After the maid bowed and greeted the four people, she said, "Princess Jin, Concubine Zhuang wants you to go to her place after you have met the Queen Mother. She has prepared your favorite vegetarian tea and peach soup."
Jiang Changning doesn't like vegetarian tea or peach soup.
Zhuang Qingyan knew that she didn't like to eat, but still prepared these. What was she trying to do
Vegetarian tea and peach soup, vegetarian tea and peach soup, what do they mean
Jiang Changning understood instantly, Su Tao ran away quickly!
This was what Zhuang Qingyan wanted to convey to her. It seemed that the person who invited her to sit with Zhuang Qingyan was not Zhuang Qingyan, but the emperor.
What a shameless man! How can such a person be worthy of being the king of a country
"Please tell Mr. Zhuang that I'll come over if I'm free." Jiang Changning said with a faint smile.
Whether she gets the time or not is up to her.
After the maids left, Qiao spoke up, "Princess Chun'an, if Lady Zhuang summoned you, you should just go. Why do we have to wait until you are free?"
"Sister-in-law, this is my first time attending a New Year's Eve banquet, and I'm not very clear about the rules. I said I'd go when I'm free because I don't know how long it will take to meet the Empress Dowager. What if it's time for the dinner to start, can I skip the dinner and go meet Concubine Zhuang instead?" Jiang Changning asked for advice.
Qiao was choked with emotion.
The concubine glanced at Mrs. Qiao and said, "Brother Yu's daughter-in-law, you have considered it very carefully, so your answer is correct."
"Thank you, mother, for your teaching." Jiang Changning said with a smile.
After drinking a small bowl of soup and eating a few pieces of cakes, I felt better with food in my stomach.
After rinsing his mouth with tea, he went to Fushou Palace under the guidance of the Concubine Dowager.
Gao Yanyun politely invited the four people into the hall to meet the empress dowager.
The Queen Mother gave the Concubine Dowager Jin a seat, beckoned Jiang Changning to come to her side, and held Jiang Changning's hand, "Why are your hands so cold? Is your clothing too thin?"
Without waiting for Jiang Changning to reply, the Queen Mother continued, "Yanyun, go and get that pheasant-head fur coat."
"Thank you, Her Majesty the Queen Mother, for your reward." Jiang Changning was about to stand up to express his gratitude, but the Queen Mother held him back.
The Queen Mother smiled at the Jin Prince's Consort and said, "Now that the Jin Prince is married, you don't have to worry all day long. You can enjoy a peaceful life and wait for your grandchildren."
"Thanks to the Queen Mother's arrangement for his marriage, I have such a good daughter-in-law." The Queen Mother of Prince Jin said this with some sincerity.
The food prepared by Jiang Changning still pleased the concubine.
Although there were many people coming to the audience, the Queen Mother kept the four of them to chat for a quarter of an hour in order to show her affection and respect for Jiang Changning.
The Queen Mother's move aroused envy and jealousy among many people.
Coming out of the palace, Mrs. Qiao said, "There is still half an hour before the dinner. Princess Chun'an can go to Lady Zhuang now."
When Jiang Changning heard that Qiao was urging her to go to Zhuang Qingyan again, her eyes darkened slightly. Did Qiao know something
Is Qiao the emperor's accomplice
If this is the case, Qiao can no longer stay.
Jiang Changning had never paid much attention to Qiao. Even though he said he would take action, he was just trying to scare Qiao and had not actually taken any action.
She tolerated Qiao not because she was magnanimous, but simply because she was lonely in her own boudoir and wanted to have fun watching the cat playing with the mouse.
But now that the Qiao family is so vicious, that won’t work.
Jiang Changning narrowed his eyes, a hint of murderous intent flashed across them, and he said tentatively: "Sister-in-law, since you want to see Zhuang Cairen so much, why don't you come with me."
"No, you are cousins, I won't disturb you from reminiscing about the past." Mrs. Qiao declined.
