If not abolished

Chapter 209 The Show Begins (1)

Everyone was waiting for the Mid-Autumn family banquet with their own thoughts. Before they knew it, the day had arrived. Early in the morning, the concubines from various palaces came to pay their respects to Concubine Wang.

After all, it's a holiday, so even if you don't have a good relationship with someone on normal days, they will greet you with a smile today, compliment your clothes, and say how good your makeup is. In short, at least on the surface, everyone looks friendly.

"The Imperial Concubine invites all the ladies in." When they had finished chatting for a while, the Imperial Concubine let them in.

"Greetings to Her Majesty the Imperial Concubine. May Her Majesty be blessed with good health and longevity." Everyone took their seats and saluted according to their rank.

"Everyone, stand up." Concubine Wang looked at them and immediately felt pleased: "My sisters are so bright and beautiful today. I don't have to go to the Imperial Garden to appreciate the flowers today. These are more pleasing to the eye than those flowers."

"Your Highness, you are too kind. I thought I was pretty when I was outside just now, but when I saw you just now, I realized that I am just a beautiful girl from a small family, and you are the most beautiful woman in the country."

"Yes, yes, how can we, the concubines, compare with the Imperial Concubine?" Others also echoed.

"Everyone has their own merits, and there is no one better than the other." Seeing that it was almost time, Concubine Wang immediately got to the point, "Several ladies will come to pay their respects later, so I'm afraid I'll have to trouble Concubine Zhang and Concubine Li to stay."

The two people whose names were called immediately said, "I obey your command."

Then they were given the rewards that had been prepared long ago, and then everyone returned to the palace.

Qingyun Palace

"I thought I would just attend a banquet in the evening, but I didn't expect to be busy from morning to night." Lingzhi said as she tidied Hu Shanxiang's clothes.

Last year's Mid-Autumn Festival happened to be the wedding of Zhu Zhanji and Hu Shanxiang, so this was Hu Shanxiang's first time to attend a Mid-Autumn Festival banquet. She really didn't understand the procedures, but because it was a wedding at the time, she got up before dawn to prepare.

"Grand Princess, someone has come from the Crown Princess's place to ask if you have packed up. The concubines have already paid their respects to the Imperial Concubine, and we should also prepare to go over and receive the respects of the ladies of state."

"Go tell your mother and I'll be here soon." Hu Shanxiang replied.

After a while, Hu Shanxiang went to Rouyi Palace to wait, and she went to Yiku Palace with the Crown Princess.

Yikun Palace

"Your Highness, the Crown Princess and the Crown Grand Princess are here."

"Please come in quickly." Concubine Wang was talking to Concubine Zhang and others.

"Come to think of it, I haven't met the Crown Prince's Consort yet," said Concubine Li.

"She is a well-behaved child. Speaking of which, sister Li Fei is too quiet. She stays in the palace all day long. She will get sick. She should go out for a walk more often when she has time." Concubine Wang knew her temper. If she hadn't asked her to stay today, she would probably not move around all day.

Concubine Zhang also echoed, "Yes, I also said that it was not good for her to do so, but she just wouldn't listen. I just can't sit still and always have to talk to someone." Concubine Zhang was born into a military family and was used to being free. If His Majesty had not allowed her to enter the palace out of gratitude for her family's merits, she would probably still be living freely outside the palace.

"One of you is too lively and the other is too quiet. You need to be balanced." Concubine Wang said.

As they were speaking, the Crown Princess and Hu Shanxiang came in.

"See the Imperial Concubine."

"Please sit down." Concubine Wang called them.

Hu Shanxiang saw two somewhat unfamiliar faces and nodded politely.

Concubine Wang saw her confusion and introduced her, "This is Concubine Zhang and Concubine Li."

"Greetings to Concubine Zhang and Concubine Li." Hu Shanxiang stood up and saluted.

"Your Majesty, all the ladies have arrived. Would you please come in now?" Yunqi replied.

"It's almost time, let them in," said Concubine Wang.

