C121

Seeing that the empress dowager was looking at her, the woman immediately stood up and respectfully lowered her eyes. She replied, "Reporting to the empress dowager, maidservant Shen Qin is the daughter of Shen Qian, a Grand Scholar of Wen Yuan Pavilion."

"So it's Shen Qing's daughter, why didn't you enter the palace for the feast a few years ago?"

In reply to the empress dowager, maidservant has shallow knowledge, and is afraid that he might disrespect her and offend her, so he has not dared to come to the palace in the past. Today, father has repeatedly requested for maidservant to not delay this.

When Shen Qin answered, she was extra careful, afraid that if she said something wrong, she would make the empress dowager unhappy.

The empress dowager, however, always had a smile on her face. "Miss Shen need not be so formal, just for the holidays. There's no need to be so formal, as long as it's casual."

But even though they said they had to do as they pleased, it was still the empress dowager's place. No matter how casual they were, no one dared to actually do as they pleased.

However, the girls present found it hard to believe that the silent girl before them was the daughter of Scholar Shen, one of the three men on par with the Grand Preceptor's prime minister.

Other than Pang Yue Qiu, no one had a position as high as Shen Qin.

Everyone sighed inwardly as they couldn't help but feel that it was a bit embarrassing.

When he thought about that slut by the empress dowager's side, he realized that her background might not be ordinary either.

Liu Ruo Qing did not have the mind to care about these people. After hearing Shen Qin's self-introduction, her eyes once again returned to her body.

Shen Qin?

What a familiar name.

Now that he heard the name, the more he thought about it, the more familiar it felt.

She stared at Shen Qin for a long time. Suddenly, she came to a realization.

So it was her.

Wasn't she the daughter of Shen Yuan's elder sister who was part of the investigation into the death of Shen Yuan? Shen Yuan's stepfather was Shen Chong's biological daughter who was born with her original wife.

At that time, when she was at Shen Mansion, she had always been by his side and did not make a sound. She had met him a few times, and because she did not communicate with him, her impression of him was not deep either.

They only knew that in the entire Shen Mansion, other than the Liu's, Shen Chong and Shen Qin, the stepfathers, were very good to Shen Yuan. Although they were not sisters, it was said that they were also very close to each other.

Isn't she Shen Chong's daughter? How did he become Scholar Shen's daughter again?

Liu Ruo Qing had an intense question in her heart, but she did not expect to ask it at this time.

Just as she was flabbergasted, the empress dowager's casual yet purposeful voice sounded out. "In this palace banquet, aside from the fact that Wailing Home is going to spend the holidays with all his relatives, there's another very important matter …"

At this point, the empress dowager deliberately paused for a moment. Her smiling gaze swept over the group of maidservant disciples.

The empress dowager continued, "The emperor has already reached the age for marriage, it's time to set up the empress dowager. This Wailing Home wants to select the most suitable empress to help him manage the imperial harem, and continue the heir of my Easternum."

When the empress dowager spoke up to this point, all of the female servants present were so happy that they wanted to move. Their eyes shone brightly, wishing they could run over to the empress dowager right now and show off.

Even Pang Yue Qiu who had his own thoughts had begun to stir up when he heard the empress dowager's suggestion.

Just from the emperor's handsome face and outstanding grace alone, he had already captivated countless young ladies.

Liu Ruo Qing panicked when she heard the empress dowager's words.

Is royal sister-in-law trying to force a marriage?

She actually acted for him even when she clearly knew that Kaiser liked Yun Jiao Rong.

Liu Ruo Qing gazed at the female servants, the corners of her mouth twitched in disdain, and she softly said, "You overestimate yourself."

Although her voice was soft, she didn't intentionally lower it, so the empress dowager sitting by her side could naturally hear her clearly.

Not knowing why she said that, the empress dowager looked at her in confusion. "What's wrong, Tian Xin, is there a problem with Wailing Home's suggestion?"

Liu Ruo Qing didn't think that the empress dowager would ask him so directly. She was stunned for a moment, then was about to speak up.

