In August, the clusters of locust flowers that press the branches to droop slightly are blooming, ushering in the queen mother's autumn.

At this time last year, the Queen Mother arrived in the Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple, and it was the Mid-Autumn Festival when she returned to Beijing, so she did not hold a thousand autumn banquets in the palace. This year, because of the Mongolian envoys, the old emperor ordered the queen mother's birthday, and the Ministry of Rites began to prepare in July, and today's grand occasion can be imagined.

The officials of Beijing and above entered the palace to congratulate their birthdays, and the outside of the imperial city began to be blocked by the vehicles of the ministers who congratulated them on their birthdays after noon.

"I didn't think about it, but I was late."

Le Xi was picking up the curtains and moving out of the slow-moving convoy, Zeng's voice came out faintly, a little impatient.

Lowering the curtain, Le Xi sat upright and replied with a smile: "My daughter-in-law is looking fast, and the car in front of her is making way for us." ”

Zeng raised his eyelids, glanced at her, and did not answer.

The carriage fell silent, and the atmosphere was a little awkward.

Le Xi pursed her lips and lowered her eyes slightly.

She only returned to the Protector's Mansion yesterday, because today is the Queen Mother, and she still has filial piety, which should not appear on such an occasion. Unexpectedly, the Queen Mother deliberately named her, and she had to listen to the order to enter the palace to celebrate her birthday.

The reason for the queen mother's move, Le Xi is also clear, it is nothing more than to promote Le Shaoyuan and the Protector Mansion, and the emperor needs the support of the two governments more than ever at this time. This kind of non-evasion can be said to be the greatest honor for the two governments.

Of course, the Queen Mother not only mentioned her name, but also the Li family, who is filial piety. Coke Shaoyuan doesn't know what to do, in the end, he still pushed with the emperor. This is really inappropriate. This kind of advance and retreat is appropriate, and it is natural for the old emperor to respond, but Le Xi, the married daughter, is not listed in the scope of the Hou Mansion. I just couldn't avoid it.

After stopping for a moment, the carriage increased its speed again, and soon reached the palace gate.

There was a slight bump, and the sound of the wheels in his ears stopped, and Lexi knew it was time to get out of the car. He got up, got out of the carriage and got out of the car with Agarwood's hand, and then turned around and helped Zeng get out of the car.

Le Xi wore the scarlet Lady of the Prince's command. The hair is tied into a round bun with a crown, and when he bows his head, he reveals a jade neck with a graceful curve, and his long body is gentle and elegant. In addition, the face is as delicate and gorgeous as a peony in April. attracted the ladies and ladies who got off one after another around the week to focus their attention on her.

Zeng also noticed the gaze floating to this side, squinted and looked around, raised his eyebrows, and then looked sideways at his daughter-in-law who was smiling at her. Seeing her bright eyes and bright teeth, her smile makes people feel like a spring breeze. The delicate facial features have a agility that the lady next to him does not have. It's so good-looking, I can't help but bend the corners of my lips.

The daughter-in-law is excellent, and she does not lose the face of her Protectorate.

handed over the name plate and walked into the palace gate.

Le Xi entered the palace for the second time, and he had no sense of novelty in the palace, so he only steadily helped his mother-in-law to follow the eunuch who led the way.

Unexpectedly, after walking a few steps, he heard the chamberlain salute and shout to the commander, followed by the familiar voice.

"You go and get busy, the emperor has an order. Let me greet the Duchess of the Protector and the Lady of the Protector of the Prince. ”

Zeng squatted at this time, and Le Xi also bowed. blinked, only to hear Zeng's say: "There is Lao Qi in charge." ”

This is...... Her mother-in-law doesn't know Lu Yu's identity as an errand boy?

Thinking about it, Le Xi couldn't help but raise his eyes to look at Lu Yu, and just happened to see that his eyes were shining and warm, and he shook his head invisibly.

Le Xi was happy in his heart, he really didn't know if he dared to love Zeng, and the corners of his lips curled a little.

Like a happy little wife who got some kind of joy and happiness, Lu Yu's eyes were even softer, and Zeng waited for a long time without getting an answer, and frowned. happened to see Lu Yu staring at Le Xi.

Zeng's eyes suddenly became sharp, and he glanced sideways at Le Xi, but fortunately, Le Xi kept her head slightly down, and her bangs covered her eyes, and Zeng didn't see the tenderness in her eyes that was similar to Lu Yu. But Zeng's is still unhappy about this, and a woman with too good a dark color is really not a good thing!

"Commander Qi?! Shall we go and meet the Queen Mother?! ”

A cold voice sounded, Lu Yu retracted his gaze, and returned to the rumored appearance of the iron-blooded and cold-hearted privy council commander, annoyed that he had forgotten the occasion. But I haven't seen each other for two days, and I don't want to take my eyes off when I see it.

