Listening to her daughter's heartfelt words, the pregnant Lady Hou went on a killing spree.

The Zhengyang Hall, as the main hall for this banquet, could accommodate civil and military officials and their families at once, which gives you an idea of ​​just how large the Zhengyang Hall was.

The Zhengyang Palace was so large that the closer one was to the Emperor and Empress, the more one could demonstrate their status and position in the court.

As in previous years, the seating arrangement prioritized the left. To the left of the Emperor and Empress, the first to sit were the princes, then the princesses, followed by the princes, princesses, and other imperial relatives.

The person seated at the bottom right is the Prime Minister, followed by several chief ministers and the six ministers of the court.

But this year is different; the seating arrangement is quite surprising.

After Ji Yueru entered with her maid, she was led by a eunuch to the first seat on the lower right.

"Father-in-law, isn't the position wrong?"

This position is not one she can sit in. In previous years when she entered the palace, the Anshun Marquis's residence was always placed in the lower right position, far away from the Emperor and Empress.

"The location is correct, Madam Hou need not be too alarmed."

The Empress and Consort De felt that no new children had been born in the palace for nearly a year, so they wanted to share in the joy, which is why they specially arranged the seats for the three ladies to be in the lower right corner.

The reasons sounded quite reasonable, but the royal family has always valued rules and regulations, and there has never been such a precedent before, yet the emperor actually agreed.

Ji Yueru was dazed and confused as Zhiyi helped her sit down in the first seat on the lower right. She could feel that Zhiyi's hand was trembling as she supported her.

I don't know if it was from fright or excitement.

Everyone looked this way. The Princess Consort of the Duke of Yu's Mansion was younger than Ji Yueru and was having her first child. She was quite taken aback by the spectacle.

They could only turn to Ji Yueru for help.

"Madam, you'll have to look after me later. I'm timid and scared."

He looked weak, helpless, and pitiful.

Ji Yueru couldn't help but soften her heart and quietly agreed.

The third seat was occupied by the wife of Grand Secretary Lin. She was pregnant with her third child and her pregnancy was not yet showing. She sat upright and did not dare to say a word.

It seems the eunuch was telling the truth.

She came alone, so it was fine for her to sit alone, but the two of them came with their families and were also seated separately on the lower right.

[Mother, I never entered the palace in my previous life, but I knew this never happened.]

Almost the instant An'an spoke, the princes and princesses sitting opposite her looked up and searched around for the source of the sound.

Princess Changping knew what was going on and looked up directly at the seat where Lady Anshun was sitting.

The mother and daughter have arrived. Today's palace banquet should be quite interesting. She couldn't help but feel a little excited.

"The Emperor has arrived! The Empress has arrived!"

All civil and military officials and their families rose from their seats and knelt to the side to greet them.

"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Empress!"

The emperor and empress, along with more than a dozen concubines, sat down at the head of the table.

"Get up, everyone."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

The Emperor and Empress, seated at the head of the table, were the most prominent figures, but Consort De, upon returning to her seat, immediately focused her gaze on the Lady of Anshun Marquis.

She seemed no different from an ordinary woman.

Wow! Is this the Emperor and Empress? They look so dignified.

Mother, Mother, did you see that?

"Of course I saw it. My mother was sitting in the first seat, so she could see the Emperor and Empress very clearly."

The princes and concubines, unaware of the situation, secretly searched for the child.

The Emperor and Empress glanced around and noticed that the Lady of Anshun, sitting at the upper right, had a faint expression on her face.

Now they finally believed that Chang'an had indeed heard the voice of the child in Lady Anshun's womb.

But now there's a problem. It seems only the royal family can hear this; the other ministers don't show the slightest sign of it.

"Prince Shun has arrived."

A loud voice came from outside the hall, and everyone looked towards the hall entrance.

Xiao Ce wore a black robe embroidered with gold python patterns, and his white hair was tied back with a hair ribbon on both sides.

When you walk in from the outside, you give off an impression that is both righteous and wicked.

Almost everyone would instinctively look away when they met Xiao Ce's gaze.

"Your Majesty, I am late. Please forgive me."

Remember to be on time next time.

[Mother, I remember that Prince Shun was not expected to return to the palace for more than a month, but in this life it has come earlier.]

If he knew that the Crown Prince, Prince Cheng, and Prince Ming, who were sitting next to him, would plot to kill him outside the palace gates three years later, how would he feel right now?

The information just said was so overwhelming that almost everyone in the royal family was shocked.

The Crown Prince, King Cheng, and King Ming knew what was going on from the reactions of others; the voice was not only audible to them, but also to others.

The three dared not look into the eyes of their father, the Emperor, for that voice was utter nonsense; how could they possibly lay a hand on Prince Shun?

What reason do they have to take action against Prince Shun?

A prince who has been practicing Buddhism outside the palace for over twenty years with his hair still intact poses no threat to them.

Xiao Ce was in a good mood; the little guy was truly his lucky star.

The banquet has been going on for so long, why hasn't the food been served yet? Mother, you must be hungry.

An'an couldn't help but feel sorry for her mother.

The emperor and empress finally realized what was happening. They sat down without saying a word, and the other ministers and their families also dared not speak, just sitting there silently.

The Emperor looked at Chief Eunuch Yu, who understood and stepped forward.

"The banquet begins."

As Chief Steward Yu finished speaking, palace maids filed in carrying food platters, and a group of veiled dancers began to dance gracefully in the center of the hall.

"Mommy, their dance was so beautiful! I want to learn it when I grow up."

"Okay, as long as you want to learn, your mother will find you a dance teacher."

"An'an, aren't you learning too much? Won't it be too tiring later?"

"Is it a lot? Let me think. I told my mother before that I wanted to learn martial arts from Master Wu, and now I'm learning to dance, and I'm also going to study at Wangshan Academy. I'm learning quite a lot, huh?"

But it's alright, Mom. I'm smart and I learn quickly, so you don't need to worry about me.

The Emperor thought to himself that the little fellow had quite an ambition, wanting to learn everything.

Wait a minute, if he wasn't mistaken, what he just heard sounded like a little girl's voice. Girls weren't allowed to study at Wangshan Academy, so Ji Shi couldn't possibly not know that.

A palace maid placed a bowl of the finest snow swallow soup in front of Ji Yueru.

"Madam Hou, this is a gift from Her Majesty the Empress."

Ji Yueru quickly got up to express her gratitude.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

"Please sit down."

The Empress's expression didn't change much, but the fact that she bestowed the reward solely upon Lady Anshun made others realize that something was amiss.

The finest snow swallows are rare and have always been reserved for the Emperor and Empress. The fact that the Empress bestowed a cup upon the Lady of Anshun Marquis is considered a great honor for her.

[Mommy, please try this snow fungus. What does it taste like? How does it compare to the bird's nest you usually eat?]

Ji Yueru took a small spoonful and tasted it.

"It tastes good, a bit different from the bird's nest my mother eats at home, the texture is better."

The Empress is a kind person, it's just a pity she doesn't have more than two years left to live.