usatvline Chapter 141 Opportunity
Chapter 141 Opportunity
As time passed, the day of the palace banquet finally arrived.
The Zheng family was ready to go and they marched in a procession of carriages towards the palace.
Su Wanyu was in the same carriage with Madam Zheng and Little Guo. The whispers of the people along the way could be clearly heard: "The Marquis of Changping Mansion is indeed a wealthy family in the capital. They were invited by His Majesty to attend the birthday banquet. They really have a bright future!"
"That's right. There was the incident of Concubine Hui being demoted earlier. If the Zheng family can get the emperor's new favor today, I'm afraid it will reach a higher level."
"But, didn't I hear that the fourth young lady of the Zheng family has drowned?"
"Although the Fourth Miss is gone, the Fifth Miss is still here. Rumor has it that the Fifth Miss is very talented and beautiful. She was taught by Madam Zheng herself and was trained according to the palace's standards. Her demeanor may be even more outstanding than the Fourth Miss."
As the convoy gradually moved away from the crowd, the three people in the car had their own thoughts, but a common goal tied them together tightly, and they slowly moved forward towards the unknown future full of opportunities.
Inside the car, Madam Zheng gently lifted the curtain and heard whispers from outside. A barely perceptible smile appeared at the corner of her mouth, and that smile contained a bit of indifference and pride.
Mother Zhou, who was sitting nearby, seemed to sense the pride in her master's heart. She skillfully kneaded the old lady's shoulders with her hands and raised her chin slightly. Her posture seemed to be approving of the comments from the outside world, and secretly revealed her satisfaction and pride in herself.
In another corner of the car, Su Wanyu gently closed her eyes, her long eyelashes trembling slightly, with complex emotions surging in her heart.
The word "palace concubine" is like a stone thrown into the lake of the heart, causing ripples and foreshadowing the twists and turns and unknowns of the future road.
In her previous life, the woman named Zheng Luoxi had never had such an opportunity, but now, this sudden opportunity is both a gift and an elusive challenge for Su Wanyu.
As the carriage slowly moved forward, the gate of the Forbidden City was slowly pushed open, revealing an ancient and mysterious atmosphere.
Led by palace maids and eunuchs, the group set foot on the bluestone road leading to the magnificent palace. With every step they took, they seemed to hear the echo of history reverberating under their feet.
Finally, they stopped in front of the Yaoguang Hall, the core of this grand birthday banquet.
Inside the hall, the lights were as bright as day. A Hu Xuan dancer in a fiery red dance costume danced gracefully like a leaping flame. The sounds of bells and drums intertwined into a song of grand celebration. The air was filled with the festive joy and solemnity.
Su Wanyu walked gracefully into the right side of the hall along with an experienced palace maid and sat down gracefully in the third row of seats. On either side of her were Wang and her third brother's wife, Pei, and the three of them sat side by side.
The more distinguished second row is the exclusive seat for Mrs. Guo, Old Madam Zheng, and Zheng Chengyuan.
The first row was even more honorable. Zheng Chengyan and the eldest son of Prime Minister Wu sat proudly. Their invisible aura of power seemed to freeze the air around them.
Regardless of the eyes of people around her and the constraints of court etiquette, Old Madam Zheng insisted on leading Zheng Luoxi to sit next to her. This action undoubtedly touched Wang's sensitive nerves. The look she cast sideways at her was cold and sharp, full of disdain and dissatisfaction.
"A daughter of a concubine has actually overstepped her bounds to such a position. Aren't you afraid that outsiders will misunderstand that our Zheng family has lost its sense of propriety and has disregarded even the most basic etiquette?"
The third wife of the Pei family, who was sitting next to her, could not hide her displeasure, and jealousy in her eyes spread like weeds: "I'm afraid the old lady is too old and confused.
"Back then, the fourth sister was the legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Changping, but what kind of status can this fifth young lady have? Her behavior is full of worldly airs, how is she different from those concubines?"
Faced with these harsh words, Su Wanyu remained silent, like a calm well, only the surface of her heart was slightly rippled by these words.
Just as the drums and music were resounding and the atmosphere was heated, a seemingly inconspicuous little palace maid came to her side quietly. When no one was paying attention, she handed her a small package and whispered, "The prince knows that the lady finds the banquet boring, so he specially ordered me to bring the Nanrong specialty preserves, hoping to add some fun to the lady."
Su Wanyu gently took the package, her voice as warm as a spring breeze: "Thank you for your kindness, young lady."
Her tone was soft and pleasant, like a warm spring breeze, blowing through people's hearts.
When the little palace maid heard such a gentle answer, her originally reserved expression gradually relaxed, revealing a bright smile, and then she bowed and left.
In fact, the true identity of this little palace maid is Aunt Qingya who lives deep in the imperial city. She used to be a secret guard in the Princess's Mansion. Later, she was arranged by the Regent to be by Emperor Xuan's side, responsible for taking care of the little prince's daily life.
After opening the package, the unique sweet aroma of Nanrong candied fruit instantly spreads in the palm of your hand. Each sweet dried apricot is just the right size, and the sweet and sour taste instantly moisturizes the mouth, while also awakening deep nostalgia for the distant hometown.
Since the moment I stepped into the Zheng family's door, this simple sweetness seemed to have become an unattainable luxury.
At this moment, this gift personally arranged by Gu Linjun made her feel a touch of warmth and care in the cycle of fate.
She gently took a bite of the candied fruit, and at that moment, her eyes inadvertently met Gu Linjun who was sitting in the front row.
He held a wine glass in his hand, his expression indifferent but profound, his eyes under his thick eyelashes seemed to be able to penetrate the crowd and look straight into her heart.
That look was like a sealed flame, calm on the surface but burning with a fiery emotion that could not be ignored.
Throughout the hall, the guests were still talking, and everyone was looking forward to the arrival of the young prince.
Among all this, only Zheng Chengyan keenly caught Gu Linjun's unusual look.
When he looked up, he happened to witness the moment when the two people's eyes met.
Zheng Chengyan unconsciously turned his head and looked towards Su Wanyu, only to see that she was gazing at Gu Linjun with the same affection.
This scene caused the wine glass in his hand to suddenly slip. The crisp sound of shattering rang out in the hall, echoing in everyone's ears and also attracting the attention of everyone around.
Young Master Wu, who was standing by, had a handsome face, a smile in the corners of his eyes, and a playful yet meaningful smile on his lips. He spoke slowly, and every word seemed to be carefully crafted, with a hint of teasing and puzzlement: "Second Young Master Zheng, you have always been a frequent guest at palace banquets, and you are always calm and graceful. Why do you seem so nervous today? You even seem to have trouble holding the glass of wine in your hand?"
There was banter between friends and subtle mockery in the words.
In recent years, the second son of the Zheng family has been plagued by many rumors that are unfavorable to his mother. It is like a silent storm. Inside and outside the capital, people are talking about it and the rumors are spreading, almost to the point of boiling over.