Jiang Changning became more and more certain that the Qiao family was in collusion with the emperor, and he would never do anything that would put himself in danger.
No matter how strict the precautions are, there is always a certain chance of loopholes.
If you are not careful in this matter, you will be doomed.
Jiang Changning would never take any risks with Zhuang Qingyan. "The prince told me to follow my mother closely, so I have to listen to him. Besides, Zhuang Cairen and I don't have much to talk about."
Jiang Changning insisted on staying with the Jin Wang Concubine Dowager, and Qiao Shi could not force her to leave.
A young eunuch was staring at the group of people from Prince Jin's Mansion. When he saw them getting on the sedan chair and heading to Guangming Hall where the banquet was to be held, he quickly ran towards Zhuang Qingyan's palace.
He sat on the throne with his eyes fixed on the temple door.
Zhuang Qingyan sat with her head down on a chair covered with a navy blue cushion, her hands folded on her thighs, her whole body tense.
When the young eunuch ran in, she raised her head and a hint of fear flashed in her eyes. Is this disaster unavoidable
"But he's here?" The emperor showed joy on his face.
"In reply to the emperor, the women of Prince Jin's Mansion have gone to Guangming Palace." The young eunuch replied.
The emperor's face darkened. "Mr. Zhuang, what did the maid you sent say?"
"In reply to the emperor, I will ask the maid to tell Princess Jin that I have prepared tea and snacks, and invite her to come and reminisce with me."
This sounds fine, but why didn't Jiang Changning come
"Let the palace maid go and invite her again." said the emperor.
"Your Majesty, the dinner is about to begin. Princess Jin probably won't be here." Zhuang Qingyan didn't want to send anyone to invite Jiang Changning at all.
The emperor stared at Zhuang Qingyan with a cold gaze.
Zhuang Qingyan's scalp was tingling and her heart was beating like thunder. She forced herself to remain calm and reminded him, "Your Majesty, it's time for you to change your clothes."
The emperor remained silent and Zhuang Qingyan did not dare to move.
After a long while, the emperor said, "Help me change my clothes."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Zhuang Qingyan breathed a sigh of relief. Did she pass this hurdle today
As for the future, we’ll talk about it later.
Before the hour of Shen, everyone except the Emperor and Empress had arrived at the Guangming Palace.
The Dowager Consort of Prince Jin and the Dowager Consort of Prince De sat together, Jiang Changning sat at the same table with the Prince of Jin and his wife, and Mrs. Qiao brought Princess Kangren with her.
"Ningning, is there any secret about the box of ginseng tea? Why is it still warm after three hours?" King Jin asked in a low voice curiously.
It was the first time in so many years that I ate something after the festival, and it was warm ginseng tea. After drinking the tea and eating a few cakes, my stomach felt better and I felt a lot better.
"I'll tell you when I get back." Jiang Changning said with a smile.
"Okay." Prince Jin smiled, took a tribute orange and began to peel it.
Jiang Changning sat dignifiedly, enjoying the singing and dancing performances in the hall.
From time to time, people came to talk to Prince Jin, and some women came to greet Jiang Changning.
Although Jiang Changning had been married into the palace for more than three months, it happened that there were many banquets during these three months, so she did not go out for many social events and her contact with the female family members was limited.
All the governments were very curious about this orphan girl who married the Prince of Jin despite being the Empress Dowager and the Emperor's savior.
Although Jiang Changning was not familiar with their looks, he knew their names and identities. During the conversation, he was not timid at all, and he was tactful, graceful, and elegant.
Princess De, who was talking to the Princess Dowager of Jin, smiled and praised: "Sister-in-law, your daughter-in-law is indeed from an aristocratic family. She is much better than some people."
The Jin Wang Concubine smiled, "It's okay."
There were not many people in the main hall who were watching the singing and dancing performance seriously, but the maikos were still dancing professionally and the musicians were still playing their instruments professionally.
The Qiao family is courting death, and it is almost over.
(End of this chapter)