Inside Lingxi Palace, Gu Qingyao, with her round body, took a few steps back. "Mother Consort Rong, is this really alright?"
Looking at Gu Qingyao's face, which was so chubby that her features were barely visible, Consort Rong was pleased and began to coax her, "The Marquis of Dingyuan is not young anymore. Do you think there are any eligible noble ladies in the capital? It's only because your aunt is so eager to help the Marquis of Dingyuan manage his household affairs that I would not have agreed to this marriage."
“But Miss Bai said last time…” Gu Qingyao was still a little hesitant. Last time, Gu Qingfeng asked her if she really thought Liu Yuelian was worthy of the position of Lady of Dingyuan Marquis. She thought about it and realized that they were not a good match.
"Yao'er, your mother has hardly ever asked you for anything." Consort Rong began to shed a few tears as if to pretend. "Once your aunt marries into the Marquis of Dingyuan's mansion, the Liu family and the Jiang family will be integrated, and you will no longer have to choose between the Empress and me."
These words made Gu Qingyao somewhat interested, and finally, under Consort Rong's expectant gaze, Gu Qingyao nodded.
Inside Zhaoning Palace, Jiang Yu's right eyelid twitched uncontrollably.
Tomorrow is the Lunar New Year's Eve banquet, and my right eyelid has been twitching nonstop today. Could something bad be going to happen?
Jiang Yu silently went through tomorrow's schedule in her mind. Ironically, this was the first time in so many years that she had attended a New Year's Eve banquet.
In previous years, Gu Heng would use her poor health as an excuse to let her spend the New Year alone in Zhaoning Palace.
[Think about what's happened recently... The biggest thing is that my brother is returning to the capital. Wait, my brother is returning to the capital...]
Jiang Yu suddenly shuddered. In her previous life, her brother was also tricked into marrying Liu Yuelian at the New Year's Eve palace banquet. Could it be that the trajectory of many things had changed after her rebirth, and some things had begun to happen ahead of time?
Thinking of how she was all alone on New Year's Eve in her previous life, when the palace servants hurriedly reported that the Marquis of Dingyuan had defiled Liu Yuelian while drunk, she felt all her blood rush to her head. How could her proud brother do such a thing?
"Wanji, send people to keep an eye on Lingxi Palace, as well as Gu Qingling, Gu Qingfeng, and Gu Qingyao. Also, send some more people to keep an eye on the Liu family." A cold glint flashed in Jiang Yu's eyes. "Especially tomorrow, we must keep a close watch on them."
If this really happens, Rongfei will definitely be an accomplice among these three ungrateful wretches.
"Third Prince, it's almost time for dinner. Where are you headed?"
"Tell my mother that my uncle needs to see me, and I need to go to the Marquis of Dingyuan's residence."
......
In the Dragon and Phoenix Palace, Gu Qingyao has been unable to sleep since she accepted Consort Rong's request.
She simply put on her cloak and went out of the house, just in time to see a somewhat forlorn figure in the courtyard. "Second Brother." Ever since Gu Qingfeng was kidnapped, Gu Qingyao had been somewhat afraid to be alone with him.
"Not asleep yet." Gu Qingfeng raised an eyebrow.
"Second brother isn't asleep yet either."
Gu Qingfeng gestured for Gu Qingyao to sit down. "Recently, I've been thinking about some strange things. Yao'er, why can we suddenly hear the Empress Dowager's thoughts? I've tried to hear them, but neither Father nor Consort Rong can hear them."
"Perhaps it's because we are Mother's children that we can hear them," Gu Qingyao said, somewhat puzzled.
"Can Gu Qingyan hear me?"
After asking the question, Gu Qingfeng lowered his head and laughed, "Look at me, I'm starting to lose my mind."
"Second brother, if there were a chance that would allow us to have both the Empress Dowager and Consort Rong at the same time, would you seize it?"
Gu Qingyao looked up at the moon in the sky. It seemed that her mother disliked her more and more.
"Consort Rong is not worthy to be compared with the Empress Dowager." After saying this, Gu Qingfeng got up and walked towards the house. Halfway there, Gu Qingfeng stopped. "Gu Qingyao, don't be a fool and be used as a pawn."
"She is Consort Rong's mother, how could she possibly harm me?"
Gu Qingyao murmured softly, as if trying to confirm something.
On New Year's Eve, officials of the fourth rank and above would bring their relatives to the palace for the banquet.
It was the first time anyone had sat on the phoenix throne, and everyone was quite curious. Jiang Yu, dressed in a bright yellow empress's robe, stung Consort Rong's eyes.
The male and female guests sat on opposite sides, each with a palace servant holding a wine pot standing behind them. Jiang Yu's gaze swept over Jiang He's seat, where the person Jiang Yu had sent was standing behind him.
Jiang Yu calmly sipped her wine, having already prepared a grand gift for the Liu family, waiting only for them to make a move.
After a few rounds of drinks, Gu Qingyao got up with some difficulty and staggered over to Jiang He.
“Uncle, I didn’t think things through when I went to the Marquis’s residence last time. I’ll offer you tea instead of wine as an apology.”
Almost the instant Gu Qingyao stood up, Jiang Yu's breath caught in her throat for a moment. It was Gu Qingyao!
As the powder was inadvertently stirred up, Jiang He's smile widened. At this moment, Jiang He was absolutely certain that the so-called legitimate princess in front of him was also an imposter.
In the hundreds of years of his Jiang family, there has never been such an idiot.
“The princess has become much more polite, which shows that her aunt, Prince Yu, has done a good job in teaching her.” Jiang Yu stared intently at Gu Qingyao. “Someone, please give the princess a seat next to me.”
Gu Qingyao looked at Consort Rong in a panic, but Consort Rong lowered her head to avoid her gaze. Gu Qingyao then timidly walked towards Jiang Yu, "Mother..."
"You will sit next to me tonight, Granny Ling. Keep a close eye on the princess tonight."
Jiang Yu's heart was bleeding. She was given a second chance at life and was able to witness firsthand how her daughter conspired with others to drug her brother and invite a wolf into the house.
What wrong did she do to give birth to such a terrible child?
A quarter of an hour later, Jiang He pretended to be drunk and left the table. Soon, Liu Yuelian's seat was also empty.
"Miss, I'm a little scared." On the dark palace path, the maid behind Liu Yuelian's voice trembled.
"What's there to be afraid of? My sister has worked so hard to create this opportunity for me. After tonight, I will be the Lady of Dingyuan Marquis." Liu Yuelian's eyes were full of ambition. She was determined to win over this man who made all the noble ladies in the capital swoon.
Once outside, looking at the reflection of her figure in the window, Liu Yuelian was deeply moved.
However, the moment Liu Yuelian pushed the door open, she was knocked unconscious from the back of the head, and then Wanji expressionlessly forced a bowl of soup down her throat.
The maid ran back in a panic, but was blocked by an old woman who had been lying in the shadows. "Her Majesty has decreed that since we have guests, we should treat them well."
......
When Jiang He leisurely returned to the table, Consort Rong and Gu Qingyao couldn't help but widen their eyes. Just as they realized something was wrong, the palace servants that Consort Rong had arranged in advance rushed into the hall in a panic, shouting, "Something terrible has happened! A thief has broken into the inner palace!"
"Who dares to be so insolent! Guards, search me thoroughly!"
A fierce glint flashed across Jiang Yu's lips. They've gone too far; how could she not fight back?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com