Chapter 267: Betraying Ancestors and Rebelling Against the Clan?
Under the enthusiastic greetings of a group of brothers, Xingnong finished visiting Heavenly Star Palace.
There was actually a vegetable garden in the backyard of Heavenly Star Palace, and the things planted were exactly the same as the vegetable garden at home in Peach Blossom Village.
I have to say that this arrangement was very thoughtful.
Shen Hancheng said, “We also made a vegetable garden in the yard next to Mother Empress. I know the vegetable garden that Imperial Younger Sister made in Chu State has a formation. I heard Third Imperial Brother say that it can grow fruits and vegetables all year round. I invited Old Master Guo to study this vegetable garden, but he couldn’t figure it out. Imperial Younger Sister is truly amazing.”
Old Master Guo was also surprised to hear that formations could be used to grow crops all year round!
“It’s just a little trick.” Xingnong looked at the familiar scenery and felt a sense of closeness to this group of brothers. She could tell the difference between sincerity and perfunctory.
When others treated her well, she was also willing to reciprocate. Xingnong smiled and said, “Thank you, Imperial Older Brothers and Imperial Younger Brother. I like Heavenly Star Palace very much.”
Hearing this, the princes were finally relieved.
As long as she liked it!
This meant that keeping Imperial Younger Sister in Jin Kingdom was already halfway successful.
“As long as Imperial Younger Sister likes it!”
“Imperial Older Sister, there’s also the Imperial Garden. Do you want to go and take a look? I’ll take you!” The ten-year-old Seventh Prince said.
Shen Hanyu also came back with Xingnong. After traveling for so many days, let alone Imperial Younger Sister, a delicate woman, even he felt tired, so he said, “Alright, Imperial Older Sister has traveled a long distance and is tired. Tenth Imperial Younger Brother can take Imperial Older Sister to visit next time. Let Imperial Older Sister rest now.”
Hearing this, the princes said one after another, “Imperial Younger Sister, then you have a good rest, see you at the palace banquet tonight!”
“Imperial Younger Sister, I’m sorry, it was my carelessness! Then you have a good rest, we’ll see you at the palace banquet.”
Xingnong nodded, “Okay.”
Then Shen Hancheng instructed the palace maids of Heavenly Star Palace to serve Xingnong well, and then he left with a group of princes.
At this time, all the palace maids and eunuchs of Heavenly Star Palace came to Xingnong and bowed, “Your servant, Ziwei. / Your servant, Xiaofuzi. Greetings, Princess.”
These palace maids and eunuchs were all selected from the Eastern Palace and were very reliable in their actions.
Everyone knew how much the Emperor wanted the princess, so their bows were even more respectful than when they saw the Crown Prince.
Xingnong was really tired, but she still nodded politely, “Everyone, rise. Where is the bathroom? I want to bathe and change clothes.”
It wasn’t very hot in April, but it was very hot to wear layers of ancient costumes in April!
She had long wanted to bathe and change clothes.
The senior maid, Ziwei, then said, “In reply to Princess, the hot water has been prepared. Please follow your servant.”
Then Ziwei took her to the bathroom, and another senior maid, Qiangwei, prepared clothes for her.
Xingnong refused both of them who wanted to serve her bath.
After Xingnong comfortably finished a petal bath, she lay down on a huge canopy bed to rest, and then received the letter Chu Tiankuo had placed in the space, asking if she was used to it.
Xingnong took out a charcoal pencil and replied with five words: Used to it, I’ll sleep for a while.
Then she fell asleep.
Xingnong slept until the family banquet in the evening.
At the family banquet, the Jin Kingdom Emperor and Shen Ruoxi sat in the main seats, while the others sat on both sides of the table.
Xingnong sat at a table by herself, just below the main table, facing Shen Hancheng and the Crown Princess. The princes who were already married sat with their consorts, while those who were not married shared a table with their brothers.
The only consorts present tonight were those who had given birth to princes and Noble Lady An, who was a few months pregnant.
For this family banquet, the Jin Kingdom Emperor also invited his younger brother, Prince Shengping, and his family.
After the Jin Kingdom Emperor introduced Xingnong and Shen Ruoxi to everyone,
everyone stood up one by one to bow to the Empress and formally introduce themselves.
Shen Ruoxi looked at the princes and consorts who filled the entire hall, all of whom were the Jin Kingdom Emperor’s. However, Prince Shengping’s family only had one princess and three sons, a total of six people.
She couldn’t help but ask curiously, “Are all of Prince Shengping’s children here?”
The Jin Kingdom Emperor nodded, “My younger brother and Princess Consort Shengping have a good relationship. There are no concubines or maidservants in the family, and the children are all legitimate. They are all here.”
Shen Ruoxi was surprised to hear this. She sighed, “Their relationship is truly good.”
She had never heard of a prince who didn’t even have a secondary consort!
✿✿✿
Shen Ruoxi’s gaze fell on the dozen or so consorts.
