Concubine Yu was a little surprised by the queen's lenient attitude, but she didn't say anything more and took her seat as instructed.
Yu Cheng is the eldest son and sits at the end on the left. The second prince died in infancy, so Yu Zheng and Jiang Shu sit next to Yu Cheng.
Several other princes and princes sat in a row, while Concubine Yu, Yu Lan and others sat in a row on the right.
The queen disliked Concubine Yu and Yu Zheng, but she liked Jiang Shu.
Because Jiang Shu was from a humble background, he could not help Yu Zheng. If Yu Zheng married her, it would be like breaking his arm in the battle for the throne.
Invisibly, Jiang Shu helped them a lot, so the queen was very pleased with her.
After everyone arrived, the palace maids served fruit, wine, tea and snacks. Everyone paid respect to the emperor and empress, and then chatted while eating.
Cao Muxue, who was only two feet away, noticed that Jiang Shu was drinking tea instead of wine, her eyes flashed slightly and asked: "Is Princess Jing pregnant?"
Jiang Shu had met Cao Muxue several times when attending banquets in the past. Although they were not familiar with each other, they had also met each other.
Facing Cao Muxue's affirmative inquiry, Jiang Shu could not avoid it and had no choice but to nod.
Cao Muxue smiled and raised her glass: "Congratulations."
"Thank you, Crown Princess." Jiang Shu responded to Cao Muxue with tea instead of wine.
Cao Muxue was dressed in the formal attire of a princess, with a golden phoenix and pearl crown on her head. She had a beautiful face and the demeanor of a mother who cared about the world.
"This is King Jing's first son, so please be careful." Cao Muxue instructed with a warm smile on her face.
"Thank you, Crown Princess, for your concern." Jiang Shu responded respectfully.
The two of them talked politely and distantly, and the others were pretty much the same.
It's said to be a family reunion, but in fact it's just a joke.
Jiang Shu turned his head to look at Yu Zheng and saw him leaning forward to talk to King Qi of Rui who was below him.
Judging from the words and expressions of several people, there is still brotherly love, but not much.
Looking up at Yu Lan opposite, she was also talking to the second and third princesses.
These two princesses are much younger than Yu Lan. They are now of marriageable age and have not yet left the palace.
It was obvious that they loved and admired Yu Lan, their eldest sister.
Although the exchanges were polite, they were all with smiles and the atmosphere was harmonious.
Finally, when the main banquet arrived, the palace maids removed the refreshments and presented the main dishes of the New Year's banquet.
Before the meal, the emperor and empress raised their glasses and drank the reunion wine with everyone.
The dishes at the palace banquet were naturally extremely rich, but Jiang Shu was so bad that he couldn't eat most of them, so he only used some at will.
After the banquet, the palace officials took away the dishes and served the fruit again. Immediately afterwards, the dancing girl and musician bowed into the hall, and the dancing music played in unison.
After several songs and dances, jugglers entered the palace, and finally the juggler.
Everyone was obviously more interested in juggling than singing and dancing, especially the children, who watched intently.
Jiang Shu ate the fruit snacks and admired them, and time passed unknowingly.
At the end of the Xu period, the annual banquet was over and everyone went back to their respective places.
As soon as Fang walked out of the palace door, a gust of wind and snow blew in his face. Jiang Shu subconsciously raised his sleeves to cover his eyes.
"It's snowing." Yu Lan stretched out his hand and caught a snowflake, which turned into a bit of ice coldness before he could see it clearly.
The night was dark and it was snowing again, so the palace people prepared a soft sedan to take Yu Zheng and others out of the palace.
By the time we returned to the palace, it was already halfway through Haishi, and the wind and snow were getting even worse.
"Princess, please warm me up quickly." Chu Yu handed over the freshly poured soup.
Jiang Shu took it and held it in her arms, Shuanghua changed her shoes, and Tanyu twisted the hot handkerchief and ironed her face.
Yu Zheng wiped his hands and asked her, "Are you hungry? Can you ask the kitchen to send you some food?"
Jiang Shu shook his head: "I ate too many snacks. I'm not hungry now. I'll give them to you later."
