Bai Ke approached Ning Shouzhang and bowed slightly. "General Ning Yuan, Her Royal Highness the Princess invites your wife to have a little gathering."
Zhao Yiyi snorted. Without waiting for Ning Shouzhang's reply, she pulled out her arm that had been tucked under Ning Shouzhang's and walked towards Mo Qinghuan.
Ning Shouzhang gave Bai Ke a cold look and started chatting with the ministers.
As Zhao Yiyi walked towards Mo Qinghuan, she became more and more nervous with each step. Mo Qinghuan noticed her uneasiness and secretly laughed. This girl really couldn't hide anything. It was so easy to tell something was wrong with her.
When she got closer, just as she was about to bow, Dongxue supported her and let her sit down.
Zhao Yiyi glanced at Dongxue. Although she was unfamiliar, since she could stay by Mo Qinghuan's side, she must have been carefully selected by Mu Yanming.
Mo Qinghuan poured a cup of tea and gently pushed it in front of her. "Have a cup of tea." She seemed to be casually resting her chin on her hand, but in fact, she was always paying attention to Zhao Yiyi's movements.
Zhao Yiyi picked up the teacup and took a small sip, then gently put it down.
Suddenly, Mo Qinghuan grabbed her hand and looked it over carefully. When she saw the marks on the palm caused by the fingernails digging in due to tension, she understood everything.
Zhao Yiyi didn't know what she was up to and quickly pulled her hand back. Her smile was a bit awkward. "It's been a while. How have you been, Your Royal Highness?"
As soon as she said it, she regretted it. They had seen each other just a few days ago.
Mo Qinghuan didn't expose her. She just looked at her. Just when the situation was getting awkward, Gu Qinglan came over.
Zhao Yiyi subconsciously moved closer to Mo Qinghuan. Bai Ke was afraid that she would take action at this moment, so she stared intently at her movements.
Gu Qinglan was holding a wine cup in her hand. She seemed to be in a bad mood, and there was already a faint blush on her cheeks. Mo Qinghuan glanced at her indifferently and slightly raised her slender eyebrows. Besides her, no one else would get drunk like this before the banquet started.
Gu Qinglan half - leaned on the low table, waving her hand in the air.
Gu Qing, who was following Minister Gu, looked solemn. He wished he could go over and protect Gu Qinglan, but he found that he had neither the right nor the ability to do so.
Suddenly, Gu Qinglan laughed. She stared straight at Zhao Yiyi, making the latter feel uneasy. "Zhao Yiyi, I remember how close you and Mo Yao used to be, like real sisters. Who would have thought that you would become good friends with Mo Qinghuan in the future."
As soon as she said this, Mo Qinghuan clearly noticed Zhao Yiyi's body tremble. Saying such provocative words at this crucial moment, Zhao Yiyi almost thought that Gu Qinglan was also involved in this plan.
Mo Qinghuan just sat there, ignoring what she said. She just looked at her indifferently, her fingers gently sliding over the patterns on the jade porcelain teacup.
Before Zhao Yiyi could say anything, a shrill voice suddenly came from outside. Then a corner of a bright yellow robe fluttered in.
The emperor and Concubine Li walked in surrounded by a group of maids and eunuchs. The emperor was still wearing his bright yellow dragon robe. What was surprising was Concubine Li beside him.
She was wearing a bright red peony - collared robe today, and the long train behind her was held up by two maids.
She was born bright and beautiful. Today, she had a peach - blossom makeup on, and the peach - blossom sticker on her forehead made her look even more charming.
However, her attire was a bit too presumptuous. Although she was a concubine and in charge of the affairs in the harem, in the end, she was just a concubine.
But she was wearing the bright red that only the main wife could wear. At this moment, standing beside the emperor, her slender hand on the emperor's arm, smiling at everyone in the hall, the red on her and the yellow on the emperor actually looked strangely harmonious.
The emperor coughed lightly. Only then did the ministers react and stand up to bow. Zhao Yiyi and Gu Qinglan also returned to their seats.
The emperor slightly raised his hand. After his bright yellow sleeve swept in the air, everyone sat down.
Mu Yanming returned at this time, and Mu Yefeng came with him.
However, Mo Qinghuan couldn't help but wonder. On such an important occasion that even the emperor attached great importance to, she didn't see Mu Yichen and his wife.
When the dinner was halfway through, everyone began to present their gifts.
The crown prince was the first to go up. Yin Cong behind him carried a box and walked to the center of the hall. Then he opened the box. The ministers craned their necks to look. When they saw it was a jade ruyi, they retracted their necks.
A jade ruyi was not a very rare item. Giving this as a gift was neither outstanding nor wrong.
Concubine Li thanked the crown prince with a big smile on her face. There was neither surprise nor expectation in her eyes.
Next was the regent. Everyone was quite looking forward to what the regent's mansion would give as a gift.
Bai Ke presented the gift and stood upright in the center of the hall.
Only then did a glimmer of light appear in Concubine Li's eyes. She was full of expectation, wondering what gift he would give her.
Bai Ke lifted the silk handkerchief covering the box. When he saw what was in the box, he stood there stunned.
The Avalokitesvara statue that was originally prepared in the box was gone. Now there was a pink bellyband embroidered with peach blossoms in it. It was obviously a woman's intimate clothing.
And for the regent to give such a thing to the emperor's favorite concubine was really unbelievable.
When the ministers who had craned their necks saw the thing...
There was a gasp in the spacious hall. The emperor was sitting on the upper seat. His face turned extremely dark when he saw the thing.
He stood up slowly. With a gloomy face, he walked up to Bai Ke, glanced at the pink bellyband in the box, frowned deeply, and then raised his hand to knock the box to the ground forcefully.
Then he shouted, "Regent, you and your wife come with me to the imperial study."
His chest heaved violently. Everyone saw how angry the emperor was and didn't even dare to breathe loudly.
Mo Qinghuan stood up. She staggered a bit and was supported by Mu Yanming, who held her hand.
She knew that the gift must have been switched. Although Mu Yanming didn't tell her what the gift for Concubine Li was, she didn't need to think to know it couldn't be this.
Concubine Li ignored her long train and rushed to the emperor's side in a few steps. She almost fell.
"Your Majesty, there must be some misunderstanding!"
The emperor looked at her charming face, which was now blushing with shame. His heart felt as if it was blocked by a ball of cotton.
The group went to the imperial study. After the main characters left, the ministers began to whisper and discuss.
"What's going on? Is there some secret between the regent and Concubine Li?" A woman in a light yellow silk dress looked at the direction where everyone left in confusion.
Hearing this, Gu Qinglan picked up the wine in her hand and splashed it all over the woman's face and body.
The woman was extremely angry. She glared at Gu Qinglan. Thinking of the difference in their status, she finally didn't flare up.
However, her teeth grinding loudly and her tightly clenched fists all showed her anger.