Qu Li was secretly annoyed.
He knew very well that she didn't like him getting close to her, yet he still approached her shamelessly.
He dipped the tea in the water and wrote the word "white" on the table. Sure enough, Xiao Xian's face darkened.
There was no longer any scent of Xiao Xian in his nose, and Qu Li breathed a sigh of relief.
After Xiao Rui finished reciting, thunderous applause broke out from the audience.
Since the birthday banquet began, Qu Qing's eyes have never left these princes.
Fang and Yang had just had a pleasant conversation, but she could see clearly that Yang had no interest in this marriage.
She felt very uncomfortable thinking that Fang wanted to marry her to a businessman in order to get a betrothal gift.
Since Fang is unreliable, she can only rely on herself.
Soon there will surely be talented men and women coming forward to perform their talents. As long as she can seize the opportunity and rely on her intelligence and talent, she may not fail.
The eldest prince is nearly thirty years old and is the queen's son, but he is mediocre and has not achieved anything!
The second prince looks good. His mother, Concubine Xian, is the General Zhenbei, and his mother's family is very powerful.
The fourth prince is a dashing and charming man, a well-known talent in the capital.
Such a husband must know how to care for and pamper his wife.
However, the fourth prince’s maternal family is somewhat weak, and he may not have a chance of winning the battle for the throne in the future.
While my thoughts were in a mess, I saw Qu Li and Xiao Xian walk forward together and present birthday gifts.
The Empress Dowager loved Xiao Xian the most.
His mother, Concubine Rong, was only the daughter of a county magistrate. It was said that the elders in her family had been kind to the Empress Dowager.
When the Queen Mother summoned her alone, Emperor Kang took a liking to her at first sight and she enjoyed the emperor's exclusive favor for several months.
Unexpectedly, Concubine Rong had a difficult delivery when she gave birth to Xiao Xian. After he was born, the Empress Dowager took him to the Cining Palace to take care of him personally. He was not sent to the Empress until he was five years old, and then she continued to teach him.
When she saw Xiao Xian, the Empress Dowager's eyes and brows instantly became very gentle, revealing a sense of kindness.
The queen still had a perfect smile on her face, but as perceptive as Qu Li was, he still caught the flash of disgust in the queen's eyes.
She was not interested in the secrets of the royal family, but she and Xiao Xian were still one after all. If the queen really wanted to make trouble, she would have to face it together with Xiao Xian.
"Axian, didn't you get enough rest last night?" The Queen Mother asked gently.
"My grandson was reading a military book in the study last night!"
The Empress Dowager's gaze shifted to Qu Li's face. After a brief moment of astonishment, she nodded imperceptibly.
The reason why Xiao Xian and Qu Li were married was just to protect Xiao Xian's reputation.
After the marriage was granted, she regretted it because Qu Li was such a unreasonable person.
Her maternal grandparents were clearly a family of noble scholars, so how could they have produced such a reckless and nymphomaniac?
The Queen frowned: "Ah Xian, your eldest brother's son can already recite the Three Character Classic, you should also work hard!"
Qu Li's impression of the Queen became even worse.
"I will always remember your teachings, mother!" Xiao Xian's expression was indifferent, and no emotion could be seen. "It's just that Li'er and I are still young, so it's okay if we're a little late!"
The Empress Dowager frowned slightly, and the Queen's heart skipped a beat. She covered her lips with her hands and smiled to hide the jealousy in her eyes.
"This is the birthday gift that Sun'er Chen and Li'er prepared for the Empress Dowager."
"Why are there so many?" The Queen Mother couldn't help but be surprised.
Xiao Rui and the eldest prince both looked secretly annoyed.
If they had known earlier, they would have prepared more birthday gifts!
"They are just some little things, not worth mentioning! I hope the Empress Dowager likes them!"
The nanny beside the Empress Dowager helped her open a box, and inside was a box of brightly colored pearl flowers.
Finally, a smile from the heart appeared in the queen's eyes.
She thought that what Xiao Xian said just now was just a casual remark, but unexpectedly, it was really not worth mentioning!
The Empress Dowager picked up the pearl flower and looked at it over and over again.
"Ah Xian, why did you give me such a pearl flower that is suitable for a young lady in her twenties?"
Xiao Rui smiled and joked, "Grandmother, maybe my seventh brother bought it as a gift for Concubine Bai, or maybe it got mixed up in the birthday gifts by accident!"
As soon as he finished speaking, he successfully received two sharp glares.
Qu Li turned the fingers under her sleeves, and two silver needles suddenly appeared between her fingers.
Just as she was about to throw the silver needle away, Xiao Xian grabbed her wrist.
She glared at him: Let go!
Xiao Xian's pupils narrowed, and his eyes warned: Don't mess around.
This is the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet, and the entire imperial garden is heavily guarded. If she throws two silver needles at Xiao Rui like this, she might be mistaken for an assassin!
The two men seemed motionless, but in fact they exchanged glances for hundreds of rounds.
"Grandmother, this pearl flower is indeed for you! It's simply because Li'er said that every woman is forever eighteen!"
The Empress Dowager's gaze shifted to Qu Li's face again.
She said that the Li family had been noble for generations, and Li Ran was a rare talented woman in the capital at that time. It was impossible for her to raise Qu Li to such a level.
Qu Li raised his eyes and met the empress dowager's clear and sharp eyes with neither arrogance nor servility.
The Queen Mother frowned.
Is this really the unbearable Qu Li from before?
"If I stay eighteen forever, won't I become an old witch?" The empress dowager said with a smile, and put the pearl flower back into the brocade box with great satisfaction.
"The Empress Dowager is in good health, so how come she is called an old witch?" Xiao Xian's face darkened slightly.
"Great! This birthday gift is truly the most special one I've ever received!"
"Li'er said that the Empress Dowager has been living in this harem. She wants you to see the new and interesting gadgets here and experience some of the life here!"
Qu Li lowered his head and glared at Xiao Xian fiercely again.
Xiao Xian curled the corners of his mouth, looking disapproving.
"What a worldly feel!" The Queen Mother was in a good mood.
She had lived in the harem for decades and had seen countless good things. Gifts did not have to be expensive; what was important was the thought behind them.
"As for the rest, I'll take a closer look at it after returning to the Cining Palace!"
Qu Li and Xiao Xian retreated, and then Xiao Qi stepped forward to present a gift.
As in previous years, he sang a song and the atmosphere at the banquet was very good.
Qu Li has always been vindictive. Although Xiao Rui seemed to be helping them out just now, he actually wanted to humiliate her. Naturally, she would not let this matter go.
Xiao Xian opened his palms towards her.
She looked at him in confusion.
"I'll do it!"
Qu Li hesitated for a moment and took out a drunken pill from the space.
As the name suggests, drunken pills can make the person who takes them experience symptoms of drunkenness.
Once a person gets drunk, he will definitely act crazy!
Xiao Rui always said some harsh words in a sarcastic way before, and just now he directly brought up Bai Fengyao. This time he also became a topic of discussion!
Xiao Xian played with the round pill, raised his eyebrows to look at her, and flicked the non-drunk pill into Xiao Rui's wine glass with his finger...
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