Though both Zhao Taozhuang and Zhao Taoxuan didn't think that Xu Baomo was joking, they reluctantly replied for Cousin Shuihe's sake, "Since it's a misunderstanding, we'll just let it go. Young Lord, you should go back soon before Princess Jiaxiang gets impatient."
Being reluctant to leave as he was, Xu Baomo looked at Zhao Taoxuan before bidding farewell to Rong Shuihe.
But Rong Shuihe smiled and asked, "Hey! My brother! Is Yingjiang sitting with your parents? What about the Sheng Family?"
"We didn't go with the Sheng Family today." Xu Baomo, coveting Zhao Taoxuan's beauty, was so happy to stand still and chat with him that he could take more glances at her, saying, "My grandfather had originally sent someone in advance to agree with the Sheng Family to come together. However, Senior Master Sheng said that since the two families wouldn't sit together and have to separate when they came in, it would be more convenient to go on their own way. Re
Sheng Weiqiao curled her lips and prevaricated, "I'm not trying to stop her from walking around. I just want to take her to go for a walk and have a look at the Shanglin Palace after several rounds of drinking at the banquet! Who can expect that she could not sit still?""You haven't been here, either. I'm afraid it may not be better for you to accompany her than Shuangliao." Said Meng Bixun, the only daughter of Chengyang Marquis's official wife. She said smilingly, covering her mouth with her handkerchief, "It will be better to let Shuangliao accompany Princess Jiaxiang to walk around here first. Then, when the warm atmosphere at the banquet eases, we can go out together... I remember that one part of the Chunbo Lake has been zoned, right?"This question was for Empress Meng.The Empress said with a nod, "Mother doesn't like noise. So, the banquet is planned to be held at Lingbo Palace. But Noble Consort Shu and Consort Shu want to watch rega
"What do I mean?" Empress Dowager Meng leisurely lifted her teacup and took a sip. Then she continued with a smile, "Of course, it's for your and your children's good. After all, so many years have passed, and it seems that Prince Mizhen is a sensible and filial child. What can't be solved between you and him as natural grandmother and grandson?""Sister, you're got to be kidding. As you say, we are natural grandmother and grandson. We are of the same blood. Since he has finally come back after such a long time, of course, I'll love him dearly." Said Consort Dowager Mo. Having stared at Empress Dowager Meng for a while, she suddenly smiled with her imposing manner of sparking a great war disappearing quietly. She even put on a nifty smile like a young girl. She continued with a beaming face, "You also say that he is a sensible and filial child. Thus, nothing should be solved between us, right? Sister, you should congratulate us on reuniting with each other after
Compared with Noble Consort Shu who was haughty by dint of the Emperor's pampering, Consort Shu, whom Sheng Weiqiao had once met in the Buye Tower, was more obedient.Consort Shu sat straightly with her head slightly down. She put her hands on her knees and sometimes patted Emperor Xuanjing's hand holding her waist, motioning him to behave himself.Consort Shu wore a veil last time when Sheng Weiqiao saw her. Therefore, it was also the first time that Sheng Weiqiao had seen her appearance. Though she and Noble Consort Shu were half-blooded sisters, they did not look like each other.Consort Shu had dusky arched eyebrows and the almond-shaped eyes of a phoenix. With snow-like skin and peachy cheeks, she had a beautiful appearance. She did a peach makeup with blood-red lips and a begonia-patterned sticker between her eyebrows. Her cheeks were slightly red by the blush, and her hair was neatly braided.In the middle of her bun, there
Rong Shuihe did not know what had happened those days. Therefore, seeing Sheng Weiqiao's gesture, Rong Shuihe rubbed his chin and muttered to himself, "Well, does sweetie mean that she wants me to send the jade hairpins early? If I send them late, she will give me hell?"He felt that they did have a mutual affinity. If not considering Senior Master Sheng's attitude, he would have looked all around to find Sheng Weiqiao as soon as he had arrived!Rong Shuihe did not know his imminent tragedy at all. He almost pulled through the following things including the return of Gongsun Yingjiang and Meng Shuangliao who were taken back by the Empress's servants, the arrival of Emperor Xuanjing and Shu Sisters, the greeting between those courtiers and the Royal Family led by the Empress Dowager, the courtiers' blessing to the Royal Family, the opening of the banquet, and the usual pleasantries at the beginning of the banquet... Finally, after several rounds of drinking,
Rong Shuihe slit his eyes. He looked up to see the two men, one tall and one short, stand nearby. The tall one seemed to be nigh on eighteen. He was in red, wearing a gold belt and a white jade coronet carved with the cloud. His face was familiar, and his clear complexion, which was typical of the privileged nobles, somehow reddened.He waddled towards them as he fiddled with his hand fan, and wine was smelt on his breath. Obviously, he was drunk.While the short one was near thirteen. His features resembled those of Princess Qingfang, and despite his effort to assume maturity, he manifested some kind of naivety. He was dressed in the uniform of a Marquis' Young Lord and on his neck was a silver torque to which a longevity lock was attached. He tugged the sleeve of the man in red, beckoning him not to cross the line.However, he didn't look friendly as he rested his eyes on Rong Shuihe. Precisely, his expression was a mixture of aloofnes
Empress Dowager Meng was now chatting with Consort Dowager Mo in the side hall.They had a squabble before several juniors just now, but privately, they weren't on bad terms. More precisely, they could never sever ties with each other. They were both the consorts of the Deceased Emperor who lived until now and was privileged because of a son whose family kept stirring up troubles... Honestly, they never trusted each other, and they would never come to a reconciliation.But they were the only ones who could understand each other.Therefore, they squabbled with each other, and they vied with each other, but they also talked intimately with each other when there was a truce.The Empress Dowager ridiculed Consort Dowager Mo, "See? I did give you an opportunity, but your daughter-in-law doesn't want your grandson to see you! Your incompetence shall take the blame, but not me!"Consort Dowager Mo said without looking
When Empress Dowager Meng heard that the Empress had come over, she was slightly stunned. It was not until Chi Zuosi threw her a meaningful glance that she understood it was Chi Zuosi who had sent someone over to inform the Empress."Bijun will sooner or later move to Xin Shou Palace. Since both the Emperor and I are getting old, it's essential to let her observe beside us as we deal with some matters. Just in case someday when we pass away, she's the only one to be in charge of such a big imperial harem. It may be awkward if she doesn't know how to deal with such matters." The Empress Dowager thought and frowned, saying, "It's enough that she just came alone. Why did she take a bunch of people with her, Kangzhao and Jiaxiang in particular...? This is actually thoughtless."Actually, Empress Meng was Empress Dowager Meng's niece and daughter-in-law. Though somewhat dissatisfied with her, Empress Dowager Meng still considered her feelings, saying immediately
In fact, Empress Meng and others stared at the fan Sheng Weiqiao held, saying, "Kangzhao, should I speak up for Prince Mizhen later? Anyway, they're on Gaomi King's side. Whoever prevails on this matter will be the same for our Meng Family."The reason why Empress Meng asked was that Rong Shuihe had grown up in the Sheng Family for several years no matter what he had gotten along with Sheng Weiqiao. Though she was forced not to stay so close to him now as the Sheng Family needed to stay away from the disputes of the imperial court, how could years of obsession disappear so quickly?However, before Sheng Weiqiao came here today, she was eager to see Rong Shuihe was in trouble. First impression was strongest. She thought that he was on a blind date with one of the Zhao Sisters. Now as she heard that it was on the date that he encountered the uncle and nephew of the Yuan Family and got provoked, she sneered immediately, "He's a frequent liar. Though he said wi