The Concubine in the Palace_The Feast of Masks【Complete】(212)

Knowing that Princess Qing was living well at her parents' home, Yao Niang felt more relieved.

But in the blink of an eye, another matter was put in front of her, that is, the palace would hold a banquet on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the Lantern Festival.

How could Princess Qing and Prince Qing go to the palace together for the banquet when they were in such a mess? Fortunately, Prince Jin came back and said that this year's Lantern Festival banquet was different from the past, and it was for the people to have fun together, so it didn't matter whether Princess Qing showed up or not.

In order to cover up, Yao Niang decided to invite Princess Qing out, so that she could have an excuse for anything. Princess Qing didn't want to go out at first, but she couldn't stand Yao Niang's repeated invitations, so she had to agree.

On this day, Prince Jin went to the palace first, and Yao Niang stayed in the mansion with Princess Qing.

Princess Qing came to Prince Jin's mansion in advance, and not only Princess Qing, but also Yan Ge'er and Zhuzhu came.

Seeing their long-lost friends, Yan Ge'er and Zhu Zhu finally smiled. In the past few days, Yan Ge'er and Zhu Zhu's faces were less smiling. Princess Qing saw it in her eyes and felt pain in her heart, so she couldn't help frowning.

She also saw the attitude of her family in the past few days, and naturally understood that no matter what decision she made, her family would support her and even do their best to help her.

But how could she ignore the safety of her family? If she really wanted to divorce, she would be fighting against the imperial power. Even if it succeeded, would it cause the emperor's disgust? Would she implicate her father and brother? And Yan Ge'er and Zhu Zhu, it was impossible for her to take them away. Ordinary families don't have such a thing, let alone the royal family.

As long as she thought of all this, Princess Qing felt suffocated and couldn't breathe.

But if she was asked to go back to that mansion, she would never be able to do it. Therefore, Princess Qing has been entangled and anxious in the past few days. She really couldn't think of any good way. She could only do as her father said, wait until after the New Year's Day, and delay it for one day.

Princess Qing thought Yao Niang would ask her something, but Yao Niang never asked about it from beginning to end, and she couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. Several children played together, and seeing the innocence on their faces, Princess Qing gradually forgot about her troubles.

Rongxi Courtyard was full of lanterns, big and small, colorful.

Yao Niang and Princess Qing played with the children for a while, told the servants to take good care of the children, and then packed up and went out.

Emperor Hongjing hosted a banquet for all officials at the Meridian Gate Tower today, and set up Ao Lanterns and a lantern shed in front of Duanmen. Other princes, nobles, and ministers set up lantern sheds on Qipan Street every year, stretching all the way to Zhengyang Gate.

Night has fallen, and as soon as you leave the palace, you can feel a kind of carnival restlessness in the air.

Out of the street where the palace is located, there is a huge and towering lighthouse at the archway, which was set up by the Jin Palace. Looking out from the carriage, lighthouses and lantern trees of various styles and colors were lined up in front of every household and every street corner. There were crowds of people everywhere, and carriages and horses were like dragons.

The carriage of the Prince of Jin's Mansion went to Qipan Street first, and saw the five-clawed golden dragon lantern standing in front of the Duanmen Gate from a distance.

Yao Niang had never seen such a scene before, and she was simply stunned. Princess Qing told her that the Lantern Festival every year is the most lively time in the capital, and this dragon lantern is there every year, but in different shapes.

It was not until the carriage could not go any further that Yao Niang and the others got off the car and let the guards escort them inside.

Further in is the restricted area for ordinary people. Although it is said that they are having fun with the people, it is impossible for Emperor Hongjing to really integrate into it without any scruples. If an assassin appears, the country will be shaken and the country will be unstable.

The lantern shed of the Prince of Jin's mansion was located in the front, facing the lantern shed where Emperor Hongjing sat. Yao Niang was dazzled by the sight. The further in, the more beautiful the lanterns hanging outside the lantern shed were. It was the first time for Yao Niang to know that there were so many ways to play with lanterns.

The banquet at the Meridian Gate had just ended, and when Yao Niang arrived, the Prince of Jin was already waiting there. Emperor Hongjing and Queen Wei had not arrived yet, and the lantern shed of the Prince of Qing's mansion was right next to it, next to the Prince of Jin's mansion.

It can be seen that the lantern shed of the Prince of Qing's mansion was not carefully prepared, and the lanterns were ordinary in style. It was probably lower than the others among the princes.

The Prince of Qing looked pale and looked a little haggard. He stopped talking and shouted here: "Ji Rou..."

The Princess of Qing looked over there. The Prince of Qing seemed to be encouraged and wanted to walk over, but she saw that under the light of the flowing color, the Princess of Qing's eyes suddenly turned cold, and a sneer appeared at the corner of her mouth. She turned her head and stopped looking here. He turned his head and saw Concubine Han surrounded by several guards and maids.

He was anxious and subconsciously asked, "Why are you here?!"

Concubine Han was very aggrieved: "Your Highness, can't I come? Every household has female relatives here. If there are no women in the Qing Palace..."

Hearing this, the Qing Palace felt a pain in his heart and scolded, "Who asked you to come? Who asked you to come? Didn't you say you didn't like this kind of occasion before? What are you doing here!"

Concubine Han burst into tears, wiping her tears again and again without saying a word.

