The Queen Mother has returned, and everyone in the harem knows it. After all, she is the Queen Mother. But because she has traveled a long distance, no one dares to disturb her. Today is the first day they meet.
Standing next to the Queen were Concubine Han and Concubine Liu, who had been assisting her in managing the six palaces, as well as Concubine Chen. Behind them were a group of concubines, including Concubine Yuan and Concubine Ya, a huge group.
When they arrived at the main hall of the Queen Mother's Palace, the Queen Mother had already gotten up and was sitting in the main seat waiting. Seeing a group of people coming in, a smile appeared on her face.
She had been living in Xianyou Town for too long, and she missed the hustle and bustle of the palace. The people below came forward to pay their respects to the Queen Mother.
"Greetings to the Queen Mother. Good morning, Her Majesty."
The Queen Mother nodded: "Everyone, get up and sit down."
Fortunately, her palace was big enough for all these concubines to sit in. A year had passed, and some faces were still familiar, but some were so strange.
After sitting down, the queen looked at the queen mother with a smile: "Did you have a good time playing outside this year, mother?"
Before the Queen Mother spoke, Concubine Chen laughed first: "Do you even need to ask? Look at mother, your face is so rosy, how can you not be happy?"
This was obviously a joke to an old man like me. Thanks to playing among the common people for so long, I became much more docile: "You two are used to making fun of me, but the common people are really fun."
These words made many concubines curious. What kind of life did the empress dowager lead among the people
These people would never have imagined that when the empress dowager was in Xianyou Town, she often brought her nanny to chat with the village women, talking about family matters, and her life was very fulfilling every day!
Qian Jiujiu and Mu Yexiao were very busy when they were in Xianyou Town, so they didn't know that the queen mother would go to the foot of the mountain to chat and play with those old ladies.
When everyone saw the Queen Mother like this, they knew that she really thought the common people were fun. In fact, they were also very envious, but with their status, it was basically impossible for them to leave the palace.
The emperor and the empress had a good relationship. Sometimes, some concubines could not even see the emperor once for a month or two, let alone serve him.
As soon as he said this, a eunuch came to report: "Empress Dowager, Princess Bingjian has arrived with the Crown Prince and the Princess."
The Queen Mother nodded and let someone in. Qian Jiujiu came in with a few children and saluted the Queen Mother: "Hello, Queen Mother. Good luck to the Queen Mother."
Nannanbeibei also spoke at this time: "Greetings to the Imperial Grandmother. Greetings to the Imperial Aunt. Greetings to all the Empresses."
"Greetings to the Queen Mother. May your Majesty live a thousand years. May your Majesty live a thousand years. May all the majesties live a thousand years."
The people who called the queen mother were Fang Xiaoxi and Cao Suixin. Today, they were lucky enough to enter the palace to attend the palace banquet.
After paying respects to everyone, the Queen Mother looked at Fang Xiaoxi and the others with a smile: "You just arrived in Kyoto, are you used to it?"
Fang Xiaoxi nodded: "I'm used to it. Thank you for your concern, Empress Dowager. Xiaoxi is doing well."
The Queen Mother smiled and said, "That's all right. When you have time, ask your master to bring you to the palace to pay your respects to me more often. I like you."
In front of so many people, she directly expressed her love for Xiaoxi and Cao Suixin. The concubines were very curious about what these two girls could do to win the favor of Qian Jiujiu and the Queen Mother.
Qian Jiujiu waved at the two of them: "Okay, you two come over here."
She had her place. Nannanbeibei originally stood beside her, but now there were two more children. Four children stood behind her, which was quite eye-catching.
It was Concubine Chen who couldn't help herself first. She looked at Qian Jiujiu and said, "Princess, what abilities do these two girls have that you value them? You actually accepted them as your disciples."
If the people in Kyoto knew that Princess Bingjian had accepted a disciple, it would not be easy for them to calm down.
Who doesn't want to be Princess Bingjian's apprentice? But Princess Bingjian quietly accepted two apprentices.
However, these people did not dare to bring it up openly, and it was unknown how they would treat Qian Jiujiu's two apprentices.
Time passed quickly, and the Emperor had brought Mu Yexiao to pay respects to the Queen Mother, and then went to the banquet together.
Although holding a banquet every year seemed a bit extravagant to the emperor, the annual banquet was also a time to demonstrate the court's generosity, so it was natural for it to be held in a grand manner.
Qian Jiujiu and others had only been back for two or three days, and most people didn't even know that they had returned.
All the civil and military officials had already entered the palace, sitting in their respective seats and talking to people. Then the eunuch's voice was heard: "The Emperor has arrived, the King has arrived, the Queen Mother has arrived, the Queen has arrived..."
