Empress Dowager Wang also got up to go to the banquet hall, and Empress Dowager Zhang went over to help her.
Wang, however, avoided Empress Dowager Zhang and beckoned to Su Wanwan, waiting for her to come and help her.
On the other side, Yanruo helped him up.
Empress Dowager Zhang had no choice but to follow behind Lady Wang, almost grinding her teeth in frustration.
This old woman has been pretending for so many years, but she's finally given up.
Now they'll start kicking me when I'm down!
A hint of sneer flashed in her eyes.
Wang really knows how to play her cards right.
On the one hand, he tried to win over Su Wanwan, and on the other hand, he supported his maternal grand-niece Yanruo to enter the palace and be favored by the emperor.
They wanted the Wang family to benefit.
Hmph, let's see if I agree or not.
Princess Rong deliberately lagged behind.
The Imperial Guards suffered heavy casualties during that artillery barrage at Deshengmen.
The noblewomen from those aristocratic families whose family members were killed in the bombing looked at Princess Rong today like vicious wolves, wishing they could tear her to pieces.
Although she didn't kill the person, everyone knew that this disaster was orchestrated by Prince Rong.
The emperor may have let the Rong Prince's Mansion off the hook, but those people will not let it get away with it.
After the Empress Dowager and Empress Dowager Zhang were seated, Su Wanwan approached Princess Rong.
Princess Rong stood there looking at her, her face full of contempt.
Su Wanwan didn't mind. Instead, she smiled gently, took a step closer, and said in a voice only the two of them could hear:
"What would happen if the Empress Dowager and the Marquis of Anyuan's residence found out that you were the one who poisoned them?"
Princess Rong's face instantly darkened.
Her body jolted as if struck by a sudden blow before she regained her balance.
"Don't make false accusations!"
Su Wanwan did not intend to argue with her.
After saying that, she gracefully gestured for him to enter.
They treated this royal elder with great courtesy.
However, it was obvious to anyone with discerning eyes that Princess Rong had been coerced or warned by the Empress in some way.
The ladies who hated the Rong Prince's Mansion breathed a sigh of relief, and their gazes toward Su Wanwan immediately softened considerably.
The most anxious person was the Grand Princess of Chun'an.
Today, Princess Rong deliberately provoked Su Wanwan's attitude, showing signs of giving up entirely.
Like Princess Rong, her fate was merely to enjoy wealth and luxury on the surface, while being imprisoned for life in private.
Aside from my life, I have nothing left to lose.
Even at this point, Su Wanwan could still coerce her.
It really puzzled her, and made her even more curious.
After the banquet began, toasts were exchanged and songs and dances were performed.
Princess Rong, however, was restless and felt like she was sitting on pins and needles.
His gaze occasionally swept over the Empress Dowager and Lady Anyuan.
The former Lady of Ruian, who was poisoned to death, was the elder sister of Marquis Anyuan and the link between the Marquis Anyuan's mansion and the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager played a crucial role in Marquis Anyuan's reinstatement and appointment as Commander-in-Chief of Guangdong and Guangxi.
Because the Empress Dowager led the Wang family to seek refuge with Emperor Lu Xingjian, Marquis Anyuan was able to return to the court. After more than ten years of inactivity, he was reinstated and appointed as the Commander-in-Chief of Guangdong and Guangxi.
If the Wang family and Marquis Anyuan knew that it was Princess Rong who poisoned the Empress Dowager, how could they possibly let her off?
She lowered her eyes, using the act of drinking to mask the panic in them.
How did Su Wanwan find out about this?
She did it so secretly that even the Eastern Depot's severe torture could not uncover a single clue, and all the clues pointed to Cikang Palace.
Su Wanwan pretended not to notice Princess Rong's unease.
He thought to himself, "Princess Rong is still as impatient as she was back then. She reveals her weakness as soon as she tries to trick me."
She had originally thought that the poison that the Empress Dowager had suffered last year was administered by Empress Dowager Zhang.
But then I realized that it might very well be Prince Rong and his wife.
After the death of the Empress Dowager, there was another three-year mourning period.
Prince Rong could stay in the capital for another three years under the pretext of observing mourning.
If anything were to happen to Lu Xingjian, Prince Rong would have a chance to ascend the throne and become the biggest winner.
However, none of them expected that the Empress Dowager would not be poisoned, but instead, Lady Liu, the former wife of the Marquis of Ruian, would be poisoned.
Su Wanwan's mood suddenly became very heavy.
Which of Lu Xingjian's relatives wasn't eyeing him covetously?
They all wished they could tear a piece of his flesh off and feast on it.
The allure of power is simply too tempting.
Whether it was his blood-related uncle Lu Youting, or his direct lineage elders, Empress Dowager Wang and Empress Dowager Zhang, who had no blood relation whatsoever.
Who among them didn't have the intention of using Lu Xingjian?
Even she herself, didn't she only get to sit on the enviable throne of empress because of his feelings for her?
Will he and I one day become strangers, facing a life-or-death struggle?
Looking at the bustling crowd, Su Wanwan's heart clenched, and she felt like she couldn't breathe.
She was the star of the banquet, and many people toasted her. After several rounds, she was slightly tipsy.
Madam Xing brought a wine glass to the table to toast Su Wanwan, her brows furrowed with worry, as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.
Su Wanwan then said, "If Madam is not in a hurry, please stay a while to admire the flowers and say a few words before you leave."
Madam Xing then smiled and said, "This humble woman awaits Your Majesty the Empress."
Su Wanwan then asked Heying to invite her stepmother, Madam Yang, and Madam Yu to stay and enjoy the flowers after the banquet.
Of course, there are also Madam Wen and Miss Wen, who are going to meet Gu Ziyu today.
The flower viewing party was held in the palace's rear garden.
After the banquet, Su Wanwan, to show her filial piety, escorted the Empress Dowager back to Renshou Palace before heading to the palace's rear garden.
Right now, the sun is shining brightly, the sky is blue and the clouds are white, and a cool breeze of early spring is blowing gently.
The palace gardens are filled with all kinds of camellias, as well as peonies being forced to bloom in greenhouses.
Flowers in full bloom, a riot of colors.
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