What sort of thing was this?
Not to mention the madams and young misses that had come along, but even Zhu Kongshan herself was confused. What did she mean by "since I've come"? Wasn't it you, Consort Li, who personally sent an invitation for me to come?
But these thoughts were just thoughts; however, she could not reveal them on her face. Even if the madams and young misses behind her were not very skilled, she, Zhu Kongshan, was an expert in this area. Thus she put on a smile and acted as though she did not hear the distant tone in Consort Li's words. Standing up, she took the initiative to step forward and said with a smile: "Ever since Kongshan came to visit second aunt, I have been thinking about the banquet here ever since I returned. Today, the ones that have come with Kongshan to celebrate second aunt's return are all madams and young misses that have been doing good deeds with me in the northern part of the city. There are still some that have not come along and will be arriving later. I hope that aunty will not blame me for not greeting aunty ahead of time. Peng Zhou has a tradition of warming new homes. Kongshan also has good intentions and hopes that Zhang Ning Palace will become more lively. I hope that aunty's days will be prosperous and smooth. "
Following Zhu Kongshan's words, the madams and young misses quickly stepped forward with smiles and presented the gifts that they had brought.
Consort Li was clear on Zhu Kongshan's intentions. She was holding a banquet, but she could not invite many people. There were few people in the palace, and there were even fewer people outside the palace. If Zhu Kongshan did not bring these people, it was possible that the banquet would have been a bit awkward and cold. Normally speaking, she had hoped that Zhu Kongshan would bring more people in, and she had thought that based on that girl's ability to handle matters, she would definitely think of this for her. But plans could not keep up with the changes. Now, the situation was completely different. Feng Yu Heng and Xuan Tiange had come, and they had brought along the daughter of the right prime minister and the daughter of General Ping Nan's family. With these four standing here, they had already raised the atmosphere of the banquet. She no longer needed the small fries that Zhu Kongshan had brought to keep up appearances. Therefore, the people who were originally looking forward to coming had now become redundant. Even though Consort Li knew that she didn't want to slap a smiling person, she still didn't show any joy on her face.
Maid Zuo led a group of palace maids forward to receive the gifts. Then she saw that Consort Li didn't seem interested in talking to these people, so she took the initiative to speak with a smile: "Madams and misses, today's banquet will be held in the reception pavilion. This servant will lead everyone to the reception pavilion first!"
Everyone agreed. They really didn't want to stay in the main hall any longer. Consort Li's expression clearly showed that she didn't welcome them. The most important thing now was to quickly leave under Consort Li's nose and find a place to discuss what was going on.
The madams and young misses left; however, Zhu Kongshan remained. When she had just entered, she had paid attention to the courtyard. Now that she had entered the main hall, she did not see Noble Lady Yuan. She knew that Noble Lady Yuan would definitely come today. It was just that she had not come so early! She watched Consort Li and Feng Yu Heng chat warmly, but Feng Yu Heng's tone was indifferent, and her expression was also indifferent. Most of the time, she would just nod or shake her head. She would not even speak. It felt as though Consort Li and the people on her side, one was cold while the other was warm. It was just that when it came to Feng Yu Heng, the situation was reversed.
Zhu Kongshan was pondering what Consort Li meant by this. Not long later, Zuo also returned. Looking at Zhu Kongshan, he reminded Consort Li: "Your Highness, more or less everyone has arrived. Palace Princess Wuyang has also gone toward the reception pavilion. Let's go over there a little earlier!"
Only then did Consort Li nod and repeatedly say: "Right, right. We must not keep palace princess waiting for too long." After saying this, she went to grab Feng Yu Heng's hand.
Feng Yu Heng faintly pulled her hand away and said to Zuo: "Help your Highness properly. It snowed last night, and it's slippery outside!"
Consort Li was a little embarrassed, but she still had a smile on her face. While walking, she brushed past Zhu Kongshan; however, it was as though she did not see her. Her attitude was completely different from when they had met a few days earlier.
Zhu Kongshan followed behind her and slightly furrowed her brow. She truly could not understand why Consort Li had changed so quickly. Ever since that day, she had not entered the palace. It could not be considered an offense. If there was a problem here, it was most likely that Noble Lady Yuan had done something to make Consort Li unhappy, right? She faintly sighed to herself and felt a little distressed. She did not know what Noble Lady Yuan had done, but the Eighth Prince had told her to curry favor with Consort Li!
The palace banquet was held in Zhang Ning Palace's parlor, but when the people entered the parlor, they found that this place did not have the decorations of a normal palace banquet. Normally speaking, a palace banquet would have the host sitting in the seat of honor, while the guests would be seated to either side. In the middle, there would be an empty space for singing and dancing. In front of the host and guest's seats, there would be a table filled with fruits and wine. Only like this would it have the grandeur of a banquet.
But in Zhang Ning Palace's banquet, there were just some normal tables and chairs. There was also no order, and there was no space for singing and dancing in the middle. The people that had arrived first just sat there in a scattered manner. There was no order at all. There were fruits and wine on the table, but the fruits were just normal apples. There were also some grapes that were not very large and did not look very fresh. There was no wine, only tea. In addition, there was a plate of melon seeds on each table. It looked both shabby and funny. Even the banquets of normal families would be better prepared than this, right?
