Chapter 428: Palace Banquet (2)
Editor: Atlas Studios
Upon hearing this, not only Matriarch Yuan, but the other matriarchs could not help but nod slightly. They had a favorable impression of Li Jinghua.
Madam Xia couldn’t help but feel happy when she saw the matriarchs’ expressions soften.
Mu Yangling stood at the side and smiled the entire time, only answering a few questions from time to time. Some time later, she followed Li Jinghua back to their seats. Madam Xia had long been pulled away.
Seeing that she and Li Jinghua were alone, Mu Yangling heaved a sigh of relief. “How tiring. It’s even more tiring than me plowing the fields for three days.”
Qi Haoran bade farewell to Fan Zijin and returned. He whispered to Mu Yangling, “I’ll bring you out for a horse race on the third day of the Lunar New Year.”
Mu Yangling glanced at Li Jinghua. The latter waved her hand and smiled. “Don’t look at me. Go if you want. I’m not a child. Moreover, Zhaode Hall is like an impenetrable fortress now. I really don’t know what you’re worried about all day.”
The couple smiled in embarrassment. The reason why Qi Haoran was nervous was because Li Jinghua was carrying Big Brother’s first son in more than 20 years. Those at his big brother’s age already had children of school-going age. Moreover, considering his sister-in-law was expected to stay in the capital for the next few years, this child was naturally very important.
The reason why Mu Yangling was nervous was because she had watched too many period dramas in her previous life. Ever since she moved into the Qi Residence, she had lost her sense of security.
Mu Yangling seemed to know that she was too nervous. Those who didn’t know better would think that she was the one who was pregnant.
She propped her chin on her hand and thought for a while before saying in a low voice, “I really want to move out.”
Li Jinghua only laughed and shook her head. To her, the Qi Residence was nothing. The Li family’s environment was more than a hundred times more complicated than the Qi family. She had survived until now when her father and brother were disabled and her mother was weak. It was not just luck that enabled her to marry Qi Xiuyuan.
However, since they were worried and concerned about her, there was no need to push them away. She rather enjoyed the feeling of being cherished and doted upon.
However, Qi Haoran’s eyes darkened. He lowered his brows and seemed to be thinking about something.
By the time Qi Feng and Madam Wu returned smugly, the banquet was about to begin.
Qi Haoran looked up at the two of them with mockery in his eyes. The two of them probably didn’t know that they had become laughing stocks, right?
At the thought of this, Qi Haoran was filled with anger. If Chen Qian hadn’t told him, he wouldn’t have known that the Qi family had become a joke. Although everyone was condemning the two of them, it would be strange if he was happy to hear the Qi family be discussed in such a manner, and mentioned again and again like a joke.
Hence, when Qi Feng came over, Qi Haoran’s face was cold and he had no intention of getting up.
Li Jinghua gave him a look, but he pretended not to see it. Seeing that Qi Feng was almost in front of him, Li Jinghua couldn’t help but feel anxious. She glanced at Mu Yangling. No matter what Qi Feng had done to them, he was their father and Qi Haoran was his son. He couldn’t blatantly reveal his dissatisfaction with him. Otherwise, no matter how justified they were, they wouldn’t be seen to be in the right.
Mu Yangling reached out and pinched Qi Haoran’s waist, then poked his back fiercely with her finger. Only then did Qi Haoran reluctantly stand up. Li Jinghua heaved a sigh of relief. After Qi Feng and Madam Wu sat down, they sat down.
Not long after the few of them sat down, the sound of whips could be heard. Qi Feng quickly led them away from the table and knelt down in the passageway. After waiting for a long time, a eunuch shouted that the Emperor and Empress had arrived. Mu Yangling followed everyone and shouted “Long live the Emperor” three times. Then, she heard a gentle male voice. “Rise. There’s no need to be too restrained. Everyone, take your seats.”
Only then did everyone get up and sit down. Mu Yangling sat behind Qi Haoran and looked up. The Emperor and Empress were both sitting on top in bright yellow dragon and phoenix robes. Below them were the princes and concubines. All the palace lights in the garden had been lit, so under the orange light, Mu Yangling could see the Emperor and Empress’s appearances clearly with her super vision. She was sure that she would easily recognize them at a glance on the streets.
The Empress was very dignified and bright, but the Emperor, well, how should I put it? He was also a handsome uncle, but he was much older than the Empress. Didn’t they say that the Emperor and the Empress were married at a young age? Why did the age difference look a little big?
It was either the Empress took very good care of herself or the Emperor had too much to worry about and was aging too quickly. Mu Yangling felt that it might be both.
Mu Yangling stared at the Emperor and the Empress, letting her imagination run wild. Li Jinghua turned her head and, seeing that she was so bold, was so frightened that she hurriedly tugged at her sleeve. She only dared to look up when she stood up just now. This child was too bold, to actually dare to look straight up. What if she was discovered?
Mu Yangling calmly retracted her gaze and turned her head to look diagonally upwards. Sitting there was Minister Qin, the number one treacherous official of Great Zhou. She looked at him curiously and realized that he looked very ordinary. If she saw him on the streets, she would only assume he was a rich man if he wasn’t wearing this court uniform. However, Big Brother Qi and Big Brother Rong were very wary of this person, even more so than the Emperor.
Before he was put in an important position by Emperor Jingyan, he had neither immense wealth nor a powerful family. Just with the Emperor’s favor, he could control the Emperor and the government for ten years in this chaotic world and powers at play. Based on this alone, one could tell that he must be very scheming. It was better to avoid such a person and not provoke him.
Mu Yangling was determined to do that, but the final facts told her that determination meant nothing.
As Mu Yangling sized up these big shots who could shake the world with a stomp of their feet, the Emperor gave a passionate New Year’s blessing. At the same time, he subtly praised his achievements in the 27 years since he ascended the throne and his glorious vision for the future. Then, he raised his glass and toasted everyone.
Mu Yangling drank a glass of wine. Seeing that Li Jinghua wanted to drink too, she was about to stop her when she realized that she had covered her face with her sleeve. The glass of wine had entered her sleeve.
Mu Yangling was stunned. When she lowered her sleeve, she secretly felt her way up and touched something soft.
Li Jinghua glared at Mu Yangling with a smile and whispered into her ear, “This is a sponge. Didn’t I have one sent to you? Didn’t you bring it?”
Mu Yangling was embarrassed. Because Li Jinghua had sent too many things, she did not look at them carefully and handed them all to Spring. Spring probably did not understand the use of these things.
Li Jinghua only asked a question and did not continue. Instead, her attention turned to the song and dance performance in front of her.
Actually, the palace banquet and the Spring Festival Gala were similar. There were songs and dances, sideshows, and sword dances. After watching these, there were also some performances by officials or princesses. For example, there was a princess who performed a song on the spot previously. Now, Qi Haoran’s good friend, Chen Qian, was doing a painting on stage. Using the Emperor’s poem as a theme, he would finish a painting within the time limit of five minutes.
Mu Yangling asked Qi Haoran in a low voice, “How are the candidates chosen to perform every year?”