As Hu Shanxiang watched them come in, she couldn't help but think of the time several years ago when she accompanied her mother into the palace. At that time, she didn't want to enter the palace at all and just wanted to stay away from here. Later, she met He's sister. Now that she is in the palace, it might be difficult for her to meet He Yunyue again. Hu Shanxiang was right. She and He Yunyue would not meet again until a few years later.

"Why are you distracted?" Seeing that she was distracted, the Crown Princess patted her hands.

"Mother, please forgive me." Hu Shanxiang was so absorbed in her thoughts that she didn't pay attention for a moment.

"It's okay. It's really boring every time. Madam Hu will come over later. You haven't seen your family for a long time. When it's over, let Madam Hu go to Qingyun Palace so that you and your daughter can meet and talk."

"Is it okay?" Hu Shanxiang had indeed not seen her mother since entering the palace.

"of course can."

"Mother, you will also want to meet the wife of the Earl of Pengcheng later, right?" Hu Shanxiang asked casually.

"Maybe, but mother comes to the palace often." Ever since the incident with Sun Ruoji, there has always been a trace between the Crown Princess and her mother, but the Lady of Pengcheng has been much more restrained than before. The Crown Princess is still glad that Sun was unable to enter the palace. If her mother was not allowed to do so, who knows what kind of trouble she would have.

In the court, Zhu Di said before leaving the court: "I will not let you stay in the palace this year. I have prepared mooncakes for you to share. It can be regarded as a celebration. You can go home and reunite with your families."

The ministers thought that His Majesty was doing well this year and actually let them go home by themselves, which was great without having to work overtime.

As soon as Zhu Di finished speaking, several people brought up mooncakes. Yes, they brought them up. The officials were also surprised when they saw it. In previous years, the palace would also distribute mooncakes to them, which was not surprising. But why was this one so big this year... Yes, there was only one mooncake this year. It turned out that what His Majesty said just now about dividing the mooncakes really meant dividing the mooncakes.

"Oh, by the way, this year's mooncakes are specially made bigger," Zhu Di added.

Minister: It is indeed big, not ordinary big.

Even Zhu Gaochi couldn't help but be surprised when he saw it and said: "I have never seen such a big mooncake before."

Zhu Zhanji, who was standing next to him, said, "This is the first time my son has seen it too." In fact, he had discussed this idea with Zhu Di, but he did not expect that Zhu Di would have people make such a big mooncake and prepare it for the ministers. He suggested that since this year's Mid-Autumn Festival was a family banquet, they should prepare larger mooncakes for everyone to share. It happened that Hu Shanxiang had said before that if too many mooncakes were made, they would not be able to be eaten up, so it would be better to make a big one for everyone to share.

Hu Shanxiang thought that there were not many noble ladies, but today, when she met them, they actually lasted for nearly two hours.

When they walked out of Yikun Palace, the Crown Princess said to her, "Mrs. Hu is waiting for you in Qingyun Palace."

After hearing this, Hu Shanxiang's eyes immediately lit up and her pace quickened significantly. She couldn't wait to get to Qingyun Palace right away.

When the Crown Princess saw her like this, she smiled knowingly and quickened her pace along with her. When Hu Shanxiang realized what was happening, she hurriedly slowed down her pace and said embarrassedly, "I was too impatient."

"It's human nature. Besides, it's very difficult to see your family once you enter the palace. When I first saw my family after entering the palace, I was more anxious than you." The Crown Princess said with understanding.

Hu Shanxiang naturally knew that the Crown Princess was comforting her, but she was still very happy in her heart. It was indeed very good to have no conflicts between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law.

Finally they arrived at Rouyi Palace. The Crown Princess knew she was anxious and did not keep her for long. "Go quickly, don't let Madam Hu wait too long."

"The Crown Princess is so lively, she's a bit like you back then." said the nanny beside the Crown Princess.

"Really?" The Crown Princess thought for a moment, "Maybe. This child has not experienced the intrigues in the palace yet. Her heart is pure. I really hope she will always be like this."

"I'm afraid it's difficult. After all, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince will want to... Even if he can favor the Crown Prince's Consort alone now, if he still does so in the future, it will probably cause criticism." There have been three thousand beauties in the harem since ancient times. Even the current emperor, who loves the late queen so much, still allows the ministers' daughters to enter the palace as concubines in order to stabilize the court.