She was now really starting to worry about whether Xingnong would have to face this situation after marrying Chu Tiankuo.
Actually, there was nothing good about marrying the ruler of a country.
Maybe she wasn’t used to it, but she still felt heartbroken when she saw so many consorts! She felt that the couples in Peach Blossom Village lived a more carefree life.
Although she knew she shouldn’t mind, she was still a newcomer and had the status of Empress. Presumably, these consorts were even more heartbroken.
So she was just feeling uncomfortable in her heart and didn’t lose her temper or anything.
Jin Kingdom Emperor: “. . .”
Here we go again?
He suddenly regretted inviting his younger brother’s family to the palace!
He had finally managed to coax her into forgetting about those unpleasant things and smiling brightly.
Although she didn’t lose her temper or say anything,
but when he saw her listless and pretending to be fine, he felt like he had done something wrong to her!
He quickly picked up a piece of her favorite sweet and sour fish and put it in her bowl, coaxing her, “Eat something first. This was made by the chef of Welcome Inn. See if it suits your taste.”
Every time she ate sweet and sour fish, she had a great appetite. He had specially instructed the Imperial Kitchen to add this dish in the afternoon.
Shen Ruoxi smiled at him, “Okay.”
The Jin Kingdom Emperor picked up another chopstick of Eight Treasure Chicken Dice and put it in her bowl, “This is a Jin Kingdom dish. Try it and see if you like it. It’s one of my favorite dishes.”
Shen Ruoxi’s eyes lit up after tasting it, “Delicious!”
Seeing that she liked it, the Jin Kingdom Emperor became even more diligent and actively picked up food for her, taking the opportunity to introduce Jin Kingdom’s special delicacies, even neglecting to eat himself.
The consorts below were so surprised that they forgot to eat!
When had they ever seen the Emperor serve a consort like this?
What happened to treating everyone equally and not favoring any consort?
Could this be the treatment only the Empress received?
For a moment, everyone had mixed feelings, and the food in front of them lost its taste!
Xingnong was also eating happily at the lower table. The princes didn’t pay attention to how their father and mother were showing their love. They were afraid that Xingnong would be left out, so they took turns introducing Jin Kingdom’s dishes to Xingnong, asking her to try them and asking if they were delicious.
Princess Shengping was the only female in the royal family of this generation. Whenever she entered the palace before, the princes would all revolve around her.
The Emperor had a good relationship with Prince Shengping, so he also doted on his only niece.
Tonight, everyone had forgotten about her and were only focused on Xingnong. She felt a little uncomfortable, so she couldn’t help but shout, “Imperial Younger Sister Xingnong.”
This shout was a bit loud, and the entire palace fell silent. Everyone looked at her, including Xingnong.
Princess Shengping was used to this kind of attention. That’s right! She looked at Xingnong and asked, “Imperial Younger Sister Xingnong, I heard from my imperial brothers that you understand formations and will also participate in the Youth Formation Master Competition this time, and you will be participating as the disciple of Old Master Xu from Chu State?”
Xingnong nodded, “Yes.”
Princess Shengping continued, “But Imperial Younger Sister Xingnong, you are clearly the princess of Jin Kingdom. Why are you participating in the competition on behalf of Chu State? Isn’t this betraying your ancestors and rebelling against your clan?”
As soon as Princess Shengping finished speaking, the expressions of everyone present changed. They first looked at Xingnong, and then subconsciously looked at the Jin Kingdom Emperor.
Xingnong blinked. What the hell was betraying ancestors and rebelling against the clan?
The Jin Kingdom Emperor’s face darkened, “What do you mean by betraying ancestors and rebelling against the clan?”
The other princes also spoke up to protect their sister.
Shen Hancheng: “You are exaggerating. Imperial Younger Sister grew up in Chu State and was taught by Old Master Tang, a formation master from Chu State. Moreover, she didn’t know her identity before signing up for the competition, so of course she would participate on behalf of Chu State.”
Shen Hanyu: “That’s right. Imperial Younger Sister is Old Master Tang’s disciple. If she were to participate on behalf of Jin Kingdom, that would be ungrateful and betraying her master!”
“How can you say that Imperial Younger Sister is betraying her ancestors and rebelling against her clan? Empress is from Chu State, Imperial Younger Sister’s master is from Chu State, so Imperial Younger Sister is also half from Chu State! …”
✿✿✿
Princess Consort Shengping didn’t expect her daughter to say this, so she quickly pulled her daughter’s sleeve, “What nonsense are you talking about? Princess is a disciple of Old Master Tang, a formation master from Chu State, so of course she is participating on behalf of Chu State.”
Hearing everyone immediately speak up to defend Xingnong, Princess Shengping felt even more unbalanced. She felt that what originally belonged to her had been snatched away!
She looked at Xingnong provocatively, “Since Imperial Younger Sister Xingnong is representing Chu State, don’t blame me for being rude in the competition! I won’t let Jin Kingdom lose!”
Thank you to the cuties who donated and voted~
