The princess's birthday banquet began in the afternoon, and the ladies of the officials above the fifth rank were invited. It's just that only the name of the head of the house and the descendants will appear on the invitation list.

The official sedan chairs of each family stopped in front of the palace gate, and after confirming the roster, they would be led to Qionghua Palace by a special person. The guests are all dressed up, and the royal family's banquet lady and lady attach great importance to it, and the seventh princess is the treasure on the tip of the emperor's heart.

Xia Qingyi, who was dressed as a maid in the crowd, hid in the corner and ate pastries, leisurely observing the social life of this dynasty, which can be called the top "celebrity circle".

The afternoon program invited the most famous troupe in Bianjing, and arranged several famous jokes according to the preferences of the palace ladies and princesses.

After almost all the seats were seated, Chu Leyan sat down at the bottom of the stage and began to introduce Xia Qingyi to her huge royal family. In order not to attract attention, a crystal curtain was placed in the corner to separate the line of sight from the main stand.

Sitting in the middle is the queen of the middle palace who I saw in Qing'an Palace last time, wearing a big red peony and Bixialuo, and she has the demeanor of the mother's world. On her left hand sat the palace concubine Niangniang, who was also the queen of the queen, that is, Chu Leyan's mother, talking about her mother-in-law Chu Leyan looked proud, Xia Qingyi looked at her from her sight.

Pink peony smoke Luo soft yarn, eyes with spring water and face like clotted fat, a green silk combed into a Chinese bun, beautiful and graceful, I can't see that she is the mother of two children, no wonder she can always enjoy the emperor's favor.

Next to Chu Leyan's mother is Concubine Liang, when it comes to this lady in Western Xinjiang, she can clearly feel Chu Leyan's unconsciously revealed superiority.

may have married into Nanchu as a princess, but her mother gave birth to a son and a daughter, and she has always taken advantage of the emperor's grace for many years. And this good concubine has only one third princess under her knees, and because of her dull temperament, she is not loved by Emperor Nanchu.

Chu Leyan pointed to the woman on the queen's right hand who was wearing a dark blue outline treasure pattern dress, the years did not treat her kindly, and her eyebrows and eyes were dyed with faint fine lines when she smiled, but maybe it was the ups and downs of the vicissitudes of the royal family, and there was a natural indifference around her.

"The lady concubine is the most pitiful, my father entered the palace when he was still the prince, and she was originally the concubine who was married to the Ming media in the eight-lift sedan chair, but I don't know why after my father succeeded to the throne, he only sealed a concubine, alas!"

Although she said sympathy in her mouth, there was no pity on her face, this is the woman of the harem. Because this life revolves around the same man, there is no real compassion in front of the person you love.

"Then does this lady have an heir?" Xia Qingyi was really embarrassed by the ill-fated fate of these harem concubines. If there is not even a child, how empty and lonely the rest of the life of losing the emperor's favor must be!

"The second emperor brother is the son of the lady concubine, but... Alas! Chu Leyan's appearance of wanting to speak and stopping can probably guess that this person is not favored.

"Anyway, although in the palace, although the son is generally more expensive than the mother, it is also necessary for the mother to be favored, and the father will be favored!"

Xia Qingyi looked at Chu Leyan with a smile and a straight back when she said this.

Sure enough, those who can't get it are always in turmoil, and those who are favored have nothing to fear.

Xia Qingyi peeled a fruit and handed it to Chu Leyan, suggesting that she would change her object again.

"Next to Concubine Shu is Concubine De, her father is the teacher of the emperor of the palace, so the father said that he should take care of the face of the master and not be too cold."

"Did your father tell you personally?" This kind of overly personal words really don't seem to come from a superior person, so Xia Qingyi is very puzzled.

"Well, once the palace asked my father why he always went to other mothers, didn't he keep talking about the mother concubine who loved the palace the most?" pursed his mouth, Chu Leyan's face was full of displeasure.