"It's not that there's any problem, it's just …"

"The emperor has arrived!"

A sharp voice sounded from outside the hall, forcefully interrupting Liu Ruo Qing's words.

Inside the hall, everyone's gazes moved from Liu Ruo Qing to the outside, their eyes filled with fervor and anticipation.

Although they were the daughters of ministers, it wasn't easy for them to see the Emperor.

It was only when there was a banquet in the palace every year that they would meet, and they wouldn't even be able to speak a few words in earnest.

Very quickly, a yellow figure appeared at the entrance of the longevity palace. The nine dragons made of golden silk spiralled around, wearing a nine-Jeweled golden crown, and with a handsome appearance, everyone's gazes were attracted to him following the aura of a king descending upon the world.

This person was undoubtedly the Kaiser, but, beside the Kaiser, there was also a shockingly beautiful young lady. Just her appearance alone was enough to overwhelm everyone present.

All the girls present looked at Yun Jiao Rong with hostility flowing out of their eyes.

It's not that they weren't familiar with Yun Jiao Rong, it's that they knew that the Kaiser had its own feelings for her. Even though the Tutor Yun had already passed on, Yun Jiao Rong's position in the Emperor's heart did not decrease in the slightest.

Just now, even when he went to the longevity palace to pay his respects to the empress dowager, the emperor had already personally brought her along. It was easy to imagine who the empress the emperor desired was.

However, after so long, the Emperor didn't have any plans for the future, and he didn't know why.

This was the only reason they could think of. Otherwise, the empress dowager wouldn't take advantage of the banquet to stand behind the Emperor.

All the girls smiled mockingly in their hearts. The emperor had always ruled the world with his filial piety. Since the empress dowager didn't agree, so what if the emperor liked it?

It was precisely because of this thought that these girls naturally still had a sliver of hope in their hearts.

Not counting the emperor's words, the most important thing was to make the empress dowager like her.

When Kaiser brought Yun Jiao Rong into the great hall of longevity palace, everyone kneeled down and bowed, "Long live the Emperor.

Kaiser came before the empress dowager and paid her respects. "This son greets Imperial Mother."

"maidservant Yun Jiao Rong greets the empress dowager."

Yun Jiao Rong knelt down in front of the empress dowager in a slightly formal manner to pay his respects.

The empress dowager gave Yun Jiao Rong a bland glance, then slightly raised her right hand.

Then, the Kaiser turned to the group of kneeling women and said: "All of you, rise."

Although Yan Shuo did not act too coldly, there was always a hint of coldness in his words and actions.

Only in front of Yun Jiao Rong would he be able to restrain all the cold lines.

Yan Shuo brought Yun Jiao Rong in front of Liu Ruo Qing, and his smile slowly flowed out of his eyes. "Ninth Aunt, didn't we say that you don't have to bow, and you don't have to be so courteous in front of us in the future?"

Hm? Did you say that? Why didn't I know?

Liu Ruo Qing looked up at Yan Shuo in astonishment and saw him looking at his with a beautiful smile. It was obvious that he wanted something from her.

She thought back to that day in longevity palace, when eighth brother said Yun Jiao Rong, the empress dowager's face looked displeased when he mentioned him, and she immediately understood.

Could it be that this brat was worried that the one he treasured had been wronged by the empress dowager's own mother, so he planned to curry favor with her so she could protect the person he loved?

Liu Ruo Qing rolled her eyes, looking at Yan Shuo's fawning smile with disdain.

He didn't notice that at this moment, the entire hall was in a breathless atmosphere.

When the girls heard Yan Shuo calling them "Ninth Aunt" personally, their faces turned pale. They stared at Liu Ruo Qing's face in disbelief, their eyes filled with an intense unease and fear.

Other than the Crown Princess Jing, who else could the Emperor call Ninth Aunt?

Crown Princess Jing! This arrogant and flamboyant little bitch was actually Crown Princess Jing.