20demayo Chapter 752 Looks so much like a family
Chapter 752 Looks so much like a family
Before Jiang Fenghua could sit down, Empress Dowager Cheng came over in a luxurious phoenix robe. She walked past Jiang Fenghua and sat in the middle seat as if no one was around. Everyone was staring at her and almost forgot to greet her. The news about the Empress Dowager and her cousin spread throughout the palace at the fastest speed.
The maids, eunuchs and concubines in the harem all knew about it, and the guards in the palace also knew about it. As for the people outside the palace, it had already spread like wildfire.
Things were far worse than Empress Dowager Cheng had imagined. It was as if someone had set up a trap specifically to target her. Her biggest enemy was Su Qingqing, and she thought it was Su Qingqing's doing.
At this time, Queen Mother Cheng, adhering to the attitude of "a person of integrity has nothing to fear from his own shadow", glanced at everyone coldly and said in a deep voice, "You are all watching what I am doing. After the Queen took over the harem, the entire harem has become more and more unruly."
Immediately, everyone bowed to Empress Dowager Cheng again: "Your servants pay their respects to Her Majesty the Empress Dowager. May Her Majesty be blessed with good health."
Empress Dowager Cheng raised her hand and said, "No need to be polite!"
Everyone said again: "Thank you, Queen Mother."
At this time, the Empress Dowager raised her lips in a provocative manner and directly exposed Jiang Fenghua: "The Queen chose this juncture to organize a family banquet. I'm afraid there is an ulterior motive! Knowing that there are rumors about your mother-in-law, you still invite your mother-in-law to the banquet. Isn't this a slap in your mother-in-law's face?"
The Empress Dowager knew that Jiang Fenghua and Cheng Langjin had always had a bad relationship, and she said these words just to sow discord between Jiang Fenghua and the Empress Dowager Cheng.
Empress Dowager Cheng frowned, a hint of anger flashed in her eyes, and she glanced at Jiang Fenghua coldly. This vicious woman had such thoughts. Now Jiang Fenghua must be very happy, waiting to see her make a fool of herself.
Jiang Fenghua was neither humble nor arrogant, and behaved gracefully. She smiled and said, "So the Empress Dowager has also heard those rumors outside the palace? They are just rumors spread by the common people. They can't be taken seriously. I believe the Empress Dowager."
Empress Dowager Cheng looked at her again and felt that Jiang Fenghua was becoming more and more fake. She had pretended to be so pretentious in front of the emperor that the emperor developed a grudge against her as his mother.
"Empress Dowager, please don't take the rumors outside to heart. Your Majesty and I have analyzed what happened recently and it seems like someone is deliberately targeting the royal family." Jiang Fenghua said.
When everyone heard the queen say this, they were all confused and talked about it, "It turns out that someone wants to harm the emperor."
Jiang Fenghua added: "I summoned you here today not just to hold a family dinner, but also to remind you that the people outside the palace are discussing right and wrong for unknown reasons. However, as concubines in the harem, you must not listen to rumors and lose your composure."
The Third Princess said, "Your Majesty means that someone deliberately framed the Queen Mother and the Emperor. I have not been able to sleep well, eat well, and my eyelids are always twitching these past few days. I never thought that the Fourth Princess would be the murderer of Shu Xue, but when I think about it carefully, she was very suspicious when she went to the Li Mansion to worship that day."
The Third Princess continued, "I am still thinking that the Fourth Princess must have some difficulties. She has always been gentle and polite, how could she kill someone? I never thought that she would throw dirty water on the emperor and ruin his reputation. I also believe that the rumors outside the palace must be false. Someone is framing the relationship between the Queen Mother and my cousin. How they make up is really up to their mouths. They can turn white into black. The human heart is unpredictable and it is difficult to argue with reason!"
The Third Princess had a sad look on her face as if she was worried, and her words were the most pleasant to the ear. She wanted to offend neither gods nor ghosts, and she even called Xie Shang's cousin "cousin", which showed how casual she was.
