The stringed music sounded again, and the courtesans and dancers performed one after another.
The palace maid brought the steaming exquisite dishes to the table.
The emperor raised his wine cup and said: "Today's palace banquet is for reunion and joy. We bid farewell to the old year and greet the new year. Everyone, please don't be restrained."
Everyone in the hall stood up, raised their cups and toasted the emperor: "May the emperor be blessed with great fortune and the empress dowager be healthy and happy."
The emperor nodded and drank the glass of wine in his hand. Then he picked up the specially made jade bowl and silver spoon, filled it with some fish soup, and slowly fed it to Su Qiqi.
Everyone then sat down again.
Many people couldn't help but cast curious glances at Su Qiqi, wanting to find out what was so magical about Princess Chaoyang that she was so favored by the emperor.
Su Qiqi leaned obediently in the emperor's arms, eating the fish soup that the emperor fed her with contentment.
The fish soup was delicious. She ate it with gusto, shaking her head.
That little action made the emperor even more fond of it.
"I had saved up two fine mink furs before, and now I have used them up and have finally made some clothes out of them."
Lu Qingyuan winked at Baozi behind her.
So, Baozi and another palace maid hurriedly carried the tray into the hall.
On the tray were two neatly folded white mink cloaks, one large and one small.
Lu Qingyuan smiled and said, "The big one is for mother, and the small one is for Qiqi. Wear new clothes for the New Year, and everything will go smoothly next year."
"Wow~"
Su Qiqi, who was eating fish soup, stared at the cloak on the tray with shining eyes.
[This is genuine fur, it's obviously high-quality! ]
【Woo woo woo, I love it so much! 】
"Qingyuan has always been filial. I like this sable fur cloak very much." The Queen Mother smiled with her eyes curved.
She gave a wink, and Wanshuang hurried forward to take the sable cloak and handed it to the palace maid next to her to put away.
Su Qiqi was very happy and waved her hands: "Aunt! Aunt spends money, Aunt lives a long life, Aunt has a thousand thoughts~"
The little guy's pronunciation was a little unclear, but he made everyone laugh.
Lu Qingyuan was surprised and delighted: "Qiqi is saying auspicious things to me!"
Shen Mingyue smiled and said, "Look, this little girl's mouth is as sweet as honey. No wonder you love her so much!"
"Isn't it? Our Qiqi is the smartest, most obedient and adorable one. Who can not like her?"
The emperor's words were quite arrogant.
Lu Hongxuan praised: "Qiqi can speak so many words at such a young age. I am really ashamed of myself."
"You can't think like that. You and Qiqi are both smart and sensible children. It's just that Qiqi is young, so as her brother, you have to help and take care of her."
The Queen Mother was afraid that Lu Hongxuan would be ignored and that he would be unhappy.
She quickly raised her hand, lovingly touched Lu Hongxuan's head, and earnestly instructed: "Hongxuan, I hope that you and Qiqi can be as harmonious and loving as Qingyuan and the emperor."
Lu Hongxuan nodded obediently: "Grandson will definitely work hand in hand with Qiqi and support each other. I will never let anyone bully her."
"Oh, this way I feel relieved."
The Queen Mother was very pleased, but the Eighth Prince's face in the hall changed.
The Empress Dowager had always disliked Consort Ming. As the saying goes, "if you dislike someone, you will dislike his dog too," the Third Prince was also disliked by the Empress Dowager.
But now the Queen Mother has placed high hopes on the Third Prince, and even Concubine Ming's adopted daughter, Princess Chaoyang, is also deeply loved by the Queen Mother...
If this continues, it won’t be long before the third prince will be legitimately appointed as the crown prince!
By then, even if the emperor died, the third prince would inherit the throne. If he wanted to take action again, it would probably be even more difficult.
No, we have to hurry.
Thinking of that, the Eighth Prince lowered his eyes, a hint of ruthlessness flashing across his eyes.
"Why do I feel like Qiqi has grown taller? Royal brother, you've been holding her for so long, isn't it time for me to hold her for a while?"
As Lu Qingyuan spoke, she stood up and walked towards the emperor.
The Queen Mother said impatiently, "Qingyuan, quickly bring Qiqi over to me. She looks especially adorable in this dress today, like a little lion."
"Our Qiqi is such a hot commodity, everyone is vying to hold her."
The emperor smiled and joked, then put down the jade bowl, picked up the silk handkerchief to wipe Su Qiqi's mouth, and then handed Su Qiqi to Lu Qingyuan to hold.
Lu Qingyuan held Su Qiqi in her arms and walked up to the Queen Mother. "Your little face is getting prettier. You've been a beauty since you were little."
Su Qiqi raised her hand and scratched her head with a silly smile: [Were you ancient people so polite and courteous? You're praising me like an ambassador, I'm almost embarrassed by what you're saying.]
The Queen Mother teased, "Oh, you're laughing so hard that your teeth are showing. What happy thing are you thinking about?"
Su Qiqi's eyes turned, and she bowed to the Queen Mother with both hands: "Congratulations, flowers, wealth! Strong, life, a hundred... sleep!"
“Okay, okay!”
The Queen Mother said three good words in a row, smiling broadly: "Enjoying this family happiness, I really have no regrets in this life!"
These words come from the heart.
Once upon a time, she was afraid of the Su family.
She was afraid that Shen Mingyue would become the empress and tempt the emperor to interfere in state affairs. She was also afraid that Lu Hongxuan would become the crown prince and impatiently force his way to the abdication and seize the throne...
So she threatened the emperor, targeted Shen Mingyue, and alienated Lu Hongxuan...
She even put a knife to her neck and threatened her life.
Force the emperor to select concubines, force the emperor to favor concubines...
The grace of giving birth is greater than heaven, and the emperor is a man who values filial piety. Therefore, even though he is extremely reluctant, he dare not disobey her arrangements.
It was also because of her intervention that the harem had Consort Jing and Consort Xian, as well as the eldest princess, the eldest prince, and the fourth prince...
She originally thought that once the emperor had enough children, she would be able to enjoy family happiness.
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