webnovelfull Chapter 426: Strong outside and love-brained male protagonist x beautiful and ruthless reborn female
Chapter 426: Strong outside and love-brained male protagonist x beautiful and ruthless reborn female
The palace banquet for the Queen Mother's return was no less low-key than when the Second Prince came. The Queen Mother was the Emperor's biological mother, so naturally the banquet was more grand.
Xie Anhuai entered the palace earlier and heard from the eunuch who delivered the message that the empress dowager wanted to see her alone.
After finishing her makeup, Jin Jin Qiao got on the carriage of Prince Zhao's palace with the help of Lulu.
There were many secret guards protecting the carriage in the dark, and a circle of royal guards surrounded the carriage. It could be said that not even a fly could get close to the carriage.
Lu Lu gently massaged Qiao Jinjin's calves, looked at her pale lips, and was filled with worry. "Princess, the prince said that you don't have to enter the palace today if you are not feeling well."
Qiao Jinjin smiled faintly and said, "It's okay. I haven't had a good appetite lately. I'll just call the imperial physician to take a look in a couple of days."
Jinjin Qiao had some vague guesses in her mind. Her period this month was half a month late. Before, it was always on Xiaotaoji's day, but now it was Lulu's day. Lulu didn't know the day of her period, but Jinjin Qiao knew it herself.
Ci Shou Temple
The empress dowager sat in the upper seat, and below her sat Xie Anhuai, Xie Chengyu, Princess Wencheng, Princess De'an, and the eight-year-old third prince Xie Kangyun.
The third prince, Xie Kangyun, was born to Concubine Xian and was at the age when he was very naughty.
Princess De'an was born to Concubine Shun, but Concubine Shun died of illness a few years ago. Princess De'an is currently being raised under the name of Concubine An.
The Queen Mother smiled kindly, as if she was in a good mood just seeing her grandchildren, but what she said was not pleasant to hear.
"I heard from your father that Huai'er got married last month?"
When Xie Anhuai heard the Queen Mother mention his name, he stood up and said, "Grandmother, my grandson got married last month. The princess is the legitimate daughter of Prime Minister Qiao."
The Queen Mother put away her smile and drooped her lips. "But what about Miss Qiao who was engaged to the merchant's son?"
Before Xie Anhuai could reply, Princess Wencheng stood up and said, "Grandmother, isn't it Miss Qiao? I don't know why my brother fell in love with her. She is not worthy of him at all."
Xie Anhuai pursed his thin lips tightly, and a cold light flashed in his eyes. Princess Wencheng shuddered and sat down tremblingly.
The Queen Mother looked at Xie Anhuai with dissatisfaction and said, "Your father said that you like Miss Qiao. I will not stop you from marrying her as your princess. But I will personally select the concubine for you."
"Otherwise, you're going to marry someone who's broken off an engagement, that's going to be terrible."
Xie Anhuai walked to the center of the hall, knelt down and said, "Grandmother, my grandson will only marry a princess in this life. Please don't worry about me anymore."
"How dare you!" The Queen Mother suddenly slammed the table hard, then pointed at Xie Anhuai and said, "How can you speak to the Imperial Grandmother like that? Did your princess teach you to speak like that?"
Xie Anhuai was full of impatience. He and the Queen Mother did not have a close relationship. The Queen Mother disliked his mother in the past, and now she disliked his princess too. He was really annoyed.
Xie Chengyu watched the joke for a long time, and finally spoke up, "Grandmother, you don't know, but my elder brother likes Princess Zhao very much. If anyone says something bad about Princess Zhao, my elder brother will be angry."
Seeing that the Queen Mother's face was getting worse, Princess De'an also spoke up, "Grandmother, please calm down. Since my eldest brother has already married a princess, this is something that cannot be changed."
The Queen Mother suppressed her anger and decided to select two daughters of high-ranking officials with clean family backgrounds as concubines for Xie Anhuai at the palace banquet today.
"Forget it, it's getting late, let's go to the palace banquet."