Actually, what the Third Prince’s wife was thinking was: Life in the Third Prince’s Palace was okay, but things would change after Xie Shang’s fall, and it would be hard to say whether the Third Prince’s Palace would still have such good days after that, so she was clear about whose side to stand on.
Jiang Fenghua said: "It would be great if everyone thought like Third Sister-in-law."
With the Queen's words, everyone felt relieved and at ease.
The Grand Empress Dowager looked deeply at Jiang Fenghua and the Third Princess. They were indeed good at talking, but it was a pity that it would never be possible to clear the names of Xie Shang and Cheng Langjin.
The Third Princess said, "There are so many things happening in the palace. If the Queen has any instructions, please let me know. I will definitely help you in any way I can."
Jiang Fenghua smiled and said, "I really have something to ask Third Sister-in-law for help."
"You have a wide network of contacts outside the palace, and you can talk to the ministers' families. It would be best if Third Sister-in-law could help clarify the rumors that someone deliberately hurt the royal family." Jiang Fenghua knew that the Third Princess had this ability. Her ability to please everyone was better than that of the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The Third Princess said, "I will do my best."
Soon, Xie Shang, along with the two tutors and Shu Lang, arrived at the banquet hall. Everyone stood up and saluted: "Your Highness."
Xie Shang said, "No need to be polite."
He walked straight up to the Grand Empress Dowager and the Queen Mother and bowed slightly.
Empress Dowager Cheng felt embarrassed when she saw her son. Outsiders didn't know the relationship between her and her cousin, so she could fool them with Jiang Fenghua's remarks, but the emperor knew it.
Xie Shang said, "The Queen is hosting a family dinner, everyone should eat and drink well, and don't mind the rumors outside. Master Pan, Master Jiang, and Minister Shu, since you are here, why don't you sit down and have a drink together!"
Jiang Huai took the lead and said, "I didn't have breakfast and I'm hungry."
Master Pan said: "No matter how difficult things are outside, we still have to eat our fill."
Jiang Fenghua and Xie Shang looked at each other and said quickly, "Lian Ye, please set up the dishes and chopsticks for the adults."
Lian Ye went to prepare it respectfully.
Soon, the Second Prince, the Third Prince, the Fourth Prince, the Sixth Prince, the Eighth Prince, the Tenth Prince and others arrived one by one.
Seeing this, Xie Shang said, "Today is a family dinner, everyone, please don't be polite, just take a seat!"
Everyone said in unison: "Yes."
At this time, Concubine Chang also came to the banquet hall in her best attire. She also saw Shu Lang's figure. She suddenly became a little nervous. She tried her best to control her emotions and calmly walked over to salute everyone, "Greetings to the Grand Empress Dowager, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager."
She greeted them one by one, and the Empress Dowager stared at Concubine Chang, and a smile appeared on her lips. It turned out that she was Concubine Chang. She was also a beauty when she was young! No wonder Shu Lang was willing to work for her.
Jiang Fenghua spoke first: "Just wait for the Queen Mother to come."
Concubine Chang didn't say much, with a smile on her face. The Fourth Prince walked up to her and bowed, "Greetings, mother."
Jiang Fenghua suggested, "It's rare for the Fourth Prince to come to the palace to pay respects to the Concubine Dowager, and it's rare for the Concubine Dowager to leave the West Palace. I'll have someone put your seats together! The Fourth Prince should take good care of the Concubine Dowager."
There was nothing strange about Jiang Fenghua saying this, but when the seats were arranged, they found that their seats were right next to Minister Shu's.
Xie Shang said in a deep voice: "Don't stand anymore, sit down!"
Xie Shang took Jiang Fenghua's hand and walked towards the main seat. As soon as they sat down, they saw Xie Yang sandwiched between Shu Lang and Concubine Chang, looking like a family.
Concubine Chang was even a little reserved.