Watching the petite figure of the sixth princess disappear into the hall, Shen Qiaochen nodded to his two brothers not far away, then thought about it, turned around and returned to Xiao Jue's side despite everyone's gaze.
At this time, the atmosphere in the palace was already very awkward, and everyone was no longer in the mood for a banquet. They just wanted to return home quickly and carefully study their future plans.
Unfortunately, just after Emperor Chongming issued a thunderous decree, he took Empress Dowager Lin and Concubine Shen and left the table on their own. Before leaving, he had no intention of letting everyone leave the palace and return home.
The frightened people could only stay in the Qingliang Palace, and despite the rapid spread of the Crown Prince's decree throughout the imperial city, they were powerless and could only enjoy the rearranged songs, dances, and food and drinks stiffly. Only they themselves know what it feels like to eat without knowing the taste.
Empress Li was the only one left on the high platform, slumped alone on the phoenix chair, seemingly stunned, no matter how the right minister winked at her, he pretended to be invisible.
On the other side, everyone knew that the third prince had completely fallen out of favor, so the other princes and princesses also retreated.
The royal family does not have many brothers and sisters, not to mention that in the past, Xiao Che used his status as the legitimate son to bully them.
For a time, the third prince, the only legitimate son of the Jin Dynasty, became a loner in an instant. Soon after, he was ordered by Emperor Chongming to leave the palace and open a palace, completely eliminating the possibility of seizing the throne.
So every day the gate is empty and no one cares about it. There was only one second prince, Xiao Li, who was still willing to get close to him. He also ran to Kunning Palace more frequently on weekdays. As time went by, the queen and the third prince became more sincere towards him.
Of course, this is all a story for later.
At least, everyone at today's palace banquet didn't know this yet.
Right Prime Minister Li Chun looked at the queen and the dejected third prince on the high platform from a distance, and sighed, it was time to give up on this daughter and grandson. The eldest daughter of the simple family, Sister Yan, has also reached age. She was carefully raised by her family since she was a child. She is proficient in music, chess, calligraphy and painting. Now she is even more beautiful and charming.
The emperor is still young, and if the Li family can have one queen, they can naturally have a second, third...
Thinking of this, the old fox, who had spent most of his life in the court, changed his previous worries and returned to his seat to continue drinking with his colleagues.
Shen Qiaochen had been paying attention to the situation in the palace. Li Chun's obvious change in mood naturally could not escape her eyes.
Shen Qiaochen felt a little strange, but after thinking about it carefully, he quickly figured out the key and couldn't help but find it funny.
Li Chun wanted to make the Li family a noble family like the Lin family, but he only saw that the Lin family married the Queen Mother and Mrs. Shen into the royal family and the general's palace. He thought that just relying on the in-law relationship between his daughter's family could make the family more prosperous. further.
As everyone knows, a truly aristocratic family will never rely solely on the nepotism of their children to obtain the benefits they want.
The reason why the Lin family can be called an aristocratic family is not only that it has survived several dynasties and still remains standing, but also because in the past long years, several descendants of the Lin family have emerged that have amazed the world.
Among them are not only young prime ministers who are amazingly talented, but also virtuous ministers and capable officials who are not famous but stick to the righteousness in their hearts all their lives.
They were talented and elegant in literature, and they were able to stand up when the nation was in danger of survival. They devoted all their efforts to resist foreign enemies as men of letters. They gave everything they could.
Over the course of time, people respect them, look up to them, and want to be like them.
…
After waiting for a while, Emperor Chongming still had no intention of coming back. Shen Qiaochen thought for a while and decided to go to the side hall first to check on Mrs. Shen's condition. Suddenly there was a commotion from above. Shen Qiaochen looked up and saw the queen leaning in the arms of the palace man next to her, her eyes closed, her face pale, and she had lost consciousness.
Linlang, the eldest maid of Kunning Palace, did not dare to move the queen at will, so she had to urge the imperial doctor. After the imperial doctor hurriedly arrived, he helped the queen onto the soft sedan and took her back to the palace.
The emperor and empress all left the table in a hurry. It was getting late, and everyone in the palace didn't know whether to leave or stay.
Shen Qiaoran sneaked over quietly when no one was paying attention. Shen Qiaochen turned around and met the worried eyes of his third brother.
"Xiao Qiao, how are you? Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?"
"If I had known this, you might as well have stayed at the palace for today's palace banquet."
"What did the Third Prince say to you just now? Did he cause you to fall?"
"And... where did grandma go?"
…
Shen Qiaoran kept talking nonstop. Shen Qiaochen opened his mouth and felt that his brain was buzzing.
"It's so noisy."
A casual male voice sounded, and Shen Qiaochen suddenly remembered that there was Xiao Jue standing next to her.
Hearing Xiao Jue's voice, Shen Qiaoran obediently shut his mouth.
This surprised Shen Qiaochen. His third brother had been a proud man since he was a child and had always been fearless. However, when he came in front of Xiao Jue, he was like a mouse meeting a cat.
But this was nothing. Recalling the cruel Prince Yong in his past life, Shen Qiaochen felt that the truth had been revealed to him.
So he gave his brother a reassuring smile and said, "Brother, I'm fine. I was just careless just now and it has nothing to do with others. You can also tell my second brother later that I'm really fine."
After a pause, he continued: "Grandma, her mood fluctuated too much today, so I asked the Sixth Princess to take her to rest. But I am still a little worried and want to see her."
Seeing that my sister looked calm and showed no discomfort. Shen Qiaoran felt slightly relieved, and then replied: "Then I will go with you."
But Shen Qiaochen refused and said, "No, the Sixth Princess is here too, so it's not convenient. What's more, it's very close, it's in the side hall, so nothing will happen."
Then he thought about it and warned: "Brother, you will follow the second brother in a moment, and you must never leave."
Seeing his sister's insistent expression, Shen Qiaoran could only agree.
Shen Qiao was worried about Mrs. Shen, so she nodded to Xiao Jue, casually summoned a palace attendant on the side, and led them quickly to the side hall.
When he reached the entrance of the hall, Shen Qiao turned back slightly and glanced at the lost third prince and the right minister who knew that the queen was unconscious but still looked calm.
When he turned his head, he met a pair of narrow phoenix eyes.
Shen Qiaochen's expression remained unchanged, she gave Xiao Jue a distant blessing, and then left without looking back.
Shen Qiaochen's departure did not attract too many people's attention. Xiao Jue came back to his senses, thinking of the girl's expression just now, and raised his eyebrows slightly.
"What a little liar."
Hearing Xiao Jue's deliberately lowered voice, Shen Qiaoran was confused, then he smiled and clasped his fists and said:
"Brother Huaijin, thank you for saving my sister today."
Xiao Jue lazily said: "On the way."
"Ah?" Shen Qiaoran was puzzled.
"It's nothing, it's just convenient."
"……oh."