"But the father said that he is not the father of a person in this palace, he has a lot of responsibilities that must be taken on, so mentioned Concubine De Niangniang, but the six princes she gave birth to are really cute, but they are much stronger than the monkey brother in this palace."

Just when the two of them were immersed in their own world and talking, there was a commotion in the distance, Chu Le's face suddenly darkened, and the two willow eyebrows were wrinkled together, who was so blind and dared to do something on her birthday!!

The concubine also stood up and walked up quickly, after all, it was her daughter's banquet, and she also had to take care of it.

"Sister, what's the matter, what can make you angry!?" The nightingale-like voice made Xia Qingyi, who was originally following Chu Leyan with her head down, couldn't help but raise her eyes and glance at it. I saw the concubine Niangniang talking while pulling up the troublesome woman's matter, and gently patting the back of her hand with a handkerchief, full of flattery.

"This is the virtuous concubine, the mother of the eldest brother, she used to be a palace maid, and her father was favored by the emperor after being drunk once, so good fate, pregnant with a dragon heir, the most careful!" Chu Leyan leaned over Xia Qingyi's ear and whispered softly, his expression revealing disgust.

Although he said disgust, Chu Leyan, as the host of the banquet, still gave the head of the troupe a pause gesture, and dragged Xia Qingyi reluctantly towards the virtuous concubine.

"At the beginning, it sounded good, and it was sent to Yixia Hall to let the palace pick a play book, but now, this palace has not seen the play of the palace lined up on the booklet, since this is the case, why do you need to pretend to send it to the palace to have fun?" The concubine's sharp questioning made everyone on the field frown.

"Sister, don't worry, maybe it's missing, don't worry about it, don't worry about it, what's the big deal, just add it later" The concubine Niangniang hurriedly said to reassure her.

Chu Leyan has been loved by the Southern Chu Emperor as an eyeball since he was a child, how can he stand such a grievance. stepped forward and pulled back his mother's hand, and said sarcastically.

"The words of the virtuous concubine are really not good, the drama of two hours must be the first to choose the harem masters love to watch, and then it must be close to the queen's preferences, this is the birthday of the palace, and the palace must also order a few scenes that you love to watch, if it really can't be arranged, it's a natural thing, why come to you to have fun?"

And one more, are you worthy???? Chu Leyan didn't say anything, but just now it was enough to stimulate Concubine Xian's nerves.

Sure enough, after listening to Chu Leyan's words, her face turned red, and she clenched her hands into fists because she tried her best to restrain the anger in her heart. Half a sound, but no seizures, just a cold snort.

The queen mother saw that the situation was wrong, and finally couldn't help but open her mouth:

"Okay, what does my sister want to see, I'll arrange it for you next, it's Xiao Qi's birthday, don't spoil the fun, otherwise the emperor will be angry." As soon as he opened his mouth, he used the emperor to press the virtuous concubine, and the other party was immediately deflated. pursed his lips, replied with a sentence of "Queen Xie's mother, Longen" and sat back.

Such an episode stirred up the interest of most people, and several mothers later found excuses to leave the scene early, and Chu Leyan even threw his anger on the virtuous concubine when he saw this.

"The little family is rotten, and he can't get on the table." Chu Leyan did not lower his voice, and almost everyone present could hear it clearly, but everyone had a tacit understanding and lowered their heads and pretended to be dead. Only the concubine Niangniang cast a warning look. Chu Leyan also realized that she had lost her words, but her temperament had always refused to admit her mistakes, and when she saw that she was in trouble, she quickly turned around and pulled Xia Qingyi away.

The training in the recent days was not in vain, Xia Qingyi was led by her across half of the palace, the two of them were tired and panting, and suddenly burst out laughing, and helped each other to find a place to sit down.

"I heard you introduce so much just now, why don't you seem to have four princes?" Xia Qingyi finally couldn't help but asked.

