C75

A few days later would be the empress' birthday. This year's Empress' birthday was very different from the previous years. Because it was not a full birthday, but according to the usual practice, and because the Emperor's health was not very good recently, there was only a banquet held at the palace.

On that day, because Fang Zinan was still recovering from his injuries and was unable to go, Shang Yiqing had to prepare a gift for her husband.

The empress dowager's palace was filled with beautiful flowers and was brimming with joy. It was a scene of great celebration.

Since the emperor could not come personally due to illness, he sent a chief eunuch to help Zhang Luo. Empress Chen sat in the main seat, while Prince Yu and the secondary imperial concubine accompanied her.

Ning Wang, King Ding, Prince Xuan and the three princesses had already taken their seats, while the ministers in the imperial court were arranged in a row. Since Prince Rong couldn't attend, Shang Yiqing arranged for him to be under the secondary wife.

This kind of arrangement was understandable, as Empress Chen had always doted on Prince Rong. Since the latter had not come due to illness, she naturally had to take special care of him. She hadn't expected that the other princes would be so dissatisfied.

"Look, Prince Rong didn't come, but consort Rong sat by father's side. The empress is too biased." Princess Dingdang said in a low, unhappy voice.

"You all have seen it too. Look at how pleased Princess Consort Rong is with himself!" You don't even put us in your eyes, you must know that Prince Rong has the lowest position among all the princes, seeing her proud look, is truly infuriating! "

The corners of Princess Xuan's lips twitched. She wanted to say something, but held it in in the end.

At this moment, the princes stepped forward to toast him. "Give a toast to the Empress."

Shang Yiqing walked up as well. Although Prince Rong was not present, she had to give enough face as his consort and not embarrass the Residence of Rong.

"Rao Wangfei, has Prince Rong's body recovered yet?" Empress Chen asked with concern, she was disappointed that Prince Rong did not show up.

"In reply to the Empress, although Prince Rong's health isn't very good, he's always worried about you. Today, she specifically asked chenqie to drink two cups of longevity wine." Shang Yiqing took the opportunity to hand the wine over.

"It's rare for Prince Rong to have such filial piety. I really like it." Empress Chen said as she downed the cup.

"Empress, of course we shouldn't have just one glass of wine." Shang Yiqing poured another glass of wine and served it with both hands.

"Royal Concubine Rong is so obedient!" Empress Chen happily drank her second glass of wine.

After three drinks, Shang Yiqing withdrew and returned to her seat quietly. Just as she sat down, she heard Ning Wang sneer, "Princess Rong, how is Prince Rong? It can't be that he didn't come with an ulterior motive, right? "

Ning Wang obviously had something in his words that made Shang Yiqing roll his eyes unhappily, "I won't trouble you, Ning Wang. My prince is just feeling unwell and can't do anything with his ulterior motives."

"Haha, Imperial Concubine Rong sure knows how to joke around!" This prince heard that Prince Rong was playing with his imperial concubine a few days ago. It's really a deep relationship between husband and wife, why is it that on the day of the empress's birthday, he says he's too sick to come? Isn't he being disrespectful to the empress? " Ning Wang was overbearing and merciless.

Shang Yiqing snorted coldly and shot Ning Wang a disdainful glance. "My prince respects the empress with his words, unlike some people who keep their words to themselves. Who knows if he's really thinking this way?"

Ning Wang's expression changed. "What do you mean by that, Imperial Concubine?" Esteemed Empress, your Prince Rong is unable to come due to illness. Doesn't this explain everything? "

"Who doesn't know that my prince is always in bad health?" "If even the empress doesn't blame him, why would he keep it in his heart?" Shang Yiqing said carelessly, sneering at Ning Wang disdainfully.

"Sigh, it's not that Ning Wang is upset, but that what Prince Rong did was wrong! Though the empress wouldn't blame him, Ning Wang's actions weren't right. With the strength to swim around with wangfei, don't you have the strength to offer your birthday greetings to the Empress? " Ding Wang also added a sentence.

Shang Yiqing was furious. This group of fellows had always mocked and ridiculed Prince Rong. They had never thought that Prince Rong was their blood brother. It was a well-known fact that his health was not good, so they had never cared about each other's feelings! Thus, she cleared her throat and continued at a moderate pace, "The princes are right, but this concubine thinks that Prince Rong is the younger brother of each prince after all. Everyone knows that his health is not good, so why don't we consider our brotherly feelings and make sure to look for him?"

"Princess Rong, you're wrong!" King Xuan, who had been silent all this time, also opened his mouth, "We are not in search of the Blessing King's fault, we cannot understand. "You must know that the empress loves Prince Rong the most. Didn't you see that the empress was very disappointed that he didn't come today?"

"But the empress can understand this and doesn't blame him at all." Shang Yiqing tried to explain unhappily. Every time this happened, these princes would point their fingers at Prince Rong, as if he was the target of public criticism. Everyone had a strong prejudice against him.

"That is not what I said! Prince Rong should always reflect on himself. This year, the emperor was carrying an illness, and the Empress' birthday was much colder than in the past. As juniors, we should all come to congratulate him. Even if Prince Rong is sick, he must show his face! "

King Xuan unceremoniously accused Shang Yiqing, angering him to the point that his face alternated between red and white. How could she say that Fang Zinan was hurt in public? And the matter of Fang Zinan's injury was related to these princes. The princes didn't give up even though they knew she was trying to hide it. What kind of nonsense was that!

"Princes, please do not say anymore." Not knowing when, Xiao Tianyuan had already walked over to greet the princes. "Although Prince Rong isn't here today, consort Rong is here. "Princess Rong is just a woman, if any of the princes grabbed his and chattered endlessly to let others hear, they would think that the princes were bullying a weak girl!"

With these words, Shang Yiqing couldn't help casting a grateful gaze towards Xiao Tian Yuan. This Xiao Tian Yuan was always able to help her when she needed him the most. She really didn't know how to thank him!

Although the princes felt discontent in their hearts upon hearing Xiao Tian Yuan's words, they did not continue speaking and instead drank. Xiao Tian Yuan also retreated back to his seat.

The other consort, who was sitting beside Shang Yiqing, turned his head and smiled at him, "Consort Rong, please don't bother yourself with this. I know you treat Prince Rong very well."

The secondary concubine was a beauty to begin with. She had a sweet smile on her face; her beauty could not be measured. These words were spoken softly and softly. Shang Yiqing's bellyful of anger from before had mostly dissipated, and she could not help but smile at the imperial concubine, "Thank you for your concern, esteemed mistress."

Behind Shang Yiqing, there was a pair of eyes staring fixedly at the consort. Their eyes were filled with intoxication, and they seemed to be drunk even before they drank wine.