"As long as there is an heir, who has the right to criticize? Besides, I know my own son well. If he really likes her, he won't care what other people say." The Crown Princess also thought it was unlikely before, but later when she learned about some of the things Zhu Zhanji had done for Hu Shanxiang, she vaguely understood what he was going to do. It would be better to keep the backyard simple, otherwise fighting is inevitable. Agui must have seen too much of this to have such an awareness.

If Zhu Zhanji knew what the Crown Princess was thinking, he would only say in his heart: You are overthinking it, your son is just more loyal.

Let’s leave these aside for now.

Hu Shanxiang hurried back to Qingyun Hall. As soon as she reached the door, she saw Mrs. Hu standing there waiting for her.

"Mother." Hu Shanxiang walked over and took Mrs. Hu's hand.

"屾儿." Mrs. Hu was extremely excited to see her daughter. The tears that she had been holding back immediately burst out.

"Princess Crown Prince and Madam, please stop standing outside and go in first."

"Yes, yes, I'm anxious now. Mother, let's go in first."

"it is good."

After entering, Mrs. Hu asked Hu Shanxiang to sit down and said, "Greetings, the Crown Prince's Consort." Mrs. Hu saluted her.

"Mom, what are you doing?" Hu Shanxiang immediately helped her mother up.

"I was so excited to see the Empress just now that I forgot about etiquette for a moment."

"There is no one else here, why would mother do this?"

"Etiquette does not depend on whether there are other people present or not. A gentleman is cautious when alone. Have you forgotten, Your Majesty? And Your Majesty needs to get used to it. There is a difference between the monarch and his subjects." Madam Hu taught.

"My daughter understands, but you are after all..." Hu Shanxiang also knew.

"Well, it's so hard for us mother and daughter to meet each other. Let me take a good look at our daughter." Mrs. Hu looked at her daughter carefully and couldn't help but touch her face.

"This is the Biluochun tea that Madam likes." Lingzhi brought the tea over, and Hu Shanxiang realized that Yannan had taken everyone out and only left Lingzhi to serve.

"Fortunately, Lingzhi is with you in the palace, and the family is relieved."

"Mother, don't worry about your daughter. Look, I'm fine."

"Yes, it's quite good. He even looks a little fatter." Mrs. Hu nodded.

"Yeah, I said I got fat, but His Royal Highness the Crown Prince coaxed me into saying that my clothes were too small." Zhu Zhanji had instructed them before not to say things like "I got fat" in front of Hu Shanxiang. Now that Mrs. Hu was here, she couldn't see her daughter for a long time, and she could tell the difference at first glance.

Hu Shanxiang immediately said to Lingzhi: "They look at me every day and can't tell. They also say that I'm not fat. My mother can see it at a glance."

Mrs. Hu was also an experienced person. Judging from her daughter's appearance, it seemed that her daughter was living well in the palace and had a good relationship with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. This was a good thing. "Before your wedding, you had a minor illness and lost some weight. Now you have gained weight back and you haven't gained any weight at all."

"Really, mothers should not deceive their daughters like they do."

"That's natural."

"By the way, is everyone at home okay? Although my eldest sister is also in the palace, we can't see each other often, and I don't know much about the family situation." Hu Shanxiang didn't worry about whether she was fat or not for the time being, and was ready to ask about the family situation.

"Everything is fine, everything is fine. Your father told me this morning that if I see the queen, I should tell you that everything is fine at home and that you should not worry. There are a few happy events at home."

"Oh, is my eldest brother going to get married?" Hu Shanxiang immediately thought that her eldest brother was almost at the age to get married.

"Speaking of this, I feel tired. You said that your elder sister is in the palace, and I can't do anything about it. Your elder brother is really, that kind of temper. Before, when I asked him to see a girl, he refused to go, saying that he didn't have that idea. Fortunately, he finally agreed some time ago. It must be the blessing of the Bodhisattva. If it can be successful, I'm afraid the wedding will be held during the Chinese New Year this year."