She had always admired Shangguan Qin'er, and seeing Nanyang, which was richer in resources and more luxurious than Loulan, only increased her longing for it.
My sister's life in Nanyang is definitely better than in Loulan.
【This place is so wonderful, I want to stay! I want to live in Nanyang!】
"The Loulan delegation has arrived!"
Upon hearing that the foreign friends had arrived, the palace maids and eunuchs who had been waiting nearby came to the group and led them to the seats that had been arranged for them.
Shangguan Wanwan sat on the side of the delegation. She looked around and saw Shangguan Qin'er. She noticed that there were two very pretty children sitting next to her.
Is it possible to have such a beautiful child if you marry someone from Nanyang?
Looking at the two children beside Shangguan Qin'er, Shangguan Wanwan became even more determined to marry a man from Nanyang.
She picked up the wine glass on the table and drank a fruit drink.
...
Inside Anqing Palace, everything was resplendent in gold and jade. Outside, it was already dark, and a round moon hung in the sky, illuminating everything inside the palace.
Red palace walls, yellow-green glazed tiles, a palace with gilded dragon carvings, vermilion gates and pillars, and black nanmu wood plaques—but it was winter, and the trees and flowers were withered and bare, making it somewhat desolate and cold…
Surrounded by palace servants, Yun Duoduo walked towards Anqing Palace. As she looked at the familiar palace walls and gates, everything that had happened flashed through her mind.
When she was born, the Princess of Jin sent people to throw her into a well, and the Prince of Jin's family was expelled from the capital and exiled to the northern frontier.
She was only a few months old when she went to the Buddhist temple to pray for her mother, but almost died in a fire. The arsonist, Consort Ling of Fanghua Palace, also known as Zheng Ling'er, was sentenced to death.
At the New Year's Eve banquet the year she was born, Zhen Taishi falsely accused her of speaking ill of her, and she was suspended from her post and forced to stay home to recuperate.
She was lying in her crib when someone put a sack over her head. It was Liu Mingyue from the Plum Blossom Pavilion who did it. This person had already been eliminated by Granny Xue.
When she turned one year old, Yu Meiren poisoned her with yellow fruit powder, which damaged her spleen and stomach, causing intestinal discomfort. Originally, Yu Meiren was to be given a cup of poisoned wine so that she could end her own life. However, considering that the first birthday banquet should not be too bloody, she was banished to the cold palace.
When she was a little over one year old, a poisonous snake entered Fu Shuang Palace, which was also done by Liu Mingyue.
Later, she brought down Tan Biao, Xie Jun, and other scoundrels.
Her thoughts drifted away; fifteen years had passed just like that. Now she was capable of handling many things, and many new friends had appeared in her life.
Before they knew it, the group had arrived at Anqing Palace.
...
"The Ninth Princess has arrived!"
As Yun Duoduo entered Anqing Hall, the ministers who were already seated hurriedly stood up to pay their respects.
Yun Duoduo smiled and gestured for them not to stand on ceremony, and the ministers then sat down again.
She looked around and realized that Anqing Palace had never seen so many handsome men and beautiful women before.
[They're really treating my coming-of-age ceremony like a matchmaking event!]
She looked at these young men and women, their eyes clear, their expressions innocent, and they were excitedly and curiously glancing at the people around them.
...
One by one, the ministers arrived, and it was almost time to start the banquet.
"Take your seats!"
The eunuchs at the entrance of Anqing Palace shouted in a high-pitched, drawn-out voice.
Upon hearing the eunuch's shout, the ministers who were walking around and talking in the main hall returned to their seats.
"The banquet is about to begin!"
The head eunuch called out again, reminding the ministers who were still talking to quickly return to their seats, as the highest leader of Nanyang was about to come out, and they should be prepared to greet him.
"The Empress Dowager has arrived!"
The head eunuch called out loudly, dragging out the last syllable.
The Empress Dowager wore a yellow-brown dress with a plain-colored long velvet robe over it, which reduced the overall somberness.
The white orchids on the hem of the garment are very elegant. Pearls and red agates are sewn on the cuffs, hem and collar of the outer garment and coat as decorations. The shape of wheat ears is drawn with gold thread at the waist.
Granny Zhang helped the Empress Dowager to sit in the main seat.
"Your Majesty, the Empress has arrived!"
A loud announcement rang out again from the entrance of Anqing Hall.
Upon hearing that Yun Beiye and Empress Zhaoyuan had arrived, the ministers who had just finished their greetings and sat down stood up again.
Yun Beiye walked in under everyone's gaze.
Wearing a yellow dragon robe and a golden court hat, Yun Beiye slowly walked into the main hall, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, and he nodded slightly.
He was followed by Empress Zhaoyuan and several concubines from the harem.
Empress Zhaoyuan wore a crimson peony palace dress, looking very noble. She had fair skin and bright red lips.
However, after the incident at Linhua Palace a while ago, Empress Zhaoyuan had lost a lot of weight, and the clothes she was wearing seemed very loose.
Consort Chen was the mother of the Second Prince, Yun Yizhong. She wore a brightly colored woolen jacket embroidered with clusters of flowers. The collar of the cotton jacket was adorned with tourmaline and moonstone. Peonies were embroidered on the cuffs, hem, and lapel of the outer robe, and there were also bright flowers on the chest.
The flowers are filled with colors from pearls, Hetian jade, Beijing white jade, rubies, garnets, turquoise, coral, sapphires, lapis lazuli, and citrine, and their shapes are outlined with gold.
Consort Chen wore a Burmese red jade lace bracelet on her wrist and gold rose quartz earrings on her ears. She was stunningly beautiful, with no flaws in her nose, eyes, eyebrows, or lips, and even her figure was perfectly proportioned and exquisitely beautiful.
Yun Duoduo looked at Consort Chen's clothes. She originally thought that her own long coat was already flamboyant enough, but she did not expect that Consort Chen's dress was even more extravagant. The patterns on it were full of flying birds and flowers, and there were many jewels used. Moreover, the outermost snow fox-trimmed blue and red dyed gold relic skin crane cloak also gave off a feeling of extravagance.
[Consort Chen really does always try to steal the spotlight, no matter the occasion.]
She has a personality that wants to outshine everyone else.
The seats in the hall were almost all taken, with only a few empty seats remaining.
Yun Duoduo glanced at the table and sighed in disappointment.
Ever since she entered Anqing Palace, she has been searching for that figure.
【Oh, Sumire-nii-san didn't come.】
[Brother Jinzhi, are you doing well in Jiangning?]
Yun Duoduo knew that Jin Jinzhi had been sent to Jiangning by her father, the Emperor, to handle some matters.
Jiangning has been quite turbulent lately; I hope Brother Jinzhi won't get into any trouble.
Xiao Jinyu, who was originally standing guard at the entrance, became extremely alert when he saw Yun Beiye enter Anqing Palace, paying close attention to the actions of everyone present.
"Brother!"
Just as the ministers finished their greetings and sat down again, a voice came from the doorway.
Everyone turned to look at the entrance, where a strikingly handsome man strode in, appearing slightly younger than Yun Beiye.
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