Chapter 29 It's a pity you can't take this peony.
Three days after the army returned to the city, a victory banquet was held in the palace.
The victorious generals were riding high for a time.
Qin Ye was seated directly in the head seat.
However, Prime Minister Cui, the head of the civil officials, was absent.
The officials discussed it amongst themselves, but they didn't hear any news.
Elders from various prominent families also participated with their direct descendants.
Pei Qing and Pei Jinnian were among them.
Just after everyone had taken their seats, the eunuch's voice rang out from the doorway, "Princess Jinzhi has arrived!"
After Qin Jinzhi returned to the capital, not many officials saw her.
When that stunningly beautiful face appeared, many people gasped.
Qin Jinzhi's infamy was widespread, but her face was undeniably beautiful!
It had already taken shape three years ago, and three years later, its beauty has not changed at all.
She's even too beautiful to be arrogant!
When the princesses saw Qin Jinzhi appear, their eyes were filled with envy, jealousy, and hatred!
It wasn't because of Qin Jinzhi's beauty, nor because of the expensive brocade she wore.
It was because of the headdress Qin Jinzhi was wearing.
The entire skeleton is made of pure gold, and the lifelike peonies on the crown are made red by a kingfisher feather craftsman. The most important part of the crown is surrounded by 108 mermaid tears.
Legend has it that mermaids' tears are red, and once they shed tears, their lives will come to an end.
The tear that falls will turn into a red pearl, and placing the red pearl on the beach will attract mermaids.
This flamboyant and dazzling crown also has a resounding name!
She was the most beautiful woman in the world!
But when paired with Qin Jinzhi's face, the name seems quite fitting.
flamboyant, radiant, and stunningly beautiful!
The Ninth Princess was so angry that she tore the silk handkerchief in her hand to shreds!
She had asked her father for this crown for a long time, but he never gave it to her. Unexpectedly, he gave it to Qin Jinzhi.
Upon seeing the Ninth Princess's distorted face, Qin Jinzhi immediately revealed a provocative smile.
Ignoring the Ninth Princess's reaction, he strode over to Qin Ye's side.
Qin Ye said to his subordinates with a proud look, "Isn't my granddaughter beautiful? She looks exactly like me when I was young."
Upon hearing this, the emperor immediately said with disdain, "Stop patting yourself on the back. If Jinzhi looked exactly like you, I would throw this crown away rather than give it to her."
The two seemed to be having a casual conversation, but everyone in the hall was watching their every move.
Upon hearing that the crown was a gift from the emperor, they immediately knew that the emperor was giving the Qin family face.
Seated to the emperor's right was Consort Shen. Although she was under house arrest, the Shen family would be attending such a grand banquet, and Consort Shen would naturally be present as well.
Consort Shen smiled slightly after hearing this, "His Majesty truly dotes on Princess Jinzhi to the extreme. Even the princesses do not have such an honor. Princess Jinzhi, you should quickly express your gratitude."
Consort Shen's words instantly made Qin Jinzhi the enemy of all the princesses.
To everyone's surprise, Qin Jinzhi simply tilted her head and looked at Consort Shen. "That shouldn't be the case. My hair ornament is called 'The Most Beautiful Woman in the World.' It's not just the princess who doesn't want it; which woman wouldn't want it? Why doesn't the Consort like it?"
Consort Shen did not expect that Qin Jinzhi would not only go along with her words, but also involve the female members of the palace banquet.
A gloating expression immediately appeared on her face. "This crown is dazzling, and I am naturally delighted to see it."
Looking at Consort Shen's expression with some regret, Qin Jinzhi said, "What a pity, what a pity."
Consort Shen was taken aback, but still asked with a smile, "What is Princess Jinzhi regretting?"
Qin Jinzhi pointed to the peony on her head and said, "It's a pity that the peony on this headdress is too perfect; the Imperial Concubine cannot wear it."
The intelligent people present immediately changed their expressions upon hearing this.