"It's rude, Madame, please, the emperor ordered a sedan chair." Lu Yu made a gesture of please sideways, and he was carrying two sedan chairs.

This kind of courtesy is really eye-catching, and the ladies who entered the palace behind Le Xi and Zeng's are full of envy.

Zeng's chin bowed and moved to the chariot, and Le Xi only went up after making sure that she was seated, and was carried by a group of attendants to the palace of the Empress Dowager.

Sending people to the gate of the Empress Dowager's Cining Palace, Lu Yu led the team to say goodbye, and when he turned around, he seemed to pass by Le Xi without passing by, but the next moment Le Xi was stuffed with a note in his hand. Le Xi's heart sank, and he hurriedly hid his hand in the wide sleeved robe, and put the note into his sleeve.

Under the guidance of the palace maid, I came to the main hall of Cining Palace, and when I got closer, I heard the laughter coming from inside.

The palace maid sang, and after hearing the word Xuan, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law picked up the steps again and stepped up the steps into the hall.

After kowtowing and making a big salute, and saying auspicious words to celebrate his birthday, his mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were invited to sit down. As soon as Le Xifang sat down, she noticed that several eyes with different emotions fell on her.

She sweated in her hands, frightened by the cold gaze of one of them.

Taking advantage of the gap between the palace maid's tea, Le Xi quickly raised her eyes and glanced around, finding the source of her extremely uncomfortable gaze.

It was a woman in a big red embroidered gold luan suit, looking about her early thirties, her skin was very well maintained, and she had peach blossom eyes that were charming to the bones, and the resentment in her eyes was so red at this time. Bare.

Retracting his gaze, Le Xi had no impression of such a person at all, and was a little inexplicably wonderful.

"Xi girl, but I haven't seen you for nearly a year, and I look taller. When the Mid-Autumn Festival Emperor gave you a whip last year, you seemed to be so little, and at that time you dared not be afraid of the fierce wolf and rushed to Ran'er, and now it is really terrifying to think about it. The Queen Mother smiled kindly and made a difference.

Le Xi gathered his thoughts, and hurriedly got up and gave a salute. Only then did he reply with a smile: "Hui Niangniang, compared with last year, the courtiers have indeed grown taller." Because of his greedy mouth, he gained a lot of weight. ”

Le Xi smiled slightly, avoiding the Queen Mother's praise again, and just said naughtily, causing everyone to chuckle.

The Queen Mother, who was sitting on the high seat, nodded, with satisfaction in her eyes. At a young age, he is not greedy for merit, and he will not get carried away with a boast, but he is steady.

"I heard that Mrs. Huguo Gongzi only returned to the house yesterday, and my mother's food is afraid that it will be more fragrant." A delicate voice sounded at this moment. It was from the woman with the peach blossom eyes.

As soon as these words came out, many people in the hall immediately changed their meaningful smiles, and they all glanced at Le Xi and Zeng. It seems that there is something very interesting between the two.

Zeng's face also sank suddenly, and he said so politely, did he mean that the Protectorate had abused his daughter-in-law, or that there was a gap between Le Xi and Zeng. The house is not in harmony.

Just when Zeng was about to speak. I saw that Le Xi was already smiling and replied: "This lady is good-looking." It's not that my mother's food is fragrant, it's that my mother feels sorry for me as a bride, and my husband went to the northwest to stay in the courtyard for a long time to be cranky, so I went back to my parents' house to help take care of my younger brother and not be idle, and by the way, I learned parenting. ”

After speaking, Le Xi also hung his head and looked ashamed.

Zeng, who originally thought that Le Xi was going to suffer, put his heart back in his stomach when he heard the words, and showed a mocking smile to the woman who was sarcastic.

Le Xi said. The expressions of the people in the hall changed again, and their eyes moved to the woman whose face was flushed.

The woman was the princess of Jin. She targeted Le Xi, firstly, because of the grievances between the King of Jin and the Protector's Mansion, and secondly, because of Le Xin, who was going to marry into the Jin Palace, after keeping filial piety.

Le Xin has not yet entered the mansion, and King Jin is running to the mansion of the second master of Nale every day regardless of etiquette! Thinking of fascinating people like that before entering the mansion, how could Princess Jin not hate?!

Goodbye Le Xi was born with this delicate appearance again, thinking that Le Xin was only one year older than her, it was the age of picking, and the hatred burst out from the bottom of her heart and couldn't help but stab her twice. But who knew that this young girl looked at her, but her mouth was very clever, and she didn't reveal her words. Dare to mock her for being kind and evil, and making provocative remarks!

Princess Jin was angry and hurt at this time, but she couldn't refute it, so she could only be laughed at by the ministers and wives in the palace in vain! King Jin vomited so much that he almost broke his nails.

