Chapter 454: Concubine Banquet

Chapter 454

The Jiang Family was practically all present for this concubine selection banquet. Considering that Xu Mo was alone, Jiang Chengfeng took the initiative to invite him along, and Jiang Sheng simply stayed in the small courtyard in the second wing. UppTodated from nô/v/e/lb(i)n.c(o)/m

They just waited until dawn broke, changing into tidy but not flashy clothes, and waited at the gate.

"Jiang Sheng, do you really have to go? Can you really not pretend to be sick?" Zheng Ruqian looked towards the borderlands, then back at the imperial city, still more worried than lonely in the end. "Although Xiao Si is not here, I remember he talked about a kind of pretending sickness."

If nothing else, ruthlessly suck on broad beans to the point of collapse, which would be better than entering the imperial city and getting plotted against.

Jiang San and Jiang Si nodded beside, their eyes full of agreement.

Xu Mo sighed, just about to explain the importance of selecting concubines, when Jiang Sheng spoke up.

"I asked Grandmother and little Yu yesterday, you actually can pretend to be sick." She spoke seriously. "However, second brother, it's not just little Yu going into the palace this time, but also Sister Yao, Sister Dou, and even Sister Qi."

Those friendly elite young ladies were all going into the palace too. One person could pretend illness, but too many would be equal to slapping the Imperial Court in the face.

Rather than let Yao Siqing or Dou Jingyi be isolated, it would be better for everyone to enter and leave together, guarding against each other, which would definitely be better than allies becoming enemies.

The reason why Old Lady Jiang attended despite her exhaustion was also because she thought of this level.

Xu Mo attended the banquet alone, similarly also to maintain the power behind the elite families who were loyal to him, not wanting him to lose these connections.

Or rather, they wanted to maintain the families loyal to the main family, not wanting the main family to lose these arms.

"But..." Zheng Ruqian finally conceded defeat. "With everyone gone, it'll just be me left alone. Don't forget to come back early, I'll kill a sheep and cook it for you!"

The short murmur fully expressed his loneliness. The six siblings were scattered to the four directions, each striving hard.

Jiang Sheng sucked in her nose, just about to say something, when the Jiang family carriages arrived.

She could only look at Zheng Ruqian and say solemnly, "Second brother, don't worry. Leave a big sheep leg for me, I'll be back tonight to eat it."

"What, what sheep leg?" Jiang Chengyu stuck his head out. "Is there a portion for me too?"

The solemn atmosphere instantly became cheerful. Jiang Chengfeng laughed and scolded at the side, "So shameless."

He then looked at Xu Mo. "Brother Xu, please come up. The imperial exam is coming up soon, don't forget our agreement."

"Niece." Old Lady Jiang called out from the front.

Jiang Sheng didn't dare let her thoughts run wild, and ran over like a wisp of smoke.

Upon entering Yanhui Pavilion, males and females had to separate.

Xu Mo was still somewhat worried, and hadn't managed to remind them before Jiang Chengfeng pulled him away. "Brother Xu, don't worry. I guarantee my two younger sisters will definitely be fine, safe and sound! If anything happens you can pull my head off to play with..."

He spoke more and more crazily.

Second Lady Jiang shook her head helplessly, but she also couldn't be bothered with him. Everywhere was filled with wives of families on good terms, as well as those here to pay respects to Old Lady Jiang. She was busy to the point of dizzying distraction.

Jiang Sheng and Jiang Chengyu weren't idle either. First they met Yao Siqing, then saw Dou Jingyi. Qi Yue was also following Madam Qi in. They needed to exchange pleasantries and social niceties.

This process wasn't different from the Spring Viewing Banquet. It emphasized interpersonal relationships and social finesse, back and forth interaction.

The difference would probably be the attendance of the consorts this time.

It was also known that this concubine selection banquet definitely wouldn't be simple.

The uninterested in prince consort positions kept quiet, neither chatting in groups of three or two, nor strolling under the trees.

They were fully vigilant, waiting for the imperial clan and consorts to step into Yanhui Pavilion.

"For this kind of concubine and consort selection, if the Empress was still around it should be hosted by the Empress." Yao Siqing used an imperceptible voice to remind. "With Yan Empress' passing, Noble Consort Ju is the most favored in the rear palace. This should all be under her arrangements."

And also because of this, they needed to be even more vigilant and cautious.

These few girls were isolated and weak. At most they could follow behind their mothers or grandmothers, without even personal servants, easily falling prey to plots.

"Sister Yao, don't act alone. If anything happens just call for us to come together." Jiang Sheng quietly reminded.

Yao Siqing pursed her lips in a smile, lightly glancing at Dou Jingyi again. "Alright."

Right as their voices faded, the imperial clan arrived with the rear palace's people. This time there was no back door used, it was a majestic procession from the front entrance.

Noble Consort Ju truly lived up to being the favored consort. Covered in gold and silver it could be said she was a walking mountain of ore. Her clothes were also extremely close to cardinal red, slightly behind the imperial clan by half a step. From afar it looked as if she was shoulder-to-shoulder.

Consort Chu and Consort Min followed deferentially behind her with lowered heads. She had gorgeous brows and eyes, full of confidence upon sweeping her gaze onto Jiang Chengyu, revealing a sure of victory smile.