Zhu Kongshan could not help but sigh once more. She had heard long ago that this second aunt had a reclusive personality and did not have much of an understanding of the outside world. Using Noble Lady Yuan's words, she could not be brought to the table. But she never thought that she would be this lacking! Looking around, there were already people that had arrived first who were saying in confusion: "Doesn't a palace banquet need to have singing and dancing? This place can't be skipped, right? "
Someone immediately spoke up: "What singing and dancing! As I see it, it's just sitting down and chatting with Jin 'er. After giving the gifts, they just need to leave. Her Highness Consort Li does not have any intention of hosting a banquet. Put plainly, it should be for the sake of receiving gifts, right? I heard that Consort Li is quite poor. "
These words were not spoken loudly, but they were not quiet either. Zhu Kongshan could hear them, Feng Yu Heng could hear them, and even Consort Li could hear them. But she did not mind. She just wanted to bring Feng Yu Heng to the main seat to sit with her.
But Feng Yu Heng shook her head and said: "No need. I was the one that called Palace Princess Wuyang over today. I should be sitting with her." After saying this, she no longer paid any attention to Consort Li's eagerness. Turning around, she headed toward Xuan Tiange's side. Huang Quan followed behind her; however, he could not hold back and said to Consort Li: "Royal Consort Yu is just a normal guest today. There's no need for Your Highness to be too courteous."
Huang Quan's words provoked Consort Li. Zuo, who was supporting her from the side, could clearly sense that Consort Li's body trembled. Her hands were tightly clenched into fists under her sleeves. Zuo was a little shocked and quickly consoled her in a quiet voice: "Your Highness, she is right. Your attitude toward Royal Consort Yu is indeed a little too warm."
"What is it? This One likes a person. Can't we chat a little more? " She coldly said this with a cold expression. After saying this, she glared at Zhu Kongshan and immediately changed the topic: "Why don't you find a place to sit? What are you following this One around for?"
Zhu Kongshan really had been shot at even while lying down. Helplessly bowing, she found a friend that had come with her and sat down. She then heard the people to the side discuss how this place did not look like a banquet. She quietly said: "We're all girls. There's no point in watching songs and dances."
Once this was said, someone to the side immediately reminded the young miss that had been complaining about the lack of a place to sing and dance: "Don't be so picky. You need to remember what we came into the palace for!"
"I know!" That young miss' temper was not very good, as she flicked her sleeve and very impatiently said: "Isn't it just for the sake of giving Consort Li face! But what was said before we came? Although Consort Li is an imperial concubine, she does not have any power, nor does she have the face to invite someone more respectable to attend a banquet. We came to Zhang Ning Palace with gifts to give Consort Li face. Even if Consort Li is not moved, she will definitely remember this favor. The result? Look, how is it that she doesn't have any face? This face is too great! Not only did the daughter of the first wife from the prime minister's family come, but even the daughter of the first wife from General Ping Nan's family came. Even Royal Consort Yu and Palace Princess Wuyang came! To be able to invite these people for a banquet of this scale, won't Her Highness the Empress also come later? "
"Keep your voice down." Someone quickly advised. At the same time, they pointed at the expressionless Zhu Kongshan. Only then did they lower their voice and say: "Since we've already come, let's just do our part. Either way, if there's a mistake, it's not our fault."
Feng Yu Heng coldly looked at the room filled with women. The talented girls that had come to see her had even taken the initiative to greet her and Xuan Tiange. This caused her to feel a bit embarrassed. Truthfully speaking, Imperial Concubine Li's palace banquet was truly too lacking in class. What sort of banquet was this? It was truly like a tea party. It was like a tavern or a teahouse. There were waiters shuttling back and forth, occasionally bringing more tea. If the seeds ran out, they would very quickly bring more, but there were some tables where the apples were all taken, and there was no one to bring more. She helplessly said to Xuan Tiange: "Consort Li really is poor."
Xuan Tiange said with great disdain: "I fear that the imperial concubine that has lost the most face for her son is her! You don't know this, but in the past, before Sixth Brother went to the Northeast Military Camp, Consort Li would call Sixth Brother into the palace from time to time. Normally, she would not move around on her own, but when the Sixth Brother came, she would bring the Sixth Brother around, showing off to everyone that she had a son. This caused Sixth Brother to become so angry that he once rebutted her because of this matter. She even cried loudly, saying that the Sixth Brother was not filial. "
Ren Xifeng also interjected, saying: "Consort Li has always placed great importance on her son. She believes that her son is worthy of any woman. No matter who it is, as long as His Highness the Sixth Prince takes a liking to her, that is a blessing. Of course, for a normal family, being chosen by a prince can be considered a blessing, but there is no one like Consort Li who thinks too highly of herself. One year, His Highness the Sixth Prince and I just met by chance and exchanged a few words. In Consort Li's eyes, it was His Highness the Sixth Prince taking a liking to the Pingnan General's Office, actually sending someone to the manor to propose marriage the next day. He even said in front of my father something about choosing an official princess first and then a secondary princess two years later. This was giving face to the Pingnan General's Office. My father was so angry that he broke the leg of the granny who came to propose marriage and chased her out! "
Feng Yu Heng did not think that there would be such a thing. Thinking about Consort Li's attitude towards her, she finally understood a little. It turned out that Consort Li's illness of thinking too highly of herself was not something that had just flared up recently. She had always had this potential for many years!
Just as they were speaking, they saw a palace servant lead a guest in from outside the parlor. It was a young miss leading a two-year-old boy. Fung Tianyu was the first to let out a sound of surprise then said: "Isn't that the Feng family's young miss of a concubine?"
At this time, Feng Yu Heng also saw clearly. The person that came was Feng Fen Dai. The one in her hand was the child that had been taken away from Hundred Herb Hall a few days ago.
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