The Qing Palace immediately wanted to send Concubine Han away, but he thought that the occasion today was different and it might attract attention. He glanced at Concubine Qing's back again, feeling discouraged. He didn't look at Concubine Han again and sat down on the chair next to him.

Concubine Han stood there gracefully, but her hand under her sleeve couldn't help but touch a hard lump in her sleeve pocket.

Over there, Yao Niang looked at Concubine Qing hesitantly.

Concubine Qing smiled at her and whispered, "I'm fine, don't worry about me."

Chapter 162

Emperor Hongjing appeared quietly, and Yaoniang didn't notice it until she saw a bright yellow figure appear in the lantern shed in the front.

An eunuch came to call Prince Jin away, and Prince Qing also left.

Soon Prince Jin came back, followed by Prince Qing. But Prince Qing's face was a little pale, probably because something happened.

Prince Jin said he would take Yaoniang to visit the lantern market, and Yaoniang asked if she didn't need to stay here with him. In this situation, if Emperor Hongjing didn't leave, the son couldn't leave anyway.

Later, Yaoniang learned that Emperor Hongjing's dragon body was a little uncomfortable and he returned to the palace early.

Princess Qing came out with Yaoniang, so naturally they had to go together. Prince Qing was standing in the lantern shed of his own mansion in a daze, and when he saw Prince Jin leaving with his people, he wanted to shout but didn't.

"What's wrong with him? Was he scolded?" Yaoniang asked in a low voice.

The King of Jin said, "Father knows about it and scolded my seventh brother."

In fact, the King of Jin said it more implicitly. In fact, Emperor Hongjing was furious. I don't know who told this matter. Emperor Hongjing scolded Prince Qing for not managing the family strictly and favoring concubines and killing his wife.

This seems simple, but it is actually quite serious. This kind of thing is a taboo for ordinary officials, let alone a prince who has been crowned as a king.

From the King of Jin's point of view, Emperor Hongjing must have something bothering him, so he was so angry, and Prince Qing was caught in the crossfire. But this is a fact, and Prince Qing didn't even have the opportunity to refute it. In addition to kneeling down and kowtow to admit his mistakes, he couldn't do anything else.

At that time, all the princes were watching from the side, and Prince Qing was very embarrassed.

The King of Jin knew that his father had treated the seventh son too much. Although his father was not a kind father, he always gave his sons face in front of others. From childhood to adulthood, the only prince who treated the seventh son without color was called a son. He was often worse than a servant.

So the King of Jin could understand why the King of Qing fell on his Korean cousin. This was probably a kind of empathy similar to the feeling of sympathy. Others could not persuade him about this matter, and could only watch him continue to go on and see when he would understand it himself.

In the past, the King of Jin would have said a few words for the King of Qing. But this time, he did not speak and remained silent.

After listening to the King of Jin's narration, Yao Niang dared not say anything except smacking her lips, because the Queen of Qing was still following behind. She said a few words to the King of Jin, and then went to the Queen of Qing and walked with her.

"Your Highness said he would take me to the Lantern Market, let's go together."

Princess Qing shook her head: "I won't go."

Yao Niang said anxiously: "It's a rare festival once a year. I haven't seen the Lantern Market in Beijing. I heard from Your Highness that fireworks will be set off during the festival. We usually don't go out of the house, so take this opportunity to relax. Besides, Yan Ge'er and Zhu Zhu are still in the palace. You can go back with us to pick her up."

Princess Qing was thinking about how to refuse, and suddenly saw a few people walking here. Her eyes lit up and said: "It's not that I won't go, I won't go with you and the fifth brother. You see my brother and sister-in-law are here, I will go with them, so I won't disturb you and the fifth brother. I will go to the palace to pick up Yan Ge'er and Zhu Zhu when the time comes."

Yao Niang also saw the Xiao family.

Xiao Qian and Xiao Kun bowed to the King of Jin, "Thank you, Your Highness, for taking care of my sister."

The King of Jin had a complicated look in his eyes, but he didn't say anything, just nodded.

After that, Princess Qing and the Xiao family left, and Yao Niang and the King of Jin walked forward all the way.

This lantern market is divided into two markets, the inner and outer markets. The inner market is the one Yao Niang and King Jin walked through just now, and the outer market is outside Dong'anmen. There are also lantern markets in Liulichang and Mishikou.

Once you enter the lantern market, it is like falling into a world of dazzling lights.

There are lanterns of various colors everywhere, in rows and rows, which are dazzling. There are many types of lanterns, including dragon lanterns, palace lanterns, gauze lanterns, flower blue lanterns, dragon and phoenix lanterns, angular lanterns, tree and ground lanterns, fireworks lanterns, mushroom lanterns, revolving lanterns, etc., with shapes of round, square, cylindrical, polygonal, and various. There are large and small ones, with a wide variety of varieties. The largest one is as high as several floors, and is the main body of the mountain of lanterns. The smallest one is only the size of a palm.

There are also countless vendors selling snacks, jugglers, opera singers, and stalls selling various utensils and toys. There are a lot of people everywhere.

King Jin put one hand around Yao Niang's waist, in a protective state. Except for Fucheng and Yuchan who followed the two of them, An Shi, An Shiyi and several guards disguised themselves as ordinary people and hid in the surroundings.