Chapter 263 They were jealous of her beauty
Empress Mei arrived late only after Concubine Zhang took her seat.
Seeing that the banquet was about to begin, Wen Xingluo stood up and respectfully offered the cherry yogurt. "I heard that cherries are very rare this season. The Empress Dowager has shown her love and care, and specially gifted me with this cherry yogurt. However, I dare not enjoy it all by myself. The Imperial Concubine has worked hard in organizing the Spring Banquet. I would like to offer this bowl of cherry yogurt to the Imperial Concubine for your enjoyment."
Opposite, the two Xie Guanlan brothers were sitting in the men's seats.
Xie Shian looked at Wen Xingluo and said with a silly smile, "Don't mention it, Ningning has become even sweeter since arriving in the capital! Look at what she said, how beautiful it is!"
Xie Yanchen just smiled and said nothing.
When Xie Guanlan looked at Wen Xingluo, there was a hint of heartache in his eyes.
He knew that Wen Ningning was smart and whenever she wanted to coax someone, she would definitely make them feel comfortable.
However, it is very difficult to coax people by wearing a hypocritical mask.
Wen Ningning shouldn't have to work so hard.
Taking the seat, Concubine Zhang smiled slightly.
She said softly, "You are a good child."
She opened the small white porcelain cup.
The cherry buttermilk pastry is bright red and exudes a sweet aroma.
Concubine Zhang looked proudly at Empress Mei who was sitting behind the table next to her. The smile on her fair and smooth face became even more intense. "Cherries are a rare commodity. Sister, this bowl of cherry yogurt has come around, and now it's a bargain for me."
Empress Mei smiled and said, "As long as you like it."
Concubine Zhang picked up the ivory chopsticks gracefully and was about to taste the food when she suddenly put them down.
Wen Xingluo just said that this bowl of cherry yogurt was given to her by the bitch Mei Chuyi.
What if she secretly poisoned the cheese and gave it to Wen Yueyin to eat?
As long as Wen Yueyin was poisoned to death on the spot, she could frame the crime on Mei Chuyi.
No matter how much Wei Si disliked Wen Yueyin, she was still the flesh and blood of her daughter. She would definitely fight with Mei Chuyi for her daughter until both of them suffered losses.
Then, she will be able to reap the benefits.
Concubine Zhang couldn't help but curl her lips.
She calmly took off a pearl embedded in the button of her lapel.
This pearl is made of red crocodile, and she carries it with her just in case.
She crushed the pearls and, taking advantage of the moment she closed the small white porcelain cup, sprinkled the red jelly on the yogurt.
She glanced at Wen Yueyin.
Wen Yueyin was sitting next to Wen Xingluo, and was currently flirting and winking at Xie Xuchi, who was sitting in the male seat opposite.
Concubine Zhang rolled her eyes.
This little bitch is as hateful as her mother. How dare she set her sights on her son!
She forced a kind smile and said, "I suddenly remembered that I haven't been feeling well lately and shouldn't be eating cold food. I really like Miss Wen's youthful and lively demeanor. I'll give this bowl of cherry yogurt to her."
The palace maid brought the cherry yogurt to Wen Yueyin's table.
Wen Yueyin rolled her eyes, stood up and thanked him perfunctorily.
In fact, she looked down on Concubine Zhang.
She was just a lowly maid who became a concubine by selling out her master for fame and fortune, and climbed to the position of imperial concubine by relying on her belly. I don't know why he was so arrogant in front of her, and he even came up with the idea of rewarding her.
Does she care about her reward?
Seeing her perfunctory and sloppy gesture in her greeting, Concubine Zhang couldn't help but roll her eyes again.
"No manners."
She cursed under her breath.
Xie Xiang sneered, "I wonder who Miss Wen learned these etiquettes from! After all, she grew up in the countryside, without a nanny to discipline her!"
Their identities as mother and daughter were clear. Wen Yueyin was scolded, but she didn't dare to say anything despite feeling resentful.
She sat back down and opened the small white porcelain cup.
This bowl of cherry yogurt has melted into a mess and it makes me lose my appetite just by looking at it.
Her eyes were red with grievance.
She knew that none of the women in the harem were good. Seeing that her biological father was just a county magistrate and jealous of her beauty, she gave her something bad to get rid of!
Wen Yueyin caught a glimpse of the domineering Xie Xiang from the corner of his eye, and suddenly an idea came to him.
