Although Concubine Zhaogui and Concubine Xian have noble status, they are both female relatives after all. It took only a few words to relax the somewhat tense atmosphere caused by the election.
Rongyue sat in her seat and glanced at Tang Ning with some confusion.
The Queen Mother and Emperor An actually left, and even the Crown Prince did not stay long. Besides, except for the sudden "attack" on Qian Qiyue during the dinner, the Queen Mother and the others did not cause any trouble for Tang Ning.
Is it possible that they really thought too much before? The Queen Mother and the others just wanted to take the opportunity to bring up the election and win over the ministers in the court for Emperor An when they hosted the banquet today. They had no other intentions?
Then the matter with the eldest princess was just a temporary idea?
Tang Ning frowned slightly, always feeling that what happened today was a bit strange, but when she met her aunt's gaze, she shook her head slightly and decided to remain unchanged in the face of all changes.
During the dinner, Concubine Zhao did not get close to Tang Ning. She only talked casually with Princess Huan and the others, while Concubine Xian got close to Mrs. Cui.
Everyone became lively, making the palace seem lively and comfortable.
I don't know how long it took, but Zhou Yuchang suddenly whispered to Mrs. Wenxinhou: "Mom, I want to go out for a while."
Mrs. Wenxinhou turned her head: "What's wrong?"
Zhou Yuchang pinched her sleeves feeling uncomfortable and whispered something to Mrs. Wenxinhou.
Mrs. Wenxinhou saw that there was some sweat on her forehead and her cheeks were a little red from holding it in. She was afraid that she had wanted to go to the toilet for a long time. Many people had gone out before the dinner. She scolded: "You kid , why didn’t you tell me earlier, go quickly.”
Zhou Yuchang quickly stood up and quietly retreated from the banquet. After going to the outer room, she asked the palace servants to take her to the clean room.
When Tang Ning saw her getting up and was wondering, she suddenly heard Concubine Xiang Ning say, "Princess Xiangning."
Tang Ning could only retract her gaze: "Mother Xian."
Concubine Xian said with a smile: "I heard earlier that Princess Xiangning read poetry and books, and was taught by Mrs. Rong since she was a child. Later, she even stood out in the exam of Rongsheng Academy, surpassing all the students in the academy. , I like people who are good at reading very much. It is rare to meet a talented woman like you. I wonder if I will be lucky enough to meet you?"
Tang Ning said softly: "Your Majesty, the Concubine is ridiculous. My daughter is just a fluke. How can I be called a talented woman?"
"If you can't bear it, no one in the capital can."
Concubine Xian smiled and said: "Your Rongsheng Academy has gathered talents from all over the world. Even His Majesty often said that they will be the pillars of the future. How can you say it is a fluke to beat them? If you continue to be so self-effacing, Then wouldn’t these people in this palace be ashamed of themselves?”
Mrs. Cui frowned, and she could tell that Concubine Xian was not complimenting Tang Ning. Sure enough, the next moment she heard Concubine Xian say:
"Today's banquet is quite lively. The Queen Mother is in good health, and there is snow outside that promises a good harvest. Why don't Princess Xiangning compose a poem to open the eyes of this palace and all the ladies and see what can be done? Then what kind of grace are the girls of the many students of Rongsheng Academy?"
Mrs. Cui's expression suddenly changed, and she became annoyed when she saw the silence at the table.
She has always known that this virtuous concubine who was born as the direct daughter of the Cui family has always been proud and arrogant. She has been in the palace not long ago. She is beautiful and has a very high family background. Before the Cui family's incident, she was the most popular concubine in the palace. After getting involved in the wind and rain, he was later implicated by the Cui family and fell out of favor.
Mrs. Cui was afraid that Concubine Xian would feel unfair. After entering the palace, she frequently went to Concubine Xian's palace to analyze the pros and cons with her and persuade Concubine Xian to let go of her worries.
Duke Ding is now in power, so even if you can't win him over, don't offend him easily.
Concubine Xian clearly promised well, saying that she would not embarrass Tang Ning, let alone make trouble for no reason, but she actually went back on her promise! !
Princess Huan had long disliked Tang Ning and remembered what had happened before. When she saw that Tang Ning had not spoken, she became angry and angry:
"This Rongsheng Academy is a holy place for students all over the world. Princess Xiangning can beat so many students in the quiz, she must have great literary talent. Women like us have never had such a grace as the princess, let alone the curious concubine. , even this princess wants to broaden her horizons."
"Princess Xiangning has the most considerate temperament. Even the Queen Mother praised her endlessly. She must not be stingy, right?"
After she finished speaking, she seemed to be smiling but not smiling.
"But it doesn't matter if the princess doesn't want to compose poetry. This girl from the Rong family must be proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry and poetry. She can also play the piano and dance. After all, today is a good day. It’s good for everyone to have some fun.”
Rong Yue's face suddenly darkened, and Qian Qiyue also raised her eyebrows.
The other people in the palace looked at Princess Huan and then at Tang Ning, and they couldn't help but keep silent.
Princess Huan's words are not unkind. If Tang Ning is unwilling to compose poems and cannot maintain her reputation as a talented woman, then her reputation will be wasted, and even Rongsheng Academy, which is known as a holy place for poor students, will be discredited. How can a student who has been overtaken by people who are not proficient in poetry and literature deserve to be called a pillar of talent?
Moreover, where is the Shoukang Palace and what is Tang Ning's status? How is it different from those lowly singers and dancers who please the nobles by letting her play the piano and dance in public?
Rongyue put the object in her hand on the table with a bang: "What kind of status is Tang Ning, how can he do such things to please others? There are many happy people in the palace. If Princess Huan feels that it is not lively enough, why not do it like me?" Can someone tell the Queen Mother to ask her to find it for you?"
Princess Huan sneered: "Don't hold me down with the Queen Mother. I was just afraid that Princess Xiangning would be embarrassed if she couldn't write a poem, so I came to her rescue."
Tang Ning's face was cold: "How can I write poems without worrying about Princess Huan? However, Princess Huan has a daughter-in-law who came from a brothel. Is it possible that she also likes the atmosphere in Fengyue Tower as much as Young Master Xie does, and even goes to the hospital for the Queen Mother? Haze’s banquet also wants to be lively.”
"If that's the case, you might as well go back home and let your daughter-in-law play the piano and dance for you. In this regard, all the girls in the capital are not as good as her."
Princess Huan: "..."
That prostitute was not her daughter-in-law at all, and there was no way she would let that bitch enter Prince Huan's palace.
Song Tangning and the others were so shameless. They kept talking about this matter to her again and again, but they couldn't say anything else? !
Concubine Zhaogui frowned and said, "It's such a lovely banquet, why are you doing this? Sister Xianfei, I haven't seen you like poetry and books so much in the past."
Concubine Xian smiled: "It's my fault. I just heard that Rongsheng Academy is a holy place for scholars. I also said that Princess Xiangning was very famous, and the girls of the Rong family were astonishingly talented in literature, so I wanted to see it. It’s just a joke, but I didn’t expect it to offend the princess.”
"Since the princess doesn't want to, I can't force it. Just pretend that I haven't mentioned the matter of composing poems. The princess doesn't have to force it."
Concubine Xian's words seemed to be giving in, but in fact they only added fuel to the fire.
