Chapter 68: Chapter 59: Noble Consort Cui

This sedan chair, surprisingly, belongs to the current Empress, Lu Lin’er!

On the sedan chair, Lu Lin’er is also dressed in noble attire, but her expression appears somewhat lost.

After the incident of giving birth to a daughter, the Emperor Brother lost trust in her.

He hasn’t visited Kunning Palace even once in the past few months!

Luckily, today is the banquet for the top scholars, and according to the ancestral system, she, as the Empress, must attend, so she dresses up to come.

Tonight, she must make the Emperor Brother change his mind!

Noble Consort Cui also got off the sedan chair and respectfully said, “I greet the Empress.”

“It’s you. The banquet for the top scholars is about to begin, so I will go ahead. Noble Consort Cui, you should hurry.”

“Oh, by the way, this time your Cui Family has two top scholars. Congratulations!”

After speaking, she ignored Noble Consort Cui, who was standing aside and quickly urged the chairmen to go to Taihe Hall.

“Your Highness~”

Xiao’er came closer and curiously said, “Why is the Empress in such a hurry today? She even ignored the etiquette…”

Noble Consort Cui shook her head and said, “I don’t know either. Why would His Majesty coldly treat the Empress? Perhaps she is eager to win back His Majesty’s favor today.”

“Your Highness~”

Xiao’er whispered, “I heard that the Empress previously gave birth to a daughter, seemingly trying to replace the Prince with a grandson of the Lu Family, even the Empress Dowager had self-imposed confinement, so…”

“Silence!”

Noble Consort Cui frowned, “This matter concerns the Royal Family’s dignity, do not gossip carelessly, understand?”

“Yes!”

The maid quickly replied, then Noble Consort Cui’s entourage gradually reached Taihe Hall.

At this time, Taihe Hall was already bustling with activity. On the steps, hundreds of court officials were pouring their own drinks, talking in pairs of three.

While below the steps, it was even more chaotic.

The literary scholars and martial artists were seated on two sides, adhering to their own affiliations, without disturbing each other.

The literary scholars were all reserved and self-controlled, speaking quietly and respectfully, with an atmosphere of harmony.

In contrast, the martial artists were boisterous, constantly shouting, with some even standing on tables to play drinking games, scaring the little eunuchs nearby into continuously pulling them down.

The main seat, the Dragon Throne, was empty, but several important seats nearby were already occupied.

The Empress Dowager, after months of devout worship, appeared much calmer.

But for some reason, the Empress Dowager’s face was somewhat pale today, her eyes weary, unable to be covered by any amount of rouge.

The Empress beside her was speaking cautiously, and her eyes kept darting towards Qiankun Hall.

As for the other seats, Noble Consort Cui, Consort Duann, Consort De, Consort Bi, and Noble Lady Zhen were sitting on either side.

Behind them, each had a nursemaid holding a child.

“Aunt, why do you look so tired, didn’t you rest well?”

The Empress Dowager shook her head and said, “Don’t know why, I keep dreaming of the late Emperor these days, perhaps I’m getting old.”

“Aunt, you’re still in your prime, how can you be old~”

The Empress chuckled and said, “I wonder when the Emperor Brother will return~”

“The Emperor…”

The Empress Dowager murmured, her expression somewhat difficult.

Just then, from afar a eunuch shouted, “His Majesty has arrived~!”

“Wow~~”

As soon as the words fell, hundreds of ministers, scholars, martial artists, eunuchs, and palace maids stood up.

As Zheng Yi’s entourage slowly approached, hundreds of figures dropped to their knees, shouting praises:

“Long live the Emperor, long live the Emperor, long live the Emperor!

Inside and outside Taihe Hall, only the eunuchs and palace maids serving Zheng Yi, and the guards ensuring the Emperor’s safety were still standing.

Zheng Yi slowly raised his hand and said, “All, rise!”

“Thank you, Your Majesty!”

“Today’s state banquet is to celebrate the Great Yu’s favorable weather, lasting peace, and living together in harmony with the state, therefore, We rejoice with Heaven and rejoice with the people.”

“Today everyone need not be restrained, feel free to have fun.”

“All, toast with Us!”

“Thank you, Your Majesty!”

Once again, there were countless flattering voices, hundreds of people raised their glasses together, shouting long live.

Accompanied by the clear chimes of the pitch-bells, more than ten dancers swiftly moved out from both sides, dancing a court dance taught by Ministry of Rites officials.

This dance is dedicated to singing praises to the Emperor or celebrating peace and prosperity, with a formal and ornate form, and a relatively tight structure.

However, the dozen little palace maids are also enchanting, with lithe figures, and Zheng Yi watched with great interest, nodding continuously.

“Emperor Brother~”

At this moment, Lu Lin’er approached charmingly, holding a pot of fine wine in her hand.

“It’s been so long since you’ve come to Lin’er’s palace, Lin’er misses you so much~”

Zheng Yi glanced at the carefully adorned Lu Lin’er, today she wore a bright red phoenix robe, but perhaps because she had just given birth, her figure was exceptionally voluptuous.

Her originally delicate face now showed a hint of baby fat, her gaze soft like water, brimming with affection.

Especially as she was seated below, from Zheng Yi’s angle he could clearly see the deep crevices between her bosom, his gaze almost glued.

He finally managed to break free from that enticing sight, only to notice the gleam of a successful scheme on Lu Lin’er’s petite face, immediately frowning and saying, “Lin’er, do you not realize your mistake?”

“Lin’er realizes her mistake, Lin’er really does!”

Lu Lin’er hurriedly said, “That, that matter was all Aunt Fangcao’s doing, Lin, Lin’er truly didn’t know.”

“Even if a subordinate errs, the master bears responsibility!”

Lu Lin’er hurriedly said, “Lin’er understands, the Emperor Brother’s reproach is just.”

Seeing Lu Lin’er sincerely admitting her mistake, Zheng Yi nodded and said, “I still have some matters these days, I’ll visit your place in a few days.”

Lu Lin’er’s eyes immediately brightened, she quickly said, “Yes, Emperor Brother, then Lin’er will wait for you at Kunning Palace.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep