Chapter 50 Potluck

Ji's actions were as quick as ever, within two days, the Empress Dowager Ji came forward and proposed to Chunjia that the next three prospective son-in-laws should be summoned to have a look in person.

This was reminded by Yun Fenghuang before she and the Empress Dowager came back, so Chunjia very gently agreed.

The next day Wang Linglai, Zheng Fengli and Xie Wuzheng were led to Mianfu Palace by the palace staff.

Empress Dowager Ji sat high on the phoenix seat, looking down at them from above.

Her eyes only paused for a moment on Zheng Fengfen and Xie Wuzheng, her pair of sharp eyes scanned Wang Linglai up and down, as if she wanted to cut him open for a closer look.

Wang Linglai came from a wealthy background, so it's not that he has never seen the world, but it was his first time seeing the Empress Dowager, especially since this was his future mother-in-law, so he was naturally extremely nervous.

"Since the person chosen by His Majesty for the flesh and blood of the late Emperor, I think it's not bad." The Empress Dowager Ji snorted softly when she saw that his two parts were fighting, and ordered calmly, "Everyone sit down."

Wang Linglai and the three of them thanked each other for their kindness. They sat on the embroidered stool for a while, their backs straightened, and they did not dare to relax in the slightest.

Empress Dowager Ji didn't intend to appease her either. Holding a tea bowl, she picked up some questions about schoolwork, family background, etc., and asked some of them.

At this time, she didn't come and go specifically for Wang Ling, she even picked up Xie Wuzheng, but she didn't pay much attention to Zheng Fengyu.

After such a short period of time, the three young men were already sweating. The Empress Dowager Ji said: "There is nothing wrong with Ai's family. Come, please go to Qingci Palace to ask for instructions. Is your mother free to summon them?"

The palace people came back soon and reported that the Empress Dowager happened to be vacant, so that people could go there now.

So Empress Dowager Ji ordered chariots to be prepared and took them to Qingci Palace.

The empress dowager's attitude was similar to that of empress dowager Ji, she was lukewarm, which made people suspect that she was very dissatisfied with the marriage of the three princesses, but she couldn't find any problems - after all, she was an empress dowager, how could she still treat her? Can't the granddaughter's fiancé apologize for laughing?

"It's already this time, let's have a light meal at Ai's house." After some questions and answers, the Empress Dowager looked at the sky and ordered, "Let the small kitchen add some dishes... What are your taboos?"

Where did the three of Wang Linglai dare to mention taboos in Qingci Palace? They all said that they can do whatever they want: "You're bothering the Empress Dowager!"

When the palace people were preparing to prepare the meal, the servants came in and reported that the two empress dowagers, the loving mother and the holy mother, had brought some concubines with them.

"What's the matter with such a big battle?" The Empress Dowager put down the tea bowl and asked calmly.

"I heard that you have charming customers here, so I want to join in the fun." Queen Mother Yuan said with a smile, "Please don't get bored."

The empress dowager said with a smile: "This was decided before, why didn't you help Zhang Yan?"

Empress Dowager Yuan said: "You don't know, Your Majesty attaches great importance to the marriage of the three princesses. They have personally seen all the candidates, and no one speaks much. No, except for the children of General Hushi, Minghui and Penglai Nobody has ever seen your prospective consort."

He also said, "This prince is said to be talented, humble, pure and filial, and he looks very handsome, and he is a perfect match for Princess Minghui."

After hearing that the empress dowager lowered her head, the face of the empress dowager Ji sank.

She is definitely dissatisfied with Wang Linglai's choice. Let's put it this way, as long as Chunjia chooses the person, she will not be satisfied-but Wang Linglai doesn't talk about other things, but just looks at it. Among the three prospective consorts, she is definitely the last one. First.

After all, Zheng Fengyu, as Zheng Gu's adopted son, if he was not good enough, Zheng Gu would not have been able to choose him when he picked his son from the clan. Later, Chun Jia was selected as a companion, but it was not his turn.

Let alone Xie Wuzheng, Concubine Xian's first cousin.

In terms of beauty, Concubine Xian, apart from being slightly inferior to Yi Xing'en in the palace, definitely outshone others.

Xie Wuzheng's appearance can be imagined!

In addition, even though Zheng Fenglin came from a family of eunuchs, his adoptive father Zheng Ju was in charge of the imperial army. He was fascinated by it. He was no stranger to the military camp since he was a child, and he was one of Chunjia's companions. , looks handsome yet personable.

Xie Wuzheng grew up in the north, and the folk customs are aggressive, he learned to bow and horse at a young age, although he is young, he is full of heroism and looks like jade.

Wang Linglai, who was born into a wealthy family, was actually a scholar from a wealthy family. In contrast, he had more than grace but not tenacity.

If it's just pure admiration, you can say that each has his own style, but the Empress Dowager Ji wants to entrust her to her daughter—or entrust her to her daughter when Ji's future is unpredictable, then how could she like Wang Linglai?

Right now, she really wished that this guy would die on the spot, so that she could personally take over and choose another son-in-law for her daughter.

Empress Dowager Yuan's words "fits well with Minghui", in the eyes of Empress Dowager Ji, is nothing less than naked humiliation!

——Isn't this just mocking Princess Minghui for being obese and not worthy of a real handsome son! ! !

"The emperor's eyesight can't be wrong." Empress Dowager Ji held back her anger, sneered slightly, and said calmly, "For example, the concubine Xian, although she has not been in the palace for a long time, she is very satisfied. According to Ai's family, the emperor should be close to a truly virtuous concubine like Xianfei, instead of just being used to an unruly thing like in the past few years, making Liugong restless."

After saying this, even the Empress Dowager frowned slightly, because in front of the three prospective sons-in-law, it was a bit out of control to bluntly say that the emperor's favor in the harem, even if it was a well-known thing--see Ji The empress dowager's fury - so the empress dowager Yuan was not only not angry, but also a little happy.

The Ji family had always had the upper hand before, and the three generations of phoenix masters were not always unhappy, but they never lost control of their emotions and words in public.

Because in their view, everything is under control and they are naturally calm.

Now that Empress Dowager Ji is in such a mood, it can be seen that the Ji family really can't calm down anymore.

The corners of Empress Dowager Yuan's lips curled up again, obviously she didn't care about showing her happiness at all: "It's just that Sister Ji likes Prince Wang."

Quan pretended not to hear the ridicule behind him.

"Is the dinner ready?" The Empress Dowager Ji clenched her fists and was about to speak, but the Empress Dowager coughed dryly and asked around.

The palace man hurriedly said: "My maidservant will go and see now."

After I went to see it, I came to tell, saying that it has been set up, and I invite Feng Jia, the concubines and three prospective son-in-laws to come to the table.

Today's incident, in fact, many people don't want to join in the fun, for fear of getting burned.

The three empress dowagers had no choice but to gather together. Empress Ji, a serious daughter-in-law, could not come to accompany her. It is impossible for a concubine not to come to "do her filial piety" and "care about the three princesses".

When they came, they always had to bring some attendants to order them around, so a group of crows surrounded the empress dowager and the three empress dowagers moved to the side hall where the banquet was held.

In the side hall, two rooms have been partitioned off by tulle screens, so that the three concubines-to-be can have meals separately from the concubines.

After all, this is not a palace banquet. Even if there are elders such as the Empress Dowager and the three empress dowagers, the three prospective son-in-laws have not yet officially become the masters. After all, they are foreign men. right.

The Empress Dowager’s daily meals are not extravagant, they are just ordinary portions, even if so, they are also extremely plentiful——Yun Fenghuang saw the dazzling scene in front of him, and unexpectedly remembered that when he entered the palace, in order to eat well, Thinking about Chunjia's case...

She lost her mind for a while, then raised her bottle as if nothing had happened, got up from the table, and went to persuade the first few to drink, especially Empress Dowager Ji, to congratulate her on her new son-in-law, it is gratifying.

Empress Dowager Yuan tried her best not to laugh at Empress Dowager Ji's bow, and she was also a little worried, fearing that Empress Dowager Ji could not restrain herself and would throw the drink on Concubine Xian's face.

Fortunately, Empress Dowager Ji still has face, and she couldn't do such a shrew-like behavior in front of everyone. She just took a deep breath, stared at the wine bottle in front of her for a moment like looking at Qiu Yu, gritted her teeth, lifted it up, and drank it in one gulp.

Yun Fenghuang was full of smiles, and poured a bottle for Empress Dowager Ji, saying that it was to wish Princess Minghui and her son-in-law an early birth of a son in advance...Anyway, there were auspicious words one after another, which was enough to persuade Empress Dowager Ji to drink three bottles of wine In the end, it was the Empress Dowager Yuan who saw that the empress dowager's face was not quite right, and she was afraid that something would happen if the excitement was too much, and the trouble would be ugly, so Chunjia might have to rush over at night to deal with the aftermath.

Then he took up the conversation with a dry cough, and asked Yun Fenghuang to respect her and Queen Mother Qu each with a bottle, implying that the virtuous concubine would step down.

Empress Dowager Yuan was very happy. She had been oppressed by the Ji family all these years, but her niece, Yuan Niangniang, let alone helping her, would be good if she didn't hold her back.

This is the first time I feel the convenience and joy of having a junior as a helper.

After all, even though she personally stabbed Empress Dowager Ji with words just now, given her age and status, it is not easy to continue to pursue the victory.

But Yun Fenghuang has no such scruples, she is a generation younger than Empress Dowager Ji, and she is young, even if she really annoys Empress Dowager Ji, then Empress Dowager Yuan will say from the side: "Concubine Xian also has good intentions."

Or "Concubine Xian is young, sister Ji, don't be as knowledgeable as her child", and this matter will pass.

"It would be great if there were girls in my Yuan family who were so sensible." Queen Mother Yuan couldn't help thinking so, but she glanced at Yuan Zhiniang who was at the table at the moment. The specific operation of intrigue is really not very good...

The queen mother sighed in her heart, and took a sip regretfully.

At this time, the Empress Dowager above seemed to be in order to cover up the Empress Dowager Ji whose face became more and more ferocious, and ordered people to send some tricksters to come in and perform singing and dancing to add to the fun.

The sound of silk and bamboo made everyone relax a lot.

They were watching the singing and dancing in twos and threes and chatting in low voices, suddenly Empress Dowager Ji moved her face, covered her mouth with her sleeves, got up quickly, and walked out quickly without thinking about saying goodbye to the Empress Dowager!

Seeing this, the concubines who were close were startled, and Empress Ji hurriedly got up to catch up. Seeing this situation, Empress Dowager Yuan gave Yun Fenghuang a wink, so Yun Fenghuang also followed—the concubine and concubine chased outside and saw Empress Dowager Ji vomited while leaning on the railing, and naturally stepped forward to pat her chest and back to comfort her, and ordered the palace servants to fetch water.

After taking care of her like this, she was helped to go to the side hall next door. Empress Dowager Ji was already pale at the moment, waved her hand weakly, and asked them to go back to the table: "It's okay to mourn the family, but I just drank too much."

"It's all because the concubine is in bad health. She was so busy congratulating the empress dowager, but she didn't pay attention to her drinking capacity." Yun Fenghuang apologized without sincerity, "I also hope that the concubine is magnanimous, and don't care about the concubine's body."

Empress Dowager Ji closed her eyes and didn't want to look at her, so she just said to the empress, "Someone tell Empress Mother so that she won't be worried."

It's just that the empress promised not to go to the front to pass on the message. When the door of the palace opened, it was the empress dowager who led the way, and almost all the concubines at the banquet crowded in.