Chapter 714: Slap in the face in public
After letting Princess Ping go in five first, Zhuo and Xia Zihan entered the main hall. The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law quickly kowtowed to the Queen Mother and Queen Mother.
As soon as she knelt down, the Queen Mother smiled and waved to Xia Zihan and said, "Chu Yu, get up quickly. I will exempt you from kneeling this year."
Every year at the palace banquet, the Queen Mother alone presides over the overall situation. The Queen Mother will also appear, but every year she only shows up during the banquet and then leaves.
But this year, the Queen Mother came early. Judging from her appearance, she came specifically to support Xia Zihan.
Last night, the emperor went to find her and told her, "The queen will go there early tomorrow. I'm worried that the queen will not be able to carry it clearly again and will embarrass Chu Yu. This year is no better than in previous years. Chu Yu is pregnant. I heard from A Qi that she has morning sickness." Her body is very weak and her bones are very weak. The queen mother should go over there as soon as possible to support her in order to avoid any accidents.”
Because of her son's request and her love for Xia Zihan, the Queen Mother took up her position here early.
No, as soon as Xia Zihan's knees bent, he was helped up by the maid next to the Queen Mother and sat down next to the Queen Mother.
Zhuo was also offered a seat next to her.
The Empress Dowager stared at her pregnant body and said with a smile, "You girl, you didn't come into the palace to see the Ai family when you came back. You didn't even send a letter to the Ai family when you were pregnant. The Ai family still got it from the emperor's mouth. I’m glad you are happy.”
"Isn't it too late?" Xia Zihan smiled sheepishly.
She really wanted to go to the palace to visit the Queen Mother, but since she became pregnant, people from home have been coming to visit her, and she had to receive them. Later, she suffered from severe morning sickness, and she didn't even bother to go out.
The morning sickness was so severe that she could not afford to offend the Queen Mother.
The Queen Mother blamed her, "The Ai family only found out last night. If I had known earlier, I could have found some good medicinal materials for you to replenish your health from the medicine storehouse. Now, all the imperial doctors in the medicine storehouse It's a holiday, and the medicine warehouse is closed. It will not be opened until after the Shangyuan Festival. I remember that there is a thousand-year-old ginseng in the medicine warehouse. After the Shangyuan Festival, I will send someone to find it for you. "
Thousand-year-old ginseng, this gift is too precious.
Xia Zihan was about to get up and kowtow to say thank you.
The Queen Mother grabbed her and said, "The Ai family has long regarded you as their daughter. Don't get out of touch with the Ai family. Otherwise, the Ai family will be saddened by their feelings."
After all the talk, Xia Zihan was too embarrassed not to accept the offer.
The ladies in the hall, seeing that the Queen Mother treated Xia Zihan differently, rushed over to say hello. Only a few ladies, observing her words and expressions, saw the smile on the face of the Queen sitting on the right hand side of the Queen Mother. After being stiff for a while, he became a little hesitant and did not move forward.
And Princess Ximin's face was also very gloomy.
She was the legitimate daughter of the Queen Mother, but her status in the Queen Mother's mind could not be compared to that of Xia Zihan. As soon as Xia Zihan arrived, he occupied all her attention, and she had been here for a long time. The Queen Mother saw He didn't even look at her. This difference... made her very angry, and she gritted her teeth with jealousy, thinking that Xia Zihan had robbed her of the light that should have belonged to her.
She hated Xia Zihan even more.
Rong Wu stood next to Princess Rong, with a ferocious expression and a twisted mentality. The handkerchief in her hand was twisted into a ball of pickles.
She is the serious daughter-in-law of the Queen Mother. They have been married for almost half a year, but she has never received a favor from the Queen Mother. How could Xia Zihan be liked by the Queen Mother?
Thousand-year-old ginseng, just give it to me, why?
Why?
Is it just because of her vixen face?
There were many wives present who could see Princess Ximin and Rong Wu's hatred for Xia Zihan. Those ladies who were good friends with the Chu family subconsciously stayed away from Rong Wu and Princess Ximin. Talk to Zhuo.
Princess Rong's face was a little dark. She pulled Rong Wu and whispered, "Restrain your thoughts."
With so many people, this damn girl dared to stare at Xia Zihan with eyes that wanted to eat her.
This damn girl is getting better and better as she lives. Whatever is on my mind is reflected on my face.
Does she want everyone in the capital to know that she has thoughts about Chu Jingqi and hates Xia Zihan?
This damn girl.
Princess Rong cursed in her heart and glared at Princess Ximin again.
This person is also careless, and his eyes are even harder to hide than Rong Wu's.
If something unexpected happened to Xia Zihan, these two people would be the first to be suspected.
Princess Rong winked at the maid next to her. The maid walked up to Princess Ximin and said something to her. Princess Ximin's expression softened a lot, and she gradually began to smile.
When the Queen saw that the Queen Mother ignored her and focused on talking to Xia Zihan, the smile on her face was so stiff that it was almost wooden.
She said, "Mother, the banquet is about to begin. Do you think you should send someone to inform the emperor?"
Every year, at the annual banquet hosted by the Queen, the Emperor would also come to say hello to the ladies, as a way of giving the Queen face.
This matter does not need to be notified, the emperor will come.
The reason why the Queen said this was to find an excuse to talk to the Queen Mother, so as not to be seen that she, a serious daughter-in-law, was not as popular as Xia Zihan in front of the Queen Mother.
The Queen Mother curled her lips and said, "No, the Emperor told the Ai family last night that he will not come today."
The Queen's expression froze, and her face suddenly became gloomy, but soon she raised a smile and said, "The Emperor is very busy with official duties recently and has many people to see. Maybe he doesn't have time to come over."
Shamelessly, I found a step for myself.
But the fateful woman present was not stupid.
During this Chinese New Year, official documents have been sealed. Where is the emperor busy with official business?
The Emperor did not come, but the Queen Mother came early. They could see that neither the Queen Mother nor the Emperor wanted to see the Queen.
The year before last, they had heard that the queen had been neglected by the emperor. However, the emperor's harem had never been full, and the harem had always been in the hands of the queen, so they all thought it was just a rumor.
Now it seems that it is true that the emperor snubbed the queen.
All the ladies were thinking this in their hearts, but they didn't dare to show it on their faces. They were still respectful to the queen.
After the banquet began, the seats of the wives were arranged according to their status.
Xia Zihan, who was originally scheduled to sit at the third table, was forced to sit on his left by the Queen Mother, with the Queen Mother on his right.
To the left of the Queen Mother, the position of Rong Wu, the daughter-in-law, was supposed to be, but now it was occupied by Xia Zihan. However, Rong Wu, with a wave of her hand, took the seat of Xia Zihan.
The Queen Mother's move did not take Rong Wu's face into consideration at all, and she slapped Rong Wu in public.
Rong Wu was so angry that he almost turned the table over.
(End of chapter)