Chapter 442

"As they wish, I don't care." Chen Ning slowly stood up.

Her black hair was like a cloud, with only a pearl hairpin in it. She wore an aquamarine cloud-like dress. The color was simple and elegant, and only the collar and cuffs were embroidered with silver silk thread with orchid patterns. The style was simple and elegant, and when she walked, it seemed as if a light mist was floating.

Only then did Su Jin realize that the simple yet elegant attire on her body was not the least bit inferior to those noble young ladies with heavy makeup and colorful colors.

*

Empress Dowager Zhou's spring banquet was held in the pavilion in the center of the lake in the garden next to the Peaceful Life Palace.

Chen Ning saw from afar that Empress Dowager Zhou was already sitting there. Around her, there were three beautiful girls around sixteen to seventeen years old, looking like dignified daughters of large families. They were all sitting there with their eyes on their noses and their noses on their hearts.

If one didn't pay attention, they would think that there were three wooden stakes wearing colourful clothes.

She slightly lowered her head and covered the smile on her lips. She walked into the pavilion and bowed to Empress Dowager Zhou according to the rules.

"Greetings to the Empress Dowager."

Although the three girls were looking straight ahead, they had already looked over Chen Ning from head to toe.

They could guess that Empress Dowager Zhou had called them into the palace today. On the surface it was a banquet, but it was actually to test their talents, secretly choosing a concubine for the emperor.

Although they had heard that the emperor would not come out for this banquet, they still did their best to dress themselves up, hoping to gain Empress Dowager Zhou's favour.

Seeing Chen Ning's light and refined attire, the three of them secretly regretted that they had dressed up too beautifully.

"Ding Yuan Princess, rise, please sit."

Before Chen Ning appeared, Empress Dowager Zhou was sitting in the middle of the three young ladies, chatting with the three girls with a faint smile on her face.

Although she was kind, the three girls were too nervous. When they replied to her, they either didn't express their thoughts or they were trembling in fear.

The fragrance on the three girls was even thicker, even covering the natural fragrance of the flowers in the garden. It made Empress Dowager Zhou's nose itch and she wanted to sneeze.

It was hard for her not to lose her manners in front of the younger generation, but her face was not as kind as before. The three girls' hearts were filled with anxiety, not knowing what they had said to make the Empress Dowager unhappy.

When Chen Ning appeared, Empress Dowager Zhou's eyes lit up. Her clothes were simple and elegant, but they did not lose their dignity. Compared to the other three girls who were dressed like phoenixes, she was even more attractive.

"Come, Ning 'er, you are this widow's granddaughter-in-law, so sit beside this widow. This is the great teacher Xia's palace's Xia Yu Yan, this is minister Wu's daughter, Wu Yue Er, and this is Censor Liu's family's Liu Wan Ting. You are all around the same age, so you can get closer." Empress Dowager Zhou introduced them with a faint smile.

"Greetings to the three elder sisters." Chen Ning smiled as she greeted the three of them.

The three girls all stood up and bowed down to her, "We don't dare be called this by the princess consort. We greet the princess consort."

Empress Dowager Zhou smiled as she waved her hand and said, "We don't dare be called this by the Princess Consort. We greet the Princess Consort."

The three girls were still very cautious. After sitting down, the eunuchs and maids began to bring in wine, fruits, and various cakes.