's eyes were bright and lively as she looked over curiously.
The palace servant carrying the box bowed and opened it.
Sure enough, inside the wooden box, on the brocade, lay a jade ruyi that was longer than her arm!
The jade is translucent and warm to the touch, and is carved with lifelike lotus leaves and lotus flowers...
Yuan Yao opened her mouth, considering whether or not to accept.
At this moment, Jiang Chengyan said, "You were given this by the Empress Dowager, why don't you quickly accept her gratitude?"
Can I accept it?
"Oh, oh..." Yuan Yao quickly knelt down, performed a deep bow, and said in a childish voice, "Thank you for the reward, Your Majesty the Empress!"
The Empress gently instructed the palace servants, "Keep this safe for the Princess and send it to Qianhua Palace after the banquet."
After Yuan Yao accepted the reward, she had just stood up when Consort Lin, who was sitting below the Empress, said, "The Princess is young, yet she is willing to sacrifice herself for the sake of the Great Qi. This is truly admirable."
Yuan Yao knelt down in a different direction: "Thank you for your praise, Your Highness."
The imperial concubine picked up a box from her side and handed it over herself, saying indifferently, "I don't like jewelry, and I don't have anything particularly valuable."
These jade bracelets are one of a kind in the world. I originally planned to keep one as a betrothal gift for my future daughter-in-law and the other as part of Huaiyao's dowry...
Since you saved my children, this jade bracelet is a token of my gratitude; good things come in pairs.
Consort Lin's words were like a pebble thrown into a calm lake.
Immediately, the room erupted in chaos.
Even Yuan Yao was stunned.
What did Consort Lin mean by giving this jade bracelet and saying those words?
Isn't her future daughter-in-law the Crown Princess?
The fact that the jade bracelet intended for the Crown Princess was given to Yuan Yao suggests an intention to reserve Yuan Yao as the future Crown Princess?
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