At the banquet, the music girls played the guqin, and the sound of the guqin echoed in the valley for a long time. A group of palace ladies, with pearls and jade on their heads, held tea cups and tea clocks in their hands, and walked gracefully with their skirts lifted.
Suddenly, a message from a young eunuch came from the air, saying that the emperor was coming.
A dozen palace maids were holding gilt incense burners burning imperial incense, and another held canopies and five-bladed fans. They marched in a mighty procession, accompanying the emperor as he walked.
The queen raised her lips and smiled as she stepped forward to greet the guests: "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you. Your Majesty..."
Looking up and seeing Concubine Yu standing beside the Emperor, the Queen's face suddenly darkened and became cold as ice.
The queen raised her eyes and pinched her palm with her nails. She said indifferently, "All the officials are here today. How can Concubine Yu be so ignorant of etiquette that she rides in the same carriage with His Majesty? Someone, send Concubine Yu back to the palace and reflect on herself."
The emperor interrupted with a chuckle, holding the delicate beauty in his arms. The fragrance became stronger at his nose, and he suddenly felt relaxed and happy, as if he was in a fairyland, floating in the air.
The emperor has recently been very fond of the incense in Yu Guiren's palace. He even likes to light the incense and embrace Yu Guiren to do those romantic things.
He waved his sleeves and said, "Tonight is the evening banquet. You don't have to be restrained. Your Excellency Yu will ride in the same carriage with me. I have agreed to it."
The queen lowered her neck and gritted her teeth: "...Yes."
She watched the emperor hugging Concubine Yu and sitting down, and the two of them drank a glass of fruit wine together.
The Queen's eyes were bloodshot and she wished she had Concubine Yu dragged out in public.
The maid stepped forward and reminded quietly: "My lady, a little impatience can lead to great chaos."
The Queen took a deep breath and said, "I cannot swallow this. Do you want me to watch that slave girl..."
"Your Highness." The maid leaned over and whispered in her ear, "All the court officials are here tonight. Someone will definitely mention this to Your Majesty. Your Highness, just wait and see. There is no need to upset Your Majesty at this critical moment and lose His Majesty's favor."
The queen pursed her lips: "You are right."
The Queen still felt furious when she caught a glimpse of the weak and boneless Concubine Yu leaning on the Emperor's shoulder. She had asked someone to teach the slave girl surnamed Yu these tricks, hoping that she could win Shen Yan's favor and let Song Lingzhi see her skills.
I didn't expect that I would be the one who suffered the loss.
Concubine Yu is a traitor, and Song Lingzhi is not a good person either.
The queen glared at him and glanced down. In front of the lacquered wooden table, Shen Yan was holding a hammer and feeding chestnuts to Song Lingzhi.
The chestnut shells were piled so full that no matter how much Song Lingzhi liked them, he couldn't eat any more.
Shen Yan stared at him sideways: "Not eating anymore?"
Song Lingzhi nodded: "Your Highness, I..."
Before he finished speaking, the dancers at the banquet slowly withdrew. The Queen's laughter came from the upper seat. Her scarlet peony patterned brocade dress dragged on the ground. The Queen covered her lips and laughed softly: "Your Majesty, you have never met Miss Song, right? I have met her before. No wonder Yan'er likes her so much. I think she likes her very much too."
The emperor rarely raised his head from Concubine Yu. He smiled and said, "Really?"
The Queen laughed softly, "Yes, it happens that there is a banquet tonight, and all the officials are here. I heard that Miss Song is very good at music, and I wonder if Miss Song can play a song to liven up the mood for Your Majesty?"
The emperor clapped his hands and laughed: "Good! Good!"