Chapter 175 The First Prince

The Queen Mother has been claiming to be ill, so it is not convenient to hold a large banquet. Today is just a palace banquet, and other royal relatives are not invited.

Since there were no outsiders around, the concubines didn't have to be reserved. Ever since the emperor came in, their eyes were almost all focused on Hawking Chi.

Naturally, he also noticed the confrontation between Defei and Yunqin.

But in their opinion, what Defei did was more like trying to show goodwill to Yunqin.

First it was the Empress, then it was Consort De, so did they just accept this palace maid?

Even if they were unhappy, they had to swallow their anger. Who made Xi agree to the emperor's favor now?

Taking the glass filled with wine from Xu An, Huo Jinchi lowered his eyes and saw Yun Qin stroking the bracelet with her fingers.

"Don't like it?" he asked in a low voice.

Yun Qin glanced at him sideways, pressed her cuffs with her slender white fingers, with some anger in her eyes and her cheeks slightly red.

He then remembered that he had not controlled his strength well last night and left some fingerprints on her wrist.

In public, beneath her sleeves, she was hiding a secret that only the two of them knew.

This made Hawking's heart feel slightly hot, and even the breath he exhaled from his nose began to heat up.

He pinched the wine glass tightly with his fingertips and took a sip of the cold wine, then looked at Yun Qin and said, "Let someone keep it for you."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Yun Qin lowered her eyes and said thank you, then handed the bracelet to Rong Xin who was standing behind her.

No one could hear the conversation between the two, but everyone in the hall could see Yun Qin's actions clearly.

Besides refreshing the emperor's perception of Yun Qinzongrong, he couldn't help but look at Concubine De's expression.

After all, the bracelet that she had just given away was handed over to a palace maid. Anyone would be angry.

Unfortunately, Concubine De just couldn't hold it in. Not only was she not angry, she was also smiling and chatting with the people around her.

Even the most slow-witted people have realized that this Defei, who has always kept a low profile, seems to be very complicated.

When the palace was silent for a moment, the Queen Mother finally arrived.

Today is the Queen Mother's birthday. She looks much better than when she just returned to the palace. She holds the Queen's hand and walks in from outside the palace, surrounded by people.

The empress dowager laughed at what Nanny Sun said, but when she saw Yun Qin standing next to the emperor, the smile on her face faded instantly.

"Greetings to the Queen Mother, may the Queen Mother live a thousand years and live a thousand years."

Huo Jinchi walked down, held the Queen Mother's other hand, and helped her to the main seat.

After the Queen Mother sat down, she regained some smile on her face, "Hurry up and sit down."

But when Yun Qin was about to sit down with everyone else, she was stopped.

"Xi, do you agree?" She looked at Yunqin with a smile, "This is the first time I see you today."

Yun Qin stood up straight again, bowed, and said softly, "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you. It is because I have been ill that I have not been able to come and pay my respects to you. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."

"How dare I blame you when you say that?" The Queen Mother said with a smile.

Yun Qin pursed her lips and wanted to look up at Huo Jinchi.

But before she could even move her head, Huo Jinchi spoke first.

"Mother, it was I who spared her from going to Ninghe Palace to thank her. If you are angry, then be angry with me."

Even without raising her eyes, Yun Qin could feel the empress dowager's gaze on her, which was as cold as ice.

But that’s all.

If the Emperor said this again when she raised her eyes with a pitiful look, the Empress Dowager would probably want to skin her alive.

There's still a lack of tacit understanding.

Yun Qin could only lower her eyes and continue to pretend to be aggrieved, and whispered: "It is I who cannot speak, please calm down, Queen Mother."

The two of them sang the same tune, and the Queen Mother's face became even colder.

"Your Highness, today is your good day. Why get upset over such a small matter?"

The Queen quickly placed her hand on the Queen Mother's arm and spoke to smooth things over.

The Queen Mother then turned around and patted her hands, whispering, "You are still filial and obedient."

She couldn't help but give the emperor face, so she waved her hand and said, "Why don't you sit down properly?"

"Thank you, Queen Mother."

After the emperor took his seat, Yun Qin also sat back on the stool.

She kept her eyes down the whole time, so naturally she didn't see that Huo Jinchi was looking at her with a deep look in his eyes.

When everyone was present, the birthday banquet officially began.

The sound of bamboo and string woke up the eldest prince, who was sleeping on his wet nurse's shoulder.

After he woke up, he did not cry. He just rubbed his eyes sleepily and then looked around curiously. Although his eyes were a little timid, he was not scared by so many people.

This was a bit surprising for a child who rarely attended such occasions.

Seeing that he had woken up, Concubine De reached out and took him, pulling him to pay his respects to the Emperor and the Empress Dowager.

Although he was still very young, he imitated adults in a serious manner and wished the empress dowager a happy birthday.

This caused everyone in the hall to burst into laughter.

Yun Qin, who had been watching the mother and son coldly, couldn't help but laugh.

Human cubs and the like are still very cute.

Hawking Chi, whose mind was originally on her, did not miss the fact that her eyes softened in an instant, and he felt mixed emotions.

He couldn't help but reach out and hold Yun Qin's hand on her knees.

Yun Qin was startled, then subconsciously raised her eyes and smiled at him.

Pretending to pour him a glass of wine, she pulled her hand out of his palm.

Although her mission today was to "seek death" in front of the Queen Mother, there had to be a limit. Everyone was looking at the eldest prince, but the Emperor was arguing with her below.

If the Empress Dowager saw this, she would probably label her as a "seductive concubine" who seduced the Emperor.

There is a huge difference between a favored concubine and a demon concubine.

Huo Jinchi looked at her "guilty" look with a sneer in his eyes. She was so brave just now, but now she was scared again.

The Queen Mother did not look over here, but looked at the eldest prince with eyes full of love.

"I really didn't expect it. It seems like I haven't seen you for just a few days, but you've grown so big all of a sudden."

She said to Concubine De, "I think the eldest prince has a good foundation. You should take him out more often. He is getting bored if he stays in the palace all the time."

"Your Majesty is right," De Fei said softly, "Thanks to Your Majesty, this child is indeed much healthier than before."

"You, as my mother, have taken good care of me." The Queen Mother smiled happily, "Come here, let me hug you!"

But the eldest prince held onto Concubine De's hand and was unwilling to let go. When he saw the Queen Mother reaching out her hand, he even hid away to Concubine De's side.

"This child." Concubine De was a little embarrassed.

Huo Jinchi spoke up at this time, "Mother, the eldest prince doesn't come out often, so he is a little shy."

The Queen Mother's smile faded a little, and she said to Concubine De, "Forget it, forget it. It will be fine when you see her more often in the future."

It was because of what Huo Jinchi had said just now that the eldest prince looked at him with his dark eyes, took two steps forward, and said crisply: "Father, Father, hold me..."

Hawking Chi did not refuse, but reached out and held him on his lap.

"Your Majesty, how can I trouble you? You should just give her to me." Defei said with some fear.

"No problem."