Everyone says that Qin Jinzhi is lawless and unruly, and she truly lives up to her reputation. On such an important occasion, she dared to publicly imply that the imperial concubine was a concubine!
The peony is the king of flowers, and only the principal wife can be paired with it.
Especially within the imperial palace, the hierarchy is extremely strict.
No matter how noble Consort Shen's status was or how much favored she was, the Emperor's only wife was the Empress!
If we really count, Consort Shen is indeed one of His Majesty's concubines.
But no one dares to say such things in public; wouldn't they be out of their minds?
Consort Shen's face was so gloomy it looked like it could drip water.
How dare Qin Jinzhi speak to her like that!
"Outrageous! Qin Jinzhi, what nonsense are you spouting! Why can't my mother be taken care of!"
"Shut up! How can a princess make such a loud noise? It's unbecoming."
Consort Shen gave a soft reprimand. She had just instructed Xiao Yuanyi not to speak carelessly, precisely because she was afraid that little bastard Qin Jinzhi would set another trap.
Many people below didn't understand what Qin Jinzhi was talking about until Xiao Yuanyi shouted, and then everyone understood.
Many people also had expressions of schadenfreude in their eyes.
Qin Jinzhi was infamous, but the Ninth Princess's reputation wasn't much better.
Taking advantage of his mother's favor, he often bullied others.
The daughters of officials who were usually bullied by her secretly mocked her. If what Qin Jinzhi said was true, then this self-proclaimed noble Ninth Princess was nothing more than the daughter of a concubine!
They are all legitimate daughters of their families, so if you look at it this way, they are actually inferior to them.
Qin Jinzhi said in a very irritating way, "You don't know because you're stupid. I know, but I'm not telling you!"
Xiao Yuanyi's face flushed red with anger. "You! Father! Look at Qin Jinzhi, she dared to speak disrespectfully to Mother Consort in public! You should punish her severely!"
Many people started to laugh at the situation.
If you think the Ninth Princess isn't smart, she'll show you what stupidity looks like.
This victory celebration banquet was for the Zhenbei Army.
His Majesty's favor towards Qin Jinzhi is an honor for the Qin family.
It was only a small reward for Qin Jinzhi that could appease the Prince of Zhenbei, who had spent his life fighting on the battlefield.
The Ninth Princess even wanted the Emperor to punish Qin Jinzhi.
Sure enough, His Majesty's expression was not good.
At that moment, a majestic voice rang out, "Who dares to punish my Golden Branch!"
Upon hearing this, everyone stood up and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress."
Upon seeing the Empress, Qin Jinzhi rose and quickly walked to her side to help her up.
The Empress sat down to the Emperor's left, and Consort Shen immediately smiled slightly, "Sister is here. Just now, Yuanyi was just joking with Princess Jinzhi. Why should you be angry?"
Qin Jinzhi clicked her tongue, and Consort Shen was taken aback. Then she heard Qin Jinzhi's voice, "Grandfather, look, my grandmother is wearing this peony, and this phoenix crown is really beautiful."
The emperor chuckled and said, "Alright, I know you personally made this phoenix crown for your grandmother, yet you're still trying to get people to praise you. Aren't you ashamed?"
He then looked at Consort Shen and said, “This mischievous monkey has always been unruly. As her elder, you shouldn’t take it to heart. If you like that headdress, I will find one for you another day.”
Consort Shen suppressed her anger and said with a forced smile, "Your Majesty, I thank you."
Now it seems like she, a noble concubine, is being petty and jealous of someone else who received a beautiful headdress!
Qin Jinzhi shrugged and returned to her seat without even glancing at Consort Shen.
Looking at the Empress's attire today, the Emperor sighed and said, "The Empress's attire today reminds me of those days."
Qin Ye echoed, "I still vividly remember the Empress's heroic and valiant demeanor back then."
The Empress chuckled lightly, "Alright, stop with the sweet talk. Today is a victory celebration for all the soldiers, so please don't be shy and let's begin the feast."
Eunuch Hong, who was standing to the side, said, "Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince and his family have not yet arrived."
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