"Look, in the end, I'm still young, and when I talk about this birth, I'll be bored." It was when the hall was silent and embarrassing, and the queen mother who was sitting on the high seat made a voice to let Princess Jin step down. "Xi girl, this is Princess Jin, you should have seen it at the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet last year. Your second uncle's daughter didn't mean that she was given to King Jin as a side concubine, so you are also a family. ”

Princess Jin?!

was mentioned by the Queen Mother, Le Xi seemed to have some impressions, and the uniform system seemed to be the princess's uniform. immediately bowed to Princess Jin: "The courtiers are clumsy, they can't recognize it as the princess, and they forget their sins." ”

With the Queen Mother from Zhongyuanhe, no matter how angry and hateful King Jin is, he can only grit his teeth secretly and laugh hypocritically. "It's your fault, you've only been out of the cabinet for a short time, and it's normal to don't know me if you don't socialize at home. Speaking of which, we are really a family in the future, and you will come to the palace to chat with me when you are free. ”

Le Xi smiled, and the Queen Mother talked to the minister's wife next to her about something else, and she sat down quietly. Zeng gave her an appreciative look, and Le Xi also smiled.

After all the low-ranking women knocked on it, it was already three o'clock in Shenzhong, and the palace maids had prepared for the banquet and asked the queen mother to move.

A large group of women accompanied the Queen Mother to the banquet in the Imperial Garden, during which Le Xi went to change her clothes under the pretext of quietly following a palace maid.

Finally alone, Le Xi asked the palace maid to guard the outside of the house, and she took out the note in her sleeve and opened it.

It is not a familiar handwriting, and the book cannot be left alone.

Le Xi's eyebrows jumped, and then he folded the note, received the purse he carried, and was led by the little palace maid to the banquet place.

When they came to the seat of the Protector's Mansion, Zeng and the Protector were already sitting there, and Le Xi and the two of them bowed and sat down honestly. The Lord Protector glanced at her, his mouth moved, but he didn't say a word. Ke Lexi saw the hint in his eyes clearly, to make her more vigilant?!

What to be wary of? Watch out for what?!

Could it be that something is going to happen tonight?!

Le Xi's heart suddenly became uneasy.

The Empress Dowager's Qianqiu Banquet was officially unveiled under the emperor's order, the sound of congratulations resounded above the palace, and the fireworks were also ignited at this time, and the colors were presented in the sky. Singing and dancing performances also came one after another, this year there were Mongolian envoys, and the five princesses led the Mongolian maids to dance to the Queen Mother.

The atmosphere of the banquet was lively.

During the banquet, Le Xi's heart had never settled, and he always felt that the actions of the two fathers and sons would have a big event. She also looked at Le Shaoyuan frequently, but saw that he was sitting alone at the table, very indifferent, and respected the ministers next to her.

Looking around, there were heavily guarded forbidden troops all around, but Lu Yu was not found.

What the hell is going on? Le Xi bit her lip and took a sip of the tea in her hand, her thoughts chaotic.

Just when Le Xi couldn't figure it out, a green-clothed palace maid quietly leaned in and whispered in her ear that Le Shaoyuan had something urgent to find her.

Le Xi was shocked, and raised his eyes to see Le Shaoyuan's location, the figure that was still there soon ago was already missing at this time.

Le Xi couldn't make up her mind and wanted to ask the Protector in front of her, but the Protector also stood up a little shaky at this time, and walked out without saying a word. Zeng also followed.

This is...... Seeing that her father-in-law and mother-in-law had left the table, Le Xi pursed her lips and got up to let the palace maid lead the way.

The palace maid led Le Xi all the way to the path of the imperial garden, and the noise at the banquet slowly moved away, and it was a little unrecognizable.

But when he left, Le Xi also noticed that something was wrong and immediately stopped.

This direction is already leading to the harem, and when they came from the queen mother's palace, this is the direction!

Le Xi stopped, and the palace maid who led the way in front noticed it, and turned back and asked suspiciously: "Mrs. Shizi, a little further on, Anding Hou Dao is waiting for you behind the woods." ”

Hearing the palace maid's words, Le Xi was quietly ready to retreat, and the smile on her face was still the same: "Well, I just sat for a long time and suddenly walked for such a while, and my legs seemed to be about to take a menstrual period and stop to rest." Now that it's all right, you can continue to lead the way. ”

Le Xi said and bent down and hung down her legs and stomach, the palace maid's eyes flashed with loneliness, and it can be seen that the next moment Le Xi straightened up and looked at her with a smile, so he accepted his doubts and turned around and continued to move forward.

The moment she turned around, Le Xi ran in the direction of travel without hesitation, and by the time the palace maid noticed it, the two had already opened up a distance of more than ten steps.

The palace maid secretly said badly, and hurriedly turned to chase her, hating Jile Xi in her heart for being so vigilant, but she still noticed the abnormality. And when the palace maid turned to chase after her, she also took out a silver whistle from her bosom and put it to her lips and blew a few syllables like a bird's cry...... (To be continued......)

PS: Thank you athenais for the monthly pass, and the peace charm that is better for being alone than for everyone