On the third day of February in the fifth year of Yongning, the palace held a grand banquet for Princess Changding in the Chonghua Hall. Unexpectedly, the guards of Mingguang Palace wanted to rape the fifteenth princess, but the attempt failed. The emperor was furious and killed the guards with his staff. Princess Changding postponed the opening of the palace. The fifth princess got sick due to fear and died the next year.
These few words sounded calm when read, and at the time... they were not a big deal.
Later, after careful consideration, Zheng Ji realized that the consequences of this incident were too huge, and it could be said to be the starting point of her ill-fated life.
She has thought about it countless times, and even though fifteen years have passed, she still can't forget it.
I dare not forget it either.
Zheng Ji sat in the Chonghua Hall with a smile on his lips, sniffing the Qiongxiang Dew in his hand, recalling what happened at the palace banquet in his previous life.
But now that she's back, will this happen again? The answer will soon come.
She smiled, no longer thinking about it, and took a sip of Qiongxiang Dew.
Well, the wine has a refreshing smell and a sweet taste. It is indeed the wine that Yongning was famous for in the early years.
Her intoxicated look caught the eyes of other people in Chonghua Hall, and they naturally had mixed reactions.
Some people secretly gritted their teeth and twisted their handkerchiefs to suppress the resentment and jealousy in their eyes; some people quietly sighed to calm the envy and yearning in their hearts.
Of course, there are also people who act as if Zheng Ji does not exist and just drink and eat on their own.
Everyone knows that the emperor loves the ninth princess born of Concubine Jiang the most. Not only did he reward the ninth princess with the Changding Mansion, he also used it as a title.
You must know that since Taizong, most princesses have been granted titles such as "Fu" and "Shou", and it is rare to be given titles such as "Fief", let alone a wealthy land. This is an extraordinary honor.
Not only that, after Princess Changding got her hairpin, the emperor allowed her to leave the palace and open a mansion. Traditionally, only the prince and crown and princess could leave the palace and open a mansion. Princess Changding can do it as soon as she gets her hairpin. This is the only one!
Yes, this is the only one. What a noble and glorious thing, and how proud and proud the person who gets it will be!
She was like this before, if she hadn't experienced so many things later...
Zheng Ji "tsk tsk" in his heart, lowered his head and took another sip of wine to cover up all the emotions in his eyes.
Li Xing'en, who was following behind her, was a little uneasy. Seeing that Her Royal Highness the Princess had had several drinks, he couldn't help but move and wanted to stop her.
The palace banquet tonight is important, and there is another thing...
At this time, the laughter of Emperor Yongning came from the high platform. He said "haha": "It seems that Xiaojiu likes the Qiongxiang Dew tonight. Come here, take a few more jars of Qiongxiang Dew and send them to Mingguang Palace." ! This wine is well chosen, I will reward you for the good wine!"
As soon as the emperor finished speaking, the lively and festive Chonghua Hall seemed to be silent for a moment, and then a sweet laughter sounded in the hall.
Concubine Jiang, who was sitting on the lower left side of Emperor Yongning, said coquettishly: "Your Majesty, Xiaojiu will leave the palace and open a mansion in three days. This Qiongxiang Dew might as well be sent to my concubine's Fuqing Palace!"
This sounded like a complaint, but her eyes were full of smiles, as if they were full of stars, making the bright lights of the Chonghua Palace seem dim.
This is Jiang Guifei Jiang Zhao, the favored concubine of Yongning harem, a woman who attracts everyone's attention both inside and outside.
Her unparalleled beauty must be a huge reason why she was given the title of imperial concubine despite her humble background.
Unlike Zheng Ji, Concubine Jiang is more charming than beautiful. Just smiling like this has already stunned many people.
Some drunken officials in the palace felt dizzy and hurriedly lowered their heads, not daring to look any further, and broke into a cold sweat behind their backs.
"What my beloved concubine said is that I was confused. I asked someone to prepare Qiongxiang Dew and send it to Fuqing Palace in person in the evening, haha!" Emperor Yongning laughed. He could tell that he was in a good mood and looked at Concubine Jiang. His eyes were full of adoration.
There were three thousand beauties in the harem, but only Concubine Jiang could make Emperor Yongning feel confused in public.
When the emperor smiled, the concubines and others in the palace also laughed, and the Chonghua Palace became lively again.
This kind of situation happened too often, and everyone was used to it. Fortunately, except for the emperor's doting on Concubine Jiang, everything else was within the acceptable range of the courtiers.
What's more important is that Concubine Jiang has no children, so even if she gets all her favors, it will have little impact on Guo Zuo.
Isn't it just doting on a concubine? No harm, no harm.
This palace banquet was held to celebrate Zheng Ji's departure from the palace and the opening of his mansion. Naturally, all the joy and bustle surrounded her. People kept coming to her, and words of congratulations poured out in an endless stream.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, she observed these people openly.
In fact, no matter whether they are brothers, sisters or officials in the DPRK and China, they will not be familiar to each other after fifteen years, but they cannot be called unfamiliar.
She was impressed by a few people.
For example, the quiet and reserved fifteenth emperor's sister Zheng Chuan, or the still very young Dou Shiyuan, the official of the Ministry of Civil Affairs...
She compared the present and future of these people, and gradually tasted the different meanings.
In the blink of an eye, the palace banquet was over, and the palace was still in harmony. In Zheng Ji's opinion, these were all superficial. If you look carefully, you will find that a few people are slightly anxious, as if they are waiting for something.
Soon, what they were waiting for, and what Zheng Ji was waiting for, arrived!
While the banquet was in full swing, there was a sudden burst of noise outside Chonghua Hall, mixed with sharp shouts, which reached the ears of everyone in the hall.
Logically speaking, there were four imperial guards guarding the outside of the palace, so it was impossible for there to be any noise, but yet, there it was!
Emperor Yongning frowned, and Xue Gong, the chamberlain beside him, bent down and retreated.
This incident caused the palace to quickly become quiet, and everyone looked at each other, wondering what had happened.
Zheng Ji looked puzzled like everyone else, but the difference was that she soon turned cold, and with a bang, she placed the wine glass heavily on the table, obviously angry.
She looked at Emperor Yongning, who was above her, and said aggrievedly: "Father, what's going on outside the palace? Father, please have them driven away!"
She was so good-looking and young. Although she was angry, she had the charm of a young girl, so she didn't make people feel bad at all.
Besides, everyone knows that Princess Changding, relying on the emperor's favor, has always been indulgent and will get into trouble unreasonably. Now that the most important wedding banquet for leaving the palace has been interrupted, there is no telling what the trouble will be.
Emperor Yongning had an expression that said "I can't do anything to you" and said warmly: "Xue Gong has already gone to see you, Xiaojiu, I want to see who is the blind person who crashed the banquet. Someone!"
As soon as he said these words, Xue Gong, who had left in a hurry, turned back. Behind him were several forbidden soldiers, and... a woman in messy clothes?
Somehow, the woman was able to get past the Imperial Guards and Xue Gong, and knelt down in the palace, crying loudly.
Everyone in the hall took a closer look and saw the woman's face clearly, and then they were shocked and turned pale with shock.
That woman, turned out to be, turned out to be...