Taking advantage of the table as an obstacle, she quietly took out the red crested dregs from her sleeve and sprinkled it on the cherry yogurt.
Doesn’t Xie Xiang look down on her?
She wanted to see if he would still dare to look down on her when she died!
Anyway, this bowl of cherry yogurt has passed through the hands of so many people, even if they investigate, they can’t trace it back to her!
As long as Xie Xiang was poisoned to death, Empress Mei and Wen Xingluo would become suspects.
At that time, if Wen Xingluo was convicted, it would be extremely beneficial to her; if Queen Mei was convicted, then her mother would be able to replace her as queen, which would also be extremely beneficial to her.
She couldn't help but curl her lips into a smile.
She covered the small white porcelain cup, rose delicately, and said in a strangled voice, "Cherries are precious, and I dare not enjoy them all by myself. Your Highness has just pointed out my shortcomings in etiquette. As a token of gratitude, I would like to present this bowl of cherry yogurt to Your Highness."
In full view of everyone, the bowl of cherry yogurt came into Xie Xiang's hands.
Concubine Zhang frowned and glared at Wen Yueyin with disgust.
She was just trying to find a way to stop Xie Xiang from eating the cheese when a young eunuch suddenly came crawling into the hall.
The young eunuch knelt on the ground and said excitedly, "Your Majesty the Empress and Your Majesty the Imperial Concubine, the Emperor has returned to the palace! The dragon palanquin has arrived at the palace gate, and your son will be coming to Chengqing Palace soon!"
Empress Mei frowned, "Why did His Majesty suddenly return to the capital?"
"I don't know!"
Concubine Zhang stood up and said, "Sister, why are you asking so many questions? Why don't you go out and welcome the emperor?"
A large number of distinguished guests followed them out of Chengqing Hall.
Wen Xingluo glanced at Xie Guanlan on the male side.
I heard from my cousin that the emperor is afraid of Xie Guanlan.
Could it be that he canceled his trip to Jiangnan because he heard that he was coming to Beijing to report on his work?
Xie Guanlan glanced at her with a sense of something, and just as their eyes met, Xie Shian next to her suddenly squeezed in front of Xie Guanlan.
He waved cheerfully at Wen Xingluo, "Brother, Ningning is looking at me!"
Xie Guanlan: “…”
Xie Zhe and Wei Si entered Chengqing Palace together.
When Wen Xingluo was paying his respects, he saw that he was holding his mother's hand the whole time, as if the two of them had a very good relationship.
She looked at her mother quietly, but saw that her mother always had a faint smile on her face, and her slightly raised phoenix eyes always looked at Xie Zhe tenderly, without any disgust in her eyes.
After reseating himself, Xie Xiang was the first to say with a lively smile, "This bowl of cherry yogurt is my favorite, but your Majesty has been traveling so long, and I feel sorry for you. I'd like to offer this cherry yogurt to you!"
She has always been well-behaved and lovely in front of Xie Zhe.
A hint of gentleness appeared on Xie Zhe's deep and majestic face, "Xiang'er is very well behaved."
He picked up the golden spoon and was about to scoop a spoonful of cherry yogurt when Empress Mei and Concubine Zhang suddenly said "Wait a minute" at the same time.
Xie Zhe said solemnly, "What?"
Concubine Zhang felt extremely guilty, with layers of cold sweat breaking out on her forehead.
She loves the emperor and doesn't want him to die.
But she couldn't tell His Majesty directly that there was red beetroot in the yogurt...
Queen Mei clenched her hands.
She and the emperor and empress were in love on the surface, but in reality they had not slept together for many years.
Although they were not deeply in love, Xie Zhe was useful to her. The world was not at peace, and the prince was young and could not intimidate the princes. She needed Xie Zhe to help the prince get rid of the traitors.
Xie Zhe cannot die yet.
She gave a dignified smile. "This bowl of cherry yogurt is mostly melted and unpalatable. I'll have someone take it away and bring a new one."
Xie Zhe stirred the cheese.
He had been marching and fighting for many years and was not very particular about food.
Besides, cherries are rare at this time of year, so why waste them?
So he pushed the bowl of yogurt in front of Wei Si and said, "Si Si, try it."
Wen Xingluo's heart trembled.
The moment Wei Si grabbed the golden spoon, she and Wen Yueyin shouted almost at the same time, "No!"
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