"Hey, Sister Xia, you actually know that sick seedling!?" As if he had suddenly been interested, Chu Leyan sat up straight, staring at Xia Qingyi with bright eyes.

"No, no, I don't know" Xia Qingyi turned her head away, and her voice trembled a little.

"I just counted one, two, three。。。。。 If you find that the four princes are missing, just ask! Like a drum in her heart, Xia Qingyi didn't dare to look at Chu Leyan at all, so she could only keep fiddling her fingers to turn her anxiety.

"The fourth emperor brother of this palace is actually a poor person, and the mother concubine is the first queen and died early. The children in the palace have no mother, which is equivalent to no dependence, and their health is not good, in short, no one in the palace brothers and sisters wants to play with him, saying that he is hard and will be close to his relatives. ”

What bullshit rumors, Xia Qingyi almost couldn't control herself from scolding, but she knew that she couldn't let Chu Leyan notice her abnormality. She closed her eyes, tried to suppress the anger surging in her heart, and continued to ask:

"Do you hate him too? You know he's so pitiful, why don't you treat him better!? How can he say that he is also your royal brother, and he is also related to you by blood, if you treat him like your royal brothers and sisters, what is the difference between you and them!? ”

Chu Leyan couldn't withstand Xia Qingyi's righteous and awe-inspiring questioning at all, and lowered his head with a look of shame. Yes, I know that he is innocent and how wronged he is, but I have become a member of the isolated party.

"The mother concubine didn't let the palace play with the four emperor brothers, saying that he was in poor health and was sick to us, and the four emperor brothers didn't like to talk at all, and they had a cold face all day long, and no one dared to approach!" The slightly aggrieved tone became lighter and lighter, which made Xia Qingyi feel that she might be talking too much, her original intention was not to blame her, but when she knew that he was going to face the malicious speculation and deliberate exclusion of so many people at a young age, she couldn't help but feel distressed.

The two of them were embarrassed for a moment because of this question, and they refused to speak again. But I heard a familiar male voice break the silence, and it was Duan Yixuan.

"The Seventh Princess's dinner is about to start, the concubine said that you are gone, you have a big temper, decent people are looking for you everywhere, please go back with Weichen as soon as possible."

is really a humble and polite wooden man, Xia Qingyi sighed in her heart, but still decided to give the little couple a little more private space.

"Princess, you go back with Master Duan first, the slave has a little stomach pain, and I will go directly to the banquet to find you later!" As soon as the words fell, they ran out of the sight of the two.

Although Chu Leyan was happy in his heart, he hadn't figured out how to face Duan Yixuan since that day, and his sudden appearance overwhelmed him, so he watched Xia Qingyi leave her, and secretly cursed in his heart for being unrighteous, and then pretended to be calm.

"Aren't you going to a dinner party, don't lead the way!"

But seeing that Duan Yixuan suddenly looked embarrassed, he looked at himself in a daze, and in Chu Leyan's surprise, he knelt down on one knee and said:

"The minister has something to ask for!"

Jumped by him like this, Chu Leyan wanted to reach out to help him up, but when he reached halfway, he felt that something was wrong or shrank back, turned his head and pretended not to look at him, and forcibly maintained a calm tone.

"You get up and speak first, as long as you don't ask too much, this palace will allow you."

The person in front of him still didn't get up, but clasped his hands into fists and bowed deeply.

"Tonight, at your birthday banquet, there will be other princes from neighboring countries to celebrate your birthday, and the minister wants to invite, I want to invite..." Duan Yixuan's face flushed, and he almost wanted to bury his head in the ground.

"What do you want, can you not swallow it!" When an anxious person encounters a person who is grinding and chirping, his blood pressure really soars instantly.

"Minister, the minister wants to ask the princess if the emperor asks about your wishes, you can refuse to marry the prince of a neighboring country!"

What!??? Chu Leyan's eyes widened in surprise at his words.