We have to stay up until midnight tonight, it's still early.
The wind was blowing, and the snowflakes were dancing.
Mrs. Zhuang was sitting in the hall, twirling Buddhist beads in her hand and looking at the closed door in trance.
Tonight is New Year's Eve, a day for family reunions. But both her husband and wife were dead and she had no relatives at home. Yu Lan and Zhuang Yun entered the palace again, leaving her alone in the house.
It was said to be a reunion day, but Mrs. Zhuang felt lonelier than before.
This year, day by day, is really hard.
Mrs. Zhuang closed her eyes and recited Buddhist scriptures in her heart.
"Squeak--" The door opened, and Yu Lan and Zhuang Yun walked in, blown by the wind and snow.
"Mother."
"grandmother."
Mrs. Zhuang opened her eyes and saw a kind smile on her face when she saw Zhuang Yun.
"Yun'er is back. Did you enjoy the New Year's Eve banquet?"
Zhuang Yun nodded: "Be careful with juggling and juggling."
"Really? Yun'er tells grandma." Mrs. Zhuang waved her hand and asked Zhuang Yun to sit next to her.
Yu Lanwu found a seat and sat down. He took the hot handkerchief handed by the maid and wiped his hands. He held Mrs. Tang in his arms and listened to the conversation between his grandfather and grandson, chatting with each other from time to time.
The quiet and cold hall seemed to be getting warmer with voices and laughter.
Looking at Zhuang Yun, who was beaming and talking endlessly, Mrs. Zhuang's withered heart began to feel a spring of vitality.
Fortunately, Heng'er left Yun'er for her, otherwise she might not be able to survive even one day.
Yu Lan's heart sank when she saw Mrs. Zhuang's dependence and attachment on Zhuang Yun.
She knew that Zhuang Yun was Mrs. Zhuang's life. If she took Zhuang Yun away later, Mrs. Zhuang would probably not agree.
But Zhuang Yun was still young, so how could she leave him behind.
Yu Lan couldn't help but frowned as he thought about it.
After chatting, Yu Lan took Zhuang Yun back to the courtyard to rest.
The wind and snow blew all night, and at dawn the next day, the entire Kyoto was covered in white snow.
After Yu Lan dressed up, she woke up Zhuang Yun and went into the palace to say hello.
Together with Yu Zheng, Jiang Shu and others, they first went to Yongning Palace to pay respects to the emperor and empress, and then went to Zhongling Palace.
Concubine Yu had been waiting for them for a long time, and after hearing the auspicious words, she handed them some money.
"Thank you, grandma." Zhuang Yun happily took it.
Concubine Yu said: "Grandma has prepared many new things for you. You go and pick more."
Zhuang Yun understood that they were going to talk about something serious, and followed the palace people obediently.
"The first snow this year came so early." Concubine Yu sighed as she looked at the white snow outside her house.
"You went to pay my respects, did it go well?"
Yu Lan and Yu Zheng looked at each other and said, "Smooth, the queen seems to like Jiang Shu very much."
"Oh?" Concubine Yu looked at Jiang Shu.
Concubine Yu's feud with the empress was known to everyone in the palace and the civil and military officials of the court. After so many years, everyone was used to it.
Except for necessary occasions, Concubine Yu didn't even have to pay her respects.
Jiang Shu only knew that Concubine Yu was at odds with the queen, but she didn't know the specific reason. After receiving Concubine Yu's look, she pursed her lips and said, "The queen learned that I was pregnant and rewarded her with many supplements."
Concubine Yu said coldly: "Throw it away, she can't eat her food."
Before she broke up with the queen, she had no choice but to take the supplements given by the queen, and she was no longer able to get pregnant.
Although it is enough to have Yu Lan and Yu Zheng, being persecuted by others is always annoying.
"Don't worry, mother and concubine, I understand." Yu Zheng knew Concubine Yu's thoughts and agreed on Jiang Shu's behalf.
On the occasion of the Chinese New Year, Concubine Yu didn't want to say too much to spoil her mood, so she only glanced at Jiang Shu's belly with a solemn expression.
If the queen dares to touch this child, she will not let her go.