Jin Jin Qiao sat in the seat specially arranged for Prince Zhao's Mansion. Xie Anhuai didn't come over for a long time, and Jin Jin Qiao felt a little uneasy.
After waiting for another quarter of an hour, Xie Anhuai finally arrived, but his face looked unhappy. Even though he tried to suppress his anger when he saw Qiao Jinjin, Qiao Jinjin still saw the clues.
"Ah Huai, what's wrong with you?"
Xie Anhuai sat on the chair, took Qiao Jinjin's hand, patted it and said, "It's okay, are you anxious?"
Qiao Jinjin shook her head gently. Since Xie Anhuai didn't want to say, she didn't ask anymore. She would know sooner or later.
"The Emperor has arrived, the Empress Dowager has arrived, and the Concubine Xian has arrived."
With the arrival of the emperor and others, bursts of piano music rang out, and dancers stood in the hall and danced gracefully.
This palace banquet was arranged entirely by Concubine Xian, and it seemed much more appropriate than the palace banquet held last time when the second prince came.
The Queen Mother sat on a chair and observed Jin Jin Qiao. Seeing that Xie Anhuai's eyes were always fixed on Jin Jin Qiao, the Queen Mother felt even more uncomfortable.
The Empress Dowager's maternal family is the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion. The Duke of Zhenguo's eldest daughter, Li Ruoqiong, is seventeen years old and has not yet married. Li Ruoqiong had been in poor health before, so the marriage was delayed. Now the Empress Dowager saw that Li Ruoqiong had a rosy complexion and she started to make up her mind.
"Ruoqiong, come to my place"
Li Ruoqiong looked cold and aloof. Even when the empress dowager enthusiastically asked her to come forward, Li Ruoqiong only smiled slightly.
"Ruoqiong pays respects to her aunt"
The Queen Mother nodded in satisfaction and waved. When Li Ruoqiong came closer, she took her hand and asked, "Does Ruoqiong have a son that he likes?"
Li Ruoqiong shook her head slightly and said, "Aunt, Ruoqiong has not been in good health before, so how could she have the chance to go out?"
The more the Queen Mother looked at Li Ruoqiong, the more satisfied she felt. She then looked at Xie Anhuai who was cuddling with Qiao Jinjin, and her irritation instantly rose.
"Huai'er, come forward."
Xie Anhuai paused while holding Qiao Jinjin's hand. He couldn't embarrass the empress dowager at this time, so he stood up reluctantly.
"Grandmother, what do you want to ask me for?"
The Queen Mother smiled kindly, but to Jin Jin Qiao, this was simply a smile with a dagger hidden behind it.
"How about I marry Ruoqiong to you as a concubine?"
Xie Anhuai refused the Queen Mother without a second thought, "Grandmother, I don't want to. I said I will only marry Qiao'er in this life."
The Queen Mother wanted to continue speaking, but was interrupted by the Emperor beside her, "Mother, are you trying to force Huai'er to become a nun? Don't forget that Huai'er had this idea a few years ago."
The emperor's words choked the empress dowager.
Li Ruoqiong felt awkward and embarrassed at this moment. This was the first time she went out after she recovered, and she was rejected like this. How could she ever get married in the future? She had become a laughing stock in the entire capital.
The Queen Mother patted Li Ruoqiong's hand soothingly and said, "I am inconsiderate and have wronged Ruoqiong. Mammy, please bring my treasured coral bracelet to Ruoqiong."
Li Ruoqiong sat back in her seat and looked at Xie Anhuai, whose face had regained its gentle look. For the first time, she felt jealous of Qiao Jinjin.
Princess Wencheng saw that the time was right and said to the Queen Mother, "Mother, today's palace banquet is specially prepared for you. Wencheng has prepared a gift for you. I hope you like it."
The Queen Mother raised her eyebrows and said, "Oh? Wencheng is thoughtful. Let me see what kind of gift it is."
At this time, the Queen Mother did not know that Wencheng's gift would make her angry to death.