After a series of greetings, the eunuch began to breathe slightly. After all, he had to read out all the greetings in one breath, which really required a lot of lung capacity.
When the civil and military officials heard about the King and Princess Bingjian, they all looked over in surprise. It was really strange that the King and Princess Bingjian would come back so punctually to attend the annual banquet.
Everyone stood up and saluted: "Your Highness, long live the emperor. Long live the emperor. Long live the empress dowager. Long live the empress dowager. Long live the empress dowager. Long live the prince. Long live the princess."
The emperor waved his hand and said, "Alright, everyone stand up and sit down."
Mu Yexiao and Qian Jiujiu were seated on the left of the emperor. On the right sat the empress dowager, and as for the queen, she had always sat on the dragon throne with the emperor.
The seats in the front row were for several imperial concubines, while the other concubines all sat in the back.
The emperor looked at the crowd below and was quite satisfied. After everyone was seated, a eunuch shouted, "The New Year's banquet begins."
There were maids constantly coming and going to serve dishes and pour wine, and it was very lively for a while. Fang Xiaoxi and Cao Suixin also had seats.
Their seats were next to the seats of the South, North, and North. The seats of the South, North, and North were also next to the seats of several princes and the children of the royal family.
Mu Yeyin also came back this year and was at the annual banquet. His parents did not come, but they also sat with Nannanbeibei.
Those who can sit in that position are all descendants of royal relatives, but there are also quite a few people sitting there.
The next position was for the ministers' children. After Fang Xiaoxi came in, she subconsciously looked for Ling Shizi.
Instead, she exchanged a glance with Master Ling, who smiled at Fang Xiaoxi with the corners of his mouth slightly raised, but that smile, no matter how you looked at it, made people feel like he was asking for a beating.
Nan Nan had been paying attention to Fang Xiaoxi's behavior, so she naturally noticed Ling Shizi. Then she saw Ling Qiniang on Ling Shizi's side and immediately frowned.
"Xiao Xi..."
Fang Xiaoxi turned and looked at Nan Nan: "What's wrong?"
Nan Nan took a deep breath and looked at Fang Xiaoxi: "I think the people from the Ling family probably came with bad intentions. Look, the people in this hall are all legitimate sons and daughters of each family. Ling Qiniang, a concubine's daughter, is not qualified to attend."
Fang Xiaoxi immediately understood that this was directed at her. She nodded and said, "I understand. It's already like this. Let's take it one step at a time."
Judging from the behavior of Ling Houfu today, this matter should not be so easy to let go. And Madam Ling also came today, and since she sat down, her eyes have never left Fang Xiaoxi.
It quickly attracted the attention of the people around. After seeing Fang Xiaoxi, they were a little surprised: "Madam Ling, isn't that your Ling Qiniang? Why is she sitting there?"
Madam Ling shook her head: "That's not my Qi Niang, my Qi Niang is over there!"
Sure enough, when they looked at the people from the Ling family, they saw Ling Qiniang again, which instantly caused everyone to be surprised: "Why are there two Ling Qiniangs?"
If she didn't know the truth, Mrs. Ling would be really shocked when she saw Fang Xiaoxi today. She would also suspect that it was Ling Qiniang who ran away. After all, at first glance, the two people are really similar.
"That's not my Qi Niang. Her name is Fang Xiaoxi, and she is the apprentice of Princess Bing Jian."
The disciple of Princess Bingjian? The concubines in the harem only found out about it a few days ago. Before the news spread out, the people in Linghou Mansion knew about it.
It must be related to that little girl: "Madam Ling, who is that Miss Fang? How could she be accepted as a disciple by Princess Bingjian? She looks so much like your Qi Niang, there is no way they are not related, right?"
Madam Ling smiled and said, "Of course she is related. She is also my granddaughter."
Huh? The old ladies around were really surprised: "What's going on with you, old woman? How come there is an extra granddaughter?"
Of course, there was also an old lady who knew about this and immediately thought of something: "Have you found your second son?"
Madam Ling nodded: "As expected, it was found. We are just waiting for confirmation. But it should be almost certain."
Once this was said, it had to be true even if it wasn't true. The others looked at each other. Madam Ling's granddaughter was the apprentice of Princess Bingjian, so she was related to the Bingjian Palace.
Since Mu Yexiao became the King of Side by Side, many people have wanted to get involved with the palace, but none of them succeeded. After all, the King of Side by Side is unattainable.
Now someone had succeeded, quietly. All of a sudden, everyone became interested in Fang Xiaoxi and Cao Suixin beside her.
"That little girl next to Miss Fang, isn't she also the disciple of Princess Bingjian?"
Others didn't know about this. But they all started to inquire about it, and Princess Bingjian liked to accept daughters as her disciples, so maybe girls like them would have a chance too.
Many people were eager to go home right now and send their girls to the palace.