Qionghua Palace.
The Empress, supporting the Empress Dowager, led the ladies of the harem and the ladies of state to arrive first, followed by the Emperor and his ministers.
After everyone was seated, Ning Chen raised his glass and said, "Today is the Chongyang Palace Banquet. I celebrate with you all. May our Nanqi country be prosperous and the people live in peace!"
"May Nanqi have a peaceful and prosperous country!"
Everyone responded by raising their glasses and singing together.
Ning Chen drank the glass of wine, then smiled and waved his hand, "No need to be polite, today is a banquet, don't be restrained, just eat and drink to your heart's content!"
The Queen Mother also smiled and agreed, "It's rare for us to get together, please don't worry about the red tape. I haven't had a lively time for a long time."
"I feel relieved if today's banquet can make mother happy. I would like to offer a toast to mother." The Queen responded at the right time.
"Huan'er is thoughtful." Outside, the Queen Mother still gave face to the Queen.
Although she liked her niece more, the queen was indeed not wrong and had always been filial.
Ning Chen also praised, "The Queen has worked hard in organizing the palace banquet. I would like to offer a toast to the Queen."
"Thank you, Your Majesty. This is all my responsibility." The Queen immediately raised her glass in response.
The three of them interacted with each other and acted out the perfect drama of family harmony, which earned them a lot of praise from the ministers below.
All in all, the atmosphere is quite harmonious.
After three rounds of drinks, the scene became lively.
The Queen Mother whispered a few words to Nanny Fu beside her, and the latter found a little maid and went away.
Soon, Mincai stood up with a glass of wine in hand.
"Your Majesty, I offer you a toast. The Double Ninth Festival is a time for people to climb high places. I wish Your Majesty great fortune and great achievements!"
"You are so thoughtful, so I will lend you my good wishes!" Ning Chen drank a glass out of respect.
Min Cairen smiled and bowed, and continued, "Today, I have prepared some talents to present to the emperor. I wonder if the emperor would be willing to show me the favor."
Ning Chen's eyes dimmed.
Before he could speak, the Queen Mother said, "Mincai is always smart. It's rare that she took the trouble to prepare. I want to take a look, too."
"Since my mother also wants to take a look, let me take a look too." Ning Chen nodded with a smile.
He looks like a filial son.
Min Cairen breathed a sigh of relief and clapped her hands behind her. Then two eunuchs brought out a long table, and several palace maids followed up with pens, ink, paper and inkstone, and set the table.
At that time, the sound of the erhu sounded, accompanied by the sound of hand drums and bells, which suddenly made people feel as if they were on the battlefield.
A woman in a dark blue palace dress, like the fresh green of spring, slowly entered the room to the sound of the piano, stood still, picked up the pen, and dipped it in ink.
The music suddenly accelerated, as if thousands of troops were rushing out, the cavalry were majestic, and Min Cairen's pen also moved with the music, flowing smoothly and completing the work in one go.
Accompanied by a Northern Frontier Military Tune, the pen tip jumped up and down on the paper, sometimes slow, sometimes fast. When the song ended, the pen stopped, and everyone had not yet recovered from the shock.
The Queen Mother was the first to applaud, followed by cheers from the entire room.
Mincai's face flushed slightly, perhaps because she was recognized, her whole body exuded an irresistible radiance, and she looked much more charming than usual.
"I present this painting to His Majesty, and wish His Majesty a long and prosperous life!"
Two eunuchs came over and held up the painting, which was a landscape painting of steep cliffs and green pines.
The skills are superb and the brushwork is profound, which can be said to be unparalleled.
"Good!" Ning Chen smiled and praised, "Mincairen's kindness, I like it very much. Today, I can't think of a reward for you, so I will promote you to Wanrong!"
Min Cai was stunned for a moment, then she bowed with excitement, "I thank the emperor for his grace!"
Everyone below sighed. Although Chen entered the palace with the rank of Baolin, she was promoted twice to Wanrong in just three months. To be able to receive such favor, she was worthy of being the emperor's cousin.
The emperor's move gave the Chen family enough face, and the Duke of England and his wife were smiling from ear to ear at this moment.
Ye Jun watched from the side and just felt sympathy for Ning Chen.
It was obvious that Ning Chen didn't like Chen, but the Queen Mother honored her so much today, and Chen's talent was applauded by everyone. It would be unreasonable not to reward her with something valuable.
The reward is too expensive and it is beyond the rules. Only promotion is the most appropriate.
It can be said that Ning Chen was set up by the Queen Mother in front of everyone. If he could not satisfy the Chen family, it would be a bad ending. He was completely forced.
Thinking this in my mind, my eyes looked over involuntarily.
Ning Chen felt someone was looking at him, and he turned his head sharply, and happened to meet Ye Jun's eyes. He could see the emotions in Ye Jun's eyes clearly.
"Cough, cough, cough!" Ye Jun never thought he would bump into someone, so he quickly lowered his head, picked up the cup and took a sip, but he forgot that it was fruit wine, and he choked because he drank too quickly.
Nan Zhi was startled and quickly squatted down to pat his back, which immediately attracted a lot of attention.
"What's wrong with Concubine Ye?" the Queen asked with concern.
Ye Jun stood up quickly and said, "Your Majesty, I choked on the wine. I was disrespectful in front of the emperor. Please punish me."
No one was choked yet, and she apologized graciously.
The queen wanted to appear magnanimous and virtuous and treat the daughter of a meritorious official well, so naturally she would not punish her.
"I see. I'm glad you're not feeling unwell. Come sit down. I heard that you like crabs. I'll have a steamed chrysanthemum crab dish later. It tastes really good."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Ye Jun bowed and was about to sit down.
At this moment, Ning Chen suddenly spoke.
"Lady Ye has always been the most attentive to me. Come and sit with me. Come, please take a seat."
Everyone was surprised. They had never heard of Ye being so favored.
Even Ye Jun himself was quite surprised.
However, as someone who was determined to become a favored concubine, she had quite a bit of self-control. She quickly adjusted her attitude and walked over leisurely.
She now thought that the emperor might be feeling uncomfortable after being forced by the empress dowager just now, so he deliberately avoided Min Wanrong, who had just been promoted, and asked her to serve him closely.
After Ye Jun left, all the things on her seat were taken away and the table was cleared away.
Yao Xiang's face changed. She didn't expect things to turn out like this, but she had already given the order for what she had arranged, and it was too late to stop now.
At this time, the palace servants who served the dishes entered the hall one by one, carrying chrysanthemum crabs.
The plate that should have belonged to Ye Jun ended up on the table where Yi Wanrong was sitting, where she had started.
Yao Xiang kept thinking of countermeasures in his mind. The Imperial Concubine above also noticed this and her eyes changed.
But now that things have come to this, since Ye is destined to escape this disaster, the same applies to Wu.
Having made up her mind, the Imperial Concubine gave Yao Xiang a look, and the latter calmed down.
Once the arrow is shot, there is no turning back. Whoever it hits is who it hits.
The secret communication between the aunt and niece was not discovered, and everyone had already turned the topic to Concubine Wen and Concubine Xia's belly.
"When I gave birth to Han'er and Rui'er, my belly was very round. Your Majesty's belly looks a little pointy?" said Princess Jiahe.
Yan Xiuyi took a look and smiled, "I heard that a pointed belly means a son, and a round belly means a daughter. It seems that Concubine Wen is most likely pregnant with a prince!"